Tsuniah Lake Lodge
July 9-12, 2018
Onto Friday Harbor
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Before we jump ahead to the amazing Tsuniah Lake Lodge, the flight itself provided a big highlight - overflying/checking out the Bugaboos. Having climbed there numerous times (eg 2013), we didn't want to miss the opportunity to check them out from the air, and it didn't disappoint!

There were many other spectacular sights until we got past Revelstoke/Shuswap lake - from there the terrain was much lower and was primarily forest/lakes/logged lands which is also neat in its own way. Lots of forest fire damage too (mostly from last summer's fires?) There was a low pressure system moving in and 60 knots of wind at 8500', but it was smooth until the last 20 or so minutes descending towards Tsuniah Lake. There was a 10-15 knot wind favoring runway 22 but I still landed runway 4 which is uphill (elevation difference is somewhere between 50 and 70 feet?) Wasn't sure it was the right choice, but I still slowed down just fine by the parking area with minimal braking thanks to the hill... a few hours later it started raining and it poured all night long, which wasn't what I expected given the "30% chance of showers" forecast. As a result, the runway got wet and muddy and the clouds were low in the morning - we definitely made the right call to come a day early! Vince & Susan, Steve & Kathy, as well as Kevin & Linda all got stuck in Penticton for an extra day because of this, which was a huge bummer as it reduced our time that we overlapped. :( Sometimes even the best laid plans go awry... on the bright side we met some other great folks at the lodge - Greg and Stephanie (and their dog Chloe that the kids loved!) as well as Guenther and Spencer (grandpa/grandson duo!)

We may not be avid fishermen but still love Tsuniah Lake! That first day it was nice and cool and the clouds were beautiful. We hiked around with the kids, they rode their bikes on the dirt roads, and we took the little boat out many times... the kids kept asking to "go fast, daddy!" And we fished. Did I mention the fishing is great at Tsuniah Lake? Sometimes you literally catch a fish each and every time you cast your fishing rod. And there is no farmed fish there, it's all beautiful wild rainbow trout... just not many people around, so the natural population thrives!

The rest of the Truckee crew showed up on Wednesday morning and we had a great time hanging out in the lodge in the evenings, as well as more day activities! Everyone at the lodge is super nice and feels like family. They have horses too, and we loved checking them out (kids aren't really old enough to go riding yet) :)

All too quickly Thursday morning rolled around, and sadly it was our last day! We departed around 1:30pm after a leisurely lunch, with our scheduled time to clear customs at Friday Harbor being 3pm.

  Flying towards the Bugaboos  
  Flying towards the Bugaboos

  Approaching the Bugaboos. CMH lodge at the bottom, as well as the gravel road/parking lot  
  Approaching the Bugaboos. CMH lodge at the bottom, as well as the gravel road/parking lot

  Approaching the Bugaboos. CMH lodge at the bottom, as well as the gravel road/parking lot Bugaboos!  
  Approaching the Bugaboos. CMH lodge at the bottom, as well as the gravel road/parking lot Bugaboos!

  Kain hut (Appleby campground is a little higher on the right)  
  Kain hut (Appleby campground is a little higher on the right)

   
 

   
 

  Taken from https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:50.6826083,-117.1908194 ... spires are Piton Peaks? Any climbing? Closer up of Piton Peaks(?) Revelstoke is in the distance at the north end of the lake  
  Taken from https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:50.6826083,-117.1908194 ... spires are Piton Peaks? Any climbing? Closer up of Piton Peaks(?) Revelstoke is in the distance at the north end of the lake

  50 knot wind, but not as bad of a headwind - in fact the least headwind of the entire trip. The majority of the time we had at least a 20 kt headwind... Shuswap lake  
  50 knot wind, but not as bad of a headwind - in fact the least headwind of the entire trip. The majority of the time we had at least a 20 kt headwind... Shuswap lake

  Longest nap of the trip? 2 hours. Napping kids == happy flying parents  
  Longest nap of the trip? 2 hours. Napping kids == happy flying parents

  That's a lot of lakes! Almost at Tsuniah Lake Approach over the lake  
  That's a lot of lakes! Almost at Tsuniah Lake Approach over the lake

  Turning a high right base for runway 4 The runway!  
  Turning a high right base for runway 4 The runway!

  Unloading with Dylan who came to meet and greet us! Greg's sweet Cessna 340  
  Unloading with Dylan who came to meet and greet us! Greg's sweet Cessna 340

  Snack time Who has the better posture?  
  Snack time Who has the better posture?

   
 

  A rare glimpse of Zoe lounging. That girl almost never sits still :)  
  A rare glimpse of Zoe lounging. That girl almost never sits still :)

  The boat dock! Each cabin/party gets their own boat to take out anytime :)  
  The boat dock! Each cabin/party gets their own boat to take out anytime :)

  The rain is coming  
  The rain is coming

  First dinner at the lodge  
  First dinner at the lodge

   
 

  Two fish in just a few minutes! Reeled in by the kids :)  
  Two fish in just a few minutes! Reeled in by the kids :)

  One of the many bald eagles (hundreds?) that we saw Tsuniah Lake Lodge!  
  One of the many bald eagles (hundreds?) that we saw Tsuniah Lake Lodge!

  Tuesday was gorgeous but there were some thunderstorms in interior BC so the rest of the Truckee crew had to delay a day...  
  Tuesday was gorgeous but there were some thunderstorms in interior BC so the rest of the Truckee crew had to delay a day...

   
 

  Hank portrait!  
  Hank portrait!

   
 

  Coco!  
  Coco!

   
 

   
 

  Glassy water, gorgeous morning!  
  Glassy water, gorgeous morning!

   
 

  Zoe fishing with daddy  
  Zoe fishing with daddy

  Bodie and mommy fishing!  
  Bodie and mommy fishing!

  Morning catch Chilko lake, where Melissa and I went for a run  
  Morning catch Chilko lake, where Melissa and I went for a run

  A full ramp :) a 5-plane Cessna line-up!  
  A full ramp :) a 5-plane Cessna line-up!

  Bodie earning his downhill  
  Bodie earning his downhill

  The mill Zoe checking out the mill One of the original trucks  
  The mill Zoe checking out the mill One of the original trucks

  Now resting in retirement Bodie loved exploring all the old machines  
  Now resting in retirement Bodie loved exploring all the old machines

   
 

  Zoe wanted to go flying before dinner Then Bobo went flying too  
  Zoe wanted to go flying before dinner Then Bobo went flying too

   
 

  Melissa went on an all-girls after-dinner fishing boat :) The table is set!  
  Melissa went on an all-girls after-dinner fishing boat :) The table is set!

  Breakfast  
  Breakfast

  The kids randomly decided to start jumping off this rock...  
  The kids randomly decided to start jumping off this rock...

   
 

  Jeep is stuffed! Fun ride Zoe saying goodbye to Phyllis and Stef  
  Jeep is stuffed! Fun ride Zoe saying goodbye to Phyllis and Stef

  Bye-bye, Tsuniah lake! Chilko Lake, very impressive. 65 km long, and one of the largest in BC due to its depth.  
  Bye-bye, Tsuniah lake! Chilko Lake, very impressive. 65 km long, and one of the largest in BC due to its depth.

  Crossing over to Tatlayoko Lake Tatlayoko lake Flying out via the super scenic Homathko river drainage  
  Crossing over to Tatlayoko Lake Tatlayoko lake Flying out via the super scenic Homathko river drainage

  Mt Waddington and its impressive glacier (highest mountain in BC).  
  Mt Waddington and its impressive glacier (highest mountain in BC).

  The Homathko River that we followed until it led us to the Bute Inlet Mt Waddington and its impressive glacial moraine Taken from https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:51.3114306,-124.8707028 over the Homathko river.  
  The Homathko River that we followed until it led us to the Bute Inlet Mt Waddington and its impressive glacial moraine Taken from https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:51.3114306,-124.8707028 over the Homathko river.

  Last photo of Waddington as we round the bend Bute inlet  
  Last photo of Waddington as we round the bend Bute inlet

   
 

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