December 2020 Issue Meet the New LCCC Board - Lower Columbia Canoe Club
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December 2020 Issue
Meet the New LCCC Board
Photo: Paddling the Willamette Narrows on Thanksgiving Day 2020.
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In this issue:
Why I Am Excited About the Future of the LCCC, by Mark Scantlebury, page 2
Meet the New Faces on the 2021-2022 LCCC Board, by Mark Scantlebury, page 3
Renew Now to Be Part of a Better 2021, page 4
November Club Meeting Notes, by Audrey Bergsma, page 5
Covid Times CPR Update, by Teresa Gryder, page 6
Thomas Creek Trip Report, by Will Gehr, page 9
The Chuck Wilkison Covid Canoe Exercise Workout, page 10
LCCC Library Book of the Month: First Descents, page 11
Thanksgiving on the Willamette, page 12
Four-Day Trip on the Columbia River, by Ron Lagraff, page 14
Current LCCC Pandemic Guidelines, page 19
View from the Stern:
Why I Am Excited About the Future of the LCCC
By Mark Scantlebury, Outgoing LCCC President
The background: If you had asked me a year ago how I felt about the club, I would have told
you I was worried. Many of the board members, including myself, had held one or more
positions for many years. We had sat our seats so long our
butts were sore and we were mostly in maintenance mode.
Some of us wanted to retire (from the board, not the club).
Others wanted new board members to come in and help
invigorate the club with fresh energy and fresh ideas.
Meanwhile, in the club we were seeing declining
membership. We were also seeing the culmination of a 20-
year shift from being a canoe club with members interested
in a range of river and whitewater paddling (from Class I –
IV) to mostly a whitewater paddling club with occasional
forays on moving water or disappearing lakes (a great Ted
Housen-organized paddle trip several years back).
The club was suffering a bit. Instead of growth pains, we had
evolution pains. Then Covid hit. And the fires throughout
Oregon.
During these ongoing Covid times, the LCCC has been the most conservative of the area
paddling clubs. We put a pause on members posting trips that required car shuttles and never
lifted it. Consequently, Covid had a severe impact on club paddling trips and events in 2020. The
only 2020 event besides the winter party, which was pre-Covid, was the McKenzie Weekend,
and it was sparsely attended.
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The future: So, why am I excited about the future of the LCCC? Reason one, the news of the
various vaccines coming out is a genuine light at the end of the tunnel. It may be next summer
before enough of our members are vaccinated to open up club paddling adventures and events
again, but at least we can begin to expect some return to normalcy. The months between then
and now will allow healing in our communities, as well as progress in fire restoration in many of
the areas (Clackamas, North Santiam, McKenzie, North Umpqua) that we paddle.
The second reason I’m excited is the addition of new LCCC board members (see article in this
issue) and the motivation it will have on the board members remaining. We needed help and
now have new people with new ideas for how to get members enthusiastic and involved in club
trips and activities. Once the region becomes safe again for groups to gather, you will see these
ideas unfold. We also have this year’s member survey to draw ideas from, particularly for
paddling clinics and events that were favored and suggested by members.
The third reason I am excited is I think that all of us in the LCCC are eager and anxious to
resume paddling and gathering together as a club. The LCCC has a special history in the area.
Now it has a chance to have a special future as we re-envision what it is to be a paddling club in
the 2020s and what we all can do for each other to enrich our collective paddling experience. I
hope you are excited too and will help us forge this future together by renewing your
membership. (See renewal details in this newsletter.)
Meet the New Faces on the 2021-2022 LCCC Board
By Mark Scantlebury, outgoing LCCC President
Club President: I’m happy to announce that at the November club meeting Deborah Kane was
elected LCCC president. She also was elected webmaster, taking over from long-serving LCCC
board member Kendall Springer. With these
combined roles, she’s looking to update the
LCCC and see how we can serve its members
better.
If you want to learn more about Deborah, look
back through your email for the November
LCCC newsletter. I will repeat that she’s an
avid whitewater kayaker, skier, mountain
biker, and hiker. What’s more, she is the
founder and CEO at GoCamp, an Airbnb-style
rental service for camper vans. She’s all about
the outdoors.
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Conservation Chair: Just a day or two before the club meeting,
LCCC canoeist and kayaker Will Gehr informed he’d like to run
for Conservation Chair. Like Deborah, he was unanimously
elected. Will is perfected suited to the role as a longtime
conservationist who has done everything from run his own farm
in Vermont to working for a local Portland company on
commercial composting solutions. Will is one of our most active
paddlers and it will be great to have him not just paddling on our
rivers, but helping look after them. He wants to keep the club
informed on local river conservation and access issues and the
organizations addressing them.
Secretary: Another surprise candidate was Audrey Bergsma for club secretary. This position
was held by longtime board member Denny Egner. Denny was happy to step aside and go back
to his favored role as LCCC whitewater chair. Audrey will
be in charge of scheduling board meetings and
publishing reports of decisions made by the board at
board meetings and by the membership at club
meetings. You can read her first report in this issue and
get a full accounting of who is on the new board.
Please join me in welcoming all three of these paddlers
to the LCCC board—and expressing gratitude to those
board members who have kept their positions or
accepted new ones. We are all looking forward to
guiding the club into a post-Covid world after a very subdued 2020.
Renew Now for Post-Covid Paddling in 2021
With the news of the coming vaccines, it’s looking good for the resumption of club trips
sometime next year. To be ready, why not renew now? Here’s how:
1. Log into the club’s Paddlebase renewal system and select “Join/Renew” on the menu
bar.
2. Click the online waiver link and complete the waiver.
3. Make your $15 payment through the PayPal link.
Please note: The club’s registrar will be matching signed waiver notices with online payment
notices. If you do one but not the other, the registrar will have to contact you. Please don’t
make him work so hard!
Ready to renew? Then go for it. (Club memberships run from the first of the calendar year to
the end of the calendar year. If you renew now, you’ll be signed up for January 1, 2021 through
December 31, 2021.)
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November Club Meeting Notes
By Audrey Bergsma, LCCC Secretary
The first (and therefore the best) ever LCCC Zoom meeting brought together over 20 members.
Sure, we missed getting together in comfort of someone else’s home and sampling delicious
potluck dishes and
desserts. On the other
hand, the commute was
great and the distance
wasn’t far to our own
refrigerators for libations
and other treats.
Mark Scantlebury,
outgoing president of the
LCCC, started the
meeting with our first
order of business,
electing board members
for two-year terms. The
following members were
enthusiastically elected
for the following positions.
• President and Webmaster: Deborah Kane (see November 2020 Newsletter for why we
are all excited for Deborah to be our new president and webmaster!)
• Treasurer/Registrar/Newsletter: Mark Scantlebury
• Secretary and Librarian: Audrey Bergsma
• Safety Officer: Teresa Gryder
• Conservation Chair: Will Gehr
• Whitewater Chair: Denny Egner
At the meeting, Deborah outlined some of her goals as president. These include:
• Update our website and on-line presence
• Expand our collaboration with other clubs and paddling enthusiasts
• Develop virtual programming to keep us connected during Covid-19
• Formulate programming specific to women and grow this faction of the club
Deborah facilitated a big round of thanks from club members for Mark’s numerous years as
LCCC president. They thanked him for:
• Being a steady “engine of the club”
• Posting countless trips while emphasizing safety, surfing, lunches, and camaraderie
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• Filming a plethora of river-running videos by tirelessly racing down rapids to set up with
a camera in one hand and a throw rope in the other
• Providing a solid source of canoe know-how from outfitting to skill-building
• Unending patience with club business, steadily striving towards consensus
• Writing, coordinating and delivering a monthly professional-level newsletter/bulletin
brimming with interesting articles and trip reports
We also thanked the following out-going board members for their multiple years of service:
• Ken Keating, Treasurer/Registrar
• Kendall Springer, Webmaster
• Russ Pascoe, Conservation Chair
The meeting then moved to a general discussion of ideas for Covid-safe ideas for 2021:
• Encourage members to post flatwater trips on LCCC Google Groups as these trips do not
require a shuttle and stay within the guidelines for Multnomah County.
• Develop ideas for “park n play” events
• Continue skill-building paddling classes in flatwater settings
COVID TIMES CPR UPDATE
by Teresa Gryder ND, LCCC Safety Chair
As a medical professional, I am required to maintain a professional-level CPR certification. At
this year’s recertification class, our CPR instructor told us about being at a concert when half of
the choir stopped singing. Something was going on behind them. Being the curious sort, and a
paramedic, she made her way back there. A woman from the choir was propped up, looking
bad. The people there were determined to keep her propped up without going through the
basic steps to check her ABC’s—airway, breathing,
circulation—remember? She could have died while
half the choir kept singing. Nobody wanted to admit
how bad it was. The act must go on!!
Until it should not.
The hardest thing about CPR is deciding that it is
time to do it. People will stand around a dying
person saying “Somebody should do something” or
worse, pretending that nothing bad is happening. Well, I have news for you: bad things happen.
The other bad news is that you might be there, with all the other people who don’t want to do
CPR either. Will you be the one to save a life?
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I have never done CPR. There has always been someone there more ready to step in than me. If
there is an ER nurse, ICU doctor, or paramedic lurking around, they will help. If there isn’t, you
are that person’s only hope. If you check and are still in doubt about the pulse or breathing, it’s
better to start CPR than to not do anything. It is better to know what to do and do it than to let
someone die and not have at least tried your best.
So, what does your best look like?
How to do your best for an adult victim:
I. SCENE SAFETY.
A. Make sure that you, the victim, and any other rescuers are going to be safe
before you start the rest of the process. When a person is down, it's easy to
forget everything else. Move the victim or change the situation to protect
yourself and everyone involved. Don’t waste time, just do it!
II. ASSESS THE VICTIM.
A. This should be done in 30 seconds or less. First you tap on their shoulders and
shout. Then you give them a noogie (knuckle rub on sternum to elicit pain
response). If they don’t respond to that and they look pale or gray, check for
breathing. Watch their chest—does it rise with breathing? If their color is bad
(face white or grey) and they aren’t breathing normally (weird gasping is not
breathing), they need compressions.
B. If you know how to check for a pulse, this is the time to do it. If you don’t, you
can skip it. Lack of warm color in the face is a sign of no pulse. Trained folks will
check the carotid pulse (in the neck) in adults, and the brachial pulse in infants. If
the victim is part of your family, you can put your ear on their chest and listen for
a heartbeat. Whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly and then move forward.
If there’s a heartbeat but no breathing then you do rescue breathing instead of
compressions.
C. The goal is to quickly recognize when they need CPR and get the process
started. If someone’s headed for the pearly gates you might be able to bring
them back. If you start doing compressions on someone who doesn’t need them,
they’ll start moving around and let you know they are alive. Then you stop. It’s
better to start and stop than not to try.
III. GET HELP
A. Before you start compressions on an adult, make sure help is coming. It’s
different for children, but that’s not covered here. Parents might want to take
the full course (again) to know that they can do right by their kids.
B. Have someone call 911 (or do it yourself), but don’t wait for paramedics to show
up. Compressions have to start soon to save a life. So, do it, don’t wait for the
experts. Don’t be shy. Your best efforts are covered by Good Samaritan Law.
Minutes matter, that’s why bystander CPR is so important to learn.
C. Send a bystander to get an AED (defibrillator) and use it as soon as it shows up.
An AED delivers a shock that can make the heart beat right again. It’s not in the
average first aid kit, but there is one in most big buildings including medical,
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office and public facilities. Somebody must run around and ask questions until
they find one, bring it back, and turn it on. Once an AED is turned on, it will tell
you what to do. Follow instructions! You only have minutes before your efforts
become irrelevant.
IV. START COMPRESSIONS
A. Compressions are more important than breaths because they move already-
oxygenated blood through the body. Compressions can keep organs like the
brain and kidneys healthy for several minutes, even without any breaths going
in. So, get started ASAP and keep going. You’ll have to bare their chest, because
you can’t see where to compress through clothes. Get the clothes off/up and
over, and start compressions. Compress on the bottom half of the sternum—not
on the edge.
B. If you’re not clear about any of this, you should take the class again.
C. Get help doing compressions. Switch with another person every 2 minutes or so.
The other person should approach from the opposite site and take over without
much stopping. This is how you keep the victim alive until the AED gets there, or
until paramedics take over.
But wait. I hear you thinking. COVID-19. It causes heart attacks. I’m not touching a downed
stranger.
OK. You don’t have to. The paramedics in the field have to, and they’re throwing a towel over
the face of the person they’re doing CPR on. Of course, they’re wearing masks. You can also put
a mask on the victim. This is what you can do. Stop anything from flying out of their face and
onto yours. Put a layer of clothing on their skin so you
aren’t touching them directly. Do what you can do. If the
victim is someone in your germ family instead of a
stranger, you can take action with less fear.
Wait, wait! I hear you thinking. I don’t remember how many times to compress their chest and
how many times to breathe? It doesn’t matter that much, but the recommended ratio is 30
compressions to 2 breaths. The compressions should be at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute,
like the disco tune “Stayin’ Alive, Stayin’ Alive, ooo too ooo too, Stayin’ Alive.” If you don’t have
a mask or don’t want to breathe into someone’s mouth, don’t. Just keep the compressions
going. About 2-2.5” deep.
People who need CPR are in a bad way, and most of them don’t make it. But some do.
Sometimes resuscitated people live a long productive life, and you could be the person who
makes that possible. So, do it. Get the training. Again. Take action when the moment is right.
There’s no time like the present.
I got my re-certification through Just In Time Training. They’re the A-team.
https://www.icansavealife.com/
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Thomas Creek Trip Report
By LCCC Conservation Chair Will Gehr
Some of you have run Thomas Creek multiple times over the years. I never had until last Sunday
when a few of us ventured south. It is not commonly paddled by LCCC members and I wanted
to find out why. Too far? My understanding is that it is more commonly paddled by those from
Albany and Corvallis than by boaters from Portland. But, from Portland it's only about a five- to
10-minute longer drive than the Packsaddle run on the N. Santiam. So, maybe there’s some
other reason it's not more often sought out. To keep you in suspense and reading such a
prosaic report, I promise to share three surprises that we had on the trip.
The creek is the first watershed
south of the N. Santiam, and flows
through Scio and into the South
Santiam near Jefferson. It
generally requires substantial rain
to be runnable and drops its level
quickly. There are two popular
runs above Scio: a five-mile Class
3-4 "upper" section and a 9.6-mile
Class 2-3 "lower" section. First
surprise: The 9.6 advertised
mileage in older editions of Soggy
Sneakers is wrong. The SS 5th
edition gets it right: it's six miles.
Teresa Gryder corrected it on
the AW site. This section is called Photograph from an LCCC run of Thomas Creek back in 2011
5-Mile Bridge to Hannah Bridge. (Mark Scantlebury).
You know you've reached 5-Mile
Bridge when you get to the Weyerhaeuser gate.
Soggy Sneakers says that 1200-1600 cfs is optimal for the lower run and that it is Class 2 when
flows are less than 2000. Surprise 2: At our flow of 1300 falling to 1000, we all agreed that it
merits a Class 3 rating. The rapids were sometimes long with large holes and big wave trains.
On turns, the current tries to sweep you into overhanging branches along the outside bank. I
got caught once and many times narrowly avoided other branches.
There was a nearly river-wide ledge and hole about 1.5 miles in. It had a tongue on river left
and a soft spot along the right bank which I had to seek out when I distractedly floated up to
the ledge. The SS description leads you to expect that the only Class 3 rapid is below the dam
portage. However, several rapids above the dam were more challenging at this flow. There was
occasional wood, but nothing hard to avoid. There were also a few cobble bars with brush that
the current occasionally tried to sweep you into.
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The Jordan dam, or what's left of it, is one to two miles before the take out and easy to spot
while on the river. SS says it's runnable, but at this flow, it was big and no one considered it.
The portage access is on river right and a little
hidden as you approach along the right side. Jennie
ferried out into the river to get a better look and
guided us around some branches to the small eddy
where it was an easy carry up to the road. The
portage put-in is also river right, downstream of the
bridge below the dam.
Surprise 3: There is a new Linn County take out
parking area, restroom, and stairs up from the river
at Hannah Bridge. This was welcomed after expecting a limited shoulder parking area and a
steep bank scramble about which I had been forewarned. The take out is about 1.5-hour drive
from SW Portland.
Teresa ran the upper section the same day, taking out at 5-Mile Bridge. She thinks the
alternative 9.6-mile estimate for the lower run may start at the "log bridge" about 2 miles
above the Weyerhaeuser gate and end at Shindler bridge. She says the log bridge to 5-Mile
Bridge section is class 2. Seems like a possible extension of the lower run. The gate will be open
until December 7. I don't know when it opens back up.
Overall impressions: The creek seems more remote than it is, with almost no development
along the banks. There was a great lunch spot about an hour into the run under some big
Douglas firs. There were many good surf waves, some with eddy service. I'm glad to have run it
and will return when the Santiam and other rivers may be flushed out. It's less challenging
whitewater than Butte and Abiqua creeks, which would match up well with some groups. Next
time I'll probably add the 2 or so miles above the gate if the gate is open.
The Chuck Wilkison Covid Canoe Exercise Workout
According to an LCCC Forum post from LCCC canoeist Chuck Wilkison, the lack of club paddling
trips is forcing him to come up with creative ways to stay in canoeing shape at home.
Particularly regarding lifting the canoe.
Chuck says:
“I have not been able to get on the water for
almost a month now. The gym I belong to is
closed. I have been doing a lot of walking
and cycling. The other day I was walking past
my Mohawk canoe and decided to see if I
10could get it over my head and then press it up. I was successful with 5 press ups. I have been
doing this every day for the last 4 days. Each day I try to get to 6. I almost made it today but the
canoe went out of balance.”
Chuck received two responses:
• Whitewater Chair Denny Egner said: “Way to go Chuck! We are pulling for six.”
• LCCC member Steve Rentmeester, owner of a new Silverbirch Covert canoe responded:
“This weekend I cleaned out the garage. Now I can get to my canoe without stumbling
over everything else. It's a great day. Looking forward to cutting a slot in the bulkhead
for the bilge pump to fit. That's my canoe news.”
As for this writer (newsletter editor Mark Scantlebury), the canoe “lift and press” sounds like a
good idea. The nearly daily effort to hang my steel gravel bike upside down in the garage just
isn’t the same as repeating bench pressing a canoe that weighs twice as much. Maybe I’m
getting weak.
LCCC Library’s Book of the Month:
First Descents, In Search of Wild Rivers
The LCCC maintains a small library of paddling adventure, instruction and guide books and
videos for members to borrow. Volumes are housed in a SW Portland home near Wilson High
and Covid-safe pickups are easy to arrange. You can view the collection at www.l-
ccc.org/library.php. To reserve materials, email librarian@l-ccc.org.
First Descents was published in 1989. We were going to write a short review, but instead found
a much better one of its contents by American Whitewater’s Pacific Northwest Stewardship
Director Thomas O’Keefe. We reprint it here:
“This collection of whitewater stories centers on the
theme of new experiences and adventures from the
perspective of river runners. Some of these stories have
been published elsewhere. The quality of the writing
varies but it's a good collection and a worthy addition
to any paddler's library who enjoys stories from the
river. The collection leads off with Andrzej Pietowski's
adventure with a crew from Poland who set off down
Peru's Rio Colca, which they completed despite
formidable barriers to success. Richard Bangs, who
would later record many first descents across the
world, tells his story of learning to guide on the Grand
Canyon. William Nealy, the sport's best-known
cartoonist, tells his hilarious childhood story with
11appropriate cartoon illustrations of floating down a forbidden drainage ditch, known as Polio
Creek. Yvon Chouninard joins the legends of class V exploratory boating for a 3-day first
descent of the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone. Robert Portman and Dan Reicher relive their
experiences on the Yangtze paddling from Yuyang to Wushan and through the first of the Three
Gorges, and then on the Li River. Pete Skinner provides a rare account of kayaking the Niagara
River Gorge. Jamie McEwan tells the story of the pioneering run on Mexico's Santa Maria with
his brother Tom along with Wick Walker and Andy Bridge. William Scheller relates his urban
exploratory adventure on the headwaters of the Anacostia in Washington DC. Royal Robbins
tells the story of his first descent of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin Gorge with Reg Lake
and Doug Tompkins, completing a 30-mile traverse through the Sierra Nevada. Richard Bangs
tells the story of the first attempt on the Baro River in Ethiopia that ends tragically before it
even begins with raft flips and the loss of a guest. Bo and Kathy Shelby provide a brief account
of paddling the Braldu River in the Himalayas with Andy Embick, Rob Lesser, and Bob
McDougall. Tim Hillmer's short story The Hookman tells of becoming a search and rescue
worker on the Kern River. While SOBEK's first descent of the Zambezi grabbed all the media
attention, Franz Lidz tells what the second trip was like. David Roberts tells the entertaining tale
of Sobek's BBC-sponsored trip on Papua New Guinea's Tua River where the adventure itself is
restructured to suit the film. Scott Thybony provides the brief account of Glen and Bessie Hyde,
newlyweds lost without a trace on the Grand Canyon in 1928. Bill Mason describes their
attempt on the Hood River's Wilberforce Canyon in northern Canada. The memorable 1980
spring break trip that included the first descent of Bald Rock Canyon on the MF Feather and
Golden Gate section of the SF American is relived by Chuck Stanley who was joined by Lars
Holbek and Richard Montgomery. The history of southeastern whitewater including the first
runs of the Chattooga, French Broad, Green, Tuckasegee, Nantahala, Chattahoochee, and the
early adventures of Frank Bell and many other whitewater pioneers, is told by Payson Kennedy.
Jeff Rennicke closes out the collection of stories reflecting on a solo trip down Alaska's Kobuk
River.”
Thanksgiving on the Willamette
By Mark Scantlebury
The Thanksgiving tradition for new club secretary
Audrey Bergsma and I as long as we’ve been together
is to go on an adventure. We have generally hiked or
skied, but have never done a Thanksgiving paddle.
After reading Teresa Gryder’s trip report on the
Willamette Narrows, we decided to do that this year.
We put in at Willamette Park at the confluence of the
Tualatin and Willamette Rivers, paddled upstream
through the Narrows, lunched on Willow Island, and
turned back once we reached Fish Eddy Landing. The
total trip was about 9 miles.
12Most notable is the chance to paddle upstream through the Narrows (see newsletter cover
photo). There was enough current that we did some eddy hopping to reduce the effort. On the
way back, we landed on Rock Island and did a little exploring. It has splendid rock gardens
complete with small ponds, plus hillsides of madrone and oak trees. Perched at the top of a
snag, a peregrine falcon calmly watched our wanderings.
On a normal day, particularly in nice
weather, I’ve heard Willamette Park
can be quite busy with motor boats,
so stash this paddling idea away for
days when there won’t be crowds.
The gage height on Thanksgiving was
56.5 feet and paddling upstream
wasn’t hard. At higher flows that
might change.
Paddling back to Willamette Park. In the distance is the generation stations and mills at Willamette Falls.
13Four-Day Trip on the Columbia River
Kelly Pt Park to Beaver Boat Ramp, Clatskanie
By LCCC Member Ron Lagraff
(Ron originally sent this account out to the LCCC Forum Group. It’s such a good read we are
republishing it in the club newsletter with photos.)
Equipment: Wenonah Sundowner
17.5’ canoe with Tuff-weave layup
and wooden gunnels (purchased
around 1994 from Sportscraft
Marina in Oregon City), NOAA
charts, Keith Hay’s book The Lewis
and Clark Columbia River Trail by
Keith Hay, and a fisherman’s map
of the Columbia River.
The trip almost didn’t happen!
My paddling colleague Travis Hall
and I both needed to do a vigorous
trip to get away from the shackles
of COVID-19. We wanted something that didn’t involve a long drive and soon settled in on a
canoe trip down the Columbia. A trip down the Columbia without any additional canoes
involves some decisions about risk, and the very first decision was if we should delay or even
cancel the trip.
Due to poor air quality, we did delay our trip two days, which was perhaps the most important
decision of the entire 4-day trip. The tides lined up better. And we avoided a day of heavy rain,
a night of impressive thunder, and paddling in a smoke/fog mixture so thick it would have been
hard to see obstacles (particularly wing dams and old pylons broken off just below the surface).
As a result of our delay, we were treated to four days of fantastic weather, ever-so-slight
cooling breezes, perfect sunsets, and (not to rub it in) the absence of mosquitoes. In fact, it was
an idyllic adventure in which about 50 percent of the time, we did not feel like we were
paddling on “the mighty Columbia.” On occasions, the water was so glassy and such a perfect
mirror image, we both commented on fighting the sensation of vertigo.
14The pros and cons of a canoe versus a kayak is a favorite topic among the LCCC’ers. One of the
definite advantages of a canoe is the amount of gear you can bring. We brought along a Yeti
cooler; an extra-large coffee press; frozen food
dinners; fresh turkey and ham & cheese
sandwiches; and plenty of chardonnay wine and
beer. We carried two roomy 2-3 person tents, a
roll-up camp table, two-burner Coleman propane
stove, and a full cook set. On this trip, the canoe
demonstrated its prowess and adaptability
carrying somewhere around a 1,000 lbs of person
and gear!
Finally, no river trip is possible without arranging
the logistics of a shuttle. A very special shout out
to my wife Linda, who was the perfect shuttle
bunny, dropping us off on a Saturday and picking
us up in Clatskanie four days later.
DAY 1: Kelly Pt Park to Sand Island, (St. Helens)
The trip began under drizzling skies at 10am on
the Columbia Slough at Kelly Point Park after
loading and reloading everything into the canoe a
couple of times. After a few minutes of stroke
review, the adventure was off to cross the Willamette. We entered the Columbia about 15
minutes later. There were a lot of fishing boats
and we were enjoying the calm waters and
current pushing us along.
One of the things you learn pretty quickly is that
it’s hard to follow your progress precisely on the
charts. Sauvie Island has miles of open beaches
which, at least on this day, were mostly
deserted. We stopped on shore a few times to
stretch the legs and walk about.
We turned the final point at Warrior Rock and
headed into the St. Helens boat harbor and
landed on Sand Island about 4pm just as some
approaching rain clouds began threatening. We
quickly set up my Cook Custom Sewing tarp and
soon had everything dry under the tarp and were
enjoying our first glass of wine. We barbequed a
couple steaks on my Firebox Stove using some
charcoal we brought for the occasion and paired
15it with potatoes and mixed vegetables ... and more wine. After dinner, the moon rose, which of
course was the omen to have a dram of whiskey and enjoy the reflection on the water with the
lights of St. Helens in the background.
Sand Island is a free county park with many numbered campsites. There are vault toilets,
stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. It was virtually empty and we enjoyed the island
almost entirely to ourselves.
The next morning, we cooked up eggs and sausages for breakfast, (Did I mention this was a
deluxe canoe glamping trip?) We broke camp, changed how things were packed in the canoe to
make us less top heavy, and were on our way by 10am.
Day 2: Sand Island to Prescott Beach County Park (Note: Despite what the Lewis & Clark Canoe
Trial guidebook says, camping is NOT allowed at Prescott … and the camp host is a stickler for
the rules.)
The day began overcast and the water at slack high tide. Very little current initially, but it picked
up as the tide began receding. The houses along this stretch are cozy, and we were getting a
much different perspective than what is seen from a car racing down Hwy 30.
After passing Columbia City, we explored the back channel behind Goat Island. This is not
passable and has pilon dams without any spacing gaps to paddle through. We considered
portaging around but decided to paddle back and down the main river side of the island.
We stopped for lunch on the island and remarked at the big hoof marks in the sand dunes
leading up to the plain. As Travis looked up, we couldn’t help but laugh as we saw two very
large cows staring at us from the edge of the forest.
Near us was an abandoned kayak that had been there
for at least week or so. The PFD was trampled in the
sand and the cockpit had some residual water from
the previous rainy days.
We continued paddling along privately owned Deer
Island following a coyote along the beach and into the
back channel behind Sandy Island. Here, we hoped to
make our camp. It turns out the only camping option
is on the upstream tip of the island. [Note to self:
Figure out where on an island the camping options
are before you get there.]
We continued on to the little town of Goble to report
the abandoned kayak and stock up on a couple beers
and some forgotten mustard. (Score one more for the
Yeti cooler! Did I mention the advantages of a
16canoe???) Just as we were about to paddle out, a fishing guide motored up with two very
impressive salmon for the Fish & Game person to record.
We paddled on another two miles to Prescott Beach, which is where I experienced the scariest
moment of the trip. Drifting to the beach close to shore were several rows of old pilons which
were cut off just below the water line. We didn’t see anything when suddenly Travis yells “GO
RIGHT.” Too late. We high-centered on one of these pilons. Just as we began rocking us off that
pilon, I noticed we were in a field of pilons and that the one right next to us still had a large
spike bent over straight out of the top of it. In my mind, had we hit that log instead, I’m afraid
the damage to the fiberglass hull would have been catastrophic and aborted the trip right the
and there. The next 20-30 yards until got to shore was a very slow and purposeful glide.
While Travis tried to find the camp host, I tracked the canoe along the shoreline to a spot near a
picnic table and began setting up the stove for dinner. This was nice flat spot under some
mature trees nearby and we figured we’d set up tents there. Just as we were getting the stove
burners going, George the host, drove up in his gator and after some chitchat told us there was
no camping at the park. He said our only options were paddle across the channel to
Cottonwood Island or another 2-3 miles downriver to an unmanaged county park. We didn’t
like either option and showed him Keith Hay’s guidebook saying Lewis and Clark camped here
and it indicated we could camp. He wasn’t interested in hearing it, but he told me to hop in and
took me to spot we could “cowboy camp” where a creek entered the river. We took him up on
that offer and I thanked him.
Back at our picnic table, we cooked a
dinner of Trader Joe frozen shrimp and
vegetables in teriyaki sauce. Dang, I really
like canoe glamping. After dinner, we
paddled the 500 meters and found our
little legal spot for the night. This was a
beautiful little sandy beach with a
magnificent view across the Columbia.
However, just across the creek and past
the trees was Hwy 30 and literally right
across the little creek were the railroad
tracks. Hmmmm. As it turned out, with
nice soft sand to sleep, we fell asleep and
heard virtually no traffic noise.
Before turning in, we enjoyed the sunset
along the river and enjoyed the beers
purchased earlier that day.
In the morning the tide was much lower,
so we had to portage our gear along the
17shore for several yards to find water deep enough to float the canoe. We loaded up and
paddled back up river several hundred yards to the park and enjoyed the luxury of a porta potty
stocked with TP and hand sanitizer, no less. While this is “canoe glamping,” it’s still rugged
enough to remind us of the little joys of life.
DAY 3: Prescott Beach to Hump Island (near Fisher Island)
Prescott Beach is about a nice one-and-a-half-hour paddle from Rainer. We stopped at a nice
park and walked around and struck up conversations with some folks walking their dogs. This
section has an industrial feel to it. You’ll never feel smaller and more insignificant than when
paddling near a freighter. The size of those vessels is just frightening when viewed from the
seat of a canoe.
We continued paddling under the Lewis and Clark Bridge in idyllic weather and favorable
currents. We soon entered the most scenic section of the river along Dibblee Beach and in the
back channel of Lord Island. We were paddling through shallow water with lots of bird life and
almost no industrial intrusions. The guidebook says this section of the river is close to what
Lewis and Clark would have seen.
We paddled the length of Lord island and Walker Islands without seeing any obvious places to
camp. The very down river end of Walker Island is very shallow and extends a couple hundred
yards out past the trees, at which point we continued straight across the channel. We landed
on a beach to survey our situation. We walked up the sand dune to the plain and decided that
this would be the place to set up camp tonight. We left our cooking station down at the beach,
while hauling our camping gear up the slope. It was a little earlier than usual, so we enjoyed the
downtime, setting up a ridgeline using poles to dry out the tarp from the rain a couple days ago.
We set up our tents and set about relaxing and figuring out the best spot to text Linda to pick us
up the next day.
That evening we enjoyed a most
spectacular sunset and a very slight
breeze to boot. Just enough to cool
things off. And did I already mention no
mosquitoes to speak of! We enjoyed the
remainder of our wine and finished off
the whiskey before slipping in for the
night.
DAY 4: Hump Island to Beaver Boat
Ramp (Clatskanie, Oregon)
After a breakfast of oatmeal, we loaded
up and quickly paddling our way across
the channel back to the Oregon side. The
air was completely still and the water mirroring the landscape in every direction. It was easy to
have moments of vertigo-like sensations.
18The river was very wide for much of this section and the back channel behind Crimms Island
features old mini marinas and abandoned fishing operations more akin to points North in Puget
Sound than what you’d expect 80 miles up the Columbia River. We enjoyed the company of two
playful otters as we paddled the approach to Wallace Island and the mouth of the Clatskanie
slough.
We knew our trip was coming to an end and the slough and the final stretch up the Clatskanie
River to the Beaver ramp was anti-climactic. I thought back to the time before kids, when Linda
and I first joined the LCCC. Back around 1993 or so, Linda and I used to lead trips here.
Somehow, I remember it being more open, not so diked-in and with certainly not as much trash
in the water.
At the dock, after a few high fives, we began shuttling our gear up the ramp and to the picnic
tables. We changed out of our camp clothes into our shuttle clothes and while Travis made
sandwiches, I made a quick walk to the Safeway across the street to pick up a few cold beers
while we repacked our gear and waited for Linda to arrive.
EPILOGUE:
As luck would have it, the next day featured brisk winds and rain. Yes, from my home it was
great to acknowledge how needed the rain was for our region’s parched landscape. And it was
also a realization that we experienced on this trip something that doesn’t happen very often.
Four days of perfect weather, no winds, no mosquitoes, wonderful sunsets, and tides that were
mostly in our favor.
The joy and memories of a trip are usually spawned from the people you’re with. And this
adventure is no different. The stories you share, the teamwork that develops as the trip
progresses, and the way you can share long periods of silence followed by extended periods of
banter. It goes to show that you don’t necessarily need to pick travel companions based on
canoeing skill and experience. Travis was a great team player and solidly reliable when needed
and an intelligent traveling companion. Yes, the luck of fine weather, in fact a much better
weather window that one should ever rely on for the Lower Columbia River, had much to do
with the memories I’ll take from this adventure. However, the memories will really be anchored
by how Travis and I were able to enjoy, work and laugh together.
Current LCCC Pandemic Guidelines
Since our August issue of Cascade Currents, the number of daily Covid cases in Oregon has
more than doubled. The counties where most of our members reside are still in Phase 1. Health
authorities predict Oregon in the immediate future will face further increases in daily Covid-19
case counts and hospitalizations. Consequently, the club’s board sees a need for continued
caution.
19For the present, the LCCC will limit trip postings on the
Yahoo Group to local bodies of water where participants can
put in and take out at the same spot. Car shuttles pose too
much of a risk for our members. Trip coordinators and
participants should follow all current state and county
guidelines for the location of any trip.
Once daily cases drop to more manageable levels, we
anticipate a return to near normalcy. We expect to allow
members to post river trips and handle car shuttles in a manner considered prudent by trip
participants, such as face coverings, regular handwashing, and distanced seating. All local, state
and county guidelines would apply.
We hope that you and your families continue to enjoy good health.
How to Post a Message to the Google Group
To send a message to the LCCC Google Group*:
Method 1: Go to the LCCC Google Group website and click the “New Conversation” button.
Method 2:
• Start a new message in your email application.
• Address it to lower-columbia-canoe-club@googlegroups.com
• Write your message.
• Hit send.
• Wait for replies.
Reply Etiquette:
When replying to a message, remember to use “reply” to answer just the author. Use “reply all” only when you
think that your reply has relevance to everyone in the group.
* You have to be a member of LCCC Google Group to send and receive messages. If you’re an LCCC member
and not included in the LCCC Google Group, send an email to LCCC Google Group moderator and ask for an
invite to join.
Where to Get Waivers and the LCCC Handbook
You can get advice on how to be an outstanding LCCC trip coordinator and trip participant by visiting www.l-
ccc.org/handbook.php. Just download and read the handy PDF-version of the LCCC Handbook. You can also
download copies of the current LCCC Waiver there to use for bringing a guest on an LCCC paddling trip.
Did You Know the LCCC Has a Library?
The LCCC maintains a library of paddling adventure, instruction and guide books and videos for members to
use. To view its contents, go to www.l-ccc.org/library.php. To reserve materials, email librarian@l-ccc.org.
(Note, the library is housed in a home in SW Portland near Wilson High.)
20You can also read
