Sam Drevo running slalom gates and imparting wisdom on the Bull Run in Oregon

Check out this video the Mt. Hood Territory just produced about kayaking with Sam Drevo:)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCMUZVL_x8

June 2010 Update

Portion of Sandy River closed at Dodge Park

A portion of the Sandy River located under the Lusted Rd. Bridge at RM 18 near Dodge Park will temporarily be closed to boaters and anglers for 24-hours a day during three separate weeks in July and August. The river closure is necessary while the water pipeline bridge next to the Lusted Road auto span is dismantled as part of the Sandy River Crossing (SRX) Tunnel Conduit Relocation Project.

The July river closure will occur on July 19 and run through July 23.

The river under the bridge will be unsafe for boats to float under because temporary supports will be placed under the bridge as the old conduits are removed and the span is dismantled. Boating from Dodge Park downriver is not affected by the river closures, and the public may continue using the boat launch area downstream from the bridge.

An SRX virtual open house featuring a four-minute video has been posted on YouTube. The link for the video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsMP0hGybI

Kiewit Pacific Co., the contractor for the project, is coordinating the closure with the Oregon State Marine Board and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Call (503) 663-0261 for the exact dates of the river closure. The dates will also be posted on this webpage as soon as they are known.

Stay informed

To sign up for frequent e-mail updates and construction alerts, send me an email by clicking on my name below.

You also may call me at the numbers listed below.

Terry Black

Work: (503) 823-1168

Cell: (503) 823-8978

Just a reminder, some traffic controls will be necessary near Dodge Park during the first half of the year.

http://reservations.noc.com/express/reservation/results.jsf?locationId=Any+Location&typeId=47&activityNameId=Any+Name&startDate=10%2F08%2F2010&endDate=10%2F10%2F2010&guestCount=1

Early bird special through June 15th.

Hope to see you there!

-Sam

Check it.  Do you carry one with you on Grand Canyon River Trips?

General comments about the class. I thought the class was extremely good.  I think everyone who is a serious non-motorized boated should take this course.  Particularly, I think anyone that is going to fill the function of a “trip leader” for any of the rafting clubs should be required to take the course.  I think anyone taking the course should first take a course in basic knot tying or on their own practice knot tying until they are proficient prior to the beginning of the course.  For people like me who didn’t know knots, the course is too compressed to become proficient in knot tying before having to apply knots in making anchors and setting up mechanical advantage systems.

Safety during the class. The instructor was extremely safety conscience and several times pointed out very quickly safety infractions that the students were making.

Comments specific to your instructor.  I think Sam Devro is very qualified to teach this course.  He has both the knowledge and temperament.  I think he did extremely well.

For another well written review see the latest issue of the OWA newsletter here….

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=1283834394069274&mt=application%2Fpdf&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3D2%26ik%3D7234df14e6%26view%3Datt%26th%3D1283834394069274%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df_g8gqfxyd0%26zw&sig=AHIEtbQRCLTCdaaj3KYp8KnmlRmrSKjmsg

May 1, 2  Bull Run River

This is to announce or remind you of the clinic/camp/get-together we are having at the Bull Run slalom site (near Sandy, Oregon) this coming weekend. We’ll be practicing, videoing, getting some coaching and celebrating on Sat and Sunday beginning around 11 am, Sat.  There are currently about 18 gates and we intend to expand this by adding a few more going down the drop at the end of the permanent course.

The river is class III and its important to have a reliable roll, as there are sharp rocks.  But the course will have lots of beginner moves and all are welcome, especially those paddling plastic boats (creek boats, playboats, old longer boats, whatever you paddle – come on out).  We will try our best to tailor coaching to those of all abilities.

Be sure to check the gauge, because there is a real possibility that we will have to cancel this, snow pack is low this year.   See: http://www.wkcc.org/levels/?P=Oregon.html If the Bull Run at Bull Run is at 500 cfs or above, the clinic will be on. If its lower than 500 cfs its cancelled and we won’t be there. The river goes up and down quickly so check before you come.  At levels above 1700 cfs eddies tend to disappear and it gets pushy, but we don’t expect this.

Your contact person is David Johnson johnsoda7@hotmail.com (note that the original OKCC message had this email address wrong). 503 977 3998

I just registered this class, and it is open for registration.  Call 503.772.1122 to register.

Deadline, May 6th, 2010

Meet Arturo Oropeza- our masterful Costa Rican partner who wows, and dazzles all of our students.  I was met at the airport by his big smile, and new this years trips were going to be better than ever.  A late night red eye from Portland flew through Newark, and on to San Jose.  Did a bunch of Roll practice in the pool with Ciado, and we all headed to the canopy tour tomorrow.  Then off to several of Costa Rica’s best rivers!  Next week we will be working with a bunch of kids (age 9-14) so it is time to go scout all the sections before they arrive.  If you are reading this from North America- sorry- it is 85 degrees right now, and NICE!

If you are interested in Costa Rica 2010, drop me a line at sam@eNRGkayaking.com.

OK, you’ve learned the basics in the pool. You’ve done the strokes, dialed in your outfitting, and you know what it’s like to be under water in the kayak. Maybe you’ve done a few rolls. NOW, it’s time to take it to the elements. Northwest River Guides will introduce you and your new found skills to the river! We’ll introduce you to river features like eddies, pour overs, rivulets, and even a standing wave while you learn skills in the elements!

As a Northwest River Guides student, you’ll learn fundamental skills like peel outs, eddy turns and ferries. Using these skills allows kayakers to be the most maneuverable craft on the river, avoiding rocks and other obstacles and heading where you intend. You’ll learn about river hazards & obstacles, self rescue, river scouting, etc. We’ll teach you on class 1-2 rapids, which should help build your confidence. These are the green circles of kayaking. You’ll need to have had a pool class or NRG’s introductory class to qualify for this lesson.

Date: November 28th

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Equipment provided. Call 503-772-1122 to reserve your place!