The voyage was planned and led by Cascade Adventures’ trip leaders Jeff Myers and John Sutton and comprised of 56 miles of paddling over the five day, four night trip.
The trip began at crystal clear Hosmer Lake, picked up at Wickiup Reservoir, and finished with the upper section of the Deschutes River.
Cascade Adventures has been at OSU for five years now, with multiple outings focusing on providing positive outdoor learning experiences to all levels of skill and experience.
It was a goal for each participant to have a “first” every day, the personal “firsts” ranged from the first pancake ever cooked, to a safety drill involving tipping a canoe in frigid Hosmer Lake.
Participant Kelsy Cole described the experience as “an opportunity to grow and learn to do things for the first time on my own.”
Students learned valuable outdoor skills such as paddle strokes, river dynamics, swift water safety, and the ability to set up a primitive camp. Each individual was challenged by choice and had opportunities to try new things.
Kelly Pence, a Tourism and Outdoor Leadership major commented, “It’s a great intro to skills I’ll need in the future.”
As the group toured the outdoors, the knowledgeable guides gave an in depth interpretive tour of the area.
Animal and plant species were identified and discussed at length. Golden mantled ground squirrels, Kokanee salmon, eagles, osprey, blue heron, geese, pipers, and even pelicans were often within close proximity.
Cascade Adventures provides a positive environment to make connections. Spending five days with the same people in remote areas tends to remove social static, and allow people to be their genuine selves. It’s easy to make friends while having a blast canoeing down a river and even easier when you have to sleep under the same tarp.
Participant Elise Hoyt described the experience as “a confidence builder, a good way to meet people” and ultimately as “a solid way to start out the school year.”
Cascade Adventures is funded through the student fee committee, and not only supplied guides, canoes, and tarps, but also provided gourmet backcountry meals free of charge.
The delicious meals ranged from veggie burritos to a hearty hiker’s Sheppard’s pie.
The group worked together in planning meals, preparing food, and completing camp chores. The crew even enjoyed a delicious cake creation on the fourth night under the safety of a bridge as a magnificent thunderstorm rolled over the Upper Deschutes River.
Cascade Adventures offers hiking, winter sports, rock climbing, white water rafting and various other outdoor activities.
Outings vary in length, some day trips, some overnight. Outings are only limited by student demand and availability of outdoor leaders. If you are interested in going on a trip, contact Jeff Myers at jeffrey.myers@osucascades.edu.