Fall Colors Were Front and Center on The North Santiam

Submitted by Scott Harvey

There are two very distinct Fall weather patterns here in the Northwest. The
early Fall conditions that become a welcome reprieve from the hot and
smoky atmospheric conditions of August. This seasonal weather change
greets North-westerner’s with enjoyable late summer weather that still
consist of brilliant sunshine, yet with much milder temps throughout the day
and cooler evenings for sleeping. Even the ambience of our surrounding
environment changes with the hue of the sunlight contrasting a subtle tone
among the changing landscape.

 

Then there’s the second half of Fall that consist of rapidly vanishing
sunlight, grey ominous skies, wetter, colder conditions that also brings
breezy conditions that leave wet soggy leaves everywhere!! Do I really need
to say anymore?! This is where the annual Fall Colors Float on the North
Santiam River comes into play between the two starkly different conditions.
I’ve always considered the North Santiam River float this time of year as a
last farewell to the pleasant weather conditions we’ve experienced the past
five months and the start of the trap door opening up and all Hell braking
loose for the next five dark months. 

We had a good group of eager boaters that included eighteen individuals
and one dog that was split up among 4 cat-boats, 1 raft, 1 paddle raft and 4
inflatable kayaks. We were welcomed with a mixed bag of conditions that
included some sun breaks and the occasional shower to remind us of the
changing climate conditions to expect. The heavy rain held off until we were
all off the river, gear all stowed and on our way home.

Vegetation growth is slowly coming back in the Santiam Canyon after the
devastating wildfires of 2020. One thing that has become more noticeable
when floating this stretch of river, since the destructive wildfires, is the
ongoing construction of new, more expensive and larger square footage
homes being built all along the river. Before the wildfires of 2020 this stretch
of river would consist of older homes and cabins hidden among the trees
and lush vegetation along the Santiam