Continue reading »]]> A Multiple choice question: View the accompanying photo. What do these paddlers have in common?

A. They are all in a big canoe.
B. They are all smiling and having fun.
C. They are of all ages and genders.
D. All of the above.

If you answered D, you are correct!

Now, visualize yourself and people you know in this photo sharing in the same great experience!

The SCKC Paddle Board is deliberating the procurement of a voyageur canoe, with trailer, as a “club boat” for use by SCKC members and their families. A 6- to 12-person voyageur canoe could be used for group paddles, family campouts and community river awareness events.

Two hundred years ago the voyageur canoe was used as a freighter to transport trade goods westward from Lake Winnipeg to the Inland Northwest. These goods were then exchanged for a rich bounty of animal pelts which then made their way eastward to American colonies and Europe. Today wood and fiberglass replicas of these grand canoes are available for sale to organizations and paddling clubs.

As the purchase and upkeep of a 25-foot voyageur canoe would be a significant investment on the part of the Club, the Paddle Board wishes to first solicit comments from the general membership to gauge the level of support for such an undertaking before rendering a final decision. Please take a few minutes to offer your opinions, pro, con or neutral, on this matter in the Comment area below. We greatly appreciate your help!

Continue reading »]]> Team River Runner Spokane, a kayaking program for disabled veterans, is in need of your or your neighbor’s unused recreational kayaks. As participation has increased we find ourselves having more paddlers than boats. Our team presently owns only one rec kayak, though we have two loaner boats as well. We are in good shape for whitewater boats, so are not looking for them at this time. We will gladly take your old sit-in or sit-on-top rec boat and put it to good use serving our local disabled veterans. 

To learn more, visit Team River Runner. If you have a boat to donate or loan please give me a call at 509-951-2871. Thank you.

Tim Ahern, chapter leader for TRR Spokane

Continue reading »]]> Convention Center Expansion Trailhead and River Access
First off – a huge acknowledgement and thank you to the members who showed up on April 18th to review the three different design proposals for the Convention Center Expansion. I would personally like to thank the people I knew were in attendance: Kenny McKenny, Barb Hixon, Libby Beck, Celene Olgeirsson, and Vic and Robbi Castleberry, who have been advocating for the river and river access for around 40 years now. Thank you! I received word that the paddling community was well represented that day, so here’s a big thank you to any other members I may have missed who also attended.

This participation by paddlers in the review process made all the difference. Garco Construction, Inc., which had the only design that allowed for river access, won the bid for the project! Thanks goes to Garco’s design team for understanding that “access” includes more than just a visual component, but actually involves providing a place to get a vehicle with a boat down to the water.

Rick Eichstaedt with the Center for Justice, along with Andy Dunau from the Spokane River Forum, met with representatives of the Public Facilities District to ensure that this access plan proceeds. Rick is making a proposal to the City Council of Spokane to change the access point of the river to the west side of the Division St. bridge from its current location east of the bridge. This would make it possible to access the river directly under the bridge.

Please consider supporting the Center for Justice. In addition to its work on behalf of river access, the Center focuses on five main areas: civil rights, discrimination, government accountability, poverty and the environment, providing a voice for those segments of the Spokane regional community that often go unheard.

Rich Landers, outdoor writer for the Spokesman Review, wrote two timely articles, on April 14 and on April 18 that all of the access coalition partners working on this project felt made a huge difference in Garco’s design getting the bid. Thank you, Rich, for being an eloquent voice for the area’s natural places.

Although preservation of this access point is moving forward, there are still some legal issues that will need to be addressed. Follow-up throughout the construction process is also important. Andy Dunau said it best: “We are still treading water.”

That is the exciting news for now. I will keep you posted on this and other access issues. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me by phone (509-590-7544) or email.
Brian Durheim, Access Chair

Continue reading »]]> Monday, April 22nd, 7:00 PM

The final general meeting of the spring will feature Thomas O’Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director for American Whitewater, a national river conservation organization focused on protecting and enhancing opportunities for whitewater recreation. Tom will discuss river conservation efforts throughout the region, including recent dam removal success stories for rivers like the White Salmon and the new agreement for removal of the dam on Sullivan Creek. He will also address the potential revision of Forest Plans and the future of river management throughout the Clearwater drainage and major tributaries like the Lochsa, along with priorities for conservation and permanent protection of free-flowing rivers.

Plan to join us at Mountain Gear’s corporate office, 6021 E. Mansfield, Spokane, to learn more about how American Whitewater is making a difference, protecting and preserving the rivers we love.

Continue reading »]]> The more I kayak, the more I scout, the more I portage.

Kayaking isn’t just being on the water, but that’s why we’re out there. Being intensely in the moment. The anticipation of what’s coming and the excitement and sometimes relief that it is over is what keeps us coming back. Learning what to do and not to do and not wanting to wait to redo that one rapid.
This last year has been a great kayaking year for me. I’ve done a bunch of incredible rivers. Although most of these rivers aren’t extremely difficult, they are new for me. My crew scouts for wood and to see what the river is doing at that level and to see if different lines should be taken. Sometimes safety would be set up while people run during these scouting times. I scout for these reasons but also to see if I’m up to the task.

That said, it is inevitable that some of my decisions will be to portage and not run the rapid. This was true of my recent run on the Yaak River near Troy, MT. Susan Luchesi, Terry Miller, Todd Hoffman, Jim Nelson and I ran the Yaak on Sunday, March 31st with the level at 5.1 ft.

I ended up portaging most of the three biggest rapids: The Weir, Stonechest and Good to the Last Drop. I did run the bottom half of Good to the Last Drop. At the end of the run I was beat! I attribute this to many things, including five rolls and a class IV run, but mainly to the portages.

These portages were over various size boulders with a 44-lb boat and considerable distances. Making sure my footing is secure and safe is crucial. I want to be an asset to my group. This means being able to hold my own. The guys in my group are willing to help in any way, but it takes time and the more I can do myself the more time we are on the water. So what that means is being and staying strong! Like many sports, yes, kayaking is the best preparation for kayaking, but I want to stress that staying in shape, working out, staying strong with weights and stretching are essential to boater safety. Stay hydrated and nourished, and make sure you have the energy to run. Being drained on tough water is no way to be on the water. Be sure to convey to your group any potential issues. It is for their safety as well as yours.

Oh yeah, and I’m having a BLAST!!!!!

Celene Olgeirsson

Continue reading »]]> March 26, 2013

Four members of your SCKC Paddle Board, Celene Olgeirsson, Brian Durheim, Lynn and Stan Mrzygod, participated in sessions centered upon our hometown river. The morning session, titled “Putting Shoreline Master Programs to Work”, featured three projects, the Sullivan Bridge, State Line, and the Spokane Convention Center “Completion”. The first two projects include accommodations for public access, including boaters, to the river. Thank past and present Presidents and Paddle Board members for their dedicated efforts in keeping the all-important river access issue front and center in the minds of governmental decision makers. I was encouraged by the excellent rapport between the City of Spokane Valley and diverse recreational river user groups.

In stark contrast, my “warm-fuzzy meter” needle spiraled towards empty when Celene pressed City of Spokane officials about the impact of the Convention Center project on the traditional access point on the south bank of the river by the Division Street Bridge. An uneasy vision of Gene Kelly tippy-tapping in that classic musical, “Singing in the Rain” came to mind. A public comment opportunity remains on April 18th before the three design options are offered. There are no guarantees that river access would be included in any of them, as it appeared that it is not a priority.

Mayor David Condon, City of Spokane, was the keynote speaker at lunch. He recapped the importance of the river in the founding and development of Spokane and emphasized its future role in assuring the livability of communities along its banks. Spokane’s storm water and combined sewer overflow needs and how to finance improvements in these difficult economic times were the dominant subjects of his speech.

The afternoon session featured our Club President, Celene, on the panel highlighting numerous river access and riparian restoration projects, from State Line to the Long Lake Dam. Andy Dunau, Spokane River Forum, gave a sneak preview of the highly interactive Spokane River Trail web site. The information it contains about the attributes of access points is impressive and something that this club could choose to become a sponsor of. In summary, conditions for continued advancement of the river access agenda, for the most part, are very favorable.

Stan Mrzygod

Continue reading »]]> Update on the Spokane Convention Center Expansion
After a coalition of community-minded users and advocates sent in comments to the Public Facilities District (see January’s Access report to review the letter sent on SCKC’s behalf), the PFD held a meeting on February 4th. Those in attendance discussed the project review process, information received during community and stakeholder meetings, input from the SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) checklist review, and other issues and opportunities to assist the design build teams.

Three design build teams have been selected and are preparing a design and project proposal for final selection in April 2013. Once a design build team proposal is selected, the design will be developed and go through the City’s design review process, during which final conditions will be developed.
Although this is clearly early in the design phase, answers given at the meeting regarding trailhead access and parking still lacked a commitment to maintain adequate parking. The coalition decided to contact media representatives in order to bring light to the promises made during the campaign and listed on the PFD’s website that include, “provide better access to the Spokane River and Centennial Trail”.

We will continue to monitor the design process. Of course, you can always visit the PFD’s website for additional information.
 
Sullivan Road Access
The City of Spokane Valley held a site meeting at the Sullivan bridge access area on February 11. Thank you to SCKC Board members Celene Olgeirsson and Deb Pierce and member Bill Pierce, who represented our club at the meeting. They provided needed feedback concerning the access. All three were encouraged that their ideas and concerns were being heard by the city and designers.

It was decided that construction will move forward and the best options for access will be determined afterward, as it would be difficult to evaluate this while the heavy equipment is still in place. Once they have finished moving earth, rocks, etc. a plan can be developed to establish what will be needed for steps/pathway and bank stabilization for a useable access.
 
Spokane River Forum Annual Conference
On March 26th and 27th the Spokane River Forum is hosting its conference. On March 26th, there are two sessions we strongly encourage members to attend. One is on shoreline management, and one is on the water trail.

These sessions will include presentations on State Line, Sullivan Bridge, Convention Center Expansion, and Nine Mile Dam. You’ll also learn about new access at McKinstry Construction near Gonzaga University and restoration projects, including those our SCKC has been helping out on.

Last but not least, these sessions will feature a demo of the Spokane River Water Trail website, which is expected to launch in April. This is another project to which SCKC has contributed. You won’t believe how much information has been compiled.

Visit Spokane River Forum for additional information. To register, click on the registration button. The $75 fee for both days includes refreshments and lunch. This is a great opportunity to share and learn.
Brian Durheim, Access Chair

Continue reading »]]> Join us on Monday, March 25, 7:00 PM at Mountain Gear’s corporate office, 6021 E. Mansfield, Spokane, for our next general meeting.
 

 
Come listen to novice rafters Lynn and Stan Mrzygod as they recount their impressions of a 30-day, 300-mile, self-guided excursion through the wildest rapids in North America in a rental raft. View images of spectacular Grand Canyon scenery and gain insights on the “whys and hows” of an off-season passage down the raging and frigid Colorado River. As they recently “came off the river” on February 26th of this year, their presentation promises to be fresh and vivid.

 
We’ll also be creating our 2013 paddling schedule, with calendar sheets available so you can sign-up for any number of paddles. Is there a special place you’ve paddled before that you’d like to see again or that you’d love to share with others? Have you heard about a particular paddle that sounds fascinating? Make sure they’re on the calendar. We’ll have all the support you need to coordinate a paddle – it’s easy! The paddling calendar is determined by you, the club members, so sign up and make 2013 a memorable year on the water!
(We’ll also have pizza for you to enjoy while you’re perusing calendar possibilities!)

Continue reading »]]> Want to build a kayak – or actually finish building one?
A few years back I purchased a DIY plywood kayak kit from One Ocean Kayaks. Sadly, due to a number of factors I have been unable to complete the construction and I just can’t stand to leave an unfinished project hanging over my head any longer. Vaclav, the designer, no longer sells the kit, just the plans, but his website is full of building resources and inspiration. He’s also very friendly and will respond promptly to emails should you need any help.
 
What I have done so far:

• Deck and hull construction is complete.
• Exterior of deck and hull has been set in fiberglass and resin and sanded to a reasonably smooth finish.
• I have cut a hole in the deck for the cockpit and constructed a carbon fiber skirt rim.

What you will need to do:

• Fiberglass and resin the inside of the hull and deck (fiberglass included, I have resin but you may want fresh stuff).
• Cut holes in deck for cargo hatches and form the rim molds to create a seal (building manual included!).
• Bond deck and hull together with fiberglass tape and resin to create a monocoque structure.
• Attach adjustable foot pegs (included).
• Attach seat and seat harness hardware (some included, some parts need to be fabricated or purchased).
• Sand to a nice finish.
• Varnish, paint, and personalize (varnish not included)!

What I’m asking:
$700 OBO and you’ll need to come out to Colbert to see it for yourself. Realistically, if you have a decent work space and are organized this can probably be finished in 8 to 20 hours, depending on your skill level. Please contact me if you’re interested!
 
Thanks,
Eric

Continue reading »]]> General meeting, Monday, February 25th, 7:00 p.m. at Mountain Gear’s corporate office
We arrived in Paris, France, at 8:30 am Sunday, February 26th. Our first stop was Castellane, France, where we ran the Verdon River which runs though France’s Grand Canyon. We ran the pre-canyon part as the canyon section was a class V. The river and canyon were beautiful.

The island of Corsica was our next and final destination. We had to take a 10-hour ferry ride from Toulon, France, to Bastia on the island. We arrived at Corsica on Tuesday, February 28th, and stayed on the island until Friday, March 9th. This was a trip filled with an abundance of great times. Terry and Susan were great travel partners. The rivers had water in them. Some more then others, but enough that we could run quite a few in the time we were there. The food was delicious and unique as the flavors of meats and cheeses were enhanced by the vegetation that the animals grazed on. The people on the island were very friendly and helped us find our way. Between Susan’s French speaking abilities, the islanders knowing some English and hand gestures/sign language, we were able to get around pretty well. The weather was sunny and 50s – 60s most of the time. Jim, Susan, and I thought it was wonderful trip weather with beautiful days on the river. Terry, however, thought more rain would be better so the river levels would come up more. We did get a day and a half of rain. As our goal was to run as many rivers as we could, we spent a lot of time traveling into the back country to find rivers to run, criss crossing the island to find rivers. Corsica has a much varied landscape in a very small space. The island is 50 miles by 150 miles. In that area, we traveled from snow-capped peaks to the Mediterranean Sea. Some areas were very mountainous with mountain villages and very tight roads. There were white, sandy beaches, and the Mediterranean Sea was blue and green. We were amazed at how different the geology was traveling around the island. The rivers themselves were amazing. The water was clear and the landscape surrounding them was breath taking. There were many boulder gardens to navigate and numerous rapids. Our best water levels were around Corte, a town in the northern central part of the island. We stayed there a total of five days running the rivers in that area. The livestock roamed wherever they wanted to so it was not surprising to see livestock at the put ins, take outs, along the rivers, or in the roads.

We finished our trip with a day and a half stay in Paris, flying out on Monday, March 12th. We got a picture of our kayaks in front of the Eiffel Tower. Going through the Catacombs of Paris was very interesting. It is an experience that is hard to describe – fascinating, eerie, interesting, creepy, cool, all at the same time. Overall, it was nice to visit Paris, but Corsica was amazing in every way. Words cannot come close to describing the adventure we had. We will be presenting our trip at the February meeting, so please join us as we show you in pictures and movies the great times we had.

Jim Nelson and Charlene Longworth

Jim and Charlie at the Asco River put-in

Jim negotiating the Golo River, Corsica