Coastal Kayak Coaching: Alder Creek Lumpy Waters Symposium

29 10 2011

Catching a nice one!

The highlight of the Oregon sea kayak season has become the Lumpy Waters Symposium. This three-day festival of everything Ocean Kayaking is a hoot!

Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe’s sold-out 3rd Annual Lumpy Waters Symposium took place October 14-16 2011 in Pacific City, Oregon. For the third year in a row, the weather cooperated. Six foot swells and northwest winds topping out at ten knots led to great learning conditions! Not to mention fun even for the coaches! We had 90 students with 30 coaches involved. Classes take place in Pacific City plus up and down the coast depending on the class subject.

This year I was not a student but a coach! I worked all summer at Alder Creek, but my coaching was limited to beginner classes, so I was flattered to be selected to teach at Lumpy Waters, but also a bit nervous, as I hadn’t had much time in 2011 down at the coast. When I got the roster for the weekend I was more than stoked to be a coach!

I had recently completed the British Canoe UnionLevel1 coach curriculum – so as far as the basics are concerned and for teaching skills, I was good to go. I just hadn’t had much time to practice in waves! I knew from past experience all it takes (for me) is time on the water.

A beautiful setting!

I was scheduled to help teach the Saturday morning Current and Waves class. Cindy Sherrer was lead coach. The class starts out in calm waters of the Nestucca River behind Pacific City, Oregon, and then culminates with taking the students out into the currents and waves out by where the Nestucca meets the Pacific Ocean. We had five students. The challenge here was more the conditions being calmer than needed to teach the syllabus. We struggled to find a good spot for a clean eddy line to practice getting into and out of eddies. Finally, out toward where the river meets the ocean, we found a reasonable eddy line. Out there, there was also some wavelets that came into the bay to practice on.

Sunday, I was scheduled to assist coach the coastal surf zone class called “Fun and Feedback.” This class was a follow up to “Fear to Fun in the Surf.” Since I hadn’t been at the coast in a while, I wanted to “warm up.” So, I observed the Saturday afternoon version of Fun and Feedback.” I had an absolute blast. We did launching, landing, backing up over waves, some surfing, and some back surfing. The conditions were ideal for learning! It was not long before I was able to land without capsizing, time and time again.

Sunday I wound up on the beach a bit nervous about the level I might be expected to coach. Lucky for me, I was to assist in teaching bracing! That I definitely could teach. We taught bracing, and depending on the group, taught side surfing along with bracing. It was me and Cate Hawthorne of Liquid Fusion Kayaking. We got along great, and I have to say I got very enthusiastic teaching students how to hold their brace in the waves. It’s so exciting to show them how rock solid they can be when bracing into an on coming foam pile! Watching them “get it” brings me tons of positive energy! The water was not all that cold – of course I had my Kokatat dry suit on. But the energy of helping people learn these skills just drove me on!

Once class was over I got my chance to enjoy the wonderful surf on my own. I was able to surf some of the waves, actually controlling my kayak on the wave using stern rudders on either the port or starboard side…then, when the wave broke, either side surfing the foam pile, or managing to ride back over the back of the wave to find another!


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Kayak Surfing in the Columbia Gorge – Plus Salmon Spawning

10 10 2011

I have been working at Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe during 2011, and the irony is that I’ve been teaching beginners so I have not had much time to play in rougher conditions! Even on the days I tried we got skunked – calm weather prevailed.

But this past Friday I was able to get out with Neil Schulman on the Columbia River Gorge for what we locals call a “wind run.” The Columbia Gorge often gets winds in excess of 18 mph, sometimes even upwards of 40 mph. On these days, wind waves form, turning the river into a continuous set of wind-driven waves.

These waves are different from those at the ocean beaches because they have no rising depths beneath them – they don’t have big breaking faces. These waves generally are continuous rollers. On Friday, the biggest reached three feet, so it was a great day to learn. I’d never done this before!

Once out in the midst of the river you turn your kayak downwind and start paddling. We went from Stevenson, WA to the Wind River – it’s only about 5 miles. It’s incredibly forgiving. If you don’t catch a wave, it just passes beneath. If you get tired and want to paddle lazily, you just let these rollers roll along underneath you. If you want to surf, you have to keep up a good pace and then when a wave comes you sprint to catch it! It is a lot like interval training. Sometimes, you can surf from one roller onto the next and catch it, then another and then another! Fun, but exhausting!

We caught our breath by paddling up the Wind River to see if we could see salmon spawning. Sure enough! We got up to some riffles and dozens of Chinook and Coho were spawning! Always a breathtaking sight!

Here is a short video of the Chinook action on the Wind River…


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2011 Clackamas River Cleanup presented by We Love Clean Rivers!

20 09 2011

All photos by Mark Gamba.

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the 9th annual Down the River Cleanup on the Clackamas River took place. Organized by We Love Clean Rivers, the event mobilizes an array of groups in a collaborative effort to clean 15 miles of the Clackamas River. I’m on the board of directors.

With a Staj Pace as our new event coordinator, new branding initiative completed including logo, new website, stationery, etc., we hit the ball out of the park this year! Participation was up over 60% with a record 421 registered volunteers. We also removed record amounts of trash from the river – 3.4 tons!

We had LOTS of FUN! Folks met up at Barton Park before 9:00 a.m. for coffee and bagels, registered, then organized into 15 pods (each cleaning one river mile), and after safety briefings, set off to clean the river.

Pod pre-launch briefing

Pods are made up of kayaks, drift boats, rafts, and some divers. It was a HOT day, over 90 degrees. I saw more red neck flotillas of inflatable mattresses and beer coolers going on the river than ever.

Cleaning in the river means collaboration amongst different recreational groups. Divers go below. Snorkelers are utilized. And bank-based cleaning is performed, too!

The emphasis is all about fun. Participants set off in a festive mood. Kids are definitely part of the collective cleanup muscle!

Youngsters taking ownership

Each pod rides the river to its assigned section and begins to clean.

Some rafts or drift boats are designated “garbage scows,” and folks bring trash to them. Some become quite laden with tires or metal objects.

By far the most numerous items are beverage cans. There is no question that cans are being dumped by river runners into the river.

Just look at this dumpster!

Holy Garbage!

The garbage is sorted by kids and recyclers. Further, it is picked over by artists, who will convert some into art or jewelry. This stuff will be sold at the RiPPLe PDX event on October 6th!

The day is book ended at the conclusion by a party/picnic celebration! Participants enjoyed music, a catered, organic picnic, three bands, Sierra Nevada beer, and the chance to win outdoor gear at the silent auction!

Nice job everyone! THANK YOU!

We enjoyed some really upbeat music!!!

60 feet of deliecious catered food!


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Diamond Lake Oregon, neighbor to Crater Lake

24 08 2011

Had three days off in a row for the first time since June. This fell right in the midst of the annual Perseid meteor showers-I hoped to view. So rather than heading to one of my usual favorite overnight outdoor spots, I studied the map and decided to go somewhere new – Diamond Lake. But I didn’t realize I’d be a stone’s throw from Crater Lake National Park!

Diamond Lake is in south central Oregon, five hours distant from Portland. It lies beneath9,184 ft Mt. Thielsen to the east and 8,375 ft Mt. Bailey westward. To get there, head to Roseburg, Oregon, and then drive east on SR 138 all the way to Diamond Lake. It passes through the National Wild & Scenic North Umpqua River.

Along the way, you pass evidence of violent geologic events. SR 138 passes through layer after layer of ash fall, exposed when the road was cut. In many places, it’s 40 ft thick, and the forest above clings to its edge – falling away with each passing winter. So, my arrival was further delayed by numerous projects fixing the road. The area is in its infancy – in geologic terms. Even extinct Thielsen is less than 300,000 years old. Crater Lake was formed only 7,000 years ago.

Never having been to Diamond Lake, the campground named Thielsen View seemed tempting. But it was not to my liking at all. It was heavily forested, full of RVs, its campsites weren’t on the lake and worse, infested with biting mosquitoes! I decided to head for the main campground on the other side of the lake. Once there, at Diamond Lake Campground, I felt a bit better. Although large and a bit over provisioned for me, it offered lakeside sites, sun, and since it was more windy, only had a few biting bugs. I’m usually turned off by campgrounds with lots of facilities. But here, as it’s so busy, the place needed to be that way to handle the groups. Looking at my map, I realized it’s only 15 minutes from Crater Lake National Park.

And, it offered lakeside views of Mount Bailey, nice paddling, full-blooming wildflowers, and generously-sized campsites.

Mt. Thielson

With perfect weather, wonderful views and a lovely lake I didn’t have much to complain about! Only to figure out what to do the following day.

Having realized that I was so close to Crater Lake, I figured I just had to get down there tomorrow. But now, time to enjoy the late summer afternoon paddling around on Diamond Lake!

I headed up the north shore past myriad of campsites nestled along the lakeside. What a sight, to have two beautiful peaks in view! Little mentioned is that this lake is a no-wake zone. So although motorboats abound, there’s no noisy water skiing or wave runners to denigrate the peaceful setting. It’s a decent paddling spot.

Around a bend, I encountered Diamond Lake Resort. It reminded me a little bit of Old Forge, NY, a town in Adirondack State Park, where I first paddled a canoe.

Like the 1950’s

 

The resort has a hotel, restaurant, beach, cabins, and a marina filled with rental boats and sailboats. Kiddos played along the beach, building sand castles.

Along the outside of the marina, sea gulls gathered on a floating log boom.

Everything seemed so peaceful…all playing, enjoying the scenery.

 

 

With the sun setting behind Mount Bailey, I headed back.

I settled down to a campfire and feasted on fresh salad of mixed greens, plus garlic mashed potatoes, and grilled bratwurst. Much to my disappointment, it was a full moon evening, meaning the meteor showers were utterly bleached out by the moonlight!

I looked forward to checking out Crater Lake National Park in the morning!


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When Life Gives You Lemons…Switch Paddling Venues!

31 07 2011

Sunday July 24th was to be my day to enjoy paddling in “conditions.” Conditions – means rougher water and wind. We sought out 20+ mph winds, 2+ foot wind waves and maybe rollers. The goal was to learn to paddle in these seas, but also to perform assisted rescues and self rescues in them, too.

Paddling and doing rescues in flat wind-less water is completely different from doing them in rough water and wind…so taking a class & practicing with instructors around is really helpful! During the days leading up to the session we watched the weather forecast closely and found it to be questionable. The forecast wasn’t calling for a windy day. Still, it seemed like some places in the Columbia Gorge would offer winds kicking up.

The group met at Alder Creek in Portland, early in the morning, and loaded up cars and the van.

And we headed out. First venue: Viento State Park. We arrived and I soon saw my old kayak, a P&H Scorpio nicknamed “Diana,” on another student’s car.

My old flame...with someone new...

I immediately recognized the Welsh and British flags I had put on her deck.

We headed out to view the wind conditions on the Columbia. It was starting to blow, but just not enough for a meaningful class just yet.

So Paul decided to drive east, to the Klickitat River area to see if things would be more conducive to this class. Well, it was even worse! Just glassy. Well, we figured we are here, might as well paddle, something. We crossed the Columbia and entered the Klickitat. Paddling up, up, up to finally find some fast-moving water.

We got up to a section with a 1-foot drop and couldn’t paddle any further. So we dropped back to a spot with eddies on both sides of the main channel and practiced peel outs and eddy turns.

Fun! Here is Dennis Pennel doing a nice job peeling out, and then eddy turning on the other side of the river.

We did these forward. We did them backward. We did them eyes closed. We did them without paddles. And finally, Paul did it standing up…sort of. One of the few times you’ll ever see Paul Kuthe swim!


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Yale Lake July

23 07 2011

Well, there is a chain of reservoirs north of Portland, Oregon, in the Lewis River system. They are about an hour’s drive north depending on the route one takes. They all lie in Mt. St. Helens’ shadow…and one, Yale Lake, has a grand view of this notorious peak.

I’ve been there twice this month. First time with my meetup group. We arrived on a Thursday and checked out the Siouxon Creek arm of the lake.

It’s clear and beautiful, and we paddled all the way up to the river’s confluence.

Arnold had lunch…whoa…a whole apple pie! Arnold is always good to have along.

Amanda is one of my favorite meetup members! She’s very outgoing, athletic, and fun! She was our tour guide. We had some beer at the Laurelwood in Battleground, after the paddle.

My first time up there I couldn’t see the visual treat Yale Lake is famed for. But I returned on July 22nd late in the day and was rewarded with a spec-tacular sight!

WOW.

I also managed a video…on this day there were 2-3 motorboats on the lake plus a canoe. I understand it’s jammed with water skiers on the weekends!


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