And from 10:am to 5:00pm is the McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival at Eagle Rock Lodge, 49198 McKenzie Hwy between milepost 34 and 35. Open free to the public, the McKenzie River Guides Association will be selling a lunch with proceeds going to the Guide and Firefighters lifejacket lending program. See you there.

April, 20th The McKenzie River Guides Association will be hosting the 5th Annual McKenzie Boat Rodeo and Outdoor Cook-Off.

Held each year at Hendrick’s Bridge Park the event promotes safe boating, bring awareness to the “Free Life Jacket Program” and adding fun with an Outdoor Cook-off.

Oregon State Police will be conducting annual boat inspections. Last year almost 40 boats received safety stickers and hopes are to have almost 50 boats inspected at this year’s event.

A special thank you to Darlene Dolby who was inducted into the McKenzie River Guides Association as an Honorary Member for all of her hard work and many hours of serving the local community of fly fishers. Congratulations Darlene.

Darlene Dolby showing her honorary membership award at the 2013 Guide’s Wives dinner of McKenzie River Guides Association

Guides and Judges at 2011 Boat Rodeo and Cook-Off

Where: Hendrick’s Bridge Park, McKenzie River

April, 20th The McKenzie River Guides Association will be hosting the 5th Annual McKenzie Boat Rodeo and Outdoor Cook-Off.

Held each year at Hendrick’s Bridge Park the event promotes safe boating, bring awareness to the “Free Life Jacket Program” and adding fun with an Outdoor Cook-off.

Oregon State Police will be conducting annual boat inspections. Last year almost 40 boats received safety stickers and hopes are to have almost 50 boats inspected at this year’s event.

Event co/sponsors McKenzie Fire & Rescue will be on hand providing water safety demonstrations as well as providing judges for the Cook-Off.

Lane County Parks also helps by waiving parking fees at Hendrick’s Bridge park during this event.

The highlight of the day is the judging of the annual Outdoor Cook-Off. McKenzie River Guides are renowned for creating elegant meals along the river using Dutch Ovens and Grilling Techniques. The Cook-Off started years ago and has been incorporated as part of the boat rodeo. Chefs Billy Pruitt and Jon Payne have been battling 1st and 2nd place each year with recipes such as Payne’s Perfectly Spiced Chicken and Billy’s Extra Special Chili. This year a special guest chef will be preparing Country Fried Chicken and Homemade Dutch Oven Biscuits. Cooking begins around 11:00am with final judging at 1:00pm.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about cooking with Dutch Ovens, how to season ovens, how to manage heat and prepare great meals away from home in the outdoors.

Please feel free to call with any questions,

Jon Payne
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McKenzie River Guides Association
541-579-3474

· April 13th, Guides Wives Dinner & Auction;

The McKenzie Guides Wives Dinner & Auction is this Saturday evening @ Valley River Inn. Auction Items are still needed, contact Doug Caven or Jon Payne with auction items or questions.

· April 20th, McKenzie Boat Rodeo and Cook-off;

The 4th Annual McKenzie Boat Rodeo & Cook-Off will be held April 20th, @ Hendricks Bridge Park from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Guides are encouraged to have boats inspected before 11:00am. All river Cooks and Chefs are encouraged to join the fun! We need a fried chicken cook, biscuit cook along with any chefs that have a special recipe to share. Final judging for the Cook-Off is 1:00pm. This event is a very important Public Service Event and all your help is greatly appreciated.

As in the past, we are privileged to have the cooperation of Marc Boyd (Oregon State Police), McKenzie Fire & Rescue, Lane County Parks, Cabela’s and the many volunteers from MRGA. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending!

Last year Marc did 37 boat inspections, we would love to have 50 boats inspected this year.

· April 27th, McKenzie Wooden Boat Fair;

Once again The Eagle Rock Lodge is hosting the McKenzie Wooden Boat Fair. In the past as many as 50 wooden boats have been on display on the grounds of The Eagle Rock Lodge. Burgers & Beverages provided by MRGA volunteers, again any help is greatly appreciated. Contact Steve Schaefers with questions.

Have a safe spring and we’ll see you soon,

Jon Payne

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Enjoy the river this spring, watch of new logs in the river, and boat safe.

Guides and Judges at 2011 Boat Rodeo and Cook-Off

Be part of some great events in 2013 w/ The McKenzie Guides Association!

April 13th The Annual Guides Wives Dinner and Auction at The Valley River Inn.

April 20th The Annual McKenzie Boat Rodeo & Outdoor Cook-Off at Hendricks Bridge Park.

April 27th McKenzie Wooden Boat Festival at Eagle Rock Lodge

May 18th and 19th Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival at Carter Bridge, Clackamas River. Come see Driftboat Sunday!

Thanks, Doug

A tree is completely blocking the McKenzie River below Taylor boat landing. 2/23/2013

Come out and watch two veteran guildes and legends of the river speak at the McKenzie River Film Festival Saturday October 13th at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Bijou Theater in Eugene, OR. Dave Helfrich will be presenting movies and a slide show of past McKenzie River White Water Parades and other still photographs of film crew photographs of movies made on the McKenzie River and LeRoy Pruitt will show and narrate Shooting the Deschutes, the movie shown at the 1939 Worlds Fair.

The film festival will span three days October 12-13-14th. Brandi Ferguson, Development Manager for the Trust says, “As a nonprofit regional land conservation group, our mission is to help preserve the unique landscapes that surround us and so for our annual event this year we are offering a film festival that will connect the audience to our stunning Oregon landscapes through film.”
Opening Night will be Friday, October 12th, at the Wildish Theater in Springfield. It is a catered event including speakers and features a generous sneak peek at Willamette Futures, a documentary currently in production. Tickets are $45, with purchase by Friday, October 5th.

On Saturday, the festival will move to the Bijou Art Cinemas in Eugene with a full day of films, speakers and the festival hub.
What was it like to live along the McKenzie River in the early to mid 1900s? In partnership with the UO Environmental Leadership Program, the Trust will present McKenzie Memories – short films and rare images of early settlers, river log drives, the iconic McKenzie White Water Boat Parade and more with special guest speakers Roy Pruitt, Dave Helfrich and Ken Engelman. “The McKenzie River, it’s people, boats, timber and communities, has had a profound historical influence on Oregon and the rest of the United States ; the Living River Film Festival hosted by our local land conservation group, is a great way to learn about and celebrate the rich heritage of our community,” says Randy Dersham, co-owner of Eagle Rock Lodge.

The festival will continue on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a free Family Film and Activity Day at EWEB’s River Edge Plaza in Eugene.
“Since 2009, the McKenzie River Trust has offered an event each year under the ‘Living River’ name, exploring the relationship between people, rivers, and the land,” says Joe Moll, Executive Director for the Trust. “We hope these films and the conversations around them encourage support for the responsible stewardship of Oregon’s wealth of land and water.”

Tickets are available online at mckenzieriver.org