Kayaking on Wade Lake

July 7th, 2021

We were vacationing in Island Park, Idaho with Sue and Toni, and they had spotted some smaller, secluded lakes in the trees just north of where our RVs were, in Montana. Cliff and Wade Lakes were nestled together on the map, and we decided to check out Wade Lake as it was the easiest to get to.

The boat was already in Island Park Reservoir at their friend's dock, so the boat trailer was empty. We inflated kayaks and put them onto the boat trailer, and it worked perfectly. We have a Hobie inflatable tandem kayak, and so do they. So, we were kayaking twins on the lake. It was an easy drive, though the last part of it meant a couple dusty miles on a winding, dirt road. We were able to park right next to the water to unload kayaks and stuff.

There were quite a few people at the shore, fishing and playing in the water. We pushed off and had a peanut gallery on the way out to the middle of the lake. We recorded our entire float with the GoPro Max 360-degree camera, and it's just under two hours long. It's a great way to see the lake -- just use your mouse to click and drag the video, or move your cell phone to look around.

The day was lovely at the start, though windy. We paddled around, going over to a large cove away from people. The water was shallow and very clear, and we could see fish near the bottom. It was one of the best kayaking experiences we'd ever had, and we didn't want to leave.

Toni and Sue turned around to head back, ready to explore a little bit more of the lake. We stayed longer, really enjoying the scenery. It truly felt like Montana, just rugged and thick with trees. But then we felt a couple rain drops.

We turned around, not ready to get too soggy. But then it started pouring rain. And it was a chilly rain, in the wind. We pedaled as fast as we could, wearing ourselves out, and didn't make it anywhere near back to the boat launch area before it stopped. It wasn't too funny at the time, but we were laughing about it soon after.

Rather than going back and calling it a day, we figured we were already wet so we headed to the other end of the lake. There, we found where the water inlet was, and beached the kayaks on the small shore. Lacey and Mollie ran around, like dogs do, and Monica went up the bank to check out the small creek that feeds the lake. It was scenic and lovely.

All good things have to come to an end, so we headed back. Lacey can't get enough of kayaking, and we took a quick video to show how relaxing the kayak is for all of us.

Getting the kayaks back up on the boat trailer was easy, and then we were on our way back to Idaho. It was a truly special day for us.

Goose Fire

We were out and about a few days later when we saw a pillar of smoke that indicated a new wildfire. It was the Goose Fire, right next to the lakes in Montana where we'd just been kayaking. It was a sobering moment, to think that the sights we saw might be burning. It ended up being a pretty major fire, and the area was shut down for a while. It's sad, but it has to happen in order to keep the forest healthy. Still, it sure is a bummer.

Lacey and Mollie are half-sisters and the best of friends