NATIONAL COAST TRAIL ASSOCIATION

5124 NE 34th Ave. - Portland, OR 97211-7452 - http://www.coasttrails.org - (503) 335-3876

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 31st, 2003
Media Contacts: Al LePage, Executive Director, National Coast Trail Association, (503) 335-3876
                            Chris Hathaway, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, (503) 226-1565 ext. 228
                             Steve Gibons, co-owner, Scappoose Bay Kayaking, (503) 397-2161

     Al LePage, Executive Director of the National Coast Trail Association (NCTA), begins traveling some 140 miles by kayak on Saturday, August 2nd from the public boat launch on Hamilton Island at Bonneville Dam, a facility managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.  He will paddle over the first two weeks of August during the "Bonneville to the Pacific! event to promote public awareness about the proposed Lower Columbia River Water Trail.  The paddler joining him along this first reach of the water trail, known as "The Gorge," will be Steve Gibons, co-owner of Scappoose Bay Kayaking in Scappose, Oregon.  They will travel approximately 15 miles to Rooster Rock State Park on the first day, and continue another 14 miles to reach Government Island during Sunday, August 3rd.  "The Gorge" section itself is about 22 miles in length beginning at Bonneville Dam -- the first safe launch site being Hamilton Island Boat Ramp -- and ends at the Parkerville Boat Ramp in Camas, Washington.  An entertaining and educational public presentation will be given by LePage and Chris Hathaway (Estuary Partnership) at the REI store at Janzten Beach at 1798 Janzten Beach Center in Portland, OR at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, August 5th.  Although guided paddling is not available to the public as part of the paddle event, the public can arrange tours along various sections of the trail through various local area businesses.  Examples include Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe in Portland, OR; Scappoose Bay Kayaking in St. Helens, OR; and Skamokawa Center in Skamokawa, WA.

     "The Gorge is where the trail begins," notes Al LePage, Executive Director of the National Coast Trail Association.  "There's waterfalls, rocky walls, and salmon fins!  It's scenic beauty must have inspired the Corps of Discovery as they came down the river in their dugout canoes under the command of Lewis & Clark in 1805.  In fact, they referred to Beacon Rock in their journals, established campsites near today's Rooster Rock State Park, Cottonwood Beach/William Clark Park beach launch, and even explored the Sandy River.  But, there's much more history to be discovered here, too," adds LePage.  "Besides the Chinook and other Indian tribes who traveled along this stretch, this was the early water route for Oregon Trail pioneers before the Barlow Road was built, and also served as the 'express' inland route for the Hudson's Bay Company to travel from Fort Vancouver to the interior of Canada!   There's also the U.S. Army's Fort Cascades, and the salmon fishing and timber industries that once existed here on such a grand scale.  Yes, there's lots to see -- and learn about -- on this reach of the water trail."

     The Lower Columbia River Water Trail is envisioned as a 146-mile water trail from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean that people in non-motorized boats can safely travel for day or overnight explorations.  The water trail links together seven specific sections or "reaches" along the lower Columbia, each approximately 20 miles long -- about the distance of a typical two-day paddle.  Beginning at Bonneville Dam and going downriver these "reaches" are, (1) The Gorge, (2) Portland/Vancouver, (3) Sauvie Island, (4) Kalama/St. Helens, (5) Longview/Rainier, (6) The Refuges, and (7) The Mouth.  The journey along its length is spectacular and fascinating, a rich melange of gorgeous landscapes, historical sites, and working ports of call.  This free-flowing section of the Columbia River flows through the magnificient Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area with its volcanic cliffs and waterfalls.  It also travels along many wildlife refuges; waterfowl abounds at Sauvie Island and Ridgefield, there's Columbian white-tailed deer at the Julia Butler Hanson refuge, and one may enjoy the multitude of marshes and islands of the Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge.  Cultural and educational attractions along the river corridor include historical and maritime museums, abandoned riverfront towns, Forts Vancouver and Clatsop, and places where Native American's lived and worked in the past.

     "Safety and respect are two of the most important things to carry with you at all times," emphasizes LePage.  "First, you shouldn't just throw a kayak or canoe into the Columbia and think you're ready.  The Columbia's not a lazy river like the Mississippi; even in summer its waters are cold, its winds are strong, and tides effect the current and water level all the way to Beacon Rock!  You need to be prepared in terms of the necessary knowledge, skill-level, and proper equipment to do the specific stretch of river you'll be paddling.  A lifejacket is an obvious piece of safety equipment, but I also invested in everything from a VHF radio -- to speak with approaching ship captains and send distress signals -- to a leash attaching my paddle to the kayak if I flip.  Second, a lot of the shoreline along the water trail belongs either to individuals or the public agencies managing their lands for the benefit of wildlife.  Those using the trail need to respect landowners and agencies alike by only using places where resting, camping, and access are allowed, and obeying the regulations that protect wildlife and their habitat."

    The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (Estuary Partnership) has been coordinating the effort to develop the water trail since August 2001 under the direction of Chris Hathaway, Director of Watershed programs for the partnership.  The work is being done through the Lower Columbia River Water Trail Committee, with technical assistance provided through the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.  The Committee was formed in September 2001 as a bi-state coalition of people with a diversity of interests and connections to the river.  It includes representatives from state and federal agencies, local governments, environmental groups, paddling organizations and businesses, historical associations, economic development councils, trail associations, as well as interested citizens and others.  The group works as an ad-hoc committee of Estuary Partnership, a non-profit bi-state organization funded through the US Environmental Protection Agency and the states of Oregon and Washington.  The committee's work has focused on planning, mapping and inventory of facilities for lauching, landing, resting, and camping, identifying local partners and gaining support for the trail concept, public outreach events, and developing a quality brochure.

     Steve Gibons, co-owner of Scappose Bay Kayaking, is an avid swimmer, water skier, and canoe and kayak enthusiast.  He has been around boats and water-related activities -- like snorkeling and scuba -- for some thirty years.  He arrived in the Northwest in 1996 after living in Hawaii for over 20 years.  Among other things, Steve taught ocean kayaking around the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai; did Humpback whale research from catamerans and kayaks; and helped to build a green sea turtle sanctuary on the island of Lanai.  He spends a great deal of time kayaking the sloughs and waterways of Scappoose Bay, and has kayaked the lower Columbia River below Scappoose Bay.  This will be his first kayaking experience paddling the stretch from Bonneville Dam to the Portland/Vancouver area.  Steve is definitely not a landlubber -- and more certainly never will be -- although he did just leave his 57-foot motor trawler just a few months ago to live in a little house overlooking the Columbia River in St. Helens, Oregon.

    LePage, is an avid hiker, cyclist, and kayaker.  He hiked in the footsteps and kayaked in the paddle strokes of the 1805-06 Lewis & Clark Expedition along sections of both the Washington and Oregon coasts during 1999 and 2000. He also retraced -- dressed as the famed mountain man with replica gear -- the Jedediah Smith Trail during 2000 some 200 miles over 3 weeks along the southern Oregon coast on the exact calendar dates it was originally done by Smith in 1828.  He most recently retraced the historic 150-mile route of the Alexander McLeod expedition that first explored the central Oregon coast in 1826, doing so by bicycle from Fort Vancouver to Lincoln City, and then on foot -- portraying the not so famous Hudson's  Bay Company Chief Trader in authentic period clothing with replica gear -- from Lincoln City to Florence, Oregon.  LePage is also the first, and apparently only person, to have ever hiked the entire 1800-mile length of the West Coast Trail, having done the 400-mile the Oregon Coast Trail section in 1988, the 200-mile Washington Coast Trail in 1992, and the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail in 1996.  He recently received the 2003 Doug Newman Award from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department for his efforts towards the development of recreational trails in Oregon.
 

The National Coast Trail Association (NCTA) is a non-profit organization working to "Keep The Coast For Everyone" through recreational trails, public access, and the preservation of historic and natural environments.  It is also a member of the Lower Columbia River Water Trail Committee.  Visit www.coasttrails.org for organizational and special event details.

Scappoose Bay Kayaking is a community business selling paddle sports gear, providing training, and offering tours along sections of the Lower Columbia River Water Trail.  They work in cooperation with, and support the efforts of, the Lower Columbia River Water Trail Committee.  Visit www.scappoosebaykayaking.com for further information.

The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership is a non-profit bi-state organization working in Washington and Oregon to protect and restore the nationally significant lower Columbia River esturay with on-the-ground improvements, education and information programs.  It coordinates the efforts of the Lower Columbia River Water Trail Committee.  Visit www.lcrep.org for further information.

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