A kayaking adventure on Puget Sound

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A kayaking adventure on Puget Sound

All images on this page Copyright© 2003 by Paul Chance. All Rights Reserved.

The San Juan Trip
Many kayak seminars cover the same basic information - standard strokes and re-entry if one tips over. So I was excited to see a presentation that offered a bit more - a focus on camping aspects and using available data to navigate the tidal currents of the San Juans. The company was Aqua-Sports www.aqua-sports.com and their guides were affiliated with NorthWest Kayaks.

On Thursday there was a little confusion about the camping/meeting site on Lopez Island but it was all ironed out in time to set up tents before dark. Making sure all parties know when/where to meet seems obvious, but when there’s a dependency on disinterested parties - like park employees - to post changed site registration notices - backup communication procedures are recommended.

Food/cooking was provided by the seminar guides and it was sufficiently nutritious. In some cases, just seeing what effort is required gives enough learning so one can plan accordingly for their own personal adventure.

On Friday, after a coffee/muffins/fruit breakfast, we reviewed tide/current charts and were shown how to read them for direction and strength of current for any specific day/time. We then met on the beach for a summary lesson on boating terms, equipment, and boat launching. Once on the water, we covered exit and re-entry procedures. After everyone demonstrated an ability to get back in the kayak from the water, we returned to shore for a core warming lunch.

After lunch we paddled to James Island, east of Lopez. That gave the guides a chance to see how we moved as a group and gave us a chance to see sea lion pups and bald eagles. Blair, a guide, pointed out the Kayaker’s Only camp site (if one has a Water Trails pass) on the Island.

After about an hour of “dry land” we returned to Lopez to carbo-load on Mexican food in preparation for the next day’s 14 mile journey to Jones Island, west of Orcas.

Saturday’s morning was casual, but we were under a clock. Carrying an empty kayak to the water is one thing. Carrying a kayak loaded with 100 lbs or more of gear (the doubles) can break the kayaker or the kayak. So plan for incoming high tide to lift the loaded boat and off you go. Before we left, we were given the opportunity to determine to two main compass bearings we’d use for channel crossings. Were I do this this on my own, I’d definitely put intermediate bailout points in my GPS.

Despite a short lunch break along the way, we were pretty tired when we reached Jones Island and pretty disappointed to see about 30 or more Kayaks already beached on our intended south shore camp ground. There are no reservations - it’s “first come, first serve” and we were not first. While the guides sprinted around to check alternatives, one of our group, who will receive a happier place in heaven for his generosity, passed out cans of Iced Coffee from his personal “snacks” supply.

We elected to continue to available camp sites on the Island’s north side. We were reminded that “wake up” would be around 4:30 AM - allowing time to pack, and breakfast, before catching the “express tide” back to Lopez. A large tarp was erected for those who preferred to sleep under it - rather than deal with the unpacking/re-packing of the rest of their gear.

What I learned:
You can be wet almost the entire day - and still feel good if you can get warm and dry once off the water.

It is worthwhile to use a tarp over your tent - so you can keep dry while packing everything else in dry bags. Without that tarp, there’s the potential for you, your tent, and everything else you bring out of your tent, to get wet before making it to the shelter of a dry bag. Because of weight considerations, this is not often an option when hiking.

If you have a guide and are in a group, be pro-active if you have questions. Some group members just want to paddle along, feeling the warmth of the sun and rock of the waves. The guides are not going to intrude on their tranquility with a barrage of information shouted across yards of water. But the guides have it for those who are interested and simply ask.

A loaded kayak is far more stable than an empty one - as long as you keep the heavy items at the bottom of the boat and packed so they don’t shift. Unloaded. I could rock my boat over so the spray skirt was in the water. Loaded, I strained to put it on edge for turning.

Know your bathroom intervals and the influence of coffee.

It is well worth it to learn a few surfing techniques. Those Big Boat Wakes aren’t a “bug”, they’re a “feature”.

Having a patient paddling partner makes the experience a Joy.
--Paul Chance

Read more . . .

Aqua Sports Newsletter
Boater of the Week
1/25/04

Joy Newhart and Paul Chance joined us for the Sea Kayak Teachin' Trip in August 2003. Paul is a regular contributor to a mountaineering web site at www.TraditionalMountaineering.org, and he generously took the time to write a wonderful review of the trip. Thanks, Paul! We hope to see you and Joy again this year.

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