Meet the U.S. Coast Guard's elite surfmen - 60 Minutes
But it's not all joy; in fact, it's one of the most dangerous inlets in America. A high-pressure torrent of water pours out of the huge river's mouth and runs right into waves that have been moving across the Pacific for thousands of miles.
Full transcript of the segment from Oct. 27.
= new reply since forum marked as read
The Coast Guard Station where the Motor Life boat school is located is on Baker Bay, in Ilwaco, Washington.
Those coasties are among the bravest people on the planet! The breakers that can form at the mouth of the Columbia River can get collosal in size and have tremendous power. The Bar sometimes has to be closed to all traffic, including ocean going freighters, because it can get too rough to be safely crossed.
My former spouse called me and told me to meet him at the North Jetty viewing area, because the captain of a foreign freighter decided to defy the closure, and pilot his ship over the bar himself.
Those huge combers picked up his ship like it was a toy and it was like watching a giant surf board sliding down the faces of those moving mountains of water.
The ship did manage to cross, but it was more by good luck than skill. The local news interviewed the captain about the experience, and he said he would never do that again!
And deepest respect to the Surf men of the Coast Guard! 
