January 9, 2025
A Beginner Paddlers Guide to Granite Falls
Author: Carla Kiefer (@carlakiefer) The Idea Gather the In-Laws, pack our kayaks, and paddle the Indian Arm to Granite Falls (Say Nuth Khaw Yum Park) Stats 18km each way 4-6 hours estimated The Execution The night before we set out, my partner and I introduced our parents to each other. The trip was already planned, so this was just setting the stage for how the rest of the weekend would go. We had our fingers crossed that this would go well. And luckily, well it went. We grabbed dinner in town, and started getting toknow each other, and went for an early night to make sure we were all rested for the big day ahead of us. We started the morning at a brunch spot in Vancouver, then made our way to Deep Cove Kayaks for noon. Parking is always hectic, so two of us went to park the cars while the remainder began organizing all of our gear to pack into the tandem kayaks we had rented. All of us are fresh to paddle-trips and so there were many conversations (arguments) about how much gear we could bring, and what we could fit into our drybags. The EVAC Compression Dry Bag was a lifesaver for fitting 2 sleeping bags and leaving plenty of room in the hatches. In the end, we had to sharesome gear between kayaks but we got the go-ahead from the rental company and we were on our way! None of us were sure exactly what to expect from the 18km paddle that lay ahead of us, but we were all eager for the challenge. I had become good friends with the tidal charts and the weather forecast during the week leading up to the trip and this proved fruitful during our casual kayak up the Arm. We had one small pitstop for sandwiches on a beach, then continued up until we got to the campsite. Unfortunately, my first time getting out of a kayak wasn’t as impressive as I was expecting it would be, and I ended up fully submerging. Luckily, VPO sells shirts that dry quick if you make the same mistake as me (Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt). I love this shirt along with my Tevas, which have been on many trips with me, but are the perfect shoe for a trip like this.After 4 hours of paddling, we hit the shore, and moved quickly to set up camp so that we could have more time to relax in the evening. As we unloaded, I was continuously surprised at the storage capacity of a tandem kayak. Specifically, what my partner's dad, Jason, was unpacking. On top of all the camping essentials, he pulled out a crab trap, a two burner camping cooking stove, a box of wine, and even a Yeti Cooler, which may now be on my list of things to buy. I am normally a hiker so my brain is wired for lightweight gear, but this has inspired me to be a little less frugal on our next paddling trip. This campsite has a few facilities including 2 outhouses and 4 large bear bins. I recommend bringing another way to store your food just in case the campsite is busy, and your own toilet paper. If you are planning to do dishes, make sure to bring a safe soap, I use this wilderness wash. Campfires are also prohibited at all times in the park, you can find all the details on the Granite Falls Campground here. Once tents were set up, and the kayaks were pulled above the tide line, we got to relaxing and surprised the parents with a charcuterie board! I was kicking myself that I forgot my camp table, but we were able to make one using the crab trap. We pulled out our Helinox chairs and enjoyed the evening sharing storiesuntil one of us spotted an otter! We quietly went down to the end of the cove and watched two otters enjoying their crab dinner! Such a surreal experience. Day 2 Waking up with the sun when I'm out in the wild is the best feeling in the world, and this campsite didn’t disappoint. We got to hear waves crashing, and see otters and seals playing as we got up one by one to make coffee and breakfast. I brought out my trusty Jetboil Minimo, made myself a tea, and watched the sea as the sun rose above me. After a calm morning, our day was spent exploring the campsite and lounging in the natural pools that the falls provided. The water was a perfect temperature and was a great way to stay cool in the late-summer heat. It was also very convenient to have a source of fresh water nearby for all of our drinking and cooking needs! We used the Guardian Gravity Purifier from MSR which was AMAZING for a trip like this where we could all share. Usually, I would use water purification tablets, but didn’t have to for this trip. In the afternoon, the boys went and dropped their crab trap in the water but unfortunately, they got skunked. If you are going to fish or go crabbing, look up the rules and have the correct licenses for the area. On the bright side, we had leftover charcuterie and my partner's parents had brought steak! 3 steaks to be precise! Which they kindly shared with everyone. The amount of storage we had for food on this trip makes me so excited to plan more intricate meals in the future! As the sun began to fall, we made sure to get into bed early as we had an early wake-up time the following day. Day 3 We woke up around 6, as we needed to make it back by noon to get our kayaks back to the rental shop. Packed up all our stuff, including all our garbage, following Leave No Trace principles. We made really good time on the way in but even using the tide charts, the weather in the lower mainland can be so unpredictable on any given day. This day though, we lucked out. The water was dead calm, the wind wasn’t saying hello, and the sun was just beginning to poke its head out. It was the picture definition of serenity. As we launched the kayak in the water and as we began the journey back, the only sounds were our paddles breaking the water. The trip back was smooth and idyllic, if not a touch chillier then the days before. We were on the water before any boaters or other paddlers and this made for a wonderfully calm paddle back to Deep Cove. On our way, we had a quick look at Thwaytes Landing Regional Park to see another waterfall and have a quick snack before we headed out again. We ended up making it back to the cove in just over 3 hours in the boats. After loading the cars with all of our gear, lunch was in order so we parked the cars once more and made for Honey’s in Deep Cove (a local favourite) and rounded off our trip with a delicious meal and a coffee. This was such a wonderful experience for a first-time overnight paddle trip, and it is absolutely the first of many. A couple of personal tips: Follow the tide times, it will make your paddle so much more enjoyable If you can, go during the week when it’s quieter You don’t need a reservation to stay at the campground Bring gloves if your hands aren’t used to paddling, I brought my full-hand mountain bike gloves and they worked a treat! Have a fanny pack or smaller dry bag, to keep in your pit with you, for your camera, phone, sunscreen, water and snacks! Have snacks easy to reach on the paddle, I was burning so much energy and was filling up on my favourite granola bars, I also brought Nuun tablets to keep me hydrated Have a variety of different-sized dry bags, this will make it easier when packing the kayak, wedging small ones into the small spots
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