San Juan Island Trip 2014

Wonderful 4 days of Sea-Kayaking & Hiking Trip to San Juan Island (Orcas Island), WA (25-28 April 2014)

The San Juan Islands are located at the very Northwest corner of the Washington State or the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The area has lots of islands. The prominent islands are Guemess, Sinclair, Cypress, Blakely, Orcas, Shaw, Decatur, Lopes, and San Juan (Fridays Harbor). The trip was a PWC event planned by Paul Dutky. However, Paul could not go due to his back issues and expecting to have a surgery in May. I will miss him dearly for my outdoor activities for a while. Hope he recovers fully and the soonest. This year's multi-days kayak trip was on the Orcas Island which in on the North side of the San Juan Island.

This was my 3rd annual PWC paddling trip to San Juan Islands. Link to 2012, 2013. This year's trip was planned by Paul but led by Norval Goe from SSAK (South Sound Area Kayakers). Much thanks to Norval. And I helped the logistics and communications. The weather forecast did not look good for the 4 days, so some of the possible paddlers cancelled the trip at the last minutes. For me, I was just happy going to Orcas Island for a vacation. It ended up with 6 paddlers: Norval (leader), Suzy, Brian, Shinho, Barney, and Isaac.

Because of the possible inclement weather, we decided to play by ear. We planned to visit Sucia Island (1-2 nights), Jones Island (overnight), and Yellow Island (day visit). We ended up staying one night at Sucia Island and 2 nights at Moran State Park, Orcas Island. And we did some hiking and padded the lakes (Mountain Lake and Cascade Lake). The weather was not horrible at all that we did not get drenched on. The Orcas Island was jam packed due to fishing derby just started on Saturday (Opening day for the Anglers) !!! Unbelievably, each of the camp site was packed. We ended up at the Mountain Lake Group camp site that we did not know that it was a group camp site. Nevertheless, it was an excellent camp site which was away from the road and easy access to many hiking trails. The only bad thing at the camp site was that the sign says "No Firewood Gathering". There were lots of down trees around the camp site.

Summary of daily activities:
a. Day 1 (Fri, 25 April).   Took 0705 Kingston Ferry to Edmonds. Took 1040 Orcas Ferry.      Paddled 3.1 miles to Sucia Island for overnight.   Explored 6.1 miles on the South side of the Sucia Island.
b. Day 2 (Sat, 26 April).   Hiked Sucia Island (0500-0700).   Paddled back to Eastsound.   Camped at Moran State Park.   Drove up to the Mt Constitution summit. Hiked around Mountain Lake.
c. Day 3 (Sun, 27 April). Hiked Mt Constitution and Little Constitution. Paddled Mountain Lake.    Paddled Cascades Lake and practiced rolls.
d. Day 4 (Mon, 28 April). Took 0850 Anacortes Ferry.   Arrived home 1230.

Day 1 (Fri): Cloudy and sunny day.   Temp was in mid 40s to 50s.     Paddled 9.2 miles (3.1 miles + 6.1 mies (side trip)).
a. Carpool info: Shinho and Brian carpooled from Port Orchard and Gig Harbor.   Barney picked me up.   We loaded up my gears at 0550-0600am.   Norval from Olympia met us at Anacortes.   Suzy met us at Orcas.
b. We took 0705am Kingston to Edmonds ferry, drove to Anacortes, and took 1040am Orcas ferry.
c. Drove to EastSound.   Paddled to Sucia Island (3.1 miles) (1340-1500).    Wind was calm.   Class I condition.
d. After unloading and setting up our tents.    Paddled 6.7 miles of the South side of the Sucia Island (1615-1845).     On the way back to the campsite,   wind was picking up. Class II condition.
e. We had a nice camp fire.    Always to carry a hand saw !
f. Fresh water was turned on !!!
g. Through the night it was windy around 0200am but it did not last long.

Link to Day 1 Youtube Video:

Day 2 (Sat) Cloudy and beautiful sunny later in the day, and some rain at night.   Temp was in low 40s to 50s.   Our plan was to paddle back to Orcas Island before weather turns bad around 1100-1200 on Saturday.    Paddled 3.1 miles. Hiked 11 miles (4 (Sucia Is) + 7 (Mountain Lake)).
a. Barney and I hiked 4 miles of trails in Sucia Island in the early morning (0500-0700).
b. Packed up and started paddling back to Eastsound. (0820-1010)
c. Drove to Moran State Park.   The place was really crowded due to opening fishing derby.   We ended up at a group camp site at Mountain Lake.
d. 4 of us drive to the Mt Constitution summit.     Suzy hiked the Mt Constitution.
e. 4 of us hiked around the Mountain Lake.
f.    No camp fire !   A sign said that no gathering of firewood !
g.   Fresh water was turned on !!!
h.   We turned in early at 2030.

Link to Day 2 Youtube Video:

Day 3 (Sun): Cloudy and Sunny later in the day.    Hiked 7 miles.   Paddled 5 miles.
a. Hiked solo both Mt Constitution (2398 ft) and Little Constitution (2378 ft) (0500-0720).   It was total about 7 miles with 1900 elev gain.    Surpringly, near the 2200 ft, there were some snowflakes coming down momentarily.    It was passing rain/snow shower.
b. Suzy left for home around 0600.
c.   After breakfast, Shinho and I paddled Mountain Lake.   Norval and Brian hiked Twin Lakes from camp site.    Barney solo hiked Mt Constitution.
d.   Drove to Deer Harbor and tried to check out the condition for paddling to Jones and Yellow Islands.   Unfortunately, no boater was coming in or around.    It called for 15-20Kt wind.   We decided not to paddle to Jones Island for a day trip.
e.   We decided to paddle at Cascade Lake, Moran State park (1350-1540).    It was cloudy then poured about 10 minutes when we finished paddling.
f.    Returned to camp site (Moran State Park).   Surprisingly, it snowed at the camp site (950 ft elev) that collapsed the portion of the tarp !

Link to Day 3 Youtube Video:

Day 4: Sunny Day. Homebound.
a. Took 0850 Anacortes Ferry. Took 1105 Edmonds to Kingston Ferry and back home.

Expenses for the trip (for two person carpooling, $82 total not including meals & extra spending (coffee, etc.))
a. Gas ($22 each). Gas expenses: 28 + 72 + 31 + 72 + 28 = 231 miles. 20 mile extra. 251 / 20 x 3.5 = $44.
b. Ferry ($43 each). Ferry expenses: 13.85 + 36.95 + 12.70 + free + 13.85 + 7.85 = 85.20.
c. Camping (2 + 4 + 10) = $16 each. $12 at Sucia Island. $24 for two sites at Moran State Park. $50 for two sites + extra car at Moran State Park (Group site rate).