Upper Clackamas May 17 2026 1300 cfs w Mia (age 9)--Brooks Foster kayaking

This was a special day for Mia and me, as it was her first time on the Upper Clackamas in any type of watercraft. She had been in the front seat of the Topo Duo several times on easier whitewater on the Lower Washougal and Lower Clackamas, but I hadn't taken her or John (13) to the Upper Clackamas. My plans to explore it first with John were shattered when he fractured his wrist a few weeks ago, but Mia said she was game and it was the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival weekend so it seemed as good a time as any. Also the flow was a gentle 1300 cfs--low enough to be easy, but high enough to cover the rocks. I used to run this stretch on occassion in a playboat, but that was in the early to mid 2000s about 20 years ago so I approached each rapid with caution as I did not remember all the lines clearly. And the thought of capsizing and making my daughter practice her first combat wet exit gave me even more reason to be focused. Fortunately the rapids were pretty easy. Mia was having a great time from Hole in the Wall down to Carter Bridge. Knowing this was the biggest rapid on the stretch, we got out to scout. After watching a couple kayaks and rafts come through the big wave train on the left, she announced that she didn't want to run it. I had never portaged it before so I speculated we might be able to do that on the right bank, though I wasn't totally sure. When we got back to the kayak, she turned to me with a big smile and said she had changed her mind, "Let's run it!" she said. Unfortunately I was so preoccupied with getting Mia down Carter's safely I did not turn on my camera. One of the waves plastered her to the back of her seat, but she is so light it didn't throw me off much and we finished the rapis successfully. It was noticeably more intense than all the rapids upstream from there, however. When I asked Mia if she wanted to continue down to the Moore Creek access point, she said she was satisfied so we got out there. I was so proud of Mia for her great attitude throughout the run. She really enjoyed herself and is already looking forward to doing it again. Way to go, Mia!