Columbia River Island Tour (Level 2)

This trip is limited to OOPS members with WEC.  To successfully register you'll need to log in to your member account on the OOPS website.

Narrative: We will meet at Cottonwood Beach at 9 am for a launch about 9:30 to pick up the last of the flood to help us paddle up river north of Reed Island. Rounding Reed we will explore its south side for a bit and if conditions are favorable cross over to Flag Island. From there we can explore Chatham and then Gary Park Islands as the group desires. We will recross the Columbia to return to Cottonwood Beach. Trip mileage will be about 8 miles depending on how much exploring we do.

Cottonwood Beach is inside Captain William Clark Park in Washougal, WA. Take SR 14 east to Washougal, and head south on S 32nd St. to park's entrance on just slightly west on Index St.

Depending on the group's capabilities and interest, we can practice setting ferry angles on the crossings, and hopefully work on improving our group management skills. I'll have a pair of radios at the minimum, to help the lead and sweep keep in better communication.

If weather and currents and the group's skill level make the crossing questionable, we will limit the trip to a more in depth exploration of Reed Island, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and the Washington side of the river.  

We will have a visiting paddler with us. Join and chat him up about paddling on Lake Michigan, and help us inform him a bit about our wet little neighborhood.

Meeting Time: 9:00:00 AM
Launch Time: 9:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Cottonwood Beach, Captain William Clark Park, Washougal
Take out: Cottonwood Beach
Route Alternative for bad weather: Just shorten trip
Required equipment: 
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Rich Becker
Assistant Organizer(s): Please volunteer
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: 
Maximum number of paddlers: 6
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 50
Estimated Water Temperature: 45
Estimated Water Time: 4 hrs.
Tide times & heights: High Tide 10:00 am
Current information: 1-2 knots
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 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
Rating Comments: Level II
Location (Optional): Cottonwood Beach, Washougal, WA
Photos (optional):