Ridgefield Skill Builder: Paddle, Rescue, Drysuit testing Play

Come join Peggy and Steve for a couple of hours of paddle play, rescue practice, and at the end - test your drysuit in cold water and see how long you can last! We'll be paddling Lake River and the Bachelor Island Slough out of Ridgefield, WA. The goal of this trip is to work on skills and not to paddle for distance. Expect to paddle about 5-7 miles total. We will also have time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and bird life as we are next to the National Wildlife Refuge. Lunch will be at the beach at the mouth of the Columbia, so please bring food and drink to keep you warm.  

This is a great opportunity for you to work on your various strokes AND test out your various paddles. Are you new to Greenland paddling? The conditions will be perfect for this. Has it been awhile since you've done a rescue? Let's get you feeling confident again. At the very end, anyone who wants to test their drysuit and baselayers to see how long you can stand the cold water can do so. We will be close to our cars, so you can warm up right after this. Peggy is bringing warm drinks and chocolate for the end.

IMPORTANT - this is a Level 2 paddle because we are working on rescues and paddle skills such as edging, bracing, and skulling. We hope everyone capsizes at some point! Wet Exit Certification and SPRAY SKIRTS are required to go on this trip. Please bring your helmet if you are capsizing for rescue practice. 

Meeting Time: 9:30:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:00:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Ridgefield Kayak Launch: 109 W Division St, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Take out: Same place - 109 W Division St, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Route Alternative for bad weather: We'll be staying on Lake River and the Bachelor Slough
Required equipment: 
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Peggy Liggit
Co-Organizer(s): Steve Blackwood
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: Peggy and Steve
Maximum number of paddlers: 10
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 40's
Estimated Water Temperature: 40's
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 3-4 hours
Tide times & heights: L = 12:27 am, 0.23 ft
H = 5:13 am, 2.48 ft
L= 12:01 pm, 0.79 ft
H = 4:50 pm, 3.33 ft
Current information: < 2 kts
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 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: We'll be doing rescues and paddle play, so spray skirts are mandatory
Location: Ridgefield Kayak Launch: 109 W Division St, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Photos (Optional): 
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Tide Station: St Helens
Link to map of route (Optional)https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lake+River+Ridgefield+Kayak+Launch/@45.8188074,-122.8336441,12z/data=!4m19!1m12!4m11!1m3!2m2!1d-122.739402!2d45.8212001!1m6!1m2!1s0x54944df2a6e7046b:0xaa3fc207b97ae0a6!2s109+W+Division+St,+Ridgefield,+WA+98642!2m2!1d-122.7512435!2d45.818837!3m5!1s0x54944df2a6e7046b:0xaa3fc207b97ae0a6!8m2!3d45.818837!4d-122.7512435!16s%2Fg%2F11pz6kqykd?entry=ttu