Comments and Discussion
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 if you intend to wear a spray skirt. 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: This is Day 2 of the Silver Lake (June 28th) & Kalama mini-vacation. You can sign up for both trips or just one. Our route will start from the Port of Kalama Marine Park, then we’ll paddle across the Columbia and explore Sandy Island and the Oregon shoreline where the former Trojan Nuclear Power Plant* was located. There are sometimes huge ships anchored mid-stream, and it’s fun to look at them. We’ll see both sides of Sandy Island as part of this 11-mile trip and probably check out the campsite on the island. Our turnaround point will be Prescott Beach Park where we can have lunch. It has bathrooms and drinking water. We’ll launch from The Port of Kalama’s Marine Park, where vehicle access to the beach is allowed. Marine Park is a five-acre day-use park along the Columbia River bordered by scenic walking and bicycle pathways. It will be near low tide when we launch, so it’s up to you if you want to park there for unloading! I’ve listed the launch location as McMenamins Ahles Point Cabin, because that’s where the vehicle access to the beach is. There is paved parking nearby. 215 N Hendrickson Dr, Kalama, WA 98625 After the paddle, why fight Portland traffic? We can eat at McMenamins or have a picnic dinner. There is a free concert in the amphitheater from 6-9 p.m. I expect to leave around 7:30 p.m., but party on as late as you’d like! The June OOPS General Meeting, which will be Zoom format, is Wednesday. It will likely be recorded, and you can watch it later. *After 16 years of irregular service, the plant was closed permanently in 1992 by its operator, Portland General Electric (PGE), after cracks were discovered in the steam-generator tubing. Decommissioning and demolition of the plant began the following year and was largely completed in 2006. Links: https://www.mcmenamins.com/kalama-harbor-lodge/ahles-point-cabin https://www.mcmenamins.com/kalama-harbor-lodge Music 2022.06.29: https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/233896-kristen-marlo-duo Meeting Time: 10:00:00 AM Launch Time: 10:30:00 AM Type of activity: Paddle TripPut in: Port of Kalama Marine Park Take out: same Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD Required equipment: Minimum Immersion protection: Farmer John Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou Assistant Organizer(s): Wendy Luo 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: Maximum number of paddlers: 10 I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes Estimated Air Temperature: 60-70 Estimated Water Temperature: 60Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 5-6 hours Tide times & heights: 2022/06/29 Wed 04:37 AM 4.00 H 2022/06/29 Wed 12:44 PM -0.42 L 2022/06/29 Wed 5:24 PM 2.08 H Current information: 0.5-1.5 knots. We will be paddling against the current on our return trip, but we'll stay out of the main channel, where the current will be strongest, except for the half-mile crossing by Kalama. Hazards: Shipping traffic Wind strength: Level 2: 7-12 knots (14 mph) – wind noticeably effects movement of paddleSwell/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 1: Frequent easy landing opportunities including gently sloping, sand, gravel or grassCurrents: 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 2Rating Comments: We'll keep an eye on the wind forecast. Currently wind is forecast as out of the NW, which will oppose the direction of the river current, increasing wave height. I've accounted for that in the conditions listed above. We will be in a formation when crossing to and from Kalama. Location (Optional): 215 N Hendrickson Dr, Kalama, WA 98625
Oregon Ocean Paddling SocietyPortland, Oregon