10/15 - 10/29 - 2017 Snake/Columbia River C-Dory Cruise

Two thoughts on vehicles/ shuttles

1) SUPPORT WAGON: Only a limited amount of the Snake River does not have a near-by road. I think we need to pool "drivers" and have a vehicle follow us driven by a different member each day. Then, if things "happen" we have resources to deal with it. Over a ten day travel period with just 3 or 4 boats the chance of needing outside assistance is high. If we get more boats the risk goes up. Plus, the day we want a nice restaurant meal the best place will be too far to walk.

2) SHUTTLE: It's an 8 hr drive pushing hard from Lewiston, Idaho to Astoria, Oregon which makes the shuttle a two day trip. I think we should find some place about half way, perhaps in the Umatilla to Arlington area, to store the trucks & trailers. After launch the drivers can take trucks -trailers to storage & return by the support wagon above in one easy day. Then the trailers will always be within one days drive of our fleet.

Chuck
 
Chuck

I agree with the need for both a support vehicle and the need for secure centralized storage for our trucks and trailers. I hereby appoint you as a subcommittee chair to identify and help implement these two initiatives.

I will talk more to you about this on my return from Canada. I have very sketchy internet access for the next 10 days.
 
I have been interested in doing this trip for years also, but I agree with Tyboo, October is very late in the season. The winds can and do rage from Umitilla and Arlington all the way down through Biggs, The Dalles and Hood River, and there are Wind surfing bases in all of those. The Dalles to Cascade Locks has the highest wind speed averages of the river length, and 4 - 6 foot waves are not that uncommon, especially with the fall/early winter blows. There are few places to get out of the wind, and even the marinas are not sheltered from wind.

On parking, I would think parking in Lewiston area would be best, then when arriving at Astoria, rent a van for the drivers to get back up to Lewiston Clarkston. That would be a good days drive, probably 8 - 10 hours, but could be done in one day, then the next day taking the trucks and trailers back down to the boats in Astoria.

I have lived along both the Columbia and Snake rivers for many years, and sailed and boated there since I was in college, (mid 70's). It is not to be under estimated. I would submit that the month of September would be more hospitable.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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I will add my 2 cents to the same cup Tyboo and hardee are filling. Late October can go either way ... and change back two days later ... from calm and warm to driven rain. Once you get well clear of Bonneville Dam, likely no high winds.

That said, I would definitely go in late October, myself. Hell of a trip.
 
Two years ago, we spent 4 days searching for a good weather window between The Dalles and the Cascades locks. The wind and rough water conditions made for a very uncomfortable causing our return to Dalles on three consecutive days. We ended-up going following behind a barge full of grain at 6 knots between The Dalles and Hood River. After a couple of very enjoyable days around Hood River, we got underway one early rainy morning, in flat water. Beyond the Cascades the River was kinder to us...

Our current plan is to trailer from LA to cruise around the Willamette River and Porland for a week or 10 days in August, then trailer again to Vancouver Island and launch in Gold River or Port Alberni for a week or 10 days.

On the way back we might join you guys for that a portion of your trip.

I still have some charts and a couple of cruising guides for the Columbia, I'd be willing to lend to whoever might be interested in them.
 
Jim we did that trip in 2014 with Chack Chack, majestic and unforgettable.
You might consider launching at Hells Canyon resort, they have a lot to leave your vehicles etc. You can read a brief description of our trip and stops in the Grand adventures forum - Lewiston to Astoria.
Best
Eric
 
Dear All Lewis & Clark Explorers!

Thanks for the enthusiastic comments and discussion participation.
Right now, we have the following 4 C-Dory boats, and 8 attendees, confirmed for this Expedition Cruise:

1. Jim & TBD – Pounder
2. Chuck & Penny – Two Bears
3. Floyd & Eiko – Far C’r
4. Bernie & TBD – Vega.

Floyd and Bernie, when you get a chance, please also sign up under the Event Signup Sheet as a formality.

Right now, we also have the following 7 C-Dory boats who are interested in this event and have expressed some desire to try to make it happen:

1. PennyBridge
2. Discovery
3. Wandering Sagebrush
4. Berta’s Boy
5. Cat Claw
6. SleepyC
7. C-Casa.

For the above seven boats, please let me know as your plans firm up whether or not you will be able to make this trip. The sooner we know who is going, the better we will be able to do our upfront logistics planning.

Chuck, when you get a chance, please text or email me your phone number so you and I can begin talking about trip logistics.

Floyd, thanks for setting up the map link. That is an interesting and fun link to look at.

As we progress in our trip planning, I plan to delegate various aspects of planning for this trip to the different participants so we can divide and conquer.

In addition to the complete set of charts for this trip that I referenced earlier, I also acquired two other books: “Exploring the Columbia-Snake River Inland Waterway” (Sharlene and Ted Nelson) and “Cruising the Columbia and Snake Rivers” (Sharlene Nelson and Joan LeMieux).

Regarding dates for this trip and the weather. The trip dates are set. Those wishing to go on this trip should plan around these exact dates. We will soon firm up the precise day that we will all be arriving at Hells Gate State Park to launch our vessels.

Regarding weather, there is no perfect time to go on this trip. Weather will be a daily workaround challenge on this trip and there will be some easy days and some fasten your seat belt days. The point is to plan it now and to do it, and not procrastinate. No matter what dates are selected, we have no idea what the weather will bring. We do know that if we plan to go now, that our October launch day will be overflowing with potential.

More later.
 
I'll be tied up on other projects until late August but will work on some things.
1. The Corps limits times pleasure craft can lock thru to 4 times per day. That might be a factor on daily travel on the Snake. I'm hoping with a group they will treat us like a commercial & let us go when we arrive, especially if we can give them an ETA at the next dam. This needs to be arranged in advance. Next time I'm in Lewiston/Clarkston I'll stop in the Corps office & get any pertinent regs and find out who I need to call.

2. I love the map, but am concerned about the open status of the marinas/ fuel in late October, especially since many of them are city/ county parks. I'll do some phone calling in Sept to see who will really be open. Active Captain reviews are really old on some of the sites. Over the past 30 years I've stopped at several marinas when driving by and things seldom match their web site. A few years ago I stayed at a marina in Richland, WA while attending a near by convention (boat camping was far less expensive than the convention hotel prices!) It took several phone calls to the city parks to get the information to determine if I could stay and in the 4 days there I never saw anyone from the marina/ parks staff.

If you have questions or just want to chat call me at 208-476-3123 or email at raddon@frontier.com.

Chuck
 
Thanks Chuck for all that you do. These items are all very helpful.

I need to get my own thoughts together as I have been out of town for some time and I will continue to be on the run for awhile.

I will call you in the next two weeks to discuss (1) picking the exact launch date and (2) retrieval options at the back end of the trip.

My contact information is (916) 799-0286 (c) and jagibson@sbcglobal.net.
 
Here is one more resource I found when I attempted this trip. Its a bit sparse but gives some info.

http://w3.gorge.net/casiera/columbia.htm

I think I mentioned this earlier but what is also important is to keep the PWC schedules in mind at the locks.

As to firming up - I will know more in about a month or so whether this will work or not due to work commitments. I will confirm no later than mid-august.
 
No worries you can also call the locks on your cell phone (I find it easier to understand them) also they are super nice people so if you have questions ahead of time just give them a ring I am sure they would be happy to answer any you may have. I think if It works out with my work schedule my wife will drive me and likely a friend down and pick me back up in Astoria with the trailer.

Cheers,
Harald
 
IF I don't do this trip by boat, (and to be honest, I am very skeptical about the weather that late in the season), I would be willing to do some driving, either from Astoria or Lewiston, or ????? wherever you decide to park the trailers.

I would have room for 3 or 4(cozy) and would do the trip in a one day run. Would have both phone and VHF capability. Wish I still had my big van :( but that is years ago.

Or you could rent a van, carry everyone in one trip, one vehicle.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Thanks everyone for your help and offerings. Quite touching the outpouring of interest.

Fred, thanks for the chart sharing. I already bought the entire set of charts myself but someone else may want to take you up on this generous invitation as they would save themselves about $75 or so. It is likely that these charts will only be used one time in your life!

Harvey, thanks for the driving offering. We may take you up on this once we figure out the exact number of trip persons and our coordination logistics. After I talk to Chuck some we will get back to you with some specifics.

I am happy to say that I now have got a commitment from my Ms. Katherine to go on this crazy trip with me! That will make this expedition cruise much more manageable for me, especially going through all the locks with an extra hand.

At this point we have four C-Dory's committed to the trip and approximately 8 souls on board. Therefore we may now be planning for transporting at least 4 people back to Lewiston (if we leave our rigs there) assuming the others stay with their vessels in Astoria.

More later.
 
The Purvis' on Firefly would like to join the trip from Lewiston to the first part of the Columbia River section. Not sure how much time we will have, but we would like to do the Snake River part if that is possible.
 
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