Hammersley Inlet

09/27/15 -SUN–SK III—HAMMERSLEY INLET TO HOPE ISLAND AND RETURN. 16 NM
LEADER: LISA A JOHNSON
PADDLERS: TIM BURKE, DONNA GARLAND, DOUG GARLAND, NELSON HAMRE, MOLLY MORSE, NELSON STANSBURY
TIDES/CURRENTS: SHELTON .59E @ 1248, 14.98F @ 1826. ARCADIA .68E @ 1148, 15.22F@ 1749. SKOOKUM PT -2.27 @0941, +2.17 @ 1614. LIBBY PT -3.40 @ 0943, s @ 1255, +3.04 @ 1522.
CONDITIONS: 0-1’, NE 0-5 KTS, CLEAR AND SUNNY, TEMPS 50S-70S, VISABILITY EXCELLENT
SIGHTED: SEALS, RACCOONS, EAGLE, CORMORANTS, SCOTERS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, KINGFISHER, CANADA GEESE

We met at Walker Park about 0930 and launched at 1015. Currents were moving well and after a radio check we moved rapidly down the warm and sunny inlet. Not a cloud in sight all day. We were not able to get very far up Mill Creek as a snag was blocking our progress so we turned around and headed across to the other side. We paused to play a bit in the dying ebb currents at Libby Point but without any wind there wasn’t much action. It was about 1130 when we came out of the mouth and headed between Squaxin and Hope to check out the shoal at what was one of the lowest tides I’ve ever seen in this area. We hauled out for a long lunch approx. 1230 on the picnic table (they look new!) on the south end of Hope Island. Our lunch lasted about 1 hour 15 minutes and we took some time to play in the fun little rips and whirlies off the north end of Steamboat. The breeze finally came up as we headed back into the mouth of Hammersley and we made fast progress back to Libby Point where we paused to make a few runs through the building eddies. The current continued to build and we made fast progress back to the launch point, arriving approx 1530. Tim left with my permission before the post paddle huddle. Comments were favorable with an added observation that the pre trip information of my first aid kit availability was appreciated. Nelson H and I met up with Tim and his wife Nora at the Fish Tail where Tim kindly bought my very good and very much appreciated dinner.

All paddlers performed well with excellent group dynamics.