Canoe Meadows
I read about this short riverside trail in my guide book some time ago and have been saving it until the river thawed. It made a nice afternoon wander on a day with snow showers blowing through. Sarah led the way down a series of well maintained steps toward the cool blue melt-water infused Kananaskis river.
The steps lead down to Shaugnessy Canyon where a trail runs tight to the river
upstream the strings that hang 'gates' for kayaks can be seen crossing the river
there is some force to the water as it funnels through the canyon, we can see it is very deep even close to the sides and crystal clear
its hard to believe anyone is crazy enough to be kayaking in this today, but actually there were quite a few people on the water
a tight left to right turn goes by the name of Miami Beach ....I have no idea why, we've been to Miami Beach and it didn't look anything like this.
where the river is too wide huge boulders have been placed in the water to tighten the banks causing faster rapids in just the right place.
We were astounded to come across this guy and his friend who were just entering the water for a bit of surfing on a section called Green Tongue...no need to ask how this bit got its name. The young guy had been in South America surfing last week...he said the water temperature was a little different here he said ! .....They have been here doing this for 3 days and it looks pretty awesome.
they guy stood a while on the permanent wave before diving in and washing downstream, he would then swim back up as his friend had a go at the wave, they covered a huge distance heading downstream in a very short time...there's some real power in the water here. Further upstream is 'Point Break', it too has surfers and kayakers though it is less fierce than Green Tongue.
we followed a set of steps up to the top of the bank again to go around a steep rocky outcrop
the trail affords great views back down the river
a short while further on we rejoin the riverside trail and stop at a small picnic table where I come across a fine pair of sunglasses lying on the rocks
as we sat watching the kayaks go past, not all of them were as elegant as the surfer we saw earlier
we walked through to the Barrier Lake Information Centre on the trail before turning back, making our return journey on the upper bank to change the views
it was a lovely afternoon along the river and the snowfall stayed just South of us where we could see it coating Mt Baldy with yet more of the white stuff. I suspect we'll be back here with visiting family members ......and picnics.