River nose

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

I read somewhere yesterday, I think it was 2010 top 10 most polluted rivers in america, that mentioned the pollution was down 2+% thats good I guess.

Nak · Tue Jul 02, 13 9:53 am

Absolutely the Columbia needs to be cleaner. But it's not anywhere even near as bad as it could get if people stopped fighting to protect it. I guess what worries me is that if people think it really is one of the worst rivers in the world, then gee it's not too bad. What's all the fuss about water pollution? Here's some rivers that are bad. Keep fighting so that the Columbia never looks like these: http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/worlds-most-polluted-rivers-20130627

Of course, it would make economic sense to let companies dump whatever they want in to the river. What jerks we are for wanting to keep the river clean. We must just want to make it tougher on the poor people. Rolling Eyes

mazzi · Since 28 Jul 2008 6 Posts Portland, OR New Member

Columbia Riverkeepers conducted a rivernose study in 2010. 69% of the samples contained five time more pathogentic bateria than the safe standard. The collected samples at Bob' Beach, Doug's, Event Site, The Wall, and Roosevelt. Fact sheet can be found here:
http://columbiariverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/crk-river-nose-fact-sheet-mar-2011-31.pdf

In terms of other water quality standards, the Columbia is actualy generaly good. EPA recently conducted a study (2009) of the lower-middle Columbia from Stevenson past Arlington. All samples met water quality standars for recreational use. But you might not want to eat the fish, especialy suckers and bass. Super high levels of mercury, DDT, and PCBs. The highest levels were measured from fish on the Hood River...way higher than fish on the mainstem and all way above safe consuption levels (some 10-20 times above safe levels).
Here's the report:
www.deq.state.or.us/lab/wqm/docs/2009%20columbia%20REMAP%20final%20report_DEQ_complete.pdf

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

My river nose has gradually got worse and worse over the 18 years since i moved here. 5 years ago a good rinse and maybe a Benadryl worked now sinuses swell up and completely unable to breath through nose, can't sleep, miserable for days, etc, etc. Visited ENT, tried saline, various prescription and OTC drugs with varying effect. Kayak nose clip is now the only thing that works but works so well i don't bother with all the meds and rinses. Buy the clips a couple at a time and loop them on seaspecs or a wetsuit zipper pull. Clip on and off just while out on the water. Annoying for a couple of minutes then forget about it.
Complete opposite of going to the coast, there getting a good pounding does wonders for my sinuses - best cure for a cold i know!

Jonpnw · Sat Jun 20, 15 8:03 am **Any one else ?**

Getting my ass kicked by something fierce .

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Was on antibiotics last week from some Texas finest river water

Best to catch it before the sinus infection is full blown

This seems to help - twice a day - flushes bad stuff out and who knows maybe changes the ph and makes it harder for shit to grow (modern update to neti pot)

http://www.amazon.com/NeilMed-Sinus-Rinse-Bottles-Premixed/dp/B001HDRHR8

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

lubomm · Since 15 Aug 2007 248 Posts Hood Stoked

I get river nose periodically. But I also get similar symptoms from skiing too. The last time a couple of weeks ago as immediate short term relief to get through the night I slept with a nose strip and my winter hat. It helped. Long term I plan to try the neti pot. I had no issues with my nose when kiting in the ocean either.

skilja · Since 02 Jan 2008 75 Posts

Seldom kite HR or the Gorge now, but after KB4C last year I hit the jumps and dunked under for a while when my kite went down. An hour or two later I basically had an asthma attack in a parking lot. I don't have asthma or bad allergies. Folks were going to take me to the hospital until someone handed me their inhaler. Straight up couldn't breathe. Never had this problem at Jones, Stevenson, Lake Washington, Sherman Island, or any other fresh water spots (or saltwater)... just Hood River. Maybe severity is proportional to the amount of Columbia water inhaled?

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 172 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

Went kiting at event site 4x last week and no problems. Swallowed some water at sauvie yesterday and had some nasty river nose last night.

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 565 Posts Hood River Photographer

hey anybody come up with some solution to this? i've got the drip cough snot bad. it's up in my ears even.

neti pots don't help me. and seem to actually make it worse shuving more water up there.

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 172 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

I have started wearing nose plugs even though they are a PITA it’s worth it to not be all congested.

Nettie pot, pure saline spray and allergy meds help, too.

shred_da_gorge · Sat Aug 17, 24 12:33 pm

I'm having it worse this year than last, and mainly when wing-foiling, but I think that's because I fall a LOT and almost always dunk straight in. For the past year I've been using Neil Med sinus rinse bottles, and it seems to help clear it up, especially in the eve or morn after a session. I also started taping my mouth shut when I sleep (to force nose breathing to help fight sleep apnea), and if my nose is stuffed then I first walk and hold my breath to clear it (a technique I learned from Patrick McKeown's "The Oxygen Advantage").

Any recommendations on nose plugs, or should I just grab something at Walmart? I've seen a few folks wearing them and it sounds worth a try.

Oh, yeah, I'm getting it at Stevie, Viento, Hood River, Rufus... doesn't seem to matter.

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 172 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

I found it necessary to get noseplugs with a tether since I kept losing them in crashes. It makes me look dorky, but that may also be true without the noseplugs.

https://nextadventure.net/products/nose-plugs-50050-01-100?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwt4a2BhD6ARIsALgH7DozB6HpU8eaaJY--vFqf6lvfZoAaPf2qtfrBmnaD9IrfRDCTR4g_LwaAjNgEALw_wcB

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

I suffered miserably with river nose from kiting in the Gorge gradually got worse and worse over the years. ENT gave me all sorts of different stuff to try in addition to neti pots etc. I tried nose clips but hated them Sinus saver nose plugs were far and away the most effective and comfortable solution once you find the right size they stay in with no problems and dont need a tether. The ultimate solution that has worked great - move to ocean Wink

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 283 Posts Obsessed

AKA, Canadian windsport starter pack.

lubomm · Since 15 Aug 2007 248 Posts Hood Stoked

I use the Nasopure kit daily morning and evening year round. After big wipeouts I sometimes do 3/4 times per day. It works for me. I too do not have these issues when kiting in the ocean.