[ Home ] [ Trip Details] [ Registration ] [ Equipment List ] [ Volunteers Needed ]
[ Contact Us ] [ Sponsors ] [ Photo & Movie Gallery ]

2008 Trip Details

Scroll down for all trip details including costs, itinerary, skill & boat requirements, canoe & kayak rentals, transportation options, camp amenities, food, gear shuttle and more.....

DATE

Additional options

Shuttle: $40/per person - Boat rentals: $125

Massage: $20/ hour - Beer & Wine: $4/glass

 

ITINERARY

SKILL & BOAT REQUIREMENTS

Although the Willamette River is primarily flat water, sections of the river have considerable current that require paddlers to have the skills to maneuver their boats in moving water. These skills include familiarity and experience with basic strokes, eddylines, paddling chutes, and boat control techniques. In addition to basic skills, participants should have recent experience paddling 10 to 20 miles per day to assure one’s stamina is adequate to enjoy the trip.

Requirements: All participants are required to meet two of the following.

• Paddling experience on moving water (strong river currents, eddies, etc.) within the last 2 years.
• Moving water paddling instruction within the last 4 years
• Previous participation in Paddle Oregon.

Additional Requirements for participants 17 and under

• All minors need to have had wet rescue training/experience or will be required to paddle with an adult.
• All minors need to know how to swim.

In regards to boat type, we strongly recommend that they be at least 14 feet in length. Paddling a boat that meets this minimum length recommendation will make it easier for you to paddle the long distances that some days require.

CLASS OPTIONS

If you do not have the above mentioned experience and instruction please contact Willamette Riverkeeper, we will be happy to talk to you about whether or not your experience is adequate or a class is appropriate. For those of you that live in the watershed, Willamette Riverkeeper has partners with Sportcraft Marina to offer two one-day moving water canoe and kayak instruction classes. Classes will cost $35 per person and include instruction and trip shuttle. Classes are scheduled for the following dates. To register for a class contact Willamette Riverkeeper at 503-223-6418 or email info@willamette-riverkeeper.org

Saturday July 19th on the Lower Clackamas River, south of Portland

Saturday June 28th on the Lower Santiam River, south of Salem

PADDLING SAFETY – PODS

In order to ensure safety and foster camaraderie on the river, paddlers will be grouped into “pods.” Paddlers choose pods based on paddling pace, daily departure times, and special interests. Your choice simply helps us to place you in a group. If you are interested in more than one option you are welcome to change pods during the trip. Each pod will have a maximum of twelve boats and two pod leader volunteers. Pod volunteers are not all professionally trained in river guiding and or rescue. They are present to help make decisions on the water, keep the pod together, and assist with rescues when necessary. Therefore your safety is equally your responsibility. Meeting the necessary skill requirements and listening to the directions of your pod volunteer are essential to having a safe trip.

CANOE & KAYAK RENTAL OPTIONS

Canoes and kayaks can be rented for an additional fee through local paddling shops. Sportcraft & Alder Creek have a special rental offer; $125 includes canoe or kayak, life jackets, paddles, and transportation of the boat. Call for details and payment arrangements.

Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe (503) 285-0464 - Portland

Sportcraft Marina (503) 656-6484 - Oregon City

TRANSPORTATION, PARKING & SHUTTLE OPTIONS

You can either arrange your own rides to the put-in and from the take-out, or for $40, you can arrange for WRK’s one way shuttle for you, your gear, and your boat to the put-in (from the take-out on the first day of the trip).

Limited parking is available for the week at the take-out (Clackamette Park). There is no fee for parking, but reservations are required, see registration form. We cannot guarantee the security of your vehicle for the week. Please do not plan to leave any valuables in your car. Please note that there is no parking available at the put-in at Jefferson and there is no shuttle back to Jefferson at the end of the trip.

CAMPING & AMENITIES

Paddle Oregon arranges all camping and amenities for participants. Camping locations and types vary from large gravel bars to grassy fields, on private property or state, city and county parks. Sleeping pads are highly recommended. Amenities at each campground include port-a-potties, permanent restrooms, or both, hand-washing stations, showers where possible, trash receptacles, and communal tables and chairs.

FOOD

Catered breakfast, lunch, evening appetizers and dinner will be provided for you starting with morning refreshments and full lunch on Monday and ending with lunch on Friday. Participants will select lunch items at breakfast each day and will be provided with a personal Paddle Oregon Koozie (soft-sided cooler) to keep lunches cool. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, with a variety of delicious items to choose from. There will be both meat and vegetarian options. Beer and wine will be available each evening for an additional charge.

GEAR SHUTTLE

Your camping baggage will be loaded onto a truck when you arrive, then shuttled and unloaded from campsite to campsite each day. Baggage that is to be shuttled needs to be no more than 2 reasonably sized duffel bags, each weighing 30 pounds or less. You should pack a separate waterproof bag to take with you on the river to hold extra clothes, jackets, sunscreen, etc. For ideas on what to pack see the Equipment Checklist.

MASSAGE

After a long day on the river, nothing feels better than a massage. Licensed massage therapists will be available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings to soothe those aching muscles! There is an additional charge for massage, generally $20 for 15 minutes.