Sea Kayaking with the Gals

Recently I was blessed to be included on a sea kayak adventure on Yellowstone Lake.  We would start at Grant Village spend 3 nights and 4 days, paddling to the upper part of the South Arm of the lake and then back to Grant.  Four days fifty miles of shoreline.


I did not know it at the time, but the team ended up consisting of six pretty amazing gals.  Me included.  I was the only non scientist in the group.  Our trip leader is THE fish biologist on Yellowstone Lake.  The other four ladies were fishery biologists, raised fish in the hatchery, or worked on developing riparian environments in the Yellowstone ecosystem.  (Like my new tech talk!) Every day I was amazed at the commitment these ladies have toward saving our wild lands for future generations.  Their ability to paddle in the wind was also impressive.

Pie for dessert the last night. 

I think the rangers that conducted our boat inspections before we put in at Grant were surprised that we were a ladies only team.  That we were brave enough to go forth and conquer.  Intending to paddle 50 miles.  Let me say... Ladies only trips are the best.  We constantly look out for each other.  Shared dinners are
amazing.  There is no trying to keep up, impress or be more than we are.  Sometimes men bring this out in us, just by being there.

 I had never packed a sea kayak for a trip.  Amazingly it all fit.  Only one dry bag tied to the top.  Being an inflatable boat kind of a gal this was going to be a new experience for me.  I was nervous.

Paddling in choppy waters.

We took off in wind gusts of 15-20 mph.   The swells on the lake made me whimper.  My boat would tip, I would brace and pray.  I thought it  was my inexperience.  That evening in camp, everybody was saying they were scared.  I felt a touch better and tougher.

Morning sun

Watching the sun come up.

The next mornings we got up early.  Paddled hard. Took time to absorb or be absorbed by the moment.

Modern Facilities. 

We were deep into the back country of Yellowstone.  No boardwalks, no paved roads, no flushing toilets.  Just us, our boats, camping gear and the apple pie, our trip leader pulled out of her kayak for the last dinner together.   After bear proofing our camp, we went to bed listening to the elk bugle..  We woke to magnificent sunrises, still waters and the smell of instant coffee.
Mountains, sunsets, sunrises, eagles, dead trees, solitude.

Taking in the view.

 I was awestruck by the bigness of Yellowstone Lake.  It is truly an inland sea.  One beach was made of shiny black pebbles, probably rocks from the volcano.  Footprints of various animals were everywhere.  They had left their calling cards.. This was their home, I was the visitor.




This is not a trip for the faint of heart.  We supported ourselves.  We knew the possibility of bears or other animals.  We found out  even elk can be unpredictable if surprised.  We were at the mercy of the weather.  This is why we went.  For these type of trips draw a certain woman.

My gear drying in the sunset

More light on the water

Always s'mores when camping

I was told the presence of eagles means the lake is getting healthy.