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Trip Report    

Sea Kayak - Deception Pass

Bridge to Bridge paddle from La Conner to Bowman Bay via Canoe Pass on the Slack Before Flood.

Doug Palm Doug Palm
August 02, 2024
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Calm wind and surface conditions prevailed throughout the day, with west winds at around 4 knots and only the occasional speedboat wakes for wave action. Winds roughly doubled between Hoypus Point and the pass, possibly due to the Venturi effect of air passing through the constrictions there.  Combined with an earlier than predicted flood it made for slower going in that area but we managed to get through by hand railing the north shore through Canoe Pass. Conditions in the pass were relatively mild at the time and typical of slacks in that place. 

We left La Conner at about 10am and stopped at the little bay just south of Shelter Cove on the Swinomish Slough for rescue practice. Stopped at Goat Island for lunch and a hike up to Fort Whitman. From there we practiced maintaining a forward range to Hope Island for our second break. Afterwards we rode the flood north past Ala Spit and made good speed up to Hoypus Point. We crossed over to the tide station at Yokeko Point through a break in the power boat wakes there. Proceeded along the north shore to Canoe Pass, hand railing it through the pass to take advantage of eddies to counter the premature flood. No issues getting through although. Took Lighthouse Point wide to avoid the turbulence there and enjoyed calm waters from there on into Bowman Bay.

although we arrived at the pass 45 minutes earlier than the forecasted SBF, the current had already turned. Not a big deal but not as fast going.  If I had it to do over I would start the trip at 9am and add a third break at Lunch Beach or Lottie Bay.