My Last Whitewater Paddle

Rob Blickensderfer, Age 94

October 18, 2023

When I decided to take up kayaking, I had graduated from college, been through the Korean War, married, and had two children. The sport of kayaking reached Corvallis in 1963. My friend Chuck Leach, a veteran of WW2, and I co-founded the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club in 1975.

I have done a few first descents in Oregon and kayaked in all the western states plus Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belgium.

On October 3rd I asked a group of my paddling friends to go with me on my last paddle of the Class 2 section of the North Santiam River – Fishermen’s Bend to North Santiam State Rec. Area. The flow was 2,000 cfs.

At age 94 I have lost a lot of balance on my feet, but my friends were all very helpful by carrying my kayak to the launch, helping me into the cockpit, and pulling the spray skirt. Dave Olsen helped with shuttle and took photos.

On the water I felt fine. No balance problems, good high brace, and very comfortable. I was home.

In the photos below, I am the one in the red kayak and green helmet.

Many thanks to Steve Snyder, Mari Baldwin, Jennifer Sunseri, Horst Lueck, Barbara Boylan, and Al Grapel.

Short video of the paddle

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