Hood River, Oregon
FLOODING ABOVE 13.0 FEET…EXPECT THE RIVER TO GO OVER ITS BANKS IN A FEW LOCATIONS. FLOODING OF LOW-LYING PROPERTY AND ROADS ADJACENT TO THE RIVER IS LIKELY. STAY AWAY FROM RIVER BANKS THAT MAY BE ERODED AWAY BY THE HIGH AND FAST-FLOWING WATER.
Today the Hood River was 14.08 feet above its normal level. We watched, fascinated, as it disgorged a huge floating island of logs, sediment and debris into the Columbia River. Then we got a call from Moe: ‘You guys have to come and see the White Salmon River – it’s crazy!’
The river may have been crazy – a seething, frothing tumult of chocolate-brown water – but nowhere near as crazy as the guys who decided this kayaking opportunity was too good to miss. It looked unbelievably dangerous, but to them, it was irresistible.
They went flying past us as we stood on the bank. A run that normally takes around an hour took them just 6 minutes.
I can’t wait to learn to kayak.
