This trip is limited to members with a wet exit certification (except for level 1 trips when the paddler is not using a spray skirt....if the paddler is wearing a spray skirt on a level 1 paddle, the Wet Exit Certification is REQUIRED). 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.
Cancellations
If you register for this event and find that you are unable to attend please cancel on the website. Members on the waitlist cannot be added to the roster or notified they are now eligible to attend unless your registration is removed from the trip. To cancel, go to the event registration page on the website and click on "Already Registered". A page will open that will allow you to cancel. It would also be helpful if you notified the primary organizer of your cancellation via text, phone or email.
To e-mail the organizer directly, once you have the name of the organizer, log into your OOPS account, select "Member Directory" under "Membership," search for the name of the organizer, click on their name, and press the "Send Message" button.
OOPS members who sign-up for a trip that is full will typically be automatically entered onto a waitlist. Unfortunately, our software doesn’t allow members to cancel off the waitlist. If you are on the waitlist for a trip and decide you don’t want to be considered for the roster please cancel by emailing the Trips Director at OOPS Trips (trips@oopskayak.org). This will ensure that others who joined the waitlist after you are given more notice should space on the paddle become available.
Narrative: Not your ordinary kayak camping trip! By itself, camping on Sand Island, overlooking the Columbia River, is a worthy destination. But given its proximity to the town of St. Helens, it offers up an interesting mix of possibilities in early August. The 3rd annual sandcastle competition takes place the weekend of August 5th. On Thursday, August 3rd, the town sponsors one of 13 free summer concerts—this one featuring blues musician Curtis Salgado. https://www.curtissalgado.com/
So, please join me and Marty Martinez for two nights on Sand Island (Aug. 3-5). We’ll paddle from St. Helens on Thursday to set up camp, allowing 90 minutes to pack boats and park cars. Then we’ll kayak the Oregon shoreline to Pixie Park and back, for a relaxing total of four miles. Dinner is on your own—we can catch the free shuttle boat over to the mainland, listen to most of the concert, then catch the last shuttle back to the island just before 8 p.m. Sunset is 8:36 p.m., and it will be an almost-full moon. Campfires are allowed, and firewood is available for purchase on the island. On Friday, after a camp breakfast, we’ll paddle upriver on the Columbia to the “secret” lagoon on the west shore of Bachelor Island. 9 miles round-trip. Friday night could be dinner at your campsite, pizza delivery to the shuttle boat dock, or at a restaurant. Talk about glamping! On Saturday we’ll break camp by 11 a.m. and pack our boats. But we’ll stick around the island to have lunch and see the sandcastle activity. We’ll leave the island around 2-3 p.m., paddling the short distance back to St. Helens Marina.
We may have a bit of wind, so you need to be comfortable paddling in 10-12 mph wind and some waves for this trip. This level two trip is suitable for boats 12 ft. and longer; no inflatables, please.
I have two campsites reserved, room enough for 12 paddler-campers. I’ll need to be reimbursed for each person’s portion of the camping fee. Your cost will be somewhere between $11.40 and $17 total depending on the number of registrants. There are vault toilets on Sand Island. Bring your own water. Free parking is St. Helens. Registrants will get more detailed information prior to the trip. Immersion wear such as a shorty or Farmer John/Jane wetsuit may become a requirement.
Meeting Time: 11:00:00 AM
Launch Time: 12:30:00 PM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: St. Helens Marina & Sand Island
Take out: St. Helens Marina & Sand Island
Route Alternative for bad weather: None
Required equipment:
Minimum Immersion protection: None
Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou
Co-Organizer(s): Marty Martinez
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: 12
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 75-80
Estimated Water Temperature: 70
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 2-3 hours Day 1; 5 hours Day 2; 1 hour Day 3.
Tide Station: St Helens, OR
Tide times & heights:
2023/08/03 Thu 06:10 AM 2.64 H Paddle to Sand Island starting 12:30 p.m. Set up camp.
2023/08/03 Thu 2:29 PM -0.59 L 2 miles to Pixie Park around slack; incoming tide to bring us back
2023/08/03 Thu 7:26 PM 2.01 H Take shuttle over to concert near slack; dinner there
2023/08/04 Fri 07:00 AM 2.42 H Start early go upriver to lagoon; return on outgoing noonish (9 miles)
2023/08/04 Fri 3:04 PM -0.59 L Arrive back on island by 3 pm
2023/08/04 Fri 8:08 PM 2.17 H Campfires (and pizza delivery?)
2023/08/05 Sat 07:50 AM 2.16 H Break camp and load boats by 11 a.m.; Hang out for sandcastles
2023/08/05 Sat 3:38 PM -0.54 L Leave near slack
2023/08/05 Sat 8:52 PM 2.31 H
Current information: Likely less than 1 knot
Hazards: Shipping traffic
Wind strength: Level 2: 7-12 knots (14 mph) – wind noticeably effects movement of paddle
Swell/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 grass
Currents: Level 1: None or mild (less than 1 knot)
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 2: Less than 1 mile
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments: Wind may affect paddling choices.
Location (Optional): St. Helens Marina; 134 N. River Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
Photos (Optional):
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
