Century Paddle 2010

August 30-September 4th

Start Location: Jon Storm Park Oregon City OR 97045

Date/Time: Aug 30th 2010 6am-8:30am start.

Finish Location: Astoria- Jon Day Park / Pier 39

Finish Date/Time: Sept 4th, 2010 1-3:30pm finish.

Total mileage- 115 miles- 6 days 5 nights

Paddling Crafts: (Human Powered Watercraft) Kayaks, Canoes, Dragon Boats, Outriggers, Stand Up Paddleboards, Inflatables (that can be paddled 14-25 miles/day).  Some solar/wind powered assists

The Century Paddle is a 110-mile flat water sea kayak / paddle trip from Willamette Falls to the Pacific Ocean over six days and five nights (Aug. 30-Sept 4th 2010). Participants will paddle down river for about five hours a day making camp each of the five nights on the beaches of the magnificent Columbia River.

Century Paddlers will enjoy a fully supported trip complete with catered meals feasting on local foods and river stewards will haul all paddler’s personal/camping gear down stream.

We start below Willamette Falls in Oregon City, and paddle through downtown Portland. We continue past the shipyards, to Sauvie Island and up the Multnomah Channel to the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. From here we follow the Columbia River through the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge and finish our trip in Astoria. The 2010 Century Paddlers will bring awareness and raise funds to help keep our river’s clean and to support adaptive recreation programs for disabled veterans.  We Love Clean Rivers will be coordinating shore based river cleanups with river steward volunteers along the way on the Willamette as well as the Columbia River as a way to leave the river a little cleaner than we found it.

This trip requires a moderate level of paddle sports preparation. Each participant must be familiar with basic kayak skills and self rescue techniques. We recommend paddlers should try to have a minimum of 100 hours of paddling by the start of CP10.  Paddlers need to be able to sit in a kayak for 2-3 hours at a time to complete this trip.  More detailed training techniques and preparation are available by reading Sam Drevo’s tips and techniques for CP10.  Classes and work up trips are offered by Northwest River Guides LLC and other schools all summer long.

Century Paddle was created to benefit Team River Runner PDX (using paddlesports as a means of healing and therapy for wounded veterans) & We Love Clean Rivers (promoting river stewardship by turning restoration into recreation). See teamriverrunnerpdx.org & welovecleanrivers.org for more info

Registration includes: 3 meals / day for 5 days and 2 meals on day 6- starting with breakfast on day 1, and finishing with lunch on day 6.  Gear shuttle (50lbs pp/day), on-water support / safety paddlers / sag boats/ rescue services, camping fees, nightly entertainment and social/educational activities, logistics, and training resources.

Registration also includes River Steward Kit essentials: CP10 water bottle, thermal mug/bowl, fork/spoon/knife, mesh bag, small dry bag, sun screen, Clif Bar snacks

Price: $950

Registration Available On-Line at: http://www.active.com/more-sports/portland-or/century-paddle-2010 or Call 503.772.1122 or email samdrevo@gmail.com, or don.smith.usa@gmail.com for more info. Registration is also available directly through Northwest River Guides LLC. 503.772.1122

I couldn’t believe the syncronisity when a NY Times reporter called looking for kayaking spots off the beaten path.  I spoke with her about We Love Clean Rivers- the lower Clackamas and how much cleaner it has gotten over the last few years.  I spoke with her about the Hemlock Dam Removal and how a new section has emerged from the base of what was a reseviour for over 70 years- See a feature article in the July Issue of Outside Magazine about this.  But what she was most interested in was the story of the Century Paddle’s emergence.  She was fascinated as I am about the great expanse and the tremendous ecosystem of the lower Columbia River.

It is fitting that she asked for some kayak shots on the Columbia, and they picked a picture of my rafting mentor – Val Shaull kayaking with Mt. Hood in the background.

Check out the short blurb in the travel section of the NY Times.  It is an honor to have an image published in such a prestigious newspaper.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/travel/16kayak-roundup.html?emc=eta1

To check out our end of summer event – go to www.centurypaddle.org

with Grant Mcomie!!!  Rafting the Clackamas

As of late I have had two cameras get minor water leakages.   I did a little research back to my College Physics Book and Hydraulics Books to reeducate myself in some old principles.

In the end the height of the drop (water fall) equals is the same as the water depth for a camera.  Example, if Husem Falls is 10 feet in height, then going over it would create a velocity equal to the pressure of approximately 10 feet in water depth when hitting the surface.  Not taken in to consideration is aired water for this calculation, unusual pressure of strong currents or high drops (Like 50 plus feet).  If you have camera rated for 10 feet then going over Horseshoe Fall might bring a leak over time.

In the future, I will need a container or bag for my cameras.  This is just a little food for thought if you want to increase your camera life!

Anthony Boesen- NW Kayaker extrodinaire

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.

Team River Runner (TRR) gives military veterans and their family members an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through whitewater boating and other paddling sports. The benefits of TRR have as much to do with social support, finding emotional strength and re-creating personal identity as they do with athletic activity.  Team River Runner PDX was founded by Vietnam vet Val Shaull.  Val has been a certified raft guide since 1979, and is one of the most experienced and respected raft guides in Oregon.  Retired as a decorated Portland Fire Fighter, Val is a champion for veteran support and a role model for Shane Conrad (TRR PDX president), and Talan Morrison (TRR PDX vice president).

Disabled American Veterans has never wavered in our commitment to serve our nation’s service-connected disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors. Our largest endeavor in fulfilling that mission is our National Service Program. In 88 offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, the DAV employs a corps of approximately 260 National Service Officers (NSOs) who represent veterans and their families with claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Veterans need not be DAV members to take advantage of this outstanding assistance, which is provided free of charge. “Adaptive recreation, a highly effective form of intervention and therapy helps many of our vets off the couch and back into life.”  Don Smith, Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter #1 Portland, OR.

Operation Peer Support was established by the Blind Veterans Association, and Steve Beres is the special events coordinator. Beres served in the U.S. Army as a Special Operations Officer, including numerous tours in the Middle East, and as a Police Sergeant with the City of Milwaukee until losing his sight from a traumatic impact injury to his face in 2002. He was retired from those careers due to the nature of the injuries but remains dedicated to pursuing excellence for himself and ensuring excellence in those around him. After losing total vision, Beres now works for the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist serving as a role model and example to his fellow Wounded Warriors that there is life after losing sight. Even after losing total vision, and always game for a “challenge”, Beres has continued his love of extreme sports. Beres enjoys skydiving, kayaking, rafting, rock-climbing, and bungee jumping, just to name a few. Beres is also actively involved with numerous Veteran Service Organizations and works with both active duty and transitioning Wounded Warriors during their recovery and is a Certified National Veterans Service Officer. Motivated and inquisitive, Beres looks forward to using his ability to inspire and readiness to lead to ensure that his fellow veterans and Wounded Warriors receive the best quality of care, quality of life, and services available to them. Beres lives by and demonstrates his motto, “I may have lost my sight but have never lost my vision”.

The BVA group in Portland will consist of 60 blinded veterans from ages of 19 to 86 and their families.  The program is designed to add some excitement and team building to the BVA national conference.  From kayaking to rafting, jet boating, rock climbing, and tandem biking this is going to be an adventurous week.

Monday Aug. 17

9-12pm- Sellwood Park SE Portland OR Flatwater kayaking and rafting acitvities for 45 BVA/TRR participants
12-2pm- DAV Sponsored BBQ
2:30-3:30pm- Willamette Jet boat ride for BVA participants

Thursday Aug. 20

7am-7pm- Deschutes Whitewater Rafting trip in Eastern Oregon

Saturday Aug. 22

9am-1pm- Adaptive rock climbing at Portland Rock Gym and Tandem biking with United States Association of Blind Athletes

Contacts:
Team River Runner PDX- Val Shaull 503.805.8991, val.shaull@verizon.net,
Shane Conrad- 503.896.6014
Blinded Veterans Association /Operation Peer Support- Steve Beres – 269.830.7133, sberes@hughes.net
DAV Chapter #1 PDX- Don Smith 971.570.8999
Portland Rock Gym- Ken Ristau 503.232.8310
United States Association of Blind Athletes-
Military Sports Program Coordinator- Rich Cardillo 719.630.0422
Logistics/Filming- Sam Drevo 503.887.5033, samdrevo@gmail.com

–
Sam Drevo
ACA IT / Rescue III Instructor
www.NorthwestPaddling.com
www.eNRGkayaking.com

Somehow we pulled it off.  Spelling 350 with Kayaks on the Willamette River Thursday Aug 6th.  We brought 32 kayaks for the event but had no idea how many people would actually show.  We usually have about 10 people for our skills socials every thursday, and after a number of phone calls I thought we would easily have enough bodies for  32 kayaks.  Unfortunately the weather decided to get cloudy and chilly, and after a number of last minute no shows we were scraping together barely enough people to create the 350…

I figured we needed a minimum of 14…. we only had 12 at 7pm.  But by 7:30pm as the paddlers got on the water we had a few last minute stragglers show up and we ended up with 19 people.  Enough to make the visual statement to the country that Epicocity means business, and this nationwide event is going to happen Oct. 24th.  I look forward to being involved in this next 350.org kayak action.

Come On Out!! Kayak with us!!! On the Willamette River-Sellwood River Side Park.  Northwest River Guides and Sam Drevo are partnering with Andy Maser and Epicocity to take action on the water. Forming a floating 350, images will be captured just north of the Sellwood Bridge.  We will be speaking out for the Holgate Channel and celebrating paddle sports!  We have 20 whitewater boats, 12 rec and sea kayaks, and a few IK.  Bring your own boat, and tell your friends… this is a great, free opportunity to paddle around with the pros.  Paddle boards encouraged.  At Sellwood Park 6:30 on the water by 7pm… Images to be captured between 7:15-7:30pm!!! Come one come all!!! Come Kayak with us!!!!!  This probably isn’t for anyone under 10.  If you have specific questions call John Whipple at 419.601.1405