Details
NOTE: I will have 19 extra kayaks, paddles, and life vests available to borrow. The cost of borrowing one is the cost of the gas used towing the trailer divided by the number of attendees who borrow kayaks. This is usually between $3 and $10. My kayaks have a weight limit of 250 lbs per person including gear. Please comment below if interested.
NOTE: this meetup is cross-posted in the Seattle Sea Kayaking Meetup and the Seattle Paddleboard Club Meetup, neither of which have an age limit.
NOTE : I created a WhatzApp group / channel to facilitate communication between the three meetup groups for this specific event, since the meetup app doesn't always work well. You can join here:
Join us for a pleasant paddle from Lake Sammamish into the Sammamish river and to Woodinville! Upon arriving in Woodinville, we will put our gear away and go wine tasting, probably on the patio at Lone Shadow Winery.
WARNING : this trip involves passing through the weir at the north end of Lake Sammamish. The first 100 ft immediately after the weir tend to have low water levels that may involve your kayak scraping against pebbles and cobblestones unless you get out and pick up your kayak yourself. This may be an issue for people joining with fiberglass kayaks or paddleboards with skegs that can't be removed. This section also has a weak current and some bushes and will involve a bit of caution and maneuvering. It is generally smooth sailing (paddling) after that! I will step out to assist people. Please reach out if you have any questions!
Paddlers of all experience levels are welcome! No prior experience is required, even if you are bringing your own paddle board, oru kayak, or inflatable kayak.
We will be paddling approximately 7 miles, which is a medium-length length trip for us, but we will have a weak current helping us and we'll be sheltered from any wind. It involves 3 hours of paddling. You will have time to eat a packed lunch before the paddle and we will also get food after the paddle in Woodinville. We will also stop to eat snacks during the paddle, so be sure to bring snacks and water to consume before and during the paddle! Kayaking can be more draining than hiking, especially for beginners, and you will need energy!
Please bring clothes and especially SHOES that can get wet! I recommend close-toed shoes like beach shoes or maybe crocs. Sandals or flip flops can leave your feet exposed to injuries from rocky terrain if we encounter it. Don't forget SUNGLASSES and SUNSCREEN either! For the rest of your outfit, I recommend SYNTHETIC or wool fabrics that will dry quickly. Swimsuits and polyester running shirts are great for warm weather. For colder or rainy weather, I recommend a fleece or wool sweater, a rainproof shell, and hardshell pants.
For those who are bringing their own kayak or paddleboard, we'll meet at Idylwood Park at 10:30, and we'll try to be finished setting up by 10:45. If you are borrowing a kayak from me and meeting me at the launch, please arrive a bit earlier at 10 AM instead since I need to take a headcount and I need more time than other paddlers to set up. At 10:45, once we are finished setting up, we will move all of the cars to our ending location (North Shore Athletic Fields) and Uber back while the others look after the gear. I expect this to take a while. During this time, we will also eat our packed lunches and apply sunscreen. I expect for us to launch between 11:15 and 11:45.
We'll paddle to the north end of the lake, then pass through the weir and continue paddling north down the river until we reach the North Shore Athletic Fields. I estimate that we will reach the end launch spot at 3:15 PM and finish packing up by 4 PM. Then, We'll play it by ear and probably eat lunch at a restaurant nearby and do one or two wine tastings and head back to Seattle when people feel like it, probably between 6 pm and and 8 pm.
Here's the location of the beginning launch :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kYm2r5BY1ZNWfnXY7
Here's the location of the end launch :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jhffdTLX57MwX6Y78
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Attendees are required to complete the waiver :
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBr6y8g_WG6TBaHauUk--QOF9IIjyMz-sRFeKG3UodI7VRtQ/viewform
The waiver also contains safety information that may impact your preparation, so please complete the waiver BEFORE you depart for the activity. You only need to fill it out once, ever.
Everything below relates to carpooling:
We'll meet at the Starbucks at 1200 Westlake Ave N at 9 AM and split into our carpools at around 9:15! Let us know before 9 AM if you are on your way. We generally wait 15 minutes for people to arrive. If you are arriving with your own car, be sure to park in a spot marked "ALL DAY" parking (in case you end up not driving)! Please coordinate carpools in the comments or better yet, the google doc!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufYJfL_eeCujSwTkm6rEKy5INjnEXZjg4rHAKFhxOfs/edit?usp=sharing
Please post if you can drive or if you need a ride!
Drivers and riders are expected to evenly split the approximate cost of gas, plus perhaps an additional reasonable fee paid to the driver for wear and tear.
If you are going to arrange your carpool to meet somewhere OTHER THAN the Starbucks on Lake Union, I suggest a park and ride such as Greenlake, Northgate, Eastgate, or Tukwila/SouthCenter. Passengers, please do not ask to be picked up at your home; drivers, please don't offer to do so. It usually creates problems and makes the timing and logistics much more complicated, since people often aren't ready on time, cancel last minute, or just plain don't show up. On the other hand, dropping people off at their home after the trip is much easier.
Sammamish River Kayaking and Woodinville Wine Tasting!