A few weeks ago I upgraded my paddling camera to waterproof and rugged Olympus Stylus TG-5 . It’s the follow-up to the Olympus STYLUS Tough TG-4 and features a new sensor and processor (but reduced resolution), advanced tracking capabilities, 4K […]
paddling with a camera
Posts Tagged ‘Paddling’
Olympus Tough TG-5 Waterproof Paddling Camera – First Impressions
23
Aug
Searching for Paddling Water in Southern Colorado – Part 2
12
Apr
I started my February trip to southern Colorado with visiting Paint Mine Interpretive Park at Calhan east of Colorado Springs. I spent there evening and next morning photographing fantastic clay and sandstone erosion formations. I added some pictures to my […]
paddling with a camera
Searching for Paddling Water in Southern Colorado – Part 1
06
Mar
I paddled all winter in Fort Collins and northern Colorado: Horsetooth Reservoir, South Platte River, St Vrain Creek. One day in late February I decided to check some paddling waters in southern Colorado for a change. Paint Mine Interpretive Park […]
paddling with a camera
10 Winter Miles of Stand Up Paddling on South Platte River
09
Jan
January 3, 2016. First SUP paddle of the year with Rob Bean. We paddled 10 miles on the South Platte River from highway 58 to Kuner. Great weather, river flow ~900 cfs at Kersey, several bald eagles and hundreds of ducks. There are no portages on this river section since we started just below the Plumb Ditch Dam (the second diversion dam if you paddle from Evans).
We started from a gravel bar under the new bridge on highway 58 – a right river shore with parking on a wide shoulder, a shorter, steeper route with barbed wire fence on the upstream bridge site. Downstream bridge site may be more convenient without the fence, but with a little longer walk. You can reach the bridge by turning into the new highway 49 at traffic lights from Colorado highway 34 between Evans and Kersey.
Rob posted his pictures on facebook. They actually show much better our launching site.
Start at gravel bar under the new highway 58 bridge
Somewhere on the river around Kersey
Ducks, ducks, and more ducks. Hundreds of them.
Finishing 10 mile trip at Kuner
A little bit icy landing at Kuner (left shore upstream of the bridge)
Related posts:
South Platte River below Denver – river guide
Starting 2015/16 Winter Paddling Season on South Platte River
Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
South Platte River from Wildcat to Evans by SUP
South Platte River below Denver – river guide
Starting 2015/16 Winter Paddling Season on South Platte River
Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
South Platte River from Wildcat to Evans by SUP
Happy Paddling in 2016 New Year!
01
Jan
Happy Paddling in New Year 2016!
Happy New Year everybody! In the picture above: partially frozen Horsetooth Reservoir just before sunrise on December 29, 2015. Camera: Sony Alpha II with Sony/Zeiss FE 24-70mm lens on a tripod. That was a cold morning! During recent winter days in Colorado I am doing more hiking than paddling.
Happy Thanksgiving for All Paddling and Photographing Friends
26
Nov
Happy Thanksgiving !
This is one of my new Thanksgiving greeting cards created this year. You can find more similar images with Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and New Year themes in my stock photography portfolio. They available as royalty free images ready for digital download and licensing.
Selected holiday pictures are also available at FineArtAmerica. They can be ordered as fine art prints, posters, cards and other art products, e.g. iPhone cases.
Starting 2015/16 Winter Paddling Season on South Platte River
16
Nov
A middle of November. It’s time to start my winter paddling season. Of course, Horsetooth and other local lakes in Fort Collins are still open, so I can continue my summer style paddling. Nevertheless, I took the Sea Wind canoe, Pixel (aka water Corgi) and went for the first fall/winter paddling on the South Platte River.
We went to Masters and started to paddling upstream. However the dam just above Master bridge was closed and diverting water to Jackson Reservoir, so we paddled a couple miles downriver instead. Beautiful weather and a good flow of ~900cfs @ Weldona. Actually, I spent more time photographing than paddling.
I am hoping to do more paddling on different sections of the South Platte River during the incoming winter season and, finally, update my river guide. Would you like to join me? The South Platte with a typical winter flow is just a wading river and suitable for safe paddling with any boat – kayak, canoe or SUP. Well, a paddleboard would require some experience and a short fin due to possible shallows. I don’t think that you need to dress for immersion, but I always take extra clothes for change.
I am still sorting my blogs after migrating to a new server. If you encounter any problem or missing links please let me know.
South Platte River in eastern Colorado below Masters with Jackson Reservoir ditch, looking downstream
Looking down from Phantom 3 drone. Can you see the Sea Wind canoe, me and Pixel?
Let’s look a little closer
and, even closer
A typical fall or winter scenery on the South Platte lit by the low setting sun
Springtime Paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir with Sea Wind Canoe
09
May
I started my 2015 paddling season on Horsetooth Reservoir in early February, but my favorite time is springtime: a lot of fresh green, wild plums and other bushes in bloom, high water lever with submerged cottonwood trees and little power boat traffic. The reservoir is more than 98% full at this time (see reservoir data.
Horsetooth Reservoir is 6 miles long, but I wonder how long would be a lap around the entire lake following closely the shore. 25+ miles? There is only one way to check it out. So far this year, I haven’t paddled more than 10 miles, always in Sea Wind canoe.
There are several access spots to launch your kayak, canoe or SUP:
1. South Bay – boat ramp
2. Inlet Bay – boat ramp
3. Satanka Bay – boat ramp
4. Sunrise Area from the Centennial Road (closed during winter).
5. North Eltuck Cove from the Lory State Park (trail access up to 0.25 mile at a low water)
I am avoiding boat ramps during power boat season. Off season, I am often using one of the South Bay boat ramps. It’s possible to park on a beach close to water there. Right now, boat ramps are very short and a regular parking is really close to water. I use Sunrise Area next to swimming “beach” mostly during summer. The shore there is quite rocky and not protected from waves and boat wakes. Access point 1-4 require Larimer County Parks pass and 5 – Colorado State Park pass for your car. I used to carry my light Thunderbolt kayak from the Lory State park or tow Sea Wind on snow.
February 5, 2015: Winter dusk over Eltuck Cove looking towards Horsetooth Dam. CameraL Canon 5D M3.
March 30, 2015: Aerial view of the South Eltuck Cove. Camera: Panasonic Lumix GM1 on F550 Flaming Wheel drone.
April 27, 2015: Paddling north along the west coast between South Bay and Dixon Cove. Camera: Sony A6000 with 16-50mm lens.
May 1, 2015: Wild plums blooming. Camera: Sony A6000 with 16-50mm lens.
May 6, 2015: Old sandstone quarry in Satanka Bay. Camera: Sony A6000 with 10-18mm lens.
May 6, 2015: Orchard Cove from the top of old road. Camera: Sony A6000 with 10-18mm lens.
Related posts and resources:
Horsetooth REservoir map
Winter Season Paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir with Sea Wind Canoe
Early Morning Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Fisheye Lens Perspective for Paddling?
Horsetooth REservoir map
Winter Season Paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir with Sea Wind Canoe
Early Morning Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Fisheye Lens Perspective for Paddling?
Paddling and Flying with Geese at St Vrain and South Platte Confluence
15
Mar
During my last paddling trip I made a stop to photograph the confluence of St Vrain Creek and South Platte River below Platteville. It was just before sunset. Hundreds of Canadian geese were passing by. I had my drone about 8 minutes in the air and some of flying geese were captured in my pictures.
Pictures of my drone (DJI Flame Wheel F550 with Panasonic Lumix GM1 camera) were shot earlier during my first stop at Wildcat Mound about 1 mile below the confluence.
My next visit to this river section with be probably on SUP and without the drone. I paddle Badfish SUP with a short fin which is probably safer at some shallow and rocky spots below the confluence.
Aerial view of the South Platte River with Sea Wind canoe and a paddler/pilot.
Aerial view of South Platte River and St Vrain Creek confluence looking upstream, i.e., south
Aerial view of South Platte River and St Vrain Creek confluence
DJI Flame Wheel F550 drone with Panasonic Lumix GM1 camera on a sandbar
Sea Wind canoe with DJI Flame Wheel F550 drone
I am adding the above pictures to Aerial Landscape gallery in my stock photography portfolio. They are available for license and immediate download as royalty free images.
Related posts:
Aerial View of South Platte River at Wildcat Mound below Platteville
Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
South Platte River below Denver – GPS/photo river guide
Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
10
Mar
March 8, 2015. A short, 7 mile, stand up paddling (SUP) trip on the South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner with Rob Bean and a company of goose, deer, and bald eagles. It was easy paddling with a good flow of 1100 cfs and beautiful warm weather. After, paddling I did some river scouting around Evans Riverside Park and further upstream.
Rob’s pictures from this paddling on facebook.
Launching our paddleboards below Kersey bridge next to water gauge station
I paddled my Badfish SUP with a short fin and never touched the bottom. Rob paddled with a regular fin and had to step out of his board once or twice, but I believe it would be possible to avoid any shallows with a more careful navigation.
Finishing our run at Kuner on left shore above the bridge
A typical bridge river access on the South Platte.
A part of Riverside Park at Evans reopened in September 2014 with entry from 42nd Street. There is access to a small lake, but no access to the river.
A bike trail going under hwy 85 bridge at Evans. Off road parking at the end of frontage road. The river access is not bad for the South Platte standards (no fences), but the under bridge scenery is pretty ugly.
And, the bike trail ends just below the bridge. This is how probably the river shore looks further downstream at Riverside Park after the 2013 flooding.
Let’s move 16 miles upstream: St Vrain Creek at Wildcat about 1 mile before the confluence with the South Platte.
Access to the river from the county road 19.5 (no fences) looks more or less the same as before flooding. River flow ~200cfs. I have started paddling trips here with flow as low as 90cfs.
Related posts:
Opening 2015 Paddling Season on the South Platte River
Scouting and Paddling the South Platte River after 2013 Flooding
South Platte River below Denver – GPS/photo river guide
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