Dodge to Oxbow?

neuronick · 12-05-2008, 11:10 AM

What is this float really like in the winter? I have read everything from "moderate difficulty" to "extremely dangerous." I have a 13' pontoon and decent oar competency. I would like to explore some new water above the very popular Oxbow to Dabney stretch. If anybody has experience floating from Dodge and can give me advice, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

AndyK · 12-05-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neuronick

What is this float really like in the winter? I have read everything from "moderate difficulty" to "extremely dangerous."

I first floated that stretch when I was in high school, in a two-man rubber raft! I don't recommend that method.

I also don't recommend floating it in a hard bottomed boat.

Most floaters have a problem in the first set of rapids (Pipeline).

There is another stretch of water about a mile (or so) below Dodge that is full of large boulders. I know of guides who have got hung up in that stretch and had to push/pull their rafts off the rocks. Just take your time and plan the best route. Or better yet, go down the first time with a guide.

River Ranger · 12-05-2008, 12:36 PM

After my second trip down I found it to be pretty easy, that said I have some time on the sticks.

I used a 10' toon and had a blast.

RR.

Wild Chrome · 12-05-2008, 03:41 PM

Mark Bachman does this stretch all the time. He's be a good guide to hire and show you the ropes. There's only a few bad areas, but they can be pretty bad. They're in the upper 1/2 of the drift. Last time I floated in my bud's 14 foot toon, we got stuck on a rock in a boulder run about 1/3 of the way down and near tipped. That run is tough unless the water's up. My bud had floated it at least a dozen times before and has 20 or 30 years on the sticks.

Slow and Low · 12-05-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neuronick

What is this float really like in the winter? I have read everything from "moderate difficulty" to "extremely dangerous." I have a 13' pontoon and decent oar competency. I would like to explore some new water above the very popular Oxbow to Dabney stretch. If anybody has experience floating from Dodge and can give me advice, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

The worst float in Oregon as far as I'm concerned. If you are only competant think twice.

Pipeline as Andy said can be a problem and usually is for first timers including myself and several others I know. You can make it down on a given day, but unless you are an expert you will, at some point run into a problem, we have had 4 incidents. I love this stretch of water but it is very, very dangerous and anyone who doesn't think so will eventually realize it.

I'll leave it at that.

Mad Mikey · 12-05-2008, 06:52 PM

It's a great stretch of water but you'd better be damn good on the sticks and know the routes through the boulder gardens, virtually zero room for error.

Right off the launch will put you into a spot that is tricky, especially when the rowin' muscles aren't even warmed up.

Don't take this as someone trying to scare you off that stretch. I had to learn it solo but took a lot of time and effort to scout it and learn the best cfs to run it.

If you are gonna' do it, follow someone else who knows it and do it without gear. The first few times I ran it we self shuttled back and forth from Oxbow and did it three times in one day sometimes.

This stretch has eaten a lot of boats, some of them were being rowed by very good sticksmen.

Dodge to Oxbow is very do-able, but it is a section of the Sandy which requires your utmost respect.

Be safe and good luck! (PFD PFD PFD)

neuronick · 12-05-2008, 07:46 PM

Thanks a lot guys. If I decide to try it I will definitely do my homework first - and do it with someone who knows it. I really appreciate the honesty.

lenok · 12-06-2008, 07:59 AM

I wouldn't do it in the winter if you don't know what you are doing. I'd run it in April or May on a warm day. Then if you tip you'll be OK as long as you can get to shore.

One of my best friends lost a boat at pipeline, and another tipped further down river in February. They were in a much less forgiving craft than most fishermen would run, but it shows you want to be careful on this stretch.

Good luck.

etacada · 12-06-2008, 10:49 AM

I ran this section with a guide a few years ago and we got his 16' cat stuck on a stump in a rapin and came very close to flipping. Scarry stuff.

Whats considered minumum flow for this section to run it?

take care,
chris

Slow and Low · 12-06-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etacada

I ran this section with a guide a few years ago and we got his 16' cat stuck on a stump in a rapin and came very close to flipping. Scarry stuff.

Whats considered minumum flow for this section to run it?

take care,
chris

9.5, you want significantly more water if your running a driftboat, ans keep the passengers to 1.

Wild Chrome · 12-06-2008, 12:46 PM

The other thing I'd mention about this stretch of water: It runs cold! The upper 1/2, where the better water is, is in a fairly narrow canyon, receiving little sunlight. Most water is from snowmelt and the freezing level determines water height as much as rainfall. Common to be in the upper 30's when other rivers are in the 40's.

NWaddict · 12-06-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Chrome

The other thing I'd mention about this stretch of water: It runs cold! The upper 1/2, where the better water is, is in a fairly narrow canyon, receiving little sunlight. Most water is from snowmelt and the freezing level determines water height as much as rainfall. Common to be in the upper 30's when other rivers are in the 40's.

True point about the water temp. I've only been down the run w/ someone else at the sticks but it only takes one trip through the pipe to realize what a deal it would be to have a problem. I once thought I'd take a drifter down the river someday. Now I'm not so sure. I tip my hat to the guys that do.

That said, I dont know about the 'little sunlight" part. I've bank fished the whole strech since I was a kid and once you get below the scout hole (which is like the second hole), the sun is on the water by about 9 am. In fact, much of the first half of the river has direct eastern exposure so it gets a lot of early sun. Maybe you're a late riser?

Dom

Mad Mikey · 12-06-2008, 07:58 PM

If you are determined to learn it(as I was), forget about Ft. levels. Learn the river in cfs. A few hundred here and there makes a big difference.

Wild Chrome · 12-06-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mikey

If you are determined to learn it(as I was), forget about Ft. levels. Learn the river in cfs. A few hundred here and there makes a big difference.

Bachmans calls it "cubes"!

Slow and Low · 12-07-2008, 07:42 AM

Don't run it in a drift boat at 2200 .

Bachman has no worries in a 16' cat. Although I heard he went for a swim a few years ago.

nookslayer · 12-08-2008, 01:47 PM

I'm good on the stick s but still wouldn't run that section in my drifter and it's built for bigger white water.

chromeseeker · 12-08-2008, 02:08 PM

I will vouch for how cold the water is on that stretch. Went for a swim a few years back (careless wading on my part) and was hypothermic about an hour later. I think the water temp. was at or just below 40 degrees. Going for a longer swim from a tipped boat could be pretty ugly on a typical nasty PNW winter day.

And yes, I did hook up!

CS