I woke up at 4:30am this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I tried for about another 30 minutes and then I finally got up. UGH! I was drinking my morning Diet Pepsi (yes, it’s true) and reading articles on the internet, when I thought about the weather for today. We have been anticipating sunshine and so I jumped up to look outside! Sure enough.
And so, I made a very impulsive decision – let’s go kayaking! Because I was going to be exploring by myself, I decided to go back to Foster Lake. As I was driving out there, I decided to take a journey I’ve never taken. So, a paddle out to the Foster Reservoir Dam was my mission. It’s about 3 miles from the Sunnyside Campground Boat Dock. So, off I went.
My journey today was the earliest time in the morning I’ve ever kayaked. It was actually very nice! I never saw another watercraft or saw a single person anywhere! It was heavenly. So, you turn to the right from the boat dock and go out under the bridge and then just straight out – heading West. It’s still kind of shocking to see Foster so low right now. Foster Lake’s water surface elevation was 615.98 ft today. During the summer time, it’s normally around 635 ft. That is a 20 ft difference!!
One of the best comparison photos I have from my journey today is that of the bridge that I kayaked underneath. The first one is today and the second one is dated Sept. 7, 2022. These photos really show the difference between what it was like today and what it’s like in the summer time.
When I’m writing a blog post, one of the things I do is find “factual” information to share and then I attach a link so you as the reader can access it. Well, when I was thinking about my trip today, it made me wonder what the history is behind Foster Reservoir. Did you know that construction began in 1961 and was finally finished in 1968. That, my friends, is a long time ago. The Atlas of Oregon Lakes had some interesting information if you want to check it out.
I digress! So, one of the most startling parts to see at Foster this time of the year is how the current dry land looks in front of Lewis Creek Park. The water level is about a foot lower than the last time I was there on Feb. 12th. There were so many tree stumps sticking up out of the water. In fact, I began paddling very slowly through that part because I kept getting high-centered. And it was during my adventure today that I saw a large land mass of rocks and trees stumps sticking up out of the water that I didn’t see last time. It was pretty to look at, but startling nonetheless.
As with my prior trips to Foster this winter, I saw so many tree stumps. In your mind, don’t think small like a Christmas tree stump. These stumps are HUGE! They each have really long branches belonging to their root systems. I had a hard time looking through my pictures and picking which ones I liked the best. But, here is a good representation.
I really think they all look like Octopus trees – looking as though they’re scooting across the rocks and sand. Ha! I just giggled and laughed every time I saw another one so unique and different from each other.
I finally made it to the dam. It was 2.96 miles from the Sunnyside Boat Ramp. When I was paddling out to the dam, I had a slight breeze behind me which created some current on the lake. Well, needless to say, I didn’t have to paddle very hard to get there.
The dam was very similar to others I have seen. But, the one difference with the Foster Reservoir Dam is that the water escapes through the bottom of the flood gates rather than the top. I’m not sure why that is, but interesting nonetheless.
When my kayak adventure was done for the day, I drove over to the dam so I could take some pictures. The first picture shows the view looking east (back to Sunnyside) and the other one faces west, towards Sweet Home/Lebanon.
One of the most startling sights I experienced was the huge volume of very dead tree limbs, branches, stumps and logs along the shoreline next to the dam. It was startling to see just how many there were. When Foster begins to refill again (another month or so), those logs are all going to be floating right by the dam opening. It seems to me that they should be dealt with now. I’m not sure why the powers-to-be have just left them there.
So, after viewing the dam, I turned around to head back. I stayed right along the shoreline on my left to try and stay out of the current on the lake’s surface. Well, then I received the answer that I didn’t know was the answer. HA! Along the north shore line, I spotted a vehicle tire. It looked very clean and in good condition. Something told me to stop. Fast forward – I ended up placing that tire on the front of my kayak. With the added weight up front, paddling against the current was a piece of cake. The extra weight kept my bow down. I never got sprayed with water at all! (Anyone want a free tire 😄)
I stayed along the shoreline until I got closer to the huge land mass that is on the right hand side before you paddle under the bridge to go back to the boat ramp. I decided to stop there, stretch, walk, refuel and yes, I did lay out in the sunshine for a bit. Also, while I was walking around, I found a “skier down” flag on a permanent post. It’s extremely dirty, but otherwise in perfect condition. I’m just saying, you never know what you might find when you’re kayaking!
My morning hours at Foster Reservoir were perfect! The sun shined brightly and I could feel its warmth! As I mentioned before, I never saw another person or a boat of any type. But, even better than that were the stunning views I witnessed.
On these beautiful winter and spring days – go check out Foster Reservoir and paddle out to the dam and back (6 miles total). There were so many really great things to look at and admire!
2024 – Kayak Trip #7
