Tier 3: Camping and Paddling at Clear Lake along the McKenzie River

Time for our annual camping & paddle around Clear Lake - along the beautiful McKenzie River!

LOCATION: We will be camping in Coldwater Cove Campground in the Willamette National Forest. The campground is the the east of Corvallis & is about 2 hours from Portland. This is opening weekend at the campground.. yay. We're doing it a bit different this year, as we have not reserved campsites. This will allow flexibility if weather is non cooperative. Instead, we are utilizing the numerous 1st come/1st serve campsites available. I'm hoping to be on Loop A sites 1-4, 16 with the 2nd choice being Loop B 20-21, 27-29, 31. I will be there bright & early Fri morning, to hopefully secure spots (I assume I will be successful, given my early arrival, but of course there is no guarantee). If you would also like to come early, let me know.

ATTENDEES: This is a Tier 3 event, which is meant for experienced kayakers with a solid history of attending events with our group. Everyone goes on the waitlist to start with & the organizers will evaluate each person's abilities before moving them to the going list (*see cost below with *payment info). Please only sign up if you are serious about going & keep your RSVP updated if something changes.

COST: Each site is $25/night. You are allowed 1 car per site (note there is a $9 daily parking charge for any extra vehicles - payable to the park on arrival, if necessary). Please let me know:
-if you are open to or would like to share a site (or if you def want your own site)
-plan to sleep in your car
-or want to bring a camper/RV
Obviously, I'll do my best to coordinate & arrange all.

PAYMENT: ***Important: Once you are moved to going (I will send a reminder), you must send **payment** to me via venmo @tanja-diers (I also have paypal - or arrange other payment method). If needed, the last 4 digits of my phone are 6651. This is because I will be paying for sites. Payment will be $50 total. If you end of sharing or there is other cost saving things, I will refund difference. Please be flexible.

CANCELLATIONS: Please only sign up if you truly expect to make the trip. We understand things happen though... so, if you need to cancel, please do so by 6/4. **Note very bad weather will move the event to a different weekend. Watch for organizer updates if this is the case.

SCHEDULE:
--Friday: Check in time starts at 2PM. We may do a short hike in the area.
--Saturday: Wake up, have breakfast, head to the boat ramp, and hit the water! We will be getting some amazing views! Pack a lunch to eat somewhere on the shore.
--Sunday: We pack the cars & check out before 12PM. We will then pull out the kayaks down the road at the beautiful Fish Lake to explore that lake before heading home. Feel free to leave anytime you're ready on Sunday, but please leave no trace and pack out what you packed in, including trash.

CAMPING/PADDLING:
-Please pack everything you would need for a multi-day camping trip. REI has a good list on their website. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/family-camping-checklist.html. You won't necessarily need everything on this list, but it is a good place to start. Please remember to pack clothes and a sleeping setup based on the weather and bring a headlamp!
-There is access to a toilet, shower, and extra parking for additional vehicles. There will be a fire ring, a picnic table, and access to water nearby.
-Firewood should be available for purchase at the campground.
-The paddle on Saturday will be multiple hours, please plan to bring enough hydration and sunscreen (or sun protective clothing) to keep yourself safe on the water. Also don’t forget your PFD and whistle (and your actual watercraft too).

Read more about the area in this article.
http://visitmckenzieriver.com/oregon/item/clear-lake/
Read about campground here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4362

DISCLAIMER: Meetup leaders are unpaid volunteers and claim no special expertise or knowledge. By attending this meetup, you agree that you are responsible for your own health, safety, and decision making and that the organizer(s)/host(s) will not be held liable for any injury or health issue you sustain while in attendance. We will participate as a group but ultimately YOU are responsible for your own experience, safety, and decision-making.