Re: [Paddlewise] Trip Report - Columbia River Bar

Dave Kruger wrote:

> Doug Lloyd wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>
> > As I drew closer a dull roar coming over the top from the jetty’s blind
> > side intensified. Two jet skiers passed, swinging half a mile wide (just
> > like the State Marine Board’s directions suggested) to avoid the mayhem
> > off the end of the jetty, where Peacock spit extended 2000 meters
> > further offshore. A wall of waves broke randomly atop a building current
> > -- some tumbling forward, some backwards -- as far as the eye could see.
>
> Hey, Doug, good to see you posting again.

Yeah, well I told Matt awhile back I'd not be posting anymore for a variety of
reasons, but I do want to stay in touch here and there...now that summers over --
and I was unsubscriber for a bit but missed your down-to-earth, yet elevating
posts/trip reports. BTW, I only check my e-mails a couple of times a week, so
replies might take a bit, which isn't a sign of rudeness  .

>
>
> BTW, the area you transited has possibly been made worse, over the past few
> months (years?), by gratuitous dumping of dredge spoils to form a "mound" off
> the end of the North jetty, courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers.

I wasn't aware at the time that the ACE guys were up to another one of their "mean
feats" (pun intended) off the end of the jetty. I was aware, however, that the
man-made jetty was partially responsible for the buildup of Peacock Spit (a known
hazard). You had also personally warned me about the dangers off the north jetty,
and that was primarily my reason for heading out. I also wanted to make a statement
to myself once there about the eminent seaworthiness of a narrow seayak as compared
to those two jet skiers and their jet skies who avoided the area on their trip out
to North Head.


> Two
> crab boat crew members died there a couple months ago, owing to "peaking" waves
> from the mounding, according to some of the local crabbers.  Check the Tidepool
> for updates as they occur:  http://www.tidepool.org/ and
> http://www.columbian.com/09202001/clark_co/218020.html
>
> (The latter link is to an article in the Vancouver Columbian, and may have
> expired by the time this reaches you;  hit the Tidepool link if it has.)
>

I knew something strange was going on as I traversed the wildest portion of the
"zone". Waves peaked and broke in every direction, but what was unusual was the
color of the waves in terms of their light brownish opacity. Though I was in
supposedly deeper water, sand was being sucked up in the vortex (sorry 'bout the
garish words, but hey, its your coastline!). The zone fanned out wider south (like
a giant "V" off the end of the n. jetty) and as I finally fought the current to the
contact line point with the regular confused sea state off the tip of the jetty, it
was impossible to break through. The kayak rocketed wildly, both side to side and
up and down. BTW, my rudder was never employed. If I had bailed after a possible
failed roll, I would have been dragged backwards for one horrendous ride to
mid-point in the deep water entrance range to the bar, then hopefully sucked back
over the bar  to safety (some back-up plan, eh?). In the end, out of pure
desperation, I "thought out of the box" and used the bigger peak waves (a large
peak wave not breaking provides gravity induced propulsion on each side of it,
depending where you want to go -- so one then is in the position to surf forward)
to get enough momentum against the current to clear the area. You said it was a
nasty area, and you were correct. Another BTW: an assisted rescue in this area
would have been impossible. I would have been "solo" regardless.

Tina provided me with an informative booklet (after the excursion) "Boating In
Oregon Coastal Waters", revised 1988. It delineates bar-crossing issues, and
outlines all the man-modified and natural bar crossing on the Oregon coast (bar
crossings are the only way to find shelter along the entire coast, so different
than BC with its numerous bays, inlets and indentations). The Columbia Bar Crossing
chapter indicates numerous dredging spoil dumping sights, all off the jetty. And
why not dump there? Who would want to transit the area in a non-selfrighting
vessel, anyway -- even without the extra sand? Apparently some have, and have paid
for it with their lives and loss of vessels. If there is one point of  compassion
on my part for the dead, it would be that one doesn't need high seas to produce
problems off there. As you know Dave, it was a relatively calm day when I went off
the end of the jetty. I suspect others have been lulled too, unless it was loss of
crew alertness/fatigue or overtasking of the crew.

A couple things in closing: I spoke with the Canby Park warden, who expressed his
dismay at all the sand washing ashore at the shore side parking lot by the jetty.
He said it was getting worse every year, and it was a constant fight to keep up
with the blowing dunes. Well, we know where the sand is coming from now perhaps.

Secondly, as far as the risk of such paddling "play" areas, please realize I put
that trip off for over a decade, waiting for a weather window/ climatic regime
(drought year), and the necessary skill integration ability (vastly different than
individualized skills taught a various symposia, etc.). Perhaps someone like Kevin
will understand: one learns and practices all these various aspects like edging,
reflexive bracing, power paddling with support, proactive broach avoidance, etc.,
etc., then goes out to experience and perfect these various skills in various
settings that build confidence as you "play by the rules". Then, every once and
awhile, its kind of satisfying to be put into an arena where there are "no rules",
like when a well trained boxer gets thrown into a back-wharehouse and has to fight
a bunch of big thugs. There are no rules, no bells, no referee - nothing; but all
those skills are used, modified-on-the-fly, and success brought to bear. Those with
a Napoleon Complex or those looking for cheap thrills need not apply. These things
run much deeper, and are perhaps beyond the soft ecumenicalism sometimes found on
Paddlewise.

More power to you regardless,
Doug Lloyd

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