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Columbia Bottomlands on the Brazos
Author Last Post
Hi Bruce.

May I have your permission to use this as a trip report for the February newsletter?

I can add David Portz's photo album as a link at the bottom of the text, to illustrate the trip.

- John Rich
  Newsletter Editor
Bruce,
Wonderful write up. You should submit it to John as a trip report. 
Christy
Well, yesterday on the Brazos, contrary to some predictions, was lovely.  The weather was sunny and warm enough to where David and I removed a couple of layers even before we really got going.  Much more pleasant then the bird count weather.

The put in at Brazos River County Park was steep and a bit muddy, but easily manageable.  Mike Mullenweg at Brazoria County Parks Department arranged for access through the technically closed park, which was made easier by the fact that somebody had apparently driven through the gate and broke the lock. 

The river itself was very easy going; no hazards and a gentle current.  There were a few sandbars that would have worked for rest/lunch stops, though we did not avail ourselves of them.  We saw one adult and one juvenile bald eagle and perhaps 20-30 total bird species, so not terribly productive that way.

The take out at SH 35 was also steep and a bit muddy, but easily manageable.  The remains of the constructed take out were still dangling there, but were of no use.   

The total distance was 8.01 miles, so a bit less than predicted.   Over all a very pleasant day on the water.  

 

"He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair." H.D. Thoreau
I looked up the National Weather Service forecast for tomorrow. The wind chill will be 31  at 9am, 38 at 10 am, 41 at 11 and 44 at 12. The corresponding temperatures are 38, 42, 48 and 49. The wind will be around 10 mph from the north so will be at your back. No rain is expected and the sky will be clear. 

I have not looked at the put in and take out in years. From the trail information, it appears that a boat ramp has been put in at CR30 and now the take out is in the community of East Columbia. The former access at the SH 35 bridge is gone now that the road was widened to 4 lanes. If he extends the trip, it would probably be to the boat ramp south of Brazoria. The Brazos is wide on this part so you probably not be seeing the Columbia Bottomlands up close. The San Bernard is narrower so the Brazoria County parks trip later in the month would be closer to them. The Bottomlands are closer to see if you hike in parts of the Wildlife Refuge such as the part donated by Dow between Angleton and Lake Jackson. My father has 40 acres west of Dancigar in the far west of Brazoria County where I could meet people and show off the bottomlands.

If you go on this trip, be sure to take hypothermia precautions. Wear only wool or synthetics and NOT cotton or down. Wear your PFD because it provides extra insulation and will be needed if you wind up in the water. It is a good idea to have a set or dry clothes with you in a dry bag if you wind up getting wet. When I canoed out to see a glacier in Juneau, the outfitter issued us a pair of rain pants and a rain jacket along with the PFD. On a Pecos trip when snow flurries came up, Louis Aulbach pulled us over and started a fire to warm us up. 

I will not be going tomorrow since I have some other things around here that I should be doing. I will be interested in hearing how it comes out since I could lead another trip on the Brazos at another time. 


Mark Andrus
FYI, paddlers:

I'm going to lead a trip Saturday on the Brazos, in the Columbia Bottomlands in Brazoria County.  It should be a pleasant trip for birds and wildlife.  Distance is only about 8.5 miles, though depending on who signs up, it could be stretched to 18.7.  The plan is for a leisurely 8.5 miles.  I have submitted the official form for mileage credit.  Details on the form.

"He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair." H.D. Thoreau
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