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Published: August 7th 2015
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Murtle Lake Trip 2015
GPS track on Google Earth This is a rare trip that “The Two of Us” did not go together on. So not to muck up Michele’s excellent blogging track record, I , David am trying my hand at writing some travel adventures rather than writing my usual project and quick start guides.
It started with a note from a long-time friend, Mark who wanted to take his kayak out for a paddle. He was prepared to go alone if need be but was looking for some company. It has been quite a long time since I had done tent camping let alone portaging and paddling for long stretches. I decided I needed to add some other company to this adventure, so I called upon my son’s to join us. I got two nibbles but, in the end, only one was able to go with us -- Matthew.
The trip was to Murtle Lake in the Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada, a majestic lake with crystal clear waters heading to the Pacific surrounded by forests, and rugged mountain peaks. There are two arms to the lake: The North arm runs through steep sided slopes covered with dense mixed forests fed by damp west winds. This part of the lake is very deep and the water quickly turns from crystal clear to inky black. Wells Gray has not seen any large scale fires so many of the trees have been around for hundreds of years with a rich forest floor feeding the growth cycle. The west arm opens up with a wider valley, more sandy beaches, and many areas where you can glimpse all the way to the bottom.
If I had known how much paddling and hiking we would do, I am sure the excuse to finish my basement would have cropped up. I love Mark, he is one of those types of athletic, determined folks who has a knack to be able to push you well beyond what you think you're capable of and makes it happen. Over seven days and six nights, we travelled by vehicle 1400+ km, by water 83 km, and by foot 25 km.
Planning
Now for Canoe selection. Right away I was sure we were not going to take our vintage slow, heavy, fiberglass canoe. In the end Marks’s brother offered to loan his fast canoe that we were assured should be able to keep pace with Mark's long, narrow, swift kayak. Wow, done!
Food--what can I say, our planned over consumption dictated waay to much of it and we ended bringing out a few meals. Curtis, my other son who could not wander with us, had made some spaghetti sauce for supper at home pre-trip, which sparked an idea to dehydrate this tasty meal for the trip. Both sons said, they "were not eating that dried up mess." One did and enjoyed it. Mark’s wife Judy had put together a wonderful menu selection right down to what snacks and deserts we would have and provided a day-by-day meal list to take with us. We enjoyed tasty meals, and ate very well. This was not a weight loss excursion.
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