The pair left from Lummi Is. and were to paddle to Patos and Tumbo Islands. Approximately 12nm due west (magnetic) from Lummi to Patos. Another 4 nm to Tumbo. Tumbo Is. is actually in the Canadian Gulf Islands. Their entire route would have been very exposed to the Georgia Strait. "The body of Steven Buergey, 20, of Red Lodge, Mont., was found (Saturday morning) near James Island, about six miles south of Orcas Island in the San Juans," The 20-year-old was found probably 14nm south of their route in Rosario Strait. Currents in this area are _very_ strong. That's probably 20 nm from where they could likely have been on Thursday night---they would likely have been camped on Patos or Tumbo then--James is a long ways east and south of where they would likely have been. I'm assuming they should have been about mid-route if their drybag with ID was found on the morning of the 3rd day of a 4-day trip. Also assuming that they would have paddled about 1/2 day Wednesday, full day Thursday, full day Friday, and 1/2 day Saturday. Since the kayak was found on the shore of Orcas, it would lead me to believe that the victim was probably out of the boat when he drifted that far (separately from the kayak). It makes me sick just to think of it. The article said that they were experienced kayakers, but I know how hard it is to get experience when you grow up so far from the ocean (the other victim was likely from Arkansas). They may have only been paddling for 2 and 4 years, respectively (after moving out to the Puget Sound for college). Shoot, that's someone just younger than me--it's really chilling. I didn't know the guy from Montana (our state's not _that_ small!) but it hits pretty close to home. My thoughts and prayers are with their families. Shawn Ralph mentioned that they seemed young for sea kayakers (especially when compared to seakayakers he's seen on the East Coast). In my experience, most Puget Sound kayakers aren't that young, but there are a lot of 30-something sea kayakers in the area--as well as 40-, 50-, and 60-something's! -- Shawn W. Baker 0 46°53'N © 2000 ____©/______ 114°06'W ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ baker_at_montana.com 0 http://www.geocities.com/shawnkayak/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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