Appeal Tribune
❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2019 ❚ 1B
Outdoors
Explore these emerald pools
via ‘wilderness snorkeling’
Zach Urness explores below the surface of Elk Lake Creek in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF GREEN / DYNAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Elk Lake Creek
Zach Urness
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
The only problem with snorkeling
Oregon’s clearest rivers and creeks is
that the water is often bone-chillingly
cold.
Even with a wetsuit — or even a dry-
suit — the streams of most crystalline
purity feel as warm as a bathtub of ice
cubes when you dive underwater.
But that’s the price you pay for the
chance to explore worlds of emerald
glass in streams such as the Little North
Santiam, Collawash and, earlier this
month, a place called Elk Lake Creek.
Over the past two summers, I caught
the river snorkeling bug — exploring
streams with a face mask, breathing
tube and fins. Below the surface, you
discover deep canyons, come nose-to-
nose with curious fish and appreciate
the complexity of rivers in a way you
can’t from above.
My favorite part is what I’ll call “back-
country snorkeling,” which includes
packing your gear and hiking a few
miles into the wild to find the most in-
teresting spots.
Last month, I headed to Elk Lake
Creek, a remote stream that flows as
clear and cold as liquid glass through
the Bull of the Woods Wilderness.
It was everything I could have hoped
for, minus turning into a human popsi-
cle.
A waterfall on Elk Lake Creek in Bull of the Woods Wilderness. ZACH
URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Snorkel setup and getting started
If you want to get started in river
snorkeling, it’s easier than you might
think. Last summer I headed to Salem
Scuba for advice and all the gear needed
to get started.
After a quick test-run with the equip-
ment, I was ready to roll.
The purchase has been worthwhile.
I’ve brought snorkel to countless swim-
ming holes around Oregon, even to
places like Detroit Lake. It's just an easy
thing to include on any adventure.
Backcountry snorkeling is more in-
volved. I packed all the snorkel equip-
ment into a pack that also included a
waterproof case for cameras, maps, cell
phones and lunch. (Nobody wants a
soggy sandwich).
A good backcountry snorkel trip
means in addition to hiking, you’ll also
be traveling and exploring in the water
— maybe even jumping off waterfalls —
and want to be as waterproof as possi-
ble.
I met adventure pal Jeff Green, a Sa-
lem photographer and homebuilder, at
the Elk Lake Creek Trailhead around 8
a.m. We quickly went over the plan.
First, we’d hike three miles to a place
called Emerald Pool, scouting out good
spots to access the creek on the way. We
didn't want more than six miles of hik-
ing overall, because snorkeling and ex-
ploring takes plenty of energy itself.
“Good?” I said.
“Good,” said Jeff.
The trail starts in second-growth for-
est but nice views begin quickly, with a
booming waterfall in the first half-mile
and a promising-looking canyon for
snorkeling.
“Let’s make sure to leave enough
time for this place,” I said.
We crossed into Bull of the Woods
Wilderness and at mile 2, reached Wel-
come Creek. It’s a beautiful spot, with
multiple tiers of waterfalls.
Beyond, we reached the first crossing
of Elk Lake Creek. The stream's clarity
made it hard to judge just how deep the
water is.
“While the creek may appear to be
only inches deep, you’ll be surprised to
discover that it’s knee to waist deep,”
wrote Matt Reeder in his guidebook “101
Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson
Region.”
See SNORKELING, Page 3B
A visit to Willamette Mission State
Park includes ferries and fishing
Fishing
Henry Miller
Guest columnist
You might say this trio was on a Mis-
sion for fishin’.
Brothers Easton, Hudson and Mad-
den Hughes were trying their luck re-
cently off the boarding float at the boat
ramp on Mission Lake at Willamette
Mission State Park just a shade more
than 5 miles from their Keizer home.
“Last time we came here there was
way less (weeds),” said Easton, 15, who
was on his second visit to the lake, an
oxbow slough, really, on the Willamette
River. “Last time when me and my
friend came here, I think we caught five
fish, some bluegills and what they call,
I’m not sure, but it was a pumpkin
something.”
That would be a pumpkinseed, a
smallish but colorful sunfish.
Mission Lake also sports some sub-
stantial bass.
A while back I saw one being flown
off in the talons of an osprey that scared
the bejeezus out of me, hitting the water
like a bowling ball out of nowhere to get
the fish about 10 feet away while fishing
from a raft.
Despite the brothers’ limited success
in the mid-day heat and sprawling weed
beds, Hudson, 12, said he is hooked on
the sport.
“It’s really fun,” he said. “I’ve wanted
to go fishing almost every single week.”
Although because of his luck catch-
ing a trout at Detroit Lake on his first-
ever fishing trip, Madden Hughes, 9, had
the bragging rights among the siblings.
“Yeah,” he said with a grin when
asked if he was the master fisherman.
Fishing is best at Mission Lake in the
spring after the high winter flows blow
most of the weeds out into the Willam-
ette.
But there’re still good opportunities
during mornings after the lake has
cooled overnight in the summer.
It’s best if you have a raft, canoe or
kayak (the lake is electric motors only)
and work the edges and the open areas
of the weed beds.
Baits such as worms or night crawl-
ers work best, but it’s hard to keep the
little guys off. Rubber jigs or lures such
as spinners, when the weeds are down,
also are effective.
Or you could hire an osprey.
If you’ve never been to Willamette
Mission State Park, it’s well worth a vis-
it. It gets its name from a religious mis-
sion erected by the Rev. Jason Lee in
1834.
The 1,329-acre park features an ac-
tive osprey nest on a platform on the en-
trance road, the world’s largest black
cottonwood tree, five miles of bike
paths, 7 miles of horse trails (with ac-
companying horse camp), group camp-
ing and picnic sites, a one-mile jogging
loop, dog exercise area and an 18-hole
disk golf course.
A day-use permit ($5) is required and
available at the kiosk on the entrance
road.
For more information online, includ-
ing reservation information for the
group camping and picnic sites, go to
https://oregonstateparks.org/in-
dex.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_park-
Page&parkId=99
Oh, and don’t forget to take a side trip
if you have time, a ride on the Wheat-
land
Ferry
(http://wheatlandfer-
ry.cccvc.com/). It’s about a half-mile up
the road from the park entrance road.
The one-way toll is $2 for cars and
trucks, $1 for bicycles/motorcycles.
Walk-ons are free. It connects with Wal-
Easton Hughes, 15, offers tips to
brother Madden, 9, while fishing with a
third brother, Hudson, 12, at Mission
Lake in Willamette Mission State Park.
HENRY MILLER/STATESMAN JOURNAL
lace Road on the west side (go left to get
to West Salem).
To get to the park, take Wheatland
Road (the light at the B&S Market turn)
off River Road N heading north out of
Keizer. The well-marked park entrance
is about 5 miles down the road through
See MILLER, Page 2B