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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2021)
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM | WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 | 3B Rafting Continued from Page 2B for Rollie this year. But it turns out that managing two small children’s access to sharp fishing hooks is as easy as teaching cats to play poker. First, I tried having them take turns fishing. This did not go well. “Why does Lucy get to fish? I WANT TO FISH!” screamed Rollie. Then I tried to have both fish with Hannah’s help. This immediately resulted in a lure getting stuck in the raft’s bowline just as I had to jump back on the oars to navigate a set of rapids. Just after noon, we looked downstream and saw a gigantic chunk basalt rock, roughly the size of a house, sitting in the river on the left — indicating the start of Basalt Rapids. Happily, it was pretty easy to navigate down the right side. Below, we entered the deep canyon. Cliffs rose thousands of feet overhead as the river squeezed into narrow gorges with rocks layered with stripes of reds, blacks and browns overhead. In the afternoon heat, I jumped off the boat and into the water. “Bye-bye girls,” I said, lying in the water with my lifejacket. “You guys can row the next set of rapids, right?” As the afternoon wore on, we turned our attention to finding a campsite, one of the most important deci- sions of any raft trip. The map showed plenty of op- tions, but we spotlighted one at a bend in the river. The decision paid off. As we came around the bend, we saw a big sand beach sticking out below Red Wall — a cliff that rises 2,300 feet overhead with columnar basalt. It was one of the most beautiful campsites I’ve ever seen. We slowly unloaded the boat, carrying the gear into the shade of a cluster of juniper trees. Both girls spent their time splashing in the water and lying in the sand. Later, I set up our table and art supplies and the girls colored pictures of our raft, campsite and adventure while we grilled cheeseburgers with apples and Caesar salad. In the evening, we made a campfire and s’mores. We brought a special fire pan and used our own fire- wood, packing out the ashes afterward. Leave No Trace is not a suggestion here — it’s a way of life. Ev- erything comes with you. Nothing is left behind. The stars eventually came out, sparkling in the des- ert night. The John Day River features desert scenery, great campgrounds and plenty of adventure in the 30 mile rafting trip between Clarno and Thirtymile boat launches in the Oregon desert northeast of Madras. HANNAH HOFFMAN/SPECIAL TO THE STATESMAN JOURNAL A beach and campsite below Red Wall on the John Day River. ZACH URNESS / STATESMAN JOURNAL Day 3: Windstorm and homeward The final day of our trip got off to an inauspicious start. The dreaded winds arrived — a phenomenon that often bedevils boats on the John Day. Since it was our last day, Hannah made blueberry pancakes for breakfast while I packed up the boat to try and get an early start. We pushed off and immedi- ately rode the high highs and low lows of a windy day. In some canyons, the wind pushed us forward with ease. I lay back as the river’s current and wind pushed us downstream, through towering rock formations. But then we’d come around a bend to find the wind pushing against us with gusts I’d estimate at 20 mph. The girls curled up in their jackets in the fetal position as I pulled as hard as I could to make any sort of pro- gress downstream. At about noon, we looked up the canyon and saw signs of civilization — a road that marked Thirtymile Boat Launch, a remote outpost that represented the end of our journey. We reached the takeout to find a motley crew of boaters waiting to start their John Day adventure on the river’s lower 40 miles. We shared beer and stories and they helped pull our raft onto my trailer. We dis- covered we had mutual friends and by the time it was over, I was half thinking about following this band of happy seafarers downstream for another 40 miles. Hannah and the kids did not seem jazzed about this idea. Our trip through wind, rain, sunshine and near- calamity was enough to satisfy the adventure tank for now. And almost as soon as we started driving out of the canyon, Rollie was asleep, dreaming sweetly, I hope, about our next trip down the John Day River. John Day River In a nutshell: An overnight wilderness rafting trip through the Oregon canyonlands. Required: Limited entry permit needed to float May 1-July 15, bought via Recreation.gov. Segments: There are multiple segments of the John Day that all require different distances and skills. Find maps and info at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/ recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-per- mit-systems/oregon-washington/john-day-river. Info: Prineville District BLM, (541) 416-6700, blm_or_pr_mail@blm.gov. Fishing on the John Day River. ZACH URNESS / STATESMAN JOURNAL Most famous float: Clarno to Cottonwood Canyon (70 miles or one week); Clarno to Thirtymile Boat Launch (30 miles and three days); Thirtymile to Cot- tonwood (40 miles and three to four days). Equipment need: Everything for a fully self-sup- ported trip including: wilderness toilet you bring down in the boat, all the water you’ll need, an elevated fire pan for campfires (when allowed) and the ability to pack out all garbage, including ashes. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter, photog- rapher and videographer in Oregon for 13 years. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zur- ness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. The John Day River features desert scenery, great campgrounds and plenty of adventure in the 30 mile rafting trip between Clarno and Thirtymile boat launches in the Oregon desert northeast of Madras. ZACH URNESS / STATESMAN JOURNAL Public Notices PUBLIC POLICY NOTICES Public Notices are published by the Statesman Journal and available online at w w w .S ta te s m a n J o u r n a l.c o m . The Statesman Journal lobby is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach them by phone at 503-399-6789. In order to receive a quote for a public notice you must e-mail your copy to SJLegals@StatesmanJournal.com , and our Legal Clerk will return a proposal with cost, publication date(s), and a preview of the ad. LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICE DEADLINES All Legals Deadline @ 1:00 p.m. on all days listed below: ***All Deadlines are subject to change when there is a Holiday. The Silverton Appeal Tribune is a one day a week (Wednesday) only publication • Wednesday publication deadlines the Wednesday prior LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICE RATES Silverton Appeal Tribune: • Wednesdays only - $12.15/per inch/per time • Online Fee - $21.00 per time A beach and campsite below Red Wall on the John Day River. ZACH URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL • Affidavit Fee - $10.00 per Affidavit requested
