Finding Relaxation On the Water with Deuter Junior

Since becoming avid canoeists last summer, we’ve explored many of the beautiful alpine lakes Central Oregon has to offer. But perhaps none are as other worldly, and special to us, as Hosmer.

Nestled in dark green forest, the lake offers breathtaking views of Mt. Bachelor, South Sister and Broken Top. Near the boat ramp, the lake is dark and deep. But paddle further north, and it morphs into a series of clear shallow channels where Atlantic salmon, brook trout and rainbows abound. Separating the “roads” down which we travel are thick, tall wands of bulrush, where waterfowl — including the magnificent Great Blue Heron — hide until they rocket out and fly to their next perch.

Eventually these channels converge on a large expanse of lake where, on a sunny day, the water has an almost Caribbean-blue hue. If ever given the chance (and by that I mean if we ever make it up sans our 3 year old), Mark and I would probably anchor here for hours and sip suds while we bobbed in the water.

LisaGood_Hosmer2-300x224With the in-laws in town the weekend before the Fourth of July, however, we had a full crew. Since there were five of us — and the canoe only comfortably seats three — Owen and I took up the rear in a small raft tied to the hull. We kicked up our legs and munched on snacks stowed away in Owen’s Deuter Junior backpack as we were towed around the lake.

Unlike the many times we’d been here before, the weather was cool and foggy. To the south grew black, billowy cumulus clouds. We paddled ahead anyway, the sky before us less ominous looking.

Despite the weather, the lake was busy. We paddled past fly fishers, some in pontoons, others in canoes with their canine companions. My father-in-law sported his own rod and started casting, though he caught more lily pads than fish. As we slowly made our way through the meandering channel, a light sprinkle turned into a cold, torrential downpour. The five us, even Owen, sat still and quiet, letting our senses indulge in the moment. It was mysteriously beautiful.

LisaGood_Hosmer1-300x225The next weekend, we headed to East Lake, an amazingly deep body of water —185 feet at its max — cradled in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument Caldera. We met five families there, including two with motorized fishing boats.

East Lake, fed by snowmelt and underground springs — at certain spots on the lake you can see the bubbles rising to the top — is great for brown trout, kokanee and Atlantic salmon. After taking the canoe out for an hour-long cruise, we hopped onto a friend’s boat and sought out spots to fly fish. This day, however, they proved to be tough customers. While they leapt out of the water to taunt us, they didn’t bite.

With the heat bearing down on us, we headed back to the beach, where we staked our claim and splashed around with the kids for hours (never mind the freezing cold water.)

–Lisa Goodman (Family Ambassador).

Packing up for a relaxing day on the water?

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