Trip Coordinator: Bruce Eicher

Sunday, September 8 - Monday, September 9 (day paddles each day)

Class III+ “Upper” Tieton River, Washington.

Car camping option

Looking for a new off-season river to paddle? When most rivers are just a trickle here’s one that will be flowing fast; the Tieton in Washington State. Every year the Rimrock dam is opened in late summer to supply the Yakima Valley farms while other reservoir flows are lowered to promote safe salmon spawning.

Prior to the dam’s release this river would be running around 250cfs, this weekend expect close to 2000. This artificial high flow combined with steep gradient equates to a continuous, fast, big wave run with few eddies amongst brush covered banks. And to add more excitement there are a couple dozen channel splits, many with blind turns and a few expected wood strainers. Though the run is rated a III, come with IV skills and a rock-solid roll or self-rescue.

You will enjoy the warm temperature of the lake water and find lots of wave trains, holes, surf and boof rocks. And when you take a second to look around, the rock walls and hills are quite beautiful. River boaters of all type flock to catch this out of season water flow on the weekends, but it seems there’s always room for a few more.

Nights before and/or after kayaking I’ll have a couple camp sites near the takeout, Windy Point. Huge, dispersed camps and several reservation campgrounds are also along the river and more up on Rimrock Lake.

Here’s OWA’s link to the run.

Club trips are typically coordinated by one or two experienced boaters, and are always a great way to meet new people and/or explore new rivers. Many Club trips are scheduled in advance, like this one, and still others come together on the fly. Details for all trips, scheduled or otherwise, are shared via the Club’s private Google Group.

For this trip, the trip coordinator will send an email via the Club’s Google Group with meet up time and place, details about the specific river, etc. shortly before the scheduled date. To participate in this trip, watch for that email and respond to the trip coordinator to indicate your interest.

To help the logistics of the longer drive, camping details will be announced and possibly arranged for participants.

Unless otherwise noted, the trips are open to boaters of all kinds: canoes, hard shell kayaks and IKs. Many trips will include social time either on the river (e.g. a lunch stop) or off the river (bring a camp chair and beverage for socializing at the take out).