Just got back from 3 great days of ACA Advanced Open Water (AWOL) Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) at the entrance of the mighty Columbia River near Ilwaco.

Ilwaco Harbor, High Winds. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

This is a world class venue and Pacific Northwest paddlers don’t realise how lucky we have to have this spot which consistently delivers large swells, breaking surf, strong currents, technical rock gardens, and high winds – all conditions which must be present to test our coaching abilities under the watch full eye of Advanced Instructor Trainers.  In fact conditions were too extreme, with 30+ mile per hour winds, 11 foot swells, and strong ebb flows, a small craft advisory, and gale force issued NOAA warnings, made for challenging paddling conditions.  We couldn’t launch on the outside at Waikiki Beach for the first two days, and instead focused on paddling abeam to huge breakers entering Baker Bay channel, surf instruction, navigation under limited visibility and some ebb current coaching, all under high gale force winds.  Finally on day three with an 11 foot 11 sec swell, and easing westerly winds we managed to leave the beach behind, and do some rescue and towing coaching under the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse Cliffs.  With such a huge swell, rock garden training was out of the question, and Deadmans Cove was completely closed off with two swells converging creating clapotis conditions at its entrance.  Each evening we had our classroom presentations to give, so didn’t get finished until 9pm.  Thanks Tim for allowing us all to hang at your Ilwaco pad.  Because we couldn’t do any rock gardern coaching and currents didn’t get above 4 knots my 5 star assessment is being deferred until December or Jan when we will head up to Deception Pass to meet the requirements of currents and rock gardens, and also I have time to submit a detailed syllabus plan for coaching Level 4 candidates to level 5 status. Take a look at some of the photos below, mostly taken during breaks in activity, as they kept me very busy!

A large swell outside of A Jetty With the Bell Buoy partly Obscured. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

Here is a photo of the Tower at the end of A Jetty and wrap around breakers that occur there.  We coached rescues here.

A Jetty Tower and wrap around surf break. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

Our lunch stop on Sand Island which is owned by the State of Oregon

Lunch stop on Sand Island with Lighthouse in Background. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

The Three Amigos – Pelicans watching us ferry glide in the ebb current at the southern entrance of Sand Island

SE Wingwall at Sand Island with Pelicans. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

I had my fill of cold weather paddling for now, in 8 days I’ll be in Baja soaking up the sun!