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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Columbia [River] Bar
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 07:06:25 -0800
TomL <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com> asked:

>>I am curious if any of you have had boating experiences near the river
mouth. Or is that just an ignorant question, it possibly being an insane
idea in the first place?>>

Nope, not an insane idea.  I do not go over the bar myself, but Doug Lloyd
and others have done it.  I think Steve Scherrer takes groups around Jetty A
and over to Waikiki Beach (base of the North Jetty) on small-swell days.  See
below for a link to an image of all this.

Under the right conditions, the bar is not much (flood or slack tide, swell
less than 6 feet).  Does not take much to make it gnarly, though, and
conditions can change quickly.  Shipping traffic dominates the channel, but
there is plenty of room out there.

I bet Doug will chime in here.

My near-Bar paddling has been confined to the Sand Islands immediately
upriver from Jetty A.  Great paddling, with a taste of the currents (up to 6
knots) and swell of the real Bar, and a dangerous area also when currents are
strong, because of the pile dikes (think strainer from hell).

Here's a Terraserver link to the area (make sure it all gets put on your
browser address line):
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=14&x=131&y=1601&z=10&w=1

W Sand is in the dead middle, and E Sand runs off the lower right part of the
image.  Jetty A is a thin white line running down and slightly left -- 
mid-image.  The north jetty is the major dark line running left and slightly
down, left side.  Waikiki Beach is indistinct, but at its base.  Best launch
is across the peninsula from Waikiki.

--
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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