The INDEPENDENT, September 16, 2004
Page 13
Boy Scout Troop 581 experiences 50.9 mile nautical adventure
Seven days, 13 Boy Scouts,
eight adults, 50.9 miles of water
to be paddled on Multnomah
Channel, Cunningham Slough,
Scappoose Bay, Columbia Riv-
er, Lewis River, N. Fork Lewis
River and Lake River…to pro-
vide a lifetime of memories.
Banks Boy Scout Troop
#581 paddled that 50.9 miles of
water starting August 7.
In conjunction with the pad-
dle trip, John Hamilton assem-
bled a group of 29 people to
construct a handicap-accessi-
ble trail at the Gilbert River on
Sauvie’s Island, as his Eagle
Project.
Here’s what one of the
Scouts, Dallon Hamilton, wrote
about the trip in his journal.
Day 1, Saturday: Alex Van
Loo and Sam Wasko were the
leaders today. We saw a bald
eagle take a fish to its young
and some deer feeding. We
stopped at Coon Island.
Day 2, Sunday: Sam Wasko
and I were the lead boat. We
stopped for John Hamilton’s
Eagle project at the Gilbert Riv-
er boat launch. We stopped at
a cow pasture to spend the
night.
Day 3, Monday: Paul
Hochstetler and Trevor Curtis
were the lead boat. It got to 95
degrees today and when we
stopped for lunch, Dayton
Vaughan was up to his knees in
mud. Keith Armor got caught in
the mud and couldn’t get out so
Dayton and I pulled him out.
Day 4, Tuesday: We stopped
in Scappoose Bay for lunch,
there was a little shop that had
air conditioning that felt really
Oak Village
Laundromat
4 Jumbo
Washers
Air-conditioned
Easy Access with
Ample Parking
located next to
Jim’s Market
at the junction of
Hwy 47 & Hwy 6
Main Street, Banks
good. Keith Armor and his dad
were the lead boat. I can see
some improvement in people’s
strokes. After we left we saw
another bald eagle.
Day 5, Wednesday: We
woke up at 5:00 a.m. We ca-
noed upstream and stopped on
an island for breakfast. We
stopped at Perfect Valley State
Park in Washington. We ate
lunch and spent the night there.
Most of the parents came and
spent the night there. We
played capture the flag.
Day 6, Thursday: We woke
at 7:00 a.m. and canoed back
to the Columbia, it was a very
fast day. We stopped and
watched the meteor showers.
We had a steelhead with din-
ner. It was very windy.
Day 7, Friday: Today is the
last day of our 70 mile journey
which is 51 nautical miles. Dy-
lan Trussel and Chris Durbashi
were the leaders. Everyone’s
paddling has improved, the
Scoutmaster, Bob D. said. After
we loaded up, we all stopped
for ice cream.
Now, the adult version from
Scoutmaster Bob Derbyshire.
Day 1, Saturday: On our way
by 8:30 a.m. with Sam and Alex
leading. Stopped for lunch and
munched on blackberries. Tons
of trash at the road-accessible
beach where we stopped. After
lunch the boys did their first of
many trash sweeps toward our
10 service hours for the trip.
10.15 miles.
Day 2, Sunday: Up at 5:00
a.m., packed gear. Didn’t leave
until after 9:00 a.m. Eagle serv-
ice project went well, built
handicap access trail along
shore about 250 yds long.
Along the way had a water
fight, not sure who won but I
was soaked. Used solar show-
er for the first time tonight. 6.5
miles.
Day 3, Monday: Sleep-in
day. Getting on the water after
10:00 a.m. on a 97 degree day
not my idea, but the boys want-
ed to try it. Stopped to watch a
pair of eagles, saw heron,
ducks, kingfishers, sandpipers
and evidence of beaver on
Cunningham Slough. Paul and
Trevor were leading and decid-
ed to stop for lunch in probably
the muddiest place on the is-
land. I should have had them
pick another site but I already
vetoed a couple of others. All
the boys and some of the
adults ended up coated in mud.
Somehow Carl and I managed
to stay clean. Worked on the
canoeing merit badge require-
ments which involved getting
wet, how to swamp a canoe
and get back in. Had an excel-
lent dinner of spaghetti, salad,
pudding and garlic bread. 7
miles.
Day 4, Tuesday: Up at a de-
cent hour, breakfast of oatmeal,
fruit bars and cocoa. Crossed
the channel into Scappoose
Bay. Ate ice cream in the air-
conditioned kayak shop. Re-
packed our food and filled up
with water. Continued north
along Multnomah Channel. The
closer to the Columbia River,
the bigger the waves and the
wind. This was the first real test
BANKS
MINI STORAGE
For every month you pay we’ll give you an
additional month FREE* (up to six months)
of the trip. The boys that were
able to concentrate on their
strokes and keep their bow in
the wind had a much easier go
of it. Took a welcome shore
break where the boys built a
sculpture with all the scrap met-
al they found. Set camp on
Sand Island. Monster dinner of
chicken, mashed potatoes, sal-
ad, green beans and pudding.
7.82 miles.
Day 5, Wednesday: Cross-
ing day! Up before dawn,
awoke group after checking riv-
er. Seems to have flattened out
though the wind never stopped.
Waves are 20-30 feet apart and
about 1 foot high. I took lead
paddling solo. Current was
strong, although I was crossing
at a steady pace, I made little
progress up river. By the time I
reached center of the channel,
waves had grown to 3 feet high
with about 15 feet between,
had I seen these conditions we
would still be on the island.
Reached Washington shore di-
rectly across from starting
point. Stopped for breakfast
and called home to let them
know we were safe. Up the
Lewis River, past numerous
steelhead, floating and swim-
ming with hawks and osprey
just ahead of us fishing. Spent
night with families that joined
us. Nice to have a real shower
and flush toilets. 5.93 miles.
Day 6, Thursday: After load-
ing canoes posed for group pic-
ture. Stopped for lunch near
mouth of Columbia. This is
where the work began, pad-
dling into the wind and against
the current. We traveled about
three miles seeking shelter be-
hind islands and jetties as we
went. Reached a very nice
camp someone built with
kitchen counters and a bench,
hooks for cooking tools and
Kybo. Boys set up a swim area
and Jim served as lifeguard. Af-
ter dinner, had a nice campfire
with stories about those who
explored this area before us
and the Indian legend of the
Chinook wind. Half the group
slept under the stars watching
the meteor shower. 6.8 miles.
Day 7, Friday: Last day.
Packed my gear before the
boys awoke. Watched the sun
rise as I reflected back on the
trip. Seems like we started a
long time ago but ending too
soon. Made good time, sand
bar near camp is extremely
rough, pulled into a cove to bail
out water. Stopped at mouth of
Lewis River for lunch, we are
ahead of schedule. Boys
played in the sand, combed
beach for treasures. Had our
last meal out of the five gallon
buckets. Our families awaited
us at the Ridgefield Canoe
dock. 6.7 miles.
Banks Tractor Pull
September 18th!!
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