April Fools Duncan Creek Run 2005

1^st leg reported by Jon, 2^nd leg reported by Brenda 

On April 1st 2005, 6 PWP members met at Shady Pines in Tilden to participate in the annual Fool’s Day run down Duncan Creek.  There were many other non-PWP participants who also met at the put-in in Tilden.  Approximately 40 – 50 boats were present.  Glenn, Theresa, Ken, Renee, John W., and Jon B. were present from the club.

Boats were launched between 10 and 10:30 AM.  The upper part of the trip consisted of swiftly moving water due to the high water level of the creek.  The creek has a lot of turns and bends in this portion and also had numerous deadfalls and strainers to avoid. The creek was over the banks in a number of areas.

Navigation was not difficult for most members, although it required constant attention to the river and watching well downstream to anticipate potential hazards.  There were a number of non-PWP paddlers who went swimming.  Many of them did not demonstrate basic river reading knowledge and had difficulty avoiding obstacles.

One obstacle that was disappointing to see was a private bridge over the river with a cable crossing the river approximately 1 foot above the water. Larger boats were portaged around the right side of the bridge and smaller boats were paddled (scooted) around the left side as the river was over the banks in this area.

A large number of paddlers who were also on the river with us were not equipped for cold water paddling.  Some of the people who capsized did not have extra clothing in a dry bag.  The air temperature was reasonable, but the water was still very cold with ice still covering much of Glen Loch.

We arrived at Glenn Loch at about 11:30AM where we enjoyed lunch and camaraderie at the bar.  Glenn continued his solicitation of new members and participants for the Yellow river paddle.  Glen handed out all of Renee’s business cards in less than a minute.

Brenda P and Don B joined the group at Glenn Loch.

We resumed the adventure down Duncan Creek below the Glenn Loch dam about 1:00pm.  The water cascading over the dam was creating so much foam that we looked like little ducks floating in a bathtub.  Someone must have pulled the bathtub plug because the water moving quickly towards the drain.  As we headed downstream into Irvine Park we were greeted by a combination of short stretches of flat water and class 1 ripples and overhanging branches.  We portaged around the dam by the rose gardens.  Glenn lowered his canoe over the dam with a long rope.

Below the dam the excitement of the water increased.  We were now in constant class 1 to class 2 whitewater.  There were only a couple small eddies along the edge to scout the creek’s next challenge.

Just North of the Columbia Street bridge is a bolder that Mary E and I have now fondly named “the @! #%% boulder”.  If you haven’t heard the story, you’ll understand shortly.

This boulder had water cascading over it and created a shoot which was best navigated on the left side.  Shortly before I approached the boulder, a couple in a Cranberry Creek canoe capsized their boat and with the assistance of the now steady class 2 whitewater, wrapped the canoe inside out around the boulder.  This changed the creek’s flow and appearance physically as well as psychologically.  These changes now exposed “the @!#%% boulder” and narrowed the shoot.

As I maneuvered into position to run the shoot, a wave from the capsized canoe caught the right side of my boat.  I leaned into the wave to stabilize the boat, and a second wave flipped me over.  There was not enough time to roll the boat upright in the swift water, so I ejected.  I began swimming and wading towards shore with my kayak and paddle in hand.  About half way to shore an undercurrent swept my feet out from under me.  I was now unable out swim the current and braced my self in a safety position for impact with the canoe-wrapped boulder.  At the time of impact, a wave pushed the front of my kayak under my right foot, thus, bending my knee into the canoe’s thwart.  I heard a “pop” from my knee, and knew that all was not “okay”.  I crawled onto the boulder, and abandoned my kayak and paddle to the will of the creek.

Jon, seeing me on the boulder, paddled to shore, and grabbed his new rescue rope.  He threw the rope to me, and the current lodged it under the capsized canoe.  After much struggle, we dislodged the rope and I made a direct catch.  I crawled into the eddy below the boulder, and waded into the current.  The rope allowed me to cross most of the heavy current and wade to shore under the bridge.  As I stood up when I reached the top of the bank, my right knee buckled underneath me.  Yikes!  I hobbled to a picnic table, and waited for assistance.  A kind woman named, Beth, walked over to check on me and subsequently drove me to the hospital.  After x-rays, the doctor announced that my tibia was chipped at the knee.  The treatment of which is a whole story in itself.

Back to the river...after I vacated my post on “the @!#%% boulder”, I was able to watch the other paddlers capsize under a strainer overhanging the left bank of the creek. Glenn ferried to the middle of the creek to rescue Renee and Don from an island just below the Columbia Street Bridge.  Pictures of that bravery even made the Chippewa paper. 

Most equipment was recovered either that day, or the next day by Ken and Renee.  Thank you both.  Ken, I do agree that your paddle is meant to be with you.

In spite of a broken leg, the April Fool’s Day run on Duncan Creek was an exciting adventure for everyone.  I feel that it’s rather fitting that the only group to complete the trip without capsizing is a couple of guys in a canoe wearing bright yellow and orange chicken suits.