Kayaking Kalamalka Lake in my FastTrack

I had the very enjoyable experience yesterday of kayaking down Kalamalka Lake in my new Sea Eagle FastTrack.

Kalamalka Lake or Kal Lake for short is just over 21 km in length and is found about 4 km south of Vernon in the Central Okanagan in BC.

What makes Kal Lake special is the colors. This lake is just stunning and depending on the time of year the lake can range from deep blue, to turquoise to indigo to bright green. The extreme colors of the water is from light scattering, caused by the precipitation of calcite. It is truly a site to see and reminds me a little of the beauty of kayaking in certain areas of the Rockies like Lake Louise and Banff.

I was always told that the name of the lake meant “lake of many colors”. However I have just learned that in fact that is incorrect and it was actually named for the Okanagan Indian Chief who occupied its northern shores… a fascinating fact likely only to those who live in the area.

This was the perfect setting to take out my new Sea Eagle FastTrack which was designed to glide quickly through flatwater. I have to admit it was quite thrilling. With the beauty of the water and the fact that my new inflatable kayak was gliding so gracefully through the water with speeds that even surprised me… it was exhilarating.

I paddled among geese, ducks, loons and even a shy turtle who wouldn’t let me take his picture. I discovered small secluded beaches, an old abandoned cabin and even discovered a new park that I didn’t know existed. One thing I love about kayaking is there is so much to explore from the water that may not be possible to see or find from the shore.

As my arms began to grow tired after a couple hours of paddling I took a deep breathe and admired the nature all around me. Even though I look forward to moving from this area in the near future, there is no denying the natural beauty within the Southern Central part of B.C.

My next goal is to paddle from one end of Kal Lake right to the crowded beach at the very far end and back up the other side which I have never done. Easily doable if I have the right snacks and provisions with me… such as a seat cushion.

With the extra rigid drop-stitch floor in the 385 FastTrack that helps with tracking and speed I discovered my poor bum got really sore by the end of the outing. An extra soft cushion for my seat is going to be a necessity for longer paddles.

I very often dream about the different lakes, oceans and rivers that I would like to explore all over the world. Yesterday reminded me that sometimes it is nice to simply appreciate the beauty in your own backyard.

Check out the colors of the water below. It seemed like every few minutes the water changed color.  Absolutely beautiful!

Why Choose an Inflatable Kayak

I do believe that more and more people are choosing to purchase an inflatable kayak as I did as opposed to a rigid kayak.

However we are still a fairly small community and although most people are very curious to know more about inflatable kayaks I still get some funny looks from those avid hard-shell kayaking people.

That’s okay, as many of us know there are some really great reasons for choosing an inflatable kayak.

Some of the major reasons why a person might choose an inflatable kayak as opposed to a rigid kayak are:

1. They don’t want the hassle of having to tie the kayak up on top of their vehicle for transportation.
2. They may not have the space to store a rigid kayak
3. They travel and want the convenience of being able to bring their inflatable kayak with them.
4. They want to use it as an extra kayak for when family and friends are visiting.

All of these are excellent reasons to choose an inflatable kayak and they are all factors that I considered when I first began my search for an inflatable kayak years ago.

As someone who originally had always paddled in a rigid kayak I had my reservations about inflatable kayaks as I think most people do when they first begin their search.

As I did my research and got involved in the semi-small inflatable kayaking community I learned a few things:

• Inflatable kayaks are far sturdier than I ever imagined.
• There is a large range of sizes and styles of inflatable kayaks.
• They are extremely easy to set up and fun to use.
• They are perfect for anyone, such as myself, who lives in a condo and has no space to store a hard-shell kayak.
• They are wonderful to travel with.

Of course the quality of inflatable kayaks can vary greatly. Typically the more you are willing to spend, the better the kayak you are going to get, but that doesn’t mean that a cheaper model won’t serve you well.

I don’t think it is realistic to expect an inflatable kayak to paddle as fast as many of the streamlined rigid kayaks do but I can promise that they do offer great convenience, comfort and a lot of fun.

I believe they are 100% worth the purchase and a great investment for any family, individual or couple. They are usually very stable, solid and work well for dogs too!

My Own Personal Choice

I myself purchased the Sea Eagle 380X and have been more than pleased with this inflatable kayak. It is a tandem kayak and I most often use it with two people. In the future I plan on purchasing a very lightweight solo model which I will use strictly for airplane travel. The great thing about inflatable kayaks is that there is lots of choice and no matter what your criteria, you are sure to find one that suits your needs.

If you love to paddle, love to travel and are looking for a convenient way to get out on the water then an inflatable kayak is an excellent way to go.

Please see our inflatable kayak reviews for detailed information on each individual inflatable kayak model.