I was fortunate enough to get out Wednesday for a paddle -pedal on East Sandy. This was the first trip that was not brown water. I started the paddle in Van which is the eastern most bike trailhead. The water was clear enough to see about 3 feet deep. Likely the lowest water lvl I've paddled. I would venture to say it was about as good as it could get for a rec boat. Yes I hit a few rocks but then i enjoy negotiating rock gardens. Van is a pretty easy put in but the take out has to be desired. The trip from Van to the mouth is 11-12 miles but the current is always there. The pedal back is about 7 miles all uphill but the grade is negligible. Not a strainer to impede the paddling but one spot I ended up taking a shallow channel around a couple braided islands. Other than Mays Mill and a few cabins it is a fairly secluded valley. I will see this one again the sooner the better
|