Fish Creek Park Boat Launch is Now Open

We were advised by Fish Creek Park officials this morning that the boat launch is now open for use.

The repair work has not yet been done as a result of a delay in getting a permit approved. However, the boat launch will remain open until they sort this out.

- Michelle, Owner/Operator, Bow River Shuttles

Legacy Island - Yesterday & Today

The first two photos of the Legacy Island boat ramp were taken yesterday.

The third one is from today. Notice any difference? :-)

Carsland/Johnsons Island boat launch is open

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

We learned via Fish Tales Fly Shop that the boat launch is now open. We made a quick trip to have a look today. The outhouse is open and clean. There are two garbage containers next to the outhouse, with garbage bags in them. The boat ramp is gravel, not cement slabs as in the past.

Boat Launch Conditions - Police, McKinnon & Legacy

All Photos, © Bow River Shuttles

On Sunday morning, June 22, we went and had a look at all the downstream boat launches.

The Bow River flow rate in Calgary was 309 cms, down from 324 cms at 8:30 am June 20.

The flow rate below Carseland was 531 cms, down from 974 cms at 3:00 am June 20.

At Police, we found that water was still running across the approach road.

 There was a fair amount of woody debris lining the 'lagoon'.

The McKinnon road was still OK. No huge ruts, yet. 

However, the smaller ruts have reduced much of the road to one lane. 

The most damage was on that final turn on the way down.

We had hoped to check the boat 'ramp' at Legacy, to see whether it got filled in with silt. 

However, the side channel was still too high, and running too fast, to risk wading across.

Mud Bogging at Mac

Photos, © Bow River Shuttles. Friday.

This is what the road down to the McKinnon Flats boat launch looked like on Friday and Saturday mornings, after overnight rains.

I could not risk driving my shuttle van down the road, for fear I would not be able to get back up.

So, my drivers drove the customer vehicles down the hill, and walked back up.

 Friday

Friday

View Saturday photos here: http://on.fb.me/1iCQKJa

Dispatches from The Goat Trail

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles. This is near the beginning of the second leg of the switchback, that you can see from the top of the valley

We had a shuttle trip to McKinnon yesterday (Sun May 11). So we got a chance to see the condition of the road up close and personal.

The overall appearance of what can be seen of the road from the top of the valley was the same as we saw last Thursday. It's pretty much a one lane road, with few opportunities for two vehicles to pass by one another. Regular size vehicles, like my van, are at a real disadvantage. However, in a number of spots, even full size trucks would have a problem pulling over.

The worst spot is near the end of the second leg of the switchback. I'm standing in one of the deepest ruts.

Similar to the last time we went down the road, my van bottomed out several times, despite my best efforts.

Until we get another major storm, the road will remain passable.

This is near the end of that second leg.

Same spot as previous photo. My right hand is touching the top of the mud.

View more photos here: http://on.fb.me/1mijtrd

Boat Launch Conditions - McKinnon Flats

All Photos, © Bow River Shuttles

Our first shuttle trip to McKinnon Flats happened yesterday, with more trips earlier today.

The switchback road down to the bottom of the valley is in extremely poor condition. The fact that it is dry, and packed as hard as cement, is the only reason we were able to use it. 

The photos don't really convey the state of the road.  

That rut that I am standing in, beside my van, is at least two feet deep, maybe more.

We placed the camera down at ground level, which makes for an exaggerated view of the rut. But, it’s one way to show the conditions.

My van bottomed out several times on the lumps and bumps, despite creeping down the road at the pace of a turtle.

Vehicles and trailers can now retrieve boats just a few yards downstream of the large gravel bar that resulted from our 2013 flood. 

There is room for two or three vehicles between the remaining slabs of ice. You can see the tracks in the gravel.

Boat Launch Conditions - April 05 2014

Photo, © 2014 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

We checked on 22X yesterday (Monday) and found that the gate was now open.

Boat Launch Conditions - April 4, 2014

Photo, © 2014 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

The weather for the next few days is looking fairly good (finally!). Folks are calling to inquire about boat launch conditions. We made a short trip this afternoon, checking on Glenmore, 22X and Police.

Photo, © 2014 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

Photo, © 2014 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

Access - Bow River boat launches - Flood 2013

Access - Bow River boat launches - Flood 2013 

We've been reporting on boat launch conditions with photos and a few video clips. However, it occurred to us that we've overlooked the issue of access to the launches. The short answer, at the time of this writing, is that there is no access. To any of them. 

Glenmore Trail/Graves Landing. 
All photos, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013. 
Click on photo for larger 1024 px size.

There is no gate to the Glenmore Trail/Graves Landing boat launch. However, the entire area surrounding the launch area has been closed. The street leading to the launch (Heritage Drive SE) is blocked. By red saw horse traffic barriers, and for good measure, by huge cement blocks.

22X/Fish Creek Park

There is a gate to the boat ramp at 22X/Fish Creek Park. And it's signed and locked.

Policeman's Flats

There is no gate to Policeman's Flats. There is also no road. And for that matter, one could argue there is no Policeman's Flats.

McKinnon Flats

The gate to McKinnon Flats is locked.

Legacy Island

There is no gate to Legacy Island. However, there are currently several obstacles in the way.

1. Big pile of silt blocking the road, as a result of the mainland land owner clearing the road to his cabin.
2. New silt and mud on the approach to the side channel.
3. A fast flowing side channel, last time we were there.
4. A number of large downed poplar trees blocking where the road used to be.
5. Can't see beyond the wood. Maybe other obstacles?

Carseland/Johnsons Island

The gate to Carseland boat launch is signed and locked.

Doesn't really matter. For the time being, the road/earthen dam leading to the boat launches on Johnsons Island has been washed out.

That new river channel is visible in the middle of this photo, just to the left of the green sign "Entering Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park".