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Hanford Reach, Columbia River, January 25, 2003

By Dennis Andrew

Vernita Bridge to Ringold: Distance: 33 miles. Flow: ~71,000 cfs; Time on the water: 5 hrs and 45 minutes plus a 45-minute lunch break and stretch.

Darrell Libby and Dennis Andrew from Spokane joined Terry Ogden and Phil Ohl from Kennewick for a paddle through the Hanford Reach National Monument. We met Friday night to discuss alternate options, verify all gear was gathered and topped off the fuel tanks. That night everyone slept warm and cozy in the homes of the Kennewick hosts.

7:00 AM Saturday morning, 4 paddlers, four kayaks, 3 vehicles and Diane Ohl and Lois Pefaur as shuttle drivers left Kennewick for the take-out at Ringold. The third vehicle was left at the take-out and we continued toward the Vernita Bridge.

We arrived at the Vernita put in at 9:00 o'clock in a slowly lifting fog. The fog added just the right 'expedition atmosphere' and with the temperatures expected to be near 40 or above, this was going to be a great day. As the paddlers were preparing their boats, the shuttle drivers headed back down the road to Ringold. They are going to leave the two shuttle vehicles at the take-out and drive the third rig back to Kennewick. All boats pushed off just before 9:30. Everyone is paddling soft and easy, almost lazily.

In the first two miles, we've seen a few eagles and lots of ducks & geese. When one large flock of geese takes flight, their noise drowns out our conversations. Within forty minutes we have gone 4 miles, chasing the ducks & geese, saw couple more eagles and listened to a lone coyote. Coyote Rapids is about 50 yards long with a minimum of three foot of water at the 71,000 flow. After we exited Coyote rapids, we listened to a whole den full of coyote on river left. They sing pretty in the fog. Just before we made the next island, Darrell called our attention to a herd of elk above the bank on river left.

Phil is our resident expert on the Hanford site for this trip and he answers many questions concerning the DOE and Hanford Reservation. The DOE controls river right and they absolutely prohibit access to the shore. River left and the islands is national wildlife refuge. Access is denied in the wildlife refuge also. You are permitted access to the shore in the Wahluke wildlife area. They ask that you not disturb the wildlife.

We have been moving in a northeast direction for the last couple of miles. As we approach the White Bluffs area the river bends right to a southeast direction. It has been quite easy tracing our progress on the map. The shoreline is distinct enough to recognize when correlated with the map's version of shoreline. If a person was not carefully tuned to map and shoreline, the odd island or crossing power lines are positive nav-aids for a definite position fix.

The White bluffs had most of my attention as we passed by (under?) them. The fog has lifted by now to meld into a low overcast. At times the light is bright enough to make the White Bluffs shine. While I was gawking at the layers of sand, an eddy sneaked up and grabbed my boat. I suddenly found myself backing upstream. Phil is behind me on my left. He hollers, "Look at Darrell fly." Darrell is in a quick current headed downstream. The net effect seemed to make Darrell really scoot. Somewhere along this stretch, the others sited a deer. I missed it. I did see lots and lots of pelicans; white American pelicans. In the far distance, Terry or Phil pointed out a coyote loping across a small ridge. There are some sharp eyes in this group. We are still seeing several eagles, mostly sitting in the trees. Occasionally one flies as if to scout us. You can plan on staying in your boat from Vernita to the Wahluke boat launch. This one time ferry, now boat launch was a three hour float for our group from Vernita. We pulled out at the old ferry site for lunch in the sunshine at 12:30. That was 18 miles in three hours.

The sun was still shining as we put back onto the water at 1:15. We had all added an additional warm layer during the break. and the sky's hinted that the sun would soon disappear forever. The water is deep enough that we can be flexible in selecting our route. Fifteen minutes after our lunch break we have our first river traffic. A powerboat heading upstream gives us plenty of clearance staying on river left. At about 4 miles below our lunch site, we fall out of the main channel down a secondary channel on river right. At the end of a mile long island we scoot back to the main channel and disrupt another flock of pelicans.

At about ten miles above Ringold, the temperature drops a few degrees and the wind picks up slightly, out of the east. By the lay of the land, I imagine that you could get some stiff winds out of the south or the southeast for this stretch that would really hamper your progress down the river.

As we cross under the power lines that are 8 miles above Ringold, we get our first sprinkle of rain. The sprinkles will turn off and on frequently for the next half hour then it will rain in earnest for ten minutes. (That's a Pasco earnest rain, not a Pensacola rain.) There is the head of an island 1 mile above our take out. The take out is 300 yards beyond the island on the left side. Our group splits up at this point with Phil and Terry taking the right channel because it looks interesting. Darrell and Dennis follow the left channel just because. Both Phil and Terry commented on the visible current that they now had to cross in a short space to make the take out. We all beached within a few minutes of each other so I guess the current can be crossed. Just be aware that it is there. Our two shuttle vehicles are parked where expected and it did not rain during our take out, loading and clothes changing. Phone calls were made to appropriate spouses by cell phones and we all headed to McDougals for supper.

Phil suggested we do this float as a night paddle. July 13 seems like the best date. The section to paddle has not been decided yet.