Goat Island

Trip

Sea Kayak - Goat Island

Paddle around mysterious Goat Island with a stop to explore Fort Whitman. A red eyed goat replica. Exploring haunted ruins. Shooting through the fishway. Who knows what other thrills and chills? What could be a more perfect paddle for this Halloween season???

  • Sea Kayak II
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 7.0 nm
  • Elevation Gain: 50 ft
  • Maximum Wind: 10 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 1 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 1.5 kts
  • Pace: Moderate

We will start and end at the Conner Waterfront Park in La Conner, along the channel side of Sherman Street.

Please plan to be at the park by no later than 9:30am.  This is the meeting time and it was established to ensure everyone has enough time to prepare for our timely launch one hour later.  We cannot delay the launch time so if you feel you may need more time to prepare your boat and gear, please plan on arriving before the 9:30am meeting time.

I expect we will be done paddling by around 3:30pm.

With the weather finally transitioning to fall conditions, this could be a bumpy ride so dry suits required!!!

As is standard for Mountaineers Sea Kayaking activities, participants are responsible for making arrangements for their own boats, gear, food, water, etc.

For the short hiking portion of this trip you may want to bring sturdy walking shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy.  And a headlight to explore the ruins. And maybe hiking poles if you like to use them.  There is a short climb up a bank from the beach up to the fort trail and hiking poles might come in handy. There are also some rough areas around the fort itself. Be sure to keep a sharp eye out for abrupt edges along stairways and walls. And watch out for holes in the ground, as well as fallen branches and other debris!!! I have not had any trouble walking up to and around the place with my NRS kayaking booties but some folks may prefer tougher footwear and a hiking pole or two.

For the latest weather updates for this paddle, check the following links:

Pinpoint Forecast: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=48.36413471149556&lon=-122.5200370978564#.YFvZzSVHaaM

Associated Zone Forecast: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=PZZ133#.YF5D3C1HafB

Hourly Weather Forecast Graph: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=48.3641&lon=-122.52&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphicals

For information on Goat Island’s interesting military history, check out http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Whitman

Route/Place

Goat Island


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

These eight essentials plus The Ten Essentials are required on all sea kayaking trips.  All but the whistle and clothing should be provided with any kayak rental.

  1. Floatation in both ends of the kayak
  2. U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
  3. Paddle
  4. Spray skirt
  5. Bilge pump with floatation
  6. Self-rescue paddle float
  7. Waterproof whistle
  8. Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
  9. Sea kayaking drysuit required due to possibly immersion. 
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