(Level 2) Warm-up Wednesday St Helens to Scappoose

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.  Your acceptance is conditional on approval by the Organizer, who may contact you with questions about your skills and equipment.  If the measured water temperature is different enough from that listed below to warrant a change in required immersion protection, the Organizer will contact all participants and the Trips Board member with the update at least a day before the trip. 

Narrative:  Are you ready to mix it up for my first Warm-up Wednesday of 2019? We’re going to launch from St. Helens and paddle upriver to Scappoose Bay Marina, then paddle back to St. Helens with a detour to Warrior Rock and a skirt past the north side of Sand Island.

This ten-mile trip offers backwater sloughs and views across the Columbia. Something for everyone! We’ll have favorable tides. Be ready to launch at 10:30 a.m. from Grey Cliffs Waterfront Park at the end of River St. in St. Helens. Free parking. The bathroom should be operational and accessible. (Some of you will recall we couldn’t access it in Dec. 2018.)

Once we arrive at the Scappoose Bay Marina, we’ll figure out the best place for a break. We can tie up our boats at the docks. There are public restrooms at the marina parking area. Stop in and say “hi” to the fine folks at Next Adventure’s Scappoose Bay Paddling Center.

We will observe the Four Ps: Please Plan to be Pod Participant! If you are a lone wolf, this is not the trip for you. This level two trip is suitable for boats 12 ft. and longer; no inflatables, please. Intermediate-advanced SUP paddlers who can keep up with kayaks are welcome. Plan to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to allow time to unload, park, and be ready to be on the water by 10:30 a.m. We should be off the water by 3:30 p.m.

St. Helens tide projections:
2019/05/01 Wed 03:47 AM 2.78 H
2019/05/01 Wed 10:53 AM 0.70 L
2019/05/01 Wed 3:16 PM 1.92 H
2019/05/01 Wed 10:42 PM 0.42 L

Meeting Time: 9:45:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Grey Cliffs Waterfront Park at the end of River St. in St. Helens
Take out: Grey Cliffs Waterfront Park at the end of River St. in St. Helens
Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD
Required equipment: 
Minimum Immersion protection: Farmer John
Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou
Assistant Organizer(s): I welcome one
Has organizer paddled here before? Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? Yes
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
Maximum number of paddlers: 5 plus TO
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 60
Estimated Water Temperature: 54
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): five hours
Tide times & heights: 2019/05/01 Wed 03:47 AM 2.78 H
2019/05/01 Wed 10:53 AM 0.70 L
2019/05/01 Wed 3:16 PM 1.92 H
2019/05/01 Wed 10:42 PM 0.42 L

Current information: 1-2 knots
Hazards: Shipping traffic
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 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
Currents: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 2: Less than 1 mile
Paddling Environment: 
Overall rating: Level 2