Lower Columbia River Water Trail
Trip Recommendation Submission Guidelines and Example Trip Report

Trip Title: Please consider an interesting and fun title that would draw people to your trip. Examples could include: Dinner Cruise, Harbor Hopscotch, Ridgefield Rendezvous, Willamette's Mouth, Sunken Hulks, etc.

Trip A to B: From put in to take out. For example, Vancouver Marine Park to Frenchman's Bar Park. The put in and take out will be linked to the water trail database, so know additional information is needed about the launch and landing site. If this was an overnight trip, it would be from A to B to C - launch, camp, land.

Skill: Please use a combination of beginner, intermediate or advanced. Trips may be beginner to advanced. Beginner to intermediate. Intermediate to advanced. Etc.

Reach Name: The name of the water trail reach the trip takes place in, or both names if it crosses reaches. Water Trail reaches can be found on the water trail web site:  www.columbiawatertrail.org or if you don't know, you can leave this section blank and a water trail committee person will fill it in.

Distance: The distance of the trip, plus River Mile XX to River Mile XX. For example: 10 miles. River Mile 92 to River Mile 82.

Chart: The NOAA Chart that covers the trip.

Photos: If you have trip photos you feel would be beneficial, please consider submitting them via email.

Description:
Paragraph one: A quick 30 second description of the basics of the paddle.
Paragraph two: A longer description that identifies interesting sights, amenities, and elements of the trip. If you were trying to sell this trip, here is where you would describe its attributes: cultural, historical, gastronomical, etc. See the example trip recommendation which excerpts a section from "Kayak Routes of the Pacific Northwest." Ideally, each trip reports touches briefly on a number of different highlights. Is there a good swimming hole, a great view, something unique?
Hazards:  Please identify any hazards you know about associated with this stretch of water. Are there particularly problematic wing dams or eddies? Is there heavy motorboat traffic? The I would see this as a concise 2-3 sentences that would probably be the same for every trip report, cautioning about wind, shipping channel, tides, currents, etc.
Author:  Optional. If you want, please include your name, and, if you'd like, a biographical sentence.

An Example:

Willamette's Mouth
Vancouver Marine Park to Frenchman's Bar Park

Skill: Beginner to Advanced
Reach: Portland/Vancouver and Sauvie Island
Distance: 20 miles. River mile 102 to river mile 82
Charts: NOAA Chart18525
Photo: Link1: Link 2: Link 3

Description:
This 20 mile trip provides an up close look at one of the busiest sections of Columbia River as well as Vancouver's waterfront, the I-5 bridge, and Port of Vancouver before transitioning into a more open and natural area at the mouth of the Willamette River. Farm fields on the north and Sauvie Island beaches on the south put the last half of the paddle in sharp contrast to the first.

"From the launch site, it's easy to follow the shore and experience the intriguing wonders of the workaday lower Columbia. To the south of Hayden Island is the Port of Portland's Terminal 6 and, to the north, the Port of Vancouver docks and facilities. Huge cargo ships from around the world dock for repairs, the evidence of the travels visible in the scrapes and worn paint of the weathered metal hulls. Ships with enormous rudders and propellers are anchored at midriver. At docks and grain elevators, ships load and unload. Airplanes landing or taking off from Portland International Airport fly low overhead. Charming houseboats brightened with flowers line the channel. You can paddle up to a number of restaurants including a floating cafe. On a clear day, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood jut from the horizon. At Kelly Point Park, the Willamette River flows into the Columbia, two major rivers merged, heading to the sea. Lewis and Clark camped just north of the center of Hayden Island on their return trip on March 30, 1806. Lewis notes, 'This valley& .is about 70 miles wide on a direct line and its length I believe to be very extensive, this valley would be competent to the maintenance of 40 or 50 thousand souls if properly cultivated.'" (This section excerpted for example purposes from Kayak Routes of the Pacific Northwest ed. Peter McGee. 2004.)

Hazards: The shipping channel, moored ships, and active port terminals. Currents can be strong. Pile dikes are common. Winds can be strong. Heavy motorboat traffic in summer. Tides are still a factor. Conditions can change extremely fast. Paddlers should file a float plan, always wear a life jacket, and be properly prepared.

Author:
____________________________________________________________________________
Submit Trip Recommendations To:
Chris Hathaway, hathaway@lcrep.org, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership

Notes:
All trip recommendations will be reviewed by the Water Trail Committee before posting to the Water Trail Web site.
Trip recommendations may be slightly edited as needed for content and clarity

Questions?
Contact Chris Hathaway at 503-226-1565 ext. 228 or hathaway@lcrep.org