Paddling R1 through Spencer's Hole on the Santiam at low water in 2025.
Video: R1 Spencers hole on the upper Santiam at low water, By jacob Linkhart, 2025 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells SOTAR gear, and I earn money when you buy it here. SOTAR also sponsors me as an athlete.
Spencer's Hole is on the Packsaddle run of the North Santiam, and it becomes a popular park-and-play spot as flows drop (How's Your River). At low water it's playful. At big water, it's a different story, and I learned that the hard way. I wrote about that day in Spencer's Hole: The Morning I Saw It Coming.
Coming back to the same feature R1 at low water was a fun full-circle moment. Same hole, totally different river.
New to R1? Read R1, R2, C1: What the Terms Mean, and if you're looking for a small raft to R1, start with Merlin vs. Rogue and the SOTAR Lance.
Music: "Brain Stew" by Green Day. Source: How's Your River, Packsaddle Park to Mill City
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 28, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
