Laura

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Username:: traveltales
Name:: Laura
Location:: Drake, CO
Birthday:: 08/10
Status:: Not Interested
Job / Career:: Travel

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Travel > Winter Kayaking in My Front Yard

Winter Kayaking in My Front Yard

The Big Thompson River went from 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 300 cfs for a couple of days. It's controlled by a Bureau of Reclamation dam and the water was being moved to a storage reservoir along Colorado's front range.

This brought out the kayakers. This picture taken Saturday, October 29, is in a section they call 'the gnar:'

Here's a great compilation of kayaking on several rivers, many of them here in Colorado. It is meant to be an entry to the 2012 Kayaking Grand Prix:

Natalie Anderson GP entry and Promo from Leif Anderson on Vimeo.

A few of the rivers in the video: Cache La Poudre, CO, Slave River, NWT, Eldorado canyon, CO, Eagle Creek OR, Little White Salmon, WA, Vallecito creek, CO, Mwave CO, Brandy Creek CA, and more.

These folks make it look easy. I love watching because we see scenery in remote areas that we'd never get to on our own.

posted on Oct 30, 2011 9:30 AM ()

Comments:

I finally got caught up reading this blog. You come up with such interesting topics. I have been canoeing, but not kayaking. I think they are similar. I love to see the pictures of your mountain. I am a "flatlander", as the Wisconsinites call those of us in northern Ilinois.

comment by boots586 on Nov 1, 2011 3:03 PM ()

We do see a few canoes around here - for the lakes. Kayaks are so tippy, and I keep wondering about whether canoes would work here on the river. Not the really rocky rapid parts, but stretches where it is deep and relatively calm. It's probably not practical because these bits are few and far between - lots of portage.

reply by troutbend on Nov 1, 2011 4:44 PM ()

Those rapids look wicked. I'm afraid that's a sport I would never try.

comment by redimpala on Nov 1, 2011 10:26 AM ()

I love the idea of it, but realize I'd last about 20 seconds out there.

reply by troutbend on Nov 1, 2011 11:10 AM ()

Difficult to see any scenery going lickity split down the rapids!

comment by solitaire on Oct 31, 2011 5:27 AM ()

They have to focus on the technical parts, don't they?

reply by traveltales on Oct 31, 2011 6:47 PM ()

I couldn't do it but power to those who can.

comment by elderjane on Oct 31, 2011 5:22 AM ()

The more I watch the kayakers the more I think about how could I get a raft or something just to be able to see the river from that angle.

reply by traveltales on Oct 31, 2011 6:52 PM ()

Snow???? Oh yes--that white stuff on the ground in your pictures--I remember it well!

comment by greatmartin on Oct 30, 2011 3:40 PM ()

This last storm I was lucky - had all the good of it with no downside.

reply by traveltales on Oct 31, 2011 6:51 PM ()

I loved it on the Walker River going from the East side of the Sierras into Nevada. Great river for kayaking.

comment by hobbie on Oct 30, 2011 2:27 PM ()

Something special about rivers and mountains - always something to look at.

reply by traveltales on Oct 31, 2011 6:50 PM ()

I once kayaked on a nice calm lake. I'd love to do it again.

comment by nittineedles on Oct 30, 2011 1:50 PM ()

One little tiny wave and I would be rolled over, but darn! It looks like such fun.

reply by troutbend on Oct 30, 2011 2:02 PM ()

I'll do my kayaking on the smooth inter-coastal!!!