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.
As with all Level 3 trips, this trip will be waitlist-only, to allow trip organizer to verify paddler skill levels prior to trip.
Narrative: This is a moving water trip, one-way all downstream, and requires a shuttle. Please be confident maneuvering your boat in current up to 5 or 6 knots and avoiding hazards, especially woody debris on the outside of bends.
This is a level 2 type trip with level 3 or higher consequences if bad things happen at the wrong time.
There will most likely be woody debris along the route, especially on the outside of bends in the Santiam River. You must be able to avoid these hazards.
Long straight-tracking sea kayaks are not a good choice of boat for this trip, so if that describes your kayak, please choose to do something else.
A better choice of boat is more maneuverable sea kayaks like NDK Romany, Sterling Illusion or Grand Illusion, Current Designs Sisu, or similar.
Many shorter boats should also be fine, such as Jackson Journey, Dagger Stratos, or similar.
Regardless of boat choice, being able to maneuver in current is essential.
If you have a throw rope, please bring it. Dry bag with extra clothes is encouraged. Hot drinks are encouraged.
We will take at least one shore break for food and drink. Please bring chocolate. Other breaks as needed.
Although the shuttle logistics are to be determined based on vehicles involved, most likely we will meet at the launch location in Jefferson, drop off boats, then drive all vehicles to the take-out at Buena Vista County Park.
Return to the put-in with as few vehicles as possible and launch.
Hazards: cold water, moving water, strainers, sweepers, and others possible.
Meeting Time: 9:00:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Jefferson, Oregon, west end of Ferry Street
Take out: Buena Vista County Park, Buena Vista, Oregon
Route Alternative for bad weather: None. This trip will go rain or shine, snow, sleet, etc. The only weather that might cause a cancellation is wind in excess of 20 knots.
Required equipment:
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Dennis Pennell
Assistant Organizer(s):
Has organizer paddled here before? No
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? No
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
First Aid /CPR Person: Dennis Pennell
Maximum number of paddlers: 5
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 40
Estimated Water Temperature: 45
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 4 hours
Tide times & heights: N/A. River levels are available from USGS:
USGS 14189000 SANTIAM RIVER AT JEFFERSON, OR https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv/?site_no=14189000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
USGS 14174000 WILLAMETTE RIVER AT ALBANY, OR https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv/?site_no=14174000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
Current information: 1 to 5 knots
Hazards:
Wind strength: Level 3: 12-16 knots (19 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 3: Bad footing, rocky shores, or surf up to 1.5'
Currents: Level 3: Up to 4 knots: paddlers must sprint to move forward
Total distance: Level 3: 11 to 15 miles
Open crossing: Level 1: No open crossing
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 3
Rating Comments: Per the rating system this is a level 3 trip. Most of it should be a level 1. Parts of it will for sure be level 2. Distance and current speed are level 3. Consequences of a swim in the wrong place are definitely level 3.
Location (Optional): Launch: Jefferson Oregon 44.716272, -123.013483, Take-out: Buena Vista Co Park Independence, OR 97351 44.768645, -123.147513
