Newsletter, March, 2000

Program, Tuesday, March 7

"Where the Rain Goes: An Oregon Sampler" is a new two projector with sound slideshow of images by Chris Luneski. As the title indicates, all the photos bear some relationship to the liquid sunshine we endure through the winter. Though not exclusively a paddling program, a high percentage of the images were taken at paddling locations or while paddling. Seeing the benefits we get from this gray part of the year should make it a bit more tolerable, as well as getting us primed for the upcoming good weather paddling season.

Chris has been photographing professionally for seventeen years. His photos have appeared in numerous magazines, calendars posters and books. His client list includes most major U.S. book publishers. His work is also handled by three stock agencies, two U.S. and one overseas.

He has produced several other multi-image programs, one of which, "Willamette Trails", won a regional award for the best long non-commercial program of that year.

Trip Schedule

March 25 - Siuslaw River            leader - Omar Nelson

April 29 - Triangle Lake               leader - Omar Nelson

May 13 - Fish Lake                      leader - Chris Luneski

May 20 - River Cleanup               leader - Omar Nelson

TBA - Willamette River (moving water run)           leader -Phil Backman

June 17 - Coastal Lakes             leader - Omar Nelson

June ?? - Larison Cove               leader - need volunteer

 McKenzie River Blockages

Melinda Allen reports that the upper McKenzie River just above Fish Ladder Rapids on the Ollalie run is completely blocked by a large log. She advises that no one run that stretch until the log washes out or is removed. She also relayed a report from a friend that there is a log across the channel at the log jam on the Paradise run. Marilyn Kalstad also said that she thought she saw that blockage as she drove past. Remember the risks of winter boating and high water.

Trip Reports

Kirk Pond Paddle

Saturday morning Dick Cross, Phil Backman and Omar met at the Kirk Pond Parking lot to decide where to paddle. The sky was clearing with patches of blue among the clouds.

We walked under the road and up the dam to scout Fern Ridge Reservoir. The water was up and reasonably flat but up on the dam we could see how fast the clouds were moving. That led us to decide to paddle the pond to avoid the coming wind. On our wayback under the road we scouted the Long Tom River outflow. Phil said that 20 years ago he might have tried the run but wisdom had caught up with him. The sharp eddy lines, narrow channel, rocks and trees in the water were enough for Dick and I to easily agree with him.

We put our boats on the pond and gently paddled along the north shore disturbing small flocks of ducks and coots. There was also a pair of Canada Geese and a white domestic goose. We waded through the mud to portage our way into the Coyote Creek Channel. Darn that silly foot bridge.

Once on Coyote Creek the road noise nearly disappeared and the feeling of wilderness travel overtook us. We rounded the first bend and were startled to hear the cry of an osprey which we caught a glimpse of in the top of a mighty oak. There were pairs of mallards going about their business in this quiet backwater and signs of muskrat or beaver. Later on we saw several muskrat lodges. After mucking our way across the portage (double darn that bridge) wecompleted our circumnavigation wishing only that we had blocked off the road so the trip could be as quiet at down the creek. Sorry the forecast kept some of you away. It was a nice morning to paddle, with bright warm sunshine breaking through the clouds to light up the earth with lovely warm colors.           - Omar Nelson

Feburary 1 Cascade Canoe Club Minutes

Omar Nelson presided over the Feburary meeting. A call for president and vice president were made again. None of the 15 in attendence jumped up to fill the vacancies.

Our speaker was Rod Gillian. Rod's Easy Rider canoe, which he paddles almost daily on the Willamette, is equipped with an Oar Master sculling frame. Rod outfitted Omar's canoe with his sculling frame for the evenings presentation.

Along with getting a great full body areobic exercise for the past three years Rod picks up a bag full of garbage from the river on each outing. Bags are provided by Oregon Adopt a River, and the city of Eugene picks up

the bags which he leaves on the bicycle path. We had lots of questions for Rod and many of us tried out the skulling frame.

Trip planning was discussed after the meeting.

Janet Towar, Secretary

Book Review

Voyage of a Summer Sun, Canoeing the Columbia River" by Robin Cody

A break between jobs and a cold that gave me relief from honey do lists gave

me the opportunity to reread Robin Cody's description of his solo canoe trip

covering the length of the Columbia River from its headwaters al Columbia

Lake in British Columbia to the mouth at Astoria.

Cody, a freelance writer from Portland was at Columbia Lake doing research

for a Bonneville Power pamphlet when the thought struck him "A guy could

probably canoe it." So he did. From February 1990 to mid June he scouted

and researched the river and on June 18 took the first of more than a million paddle strokes down the Columbia. Eighty-two days later on Labor Day he arrived at Astoria. In between is a book full of anecdotes and history.

The book is part journal, part history (both social and natural), and all

interesting stories about the river which he says is what the book is about.

Not him, not his story but the river and its story and the stories of the

people on and about it. The book is a fun afternoon read and has led my

thoughts in interesting directions about human interactions with rivers.

Omar Nelson

Paddler Input Needed

Willamalane Park and Recreation Department is reconfiguring the Aspen Street/D Street put-in on the Willamatte River in Springfield. This area is officially known as the Eastgate Woodland Trailhead of East Alton Baker Park. Alternatives are being developed for the site. For info and to make public comment contact Rebecca Gershow 736-4404 or

rebeccag@willamalane.org.

Mari Baldwin

Member Notes

Future Planning

While going through old newsletters trying to find out how long we have been doing the river cleanup I ran across some planning documents that we put together in 96. Some of the ideas have been inplemented and some have not. Let's go over the old list of goals and come up with some new ones.

Also in the pile is the job description of the trip coordinator. I'll make copies available to whoever wants one.

At the March meeting let's make a date to discuss philosophy and goals. My house is always available.

Omar Nelson

Hanford Reach

The 51-mile-long Hanford Reach on the Columbia is now included in the Saddle Mountain Wildlife Refuge, thus protecting it from agricultural and other development. One of our Eastern Oregon/Washington experts (notably Horst) might want to look into this as a possible club float trip.

Wily Coyote

Upcoming Trip Details

March 25 - Siuslaw River

My plan is to put in at Florence and paddle up to either Tiernan Landing on the main stem or to Bender Landing on the North Fork and shuttling back to Florence. Bender Landing is about 5 miles from Florence and Tiernan is about 10. There should be enough time with the incoming tide to make the miles. Bender Landing might be the safest bet with a stop on Cox Island for a snack.

leader: Omar Nelson

April 29 - Triangle Lake

A nice paddling lake that is easy to overlook.

At this time of year: no water skiiers, jetskis, powerboats or other boaters.

leader: Omar Nelson

May 13 - Fish Lake

We took this trip last year, and I think it worth doing again. Has to be early in the season, as the lake becomes a meadow by midsummer.

leader: Chris Luneski