Almost Summer Smash, Lake Charlotte
June 20, 2015
by Joe Coker
Participants:
Joe Coker (Leader), Dave Kitson, Will Blumentritt, John Rich, John and Cindy Bartos, Steve Page, Matt Page, David Portz, Tom Douglas, Belinda Bracht.
Location:
Cedar Hill Park, Lake Charlotte, Mud Lake, Miller Lake, Trinity River
(Click here for a map. Zoom in to make place names appear. Grab and drag to scroll.)
Conditions:
Weather--Fair, 89 degrees; Charlotte Gauge--14.1 ft; Trinity at Liberty--Approx 72,000 cfs and 29 ft.
Weather events and time conflicts forced the Spring Fling and Summer Smash to morph into the “Almost Summer Smash” which we finally paddled on 6/20/15. Conditions were ideal, and with an historic 14 feet of water to play in, the options were plentiful. From our Cedar Hill put-in, the Southeast Route down toward Mud Lake seemed to offer the most fun opportunities. So, off we went at about 9:30, letting spontaneity rule.
After a brief stop at the Charlotte gauge, we moved deep into the trees along the eastern shore and paddled south toward the Mud Lake Cut. Beautiful and completely unobstructed. Imagine being about 6 feet above all those pesky cypress knees that plague you on a common 8 ft. day, and being able to paddle many times as far as usual into the woods!
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Arriving at Mud Lake, it was nice to see no significant signs of the former Salvinia infestation which had covered the entire lake in 2013. Unfortunately the monster still lurks back inside the trees... the nurseries, but the mats are thin... nothing like the 1-foot thickness previously on the lake. Let’s hope it stays where it is and doesn’t spread much further. The main problem now is mostly Water Hyacinth. Fortunately, it’s a paddling nuisance in only a few spots, mainly along the shoreline, and the power boats help keep it somewhat navigable.
Mud Lake, before and after Salvinia:
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Before
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After
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Mud Lake offered several great options including the East Cut, Mud Lake Bayou and Ghost Bayou. Unanimously, we decided to poke into the east end and then set a SW course through the thick cypress forest... a rare opportunity and one which few of us have had the pleasure to experience. So beautiful way back and deep in the woods! Eventually, we would reach Ghost Lake, or more aptly called, Hyacinth Lake... a narrow body of water stretching several hundred yards east to west perpetually jammed with the nuisance weed....impossible to penetrate, let alone cross. The choice at that point was to skirt the boundary due west until finally breaking out of the woods onto Miller Lake.
From there we took a welcome rest stop and lunch break on the south shore before heading across to the Lake Pass cut. As anticipated, we were met there by another wall of Hyacinth. Fortunately, however, a motor boat had recently cut a “path”, and we were able to slog through. From there it was a quick, open run back up to Charlotte. At that point, with time and energy fading a bit, we huddle to discuss the next plan.
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Lunch on Miller
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Water Hyacinth
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Four members decided to head home, while the rest of us indulged a wicked need for more pain and decided to attempt the crossing from Wes Cove to the Trinity... another milestone only achievable at very high water. Dave, Tom and I had previously marked the entry point, but the actual crossing route is hit or miss. This time, we missed. Heavy bushwhacking, nasty saw grass and raging hornets (John R. will attest) nearly finished us off. However, we finally broke into the clear water near the sand hills, and from there it was easy paddling the remaining hundred yards or so over to the Trinity. In commemoration of this rare and difficult feat, I am hereby founding the “Trinity Crossing Club” and am honored to induct its venerable members Tom Douglas (first ever crosser many years ago), Dave Kitson who with me did it some weeks ago, and newest additions, John, Will, David and Belinda!! Whoo Hoo!!
While in the area, we played on the middle sand hill for a while and planned to return soon... maybe. Then it was due time to head home, and we were very happy to reach Cedar Hill at about 3:15. As Belinda said, “We look a little beat up!”. So true, but totally worth it. Some nice cold watermelon helped ease the pain, and so ended yet another epic Charlotte adventure!
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GPS Track
(Courtesy of Tom Douglas)
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Trip pics available on the HCC website, here.
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| The author, Joe Coker |
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