I
have done a number of day trips in the South Sound but I always wanted to
paddle back home rather than return to the put-in. I may have mentioned before
that Dave and I have a goal to travel from the southern-most regions of Puget
Sound to Alaska by kayak. Yes? No? Whatever, we do and this will be done, in
chunks. The South Sound to Seattle was a just a piece of it but the timing was
never right. Last Fall while eating lunch at Winghaven State Park (a WWT camp
site on Vashon Island) we discussed the idea of banging out the South Sound
piece during the Winter. We agreed to do it and in January and we did.
Nisqually Head to Kopachuck State
Park
1/30, Friday, Day 1
Cold, Heavy fog to clearing in the
afternoon
Winds calm to southerly at 15 knots,
Seas calm to 2 foot windwaves
We left Nisqually Head around 8:30-ish. Our original plans called for a departure from Boston Harbor but with the thick fog a start from Nisqually would simplify things and reduce the amount of time we spent paddling blind.
Leaving Nisqually Head
Glenda Cook
The
first couple of hours were spent paddling a compass heading until we bumped
into land, taking another heading and going until we bumped into land, repeat,
repeat, etc.
"We should bump into Anderson
Island in 5 minutes"
Bumping Into Anderson
Island
Dave Resler
By
the time we reached the intersection of Balch and Drayton Passages the fog was
lifting. Current and wind were in our favor. We rode the ebb through Drayton
and Pitt Passages and stopped for lunch at South Head.
Pitt Passage
The
breeze was picking up a bit on Carr Inlet and adding some texture to the water.
We rode the quartering wind waves 3.5 NM across the inlet to Kopachuck State
Park where we camped.
Kopachuck Campsite
We
had the park to ourselves. None of the facilities were open so no hot showers.
That would have felt good as it blew hard until near midnight and was pretty
darn cold.
Note to self: “Get a real winter sleeping bag”.
Kopachuck to Lisabula State
Park
1/31,
Saturday, Day 2
Cold, Clear
Winds calm
to southerly at 8 knots, Seas rippled
Slack flood was going to be hard up against the bank leaving no beach to load the boats so we were up at 5:30 AM fixing breakfast and tearing down camp in the dark.
Up at 5:30 AM
It
was dead calm until we were on the water when a west breeze danced across Carr
Inlet. Rounding Green Point we were paddling with the wind at our backs and directly
into the sun which felt wonderfully warm.
Jon at Green Point
Dave Resler
The
ebb gave us a slight nudge through Hale Passage and around the corner into The
Narrows. The current along the shoreline added a nice 2 knot advantage and we
were upon Narrows Park before we knew it.
Tacoma Narrows
Dave Resler
Narrows
Park is one of the Cascade Marine Trail sites that allows camping for kayakers.
Several people were fly fishing for Silvers along the shore.
Narrows Park
Dave Resler
We
were making really good time and planned to spend the night at Lisabeula State
Park. In view of our progress Dave suggested that we pull into Gig Harbor for
brunch at the Tides Tavern. It is located on the water and has a dock for
customers so we tied up at 11:00AM. Just in time for opening. It was nice to
have some fish and chips and hot coffee.
Tides Tavern
At
the entrance of Gig Harbor we bumped into Bob Burnett and seven other paddlers.
They had put in at Owens Beach (Point Defiance Park) and had come across The
Narrows for lunch. Bob’s group accounted for more boat traffic than we had seen
since leaving Nisqually. From my experience the South Sound is quiet
year-round. It is odd that you see so much good water with so little boat
traffic.
We
traveled north up Colvos Passage between Vashon Island and the Peninsula on a
brilliant sunny day.
Dave in Colvos Passage
Colvos
Passage is an oddity in that the current always runs south to north. Ebb or
flood, it runs to the north. Never a lot of current but always north. Remember
that in planning a trip. Soon we rounded Pt. Sanford and Lisabeula came into
view. An abandoned beach on the last Saturday in January. We set up our tents
and basked in the afternoon sun.
Dave Snacking on the
Beach
When
the sun approached the crest of the Olympics it became cold enough to call for
gloves and another layer.
Another Cold Night
Lisabula State Park to Alki
2/1,
Sunday, Day 3
Cold,
Overcast
Winds to
southerly at 12 knots, Seas to 2 foot windwaves
After another cold night I was up and walking the beach around 6:00 AM when I saw four boats approaching from the south. They positioned themselves in a line from Pt. Sanford to Lisabeula. At 8:00 AM each sent a diver over the side. I think that they were diving for Geoduck. The net that they pulled up looked like the dive had been worthwhile.
The
morning was overcast with a light southerly breeze which partnered with the
north flowing current to push us towards the end of the passage.
North Up Colvos Passage
Normally
when crossing the Sound we take a route that is perpendicular to the shipping
lanes but visibility was good and the VHF radio confirmed that no traffic was
coming our way. The southerly was picking up and blowing directly in a line
from Pt. Vashon to Alki so we let the wind and waves push us across to the
lighthouse and around to the shelter of Alki Point. It had taken 3 hours to
travel from Lisabeula to home.
Rounding
Alki Point
Dave Resler
I don’t believe that you can hope to plan a 45 NM trip in January
and get tides and weather this good. It was very close to perfect! I’m trying
to figure if I was owed this favor for all the currents I’ve had to push
against or if it’s something that I’ll have to pay for in the future.
Revised 12/22/2019
Revised 12/22/2019
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