Annual OWA Tax Relief Float

Submitted by Bill Goss

There are no photos for this trip report.  Were you there?  Did you take photos?  Please share with vicepresident-newsletter@oregonwhitewater.org and the photos can be added to this report.

It was a dark and stormy night. Soon it would be the last day in April, the wettest April on record for the area. And it was getting wetter. This reporter, seeking adventure, had set up camp at the Oasis Campground, next to the raging waters of the Deschutes River earlier that day. The sun had made an extended appearance and warmed the region to a blistering 63 degrees. All was right with the world. 

But around midnight the floodgates opened, and a drenching rain continued for a couple of hours, with a few lingering showers adding a finishing touch to the tempest. Great. The next day the fabulous OWA Tax Relief river float was scheduled to take place, rain or shine, and it looked like it was gonna be rain. 

At nine o’clock sharp nine intrepid rafters appeared with eight boats. These thrill seekers had gotten up at early, early hours to make the journey from the west side of the Cascades to have some fun, no matter what. At ten o’clock the vehicle shuttle left the put in at Harpham Flats to position their rigs at the take out at Sandy Beach and scout a few of the more treacherous rapids from the road. On the return trip to the put in the sky opened up again and the rain began to fall. The wipers were wiping. 

Upon arrival we were shocked to see the Wasco County Sheriff was there to inspect our Deschutes River permits. This reporter had never seen this behavior before, but all the boaters were able to produce evidence of having paid the fee. Whew! After an especially informative safety talk it was time to launch.

The fleet departure was orderly and disciplined. The river was flowing at approximately 4710 cfs. At that level the rapids were a little washed out but still offered the excitement that the boaters had come to experience. Lunch happened at the Blue Hole Campground. While feasting on their finger food, the boaters shared their plans to survive the challenge of Oak Springs. Some went left, some went right. In the event, nobody got hung up or went swimming. The water was high enough so that even the run out after the drop was uneventful. Whew! After that, it was a cake walk, whatever that is. 

A short time later, around a bend in the river to the left, Sandy Beach came into view, and it was over.

Thanks to: Jason U, Ted S, Don and Kathy S, Mike, Wes and Ellie T, and Tim B.