Sea Kayak - Ross, Diablo & Gorge Lakes

Trip Report

SIGHTED: BROWN HEADED MERGANSER, LOON, EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, HUMMINGBIRD,  DEER, JUNKO, GREBE, HAWK, TURKEY VULTURE, SNAKE, FROG, CEDAR WAX WING

 

WED 07/23/22 – COLONIAL CREEK TO BUSTER BROWN,  3 SM, WW 0-1’, SE 5-9 KTS, SUNNY,  50S-80, VISABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

I’m sitting in the shady splendor of Buster Brown campground. Sunlight is glinting off the aqua green lake surface, Colin is asleep in his open hammock and Leanne is hooting in the frigid water our of sight but not ear.  Michelle is with her but not in the water.  Plenty more of where that water came from, looking at the snow high up in the hills in all those nooks and crannies around us.

 

My alarm went off at 4:30 and I was out the door from my sister’s by 5:00. I drove down to 9 North and stopped for a bucket sized mocha at the first Starbucks that I came to, fortunately very soon.  I sucked it down pretty quick considering.  No other stops and I arrived at the Wilderness Center in Marblemount about 6:25 which was pretty much what Google Maps predicted. The digital display above the door said 83.  I had grabbed the 87 ticket after hitting the clean and well stocked loo as soon as I arrived. I was called about 7:20 and it didn’t take long with the cheerful ranger.  Buster Brown was no problem, both Rainbow and 10 Mile were open but Thur was the only night I could have Little Beaver.  I went with BB, 10 Mile the first two nights, Boundary Bay for three and then Big Beaver on the last night. I was charged $10 per person plus a $6  “website use” fee.  I suppose it is inevitable that we were going to start getting charged for these permits.  But the boat launch and camping is still free except at drive in Colonial Creek. I expect that fee to go up each year too. I will be mad if Little Beaver is empty again.

 

The ranger told me that the resort had reported the day before that the southerly winds were rising earlier than usual, before noon and that was expected to continue for the next few days.  I knew already there was no rain in the forecast, yay!

 

I drove on to Newhalem without stopping.  The bookstore didn’t open until 9:00; it was barely 8:00.  The general store was open however and I went in and chatted with the two ladies that were working inside.  The told me that the town of Diablo is closed for five years after the loss of trees around the creek and the potential for landslides courtesy of the fire from two years ago.  Everybody has had to relocate; man that will be a long commute for some people I think.

 

I left and called the others who were not too far out and went on.  I was disappointed to see the road to Diablo Dam was closed to the public but missed the times on the board.

 

The water at the boat launch was the lowest I have seen it but not too bad.  The boat fell off the car as I was pulling it back.  It kept slipping sideways.  More duct tape applied; if this keeps up pretty soon I will see rolls of tape with a little bit of boat peeking out. I may have to have somebody else do the fore and aft keel strip repair as Rhonda may still be out of commission for a while; she isn’t answering her phone these days.

 

I got loaded up, went to the bathroom and moved the car.  Took my current reading book out and sat in some shade and read while I ate my breakfast by the boat ramp. It was about 10:00 and I walked up to my car to put the book away and saw a car with three kayaks on it parked over by the bathroom.  Soon I said hello to Michelle, Colin and Leanne for the first time.

 

It didn’t take them long to load up and move their car.  We were on the water around an hour later.  Everybody opted to go explore Thunder Creek first but we didn’t get very far.  It got shallow very fast so we soon turned around and rode the current out back into the lake. 

 

As usual we didn’t have any wind until we were approaching the boom.

 We slipped over by Thunder Knob to pause and discuss our options.  Everyone was good to go to the dam.  The wind was blowing about 8-10 steady but wasn’t a problem and my boat's bow  smooched the dam again.  There wasn’t an easy place to try and get out along the shore to go across the dam though.  I did see cars driving on it so I guess the road must have been opened.

 

We were getting hungry by this point and it was just after 1300 when we reached the swimming beach and got out just past the Seattle City Light docks. We had about a half an hour sitting in the shade on some rocks.  Then a short fast paddle with the wind behind us the mile or so to Buster Brown.  There was a kayak at the dock and the couple were staying to the right of the loo so we had the regular campsite at the top of the hill to ourselves.  I hung my hammock off a bit in the trees.  It looked and felt very inviting when I got it set up.

 

Then it was in my chair to read after unloading the boat and getting changed.  I had the last sandwich I had brought for dinner.  It was a little soggy.  I still need to set up my breakfast, lunch and snacks for tomorrow in my bucket.  Nice conversations, get cleaned up for bed and then some time spent on the dock for more conversations. It’s now 9:40 and I will read a bit before putting in the earplugs and going to sleep.  After getting up at 4:30 I don’t think I will be reading very long!

 Photo: Leanne Robertson

 

 

 

THU 07/24/25 – BUSTER BROWN TO 10 MILE ISLAND, 12 SM,  WW 0-1’, S 5-10 KTS, SUNNY, 50S-70S, VISABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

Today I was up before my 7:15 alarm went off.  I’d slept pretty well and was very comfy in my hammock.  It was a wonder I didn’t go rolling down the hill as I stumbled my way sleepily to the loo.

 

We were off pretty much on time at 0800; I didn’t look at my watch.  No boat traffic and it was a leisurely ride through lovely Diablo canyon.  The rocks towered over our heads now and then blocking out the sun as it grew increasingly narrow the farther back we went.  It didn’t take long to get to the dock in the alternating sun and shade. The dock now has a staging area on the left side for kayaks/canoes.  It contains two slots with the right slot complete with a slight boat ramp to land on.  Michelle and I were able to squeeze our boats into the left one with Leanne on the ramp and Colin on the outside. Both have convenient bars to hold on to that work fine from a canoe or a much taller person.  Of course my arms were too short to reach the upper one from a kayak.

 Photo: Colin Farrell

The resort phone is in the same location and I went up the few stairs to it as soon as I was out of the boat.  I was told to be patient and a truck was already on its way. We had just finished moving our boats and bags up to the top of the ramp when a truck came backing down with a canoe and some kayaks.  A guy was driving it with a new female co worker.  First woman driver I’ve seen up here! She said it was her second day; bet she will be a lot more burly before this summer is over.  The driver told me Bill Walker and his wife had just left yesterday!  I was sorry to have missed him.  The fee is still $45 per boat but we were not offered the multi boat discount.  You do now have the option of using a credit card for another $1.  I paid $50 cash.

 Photo: Colin  Farrell

There was nobody else at the ramp but us so we could take our time loading back up. It was 11:00 when we got underway.  The wind had risen a bit behind us enough to be a help rather than a hindrance.  Beautiful Ross Lake beckoned and soon we were on our way.  The lake has a noticeable 5’ ring around the collar but is still lovely as ever. It will make for an interesting journey especially at the back of the lake. We were soon through the boom and passed Cougar Island.  As expected, the tombolo on the right is now just a part of the island as the water is too low to flow between.

 

There were plenty of power boats coming and going.  We continued on and the others opted to go check out May Creek.  The falls were blocked by a large snag which made the exit difficult to maneuver a boat so I skipped it.

 

Colin announced he was feeling “peckish” and the rest of us were hungry too so we stopped at Rainbow with its distinctive poles in front now fully exposed. No problem finding places to haul our boats up and we went up to one of the pretty campsites to eat at a table.  The loo was one of the Canadian made ones with the clear roof; I think all of the Ross Lake ones are now.  I’ll be glad when/if they get them installed on Diablo. As we were finishing our meal some ladies came up looking tired.  They had paddled from Lightening near the back with the headwind for the last part of it and were staying the night at Rainbow.  We wished them a pleasant stay and soon shoved off.

 

With the wind pushing us we made it the three miles to the bridge spanning the entrance of Devil’s Canyon in just over half an hour around 1400. There were two power boats coming out of it and the occupants told us there were more in the canyon.  I stayed in the back mostly with Leanne who ooh’d and ahh’d a bit for good reason.  This canyon is one of the highlights on this lake and it is always surprising to me how many people miss it. 

We passed two more boaters and they said there were two more boats behind them.  The first one was being towed by a woman who was SWIMMING.  That water is colder the closer you get to the back…she must have been freezing when she started!  She said she was fine; it appears to be her thing.  But the other boat had a guy and a couple of kids in it and they were stuck.  They struggled trying to move the numerous logs out of the way with the paddles.  I watched in silence for the most part until I could see the path they were aiming for and then began moving what I could out of the way for them. It took a while.  Once they were clear we decided we were not going to risk it ourselves in it and said goodbye to the visible creek and turned around.  I rafted up beside Leanne so I could pass my stick over us and halfway filled up my beaver bag with the frigid creek water.  I don’t think that water has to drop very far from that snowy source and likely travels fast!

 

By the time we got towards the front the swimmer was still toiling along dragging the boat behind her.  She’d actually made pretty fast progress!

 

It took about 15 minutes to reach the one mile this time to Ten Mile Island.  We had the island to ourselves and chose the beautiful campsite on the NE side closest to the little landing beach. It was bigger this time around so we didn’t have to drag our boats up on the embankment.   We quickly set up our tents and hammocks and I got into my swim suit as soon as I could.  One jump in the still slightly chilly water and I grabbed my paddling shirt to put over it. I was soon joined by Leanne and my, she is impressive.  She is an avid outdoor swimmer and wow can she go.  I thought she was going to go around the island.  Eventually we got out and moved over to the sunnier western side to sit on the warm rocks and alternate swimming.  I did what I dream of every dark winter: snoozing in warm sunshine, listening to the thumps and hisses of water hitting the rocks below me, hearing the birds in the trees, opening my eyes to gorgeous blue sky, water and trees. The thundering falls directly across   were a little hard to spot in the shadow of the afternoon sun.

 Photo: Leanne Robertson

Eventually I got up and went back to get some cheese, olives, crackers to munch on.  Eventually Leanne got up and left.  My butt was still wet so I rolled over onto the warm rocks and actually fell asleep!  I got back to camp just after 6:00.  The wind picked up very dramatically as we cooked and ate our dinners and cleaned up afterwards. Dishes have to be washed in a bucket in camp or ideally standing on the rocks at the water.  No soap, waste or food is allowed in the lake so the bucket is dumped out on the shore.  With the warm sun it should evaporate pretty quickly. I hauled out my pump filter and immediately found it was hardly usable.  Leanne and Michelle showed me how to take it apart and I used some vasoline on the O-ring; that did the trick and it worked normally after that.  I later found some silicone in my kit for it.  I made some tea and got things ready for the morning.  It’s now 9:36, almost dark but the wind is still blowing a bit.  I’m going to read in my hammock.  We are going to launch tomorrow at 1100 so no alarm…yay!

 

 

 

FRI 07/25/25 10 MILE ISLAND TO BOUNDARY BAY – 6.5 SM, WW 0-1’, S 5-10 KTS, SUNNY, 50S-70S, VISABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

We were not in any hurry to leave our pretty campsite.  Leanne had swum around the island long before I got up.  We launched on time at 1100.  The wind was already blowing but not always helpful as we shifted with the bends in the lake.  Nobody was needing to get out and we made fast progress the three miles it took to get the next bridge this time spanning Lightening Creek. No boats or people this time with only bits of wood so Colin and I did some surfing in the little outflow of the chattering creek.  It was bonier than I have seen it before but that was expected.

 

The bathtub ring was quite noticeable by now.  The water between the hill and Cat Island was a lot more narrow.  Nobody wanted to stop there.  We were getting hungry by the time we reached Bounday Bay.  I was dismayed but not surprised to see two power boats from the Resort pulled up in front of the embankment taking up almost all of the available space. I noticed the “steps” from last time are no longer covered with water but fully exposed which made it a little easier to get up to the area above.  I walked up to the campsites to find a half dozen guys spread out leaving one site up above.  It was doable but a bit of a haul.  The others were back in their boats and already moving to the other side.  I was outvoted to go to the upper area; the others wanted privacy so I was stuck at the same place that I stayed at before. It hadn’t gotten any more level but at least this time we didn’t have to unload in the water.  The dropped lake level provide some beach but unfortunately a 5’ embankment to have to scramble up. Clever Colin rigged up a line using a little toy to grab a hold of and we two moved some logs over to make a couple of steps so it wasn’t so bad getting up and down. It reminded me of the Fox Group in the Broughtons but only half that size which was a mercy. I don’t like these situations; it really increases the damage potential to gear and bodies.  And we were here for three days. The area around the picnic table is at a slant but the tent pads looked level.  Leanne took the place I’d had my hammock at long ago so I moved off into the trees to set it up. 

 

Colin had gone to the loo and came back with a deer.  She was watchful but didn’t seem fearful; just curious.  She wandered off but came back later as I was testing my hammock out.  She watched me a bit then swiveled her huge ears before turning to watch Leanne setting up her tent.  It took her a long time to leave. She looked well fed and clean with no injuries or noticeable scars.  I hoped she would come back when I had my camera but she didn’t.

 

I spent the rest of the day lounging, talking, swimming and sitting on warm rocks.  While there were no mosquitos there were plenty of flies for some reason.  Something did bite my lower feet at some point but I don’t know what it was.  Colin had strung up his hammock by the table and he and Michelle sat in it quite a bit.  I should consider that; it would be nice to have that and the Crazy Creek chair if I was in a tent. The area around the table was pretty limited and we all got round eyed watching Colin sitting in a camp chair by the fire pit…it looked like he was teetering on the brink!  All of the fire pits have little orange flags staked in them announcing no fires.

 

One of the nice things about Boundary Bay is that you are on the east side of the lake so get all the afternoon sun.  It actually sinks twice where we were at, the first time behind one section of the mountains across the way and then again behind one next door.  Odd but pleasant.

 Photo: Leanne Robertson

The sight of liquor bottles spread out over the table and bear cache along with the stench of pot coming from the other side of the campground made us glad we had chosen our spot in spite of the difficulties getting to it.  After some more pleasant conversation over dinner with clean up afterwards it was decided to launch tomorrow around 7 AM to avoid the wind on the return from the back of the lake.  The water is warm back here so no immersion wear was necessary.

 

SAT 07/26/25 – BOUNDARY BAY TO CANADIAN BORDER AND RETURN – 12 SM, SLIGHT NORTH BREEZE SHIFTING TO SOUTH 0-5 KTS, CLOUDY WITH GRADUAL CLEARING, 50S-70S, VSABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

I was surprised to see Colin dressed in three layers when I got up around 6:30.  Everybody reported that it had been quite chilly earlier. That is the downside of being on the east side…no a.m. warmth. Michelle wore her drysuit while the rest of us just had on paddling clothes.  The water is likely around 70 degrees at this section of the lake and I expected it to be pretty shallow at the back.

 

The clouds seem closer up here and we paddled quietly underneath them on mostly still or occasionally rippling water.  We have seen lots of loons on this trip, some of them pretty vocal. We stayed on the east side paddling past the rock slide areas and eventually reaching the camp for the SCL and/or rangers up by Hozemeen.  I always get the two areas confused.  We got out to use the loo there and it was, like all the others, well stocked and clean.  We continued on finally reaching Hozemeen CAMPGROUND with its clearly defining sign, dock and swimming boom.  Hozemeen was closed the last two times I have been here and I don’t know if there are any plans to reopen it. But the grass had been cut; we could hear and see where the creek was coming out beside it. 

 

We went on to Ross Lake Campground on the other side of the Canadian border.  It was pretty busy so I guess they got that road to it reopened.  We hauled out on the south side of the little cove. There is a nice covered over area that had a couple of kids and adults sitting on one of the numerous benches on the patio.  Eventually they were joined by a couple of rangers that we had a nice chat with.  I asked them how the Canadians coordinate with the American side for the camping permits and was surprised when she said that the Canadians were not allowed to camp on the US side. This was news to me as I’d heard complaints for years about how they monopolized the camping spots at Hozemeen.  Maybe that is one of the reasons why that campground is no longer used???  She said that this year she is not being given a little house to stay in while she acts as a liaison between the two sides of the border but is hopeful that may change later. I noticed that there was also a bat house on a high pole next to the patio and took a picture to show Terry.  It’s a lot bigger than the one on the side of his house; I can’t begin to guess how many bats—if any—are jammed in that one!

 

We ate our snacks, Colin and Michelle dumped their trash in the receptacle and eventually we saddled up and continued.  It was hard to see where the Silver Skagit creek came out as the water grass was above my head and we decided this year not to bother with it.  I imagine the creek was probably too shallow to approach anyway.  By now the sun had come out and we could clearly see the border gap going up the hill through the trees in a straight line on both sides.  Pictures were taken and I wove my way back and forth in and out of Canada on my way to the other side of the lake.  Many of the stumps were close enough to the surface to touch my stick.  But there were no bugs which really surprised me.  I guess the bats are doing their job.

 

The wind shifted as the sun came out of the clouds which gradually cleared off and it was bright sunshine by the time we got over to Silver Creek.  This time we hauled out among the piled up driftwood logs that just allowed a bit of a peek at the cascading creek.  We liked the spot so much that we decided to eat lunch and pump some water. 

 

It was 1215 when the southerly breeze suddenly sprang up just as we were getting up to leave.  It was a welcome treat the 4.5 miles back to Boundary Bay.  We mostly followed the western shore before turning and heading almost straight across back to our spot arriving around 1330. 

 

The rest of the day was spent reading, swimming and being lazy before the usual routine of cooking and cleaning up.  It was delightful to get into the hammock to read and know that tomorrow we don’t have to get up until we feel like it…it is so nice to have a day off!

 

SUN 07/27/25 – NO PADDLE DAY

 

My hammock has been a little difficult in this spot as the angle of it is higher on one end that the other which results with my curling into a ball at the lower end.  That end happens to be where the Velcro opening is and somehow it keeps getting forced open.  I tried adjusting it yesterday without much success.  But I still slept late, only getting up earlier to go pee before going back to sleep. 

 

I got up to find our campsite deserted but I had seen through my netting Leanne carrying a lot of bags and heading towards the loo.  A glance at the shore proved no power boats were down there and I saw a flash of fluorescent orange in the trees on the other side. Colin’s hammock so I figured correctly that the neighbors had left and our group was shifting over.  I heartily approved and wasted no time in getting my hammock, gear and boat moved. 

 

Our day turned out to be a really enjoyable one.  Ross Lake has returned to its regular weather pattern: clear and warm sunshine in the still and quiet in the a.m. with wind, if any, in the afternoon. Leanne put on a bright orange buoy that marked her as she swam and I figured she was probably going to go to the dam and back before lunch.  I went out to sit on the rocks and watched Colin and Michelle rolling their boats in an impressive display in the still water that they said was very refreshing.  Eventually I saw Leanne’s arms doing their steady stroke along the shore towards us.  She didn’t go to the dam but did go all the way down to the next point that must have been about 2 miles away and got a good view of Little Beaver Falls.

 

Two loons out on the water were very vocal; I don’t know if they were arguing or courting—or both—but that is the first time I have heard them like that!

 

The rest of the day was spent being lazy and very relaxed.  It was about 4:00 when I jumped off the rocks into the lake below.  I was joined by Leanne who also loaned me her swimming goggles.  I now am adding that to my packing list for Ross Lake.  It was wonderful to see all the fish swimming around and the rocks and stumps down below us.  I can definitely see why she finds outdoor swimming so appealing….well, at least when the water is warm!  The water temperature felt perfect as we paddled and flopped around.  I stood on a stump rising up to just below the surface and allowed Colin to take my pic as I posed as the Queen of Ross Lake!

 

The wind occasionally gusted through our campsite throughout the day and early evening.  It was welcome as it kept the flies down. Michelle wisely wore some long layers against the bugs but I have only seen one mosquito so far in this entire trip.  It didn’t get any of my blood or another chance to see tomorrow either. At home it’s ants and outside it’s mosquitos.

 

It was nice to get back into my hammock—now hanging level—set the alarm and read before I turn off the light.

 

 

MON 07/28/25 – BOUNDARY BAY TO BIG BEAVER-12 SM,  WATER CALM, LITTLE OR NO WIND, SUNNY, HOT, VISABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

Today was another early launch at 0700.  This group never complains about these early launches which makes it easier for me to grit my teeth and bear it.  While there was more of distance to get to the boats the packing up was so much easier than having to maneuver up and down that embankment on the other side. 

 

We launched on time and headed over to the west side first in the cool shade of the mountains with the rising sun over them to have warm light on the other side.  The water was reflecting the light off the surface onto the underside of the rocks and curiously on the trees above them.  I’ve never seen that before and rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things.  I didn’t bother to take a picture because I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have shown that effect.

 

I was surprised to see a tent pitched on the old campsite by the first bulkhead at Little Beaver; I didn’t know that people were still allowed to camp there but maybe they have put in a tent site now.  As expected my favorite spot was not taken. We pulled over briefly and I saw with the low water level it might have been a tricky carry to get boats up the rocks this time.  There were no other campers that I could see as we headed around the other side and down the creek canyon. 

 

Colin might have some lumberjack stock in his Scottish heritage somewhere because he got out of his boat to push one of the logs aside that was blocking our way to the chattering creek beyond at the back like he really knew what he was doing.  We piled in to go say hi to the pretty stream before turning around and going up the beautiful canyon back into the sunshine. 

 

It was then a short distance to one of the grandest sights on Ross Lake: Little Beaver falls. While it is not the tallest I think it may have the most volume of any of the waterfalls on Ross.  We had it all to ourselves with the water glinting through the roaring cascades of water creating rainbows close to the surface.  Nice pictures taken before we finally said good bye and carried on. 

There were at least five more including the tallest falls opposite 10 Mile Island.

 This is one that Colin, Michelle and I all took turns getting splashed on as it drops all the way directly into the lake.

 

Just beyond this fall is pretty much the only place you can get out of the boat easily on the west side of this section of the lake between the falls and Big Beaver.  This time we had plenty of room to beach our boats and have a bio break and snack sitting on the huge log and rocks.

 

Then it was on the last 4.5 miles to Big Beaver.  I was thinking that the waterfall with the landslide in front of it was on Pumpkin Mountain but we reached it before then.  I looked at it; it looked pretty much the same except the embankment was higher most likely because of the lower water level.  It is going to take a long time for anything to grow there. I was wondering how fast I could get up to it this time with my improved knee but nobody wanted to go explore it so we pressed on.

 

We briefly discussed going point to point but the consensus was to follow the shoreline which might provide a windbreak if it rose.  It did but wasn’t much. I don’t think I have ever gotten around Pumpkin without a wind but this one was pretty easy to handle and was actually welcoming.  It was becoming pretty hot.  I had my drysuit on to save packing it but Michelle had taken hers off at the break.

 Probably the tallest viewable waterfall is in the hills above Ross Lake.  I believe it is the creator of May Creek/falls.  I don't know if anybody can access it but it can only be viewed from the west side of the lake. 

We arrived at Big Beaver and I wasn’t surprised to see it deserted.  That has been the story all the way through this week.  I have never seen the lake this empty.  Not even any hikers but they must be somewhere.

 

Because the water was so low there was plenty of rocks to negotiate but also plenty of room to pull up our boats.  We pulled them up to the same area where we had parked last time I was here.  But the picnic table at the waterside campsite was falling apart and unusable.  Colin and I tramped around a bit and everyone agreed to go up the hill to one of the campsites there.  It turned out to be very nice with good views in all directions.  I normally like to be closer to my boat and the beach but this turned out fine as we could still see our boats from the campsite. There are two loos at this site, one of them a large ADA facility which makes me wonder how they would be able to get to it but oh well. Where there is a will there is a way.

 

We set up our tents/hammocks in the spacious site. 

It was plenty hot by this time; the black hatch cover on the back of my boat was hot to handle. Eventually a couple of hikers showed up but took a spot down below closer to the trail.  We passed their site on our way to the trail to take us to the creek.  The water was running about 6-7 knots down the rocks.  The water level was noticeably lower than in previous years but it was still very pleasant to sit on the pretty warm rocks with toes twiddling in the cold water and listening to its chatter and the calls of birds with the sunlight through the trees. 

Colin and Michelle pumped some water and I tried to get pictures of the cedar wax wings flitting around us.  Eventually I was able to creep down to the rocks below and get a couple of shots before they disappeared.

The others had already gone back to camp and I walked back in the cool forest with the sun dappling through the trees.

 

After briefly returning to camp I walked down and jumped off the dock.  The water was more chilly than at Boundary but was still pleasant.  Leanne soon joined me and we swam around to the sunny southern side where the boats were to get out.  I got into some dry clothes and hung things up on my clothes line. The wind had picked up and I knew everything would dry out fast and mercifully the bugs cleared out.  I tried out Colin’s hammock and spent some time kicking up my feet and swinging back and forth in it.  Getting out is a bit of a challenge but well worth the effort.

 

I didn’t feel like cooking by dinner time; I just ate some snacks.  Michelle kindly shared some peanut butter and I put some on a tortilla with a handful of nut and seeds for breakfast tomorrow.  I didn’t bother making lunch as I knew we would likely be back at the cars by noon.

 

It was with some sadness that I climbed back into my hammock.  This week has gone by so fast but was so tranquil and relaxing.  I am looking forward to going home but at the same time it is always hard to say goodbye to Ross Lake and its peaceful and timeless beauty.

 

 

TUE 07/29/25 – BIG BEAVER TO COLONIAL CREEK -7.5 SM, WATER CALM TO RIPPLED, LITTLE OR NO WIND, SUNNY, HOT, VISABILITY EXCELLENT.

 

We were loaded and launched by about 0800.  We didn’t go up to the rapid but instead turned into the sunshine and began following along the western shore.  The sun was already over the mountain, the water was like glass and there were leaves and feathers floating on top of it.  I turned several times to look at the lovely vistas behind me and saw only one power boat way off up the lake before the first bend.

 Photo: Colin Farrell

We arrived at the boom that seemed much closer to the dam than the first day; I think the wind must have moved it around.  Colin arrived first and I asked him to make the call to the Resort.  We were the only ones besides a woman who was dropped off on to the dock with a pile of stuff. Very soon we saw the truck coming down and we moved our stuff fast to get it out of the way. This time our driver was Ann, the other woman employee.  Nothing to unload this time so we were loaded up and moving in just a few minutes. I turned and watched glittering Ross Lake slide away  out of my sight as I said a silent thank you again for another happy week of good memories.  

 

The drive was the usual 20 minutes and we arrived down to a busy scene at the Diablo dock.  One man kindly helped unload our stuff and some kids helped move some of our gear.  The guy told us he was one of seven adults with 21 kids that were going to spend a week on Ross for the first time with their canoes.  He asked for some tips and I gave him some, skipping the one of leaving at least half of that group at home. I hope the weather held for them; it can be different in the mountains.

 

We got back into our boats as soon as we could which means pretty quick and were on our way after thanks and good byes to all. 

We began seeing SUPers and other boaters coming towards us the closer we got to the end of the canyon.  All was quiet as we turned the corner and headed down Thunder Arm.  I pulled over at one point to take pics of a brown headed merganser and a large brood of chicks along the way.

 

It didn’t seem to take very long to pull out on the mud flat before noon where we had started a week ago.

My car was parked under a tree so happily it wasn’t cooking when I went up to change and bring it down.  Good teamwork was applied to get all of us loaded up.  The decision was made not to stop in Newhalem but to find a place to stop and eat.  It ended up being Moe’s in Darrington and boy, was it good.  They had ice cream and Colin kindly bought me a double scoop which I gleefully sucked down to the last delicious drop. 

 

The bird life on this trip was really something. Leanne was very good at identifying them so I found there were some I didn’t even know were up here.  We saw at least 5 turkey vultures at one point; I had no idea they were here either.  Ross Lake is full of surprises.

 

Photo: Colin Farrell

Photo: Colin Farrell

Photo: Leanne Robertson

Photo: Leanne Robertson

Photo: Leanne Robertson

Another thing that made a big difference was the cleanliness of the water, bathrooms and campgrounds.  There was no trash anywhere on the water and I only had to pick up one plastic tab from a campground in the entire week. I was wondering how the staff cuts would affect the park service but everything was outstanding.     I don't know if the lack of people was planned accordingly for this.    I'm sure the hefty shuttle fees had something to do with it but that is a Ross Lake Resort issue, not the park's. 

Our sunny weather pattern held and that is a huge plus in any trip. 

Last but certainly not least: trips are only as good as the company you keep and every time I think the group can’t get better it does.  This one will be very tough to beat.  Everybody was so kind, considerate and helpful that it was just a joy to be around them in or out of our boats. I hope that there are now three more people who can understand why I say that Ross Lake is a magical place to be in a sea kayak!

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