I was on the fence. Do I hustle and get all of the gear ready, or do I relax on this cold winter's morning and enjoy a warm fire? The fishing reports have been poor and the flows have been on the rise a bit which further caused me hesitation. So, I decided on plan B and relax at home.
After a couple of hours of thinking about the river, I elected to revert to Plan A, leaving me now with only about 6 hours of daylight. Now, I really needed to get my wading boots in gear and hustle to the river in order to land at Oxbow Park by its closing at sunset.
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| Launch site on the Sandy River |
There is something to be said about preparedness when it comes to white water rafting. My cataraft performs optimally with about 3000 psi for each of it's 4 chambers (2 for each tube, allowing for some on-the-water insurance should the unexpected tear occur). In order to inflate the tubes, I use a "K-pump" device which came highly recommended when I purchased the boat. However, my pump has a leak resulting in about an hour's worth of pumping which should have taken 15 minutes.
Over the years, I've developed a decent habit of making a mental checklist of items most necessary for a safe day on the river: PFD, First-Aid kit, lighter/storm proof matches, flashlight, extra clothes, cell phones (2), and a supply of freeze dried food ready to be prepared on my small one-burner stove. I carry a water filter pump, tube repair kit and K-pump which further helps to keep my mind, and my wife, satisfied that I'll make it home for (and hopefully with) dinner.
The drift began at about 11 a.m. with J and the girls joining me for the launch. The site had newly placed sand to help cover some tree roots that were starting to block its entry into the water. It's a rather steep incline to the water so the T-100 4 wheel drive came in handy to back the trailer. The water at this launch is nothing more than a small back-eddy, just large enough to accommodate one large drift boat or cataraft. The river mark here is located just at the beginning of a very fast flow across large and sporadically placed boulders which makes for a tricky ride, especially if the oarsmen hasn't been on the sticks for several months.
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| 20 Pound Chinook Salmon |
After a kiss and hug from J and the girls I loaded myself onto the cataraft. I practiced 180 degree turns, gaining some comfort and re-gaining muscle memory required to effectively control the 16 foot tubes. With a deep breath I entered the river's seam with confidence and looking forward to viewing the changing characteristics of landscape created from the high flows of this past fall and early winter. Last May, my Mom was with me for the last trip I made on this scenic stretch of river. Had we a dashboard for the cataraft, she'd have certainly called it a "white-knuckle" ride though she spent most of the day smiling, especially after landing a 12 pound Chinook Salmon.
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| A small back-eddy provides just enough space to launch |
More than any other habitat type, I believe rivers inspire thought and reflection. After a challenging week, this day on the river brought me the opportunity to contemplate and consider what is on the horizon. I thought a lot about a local police chief who lost his life trying to keep the peace for a small community. His professional life, as described in the news, was dedicated to serving the public. His personal life involved his love of the outdoors to include running and fishing. I hope that his family finds comfort in knowing that his adventures surely brought him many moments of joy and reflection of living a life filled with meaning and contribution.
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I also thought about the week ahead. The Oregon Duck college football team will be playing for the BCS National Championship Monday evening. Having grown up near Eugene, Oregon and attending the U of O, I have been a fan since the mid-1970's. I thought about the years of hoping that the Ducks would make it to this game....I was able to attend the 1995 Rose Bowl in which the Ducks lost to Penn State. The electric atmosphere in Pasadena will pale in comparison to what Duck fans will experience on Monday as they enter the stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
My first day on the river in 2011 reminded me of a message in the book "Fishing Oregon" (1966, Caxton Printers) where Author Francis Ames describes his experiences in the outdoors by writing, "You will find that when you return to the daily grind and talk to your friends about your outing that you will no longer speak only of the big fish you caught but also of the more important things, the sweet scent of the forest, the song of the river, the call of the loon at night, the way the air blued with distance over the ridges of the Cascades. This is the finest prescription for stomach ulcers and frazzled nerves in existence."
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| Find Me in the River |
