In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
I rolled out of bed by 7 AM.
Seems like I slept OK but the baby birds chirping in the nest at our camp did not sleep at all!
In the morning, I could not pick out a nest in the tree nor could I identify the birds in question based on their call.
Anyway, out of bed by 7 AM then worked on breaking camp, trying to pack up so the boating gear was within easy reach and everything else bagged up for easy unloading at home. And there still needed to be room for Sue’s stuff.
Next was heating up water for coffee to go with my slice of quiche. This turned out to be a good choice for a paddling day breakfast, as it was pretty dense and filling.
Then, I had time to sit just a bit and enjoy my coffee. Coffee leftovers filled my paddling thermos.
I am pleased that the wind was quiet which surprised me as the sky was overcast, though it did not seem rain was imminent.
We are ready to leave by 8 AM.
I did like this campsite, though it was a bit small for two tents. The site just east of the bathroom looked better for 2 tent. One reason I picked this site was its proximity to the bathroom and that it had trees.
The campground itself is somewhat barren as are all the campgrounds on the north side. But you can see the lake and white cliffs to the south as well as the foothills and peaks off to the west.
This area of Colorado is so different from areas to the north, much more dry lands but not desert.
As mentioned, we are ready to leave by 8 AM. The bad news is that the wind has started to come up. It’s not too strong, maybe 10 mph.
We head be out of the park a back toward US 50. But we see Leslie heading back toward the park so we turn around and try to catch her. Sue calls her, and she indicates she is headed to the Swallows. I stop at the park entrance and call her again, mentioning I thought she was headed the wrong way but she insists she’s on the way to the Swallows. Oh, well.
We again start back to US 50, then west to the Swallows Road, where we turn south and back toward the lake. We’re both glad we did a trial run yesterday.
We arrive at just 9AM. Leslie is here, as well as Jay and Karen. Sally had to cancel.
It is a bit windy, probably more than 10 mph. But we go ahead and launch. There is a cove to our right that we paddle into, but it does not take long to reach the end. We turn around and head back, past our launch point and head southeast down-lake. We pass another, larger cove, on our right but do not investigate. Evidently, we need to paddle southeast for at least a mile to reach the opening we can paddle up to reach the point where the river meets the lake.
The wind seems to be increasing. We group up and decide to do a test run back into the wind.
Suddenly, it seems like Karen has turned and is headed in the other direction. Jay chases after her. We all head back, making slow but steady progress.
Leslie wanted to cross over and check out some caves but that would mean crossing parallel to the waves. My preference is to head directly into the wind or at a diagonal.
We slowly make our way along the weeds. Jay stops for a minute in an opening in the trees. I wonder if it goes thru but do not investigate.
Finally, we are back at the Swallows. Sue and Karen get out and Leslie gets out to help. Jay and I continue back into the first cove then back to the access.
I contemplate suggesting that we try again but folks seem to be done for the day.
Jay and I get out. We all start unload and packing up though I decide to grab a bit to eat before continuing.
We paddled from 10 AM to noon. Not as long as desirable but a good day anyway and it’s always nice to be paddling.
Pueblo Reservoir
12 May 2025 - 13 May 2025
A Rocky Mountain Canoe Club trip in combination with Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club
Several years ago (2017 to be exact), I joined a RMSKC trip on Lake Pueblo, organized by Jay Bailey.
On that trip, we put in at the old Wildlife Boat Ramp, up the road from the north entrance of Lake Pueblo State Park. (This was the same put-in that Gary & I used a couple times in our explorations of Lake Pueblo).
What has stayed with me from that club paddle was that we paddled up-lake into the delta, where the Arkansas River runs into the lake. It was early season and the lake was high, so the delta itself was full of water and you could find pathways of water into and among the trees. We paddled past a couple of pretty big beavers' lodges. Also, there were lots of birds, in particular I remember a yellow-headed grosbeak.
Since that outing, I've been wanting to return to the delta in early season.
Jay Baily has been emailing Sue since early April to give it a try. And, once Gary & I returned from our outing to Utah, I was game to give it a try.
Originally, I thought later in the week of May 12th would be good but then it seemed like earlier would be better, so we made a plan to drive down on Monday and paddle on Tuesday.
Monday, 12 May 2025
We were driving away from my place at 1:10 and arrived at our campsite at Lake Pueblo at 5:10, so a 4 hour drive, which included a foray to check out the Swallows Access.
It was hot! And I was glad to be at camp. The tent went easily and sleeping gear transferred and then time for a beer and supper.
Our fellow paddlers, Jay G and Leslie T, came over to visit.
Then everyone disappeared to their own supper and camp. I fiddle a bit, then sit down to write. It’s nice to have time to journal a bit, but it's getting dark, so time to turn in with a book.
The temperature dropped once the sun went down, but it was still warm enough to sit out in shorts and a pile jacket.
The forecasted wind for tomorrow was originally to be 10 mph or less for most of the day, but now the predictions are for 18 mph in the morning. We'll see how this goes.