About Paddle to the Pacific: A journey of reflection on the Columbia River:

A kayak journey down the Columbia River from John Day Dam to Clatsop Spit near the Pacific Ocean was not on Laurie Case Wilhite’s retirement bucket list.  However, after a few fun kayak paddles on the Columbia River with friends and family, Wilhite set the goal of paddling all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  Growing up in Goldendale, her goal became to get to know the Columbia River better after many years of rushing up and down the river to appointments, vacations, and other destinations. Encouraged by members of her Goldendale writer’s group to share the kayaking journey stories led her write Paddle to the Pacific: A journey of reflection on the Columbia River which was published in February of 2022.

The presentation will include flat water paddling skills (although the Columbia River is rarely flat), encountering wind caused waves, and facing an ever-growing tidal influence from Beacon Rock to the Pacific. Other paddling experiences have included trips to the Bowron Lake Chain in British Columbia (twice), Admiralty Island Canoe Route south of Juneau, Alaska, rafting the Grand Canyon with a guide, Ross Lake in northern Washington State (twice), and the John Day Rivers (both of them)

There will also be an emphasis about the status of birds along the Columbia River. For example, an encounter with a flock of pelicans just below John Day Dam caused Wilhite to wonder why such avian life was now present so far up the Columbia River.  Answers and additional information about eagles, pelicans, osprey, herons, coots, and many other birds Wilhite observed on her paddle to the Pacific Ocean will also be shared. She has previously presented with the Raptor Educator at The Discovery Center in The Dalles, Oregon. With live music by Laurie’s husband Don Wilhite.

Author bio:

Born and raised in the Columbia River Gorge, Laurie Wilhite spent most of her life rushing up and down the river to appointments, events, and vacations.  When she retired from teaching high school for over 30 years, she decided to get to know the Columbia River in a new way— the view from her kayak. Wilhite holds a Master of Education degree from Central Washington University.

Laurie Wilhite’s life has always included a passion for paddling and rivers. Evolving from fishing in a yellow rubber raft with her dad as a young girl to this retirement adventure of kayaking from her homeland to the Pacific Ocean, a day on the water still brings her joy.  Over the last year Wilhite and her husband Don have covered just over 10,000 miles traveling up and down the Columbia River sharing stories from Paddle to the Pacific.