Its hard to find a good place to paddle on a windy day.   I find that a smaller lake down in a bowl is a good choice and McConnell Lake fit that description.   The Park can be a busy place but if I arrive early enough, I may find that I am the only one on the lake.   The winds were consistent, but manageable.   I tried to paddle in the lee of hills where I could.   Other parts were just plain hard work.

From one end of the lake under the hill in a corner surrounded by trees, there was much less wind.

Other paddlers appeared at the end of the first loop of the lake and I was pleased to see PFDs on.   On a windy day, it is easier to capsize and the water is too cold to take a chance.   On Heffley Lake a week earlier 3 teenagers were crossing the bigger lake without PFDs.   Would they survive a capsize?   Probably alone they would not.   Survival time is short in cold water.

I paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction for a good workout (paddling into the wind is hard work) of 5 km.

On the way back home  I stopped and hiked into the hills above Goose Lake for the views.   Another great day in the high country.