Sea Kayaking the 2nd Clearest
Lake in the World (Waldo Lake)
Sea Kayaking Waldo Lake:
Depart: Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Return: Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
Waldo Lake, at 5,400 feet in elevation, is the second largest natural lake in Oregon, covering 6,700 acres with 420 feet of depth in some places. Its water is so clear it looks like you’re flying. Formed by sheet glaciations during the Ice Age, the lake is close to many geologically recent volcanoes in the midst of the Central Oregon Cascades. Peaks such as the 10,000-foot Three Sisters are visible in the distance. The eastern side lake has three Forest Service campgrounds and the western side is the 39,200-acre Waldo Lake Wilderness. Most of this trip’s camping will occur on the western shore.
The following description does not cover all the aspects of the trip, but it will give you a few more details about this adventure. Due to the many variables of outdoor trips, it’s impossible to describe exactly what the trip will be like. The Waldo Lake Wilderness is about a 5-hour drive from Portland. The first night of your trip you’ll camp near the van, somewhere close to the lake in a campground. On the last night of your trip, expect to car camp again so you can arrive in Portland early and finish cleanup by noon or so.
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The group will practice basic sea kayaking techniques and rescue methods at the start of the trip. This will involve getting wet. All the food, water, sleeping bags, clothing, gear, tents, and group equipment, such as stoves and tarps, is loaded into the kayaks and carried with the group throughout the trip. On some days, the group may paddle 6 miles or more. Participants will need to wear wetsuits at times, depending on the weather and the route. The water in Waldo Lake is cold, averaging about 60°F on the surface in the summer. Immersion in this water for more than a short period of time can result in hypothermia.
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Weather factors (such as wind and rain) may influence the group’s plans and route. Wind can be a factor at any time on the lake, although the water tends to be calmer in the early morning. The weather can be a beautiful 80°F at noon and then be sleeting by 4 p.m. It’s not impossible to have snow in late August in the Waldo Lake Wilderness. Nights are generally cool to cold, and the temperature can drop below freezing at night. Rain can blow in from the Pacific Ocean at any time, creating wet, foggy weather. While August is one of the driest months in the Northwest, participants need to be prepared for precipitation with good rain gear. Even the driest months in the Northwest can, at times, be pretty damp. Thunderstorms with lightning are possible. Fire danger is generally high at this time of the year, and participants need to be careful with matches and stoves. For this reason the trip is non-smoking.
The hiking trails in the Waldo Lake Wilderness are often steep. To get to some of the stunning high meadows and viewpoints, hikers must climb a series of switchbacks, so it helps to do some exercise like running or walking during the summer to get yourself into shape. As you might expect, not everyone in the group will be able to hike at the same speed, so there are probably going to be some compromises made on routes. On the average, the group expects to hike about 6-8 miles every other day with daypacks. Mosquitoes can be plentiful or non-existent, depending on how cold the nights are and how dry the season has been. Trails in this area are heavily wooded and can be confusing, so it is important to hike in a group with map and compass.
There are animals that will eat your food unless it is hung from trees. Mostly these are squirrels and chipmunks, but bears can be found in the area as well. We have never had a bear bother our camps in the Waldo Lake Wilderness, but participants do need to be careful not to leave food in their packs, clothes, or tents at night.
Yellow jackets, wasps, or hornets are very common at this time of the year, and people with the potential for severe reactions to stings need to carry anaphylaxis kits with them. Mosquitoes and flies can be plentiful or non-existent, depending on how cold the nights are and how dry the season has been. Usually the mosquitoes are not troublesome, but West Nile virus has been identified in the Pacific Northwest, so avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent and clothing to cover up bare skin is always a good idea.
Common injuries which could occur on this trip include blisters on hands (from paddling), blisters on feet from new hiking boots, people cutting themselves with pocket knives, people burning their fingers by handling pots on a stove without hot pads or gloves, spilling boiling water, people cutting their feet as a result of walking barefoot, and sunburn from UV reflection off the water. These are all preventable with a little caution and common sense. Please note that our trips go to remote areas and medical help is usually at least one day away. Our trips generally have radios or cellular phones, but remember cellular service is not available in many wilderness areas. Please complete and return the Health & Diet Questionnaire to inform our trip leaders of any conditions or illnesses that you have.
Water from streams and lakes needs to be filtered or treated before you can drink it. We have pumps and tablets to do this, which remove or neutralize Giardia, bacteria, and viruses. It’s also important to practice minimum impact camping techniques such as packing out all litter and food waste, not using soap in streams or lakes, and not camping on fragile meadows. Instructors will brief the group on low-impact camping techniques at the start of the trip.
Waldo Lake is a spectacular body of water, unlike any other in Oregon. Huckleberries will still be ripening in the high meadows. Fall colors will just be beginning as frost hits this high-elevation basin. The sunrises and sunsets are simply amazing. It’s a terrific place for a Breakaway Adventure trip. Have a great summer, and we’ll see you in August!
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(Four Pages)