One of the benefits of being a Sales Rep in Western Canada,
is the opportunity to paddle in some amazing places and yesterday, Mark and I
got to do just that.
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| Gear prep - Kokatat, Werner Paddles and Esquif Canoes |
Our friends, Roger and Allyson, owners of Green Wave
Canoeing in Kimberley, BC provide us with a place to park our van while
visiting our dealers in the East Kootenays and get us out on the water. We have
been spending more time over the last year developing our whitewater canoeing
skills, with great help and encouragement from Roger and Allyson.
Yesterday’s run on the St. Mary’s River can be described as
a Grade 3 put in, Grade 2 run. We put in at the Rails to Trails Bridge with 5
of us; Mark, Roger and Kristina in solo boats and Jasmine and I in a tandem, Esquif
Prospecteur 16.
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| Kristina, Roger, Mark, Jasmine and me |
The run is characterized by minimal grade, hoodoos, pine and
sagebrush. Wildlife was minimal on this particular afternoon but we saw bald
eagles and a token deer. At this water level, we could fairly easily maneuver
around the boulders, or eddy out behind them for some extra fun.
I will admit that I didn’t push myself on this run as much
as I could have, I was without my Kokatat drysuit because I recently sold my
Goretex Meridian to a friend and my new custom Kokatat Goretex Women’s Icon is
being built as I type this. A drysuit doesn’t only keep you warm & dry; it
encourages you to take your paddling skills to the next level and try things
without the fear of getting wet and cold. I am okay with that decision to keep
the “open side up”, we’ve got more paddling days ahead of us this season.
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| Mark going solo - he did a fantastic job!!! |
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| Fun times, paddling tandem with Jasmine |
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| Roger, leading us down the St. Mary's (one of his home rivers) |
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| Mark and Kristina in matching boats :) |
After paddling we headed to the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino,
while I am not particularly interested in golfing or gambling, there is some
very interesting history here and great apres eats and drinks at Fisher Peak Lounge. The main building is stunning and was once the
St. Eugene Mission, home of Western Canada’s first residential school. Now
numerous first nations communities have come together to create a place that
people visit from all over North America.
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| Kristina taking a break in the eddy |
We can’t wait to be back in the East Kootenays as there are
many more paddling adventures to be had. I’m most excited to get back on the
St. Mary’s and paddle it down into the Kootenay River.
Thanks, to Roger for making it happen and Kristina and
Jasmine for joining us on the adventure.
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| Good friends and time on the water always make for awesome memories!!! |
