Chit Chat: San Juans June 15th, 16th, 17th

San Juans June 15th, 16th, 17th

Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Chit Chat
Forum Discription: Non Boating Related Discussions
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12148
Printed Date: 17 Nov 2025 at 7:22am

Topic: San Juans June 15th, 16th, 17th

Posted By: dave
Subject: San Juans June 15th, 16th, 17th
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 9:28am

I am thinking about doing an easy paddle in the San Juans around Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th (possibly Sunday also, coming home Sunday or Saturday night).

I was thinking about paddling from Guemess ferry to Cyprus Island and do some hiking for a few days around Cyprus and just staying on Pelican Beach for a few days. Maybe day paddle around the Cone Islands and just messing around there. Cyprus is a great place to hang out, with hiking and day paddling possibilities. This will be an easy trip with short paddling around 10 miles a day. Could also paddle over to James Island and stay there a day too.

My friend lives near Guemess and we can park there for free. So, if you are interested just post here and we can get a trip going. You will need a sea kayak of course, unless your a bad ass kayaker that can paddle a playboat 10miles...

Weather permitting of course.

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Nomad

Replies:

Posted By: Mark47n
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2012 at 11:06am

Just did an Anacortes to Friday Harbor trip there. One of the trip participants got beat down BAD just north of Deadman Island. I watched his bow go from horizontal, to vertical, start dropping and then start getting whipped around like a propeller at amazing speeds! Keep in mind we're talking about 18' of boat! He swam that whirlpool for 3 minutes and took some nasty whacks to the head in the process as his boat passed over him. I shudder to think what might have happened to him if he let go of his boat.

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You mean I'm supposed to wear something UNDER my spray skirt? Where's the fun in that?

Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2012 at 4:10pm

Ya, the currents can get like class III-IV whitewater out there at times, especially with opposing winds.

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Nomad

Posted By: Mark47n
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 8:52am

Great fun, but once your in it out there there is no escape, sometimes shore is REALLY far away and the waves are REALLY big.

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You mean I'm supposed to wear something UNDER my spray skirt? Where's the fun in that?

Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 9:36am

Ya, unlike white water where you can just paddle to an eddy quickly, out there you are sometimes an hour paddle away from shore and when your in the sh*t it can be a little intimidating.

I have seen class V whitwater paddlers turn into scared little girls out there.

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Nomad

Posted By: Mark47n
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 9:41am

There was an article in 2008 in Sea Kayaker magazine, Written by Rob Gibbert, where a WW paddler went on the same trip I'm talking about. He barely made the crossing to Lopez across Rosario Strait (about 7.25nm). It's great article written by a skilled sea kayaker and white water paddler. The exposure on long crossings can be a bit daunting, especially to paddlers who are new to crossings. Especially there where the consequences of missing can be...severe.

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You mean I'm supposed to wear something UNDER my spray skirt? Where's the fun in that?

Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 11:46am

Throw a little fog in there and then watch the fun begin...it is undescribable being in thick fog paddling a long reach.

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Nomad

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