I went on a playboating skill builder trip this weekend with the WKCC. Kate led and organized the trip. It was a really great event. Kudos to Kate and the WKCC.
We spent the day on the N. Santiam at the Dead Cow Wave (between Mehama and Stayton). The sun was out and we had a little barbecue. There were 15 of us in the group (very nice folks), but we all had plenty of time on the wave. It was a really great day.
This was my first time on this particular wave and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this spot. There is great eddy service, a rock beach, and the wave is really fun to play on. You can spin both ways pretty easily, and there were a few guys who could pull off blunts. There are actually two waves right next to each other with a little lull in between. It’s possible to surf between them.
At the end of our session we started surfing two at a time (one on the inside feature and one on the outside feature). We probably should have started doing this earlier, because it would have moved the line along a little faster, but it really didn’t matter. I think everyone was getting enough time on the wave.
The Dead Cow Wave is on river right (~3 miles in) and according to folks in the group it is best between 2300 and 3300 cfs (conservatively 2600 - 3000 cfs). You can check the gauge at Mehema here. I think the run is about 9 miles long (check Soggy Sneakers for the facts). There isn’t much worth mentioning before and after the wave, but there are a few spots where you can stern squirt and front surf. It’s mostly class 2 with some flat water sections. Be prepared for the paddle in and out (it’s definitely worth it, though). The last thing worth mentioning is that there is dam after the wave (maybe 7 miles in). The river splits right before the dam and you’ll want to go left. There is a boat ramp on the right side of the dam that is easy to slide down.
I wasn’t really able to blunt at this spot, but I was close on a few occasions. The water is a bit faster on the outside and it seems like it’s a little bit easier to blunt there (for the folks that could). There were a few guys that were doing enders in the wave and kind of cartwheeling off the back. I’d like to try that next time. I’m definitely excited to go back!
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