Chas Jones, PhD

Paddling notes

Since I have been paddling since I was 8 years old, this is missing a lot of details and a lot of trips. More recent years are mostly accurate, however.

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Oregon River flows

  1. June 3-7, 2020 – Hells Canyon of the Snake River: Hells Canyon Dam to Heller Bar – [17,000 25,000 cfs] with M. Heck, D. Sievers, M. Malaska, M. Raggon, A. Baltensperger, K. Kelsey. 3 oar boats.
    1. Trip Notes
      • Camped at XXX1, XXX2, and XXX3
      • Sun shade was welcome addition. Should buy a sand stake.
      • Had a very light raft, cooler, and drybox, which may have contributed to flipping in Wild Sheep Rapid
      • Flipped in Wild Sheep Rapid the raft got turned and was hit by a wave on the left side.
      • Little traffic upstream of Pittsburgh Landing. Current was flowing quickly downstream of the confluence with the Main Salmon
      • Compilation video from our trip (Credit: M. Heck)
  2. May 14-16, 2020 – Rogue River, OR: Grave Creek to Foster Bar – [4,000 cfs at Agness] with Jason Gross. 1 oar raft, 1 cataraft
    1. Good write-ups on Blossom Bar and Mule Creek Canyon
    2. Trip Notes
      • Camped at Upper Horseshoe (very nice) and Upper Solitude (Nice, with bear fence, but ticks in grassy area
      • Ran fish ladder of Rainee Falls with no surprises.
      • Raft and cataraft took left run down Blossom Bar without issue
      • Launched on Thursday morning and took out on Saturday. There was plenty of river traffic at the launch (despite COVID-19 pandemic)
    3. Other Notes
      • 60-75 degree F temperatures, plenty of rain on Day 1, with partly sunny and cloudy conditions for the remainder of the trip
      • We did a backpacking style meals that only required boiling water
      • Hot cocoa & thermos bottle would have been welcome additions to mid-day options during rain on first day
      • We attempted to be as socially distant / responsible as possible and wore masks in the car to and from Merlin
      • Greased trailer wheel bearings before trip
  3. May 9-12, 2019 – Rogue River, OR: Almeda to Foster Bar – [5,700 cfs at Agness] with Ryan Hill, Dave Roon, Joe Louis, Neil Benson, Erin Whorton, Jason Gross, Morgan Gross, & Kimberly Gross. 2 oar rafts, 1 cataraft, 3 IKs.
    1. Trip Notes
      • Camped at Almeda campground ($45 fee; should have made reservations even though it was empty on Thursday evening), Jenny Creek (nice camp) and Black Bear Bar (hot in afternoon sun).
      • Ran fish ladder of Rainee Falls with no surprises.
      • 1 Raft, cataraft, and IKs took left run down Blossom Bar without issue; other raft ran right channel of Blossom Bar and got stuck in an Eddy for a while.
      • Launched on Friday morning and took out on Sunday. There was plenty of river traffic on days 2 and 3.
    2. Notes from our IK’s
      • IK paddlers were comfortable in farmer john wet suits, splash jackets, and booties (no gloves required).
      • Rapids through top of Mule Creek Canyon were challenging for IKs. Recommend advising IKs to eddy out midway through the canyon.
      • The length and downriver wave train in Blossom Bar was more challenging than the main paddling maneuver near the top of the rapid. Note that there is a Class III rapid just around the corner after Blossom Bar Rapid.
    3. Other Notes
      • 90 degree F temperatures, no rain, no tents needed
      • Needed more olive oil
      • There is no liquor store in Merlin
      • Greased trailer wheel bearings before trip
  4. July 15, 2018 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – [2,200 cfs (1.35 ft) at Vida, OR] with Chas (canoe), Ryan Hill (IK), Joe Louis (IK), Dave Johnson and Kathy (Raft)
  5. June 23, 2018 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – 6 person Paddle raft; 1 IK [2,400 cfs (1.48 ft) at Vida, OR] with Chas, Johanna, Ben Mason, Jen XXX, Jiajia Lin, Joe Lewis, Ryan Hill
  6. May 12-14, 2018 – Rogue River, OR: (from Alameda Bar to Foster Bar; 3,300 cfs at Agness, 63 deg. F. water temperature) with Ted Martinez, Jason Gross, Steve Frandzel, and Neil Benson. 1 oar raft, 1 cataraft, 2 IKs.
    • Camped at Doe Creek and Upper Half Moon Bar (both were nice, but Doe Creek had suboptimal groover location)
    • Rainee Falls was running as expected, but middle chute was slightly shallow with strong cross current that pulled raft towards the main chute. Buddy ran middle chute at similar flows and used two bow paddlers to maintain strong forward momentum into the middle chute.
    • Raft and IKs took left run down Blossom Bar without issue; cataraft ran right channel of Blossom Bar without issue. IKs paddlers found the length of Blossom Bar more challenging than the main paddling maneuver near the top of the rapid.
    • Rapids through top of Mule Creek Canyon were challenging for IKs and the length of the canyon was exhausting for IKs. I recommend advising IKs to eddy out midway through the canyon.
    • Paid for 1 shuttle vehicle to Foster Bar requiring us to drive to Merlin on Eden Valley Route, which was long and difficult to navigate. I recommend paying for additional shuttle in future (avoiding additional gas costs and 4 hours drive time) or having additional passengers meeting in Roseburg rather than Merlin
    • Launched on Saturday morning and took out on Monday. There was little river traffic with some on camp sites on last day, but overall small amount of river traffic (including at takeout).
    • IK paddlers were comfortable in farmer john wet suits, splash jackets, and tall booties (no gloves required).
  7. April 29, 2018 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – 3 person Oar boat [4,300 cfs (2.45 ft) at Vida, OR]
  8. August 6, 2017 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – 5 person paddle raft [3,400 cfs at Vida, OR]
  9. July 9, 2017- McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – 6 person paddle raft [3,000 cfs (1.75 ft) at Vida, OR]
  10. June 25, 2017- McKenzie River, OR: Blue River to Helfrich Landing – 6 person paddle raft [3,000 cfs (1.75 ft) at Vida, OR]
  11. May 13-15, 2017 – Rogue River, OR: (from Almeda Bar to Foster Bar; 8,600 cfs at Agness, 56 deg. F. water temperature) with Mike Heck, Joe Ebersole, Ryan Hill, Aaron Jenkins, Mark Malaska, Jacob Rhodes, Jon Rhodes, and Clay Jungerman. 3 oar rafts, 1 cataraft, 3 IKs. No mosquitoes; class III-V rapids; many of technical rapids washed out. Little river traffic (Sat.-Mon. or high flows could be reason). Mike and I teamed up to lead the trip we rented gear from OSU (Raft, kayak, etc.) and Univ. of Oregon (Johnny Partner toilet system)
    • Camped at Lower Whiskey Creek (no outhouse) and Solitude Bar (hiker outhouse, but groover would have been preferred over outhouse condition, which wasn’t bad)
    • Rainee Falls was running big with no distinct middle chute. Jacob IK’d the middle chute and flipped. Ryan and Chas rowed the main falls without incident, although Ryan’s run was rather threatening (watch the video).
    • 2 failed to catch eddy at Blossom Bar and ran right side without scouting
    • Blossom Bar’s Picket fence was washed out as was most of the rocks of the rapid. Mike & Joe rowed the traditional route without incident or significant effort. Jacob unknowingly went over the picket fence without consequence, which was washed out. Jon and Clay rode in a raft for Blossom Bar.
    • IK paddlers were chilled in wetsuits, booties, and splashtops and wished that they had neoprene gloves
    • Trailer bearing may need to be greased
  12. April 2, 2017 – Willamette River, OR: Peoria to Corvallis bridge – 6 people, 2 canoes, 1 IK [30,000 cfs (19.0 ft)] @ Willamette River at Corvallis – Easy Class I
  13. August 14, 2016 – Rogue River, OR: Almeda Bar to Foster Bar; 2 person oar boat, 1 inflatable kayak, 1 stand-up paddleboard [2,200 cfs (4.3 ft) at Agness, OR]
    • Got hung up in the middle chute of Rainee Falls
    • No problems in Blossom Bar when running left channel
    • Mark, Sarah, and Drew joined me… Mark rocked the SUP.
    • Take-out got crazy busy at 11 AM
    • Trailer had a bearing blow-out. OARS whitewater company hauled our trailer and gear to their shop in Merlin, where we repaired the trailer
  14. July 30, 2016 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – 4 person paddle raft [2,100 cfs (1.65 ft) at Vida, OR]
  15. July 24, 2016 – North Umpqua River, OR: Horseshoe Bend to Gravel Bin – 8 person paddle raft [1,000 cfs (5.10 ft) above Copeland Creek]
    • 4+ hour day trip
    • Got stuck on numerous rocks, likely do to low maneuverability of big paddle raft
    • Got stuck in Pinball rapid: Should try to run more river center than river right
  16. July 4, 2016 – McKenzie River, OR: Blue River to Helfrich Landing – 6 person paddle raft [1,950 cfs (1.65 ft) at Vida, OR]
  17. June 4, 2016 – McKenzie River, OR: Blue River to Helfrich Landing – 4 person paddle raft [2,750 cfs (1.65 ft) at Vida, OR]
  18. May 13-15, 2016 – Rogue River, OR: Alameda Bar to Foster Bar – 2 oar rafts [4,400 cfs (4.3 ft) at Agness, OR]
    • 2 nights – Day 1 (10 miles, 3 PM launch), Day 2 (22 miles), Day 3 (5 miles, 10 AM takeout)
    • Camped at Montgomery Rapid and Clay Hills Rapid
    • Beautiful weather, nice flow level, 64 F water was pleasant
    • Ran middle-chute Rainee Falls (video) and ran right channel of Blossom Bar
    • Blossom Bar aerial footage video
    • Pre-permit season float (permits season starts May 15)
    • Not many boaters encountered on water, but many passed in camps.
    • Take-out was a zoo after 10:30 AM
  19. May 7, 2016 – McKenzie River, OR: Finn Rock to Helfrich Landing – oar raft, 2 IKs [3,200 cfs (1.85 ft) at Vida, OR]
    • Nice Class III+ paddle: Brown’s Hole was big and Marten’s Rapid was pushy
    • Most rapids could be avoided; one IK flipped in Brown’s Hole; safety not compromised
  20. April 30, 2016 – Willamette River, OR: Peoria to Crystal Lake take out – 5 people, 1 raft (row), 2 IKs
  21. April 2, 2016 – Willamette River, OR: Peoria to Corvallis bridge – 17 people, 6 canoes, 2 IKs, 1 raft [12,000 cfs (13.3 ft)] @ Willamette River at Corvallis – Easy Class I
  22. August 8, 2015 – McKenzie River, OR: Olallie Campground to Paradise Campground – 7 person paddle raft [630 cfs (6.25 ft)@ Trail Br Dam near Belknap Springs, OR] – continuous Class II-III (8.5 miles)
    • 2 hours
    • Very bony river and near the low end of being runnable at this flow
    • Run fish ladder rapid on the left
    • Tried to scout Fish Ladder Rapid, but did not find good location from river or road
      • Directions for next time: Locate the pull-off where most raft trips launch: ~3/4 mile up the gravel road after crossing the bridge at mile post 17 (north of the McKenzie pass highway turn off) on highway 126 to a locked gate, then walk up the road another 200 feet and head for the river.
  23. July 18, 2015 – McKenzie River, OR: Blue River to Helfrich Landing – 3 person paddle raft [1950 cfs (1.05 ft) @ Vida, OR]
    • Nice Class II-III+ paddle: Easy family trip
    • Marten’s Rapid (Class III was the only considerable rapid) and is difficult to scout (so do your research online beforehand. Here is a link to a good video.)
    • Alternate gage station (McKenzie River at Rainbow)
  24. July 12, 2015 – North Santiam River, Packsaddle to Mill City, OR – 3 person paddle raft [1000 cfs (2.88 ft)- runnable in 14 ft raft]
  25. June 18-21, 2012 – Merlin, Oregon – Rogue River (from Alameda Bar to Foster Bar; 3,900 cfs, 65 deg. F. water temperature) with Ted Martinez, Matt Bowker, Brad McRae, James Battin, Florian Aldehoff, Justin Peterson, Brendan Belby, Roy Churchwell, Garin Samuelson, Dan Dauwalter, and Mark Falzarano. No mosquitoes; class III-IV rapids; much of technical rapids washed out. Fish ladder around Rainey Falls (boils, strong hole). Busy river. I applied for 4 permits on June 18 for 18 guys. We pulled Roy Churchwell’s permit. I was the trip leader and we rented gear from White Water Cowboys
  26. May 5, 2012 – Upper Chena River (2nd Bridge to MP 29) – Woody debris, beautiful weather, no mosquitos, easy paddle.
  27. Summer 2011, 2012 – Numerous day trips on the Chena River through Fairbanks
  28. May 28-29, 2011 – Fairbanks, Alaska – Upper Chena River (7 hours, moderately high water, with Dan Robertson, Lila Tauzer, and Johanna Carson). Lots of woody debris, beautiful weather, some mosquitos, no portaging
    • Put in: Chena Hot Springs Rd (MP 48)
    • Take out: Chena Hot Springs Rd (MP 31.4)
  29. April 30, 2011 – Fairbanks, Alaska – Chena River, 3 miles; Boatel to Pikes; with Roy Churchwell, Nathan Stumpf and Megan (Roy’s friend), canoe, overcast, 50 degrees F, 2 hours, ice floating alongside of us
  30. July 17, 2010 – Stockholm, Sweden – Baltic sea, 1 mile: Archipelago (south side of XXXX island); with Johanna Carson, 2 person kayak, sunny, 70 degrees F, 2.5 hours
  31. May 21, 2010 Fairbanks, Alaska – Chena River, 5 miles; Peger Rd. to Pikes; with Roy Churchwell, Johanna Carson, canoe, overcast, 60 degrees F, 3 hours
  32. May 14, 2010 – Fairbanks, Alaska – Chena River, 5 miles; Peger Rd. to Pikes; with Roy Churchwell, Johanna Carson, Michaela Swanson; MC and Marie Heidemann (Roy’s friend), canoe, overcast, 50 degrees F, 3 hours,
  33. September, 2009 – Fairbanks, Alaska – Backwater slough – 2 miles, with Johanna Carson, canoe, sunny
  34. 2009: Albuquerque, Rio Grande, by canoe, Bernalillo to Alameda Bridge, 7 miles, Johanna Carson, Scott Durst, Michelle DelaCruz, Gabe Martinez, Cathy Nishida
  35. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater raft, 2 person: 6 miles with Todd Caplan
  36. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater raft, 6 person: 6 miles with Johanna Carson; Shawn Kelly, James Battin, Susie Koestner
  37. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater raft, 6 person: 6 miles with co-workers
  38. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater canoe, 2 person: 6 miles with Chad McKenna
  39. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; duckie, 1 person: 6 miles with Todd Caplan, Uncle Steve Harris
  40. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater raft, 1 person: 6 miles with Todd Caplan, Uncle Steve Harris
  41. Taos, NM: Rio Grande “Race course”; whitewater raft, 2 person: 6 miles with Todd Caplan
  42. Ghost Ranch, NM: Rio Chama “day stretch”; whitewater raft, 5 person: 8 miles with Vaughn Rhodes + 3 kids)
  43. Ghost Ranch, NM: Rio Chama “day stretch”; whitewater canoe, 2 person: 8 miles with Roy Churchwell
  44. Ghost Ranch, NM: Rio Chama “day stretch”; whitewater canoe, 2 person: 8 miles with Johanna Carson
  45. Ghost Ranch, NM: Rio Chama “day stretch”; whitewater canoe, 2 person: 8 miles with Gabe Martinez
  46. Ghost Ranch, NM: Rio Chama “Wilderness Reach”; whitewater canoe/ whitewater raft, 5 persons total: 35 miles with Johanna Carson, Fernando Daza, Pete David, Justin Peterson, 3 days
  47. February 2008; Abiquiu, NM: Rio Chama, downstream of Abiquiu dam, whitewater canoe, 2 person 16 miles, with Chad McKenna, 25 degrees F
  48. February 2008; Abiquiu, NM: Rio Grande, downstream of racecourse, whitewater canoe, 2 person 16 miles, with Chad McKenna, 8 degrees F
  49. Rio Grande, San Acacia, NM to xxx, 15 miles, duckie, 1 person with Todd Caplan, Jimmy O’Brien
  50. Salt River, Arizona: 4 days, whitewater stretch, 10 people, with Mike Stoddard and friends
  51. San Juan River, Colorado: 4 days, from Mexican hat downstream, 8 people, with Monica Hansen, Jason Raucci, Gina Mullen, Amanda Kapp, and friends
  52. San Juan River, Colorado: 3 days, ESPGSO River trip, 14 people, canoe, with James Battin, Matthew Loeser, Liz Ruther, Gina Mullen, Brad McRae and friends
  53. Colorado River, from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry, ESPGSO trip 2 days, canoe
  54. Colorado River, “Diamond Down”, 13 ft whitewater raft, 8 persons, 2 person in raft, with Jesse Evans, Brook Swanson, and friends
  55. Colorado River, Hoover Dam to xxx, 2 days, canoe, ESPGSO trip
  56. Colorado River, near Yuma, day trip with Ted Martinez
  57. Verde River (many times from Camp Verde to Beasley flats, by canoe), all water stages
  58. Verde River, AZ “Whitewater stretch”, by canoe and/or raft, numerous times
  59. Verde River, AZ, from Cottonwood to Camp Verde, by canoe
  60. Middle Fork American River, by raft, 16 miles, with Brad Mcrae, James Battin, Matthew Loeser, etc.
  61. Ashland, OR, Rogue River by raft with Johanna Carson, guided trip by xxxxx
  62. Ashland, OR, with Johanna Carson, Guided trip by xxxx
  63. Dixon, IL; Illinois Rivers (Rock River, Green River, Bureau Creek, etc.) canoeing
  64. Wolf Creek, Wisconsin, whitewater rafting
  65. Lexington, KY; canoeing