|
|
Caldera Kayaks
Crowley Lake Marina
Mammoth Lakes , CA
Mammoth Lakes
|
|
|
|
Visit us on the world wide web at :
http://www.calderakayak.com
Call (760)
934-1691 for more information.
Crowley Lake Kayaking
Mono Lake Update
Rentals, Lessons and Rates
Newsletter
The Tropics
Caldera Kayak Links
Guided natural history tours of
Paddle through fascinating tufa formations and along
Paddle the Long Valley Caldera on scenic
Lakefront kayak rentals, lessons and sales at the
Fish the Eastern Sierra from stable sit-on-top kayaks and get out on the water
where the fish are biting.
No Experience
Necessary
Families and children welcome
Call
760.934.1691 for information.
Caldera Kayaks
P.O. Box 726
Mammoth Lakes
Tel/fax (760) 934-1691
Internet http://www.calderakayak.com
info@calderakayak.com
Caldera
Kayaks
2008 Newsletter
tel/fax (760) 934-1691
Internet: www.calderakayak.com
info@calderakayak.com
2008 Newsletter,
We will open in mid May for the 2008 season. We apologize for any inconvenience if you try to get out on the water before that time. Spring can bring unsettled weather so we usually wait until mid May for warmer temperatures and more settled weather.
Some of the Eastern Sierra's most dramatic scenery can best be viewed
from the water, and Caldera Kayaks will take you there. Explore vast and
ancient tufa formations at Mono Lake and kayak to Rush Creek on a guided
natural history tour, or rent a kayak and head out on your own.
There are lots of places to paddle kayaks and canoes and enjoy great scenery.
We have paddled the Eastern Sierra lakes and can give you up to date
information so you can enjoy the areas waterways.
We had lots of wonderful people join us for Mono Lake tours, lessons and rentals and we thank you for the support. We were pleased to see some of you come back to join us again for paddling on the east side of the Sierra. As always, beginners and families are welcome. Most tours had favorable conditions but we did have a few breezy days.
As the days grow longer and warmer with the arrival of spring the brine shrimp hatch and the birds start to return. Combine your visit to Mono Lake with some snow sports and take advantage of the fabulous spring conditions in the Eastern Sierra.
Summer is the main season to paddle the east side. We offer shoreline tours for beginner paddlers and longer tours for intermediate and advanced paddlers. When Paoha Island is not accessible due to stormy weather or seasonal closure we tour the shoreline among tufa formations, past freshwater river inlets and springs. We also have a few adventurous tours planned to circumnavigate Paoha and Negit islands for advanced paddlers.
Fall is one of our favorite times to paddle the east side lakes with pleasant day time temperatures, brilliant fall colors, and migratory birds. The occasional early season storm can leave a trace of snow on the high peaks.
Winter tours on Mono Lake offer spectacular reflections of the snow capped peaks in the mirror like glassy water. We get some perfectly calm winter days that make ideal opportunities for excursions to Paoha Island prior to the seasonal closure on April first. When we need to warm up in the winter months we head to locations in Baja California and Costa Rica. Call us for more information on warm weather kayak tour destinations.
Beginners are advised to stay close to shore, since strong winds come up
suddenly and create large steep waves. An early start is advisable, especially
in the warm summer months, to take advantage of calm morning conditions. NOAA
weather forecasts can be heard at
go to top of page
Winter
got off to a reasonable start in 2007/2008. We did get some snow over the
winter so there should be some runoff in the spring and summer. The landscape
at the South Tufa area has changed dramatically and lots of shallow areas are
covered with water now. There are still a few shallow tufas to watch out for as
collisions damage both boats and the tufa towers.
Shallow lagoons have formed along the shoreline and new habitat is available for birds. We saw quite a few birds in the summer and fall months. In addition to the California gulls, grebes and phalaropes we were treated to views of avocet, snowy and great egrets, horned owls and stilts and ruddy ducks.
There is a pair of Osprey that nest on a tufa tower near the big point west of Navy Beach and other pairs nest on other tufa towers in the Navy Beach and South Tufa area. Please do not visit the sensitive nest areas and stay a good distance from the tufa towers with the nests.
It is great to see the lake come up after so many years of hard work by the Mono Lake Committee and all of the people who support Mono Lake. The lake continues to need our support for the restoration of damaged shoreline and tributary stream beds. We organize benefit tours and support the Mono Lake Committee so the lake will continue to get the help it deserves. We encourage all of you who appreciate the inland sea to join the Mono Lake Committee and you will receive their quarterly newsletter with updates on the lake. Visit the Mono Lake Committee web site at www.monolake.org for additional information.
Paddle a kayak through the tufa towers and experience the strange and fascinating ecosystem that makes the lake unique. Mono Lake is the birthplace of eighty five percent of the California gull species within California, home to the brine shrimp, alkali flies, and is an essential feeding layover for numerous species of migratory birds. Bird watching is especially rewarding during the spring and fall months.
Scheduled Mono Lake tours:
Scheduled tours are available on weekends and midweek. Alternate tour dates can sometimes be arranged. Call or email to let us know what dates work for you. Our schedule is dependent on the weather and subject to change. We will also try to coordinate small groups together so we can be more environmentally friendly with our kayak transportation logistics. Please call or email for reservations and schedule. We might be on the water so if you get our message machine leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you email put something about “kayak tours” in the subject line so we do not miss your message.
May 24,25,26,31
June 1,7,8,14,15,21,22,25,28,29
July 2,5,9,12,13,16,19,20,23,26,27,30
August 1,2,3,6,9,10,13,16,17,20,23,24,27,30,31
September 1,3,6,7,10,13,17,20,27
|
|
|
We offer guided kayak tours along Mono Lake's shoreline and out to Paoha Island to let you experience one of the oldest living lakes from the unique perspective of a touring kayak. We paddle along Mono Lake's intriguing shoreline during the seasonal closure from April 1 to August 1. Starting in August we lead trips to young volcanic islands when weather conditions permit.
Three or more persons $70.00 per person for a guided tour, includes natural history, boating equipment and instruction. Call for trip itinerary.
Two person private tours are $105.00 per person.
Where
to meet and what to bring:
Tours depart from Navy Beach on the south shore of Mono Lake. To reach Navy Beach from Mammoth Lakes go north on highway 395 to about five miles north of the June Lake Junction to route 120 East. To reach Navy Beach from Lee Vining / Tioga Pass Route go south on 395 about five miles to route 120 East. Take route 120 east towards Benton for five miles. Turn
left at the SouthTufa Reserve/Test Station road turnoff. Follow the right fork towards Navy
Beach. Turn left at "T". Follow road to parking area. Reservations are required for the kayak tour.
Itinerary:
08:30 Meet guests, get boats ready for tour. Paddle instruction.
9:00 Depart on tour.
9:30 to 10:45 Paddle to destination with short interpretive discussions
along the way.
10:45 to 11:15 Lunch break and Mono Lake natural history discussion.
11:30 to 12:00 Return paddle from destination.
12:30 to done Load up equipment.
Trip length might vary due to weather conditions, group abilities and other
factors.
Personal equipment list:
Water shoes: Booties or sandals with ankle straps (Teva or similar) or old
sneakers.
Shorts or bathing suit.
Cotton long pants not recommended.
T shirt. Light synthetic sweater.
Wind breaker or jacket.
Sunhat, sunglasses with retainers, sunscreen
Boating or bike gloves, light garden gloves.
Lunch and water.
Small beach towel.
Optional:
Quick drying long pants and long sleeve sun/salt shirt.
Camera, binoculars, Dry bag.
Paddler
Comfort Packages:
Here are a few goodies that will make your kayak tour more comfortable. They are yours to keep for future adventures on the water.
The basic:
A dry bag or a pair of gloves. You can keep your camera, lunch and sweater dry in one of these quality Baja bags from Cascade Designs. Gloves protect your hands from the sun and salt.
Small 5 liter $11.00
Medium 10 liter$13.00
Large 20 liter $16.00
Or a pair of good quality pair of gloves. $15.00 to $28.00
The intermediate:
A pair of gloves and a dry bag.
Gloves will keep your hands from getting sore spots and they also keep the sun and salt off your hands.
$30.00 to $40.00 for the popular medium size dry bag and a good pair of gloves.
Intermediate tours:
Have you ever wondered what lies around the next point? Intermediate and advanced paddlers will enjoy our longer distance kayak tours. We will keep up a good pace and discuss the natural history of the Mono Basin as we paddle and at locations of interest. Kayakers should have an efficient forward stroke and some experience with winds and waves for the intermediate tours. The warm days of summer and autumn make these extended tours quite enjoyable. Our advanced tours might be of interest to paddlers that would like to rent a kayak but cannot transport the kayak themselves to Mono Lake.
On August 24 and Sept 21 we plan to circumnavigate Paoha or Negit Island and explore islets with names like Krakatao. We leave early on the island tours to take advantage of the calm morning and plan our returns before the afternoon winds pick up.
Call for trip itinerary and if you have questions about your ability. People with their own boats are welcome to join one of our scheduled tours. $45.00 with your own boat.
Freshwater Kayaking:
There are lots of freshwater lakes that offer delightful locations to paddle kayaks and canoes. You can paddle your boat to a secluded beach and enjoy a picnic in the sand.
Crowley Lake is a large freshwater lake close to Mammoth Lakes with spectacular vistas of the surrounding Sierra Nevada peaks. The U.S. Olympic Flat Water Kayak Team might train on the waters of Crowley Lake in preparation for the year 2004 Olympics in Athens. We offer lakefront lessons and quality kayak rentals at the Crowley Lake Marina from May through the middle of October. On the water kayak rentals make it convenient and easy to paddle a scenic gem overlooked by many paddlers. Paddle a kayak along the twenty mile shoreline and discover hidden coves and sandy beaches for yourself.
Grant Lake, a reservoir upstream from Mono Lake, has lots of sandy beaches and great vistas of Mt. Wood. Trees line the shoreline and the water is refreshing on a hot day. Autumn colors are especially vibrant on the lakeshore and hills that surround the lake. Grant Lake is part of the watershed that fills Mono Lake so we are happy to see the lake quite full these days.
Freshwater
tours:
Please call to arrange tours. $50.00 per person, includes natural history, boating equipment and instruction. Custom tours are available to accommodate paddlers of all ages and abilities.
Two person
minimum.
$50.00 for a two to three hour basic lesson, covers kayaking safety, paddle
strokes, self rescue and on the water practice. If you would like to learn some
kayak skills and enjoy some great tours join us for our introductory kayak
course. We begin with a lesson on scenic Crowley Lake where we will teach
you an efficient paddle stroke, brace strokes, self rescue and some basic
navigational skills. We will enjoy dramatic views of the Sierra Nevada
Mountain Range and learn about the Long Valley Caldera. Your guide might even
demonstrate an Eskimo roll. The U.S. Olympic Canoe and Kayak flat water team
has trained on the waters of Crowley Lake in preparation for the
Olympics. The afternoon is yours to hike, bike, fish or just relax in the
nearby mountains.
Combination
lesson/tour package: $110.00
If you would like to learn some kayak skills and enjoy some great tours join us for our introductory kayak course. On the two day learn to paddle course we begin with a lesson on scenic Crowley Lake where we will teach you an efficient paddle stroke, brace strokes, self rescue and some basic navigational skills. We will enjoy dramatic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and learn about the Long Valley Caldera. Your guide might even demonstrate an Eskimo roll. The afternoon is yours to hike, bike, fish or just relax in the nearby mountains.
On the second day we put our kayak skills to use on a tour of the inland sea of Mono Lake. While we tour we will discuss the natural history of the Mono Basin, view wildlife and refine our on the water skills. Mono Lake is noted for its unique tufa formations and is especially important for bird rookeries and migratory routes. The shoreline of Mono Lake has changed dramatically in recent years with the 1994 decision to increase the elevation of the lake. Mono Lake from the perspective of a sea kayak is a memorable experience. You might have so much fun you will want to take a kayak home with you.
The combination lesson/tour is suited for beginners or for those that have kayaked before and want to learn some additional skills. The lesson and tour combination is available throughout the summer.
Youth Lessons:
Sometimes your best memories are from your childhood adventures. We offer lessons for children so they can get out on the water at an early age. Two person minimum.
$35.00 for a two hour lesson, includes all equipment.
Call for more information and reservations.
Rentals
Take Away
Rental Rates:
Sit-on-top singles: $40.00
Sit-on-top doubles: $60.00
Take away rentals are a flat rate.
Rental kayaks can be picked up at Crowley Lake Marina, it is ok to pick up evening before rental. Ask about our intermediate and advanced tours if transportation of a rental kayak is difficult for you.
Car racks are not included with the kayak rental. We can provide foam blocks and straps to help with kayak transportation.
Crowley Lake
Rental Rates:
Sit-on-top singles: Half day $25.00, full day $35.00
Sit-on-top doubles: Half day $40.00, full day $50.00
Call for reservations.
Baja and the Tropics
As much as we love winter in the Eastern Sierra, we do get tired of cold weather now and then. At times like these we like to go on kayak tours in Costa Rica and Baja California. We have paddled most of Baja's Sea of Cortez shoreline and can give you some good ideas on places to go or we can hook you up with some of the outfitters that lead great trips in Baja.
Costa Rica has to be one of our favorite places for kayak tours. In 1992 we paddled Costa Rica's Pacific Coastline and saw monkeys, tapirs, scarlet macaws and other exotic wildlife from our campsites. Kayaks proved to be a perfect way to explore some of the more remote portions of the shoreline.
Accessories:
Paddlers depend on their equipment. Weather conditions change rapidly in the Eastern Sierra. We use and sell quality boats from Necky Kayaks and Ocean Kayaks and paddles from Northwest Design Works so you know the gear will not let you down. We also sell accessories to keep you warm and dry while paddling.
It is not unusual to encounter variable weather conditions while out on Mono Lake. We use and sell Ex-Officio travel clothing to keep the hot sun and salt off our skin. These clothes are cool in hot weather and dry very quickly when wet. When conditions are not favorable, fleece underlayers with a storm shell or dry top from Kokatat will keep you comfortable and warm. Booties, gloves and wetsuits will keep you warm when out for cold weather paddle tours.
Dry bags from Seattle Sports and Cascade Designs will keep your extra gear dry, whether you are on a day trip or an extended journey. Try a Thermarest'r' Chair Kit at the end of a long day and enjoy a full support chair. Cascade Designs also makes a great touring seat that will fit most kayaks and canoes and reduces fatigue on long trips.
No matter what the activity is, it is important to keep hydrated while you enjoy the great outdoors. We use Camel Bak and Ultimate Directions hydration systems to keep ourselves properly hydrated while paddling, biking, skiing or hiking in the Eastern Sierra.
NOAA has established a repeater that gives up to date weather forecasts for the Eastern Sierra. The Weather One radio will keep you from guessing about the next storm system moving in and get you off the lake or out of the mountains before the weather changes.
Yakima Racks has developed a roof rack for most vehicles. We sell and rent Yakima Racks so you know your equipment will get to your destination safe and securely. We also have canoe and kayak carts that make longer carries much easier.
With a boat purchase receive ten percent off on accessories.
Under Special Use Permit with the Inyo National Forest.
Caldera Kayaks contributes to the Mono Lake Foundation.
Caldera Kayaks Links Products We Sell
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Call 760.934.1691 for information.
Caldera Kayaks
P.O. Box 726
Mammoth Lakes, Ca. 93546
Under special use permit with the
Caldera Kayaks contributes to the Mono Lake Foundation.
The Mammoth Web Page is presented by Mammoth WebPage. Comments,
suggestions and feedback is always welcome.
e-mail
webmaster@tjsmedia.com