Spring 2007 Newsletter
Important Update from the Treasurer What’s Inside?
Starting very soon, you are going to see a minor About the OKCC ...... 2 change in the w ay that your membership renew als Club Trips ...... 4 are handled. This is in an effort to reduce the Keep It Simple Stupid ...... 4 amount of paperw ork that your treasurer (me) has Upcoming Events ...... 6 to handle and w ill hopefully improve and speed up PPP (Porn, Pizza, Pint) Night Continues!...... 7 the membership renew al process. Pool Session Information ...... 8 Photo and Trip Report Contest...... 9 Currently, most members of the OKCC are also Multi-Day Packing List ...... 10 members of the ACA and join the ACA at a Intermediate/Advanced Monthly Meeting/Paddle..11 discount w hen they join the OKCC. After the first Fear on the Water ...... 12 year, how ever, the membership renew als are From American Rivers: Removal of Condit Dam ..13 handled separately. The ACA offers clubs the Membership Application & Renew al...... 15 option of having the ACA handle these kinds of joint memberships.
From here on out, the ACA w ill maintain a database of OKCC members holding joint memberships, and Multi-Day Packing List will issue w aiver/release forms directly to these persons along w ith invoices for the entire amount of Have you ever w ondered w hat exactly you should the joint membership. The A CA w ill accept pack on a multi-day trip? What are the bare combined dues pay ments (including by credit card) essentials to get you through a few days on the and signed w aivers and forw ard the names and water? Of course, it is very dependent on w eather, addresses of renewing members to the OKCC. river difficulty, and…raft support. Turn to page 10 for a little help on the basics. If you are an OKCC-only member, renew als w ill continue to be handled directly through the treasurer. Otherw ise, look for your joint membership renew al from the ACA in the future.
Thanks!
Kristin Sterling OKCC Treasurer Welcome New & Renew ing Members!
About the OKCC Jesse Aronson Scott Aronson The Oregon Kayak & Canoe Club is a group of Jon Begley boaters in the Portland area w ho have joined Cameron Black together to pursue a common interest in w hitew ater Ralph Bluemers boating. Our primary focus is to organize river trips Jay Buckingham at various skill levels. Safety, as well as enjoyment, Paul Daffer is considered important on all club-sponsored trips. Kayloe Dawson We are also involved in ocean kayaking, slalom Thomas DeCuir races, instruction, and river conservation. Alison Elliott Membership entitles you to all issues of our Shannon Garcia new sletter, trip schedules, conservation updates, Freda & Glenn Green social events, affiliation w ith the American Canoe Walter Gregg Association and American Whitew ater, and an Virginia Hare outlet/source for used equipment. Lucas Hill Michael Hill Check us out online at www.okcc.org! Also sign up Shane Horner for the club’s Yahoo! Groups email list at Kelly Jenkins groups.yahoo.com/group/okcc. Patrick Johnson John Karafotias OKCC Board of Directors Elizabeth Kelley John Kerrey Shannon Crossw hite, President Rufus Knapp [email protected] Paul & Kara Kysas Eric Lindenauer Jesse Mitchell, V P/Secretary Gary Mannino [email protected] Terry Marlink Laura Niessner Kristin Sterling, Treasurer David Northrop [email protected] Bruce Reed Andrew & Karen Renle Michael Williams, Safety & Training Brett Rolin michael.w [email protected] Kate Ross Carley Schaffer Mark Adams, Events Sue Scheppele [email protected] Andy Shephard Wes Shinn Honorary Positions: David Short Sarah Bryant, New sletter & Publicity Robert Short Keith DeWit, Conservation Joe Slivinski Mike Elston, Trips Adam & Adrianne Smith David Johnson, Races Matt Stine Tory Stine Membership Reminder Scott Stinson The label on this newsletter contains the expiration Chris Taw ney date of your OKCC membership. Please use the Ashlyn Terry form on page 15 to renew your membership. Matthew Tidw ell Garry Truyens Mail the completed form along w ith the appropriate Thea Villaseñor amount to: Robert Virostek & Family John & David Wallum Oregon Kayak & Canoe Club Jerry & Marlene Williams PO Box 692 Portland, OR 97207 2 American Canoe Association Membership Newsletter Advertising & Submissions If you w ould like to advertise in an upcoming Although not required, OKCC members have the new sletter, please contact us at option to join the ACA at a discounted membership [email protected] for advertising rates and price. The ACA's Paddle America Club provides guidelines. liability insurance for OKCC trips and events. OKCC members w ho choose ACA membership in The next newsletter deadline is addition to OKCC membership w ill receive OKCC June 15, 2007 benefits (newsletter, social events, and meetings) in addition to the benefits of ACA membership Submissions, photos, ideas, suggestions and the (Paddler magazine, A CA paddling events, and like should all be directed to [email protected]. member-only discounts). Please label your email subject “New sletter.”
American Whitew ater Membership
OKCC members may now also join American Whitew ater at a discounted membership price. OKCC members w ho join American Whitew ater will receive a subscription to American Whitew ater magazine and member-only discounts as w ell as support American Whitew ater’s mission to conserve and restore America’s w hitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.
3 Club Trips
WITH APOLOGIES, A TRIP CALENDAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIMEOF PUBLICATION. PLEASE CHECK THE OKCC WEBSITE FOR ANY UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. OR BETTER YET, SIGN UP TO LEAD A TRIP TODAY!
Trip Leaders Wanted! We are currently recruiting competent, safety-conscious boaters who would like to share their expertise and/or their favorite river sections with their fellow boaters. Trips on all classes of whitew ater are needed. If you would like to give back to the river community, and possibly meet some great new paddling partners in the process, please consider leading a club trip! If you are interested or have questions, contact Mike Elston at [email protected].
Check your email or the OKCC w ebsite at www.okcc.org/events.htm for last-minute club trips. All club trips are sanctioned by the American Canoe Association. Non-ACA members may have to pay a $10 insurance fee to participate.
Keep It Simple Stupid
If you’ve heard this before then maybe you were in just the basics to mechanical advantages to first a Wilderness or Safety class. KISS is an acronym aid. Start w ith the basics, how to self rescue, sw im that refers to starting with the simple plan first. with your paddle and to use your throw bag. As you Don’t jump into advanced techniques if you can pull progress in your paddling, take a more progressive someone off of a rock quickly and safely w ith a safety class. I have compiled a list of the classes in rope and an angle versus spending time setting the area so you have the information: anchors and pulleys. Swiftwater Rescue Certification by Rescue 3: June I recently took a kayak safety refresher course w ith 1-3, $265 Wet Planet. Todd, Andy, and Heather did a great Contact: Wet Planet Rafting, job review ing some of the high points in safety on www.wetplanetrafting.com the river. The first half of the day, w e discussed scenarios and some Do’s and Don’ts, then w e Swiftwater Rescue - 2 Day: April 28-29, $225 practiced throw ropes and anchors. Heather was in Contact: eNRG Kayaking, www.enrgkayaking.com a theoretical boat pin w here the w ater kept pushing her head dow n. We saw three w ays to use a throw Beginner Safety and Intermediate/Advanced rope to stabilize her so that you could then focus on Safety: July 21st, $40 unpinning her boat. After lunch, we headed to the Contact: Alder Creek, Paul Kuthe, river to practice throw bag skills w ith live bait and [email protected] some foot entrapment scenarios. When the day was done I felt better that I had practiced my skills, WKCC Safety Weekend: July 28-29; Contact: but keenly aw are that I have more to learn, and www.wkcc.org better yet, to be more diligent in practicing my skills. OKCC Safety Day: August 5th, stay tuned for more Everyone has an idea of the vast know ledge and details… information you could teach in a safety class from
4 5 To learn more and confirm your reservation, call Upcoming Events 1.866.BOA T.4.AW or email Carla@americanw hitewater.org. Check out our new public Google Calendar (www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=okccinfo@ Oregon River Games/Oregon Cup gmail.com) for up-to-the-minute information on www.oregonrivergames.com events that might be of interest. May 4-6, 2007
American Whitew ater Dinner & Fundraiser Upper Clackamas River (just east of Estacada): Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 6 pm rafting, kayaking, and riverboarding races North Fork Reservoir (just east of Estacada): McMenamins Kennedy School Malibu Pro Wakeboarding competition rd 5736 NE 33 Ave Canyon Creek (SW Washington): extreme Portland, OR 97211 kayak races
The A merican Whitew ater’s Board of Directors w ill For more information, contact: be meeting in Portland on April 28th. Join your Gary Schoenecker local hosts Thomas O’Keefe, Jennie Goldberg, and [email protected] Rich Bow ers with American Whitew ater for an (503) 252-7686 evening of dinner, drinks, and celebration of the region’s rivers. Hear featured speaker Alan Hamlet Upper Clackamas Whitew ater Festival of the University of Washington Climate Impacts May 19-20, 2007 Group and his talk “Climate Change and Conservation: Challenges for the Region’s Rivers”. This w ill be the 24th manifestation of this w ild and wet festival. With tw o days of racing, workshops, There is no admission, but a reservation is live music, and manufacturers on hand, it’s a required. During the program, attendees w ill be weekend of fun, exciting, and safe whitew ater asked to consider a contribution to support activities that you w on’t w ant to miss! American Whitew ater’s Stew ardship w ork on Pacific Northw est Rivers. (AW is a registered non- For more information: profit organization; all contributions are fully tax- www.upperclackamasfestival.org deductible.)
Post-carnage photo at the 2006 Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival
6 PPP (Porn, Pizza, Pint) Night Continues!
When: Stay tuned for dates… Where: Old Town Pizza Gather at 7pm 226 NW Davis Video starts at 7:30pm Portland, OR 97209 www.oldtownpizza.com
Each month a different feature film is shown. For suggestions or questions, contact Mark Adams. [email protected]
7 Pool Session Information
The OKCC pool sessions are closed for the season, but they w ill begin again at the end of October. A big THANK YOU to Shannon Crossw hite for organizing and running the sessions this year. Also, a big thanks to Paul from Alder Creek, Luke at Next Adventure, and Dave from eNRG for their help in making the pool sessions a huge success.
If you have any comments, questions, or ideas for next season, or if you want to volunteer to help, please contact Shannon at [email protected].
Kay akers at an OKCC Pool Session at the North Clackamas Aquatic Center.
Other Pool Sessions in the Area
Check the PDX Adventure Racer w ebsite (www.pdxadventureracer.com/node/view /748) for information on other pool sessions in the area. Please confirm w ith each location before attending as sessions are often seasonal, change and/or cancel.
Day Location Time Monday Beaverton Swim Center 9:30 – 10:30 pm Tuesday Sunset Swim Center 8:30 – 10:00 pm Sandy Aquatic Center 7:00 – 9:00 pm Wednesday Sunset Swim Center 8:30 – 10:00 pm Beaverton Swim Center 9:30 – 10:30 pm Sandy YMCA 7:30 – 9:30 pm Thursday Sunset Swim Center 8:30 – 10:00 pm Saturday Marshall Pool (Vancouver) 3:30 – 5:00 pm Sunday Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center 10:00 am – 12:00 pm 8 Photo and Trip Report Contest
The OKCC is holding its very first Photo Trip Report Category: and Trip Report Contest! Have you been on an amazing multi-day trip Photography Category: recently? A life-changing float down the river? Or just had a day of kayaking filled by plenty of Send us your best carnage, hucking, aerial, hilarity, mishaps, and general entertainment river camping, or general paddling photo by that you would like to share? Submit your trip June 1st to [email protected] to be report to [email protected] by June 1st judged by the OKCC Board of Directors. The to be reviewed by the OKCC Board of top three entries will be published in the next Directors. The top entry will be published in newsletter and those photographers will be the next newsletter and awarded a free 1-year awarded a free 1-year membership to the membership to the OKCC. TRs accompanied OKCC, and perhaps a secret prize TBA… by photos are not required, but highly encouraged.
An example photo entry…
Mark Adams gets a little sideways at Sunset. (Photographer: Angie Allen)
9 Multi-Day Packing List This list does not include food, kitchen equipment, groover, etc. If you are the trip leader/organizer and responsible for these items, consult with someone experienced in long river trips for those essentials. Please note that this is just to get you started, and verypossible that we left something out. Happy river trips!
In Your Boat Warmer coat Kayak & gear (helmet, pfd, etc.) Warm hat Breakdown paddle Undergarments First-aid kit Extra paddling base layers Pin kit Water bottle Toiletries Necessary meds Camping Items Sunblock! Sleeping pad Lotion (hands and feet tend to get chapped) Chair converter (or camp chair) Lip balm Tent, footprint (or bivy sack) Biodegradable soap Sleeping bag Baby wipes (great for when it’s too cold to dip Pillow (or put clothes into a stuff sack) in the water) Personal toiletry items Clothing Quick-dry towel Something comfy for camp (the trick is to layer) - swimsuit (in warmer weather) Nice-to-Have - multi-layer tops, preferably synthetic Camera/camcorder - fleece or quick-dry pants Journal - warm socks Book - river sandals (e.g., Chacos, Tevas) Costumes!!!! (wigs, capes, scarves, and silly Raincoat items pack better than hats and bulky clothing)
Tips Ladies: sarongs make great cover-ups and do double-duty as quick-dry camp wear or a towel. In warmer weather, cotton bandanas help protect your scalp from the sun, and also cover up the greasies. Since you spend most of the time on the water and minimal time in camp, you can wear one set of camp clothing for multiple days. Keep that in mind to prevent over-packing, or to save space for extra base layers. Rafters hauling your gear appreciate light-packing kayakers. Also pitch in to help as much as possible: load/unload, set up camp before setting up your personal stuff, cooking, dish duty, groover duty, etc. Do anything possible to ensure you get invited back next time. Paco-pads are great, but are heavy and bulky, so be a nice kayaker and ask your rafter if it’s okay. Several empty ziplocks in your personal gear provide a handy place to keep garbage items (used baby wipes, q-tips, etc.) until they can be properly disposed of. If you leave a clean change of clothes in the take-out vehicle, you’ll be nice and comfy for the ride home.
10 Intermediate/Advanced Monthly Meeting/Paddle Contact:Michael Williams, OKCC Safety Officer [email protected]
So you have been paddling awhile and you have a roll. Where do you go from there? Intermediate classes can be expensive and are only done on a weekend. Once a month I am going to do an intermediate to advance paddle meeting, class, and paddle. Paddling covers a broad range of skills and rivers; we will have a chance to do it all. Playboating, creeking, big water, low water and everything in-between. We will meet the first Wednesday of every month and Paddle that Saturday. The meeting is mandatory to attend the Saturday paddle. Topics covered in the meeting will be practiced on the river. We have created this course to give beginning paddlers a place to go and keep learning on their way to becoming advanced paddlers. ACA insurance is required. Contact Michael Williams for meeting time and place, as the venues could change from month to month. Happy Paddling!!!
The Next Meeting is May 2nd A roll and some class 3 w hitew ater experience is a must!!!
Kay akers practicing a “one strokef erry” on the Molalla, just below the Horse Creek bridge. 11 Fear on the Water
I read this today and wanted to share this email. It waswritten in response to one on dealing with and overcoming fear that is so intense that it’s paralyzing. Thank you, Melissa, for allowing us to print your email. Shannon
I don't think the experience of getting really pummeled on the river and then losing your nerve is unique.
In fact, if w e boat long enough, it happens to us all.
For me, it goes back to the core of the sport, w hich is that w hile w e paddle together, no one can run the river for you. And when it comes dow n to making the moves and hitting the line, you're alone. When I look at a rapid, especially one w ith consequences, I have to believe deep dow n that I can make it. If I'm not sure, I give myself permission to w alk it. And I try not to attach any judgment to that, positive or negative.
Progressing as a boater and the confidence and courage that come w ith gaining skill isn't about running a certain class of whitew ater. The question I ask myself is, "Do I have the courage to listen to w hat my mind and body are telling me today." Not yesterday, or a week ago w hen I may have been either on or off my game. But right here, right now , above this rapid. Because once you're out there, you're on your ow n. So developing and trusting your ow n judgment is key.
For me, boating is about having fun. I hit the river for exercise, to challenge myself, but ultimately, I do it because it's fun. And when I'm pushing myself too hard, w hen I'm not w illing to listen and allow myself to simply be in the place I am w ith boating, it's not fun anymore.
I'm doing the intermediate series w ith the OKCC. Below , I've pasted w hat my instructor suggested I do to prepare for our next run in w hich we are going to (yikes) step it up. I think it's really good advice.
I also have found that playboating has helped me get back on my game after getting freaked out. Because you get pounded in the hole, w ash out, roll up and do it again. No consequences.
This w as w hat our instructor, Michael Williams, w rote to me w hen I emailed him asking for suggestions for rivers to run to prep for our next class:
“Let me share some wisdom I learned early on from a good friend of mine whom was my mentor, teacher and probably one of the best boaters ever in Oregon. Forget the ratings system. Kayak porn has ruined the sport. Don't step up by running a river with harder and harder ratings. Inevitably the river always wins. Instead take your favorite rivers and make them harder.
Eric Brown's quote was ‘Practice Class 5 moves in easier whitewater.’ Screwing up in aclass 3-4 rapid has very little repercussions vs. screwing up in a class 5. Over the next several months I will keep introducing really hard moves in easier whitewater.
If you get really good at the intermediate to advanced paddling concepts and techniques, the rest will follow. Many paddlers burn out on the sport early. One of my heroes in the sport paddles at 70+ years old!!! We should all be pretty good in 30 to 40 years! :-) I never intended to paddle any class five rapids and rivers but along the way in my 13+ years of having a blast it just happened. {}So my suggestion for rivers would be to do the ones you love, enjoy the privilege of being on the river, play with them, enjoy being introduced to new ones and paddle like that could be your last day on the river.”
12 From American Rivers: Removal of Condit Dam
Dept of Ecology: Removal of Condit Dam managers predicted that recovery of aquatic necessary to restore White Salmon River's organisms and salmonid populations would health take decades because riverine habitats had been so extensivelydamaged.” Critical hurdles remain in path to restore river However, after initial impacts, “a rapid post- eruption rebound in primary productivity, Contact: aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate populations, Amy Kober, American Rivers, 206-213-0330 and rearing salmonid populations occurred. x23 Within 2-3 years, productivity and the Thomas O’Keefe, American Whitewater, 425- abundance of invertebrates and rearing fish 417-9012 reached pre-eruption levels and by5 years Kelley Beamer, Friends of the Columbia productivity and abundances exceeded pre- Gorge, 503-241-3762 eruption levels.”
(Portland) -- Removing Condit Dam and “Not onlydoes removing Condit Dam make restoring a free-flowing White Salmon River will environmental sense, it also makes economic have significant benefits to salmon and sense. Restoring a free-flowing White Salmon steelhead and overall river health, according to River is the right thing to do for the river, the the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) salmon and steelhead, and future generations,” released today by the Washington Department said Thomas O’Keefe, Northwest stewardship of Ecology. director for American Whitewater.
The final EIS follows other technical reviews “Rivers are remarkably resilient,” said Amy from government agencies (NOAA Fisheries, Kober, Northwest communications director for US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Federal American Rivers. “More than 700 dams have Energy Regulatory Commission) that highlight been removed on rivers across the country, the benefits of dam removal. The Federal with significant benefits to fish and wildlife, Energy Regulatory Commission has yet to clean water and recreation. The long-term issue a critical order that would keep the dam benefits of removing Condit Dam far outweigh removal schedule on track for 2008. any short-term impacts.”
The document is available at “This is an extraordinary restoration opportunity http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0706012.html we simply cannot afford to miss,” said Kelley Beamer with Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Benefits of dam removal include “increasing the run size and long-term viabilityby Removing Condit Dam will give salmon access anadromous salmonid populations in the White to 15.3 miles and steelhead access to 32.4 Salmon River.” In particular, chum salmon miles of cold, clean, high-qualityhabitat in the would have the abilityto develop a viable White Salmon. Fish will have access to this population in the White Salmon River, Chinook upstream habitat within a year of dam removal and steelhead would have greatlyexpanded and the lower threemiles of spawning habitat access to high qualityhabitat, and Columbia is anticipated to be functional within two years River salmon would have better access to cool- following dam removal. Salmon will once-again water refuge. become a nutrient-rich food source for wildlife like ospreyand bald eagle. The EIS further points out that, “Following the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, manyfishery 13 Condit Dam on the White Salmon River.
The recreation and tourism industries will also Learn more about upcoming dam removals benefit from a restored river. Dam removal will in the Pacific Northwest: open up an additional five miles of river for http://www.americanrivers.org/nwdamremo rafting and kayaking. vals (PDF)
Built in 1913, the 125-foot tall Condit Dam has Founded in 1973, American Rivers is a no fish passage, limiting salmon and steelhead national non-profit conservation organization to the lower three miles of river. Condit Dam dedicated to protecting and restoring healthy produces little electricity (an average of less natural rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife than 10megawatts, which is only0.001% of and nature. American Rivers has more than PacifiCorp’s total power production) and a 65,000 supporters nationwide, with offices in 2002 studyconducted for the local public utility Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic, district concluded that the dam is not an Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, California and economically viable source of energy. Northwest regions. http://www.americanrivers.org/
14 Membership Application & Renewal
The Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club (OKCC) is a group of boaters in the Portland area who have joined together to pursue a common interest in whitewater boating. The OKCC’s primary focus is to organize river trips at various skilllevels. Safety, as well as enjoyment, is considered important on all club-sponsored trips. The OKCC is also active in ocean kayaking, slalom races, instruction, and river conservation. Membership entitles you to all issues of our newsletter, trip schedules, conservation updates, social events, affiliation with the American Canoe Association and American Whitewater, and an outlet/source for used equipment. Membership is contingent upon the receipt of duesand a signed waiver. Each adult member of a household must sign the waiver below.
The ACA’s Paddle America Club provides liability insurance for OKCC trips and events. OKCC members who choose ACA membership in addition to OKCC membership will receive OKCC benefitsin addition to the benefitsof ACA membership (Paddler magazine, ACA paddling events, and member-only discounts). OKCC members who are not ACA members will be charged $10.00 for every club trip or event in which they participate. This fee covers the cost of liability insurance.
OKCC members who join American Whitewater will receive a subscription to American Whitewater magazine and member-only discounts as well as support American Whitewater’s mission to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.
OKCC MEMBERSHIP $20.00 OKCC Membership Only - Individual or Household $20.00 OKCC Renewal - Individual or Household AFFILIATE CLUB ENROLLMENT (NEW ENROLLMENT WITH OKCC MEMBERSHIP ONLY) $30.00 ACA Individual Membership $25.00 ACA Student/Junior Membership (18 and under or full-time college students with proof of a valid student ID) $40.00 ACA Household Membership (2 adults and children 18 and under) $25.00 American Whitewater Individual Membership $35.00 American Whitewater Household Membership TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED:
Participant’s Name: ACA No.: Address: City/State/Zip: Home Phone: Mobile Phone: Email: Additional Household Members: ACA No.: ACA No.: ACA No.: Newsletter delivery (circle one): Mail Web (download) Email I have read, understand, and amfamiliar with the American Canoe Association Waiverand Release of Liability and the American WhitewaterSafety Code. I agree to be bound by the terms of the ACA Waiverand Release of Liabilityand to follow the guidelinesof the AW Safety Code asa condition of membership in the Oregon Kayak& Canoe Club, Inc.
Signature: Date: Date: ALL NEW ACA APPLICANTS MUST ALSO COMPLETE AN ACA WAIVER FORM. WAIVER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT www.acanet.org.
Please make checks payable to “OKCC” and send your completed application and waiver(s) with check to: Membership, OKCC, P.O. Box 692, Portland OR97207
15 OREGON KAYAK & CANOE CLUB PO BOX 692 PORTLAND OR 97207
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED