This trip is limited to members with a wet exit certification.  To successfully register you will need to sign into your OOPS member account, and your account will need to be a member of the "Wet Exit Certified" group.

Narrative:    Please read all the way to the end prior to signing up.  The focus of this trip, (other than a chance to paddle at, and soak up the beauty of the mouth of the Columbia), is the chance to work on our skills and play in the currents at the base of the Astoria Megler bridge.  Because this is a one way trip, we’ll meet at the takeout at the Port of Chinook and shuttle up to the put in at Knappton.  The plan is to launch shortly after the ebb begins, warm up a bit, then make our way down to the bridge, which is about the ½ way point.  The bridge pilings offer eddies and building currents where we can practice our moving water skills, peeling in and out of the current, potentially rescues, and depending on wind and conditions, maybe even dealing with some swell.  We’ll spend a fair amount of time here.  If this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, this might not be the trip for you.  When everyone has had enough or the current dictates, we’ll continue downstream back to Chinook and the takeout.  After retrieving cars at Knappton, there might be a post-trip stop at Buoy Beer where we can re-live the adventure. This is planned as a level 3 trip.  If wind or sea state bumps it up to level 4, the trip will most likely be moved to an alternate location further up river. If you have any questions whether this trip is appropriate for you, please contact me prior to signing up. Priority for this trip will be given to club members who are organizing OOPS trips.  Putting a trip on the calendar is a sure-fire way to get onto the roster for this one! If you aren’t organizing trips, please contact me prior to signing up.

Meeting Time:    9:30:00 AM
Launch Time:    10:30:00 AM

Type of activity:    Paddle Trip

Put in:    Knappton, WA
Take out:     Chinook, WA

Route Alternative for bad weather:    Move to an alternate location up river

Required equipment:    Helmet, Towline

Minimum Immersion protection:    Full wet suit

Primary Organizer:    David Dalbey

Assistant Organizer(s):    TBD.  If enough interest, an assistant may be added.

Has organizer paddled here before?    Yes

Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before?    No

Organizer's first aid and CPR current?    Yes

First Aid /CPR Person:   

Maximum number of paddlers:    6

I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy:    Yes

Estimated Air Temperature:    50

Estimated Water Temperature:    54

Estimated Water Time:    4.5 hours

Tide times & heights:    Chinook WA. 9' @ 9:09AM, .4' @ 3:41PM

Current information:    SSW of McGowan, slack @ 10:03AM, max ebb 5.8kt @ 1:41PM, slack @ 6:10PM
Hazards:   

Wind strength:    Level 3:  12-16 knots (19 mph)

Swell/Surf size:    Level 2:  Waves up to 2', no breaking waves

Sea state:    Level 2:  Waves up to armpit; light to moderate chop, scattered whitecaps

Landing types:    Level 3:  Bad footing, rocky shores, or surf up to 1.5'

Currents:    Level 4:  Up to 6 knots

Total distance:    Level 2:  6 to 11 miles

Open crossing:    Level 2:  Less than 1 mile

Overall rating:    Level 3

Rating Comments:    Rated at level 3 due to current and the potential of developing sea state as any wind will likely be against current

Google Location:    https://www.google.com/maps/place/46%C2%B014'21.4%22N+123%C2%B052'28.4%22W/@46.239282,-123.8767547,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d46.239282!4d-123.874566