Monday, May 14, 2012

Allen de Mayo Paddle


On Cinco de Mayo I went to an emotional memorial on the Clackamas River to celebrate the life of a great paddling friend, Allen Satcher, who passed away on Upper Cherry Creek last summer. Allen was an incredible person and I miss him so much. He always had a really fun and positive energy on paddling trips and the world is just not the same without him around. 

It was comforting to meet up with a group of friends and bring back all our great memories of Allen. It was a clear, beautiful night on the Clackamas with a full moon, bonfire, great music, food, drinks and friends. I think Allen would have approved. 

The next morning a group of us eased our hangovers with an exploratory paddle on Nohorn Creek up near Bagby Hot Springs. It is a fun little creek with 3 miles of class III boogie water through a cool canyon, a great class IV slide called "Cookie Monster," and 20 ft. Pegleg Falls at the takeout. There was only one mandatory log portage, but the flow was a bit low for us. I'd recommend a little over 5,000 cfs on the Clackamas River gauge at Three Lynx. There is a good description of the run on the Oregon Kayaking website at:


The last 1/4 mile of the road was snowed in so we hiked our boats in the last little ways. We missed the spur road to the put-in but bushwacked in to find this pretty 15 ft. drop upstream. 


LJ Groth sliding down "Cookie Monster" rapid


Drew Eastman running Pegleg Falls, the grand finale at the takeout

Bringing in the 2010 New Year with Drew and Allen

Thinking of you and missing you Allen!
Hope that you are finding lots and lots of whitewater in heaven. 

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