Sea Kayak - San Juan Islands

8:35am at Anacortes ferry dock.  We will load all gear into kayaks, then park the cars and wheel the loaded kayaks onto the 10:30 ferry to Orcas Island.

This trip provides an introduction to kayak camping in the San Juan Islands. 

Participants should have

- experience paddling in moderate current and wind (such as Deception Pass Intro to currents clinic)

-camping experience (kayak camping or backpacking preferred)

-sufficient conditioning to paddle 8nm at 2.5knot pace two days in a row.

-willingness to contribute to group success and enjoy new experiences

-have kayak wheels that can be used to wheel your loaded kayak onto the ferry and fit into your kayak hatches along with your camping gear, food and water.

Dry suit required.

Please describe your camping, conditioning, paddling in wind, and paddling in current experience in your request for leader permission.  Confirm that you have or are willing to get kayak wheels.

Please read this entire note to ensure that  you understand the trip plan.  There will be extra costs for parking in Anacortes, ferry fare for you and kayak, camping fees.

Day 1:  9.5nm

Meet at ferry dock in Anacortes.  Put kayaks on wheels, load all of your camping and paddling gear (practice this at home before the trip!) into your kayak.  Park the cars.  Wheel the loaded kayak onto the ferry.  Relax during the scenic ferry ride to Orcas Island.  At Orcas Island, we'll wheel the loaded kayaks off the ferry.  Then we'll work together to get all of the kayaks down a narrow (not straight) walkway to the dock where we can launch.  Put your kayak wheels into your kayak hatch.  Launch from dock.

Enjoy a current assist as we paddle through the Wasp Islands where we'll have lunch and then stop at Yellow Island https://www.washingtonnature.org/yellowisland to enjoy the flowers while waiting for slack in the San Juan Channel.  Cross San Juan Channel and paddle to lovely Turn Island where we'll set up camp and enjoy a late dinner.

Day 2: 8.5nm

Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the beach on an extreme low tide before launching from Turn Island at noon to continue the circumnavigation of Shaw Island via Upright Channel and Harney Channel.  We'll have a mild current assist and for a break along the way to return to Orcas Landing by 3pm in order to have time to get our kayaks ready for the 5:15 ferry back to  Anacortes.