7APRIL2010 - Today I travelled from the Coulter Campground to a spot on Lower Holter Lake, a distance of approximately 15 river miles. Departing early I was greeted at the canoe by a beaver. By the time the day had ended I had seen Bald Eagles, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mink, Ducks and Geese.
Crystal quiet early on, I was able to paddle past the Gates of the Mountains, past Mann Gulch and to the base of the Sleeping Giant before the wind became noticeable. Then for the next several miles the wind would change from head wind to side wind, from side wind to tail wind, from slow wind to stiff gusts, from stiff gusts to no wind at all and all the other possible changes. It became evident that I need not fight a head wind, rather I found that I could paddle at a normal pace into the head wind, just keeping my position mostly, until it shifted to a tail or side wind. In this way I managed 14 river miles by early afternoon. This changed drastically when I entered Lower Holter Lake and saw whitecaps coming at me similar to yesterday, only on a larger body of water ... and I think the wind was faster, the waves larger. I managed only a mile onto this lake until I gave up and settled down for the night. Sure it was early, but considering the conditions it was a full day.
During the day I was blessed by amazing scenery and by meeting Jack and Loa, the owners of the Indian Trail Bar/restaurant/marina. Wonderful folks.