Clackamas and Mollala River Changes

[Captjohn]

Hello to all!

I spent five days on the Clackamas and Mollala Rivers breaking in some new rescue boat operators and there are few changes. These might catch someone off gauard this spring so I will do my best to give you a description and the problems you might face. Just a note, River right and River left references are based on looking downstream.

Clackamas River:

Cotton wood Island: The ever changing islands just downstream of Barton Park are on the move again. There is large gravel bar mid island on the River Left Channel. It was there last year but is now almost totally braided out. The river right channel had much more water in it this year and looks much better. DANGER, DANGER, DANAGER..the top of the River Right Channel is a blind turn going down river so LOOK OUT! Please be careful using ANY of the channels in this area for there are MANY other blind corners going up and down! This area results in many boat accidents each year.

Coho Island: Coho Island is located at the confluence of the Clackamas and Eagle Creek. Once again the river gods are doing some rearranging on the river right channel (eagle creek side) which will be slim at best this year. Eagle creek has split into 2 different mouths while entering the Clackamas so don’t be surprised! The river left channel is a good run but it splits at the bottom of the island. DANGER, DANGER, DANGER if you take the middle split going downstream. Unless you’re Dave Johnson that middle split turn around the famous boat eater snag will leave you well on to the clay bank.

McIver Park Run: Let me warn you that the waters above Coho Island have many dangerous areas. Not that all of the upper Clackamas should not be taken seriously but this section especially!!!! The river channels above the Lower McIver boat ramp have changed considerably. The old River Right channel has a lot more water in it this year which takes away from the always skinny River Left side. Please consider this run very skinny. There is a large Root was on the River Left Channel that would love to adorn itself with some aluminum so watch out!

Mine Field: The mine field is unchanged. Please take the name of this area into consideration. Running this rapids should be considered very risky. This is for highly experienced boaters only! Several boats crash here each year!!!

Mollala River:

Not many people drift this river anymore since the decline of fish runs. But if you do please take heed the following areas. I never got above Wagon Wheel so this will be the extent of my information. Note: Jet Sleds are banned above Highway 99 Bridge.

Pudding River Log Jam: The log jam just above the confluence of the Pudding River is still a boat eater. The channel has opened up some but down stream float traffic please be on the oars since it wants to take you right in and under.

Below Logging Bridge Log Jam: 1 River mile below the Logging Bridge there is a island section that has a very technical log jam on the River Right Channel. Since drift traffic is the only one allowed up there please stay River Left. I wish I had better location for this but there very few landmarks in this section.

The Logging Bridge: The log jam opened up a small slot River Left. Should be much easier than last year but still technical.

I hope this information helps out. Please remember to respect the power of the River and don't boat above your abilities.

"life jackets dont work if you dont wear them!"

[ 03-01-2004, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: Captjohn ]

[rainrshine]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[ampersat]

Thanks for the heads up info. Hopefully it will save you a couple of trips up the river.

[Just A Little Chrome]

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't been up this year but thinking about going up on Wed. if the Springer God will release me. :smile:

[Raven1]

Thanks for the update, good for summer rafting info as well.

[Sturgeon Tom]

Thanks alot. This is just another reason why this board is so important.
Your post has the potential to stop something very sad from happing.
Thanks again. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
st

[River Ranger]

Thanks much,hope I don't see you this year You guys rock.
R.R.

[RiverRogue]

CaptJohn, Thanks for the info. I run the Clack fairly frequently and found Cottonwood Island to be just as you said. I have always taken the south side, but you are right. That side is pretty slim now. So is it your recommendation then to take the north channel? I am aware of the blind turn as well and is one reason I never took that side...but it does appear to have more water. Have you had any problem meeting other boats in the stretch?

[Bark-Glue]

Nice Report CaptJohn. The McIver Park run (about 3.5RM) is not that technical if know how to run solid class three water. It's not a class 3 run but very, very rocky.
First rapid at upper boat ramp run mid stream and pull away of two big holes that run down river right, after that its a pool drop but stay focused. After passing dog creek pole, mine field is next. Start buy running mid stream, stay river left, once you see mine field pull out on river left to scout (for novice). I start down the mid-left(about 40 yards off left bank or river left) and work my way through the mine field (use the eddies to slow yourself down..hint)and once you see the ledge you can cheat to river left bank(still rocky, but if you hit a rock your near the bank)or just push through the ledge. You can see a v-slot about 40 yards off the river left bank, its rocky but keep the bow pointed down river, don't have to much pitch in your boat or you'll get pinded.

Cottonwood Island. I still take the river left channel no matter what water level, the gravel bar can be passed if you stay inside river right (tightly) and keep you speed up. The river right channels I've taken once and came head to head with a power boat, that's why I don't take this channel any more.

Coho island:

River left channel has some nice waves to ride but don't get to close to the left bank once you enter this channel..trees hang down into the river. Below this I stay river left and pull back hard and up river below small gravel bar were the Eagle creek meets at the bottom. Don't need to take the middle channel, I'm strong enough to avoid a **** on the stump in this channel. the Eagle creek channel is a nice and safe but keep your speed at the bottom, when river levels drop. This area makes a nice hole at lower levels and you have to cut through this hole with your speed(this is where the middle channel meets).

Just a note to novice or people that don't do allot of technical river running. I would be more than welcome to lead people down the 17 McIver to Riverside Park)miles of Clackamas river for free if only there is enough interest. I guide this river allot and see novice running it wrong and side ways at times. It's a pieceful river and fun to run but can be dangers, too.
The 17 miles can be ran in one day with a lunch stop to rest and talk about what was ran and what is next. I would be more than welcome to show others this pieceful river and the safes way to run it. Please be able to run solid class 2+ technical water, because the upper two miles is technical the rest is a pool drop if your stay focused.
If there is enough interest by March 17 I will schedule a "Learn the River" for March 21 (Sunday) rain or shine. WE can car pool if enough people show interest.
I can be reached via email or on Ifish(Bark-Glue)this pings my email too.
john@mayernikadventures.com

[Captjohn]

Unfortunately in the position I hold and due to liability I cannot recommend which channel or line to take. I hope you understand that all boats and operators have different levels of capabilities. All I can do is let you know the hazards out there.

Please remember that we respond on a lot more accidents on the river than you know and running whitewater should not be taken lightly. I understand that “learning the river” is an applicable technique but I employ boaters of all levels to learn how to “read the water”. In the many years I have been running whitewater and whitewater rescue boats alike, I cant tell you how many times I have heard the “that rock wasn’t there yesterday!” statement. I have seen the catastrophic results of boating accidents especially in moving water and some are heart wrenching.

So please, at a minimum. Wear your life jackets and don’t boat above your ability.

Captain John Oliver
Clackamas County Fire District #1

[BUGLEMAN]

Can a drift boat be lined/walked safely down the left side of mine field?

[Bark-Glue]

Yes, but you might have to get a little wet because there's a tree stump about 20 yard up river before you go over the ledge drop. The water below the stump is one to two feet deep and safe to stand in. Above the stump sits two bolders about four feet from the stump. You could line a boat through this area. Wear a life vest if you line your boat through this section, because a slip will send you into the mine field white water.
The safes route to line your boat in on river right. Once you leave the big pool above the mine field you enter a small swift area which runs to river left. Most of the river energy is on river left. Once past this point, you'll see the bolder garden...start working you way to river right gravel bar-island, but don't head into the bolder garden region. You can safely line you boat over this section of the ledge.

Mine Field:
This section really isn't that bad if you get out and scout the mine field from below. Just study the mine field and there are clear lines through the bolders on river left but not on river right!

The key to this section is to enter slowly and use the back eddies to slow your boat speed down...keep rowing backwards! You would be amaze how helpful a back eddie is when you put an oar into one and pull back. Your boat can do amazing things with eddies. Even if you position yourself below an eddie and pull back into the eddie which will move your boat up river into the rock. This can stop your boat and give you a chance to focus and rest. But not all eddies can be used like this...The key is learning to read the water and studying to bolders and the current movement.

Next week I'm scheduled to run this section of the river and will stop and take some photo's so peole have a better understand of the mine field.

[Hogmaster]

Thanks Capt!

Had I been more aware of the changes at Cottonwood, perhaps I would not be the proud owner of a new shoe!

Heed the warning in powerboats. I have been taking the river left side of that island for many many years. For a drift boater, like Bark-Glue, the river left is probably a still good option, but I was surprised when I banged there about a month or so ago. The shallows pretty well stretch the entire width across the bottom of the island there.

The danger of the blind and tight turn at the top going river right can be mitigated by first floating down near the channel split to observe if anyone is there or headed upriver. If no one is there, one can motor upstream aways, make a 180 and get on the throttle to get through the chute.

PS - Isn't that root wad at the bottom of Coho called "Sturgeon Tom's tree?" :shocked:

[moman]

The dangerous river right snag on the MO that Capt refers is right below the power lines, ~1/2-mile below the logging bridge.

[Bark-Glue]

I agree CaptJohn. I support your points and knowledge.
Reading the water is the first key to success to running white water safely, not just knowing which channel to take. One of the key points I would like to address to the "Learing the River" is I'll show you how to read the water. But please take don't take this lightly. Reading whitewater can't be learned over night and is an ART. I have logged over 6700 river-miles and have run numerous class 3 and 4 in my Willie and never rely on last years routes. Rocks move, gravel bars shift, trees fall into the rivers. I've always told myself,"when I'm not sure about my route, scout the river for hazards." There is nothing wrong with walking your boat through a section of river your not comfortable with or getting out to scout the rapids.
This goes with wearing life jackets. I always have my people put their life jackets on when going through class 2+ and above white water. It my sound and look funny from your point, but not from my boat/point. I don't cares what others think, it will save your life when your head hits a rock or when the water is 45 degrees and you can't swim.

And Like CaptJohn quoted in his last message, "Please, at a minimum. Wear your life jackets and don’t boat above your ability."