Flow:
Weather:
People/Boats: David and Jeremy in the cataraft
Distance:
More info to follow
Monday, February 21, 2011
Lower Clackamas - McIver Park to Barton Park - Nov 11, 2010
Flow: about 3000 cfs at Estacada Current Level
Weather: spotty rain, about 40'
People/Boats: Jeremy in his canoe, David and Alex on the cataraft, and Chris in a Necky Jive hardshell kayak.
Chris's first outing with his Jive on whitewater, and he swam 3 times. River was moving quick, and Dead Man's Bend was a little tricky at that level. There was a log extending from the right bank just under water level, complicating the initial entry. Jeremy hung up his canoe sideways on the log, and Chris bumped into it before getting around.
Eddy was fairly at Bend as well - we tried to cut across the eddy and put ashore on the gravel bar on the outer right bend. David got shunted away by the current, Jeremy as well, tipping in the wave train shortly after. Chris tipped into the eddy on entry, taking his kayak in the face post-exit, then dragged himself with a bloody nose to the target gravel bar. He re-entered from that point, and promptly lost it a second time in the wave train. Beat up and tired, he was quite glad for Jeremy to pull him out with the canoe - the river was fast downstream, and he couldn't get out of it while also dragging a flooded boat. Alex seemed to have a good time watching the fun from the safety of the back seat of the cataraft.
Water was way too cold for a wetsuit, and Chris didn't appreciate being smacked in the face with his boat. Think some better gear is in order.
Weather: spotty rain, about 40'
People/Boats: Jeremy in his canoe, David and Alex on the cataraft, and Chris in a Necky Jive hardshell kayak.
Chris's first outing with his Jive on whitewater, and he swam 3 times. River was moving quick, and Dead Man's Bend was a little tricky at that level. There was a log extending from the right bank just under water level, complicating the initial entry. Jeremy hung up his canoe sideways on the log, and Chris bumped into it before getting around.
Eddy was fairly at Bend as well - we tried to cut across the eddy and put ashore on the gravel bar on the outer right bend. David got shunted away by the current, Jeremy as well, tipping in the wave train shortly after. Chris tipped into the eddy on entry, taking his kayak in the face post-exit, then dragged himself with a bloody nose to the target gravel bar. He re-entered from that point, and promptly lost it a second time in the wave train. Beat up and tired, he was quite glad for Jeremy to pull him out with the canoe - the river was fast downstream, and he couldn't get out of it while also dragging a flooded boat. Alex seemed to have a good time watching the fun from the safety of the back seat of the cataraft.
Water was way too cold for a wetsuit, and Chris didn't appreciate being smacked in the face with his boat. Think some better gear is in order.
Columbia River - Hayden Island - Oct 3, 2010
Flow: typical river flow
Weather: cool and overcast
People/Boats: Chris in Kestral, Jeremy in canoe
Distance: about 12 miles
We went out to take a loop around Hayden Island, and had a heck of a time finding a public place to put in. Stopped in at Alder Creek to ask for directions, and they were kind enough to let us use their dock, so long as we were back before they locked up. Nice folks there, good selection of equipment too.
Started out on the Oregon side of the channel, and headed downstream through the large number of houseboats and pleasure boats moored in the channel. As you approach the downstream side of the island, it gets less developed, and you start to feel more like you are on a river instead of paddling through a city. Headed upstream on the Washington side, and managed to catch a very nice wave from a passing tug. The long shallow shelf allowed it to build and crest evenly, and Jeremy pulled off about a 50ft surf on it. Also came across the LCI-713, one of two infantry landing craft of it's class from WW2. It is presently being refurbished in the channel.
Weather: cool and overcast
People/Boats: Chris in Kestral, Jeremy in canoe
Distance: about 12 miles
We went out to take a loop around Hayden Island, and had a heck of a time finding a public place to put in. Stopped in at Alder Creek to ask for directions, and they were kind enough to let us use their dock, so long as we were back before they locked up. Nice folks there, good selection of equipment too.
Started out on the Oregon side of the channel, and headed downstream through the large number of houseboats and pleasure boats moored in the channel. As you approach the downstream side of the island, it gets less developed, and you start to feel more like you are on a river instead of paddling through a city. Headed upstream on the Washington side, and managed to catch a very nice wave from a passing tug. The long shallow shelf allowed it to build and crest evenly, and Jeremy pulled off about a 50ft surf on it. Also came across the LCI-713, one of two infantry landing craft of it's class from WW2. It is presently being refurbished in the channel.
Willamette - Hebb Park to Clackamette Park - July 25, 2010
Flow: a little faster at first, then slow/stagnant upstream of falls.
Weather: sunny, clear, and a little hot
People/Boats: Chris S in Kestral, Chris N in "Albert Hall", Jeremy in canoe, Jeff and Jack in sit-on-top hardshell sea kayaks.
Distance: about 10.5 miles
This is a great longer trip. The put-in at Hebb Park requires a day pass purchase. Intially the river moves at a moderate pace, and then picks up a little. The Willamette Narrows was very impressive - large outcrops of rock, and lots of small channels to explore. Here's a nice picture of the narrows from somebody else's post.
Lunch at Willamette Park, then we built up some speed and shot the falls at Oregon City. (just kidding) We took the locks to get around them instead. 5 locks, with a total drop of about 50 feet. Takes about 30 minutes to go through, and you hang onto a rope from the side while the water drains out. Interesting and fun.
Towards the end, we went up and took a look at the falls from downstream. The current coming off the falls is pretty substantial, but the flow entering from the west side by the old mill was even moreso. Fast and completely chaotic flow, if you aren't solid in your boat you will take a swim trying to cross it. If you can pull that off however, you can get a nice close up view of the falls that not that many people will ever see.
Both Willamette and Clackamette Park were swarming with people - lots of families out taking a dip. I could have done without the crowds myself.
Weather: sunny, clear, and a little hot
People/Boats: Chris S in Kestral, Chris N in "Albert Hall", Jeremy in canoe, Jeff and Jack in sit-on-top hardshell sea kayaks.
Distance: about 10.5 miles
This is a great longer trip. The put-in at Hebb Park requires a day pass purchase. Intially the river moves at a moderate pace, and then picks up a little. The Willamette Narrows was very impressive - large outcrops of rock, and lots of small channels to explore. Here's a nice picture of the narrows from somebody else's post.
Lunch at Willamette Park, then we built up some speed and shot the falls at Oregon City. (just kidding) We took the locks to get around them instead. 5 locks, with a total drop of about 50 feet. Takes about 30 minutes to go through, and you hang onto a rope from the side while the water drains out. Interesting and fun.
Towards the end, we went up and took a look at the falls from downstream. The current coming off the falls is pretty substantial, but the flow entering from the west side by the old mill was even moreso. Fast and completely chaotic flow, if you aren't solid in your boat you will take a swim trying to cross it. If you can pull that off however, you can get a nice close up view of the falls that not that many people will ever see.
Both Willamette and Clackamette Park were swarming with people - lots of families out taking a dip. I could have done without the crowds myself.
Willamette - Cathedral Park South - July 21, 2010
Flow: typical for Willamette
Weather: overcast and warm
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall".
Distance: about 6.5 miles
Put in at Cathedral Park, and headed south on Willamette into the Swan Island Channel, then back upstream. River was a little industrial and dirty here, but paddling among the big boats in Swan Island was interesting.
Weather: overcast and warm
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall".
Distance: about 6.5 miles
Put in at Cathedral Park, and headed south on Willamette into the Swan Island Channel, then back upstream. River was a little industrial and dirty here, but paddling among the big boats in Swan Island was interesting.
Willamette / Ross Island - July 5, 2010
Flow: typical for Willamette
Weather: sunny and warm
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall", Jeremy in canoe.
Round trip: about 5.75 miles
Nice calm paddle around Ross Island. Put in and take-out at Staff Jennings Boating center at western base of Sellwood Bridge. Headed downstream on east side of island, to the Ross Island bridge, then back upstream on the other side back to take out. Nice day for a paddle - river calm, light boat traffic. We came across a home-made paddleboat on the water, powered by two bicycles mounted on frames. Gotta love Portland...
Weather: sunny and warm
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall", Jeremy in canoe.
Round trip: about 5.75 miles
Nice calm paddle around Ross Island. Put in and take-out at Staff Jennings Boating center at western base of Sellwood Bridge. Headed downstream on east side of island, to the Ross Island bridge, then back upstream on the other side back to take out. Nice day for a paddle - river calm, light boat traffic. We came across a home-made paddleboat on the water, powered by two bicycles mounted on frames. Gotta love Portland...
Nehalem River - April 13, 2010
Flow: about 4500 at Foss OR
Weather: sunny at first, then rain, about 45'
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall".
Thought we'd try our hand at some white water, so we went out to the Nehalem. Scouted from the road, and it didn't look so bad - except for the falls, which looked easy to portage. Boy were we wrong!
Put in about 2 miles downstream of Tin Shack Rd, and took out at Roy Creek Park. The rapids were MUCH more than we expected (Class 3, funny how they didn't look so bad from the road), and our boats were not the right tools for the job. We realized pretty quickly we were in over our heads and were as careful as possible. Thankfully, neither of us tipped, as that could have been disaster.
The portage around the falls was worse than expected, not hard to get around the falls proper, but nowhere to put in right after them. We ended up climbing up to the railroad with the boats to get downstream a bit more.
Arrived at the takeout after dark and missed it. Had to backtrack upstream. We apparently were granted one free pass by the gods of the river, and I don't count on a second one. We had no business being out there with that level of preparedness, and are lucky to have made it out safely. Lesson learned.
Weather: sunny at first, then rain, about 45'
People/Boats: Chris S in 15' Kestral, & Chris N, in self-made wooden kayak, the "Albert Hall".
Thought we'd try our hand at some white water, so we went out to the Nehalem. Scouted from the road, and it didn't look so bad - except for the falls, which looked easy to portage. Boy were we wrong!
Put in about 2 miles downstream of Tin Shack Rd, and took out at Roy Creek Park. The rapids were MUCH more than we expected (Class 3, funny how they didn't look so bad from the road), and our boats were not the right tools for the job. We realized pretty quickly we were in over our heads and were as careful as possible. Thankfully, neither of us tipped, as that could have been disaster.
The portage around the falls was worse than expected, not hard to get around the falls proper, but nowhere to put in right after them. We ended up climbing up to the railroad with the boats to get downstream a bit more.
Arrived at the takeout after dark and missed it. Had to backtrack upstream. We apparently were granted one free pass by the gods of the river, and I don't count on a second one. We had no business being out there with that level of preparedness, and are lucky to have made it out safely. Lesson learned.
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