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Oct 16, 2011 Widgeon Slough Wapato Hunt
We may have started in a fog—but the day ended sparkling! We had especially
good weather for
mid October, sunny and warm. A perfect day.
The mission was to find wapato or Indian potato, aka Sagittaria latifolia.
Before the introduction of the now common potato, wapato was a staple in the
west coast native diet, its starch content
complementing the high protein content
of salmon. It grows in wet places.
Thirteen lucky voyageurs found some on the edge of the Widgeon Slough, although
we were unable
to dig up any of the golf ball sized rhizomes. Glenn tried to tell us
that only women could do the
digging which is why he didn’t want to do it!
Thanks especially to our botanist friend Jeremy for confirming the find.
We said hello to members of the Beaver Canoe Club headed up to Widgeon Falls,
and we also went
upstream on Widgeon Creek for a ways before our time ran out.
Aug 13 Moonlight Paddle
Jul 30 – Aug 1 Brigade Days
Jun 20 - Jul 16 Columbia river trip
Jul 1-4 Broken Islands
Jun 12 Widgeon Creek
May 28-29 Granite Falls
April 16 Alouette Lake
No sign of the hoped-for Spring sunshine, paddling the length of the lake,
but the emerald pools shone brightly.
 
Apr 2-3
Tandem training - Katie leading
Mar 13 Barnston Island
Feb 19 Bedwell Bay to Deep Cove
Jan 1 New Years Day Paddle with potluck dinner
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