Salmon River-Escape the Snow! Level 1

This trip is limited to members with a wet exit certification (except for level 1 trips when the paddler is not using a spray skirt).  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: This is one of my favorite trips. We will be able reach the beach by the ocean and explore the estuary and river all in one trip. Saturday should be a great day on coast. Very light wind, some sun, and temperatures in the mid-40s! It’s like a tropical heat wave!

This paddle will start from Knight County Park where we'll meet at 10:15 a.m. We'll launch at 11:00a.m. against an incoming (flood) tide and paddle about one mile toward the mouth of the river to a sand spit on the ocean accessible only by boat. We will NOT be heading out in the surf zone on this paddle. We can land before reaching anything beyond level one conditions. Frequently there are a collection of seals and sea lions in the area, both in the water and on the spit, so bring your camera.

After a short stop on the beach we'll head back upriver, now taking advantage of that same incoming tide. We’ll go past the launch site and continue for a few miles upstream, passing under Hwy 101 through scenic open country and some farms - this route is generally free of other boat traffic. Sometimes there are curious cows and horses that come down to the river to check us out. We'll head back to Knight Park on the slack and outgoing (ebb) tide. The overall length of the paddle will be in the 8-10 mile range, mostly with a current or tidal assist.

Bring a lunch or snacks and water. We may not have a good place to get out of our boats after passing by the launch heading upstream. Feel free to take a bio-break there and we’ll complete our round-trip venture about two hours after that.

Another great feature of this Salmon River trip is the close proximity to the Otis Café. For those who have never enjoyed their amazing breakfasts, this could be your lucky day. If you leave there hungry, it’s your fault - the portions are indeed very generous and everything in made from scratch including wonderful breads and pies. For those who have already been there, no more needs to be said.

There are vault toilets at Knight Park but no water; parking is free. PLEASE include your mobile phone number when you RSVP. 

Meeting Time:  10:15:00 AM
Launch Time:  11:00:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Knight County Park 2368 N 3 Rocks Rd, Otis, OR 97368
Take out: Knight County Park 2368 N 3 Rocks Rd, Otis, OR 97368
Route Alternative for bad weather: None
Required equipment: 
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou
Assistant Organizer(s): Bob Freshman
Has organizer paddled here before? Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? Yes
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
First Aid /CPR Person: Bob Freshman and Chris Mayou
Maximum number of paddlers: 12 (more if another Trip Organizer signs up)
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 42-47
Estimated Water Temperature: 40-45
Estimated Water Time: 3 hours
Tide times & heights:  1/15 Sun  07:46 AM 1.6' L 
1/15 Sun  1:29 PM 8.3' H 
1/15 Sat  08:22 PM -0.8' L

Current information: 
Hazards: 
Wind strength: Level 1: 0-7 knots (8 mph)
Swell/Surf size: Level 1: Under 1' waves, no breaking waves
Sea state: Level 1: Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled, no whitecaps
Landing types: Level 1: Frequent easy landing opportunities including gently sloping, sand, gravel or grass
Currents: Level 1: None or mild (less than 1 knot)
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 1: No open crossing
Paddling Environment: Level 1: Sheltered water
Overall rating: Level 1
Rating Comments: Paddle distance will be between 7-8 miles.  
Location (Optional):  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Knight+County+Park/@45.0408702,-123.9933548,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54eaecef9b1c2521:0x31348ce8d4173b9b!8m2!3d45.0408702!4d-123.9911608?hl=en&authuser=0