CRO is hiring for the summer 2024 season! We are looking for rental, retail, and guide positions. Estimated start date is May/June ending in Sept/Oct with possible part time work through the winter. Below is more detailed information.
Looking for a summer seasonal job with a rad, locally owned outdoor business? Do you like the water, paddling, and Estacada? Do you have retail, rental, or guide experience?
Seasonal Hire Job Information and Description
Who: Clackamas River Outfitters – Estacada, OR
C.R.O. is a small, locally owned and operated paddle sports business that offers rentals, retail, tours and instruction. We are passionate about getting folks on the water, while providing them with expert knowledge about the sport, gear, safety and fun experiences! If you are like us and are interested in sharing your passion for paddling and being outdoors with others, please email us your resume to [email protected] and we look forward to meeting you!
We are hiring for the following position/positions: Rental, retail staff, flatwater/whitewater guide
Let’s talk about Spade Kayak’s ‘Bliss’. But first, let’s talk about Spade Kayaks. A relatively young manufacturer and lesser known to many paddlers in the U.S., the Austrian/German kayak company was founded in 2014 by paddlers Hans Mayer, Olli Grau, Jans Haluszka, Matze Bruttsman, and Jens Klatt. The Ace of Spades was the first production kayak model to hit the market and was rarely seen in the U.S. Fast forward to 2022 and Spade has ramped up production with seven models; three creek boats and four half slices. Distribution is very limited and at the time of writing this review (Jan. 3, 2023) C.R.O. is the first and only retailer in the U.S.
Back to the Bliss, currently the medium size of the half slices that Spade Kayaks makes (Joker, Barracudda and Starefire). The color combinations are vivid and catch your eye, while the mold is clean with smooth lines. I love the look of these boats!
The boat….
Outfitting: Simple and effective is how I would describe the outfitting. The seat, thigh hooks, and backband all fit me well and were comfortable for paddling. Although I much prefer ratchets over the rope and cleat system the cleats in the Bliss work well. The molded-in thigh hooks are not adjustable but provided a secure fit for me and seem to fit a wide range of paddlers for the boats size. The seat felt stout, had a nice shape to it, and was a good fit for me. I enjoyed the leverage provided by the slighlty higher seat. The backband is comfortable (although felt a bit low on my back) and adjusts with a robust cord and cleat-type system. The bulkhead is adjustable, very solid, and is nicely contoured for your feet. Behind the seat there are a couple gear loops for attaching neccesities. Seat adjustment is accomplished by removing screws behind the hip pads on the seat towers as well as the front and back pilars. Be careful when tightening the seat screws that go into the brass threads so you don’t cross thread them. I wasn’t a fan of the way Spade does the drain plug with it threading directly into the plastic of the mold and I believe there is room for improvement on the hip pads. The pads them selves are fine and the boat comes with two different sizes of shims for a custom fit. I like the way the hip pads unclip with small plastic buckles but because the webbing isn’t routed though any type of slot, they can slide down. The openings for the shims are located at the bottom of the pads, which means the shims can slide out the bottom. This puzzled me as it seems like it would have been just as easy to put the opening at the top to stop the shims from slipping down. Overall, most average sized paddlers should find the Bliss comfortable, and be able to take this boat right to the river!
backband
adjustable cord and cleat system for backband
adjustable bulkhead
contoured bulkhead
gear loops
water bottle holder
Bliss Outfitting
The Lines
From the top
bow lines
hull lines
edge/chine
stern
Playfullness: Admittedly, I’m not the best at squirting these longer half-slice style boats. I’m used to a true playboat i.e., Rockstar or Jed, so my technique still needs some fine-tuning. I thought squirting the Bliss would be easier than other longer models like it, but the overall volume and the shorter tail requires a more aggressive eddy line than I had expected. The shortness of the tail makes initiating and controlling the stern squirt more difficult, requiring more technique and practice than expected. How does it surf? Surfing waves in this boat is extremely fun; it surfs like a dream! The planing hull is smooth and fast. Its shorter length and bow rocker keep it from pearling. You’ll find yourslef shredding waves while your comrades watch from the eddy.
Downriver: This boat really comes alive as a river runner! The Bliss’s speed, manuaverability and playfullness create an extremely fun paddling experience. Sharp yet friendly edges provide crisp manuevering that help you ferry and carve in and out of eddies smoothly. On steeper sections, the Bliss boofs effortlessly. The generous amount of bow rocker keeps you skipping away from holes and hydraulics and holds a line nicely; especially for it’s shorter length. The planing hull with a shallow V in the bow and slightly less kick rocker in the stern allows for good downriver speed and tracking. Stern edges feel sporty without being overly grabby and the low volume tail is easy to manipulate while ripping down river.
I’ve been telling folks who have asked me about this boat that it is versatile enough for most paddling situtations to make it a desireable all-around kayak. The Bliss is a solid option for paddlers between 130-195lbs and handles just about everything. If you desire a slightly narrower version of the Jackson Antix 2.0, this is it. While not a playboat, it is shorter than most half-slices with enough volume and rocker allowing paddlers to shred waves, rally a favorite run, or explore new creeks.
BLISS SPECS:
Bliss
length: 8′ width:25.5 volume 60 gal.
Paddler weight: 60-90kg = 130-200 lbs
Weight: 18kg = 39.6 lbs
If your’e interested in comparing shapes and dimensions of other boats keep reading!
A year after the original release date of Februaury 2021 the new Stohlquist Descent rescue vest has finally hit the shelfs. Was it worth the wait…..we think so! With the Astral Green dominating the Rescue lifejacket category in the US and the Kokatat Hustler as well as the NRS Zen filling in for those not buying into Astral’s cult following there’s another solid option. With updated adjustable shoulder straps, clam shell style pocket, and side zip entry the Descent offers many great features. The vest appears very well thought out and offers an incredibly comfortable fit at the competitive price of $295 and it’s own rugged style. If you’re in the market for a new rescue vest come on in and check it out!
Access Update as January 1st 2020 *see info below*
*BONUS FLOWS* Due to PGE’s ongoing project at the Faraday Hydro Facility they are letting water flow back into the river as it naturally would. For boaters this means whatever the flow of the Clackamas is on the Estacada gauge the flows in the Cazadero section will be comparable.
The Cazadero stretch is a rarely run section of the Clackamas River, just east of Estacada, between North Fork Dam and Estacada Lake. Normally dewatered most of the year by PGE for power generation, the riverbed lies dry except for a meager fish flow of around 150 cfs (cubic feet per second). However, when the river gets above 5k on the Three Lynx gauge, water spills over Faraday Dam into the river providing ample paddling flows.
Access is now open
Paul Meier and Paul Clark and the Hala van
Paul and Dustin at the put-in
Looking upstream at the put-in with Faraday Dam in the background
Due to access and flows the Cazadero Stretch could be considered a novelty run. If you’re still interested, park at the yellow gate located on East Faraday Rd. off Highway 224; about 2 miles east of Estacada. Once you’ve found the gate, make the mile or so hike up a paved road (Old Highway 224) until you get to the access road. This right leading road progresses down to the diversion dam and fish ladder. Once you’re at the fish ladder and dam, make your way to the river. During the walk, some whitewater can be viewed from the road; don’t be fooled by the what appear to be small rapids. The run is a little over two miles but offers a big water feel with a couple class III’s, two big class IV’s and one class V. In total, there are six or seven rapids.
The Put-In Rapid
Paul Clark paddling toward the first class IV
Full Throttle - the first class IV
Full Throttle Rapid - IV
The first rapid, “The Wall”, is directly below Faraday Dam. It’s a straight forward class III. Find a safe launch spot and head down stream. The second rapid, “Full Throttle”, is just around the corner after a long pool, and is a fun class IV. If you want to scout, get out on river right and get the best vantage on the large boulders. Put the pedal to the meta; paddle hard and enjoy the fluffy line right down the middle! A short pool separates Full Throttle, from the third rapid, “Slam Dunk”, which is a fun class III. Around the corner is, “Island Rapid”, which offers a class IV left channel and a class V right channel. The left side is a series of rapids making up the left channel of the island. The first part I call, the “Crux”, which is the hardest of the series. The second part I call, the “Wall”, and aptly named for the big cliff wall on the left. The third part I call, the “Corner”, where the river makes a big right bend. The right channel of Island Rapid I call, “The Pocket”; named for the nasty undercut pocket on the right wall below the big pourover. If you’re interested in scouting the right channel, I suggest running the left side of the Island and getting out in the eddy below the Wall on river right. If you’re contemplating running the right channel of Island, be sure to take a careful look at the undercut pocket at the bottom just below the big ledge. The undercut pocket is a very obvious hazard. In my opinion, it’s not worth the risk of running the rapid and getting pushed into the undercut. On one adventure down this stretch, I watched a paddler get pushed into the pocket and get sucked under the wall. Luckily, only a paddle was lost
Slam Dunk
Heading into the left line of Island Rapid
The crux move on the left line of Island Rapid
Looking back up river from the eddy above The Corner on Island Rapid
Left side Island Rapid looking upstream from the eddy above The Corner
Entrance to The Pocket right side of Island Rapid
The ledge above The Pocket right side of Island Rapid
The Pocket; an undercut wall right line of Island Rapid
After Island Rapid, the river eases up with a fun, easy class III, with some potential surf. There is one more class 2+ above the footbridge and PGE’s West Side Hydro Facility. Once you pass Faraday Hydro facility, you’ll come into Estacada Lake. It’s a mellow flatwater paddle on the lake down towards town. Take out behind the Cazadero Restaurant and Bar.
Our new website allows for online rentals of kayaks, sup and other outdoor items! It is an easy to use secure system created by our friends at Winthrop Web Services. Enjoy!
