Highlights

Treasurer's Report 2
Digital Flow Info 3
Hints from Hank Hydro 3
South Fork McKenzie Project Modified 3
Siletz Watershed Analysis 3
Navigability Issues for Oregon 4
Slalom Nationals results 5
White Salmon: A trip report 5
Trip Schedule
Boater's Bulletin Board 10

Sea Kayaking

in the

Philippines

Executive Board Meeting

Surf City on the McKenzie and in Eugene

by Craig Richter and Jim Reed

The normal run on the McKenzie from Finn Rock or Mom's Pies down thru Brown's Hole has a new play wave just below Mom's Pies and before Clover. One wave rider has spent 34 minutes on this dynamic wave. At the lower flows found this past summer, a short boat was ideal for the steep wave. As flows increase, longer boats should do fine. This wave is wide enough that at least two boaters can enjoy the wave simultaneously and a large eddy enables boaters to get back on when they slip off. Many Eugene boaters make an afternoon of the run from Mom's to Silver Creek, maxing out on two great surf waves and two spinner holes.
Redsides, the solitary hole on the McKenzie just upstream from Blue River, has changed for the better as well. At summer flows, auto enders, retendos and serious sidesurfing rides were guaranteed.
In Eugene, on the Willamette, boaters are surfing under the footbridge that leads to the U of O campus. Splats and cartwheels can be had at the weir just upstream of the I-5 bridge.

Treasurer's Report 8/29/96 Dan Valens
Fiscal Year 1996 12/1-11/30
Income
Dues 822.00
Interest 194.51
Book 2945.96
other 0.00
Total Income 3,962.07
Expenses
Newsletter 309.41
Postage 236.85
Meetings 84.19
Operating Expenses 117.60
Book Purch Distr 9.82
Contributions, Dues 260.00
Special Purchases 39.92
Other 270.00
Total Expenses 1,327.73
Notes: Other includes tax, filing fee, insurance.
Contributions include matching funds, and dues.
The book income includes some returns and sale of our old inventory to WhiteWater Warehouse. A more accurate figure is $2400 which includes all of the royalties we will receive this year.
Matching funds: Of the $500 authorized , we have spent only $150.
Current bank balance is $12,000.
We have 203 paid memberships.

This past summer, nine boaters took the intermediate skill-builder course from Phil and Mary DeRiemer. Five participants obtained ACA Kayak Instructor Certification.

Logo Contest is still in full swing. We've received a few great entries. Some will make great T-shirts, but we are still looking for the ideal logo that can be reproduced in black and white for newsletter, letterheads, and masthead. There are some great names for the Newsletter as well, keep your suggestions coming in. They are worth a monetary reward.

POOL SESSIONS
Remember don't pollute the pool, clean the leaves and mud out of your boat.
In Corvallis : WKCC sponsors a roll session on the First Thursday of the month from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm. It costs $3. You can rent a boat from WWW for an additional $2, call them to reserve one. The WWW has arranged to have Osborne Aquatic Center open for boaters on the Third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm.
At OSU: Faculty, staff and students can roll each Monday, 9:30-11:00 pm at the Stevens Pool.
In Albany : Roll Friday 10/25 (Check for other dates), 8:00-9:00 pm at the South Albany High School for $2.
In Eugene : Roll every Weds 8:30-10:00 pm at Echo Hollow Pool for $2.50.

Digital Flow Info jpreed@efn.org
WKCC Home Page is one place to go to for information on the club, activities, by-laws, updates to Soggy Sneakers including corrections and new runs. It also has links to other wet sites. Find it at :
http://www.peak.org/community/whitewater
Having always been fascinated with maps, it was a treat to surf out to The California Water Data Site http://cdec.water.ca.gov/misc/stageStations.html
and find that it had been updated over the summer to include maps that show the region's streams and towns. It links you to the source of the maps, The US Census Bureau:
http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/geo/www/tiger/
Where in the map browser, you can garner much more detail, i.e. a long download time, than you'll really need.
National Geo has a story about the Selway at
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/modules/selway/ref/fref.html
The Ocoee River area is described by the USGS for the Olympics at: http://www.usgs.gov/ocoee/
Prijon Kayaks
http://www.wildnet.com
A new sea kayaking emag is at
http://www.seakayaker.com/
Measure 38, the Oregon Clean Stream Initiative , details are available
at www.teleport.com/~ocsi. This page clarifies how simple and benign the plan really is, with lots of exemptions for livestock growers.
Interested in the pollutants in the Willamette River around Portland? Visit
http://wwworegon.wr.usgs.gov/projs_dir/pn366/nawqa.html
Visit StEpHeN JuNkInS, boater and guitar player extraordinaire's home page with great trip reports: http://www.rdrop.com/users/junkins/
The club, i.e. Jack Doyle, maintains the computerized white-water bulletin board . It is a listserver type system where after you subscribe to it, you receive mail from anyone who posts a message on the board. Currently there are 243 subscribers. It is a great place to advertise for-sale items, boating trips, conservation news, river hazards, etc. To get on the mailing list send a message to: majordomo@peak.org
leave the subject line blank and in the body put:
subscribe white-water

Hints from Hank Hydro
Correction! I once reported in this column about a highly acclaimed flat orange whistle by ACR. Well, I actually had to use it once and the paddler downstream couldn't hear me over a mild class II rapid. Fortunately for me, during one of my last rescue fiascoes, I lost my ACR whistle.
This summer, I came across an article in a sailing magazine touting the virtues of two other whistles.
The loudest and bulkiest is the Storm whistle. It is my first choice, not only because it claims to be the world's loudest whistle but because it is also works under water!
The second choice is the much more compact Fox 40. It claims to put out 115 decibels and is pealess.
Both whistles can be found at REI for about $5.
New hot products:
Sue Schaefer of Eugene has extended her line of river safety crib cards from the "Z line drag" card and CPR card to a series of 10 cards riveted together that cover the essentials of river rescue, hypothermia, survival, and evacuation. They cost about $9.

South Fork McKenzie Project Modified After WKCC Inpu t Bob Metzger, Conservation Chairman

Last summer the Forest Service issued an Environmental Assessment for a fisheries instream structure project on the South Fork McKenzie River. The project, as originally proposed, would have placed up to 400 logs in the stream. Many of the structures would have been in the popular whitewater run described in Soggy Sneakers. The number of logs to be placed in the stream would have made passage very difficult and dangerous and would have eliminated boating on the South Fork.
The WKCC submitted formal comments to the Forest Service objecting to the project. A couple of weeks later, WKCC members Kim Bates, Bill Dunn, Pat Dunn, and I travelled down to the South Fork to meet with the District Ranger and the Fisheries Biologist in charge of the project. We spent most of a Saturday reviewing the proposed project, exchanging perspectives, and identifying possible alternatives that might meet both fisheries objectives and boater concerns.
Based on our comments, the Forest Service has modified the original project. Instream structure placement will be limited to the area above Augusta Creek for now. Any work in the section normally run by whitewater boaters will be deferred for at least five years. This actually works out well because the area above Augusta Creek is also the key fish habitat area.
Next time you see Bill, Pat, or Kim give them a special thanks for helping to preserve boating on this special river.

Siletz Watershed Analysis
To those interested in forest monitoring, the BLM is almost done with a watershed analysis for the Upper Siletz. For more info call: Roger Monthey at 503-315-5971 or Bob Saunders at 503-315-5978.

Navigability Issues for Oregon
by Jack Doyle and a host of others
(For those of you without email, Jack sent out a request for comments on the club's stand on Navigability and here is the final summary of what he got in response. ed.)
Due to pressure from the Farm Bureau, the Department of State Lands (DSL) is revisiting the issue of Navigability of Oregon streams. Murray Johnson, Northwest Representative of the American Canoe Club, is pursuing this issue for the Oregon boating community. However, Murray now needs input from Oregon boaters. What Murray would like is to develop a consensus of opinion among users that can be presented to DSL at their next meeting; Monday, 16 September, 1 to 4 P.M.., at the DSL building in Salem.
At this point the Farm Bureau is drafting a formal proposal to introduce legislation. Our friends, the Northwest Steelheaders are quite concerned about the limited access that is sure to be proposed. Only via a combined voice will the users have a say in the legislative process. Toward this end I am proposing that the WKCC approve the following position on navigability.
(Based on comments from the Exec Board and input from others, Jack put the final position statement together. ed)
The Position of the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club, Corvallis, OR
Representing over 213 members of the local boating community, the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (WKCC) opposes any changes to existing laws pertaining to navigable streams in Oregon.
With regard to streams not yet declared navigable, the WKCC takes the following position. Any person has the right to float the waters of the State of Oregon, including rivers, lakes, streams, and creeks. Such persons can disembark from a float so long as they stay within the high-water line, and the disembarkation is incidental to the float. Disembarkation may occur to:
1. to move the floating device over or around obstacles;
2. to scout dangerous rapids or obstacles that pose a conceived threat to craft or life;
3. to portage around obstacles conceived to be life threatening; and
4. to cross private property only to seek emergency assistance or landowner permission.
The specific comments/recommendations I got follow.
I whole heartedly agree with your stand and you may add me to a list of supporters.
Good job on the position, Jack! I agree!
Jack, The UO Outdoor Program supports your efforts in this matter, and agrees with the agenda that you have outlined. I have made a few minor suggestions.
...Such persons can disembark from a float so long as they stay * (below mean high water) * and the disembarkation is incidental to the float.
NOTE: #1 & 3 seem to be about the same, can they be combined??
Thanks for your efforts in this matter. Keep us posted. bruce
Jack -- I don't have Murray's email address so perhaps you could remind him that Jim Reed has considerable experience with this issue from a legal and historical point of view based on his experience on the Nestucca. Jim may be back from fishing in Alaska. Also, "No trespassing" signs have been placed by homeowners on the access to Pringle Falls on the Deschutes. These signs could have the effect of discouraging boaters from scouting. What are boaters rights in such a case? Thanks.
Jack-
I'm a Montana boater, so consider this to be "outsider" advice: Any person has the right to float the waters of the State of Oregon, including rivers, lakes, streams, and creeks. Such persons can disembark from a float so long as they stay within the water's edge, (I'd change this to read something like "stay within the high-water mark"--lots of portages would be best done on dry land, but well within the typical high-water mark, as opposed to being forced to stay "within the water's edge.")and the disembarkation is incidental to the float. Disembarkation may occur to:
.....
3. to portage around obstacles conceived to be life threatening; and
Should this read "perceived" instead of "conceived?"
Jack, I like what you wrote. But I could see changing the existing laws if they ensured the "right to safe passage" as you have described it. See my "JR>" below.
JR>This is supposedly already assured in the Oregon Constitution but it is well worth repeating and emphasizing. The rub comes when you step out of your boat. The rocks under the river can be privately owned. So what you describe below is critical to even scouting. During portaging, you will probably need to move above the water's edge, so maybe that should be clarified as well.
This matter will probably never be closed so direct additional comments to Jack.

Slalom Nationals results posted 9/16/96
by Rich Kulawiec <rsk@itw.com>
K-1:
Scott Shipley
Scott Parsons
Corey Nielsen
C-1:
David Hearn
Adam Clawson
Jed Prentice
K-1W:
Cathy Hearn
Jana Freeburn
Rebecca Bennett
C-2M:
Cathy Hearn/Lecky Haller
Christine Baker/David Hepp
Rebecca Bennett/Wayne Dickert
C-2:
Lecky Haller/Fritz Haller
Horace Holden/Wayne Dickert
Joe Jacobi/Rich Weiss

Me? I finished 47th, but I *finished*. Well, one run at least. :-)
I window-shaded in 18 inches of water in the hole at gate 23 on the second run, smashed my head, and DNF'd...first time I've even swam out of a kayak run at a race, but it *is* the Nationals and it's supposed
to be hard. (It was hard enough that no K-1 had two clean runs.)

Slalom Training Now!
The Canadians will be offering training sessions this fall for intermediate to advanced slalom paddlers. The training will be at the Chilliwack course in B.C. Cost will be $10/session (Canadian dollars) - and a minimum of 8 sessions are required. Sessions will be held on Sat and Sun from Oct 19 to Dec 7. For more information, call Dan Norman at the Chilliwack Centre of Excellence: (604) 858-0566.
If you are interested in trying to arrange a "group deal" with US paddlers, contact Jennie Goldberg at (206) 933-1178.
Safety Clinic, Nov 2, 1996 :
Review and practice basic river safety skills. Using throw-ropes, wet exits, swimming, logs, vertical pins, z-drags, and mental state are some of the possible/probable topics. The amount of "wet" practice will depend on the weather and the enthusiasm of the participants. The current plan is to have a REAL Rescue Clinic next spring, when the sun is out and the air is warm...

Green Truss Section of Washington's White Salmon: A trip report by Stephen Junkins

Class V 132 fpm Flow: 2 feet on the Husum gage, 750cfs? October 6th, 1996 Jens Mullen, Jeff Bennett, Don (Crazy Don), Bill, Ron, Scott, a few others, Stephen Junkins. 7 kayaks, 3 inflatables.
Rumors of a River
A year and half ago Brandy and I stopped by Alder Creek Kayak Supply at Jantzen Beach on the Columbia in North Portland. We were eager and over confident, sure that we could tackle any IV+ish run that our new Oregon home could throw at us. The folks at Alder Creek rented me an Overflow and suggested that we run the Class III-IV section of the White Salmon known as "BZ to Husum." At the time, we were a little crestfallen at the suggestion of boating "easy water". Two things changed our attitude. One was an embarrassing swim, followed by several frightening recirculations at the bottom of Husum Falls.
The second was a small TV screen in the corner of the Alder Creek store. Even from thirty feet away, I could see a flurry of white avalanching around dark forms and the occasional helmet or paddle in the middle of it. It wasn't poor tracking on the video...it was the Green Truss section of Washington's White Salmon river, most likely Zig Zag Canyon. That day, class III water taught our naive Southeast Egos some important first lessons about boating in the Pacific Northwest.
Many friends and folks I would meet at takeouts told me about the Green Truss section of the White Salmon. Big drops, bomber boulder gardens, too many ledges to count, undercuts, and two stretches of canyon called Upper and Lower Zig Zag, so named because successful navigation requires holding a line with the flow as it "Z"'s it way through each canyon between shear basalt walls and around midstream boulders.
Lower Zig Zag Canyon is home of "The Move." "The Move" is about two thirds of the way through the second canyon. Just as you are recovering from a zig to the right and zagging back left, you find a large subsurface boulder with clear passage on the left. However, the left also has most of the current washing into an undercut basalt face. "The Move" is to slide off of the left shoulder of the boulder and then immediately work right to avoid the undercut. Beyond the undercut on the left is the "Room of Doom". Less of a room, but still plenty of doom since the `95 floods. Success depends on a cool run on the first two thirds of Lower Zig Zag. Water is ripping through the Canyon and there is very little time...decisions need to be made before the run, not during.
The River Revealed
This description has haunted me for over a year and half. A boater died in the Canyon a few years back. A brass plate now reminds boaters of this as they scout the canyon. Jens called me on an October Thursday and asked if I was ready. Behind my carpeted cubicle walls and beneath the fluorescent lights of my office, I tried to inject enthusiasm into my voice as I said, "yeah, it's time to get up there." I got a little chilled as I hung up the phone, put on a sweater and wore it for the rest of the afternoon. The following Sunday morning, I woke at 5:00 am and struggled with an hour's worth of anxiety dreams about missing "The Move." I was genuinely scared.
Using ropes, we lowered a gaggle of Overflows and Freefalls, a duct taped Dancer, and much to my surprise three inflatables. 10 boaters total; "Critical Mass for carnage" my friend Don exclaimed grinning enthusiastically. Then it started. Beautiful III-IVish ledge drops. I don't know how many. They were reminiscent of East Coast runs like the Chattooga...point this way, drop into a pool, breathe, set up for the next one. "Hey this is really fun," I thought, my confidence building.
Big Brother is a 30 foot waterfall with a cave on river right of its base. I shot photos of most of our crew paddling off its lip, catching a boof two feet down then plunging into the boil. The guy in the Dancer did the most amazing thing. He missled straight down into the base of the falls, every part of his boat disappearing under the surface. Then a strange pause...and then the water spits him straight up, stern first like a watermelon seed. He comes shooting back up and out of the falls as though he had done a tremendous pogo on the bottom of the river.
As planned, I portaged Big Brother, but ran Little Brother, a 12 foot drop with a nasty hydraulic at the bottom. A few more smaller drops later and I portaged Double Drop. This is a tight pair of 10 foot ledges each with a churning hole at the base. One fellow back enders out of the first hole, drops over the second ledge and gets a long working in the second hole. Maybe three minutes of struggling to get out and to finally grab the bow of a friend who pulls him free and gives him a much needed boost to roll up with.
More drops, more nasty holes to avoid. Something called "Cheese Grater" with a nasty undercut and nasty basalt surfaces which would likely live up to its namesake should you flip. The river lets up for a while and shows you its beauty. The spring comes in adding volume to the flow and energizes the riparian shoulders so that they nearly glow green from moss. The spring sprinkles out of cracks all along a hundred yard stretch of bank. You can paddle up to the trickles and drink them in. Funny that these droplets should leave the vessels of one body, for just seconds of sunlight, then to flow again in the vessels of another body. It is a true privilege to partake of this river.
The River Realized
A few more drops and then Zig Zag. We scout from river right. Jens has pulled his skirt too soon and gets messed up in some shallow scrapy water as he tries to get out to show me the line. He wiggles his water logged boat free and joins me on the bank. He shows me the Z through upper Zig Zag. I see Don's red Overflow in the eddy 40 yards below. The canyon is dark; the light is blocked by both the steep canyon walls and by overhanging trees. What light there is seems to come from the roaring froth which glows blue and eerie. I see the line and it looks doable, but my anxiety has returned.
"Ok, I need to run this one...the portage looks nearly impossible. But I can portage Lower Zig Zag. There is no need to run that one. Why should I? Even if the portage sucks, there is no need to run the next. I'll do this drop and then be satisfied. Yeah I'll just run this one."
Back in my boat, point, drop, left, right, I'm a little submerged, stay off the wall, Ok, line up and cut back left, right on, Ok I'm home free. I hit the eddy and cut a quick turn. Let out a deep sigh and look down river.
Jens is a few eddies down on river right. Behind him water rushes down an insane twisting tunnel much like upper Zig Zag. Jens salutes a scouting sign and calls out for me to join him in his eddy. I can see his body, but not his boat and not the eddy itself. On the left several others are out of their boats and scouting the drop. I signal to Jens a half question...about scouting with them. Jens shakes his head and beckons me to his eddy. Don paddles up beside me, looks at Jens, and says "Oh yeah, I guess you can scout it fine from there too."
To me scouting this rapid means getting out of my boat and walking its length as much as possible. It also meant that once out of my boat, I didn't have to get back in it. "Ok, Looks like I'll get out on river right with Jens," I say to myself. I drop over a small ledge, and into a turbulent and deep eddy, with no easy exit to land. "Oh shit, Jens" I scowl as I realize Jens is pointing out "The Move". We are boat scouting Lower Zig Zag. "Ok shut down your fear, no time. This is doable. Fear is not going to help."
"The Move" looks a little easier than I had feared. The rock has a fair bit of water washing over it. The under cut left wall is there, but I might have the opportunity for two good left recovery strokes after "The Move". I watch three boaters make the run as Jens and I bob about in the eddy. An inflatable runs it with surprising deftness. Ok, it's time.
I peel out, hop down a couple of ledges and then I am in Lower Zig Zag. I focus on "The Move". But first I have to climb up on this pillow of water, work right, then back left. It seems like I must of blinked but suddenly I'm shooting way right and the bow of my boat pitons into a slab of rock on the right side. "The Move" and the rest of Lower Zig Zag are momentarily obscured from view as I paddle back off the slab and back into the flow. Suddenly I'm there and thanks to my earlier goof, I'm more right than I thought I would be. I am actually lined up to boof the "The Move." No thinking, just paddle. I boof "The Move" and plop joyfully down into the flow on the other side. Now work right and then escape left. I'm out. I yelp a huge whoop.
There's more to the run, but Lower Zig Zag was the psychological end of the run for me as I had run everything else below. Maybe six more IV- ish drops and BZ falls. Though I had run it before, I chose to walk BZ falls. My goal was just to get down the river without getting hammered. Don got pretty well hammered at the bottom, did several nice cartwheels before exiting his boat and swimming out.
I was tired from hours of being adrenaline wired. I called Beth and left a message that everything went well. Grabbed a Hostess apple pie and an apple juice and we drove home West beneath high cirrus clouds and into a setting sun.

(Postscript. I heard recently that there was an extreme race on this section this past summer during the "Columbia River Gorge Games". Every drop was run including the 30' falls. Quite amazing! Better start practicing now so you can have all the lines memorized in time for next summer's "Games"!)

Boater's Bulletin Board

Valley Canoe Products (Nottingham England) Sea kayak . Fiberglass, 17' x 22.5", drop down skeg, built in bailing pump, storage fore & aft. Highly maneuverable coastal cruiser. Only used off Oregon's rocky headlands under 30' swells and gale winds. 541-715-3382, Bill Faus. Priced to move at $950/firm.

Perception WaveHopper, downriver racer or aerobic cross-trainer. Excellent condition. Has won several races. Price a new one and then give me a call. $495/firm. 541-715-3382. Bill Faus

2 NW River Supplies wetsuits , Farmer John & Jane, one XL, blue, one M, red. $60. each, One BRAND NEW, never used, Kokitat dry top , Med, red and purple, $120. One XL paddle jacket, green & black, hardly used, $55. Call Don or Donna 753-2810 or e-mail jepmind@peak.org.

Wave Sport Excel kayak , a little over one year old, , used very little. $500.00, Lynda Tucker <danedwards@proaxis.com> (541)758-4186.

New Wave Cruise Control kayak , approximately 1 1/2 years old and has received relatively little use and good care. $500.00. Dan Edwards (541)758-4186.

Wanted to BUY a used Perception Corsica S. Tom Manning (541)929-6203 or message at 758-2119, manningt@ccmail.orst.edu

Dagger Freefall kayak in good shape. Stable boat for beginners, great boat for advanced creekers. PD Designs backstrap, perception flotation bags included. $500.00 or best offer. contact Craig at "kendraig@msn.com"

1994 Wave Sport "Extreme", kayak . Great Shape, good high-volume all-around boat, bulkhead, predominantly blue, with black and purple bands back strap, hip padding, $600. Grant Campbell 264-7252 grant_campbell@ccm.jf.intel.com

Available for Adoption : Family Pet, slightly older, extreamly loyal, in good health. Coat is in good condition (yellow, short haired, plastic), long lived breed (Perception,) very enthusiastic, (Spirit.) Asthmatic (no float bags included.) Well trained, (knows how to roll, stay with you, and begs for more.) Carries own food (great for self contained trips.) Free to good home but $150 neuter fee required. Contact: Doug Russell (541)-757-2314 Corvallis, Oregon russelld@cla.orst.edu

Full-sized Freefall, kayak , red and white, absolutely pristine condition. Includes float bags,bulkhead. This boat was bought by a student in a ww class who used it 5 times on class I-II, then quit the sport. Not a scratch on it. Never stored outside. $650 OBO,Boat is located in Seattle, Julie (206)543-5680 w, (206)362-3246 h

Perception Super Sport, kayak , $500. Excellent white water play boat. Surfs like a dream, makes beautiful front ender pirouettes Squirts, does rock'n 360's. Excellent boat (surprizingly stable) for a lightweight beginner 100 - 150lbs and an excellent playboat for for bigger folks 150 - 210lbs. It's the white granite color with good outfitting. No cracks or big dings, always stored inside. Boat lives in North East Portland, though I paddle most weekends and can probably arrange to meet you at a put-in in the PNW.drop email if you're interested. Look forward to hearing from you.StEpHeN JuNkInS,junkins@agora.rdrop.com, http://www.rdrop.com/users/junkins/

Norse Paddle 208, rt hand 90 degree, $15, Snapdragon Sprayskirt , 1.5 yr old, good shape, size large $30 Call Pat Welch 752-9049

Dancer kayak , older model with more rocker, good shape, blue with yellow stripes, $300. also a Dagger Transition kayak $450, Kris Fagan 753-8971

New Wave Quantum kayak $350. Red custom graphics, great all-round and self support boat, 3 yr old. Call Craig in Eugene 687-9327