| Description: The Bagel Wave is
actually a large and powerful ledge hole hole with a green wave that
comes in next to it. This spot only comes in during high water
events on the Molalla. The Bagel likes to knock you around it's
large angry pile. Despite its violent and surge prone nature, the
hole and wave deliver a lot of air. It is possible to throw some air
blunts at the Bagel and I even saw a donkey flip come through three
feet out of the water. Aside from bouncing you can link up
cartwheels and loop in the soup of the pile next to the eddy.
If you have skills to charge across the hole
then you can surf the friendly green wave that is easy to spin on
and blunt. Once
you have collected yourself and stoked your courage you can carve
back into the pile and try for some bigger moves and a bit of air.
The Bagel Wave is named for our friend (Kevin
Nickel) who due to an untimely stop for breakfast was abandoned at a
bagel shop in Portland on our first trip to this play spot. |
| Eddy Service: The Bagel Wave has a
good eddy on river-right behind the hole. This eddy is hard to miss
but if you do, just make your way to river left and hike back up the
road. |
| Water Levels:
Keep in mind that the
gauge on the Molalla is located many miles down river in Canby close
to the Willamette. The Molalla is a small drainage prone to rapid
fluctuations during and after rain and/or snowmelt events. The water
levels that the gauge indicates may lag significantly behind what
the actual water level is on the upper river.
6000 c.f.s. and up: The hole would most
likely be too shallow much below 5500 c.f.s., 7,000 c.f.s. is a
great level and though we don't know what the top end would be for
this spot water levels up around 10,000 c.f.s. will surely be even
better than 7000 c.f.s.
|
| Gauge: Molalla River at Canby, OR |
| Season: October to May, during or
after periods of heavy rain and/or snow melt |
| Difficulty: Strong intermediate with
a strong roll, on up. If you can charge across the hole the wave is
pretty mellow to surf. Every paddler should count on getting eaten
in the hole at least once every couple of rides. If you aren't up to
dealing with some power window-shading and back-looping, this is not
a place you should play. This hole has a hearty appetite and like to
implode skirts. |
| Driving Directions: The Bagel Wave is
located between mile posts 7 and 8 (about 7.5 miles above the Glen Avon
Bridge) in the Molalla River Recreation area. The Bagel is just down
stream from the Papa Bear Rapid and only about a mile downstream of
Turner Bridge. |
| Closest Town: Molalla, Oregon |
| Closest Services: If you need gas,
food or anything else Molalla is half an hour away. |
| Other Local Attractions if the play isn't
in: Do one on the runs on the Molalla River and check out other
play spots that are in slightly lower than the Bagel like The Curler
or the Old Bridge Waves. |
| Closest Camping: There are numerous
campsites along the Molalla River |
| Local's Tips: What locals? |
| Local Kayak Shops: Alder Creek and
Next Adventure are shops to hit in Portland. |
