Event, as always, came complete with a festival-like atmosphere and a Chinook blessing and drumming
RIDGEFIELD — Clark County Today photographer and videographer Mike Schultz joined in on the fun at the Big Paddle in Ridgefield Saturday.
The daylong event was filled with vendors, food, live music, an obstacle course, games, a guided birding tour, a scavenger challenge and, as the name would imply, some paddling.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., attendees aboard kayaks, big canoes and paddle boards launched for a 5-mile, two-hour interpretive tour along Lake River, through the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and to the confluence of the Columbia River before returning to the launch site.
There was a welcome ceremony with a Chinook drumming and blessing prior to the paddling.
An open recreation paddle began at 1 p.m. at the Waterfront. It began at the Boathouse where naturalist guides joined attendees for a 2.5-mile paddle along Lake River.
If you missed the event this year, you can learn more about it and begin to plan for next year by visiting ridgefieldwa.us/event/big-paddle/.
Have a suggestion for the next assignment for ClarkCountyToday.com photographer Mike Schultz and his Clark County in Focus feature? Send Editor Ken Vance an email at ken.v@clarkcountytoday.com.
