Successful Poker Paddle raises $4,000 for field trips

 By SAMUEL WILSON

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead Lakers’ first Poker Paddle at King’s Point drew 150 canoeists, kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and swimmers to the south end of the lake, raising $4,000 to fund field trips for local elementary students to visit the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

Like an aquatic poker run, participants paddled, rowed and swam to five islands scattered around the Narrows, picking up a card at each to build their five-card stud hands. The winner was Ryan Windauer of Polson, who received a custom, hand-tooled wallet that contained gift cards to Sportsman & Ski Haus and Glacier Perks Lakeside Coffeehouse.

Players dressed in costumes and decorated their watercraft for the event, which also included food, drinks and a raffle contest for a four-night stay at Marina Cay Resort.

Dana Johnson, a Lakers member who helped organize the event, said they quickly reached the limit of 100 human-propelled watercraft during the registration, and had to turn away latecomers who wanted to participate.

“It was our first year, so we only wanted to take 100, and we frankly didn’t expect to reach that. We felt we’d be happy with 50,” Johnson said. “Next year, we’ll probably go to 150. We were pleasantly surprised.”

The Flathead Lakers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lake’s water quality through advocacy, education and stewardship programs.