White Lake (Cariboo)
White Lake is a medium-sized alkali lake in the southwest end of the Cariboo. It is accessed by driving west on the Meadow Lake Road past Meadow Lake. The hand lunch area is at the west end of the lake. We drove in from Big Bar Lake on backroads.
There were no homes or grazing fences, nor any evidence of camping or fishing. The lake was shallow and devoid of any visible riparian zone vegetation.
We dipped our paddles into the water and started a perimeter paddle. At a shallow spot, I swirled mu paddle blade through a soupy alginous mass on the lake bottom.
A few bleached logs lined the lakeshore.
On close examination Owe saw that the lake was full of millions if brine shrimp. As we watched below our long kayaks we saw a myriad of invertebrates in the shallows, but also in the muck below. What looked like a barren lake was really a shallow alkali salt ecosystem A few ducks were feasting on the underwater life but watched us warily from the shoreline.
The paddle around White Lake was 7.5 km. Our plan was also to paddle Meadow Lake but the wind dictated a second paddle back at Big Bar Lake instead.
It is unlikely that White Lake is paddled by anyone in any given year. The larger deeper lakes of the region attract campers, fishermen and a few paddlers. Since Big Bar Lake is outstanding, go there first.