OWA/OKCC Presidents' Day Rogue Trip

Nine kayakers, 25 rafters and 1 brave soul in an IK, mostly members of the OKCC and OWA, launched at Grave Creek Saturday morning on a flow of 8300 CFS. It was an overcast, dry day with temperatures in the mid 50's. Most ran the fish ladder, one brave soul took the middle chute and one raft ran the main falls, uneventfully. One kayaker took a 'sneak' line next to the middle chute and another hit the line on the main falls, only to swim at the bottom.

A quick scout at Upper Black Bar gave the opportunity for some action snapshots.

Our first night was at the enormous Horseshoe Bend camp. With lots of time in the afternoon, many of us went for a hike, in spite of the steep scramble up to the main trail. Our OKCC group prepared pasta dinner with all of the trimmings Saturday night. Dessert was homemade cookies cleverly placed in Costco boxes. Rain started around midnight and eased off just in time for breakfast.

Delicious breakfast burritos were on the menu Sunday morning, and we were packed and on the river soon enough to enjoy a steady light drizzle over 7300 cfs of Rogue. Yours truly opted to ride a raft through Mule Creek Canyon, then Blossom Bar, leading to a story he'll hear again and again.

Mule Creek Canyon did present its usual difficulties for the kayakers, but Blossom Bar, although big, was wide open. A number of rafts ran the left side of Blossom Bar, over a weak spot in the picket fence. The oarsman in the raft I was riding lost his wife and broke an oar while running this line. The story goes that I pushed his poor, helpless, innocent wife overboard. She was back in the boat quickly enough, demonstrating the safety awareness and capability of the group.

Our destination on Sunday was Tacoma camp, and we arrived by 3:00 to clearing weather. The sun even showed itself by late afternoon. Not much hiking was on the agenda, though, as folks dried their gear and talked over the events of the day. Dinner Sunday night was a famous and delicious chili and cornbread, preceded by made-to-order quesadillas. Monday breakfast was French toast and sausages. What a treat!!

At this higher flow, the float out was fast, and pleasantly dry. A pair of bald eagles waited on the left, at river level, just a couple miles above Foster Bar. The road through Powers was open, so the drive home was scenic and about as fast as it could be.

It was a fabulous time on a fabulous river with a fabulous bunch of kayakers and rafters. If you weren't there, you missed out!!

First Intermediate/Advanced Class on the Clackamas

January 3rd found 24 intrepid students at the North Fork Lake to improve their paddling skills. Paul Kuthe taught pretty much everyone something new. I learned a more effective way to rudder while paddling backwards. But the paddling drills were preceded by throw rope drills, something we just don't do enough of. Although I did get the rope out there, it's a good thing my partner wasn't being swept away by the river. Following a canoe-style lunch, we headed up to the put-in below Toilet Bowl. With such a large group, Paul had us partner -up. After many encounters of the third kind with a nasty lateral reversal by our group eddy, we headed on down to the wave at Joe Bob's.
Waiting for a chance...
Denny shreds. Doesn't it look easy?
Christine on the pillow.
Eric gets a good ride too.
From there on down, exercises were oriented to group interaction. First we eddy-hopped down a fun part on the left using a 'follow the leader' technique.

Then we switched to a 'leapfrog' technique with our partners. Admittedly, this is a great exercise, but I was just aching for more, and more challenging, eddies. Both exercises are important for developing within individuals the group dynamic skills required for running difficult whitewater and creeks.
We had a great time. And I think every last person really appreciates the teaching effort Paul put into the day.

Annual Meeting

Our OKCC Annual Meeting at the Iron Horse Restaurant was well attended, with about 30 folks taking time away from the big Oregon-Oregon State football game. Election of Board Members was the main order of business. New Board Members are Markus Fant, Russ Pascoe, Dick Sisson, and Chris Watson.
Retiring members include Shannon Crosswhite, Michael Williams, Jim Funk and Ann Stephenson. They each deserve a big 'Thank you' for all they have done for the OKCC.
Other changes of interest are that Sue Scheppele and Anthony Wakeman are coordinating the Intermediate Progression this season. Patrick is taking over the Beginner Progression. Denny Egner is coordinating the Clinics this season. More information about the clinics will appear soon.

Roaring River Slalom August 29-30

It's back for its third year!
Don't miss this chance to paddle slalom and improve your skills on an easy stretch of the Clackamas River, just below Roaring River Rapid. This event is for improving boat control, developing strategies to make moves between gates, and having fun. It's always interesting and sometimes instructive to watch the lines and strokes other paddlers use to get through the gates you struggle with.
August 29 is Practice Day. Put your boat in the water and try the course. Canoes, kayaks, IKs, etc., are all welcome. The course will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Slalom paddling clinics are planned, times TBA.
August 30 features timed runs and Race Day - Entry fee is $10, plus $5 insurance fee for non-ACA members. There will be race categories for canoes and kayaks. Emphasis is on achieving your personal best. Making all the gates cleanly is always a thrill, no matter how long it takes. Expert slalom paddlers from the League of Northest Whitewater Racers will also compete - they are impressive to watch!
For more information, see www.l-ccc.org/rrslalom.php
Club sponsors include the OKCC and LCCC.

LWS Pre-Picnic Paddle

Saturday we had an easy run down the Lower White Salmon prior to the OKCC Picnic. Maybe we had a 'kayaker's dozen', somewhere between 8 and 20. Actually, we were 11. I'd thought we'd have a playful boogey run with a long stop at the Cave Wave, but we had a chance to practice our rescue skills and simply getting through the rapids right side up. With absolutely wonderful weather, we couldn't help but have a good time. As the video shows, a few of us had good rides on the Cave Wave, although by then others were simply looking for an opportunity to get out of their boats and relax. Level on the stick gauge at Husum was 2.75' - I think the wave will be a little easier when it drops just a little. Everyone was smiling on the paddle out so 'a good time was had by all.'
The Picnic was waiting for us, thanks to Mark, and it was excellent. You'll have to look elsewhere for pictures of the picnic itself - they're somewhere out there in cyberspace.

Beginner Progression #1 – Summer/Fall ‘09

Nineteen boaters showed up for the 2009 summer kickoff of the OKCC Beginner Progression. We ran the classic Barton to Carver, but at 1500-1600 on the 3Lynx gauge, there were only a few good eddies to practice in, and fishermen had taken over one of them.

Thanks to numerous safety boaters, there were only a few minor yard sales and no real carnage. Note to new boaters: Have floatbags actually in your boat and attach all outfitting.

Most of the swims happened while practicing eddy turns, but as a major point of the trips is to provide a safe environment for practicing boat handling skills, that was great. Keep up the good work!

We had an interesting collection of IKs and hardshells, but no canoes this trip – although canoes are welcome. Keep in mind these trips usually don’t stop for lunch.

It was great to see both new and old faces on the river; please come back next month.

July's trip – subject to river levels – will be McIver to Paradise Park. If time permits, we’ll do it twice. Email okccbeginner@gmail.com the week prior to the event for up-to-date information.

For questions about the beginner trips, email sue@scheppele.com or acwakeman@comcast.net.

Beginner Progression Schedule:

July 12 - McIver to Paradise – subject to water conditions

Aug 9 - TBA

Sep 13 - TBA

Oct 11 - TBA

Nov 8 – TBA