Near the top of the list of things I never thought I'd see..

[Admin]

... is Mrs. Admin in the cockpit of a touring 'yak. But she decided to try paddling, so we ventured 10 minutes up the road after work on Thursday to Little Dell Reservoir. For the first 20 minutes I swore that I'd never bring her again, but after that things started to go a bit better. It would've helped had I remembered my paddle and not had to go all the way back home to retrieve it! But that of course is my own damned fault. #-o

Mrs. Admin paddling Little Dell

Mrs. Admin paddling Little Dell

Mrs. Admin paddling Little Dell

After Thursday night's first shot, Mrs. Admin was ready for a bit more so we spent the afternoon today at Causey Reservoir in Weber County, a far more picturesque venue than Thursday's trial. The big surprise of the day were the hundreds of Kokanee salmon swimming up the Left Fork to spawn.

Mrs. Admin taking one of many pauses to drift at Causey

Kokanee salmon in the Left Fork

Returning to our boats where the Left Fork meets Causey Reservoir

Mrs. Admin paddling at Causey (now if I can just get her to sit properly in the boat!)

 

[Tony Crocker]

For the first 20 minutes I swore that I'd never bring her again, but after that things started to go a bit better.

We rented a kayak on Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe on July 28. The guy renting the tandem kayaks refers to them as "divorce boats." :lol: I wasn't too worried due to our whitewater paddle raft experience, most recently on the Middle Fork Salmon. Whitewater guides will get on you right away if you're not in synch with the rest of the boat.

 

[Evren]

Just the type of place I was looking for! Little Dell is sort of featureless and on the way home -- making it boring. Plus you can't swim.

My go-to kayak excursion for visitors is/was a gentle paddle down the Provo. High Country provides the equipment and the driving for less than what you pay at REI for a rental (esp if you get their yearly groupon/livingSocial deal). But I've done that enough times already.

Admin, is there any other place you'd recommend for a day trip?

 

[Admin]

Little Dell is sort of featureless and on the way home -- making it boring. Plus you can't swim.

Agreed on all counts. I use it only for a quick paddle at times like after work, only because it's only 10 minutes away.

Admin, is there any other place you'd recommend for a day trip?

Flaming Gorge would be an ambitious, yet do-able day trip; see http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10329 or http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6920. It's best done after Labor Day after most of the powerboaters give up for the season. Smith & Morehouse Reservoir east of Oakley is pretty, but would be even better were it larger than its diminutive 44 acres. Most of the other Uinta lakes are even smaller.

Anything more interesting IMO is further afield. We've had a good experience at the Green River Lakes in the Wind River Mountains (http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8111) but the paddle down the Green River through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons into Canyonlands National Park (http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2011/10/09/retracing-powells-paddle/) is ranked among the top 10 sea kayak trips in North America on many such lists. We spent a full 8 days making that trip, but you can do the upper half only as a three-day voyage (http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10238). It's an almost religious experience -- I can't recommend it enough.

 

[socal]

For the first 20 minutes I swore that I'd never bring her again, but after that things started to go a bit better.

We rented a kayak on Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe on July 28. The guy renting the tandem kayaks refers to them as "divorce boats." :lol: I wasn't too worried due to our whitewater paddle raft experience, most recently on the Middle Fork Salmon. Whitewater guides will get on you right away if you're not in synch with the rest of the boat.

Funny, we took a tandem out on my honeymoon in Ha Long Bay and it was a disaster. I ended up telling her to not paddle and enjoy the ride since we couldn't go straight with both paddling.