Please remember to bring masks to be worn unloading, safety talk, and reloading of boats, as well as maintain adequate social distancing to remain safe before, during, and after the paddle. Also, don't forget to sign our waiver, using "chrismayou@gmail.com" as the trip organizer email address for the waiver.
The waiver is here: https://oopskayak.org/safety
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: Please join Paula Brottman and me on a round-trip paddle from Rooster Rock State Park upriver and around Sand Island. This is one of my favorite close-to-Portland trips. Total distance will be about nine miles. We’ll head upriver against a very modest current and outgoing tide along the back side (south side) of Sand Island. We’ll break for lunch on Sand Island. For our return leg of the journey, we’ll keep Sand Island close and to our left as we head back in the main channel of the Columbia. High tide is around 12:30 p.m., so we’ll be heading back with a bit of tidal and river current assist.
Below Bonneville Dam, the gauge is currently running around 3-5 ft. When it’s at 3 ft. you can have some interesting “portaging” to enter the back channel between Rooster Rock and Sand Island. This can require getting out of your boat and walking in a few inches of water while pulling your boat through various tiny shallow channels. Come with a sense of adventure and a short tow or painter or some other boat pulling device in case the water is this low. It’s fun!
Please arrive by 9:45 a.m. Be ready to launch at 10:30 a.m. My goal is to be off the water by 3:00 p.m., but no guarantees! Park at the far west end of the parking lot by the boat ramp. Restrooms available, but maybe only by the main entrance. State park permit or fee required. The water should be around 60 degrees; *drysuit required*. 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 welcome. We will observe the Four Ps: Please Plan to be a Pod Participant! If you are a lone wolf, this is not the trip for you.
Meeting Time: 9:45:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Rooster Rock State Park, Corbett, OR 97019 [exit 25 off of I-84]
Take out: Rooster Rock State Park
Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD
Required equipment:
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou
Assistant Organizer(s): Paula Brottman
Has organizer paddled here before? Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? Yes
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? No
First Aid /CPR Person: Paula Brottman
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: 44-55 F
Estimated Water Temperature: 58-60 F
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 5-6 hours
Tide times & heights: Tide Prediction Washougal:
2020/10/22 Thu 08:21 AM 0.19 L
2020/10/22 Thu 12:21 PM 0.82 H
2020/10/22 Thu 7:23 PM 0.43 L
Current information: Under 1 knot
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 1: Frequent easy landing opportunities including gently sloping, sand, gravel or grass
Currents: Level 1: None or mild (less than 1 knot)
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 1: No open crossing
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments: Level 2 due the possibility of any wind change adding to possible waves
Location (Optional): Rooster Rock State Park, Corbett, OR 97019 [exit 25 off of I-84]
