Kayak view of the Tualatin (Lazy)
River |
I started this series over a year ago and planned to have
several more along the river my now. Unfortunately, I tore my
rotator cuff and with surgery and therapy haven’t been able to get
out to kayak and geocache this year. Now that I am back in gear,
expect to see several new caches in the series.
This cache does not require a watercraft and is easily reachable
by land. Navigating the river is optional. The cache container is a
gallon sized plastic container. The cache is NOT wheelchair
accessible as the area of the cache is sloping.
For those of you that are paddlers, paddling upstream on the
Tualatin River is as easy as downstream. I spend a lot of time
kayaking the Tualatin and decided to place a series of caches along
the river. Some will be at launch points that will be accessible by
river or land. Others will be accessible by water only. You can
find a map of the Tualatin River drainage basin at http://www.tualatinriverkeepers.org/watershedtour.html.
Click here to view other caches in the Lazy
River series.
This particular cache is located in a small Tualatin River Open
Space on the east side of the Tualatin River. The park would be a
great place for walking your dog and there is a clearly marked hard
packed loop trail. You can, easily, get to the cache by land or my
launching your watercraft at the “Fields Bridge” launch site
specified in Lazy River #1.
If you are approaching the cache by water, you will find a
clearing between some large trees where you should be able to beach
your craft at N45 21.190 W122 40.152. The cache can be found to
your right.
If you are going to approach the cache by land, park your car
near the park entrance at N45 21.150 W122 40.002.
Due to the fact that this area can flood during winter storms,
avoid the area when you hear that the Tualatin River is flooding.
Because of the potential for flooding, I had to hide the cache
above ground level in a tree, so children will not be able to reach
the cache. Be sure to carefully conceal the cache container!
Caution! Padding is potentially a dangerous sport. Lives can be
lost when paddlers don’t follow safe paddling procedures. You must
know your skill level. Never try to overdue it! Paddlers should be
aware of the weather and currents. The water can be cold and rain
can affect the flow of the river. If you are not an experienced
paddler, do not attempt to paddle the river during the cold wet
months. The river rises and runs fast then and you could get into
trouble if you are beyond your skill level. Don't forget your
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)!
These warnings are intended to make you aware of potential
dangers, not to scare you away. Actually, this section of the
Tualatin is a beautiful and calm portion of the river, that is
suitable for the whole family in the summer months as long as you
follow safe paddling procedures. Happy geocaching and paddling!