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.
Please note, not following the cancellation procedures may affect your ability to register for future trips and events.
Cancellations
Already on the Roster
If you register for this event and find that you are unable to attend please cancel on the website or the WA mobile app. 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. If you are using the WA mobile app, select the three bars in the upper left hand corner and choose “Tickets” from the drop down menu. Locate the trip and select “CANCEL” located next to “Member Registration”. It would also be helpful if you notified the primary organizer of your cancellation via text, phone or email.
Notifying the Primary Organizer
The primary organizer’s name can be found in the Narrative of the trip on the website. To e-mail the organizer directly, 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. If you have their phone number you can text them as well.
Cancelling off the Waitlist
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 from the website or the WA mobile app. 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 or texting the Trips Director at OOPS Trips (trips@oopskayak.org) and the primary trip organizer. This will ensure that others who joined the waitlist after you are given more notice should space on the paddle become available.
Narrative: We’ll launch out of Chinook Landing Marine Park (off NE Marine Drive) and paddle across the Columbia River to Lady Island where we’ll head upriver to the east end of the island. From there we’ll wander up the Washington side of the Columbia just a bit further to the Washougal/Camas boat launch where we’ll paddle up to our dockside lunch spot! No pre-packed peanut butter and jelly sandwich needed for this paddle! On this day, we’ll visit the Puffin Cafe (on the docks!) and enjoy lunch at this cute little floating establishment! We can tie our boats up right next to the cafe and enjoy lunch in the marina! They have both indoor and outdoor seating and hopefully we can get there before the Saturday lunch rush. After our meal, we’ll head downriver and follow the Washington side of the Columbia as it goes under Highway 14. We’ll enjoy the lazy water of the Camas Slough as we paddle around the back side of Lady Island completing our circumnavigation. Our last section of the paddle will be a return crossing of the Columbia as we head back to Chinook Landing on the Oregon side.
If you want to preview the menu for the Puffin Cafe in advance you can look it up at www.puffincafe.com. The website indicates that they serve “Caribbean inspired cuisine” and they appear to have many excellent food choices on the menu. Please bring something to use to secure your boat to the dock at the marina while we enjoy our early lunch. There is limited dock space there so we’ll want to leave our boats in the water so they aren’t in the way or a trip hazard to other customers visiting the cafe.
We will meet at the west end of the parking lot nearest the restrooms at 8:37am so we can all be ready for the safety talk at 9:15am and on the water by 9:30am. There is a $5.00 parking fee at Chinook Landing Boat Ramp. You can either pay at the kiosk as you enter or there is another kiosk nearest the boat ramp. Port-a-potties are available near the boat launch as well. The boat ramp may be a busy place on Saturday morning so please try to park off to the side if you are unloading a kayak. The ramp on the left (as you are looking at the water) seems to be the least busy. Please be mindful of other boaters as they also try to access the ramp. Or bring wheels with you and you can quickly walk your boat down!
The weather forecast is predicting a sunny day, with a high of 54 degrees and light, variable winds. We’ll have a few different options to deal with winds and we can alter the route if needed so make sure you bring some snacks just in case we don’t stop for lunch. Our mileage for the day is expected to be around 8 - 10 (miles).
Meeting Time: 8:37:00 AM
Launch Time: 9:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Chinook Landing Marine Park
Take out: Same
Route Alternative for bad weather: Chinook Landing to Government Island RT or TBD
Required equipment:
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Tom Waldron
Co-Organizer(s): Teresa George
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: 8
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 54 degrees
Estimated Water Temperature: 55 degrees
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 4 - 5 hours
Tide Station: Washougal, WA
Tide times & heights:
Date Day Time Predicted (ft) High/Low
2023/10/28 Sat 02:59 AM 0.11 L
2023/10/28 Sat 07:58 AM 0.97 H
2023/10/28 Sat 2:19 PM 0.16 L
2023/10/28 Sat 8:31 PM 1.83 H
Current information: Less than 2 knots
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 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
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 1: Less than 0.5 miles
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments: Wind is always an unpredictable factor on the Columbia. While forecast is for light and variable winds, be prepared for that to change without warning.
Location: Chinook Landing Marine Park
Photos (Optional):
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Link to map of route (Optional) See listserv email
