The Beavers Weekend
Until the interruption caused by a pandemic, we (the LCCC) hosted a sister Canoe Club from VanCouver, BC every year for Easter Weekend. In 2023 this tradition resumed, with 13 visiting paddlers driving a significant distance to stay in the Portland area and paddle. The majority of the visitors were canoeists!
We had the rainiest of weather. The snowpack was already humongous and the water table elevated before they got here. Then a chilly rain fell over the entire weekend. The challenge was to find a river that was not TOO HIGH.
On Good Friday, Mark coordinated a Packsaddle run on the North Santiam. This was a good choice given the rain because it is dam controlled, so the flow was friendly and manageable.
On Saturday Steve showed the gang down the Mollala River, from above Glen Avon Bridge down to Feyrer Park. This section is class 2 with some tricky wood hazards that may require more than class 2 skills. There are also some good surfing waves out there. Everyone enjoyed the float.
On Sunday there were two trips. Alex coordinated a run to the most beautiful section of the Sandy River, from Dodge to Oxbow. The Sandy is protected through that stretch so it feels like wilderness even though it is really close to town. The whitewater is mostly class 2, even at high water.
Karl coordinated the adventure mission. Getting to the NF Trask is a long drive and it’s a remote run, so we don’t do it very often. The main Trask joins the Pacific at Tillamook, where cheese comes from. The turnout was mighty! So many boaters reported to paddle in the rain that the group split in two. Someone swam at the put-in, and then there was a log across the river below the first rapid. This group had no shortage of adventures but all made it to the takeout intact having seen a wild coastal river that few people even know exists. Without the high level of skill and experience of members of both clubs, this day wouldn’t have gone as well.
