The independent., May 02, 2002, Page 14, Image 14

From page 2
The writer offered to run the
Hersprus down by himself,
which he did getting away with
it, Glenn had his trusty gun
ready and took a picture of the
feat, the boys of the Nancy Lee
were then in high spirits and
decided to do or die—they
done it beautifully and got their
first real thrill of the trip. After
that, all hands run all fast water,
of which there was plenty that
afternoon.
While passing the concrete
ford at Elsie the boys were told,
“If any of you birds are getting
weak-kneed, now is the time to
get out, as this is the last
chance to go back by road," no­
body got out so I guess every­
one was enjoying himself.
When we arrived at Mike
Haygren’s place (which is the
last one) that evening, all de­
clared they had enjoyed the
day very much. On our way
down today we caught 23 very
nice trout. We had another
good camp here, on the left
bank of the river near a small
creek of cool, clear mountain
water.
About dusk, Mike Haygren
came down to visit, telling us
The crew of the Nancy Lee was
going to run this water but the
writer talked them, or rather
wig-wagged them out of it. We
are sure if they had, that is all
the farther we would of got as
about the fast water, what kind there was a submerged rock
of boats are needed to run it, between the two rocks where
and the many pitfalls we would they were going to run, so we
encounter along the way. It dragged the boats over the last
sure was too bad that we had fifty feet without any accident.
By now we were passing
not seen this gentleman before,
some
very good looking fishing
as it would seem that our outfit
holes and at 3 p.m. a halt was
was all wrong.
The next morning Loel and called, very near the County
Archie went up to Haygren’s to line between Clatsop and
dig some fish worms and, while Tillamook counties where we
up there, looked over the Elsie camped that night (Tuesday).
Rapid Runner and bought Loel, Archie, and Frank started
some eggs - this gang sure is fishing a good looking hole and
hard on eggs. While they were by evening had 28 very nice
gone the rest of us repaired the trout to show for their efforts.
The writer tried the riffles
boats made paddles and did
other needed chores. We left without any luck, while Glenn
scouted around shooting a few
camp also at 9:00 a.m.
The rapids and fast water Jay Birds, we camped under
was coming faster now, faster some large Hemlocks and all
in more way than one, we ar­ hands agreed it was our best
rived at Little Falls at 10:30. camp.
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The weather was now get­
ting better, with Wed. morning
breaking fair with the sun shin­
ing. We left this camp in high
spirits resolved that we would
hurry along and get to the coast
by Thursday evening.
The water was getting faster
and by ten o’clock we arrived at
the head of the Nehalem
Gorge, both boats run the first
rapids in the gorge fine, and
when the Hersprus arrived at
the head of the second stretch
of fast water we looked them
over carefully and decided they
were fast but not so bad and
started down, but sad to relate,
about halfway down a sub­
merged rock got in the way,
and the Hersprus went on the
rocks for the second time.
After many futile efforts to
dislodge her, she was aban­
doned to her fate, and after
quite a pow wow, it was decid­
ed to leave both boats, and
pack
our outfit to
the
Salmonberry which was only
about one-half mile away.
The writer offered to run the
rest of the gorge by leading the
Nancy Lee down over the rest
of the fast water, Archie and
Frank offered to go along and
help.
Loel and Glenn took a pack
sack each, loaded up some of
the dry things and started down
the trail, while the rest of us
loaded up the Nancy Lee and
some load it was as most of it
was full of water. We led her
down over the remainder of this
rapid by hand, passing her
around the big rocks with rope.
From here the gorge leveled
out and the rest of the way
through was made without ac­
cident, the gorge sure is beau­
tiful, narrow and very deep.
On arriving at the lower end
of the gorge we encountered
some more fast water, and after
looking it over very carefully we
decided there was no danger
and would run it. We were now
in sight of the Southern Pacific
Railroad bridge over the Ne­
halem River at Salmonberry.
We mapped out our course of
action, went back to the boat
and after bailing her dry we got
in, cast off, we made the run
through the fast water just as
Please see page 15
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