Post by Philip on May 8, 2012 20:12:41 GMT -9
Tuesday May 8.
CAVU and calm. It would have been an amazing day to go into the mountains, but something pulled me towards the water, so I went for my first paddle of the year instead. I've had plenty of days snowboarding this year, and variety is nice.
I started at Shahafka Cove/Mission Beach and aimed for Icehouse Point (Woody Is), then followed the south shore of Woody to the southern point, then across the Long Island Channel to the southern end of Long Island and finally landed on the beach at Southern Lake. I dragged my kayak the short distance up the beach and paddled across Southern Lake, and then portaged back into the ocean on the east side of Long Is. From there I paddled north on the outside of Long Is up to Helen Bay, and from there I portaged across to Cook Bay. Finally I went around the north end of Woody and back to Shahafka Cove. The trip is about 14 miles, and is a bit much for an evening after work, but would be a great day trip on a weekend. To do the portages on and off the east side of Long Island does require calm seas, and the outside of Long Is can be daunting even in mild weather for novice paddlers. The portages across the island are flat, easy and are really cool however. Highly recommended. Tides run north on the flood and south on the ebb, so if you are paddling over the change of tide, use them to your advantage (doing the route in reverse if necessary). The strongest currents are at Icehouse Point, though all the channels will have some flow.
Leaving Mission Beach and headed across the channel:
Crossing Long Is Channel. The lowest point on the island (just left of my bow, mid-picture) is where the lake is:
Across Southern Lake:
The banya on the far side needs some help:
Down the beach and into Chiniak Bay:
Another low spot hints at the portage from Helen Bay to Cook Bay:
Beach combing done right:
The final portage:
Cook Bay with Woody in the distance and town behind that:
CAVU and calm. It would have been an amazing day to go into the mountains, but something pulled me towards the water, so I went for my first paddle of the year instead. I've had plenty of days snowboarding this year, and variety is nice.
I started at Shahafka Cove/Mission Beach and aimed for Icehouse Point (Woody Is), then followed the south shore of Woody to the southern point, then across the Long Island Channel to the southern end of Long Island and finally landed on the beach at Southern Lake. I dragged my kayak the short distance up the beach and paddled across Southern Lake, and then portaged back into the ocean on the east side of Long Is. From there I paddled north on the outside of Long Is up to Helen Bay, and from there I portaged across to Cook Bay. Finally I went around the north end of Woody and back to Shahafka Cove. The trip is about 14 miles, and is a bit much for an evening after work, but would be a great day trip on a weekend. To do the portages on and off the east side of Long Island does require calm seas, and the outside of Long Is can be daunting even in mild weather for novice paddlers. The portages across the island are flat, easy and are really cool however. Highly recommended. Tides run north on the flood and south on the ebb, so if you are paddling over the change of tide, use them to your advantage (doing the route in reverse if necessary). The strongest currents are at Icehouse Point, though all the channels will have some flow.
Leaving Mission Beach and headed across the channel:
Crossing Long Is Channel. The lowest point on the island (just left of my bow, mid-picture) is where the lake is:
Across Southern Lake:
The banya on the far side needs some help:
Down the beach and into Chiniak Bay:
Another low spot hints at the portage from Helen Bay to Cook Bay:
Beach combing done right:
The final portage:
Cook Bay with Woody in the distance and town behind that:
Yes, being prepared may spare you from a freezing, soggy death.
