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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2015)
Page 10C OUTSIDE East Oregonian Head west for a relaxing float down Oregon’s other big river Saturday, June 6, 2015 ODFW seeks simpler ¿VKLQJUHJXODWLRQV Applies to warmwater species and trout By ZACH URNESS Statesman Journal By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian SALEM — The experience of ÀRDWLQJWKH:LOODPHWWH5LYHUQHDU6DOHP Oregon’s capital city, is not for those seeking thrills. The stream is wide enough to be a small lake in places and moves with a pace of a tortoise — slow and steady but always arriving at its destination. Despite the lack of whitewater, I’ve JURZQ WR HQMR\ ÀRDWLQJ WKH :LOODPHWWH during the summertime, especially with ¿UVWWLPHERDWHUVDQG\RXQJHUFKLOGUHQ The lack of rapids gives my 6- and 9-year-old nephews the chance to learn KRZWRSLORWDQLQÀDWDEOHND\DNZLWKRXW many consequences, and the close-to- home location means we’re not stuck in the car for hours. Part of what has surprised me is that WKH:LOODPHWWHGHVSLWHÀRZLQJWKURXJK Oregon’s largest population centers, is quite peaceful for much of its journey. The river’s edges are forested, and the sound of birds is more common than cars in many stretches of the river. Getting started is a breeze. The Willamette Water Trail website has one of the best digital maps I’ve seen. You can view every boat ramp, campsite and river access point, along with the distance between them. By looking at the map, it’s simple to pick two places for put-in and take-out and the river mileage between them. This is no small thing when traveling with children, where you’ll always want to err on the side of a shorter trip. <RXFDQÀRDWWKHOD]\:LOODPHWWHLQ just about anything, but always wear a life jacket and stay away from downed trees and rocks. Here are a few of my favorite stretches of the Willamette in the Salem area. Each section requires two cars for a shuttle. Since most of the area has good cellphone reception, you can use a Google Maps app on your smartphone to make sure you don’t miss your take-out. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is ready to unveil a slimmer, simpler set of regulations for warm- ZDWHU DQG WURXW ¿VKLQJ LQ time for the 2016 season. Mike Gauvin, ODFW UHFUHDWLRQDO ¿VKHULHV program manager, said the current regulations are daunting drive down participation, since anglers aren’t sure what they can and cannot do. “Certainly, we need to make it so people feel like they can get out and enjoy the resource,” Gauvin said. The department started meeting in November with districts across the VWDWH WR ¿QG FRPPRQ ground among the vast and complex regulations. There are almost 500 special regulations for trout and ZDUPZDWHU¿VKLQJDORQH Through the process, those regulations have easily been cut in half, Gauvin said. “We wanted to look at WKRVH DQG ¿QG ZKHUH DUH the similarities,” he said. “We got rid of a lot of redundancies.” ODFW will eliminate most April trout openers on streams and reservoirs EASY AND QUICK Independence to Emil Marx Park, 4.5 miles Put in: Riverview Park Take out: Emil Marx/Lloyd Strange Fishing Hole This stretch of river is about as simple as you can get. From Independence’s Riverview Park, the river moves at a good pace through generally pleasant scenery. The only downside is occasional motorboats. A pair of gravel bars make good places for snacking and swimming on a trip that only takes about two and a half hours total (including setting up the shuttle). Spring Valley Greenway to Grand Island Access, 4 miles Put in: Spring Valley (just across from Western Mennonite School) Zach Urness/Statesman-Journal via AP In this July 2014 photo, Rylan Peters, 9, of Salem, paddles an inflatable kayak on the Willamette River in between Keizer Rapids Park and Grand Island near Salem. Take out: Grand Island Access This pretty stretch of river takes you past Willamette Mission State Park, across the Wheatland Ferry’s path and into the forested channel of Grand Island. The river remains scenic throughout, and considering the short distance of the trip, stopping for a swim here and there is encouraged. 7ZR HOHPHQWV PDNH WKLV D ÀRDW where you’ll have to pay attention. $IWHUÀRDWLQJSDVWWKH:KHDWODQG)HUU\ make sure to paddle left, out of the main current and navigate into the left channel of Grand Island. Otherwise, you’ll miss your take-out point. The put-in and take-out spots also are tricky. At Spring Valley, you must make your way down a steep embankment to get to the river. It’s not too hard for adults but can be tricky for kids. At Grand Island, you must carry your boat about 100 yards to the car. Willamette Water Trail What it is: A guide to boating the Willamette River Where to Ànd it ZillametteZater- trail.org What you’ll find: The location of river access points, boat launches, campsites, picnic areas, river haz- ards and other helpful information What you’ll need: A boat, life MacNet, paddle, tZo cars to set up a shuttle. Put in: Independence’s Riverview Park Take out: Wallace Marine Park This stretch of river has always been a little too long, slow and urbanized for my taste, but it’s still worth mentioning given its proximity to Salem. 7KH¿UVWKDOILVQLFHEXWRQFHWKHULYHU KLWV WKH HGJH RI +LJKZD\ WKH ÀRDW isn’t nearly as enjoyable. Even so, this stretch is worth doing SCENIC AND LONGER during the annual Great Willamette River Keizer Rapids Park to Wheatland Raft Race, Aug. 8 (willametteriverrace. Ferry, 8 miles com). Put in: Keizer Rapids Park Buena Vista to Independence, 11.5 Take out: Wheatland Ferry boat miles landing Put in: Buena Vista County Park This quiet and pretty stretch of river Take out: Independence’s Riverview might be my favorite stretch on the Park Willamette near Salem. I haven’t had time to run this stretch Once you get paddling, the roads feel of river yet, but according to those who a long way away and the riparian forest know, this long day trip or overnight of the greenways in West Salem take DGYHQWXUH PLJKW EH WKH EHVW ÀRDW QHDU center stage. The trip ends at the Wheat- Salem. land boat landing and will take a full day. The river curves past multiple islands, <RXFDQÀRDWDVKRUWHUYHUVLRQRIWKLV Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and trip as well by taking out at Spring Valley seven riverside camping spots. The best (see above). That trip is about 5.5 miles, camping spot, about 2.5 miles into the but can be a hassle to set up a shuttle. WULS LV $PHULFDQ %RWWRP ,W KDV D ¿UH Even so, with younger kids, the shorter ring, seasonal toilet and picnic table. option often is a good bet. Check the Willamette Water Trail Independence to Wallace Marine, website for more campsites and details to 11.5 miles make this longer trip worthwhile. Rarely explored trails off Rogue River open MEDFORD (AP) — An Ashland-based group has begun clearing overgrown trails within the rugged Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and a new grant means they can expand their efforts at opening foot access off these Rogue River trails. The Siskiyou Mountain Club’s Wilderness Conser- vation Corps crew has begun scouting and hand-clearing light brush to launch the club’s two-year quest to restore what will become a 30-mile hiking loop with multiple access points along the famed 40-mile Rogue River National Recreation Trail within the wilderness area downstream from Galice. The club recently secured a $10,000 grant from the REI store in Medford that will help fund clearing even more spur trails in the wilderness area, opening access to areas rarely explored by visitors largely relegated to the river or the main trail that hugs its banks and canyon walls. “I think we’re going to be able to extend what we’re going to do in the Wild Rogue,” says Gabe Howe, WKH QRQSUR¿W FOXE¶V H[HFX- tive director. “It’ll strengthen the scope of the project.” The new grant buoys a nearly $21,000 federal grant the club secured last fall through the Oregon State Recreational Trails Program that is anchoring the work. Not only will the REI grant go toward reclaiming Mule Creek, Clay Hill and Panther Ridge trails from overgrown brush, it also will help create opportuni- ties to continue maintenance clearing on them so the overgrowth and trail degra- dation doesn’t return there, — with a few exceptions ²DQGPDNHWKRVH¿VKHULHV open year-round. The May trout opener will remain in place. In addition, the depart- ment plans to standardize catch limits for trouts, and PDNH WKH VSRUW ¿VKLQJ regulation book easier to read in general. “There still will be a few exceptions to the general rules, but they will be far fewer and easier to under- stand,” Gauvin said. A series of eight public meetings are scheduled to acquaint sportsmen with the changes and get into more discussion about VSHFL¿F ZDWHU ERGLHV The closest meeting in northeast Oregon will be held Wednesday, July 1 at the city hall in Island City, 10605 Island Ave. All meetings will run from 6-7:30 p.m. There will be time for questions at the meetings, though new regulation proposals will not be accepted. For more information, contact Gauvin at 503-947- 6214, or Jessica Sall at 503-947-6023. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4547. BRIEFLY 8PDWLOODIRUHVWKRVWVNLGV¿VKLQJGHUELHV In recognition of National Fishing Week, the Umatilla 1DWLRQDO)RUHVWZLOOKRVWWKUHHIUHHNLGV¿VKLQJGHUELHVRQ Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. 7KH¿UVWWZRHYHQWVZLOOEHKHOGRQ-XQHDW7ZLQ Ponds, located seven miles southeast of Ukiah on Forest Road 52, and at West Evans Ponds located two miles west of Clarkston, Washington on Highway 12. A third derby is scheduled for June 7 at Rainbow Lake, 14 miles south of Pomeroy, Washington along the Tucannon River Road. Registration for the Ukiah derby will begin at 7 a.m. DQGUXQVWKURXJKQRRQ)UHH¿VKLQJLVRSHQWRDOOZLWKD ³ELJJHVW¿VK´DQGFDVWLQJFRQWHVWIRUFKLOGUHQDJHVDQG under. Hot dogs, chips and soda will provided by local sponsors. $WERWK:HVW(YDQV3RQGDQG5DLQERZ/DNH¿VKLQJ will be open to kids ages 14 and under and runs from 8 a.m. through noon. Prizes will be awarded for smallest and ODUJHVW¿VKFDXJKWDQGKRWGRJVDQGVRGDZLOOEHVHUYHG &KLOGUHQZKRSDUWLFLSDWHLQ¿VKLQJPXVWEH accompanied by an adult and should bring their own ¿VKLQJJHDU$OLPLWHGDPRXQWRIJHDUDQGWDFNOHZLOOEH available for those who need it. For more information about the Twin Ponds event, FRQWDFWWKH1RUWK)RUN-RKQ'D\5DQJHU'LVWULFWRI¿FH at 541-427-3231. For information about the West Evans Ponds or Rainbow Lake events, contact the Pomeroy 5DQJHU'LVWULFWRI¿FHDW &OLPEHUNLOOHGLQIDOORQ0RXQW+RRG PORTLAND (AP) — Authorities say a 66-year-old man from Idaho has died in a 400-foot fall on Mount Hood. 7KH&ODFNDPDV&RXQW\VKHULII¶VRI¿FHKDVLGHQWL¿HG KLPDV:DUG0LOR0D[¿HOGRI3DXO,GDKR 7KHVKHULII¶VRI¿FHVDLG7KXUVGD\KHZDVZLWKDSDUW\RI three other people, including a 17-year-old grandson. &OLPEHUVVDLG0D[¿HOGZDVRQWKHVRXWKVLGHRIWKH mountain, using a popular route to the summit, when he fell from a spot at about 10,000 feet. Mount Hood is about 50 miles east of Portland and is Oregon’s tallest peak. The summit at 11,240 feet attracts thousands of climbers, many of whom make the ascent in the spring. *ODFLHU1DWLRQDO3DUNURDGOLVWHGRQ 1DWLRQDO5HJLVWHURI+LVWRULF3ODFHV Zach Urness/The Statesman Journal via AP, file In this undated file photo, a camper sets down for the night along the Rogue River, just off the Rogue River Trail, in the wild section between Grave Creek and Foster Bar near Galice. Howe says. “We don’t want to get into the cycle of restoring trails then walking away from them without maintaining them,” Howe says. “We’re looking into the future.” The Rogue River Trail bisects the heart of the National Wild and Scenic Rogue River Canyon and runs between Grave Creek near Galice to Illahe about 30 miles east of Gold Beach. It’s an Oregon bucket-list hike for travelers who either do it alone or with the help of various Rogue River Canyon rafting liveries that offer packages for guided and supported hikes. The trail hugging the Rogue’s north bank is co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, with the Forest Service portion in greater need of clearing and improving to meet trail spec- L¿FDWLRQV+RZHVD\V The trail is narrow and often at high elevations, so it is not recommended for kids under 12 and those afraid of heights, according to the Forest Service. Two of the project’s bigger challenges will be clearing the Mule Creek Trail, which snakes between Marial and Eden Valley. The trail was once a supply route for miners who eked out their living in the hardscrabble mountains around Marial, which was large enough to VXSSRUW LWV RZQ SRVW RI¿FH until the 1950s. Come celebrate with us! Freda Bafus is 99!! Sun., June 14, 2015 5:00 pm Hamley Steakhouse Pendleton, OR No gifts please • No host dinner Questions or RSVP, call 509-301-9296 GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. (AP) — A two-lane road mostly inside Glacier National Park has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1DWLRQDO3DUN6HUYLFHRI¿FLDOVVDLG0RQGD\WKH&DPDV Creek Cutoff Road which intersects with Going-to-the-Sun Road has been listed as a place of statewide historic VLJQL¿FDQFH7KHUHJLVWHULVWKHRI¿FLDOOLVWRISODFHVZRUWK\ of preservation within the United States. The nearly 12-mile road leads from Going-to-the-Sun Road to the North Fork Road just outside the national park within the Flathead National Forest. TRAIL TRAKKERS 2015 Summer Walking Program May 25 th - Aug. 27 th Morning Walks meet at Oxbow Trailhead (Intersection of 11th & Elm St.) Monday & Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 am Evening Walks meet at the Riverfront Park (SW 23rd St., Hermiston) Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 - 7:00 pm (Meet later during warmer days) Questions? Call 541-667-3400 ext 3050 or email healthinfo@gshealth.org
