This will be the first post of many chronicling my adventures on the Spokane River.
Yesterday I hosted a group of nearly 20 paddlers down the Spokane River from Upriver Dam to the heart of downtown Spokane as part of the Spokane River Forum’s “Meet Me At The River Raft and Kayak Passport Series”.
It was an incredible day to be out on the water, made even better with an occasional splash to combat the heat.
Kayaks setting off on yesterday's voyage on the middle Spokane River.
Big thanks goes out to Spokane Parks and Recreation for their equipment, their guidance and their professionalism. And also a big thanks to Mike LaScuola, Environmental Resources Program Director for the Spokane Regional Health District for joining us on the trip and for speaking at the beginning about Spokane River contaminants and how to avoid them.
We had a great time paddling down the river and were treated to quite the unique vantage point of Spokane. There’s something to be said about being that close to the urban center of Washington state’s second largest city and feeling miles removed from civilization. It’s really quite amazing how diverse this relatively short river is. In 111 miles you really do get a little of everything. Perhaps the most fascinating perspective gained from the experience was just how many people were recreating on the Spokane River – and how many ways they were doing so.
All along accessible stretches of the river, from the Greene St. Bridge to Mission Bridge, there were people wading in and around the water beating the heat. We passed fellow kayakers, tubers and people bridge jumping. The river was alive and it wasn’t just with recreation. Several times we encountered water fowl, spotted some beaver activity around Avista and captured a brief glimpse of a hawk looking for a meal. It was a pleasure to share the river with so many living creatures.
That’s not to say it was all a “walk in the park”. There are certainly some suspect areas on this particular stretch of the river. This due mostly to the heavy industrial activity along Trent and the proximity of the river.
I already can’t wait for my next trip out and I look forward to being back on that stretch to address some of the issues.
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