Wall of Voodoo

If you are in the 45 - 55 year old age demographic you might remember an American band from Los Angeles called Wall of Voodoo. Their one hit wonder was Mexican Radio but their name is what resonates with me still to this day. The reason for that is that it describes a Columbia Lake phenomenon that I first encountered over twenty years ago when learning to windsurf at the park in Canal Flats.

Most windy days at Columbia Lake start with a southerly flow that generally picks up as the day progresses. The winds are fairly consistent for a BC lake and that day, twenty something years ago we were having a blast learning to windsurf and just enjoying the sunshine.  That is when we saw it.

Phil noticed it first and pointed to the north end of the lake where a thin line of white was slowly moving down the lake. Being the most experienced windsurfer in the group he started to jump up and down and raced to his truck to start rigging down to a smaller sail size. The wind was still blowing in from the south but he recognized the line as a wall of white caps that was moving rapidly down from the north. It was coming and it was coming on strong.

Being a windsurfer and watching a wall of strong wind move down the lake sets you in a panic. You know within a few minutes that all hell is going to break loose and you want to be ready for it. While I was rigging a smaller sail the song Mexican Radio started playing on the stereo. "It's a Wall of Voodoo," Phil cried out, "A Wall of Voodoo."

Before the wind shifts from the south to the north there is a brief period of unusual calm. The water goes flat and everything goes still. When the northerly pushes in, you will be met with strong gusty winds and if you are a windsurfer, you will be raging with a big smile across your face.


Walls of Voodoo are quite common at Columbia Lake. Some stronger than others but all come about in a matter of minutes and can strike those not ready for them. If you are out on a boat or battling a southerly headwind on a personal water craft and the wind suddenly goes still, look over your shoulder for something coming from the other direction. You might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

A powerful Wall of Voodoo hit today when I was down at the lake. I was rigging for a southerly when all went flat. I thought the day was done but low and behold, I could see the wall way down by Columere. It never lasted long and it was pouring rain for half of it but I got a session in that had me holding on tight. 

On a side note, the water is surprisingly warm. I was just wearing a shorty wetsuit and when I fell in, the shock I was expecting never came! So enjoy the lake this coming long weekend and if the wind dies and the song Mexican Radio starts up in your head, look for the Wall of Voodoo and race to shore!

The Wall of Voodoo trashing the shorefront today.We are going to need some bigger rocks in front of the down ramp.

Walls of Voodoo and Windsurfers make good companions.

Extremely High Water Levels at the Lake

If you are down at the lake this weekend, please be careful as the water levels are extremely high. John Morrison says he hasn’t seen it this high in years and is concerned that there could be significant damage to the docks and shoreline if the winds come up and start bashing things around. He has added additional tie downs to the boat dock to keep it in place.

If you are out on your boat this weekend mind the wake when close to shore as it can cause as much damage to the shoreline as the wind can. And, remember to tie up any personal watercraft that you might use as it will go for a trip if left unattended. There is virtually no beach at the moment.

I don’t think water levels have peaked yet either. If we get a few warm days we could see another jump in the lake level.

If you see damage to any of the existing structures please let us know so that it can be fixed before it gets worse.

Thanks and have a safe weekend.

Blue Lake Summer Kids Camp

Got kids? Want to get rid of them for a few days while you enjoy the peace and serenity of the Columbia Lake with your significant other? Why not send them to camp? That sounds awful doesn't it. Lets try this...

Kids clammering all over you wanting to go to summer camp to get away from their parents boring dinner parties and bocce games? Why not give them what they want with a week at Blue Lake?

Blue Lake Summer Camp is located behind the big mountain to the west of Columbia Ridge, about 30 km from the highway. They have just gone through a big revamp with new cabins, upgraded dining hall, wash houses and lodge.  Their programs are designed for kids ranging from 7 to 18 years of age with programs for a few days or for full weeks.

If you are interested, I have brochures at my place or just go to their web page for way more information than I am giving you here. Here is the link:

http://www.bluelakecentre.com/

It is a beautiful little spot with top notch facilities that I am sure any kid would love.

Not just for kids either. They rent the lodge out for parties, weddings, business retreats and other assorted adult like activities.

The reason for this shameless plug? I am on the board!

Check it out.

Badgers

I took this shot on Friday while at work but badgers have been spotted in the neighbourhood from time to time. Generally they move into the area, eat all of the Columbia ground squirrels and move on. You know they have been around if you see large diggings in the side of road cuts, hillsides or your driveway. Apparently people have seen one in the neighbourhood this year.

Shy badger

Badgers are an endangered species but are fairly abundant in the East Kootenay. They can be aggressive if cornered but will give you ample warning before chewing your ankles off. While their colouration is similar to a skunk's, their large head and flattened, wide body set them apart. Plus if cornered, instead of turning around and raising their tail like a skunk would, you will be met with a growl and a mouthful of teeth. Personally, I would be more worried about meeting a skunk.

So if you see any of these little guys let them be. Your yard will be ground squirrel free in no time.

Rain Rain Rain

Holy cow. Is it ever going to stop raining? This weather reminds me of the summers growing up in Fernie. Well at least the water level in the lake has risen. If it comes up any more we will be able to dive right off of the deck. On a positive note, you are not going to have to worry about your lawn drying out in the near future.

The forecast for the weekend is more of the same so if you are coming out, grab a good book. Fingers are crossed that the forecast is gloomier than the actual weather will be. 

Columbia Lake. Thursday afternoon

Here is where the water level is at the beach right now.

Tennis Court Gardening

On Sunday morning the weeding of the tennis court garden was enthusiastically tackled by a keen group of gardeners. Apparently there were several trips to the dump to get rid of the all the weeds and shrub trimmings. Who would have thought that such a small garden could accumulate so much debris. It looks significantly nicer now with the irises no longer competing with the dandelions for our attention.

Halfway done

Candace and Bruce pulling out the many weeds

Kerry-Anne and Brenda smile for the camera

Tracey digging away

Foreshore Work Party

Well under cloudy skies and dead calm winds a pretty large group of volunteers braved the rising waters of Columbia Lake to help stabilize the shoreline around the decks. Many thanks to all of those who showed up and helped load and unload rocks all morning. I think we got quite a bit done.  The next step will be to bring in some gravel but this probably won't happen until fall when the water is down.

Here is the day in pictures:

Step one, remove flooded paddle boat from the lake and drain.

Brian, having not shovelled enough all winter tries to shovel the water away from the beach.

Dave guiding the rock barge along the lake.

Pulling the rock barge to shore. The water was surprisingly warm.

Rocks, transported from down the lake, are unloaded.

Aside from playing in the dirt, guys like nothing more than throwing rocks. 

The sand from McKersie's looks like it came from a beach in Maui.

What kid (or adult for that matter) wouldn't want to build sand castles in this stuff. Too bad we couldn't get an entire beach of the stuff.

Dave monitoring the burgers.

Foreshore Work Party Weekend

WORK PARTY # 1:
What better way to spend a weekend that working on the beach. So grab some gloves and meet down at the beach on Saturday at 9:00 AM. Here is what we are going to be doing:
- Adding ballast around the deck supports to keep them from getting damaged during high water (which is just around the corner).
- Filling the sandbox with some sand.
- Other general maintenance that needs to be done down there. An email will be coming out later in the week with more information. Grant is leading it so send him an email to let him know you are interested in helping.

WORK PARTY # 2:
If lugging big rocks around makes your knees cringe and back ache, you can always meet on Sunday at the tennis courts for some weed pulling. Donna is looking for some help cleaning out the garden at the courts. Sunday June 12th. Donna had times from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Now I don't think that there are THAT many weeds in the garden so I am guessing she meant 10:00 am.

On other community notes:

THIEVES:

Yup. We are not immune. Apparently a vehicle that was parked down at the beach had items stolen from it this past weekend. Change, CD's etc. This was during the day so make sure that your vehicle is locked up when you head out onto the water. Same goes for your house.

RECYCLING BIN:

Is history. It left rather soon after the long weekend. I must admit that the site looks much better now that the bin is gone and all of the garbage has been picked up and removed.

TYING UP BOATS:

Don't forget to tie up the boats and pull everything far away from the shoreline. The water will be rising and things will start to float away. A good strong wind, or boat wakes, will dislodge poorly parked toys as well sending them adrift to whatever end the lake the wind is blowing to.

CALF ELK:

The little guy in the photo was found curled up beside the road on the way to the beach. Leave baby animals alone. Generally they are in hiding during the day, even if the spot doesn't seem like the best one to be hiding in. How did he know it was along a major path when he nested down there?

Calf Elk