[Paddlewise] Subject: Recent Pacific Storms

Mary said:
<snip> offshore buoys indicated 50 to 55 foot seas with some rogue waves
as tall as
10 story buildings. I knew we had big seas during these events but 50
feet!
They said for the past 30 years the trend has been for more intense
storms
with higher waves.
------------
You see, there is a God!  :-)

<snip>

 So is anyone interested in
crossing the Columbia bar in a sea kayak? It would make a good feature
on
rescues for Sea Kayaker magazine -- MZ
------------
When I headed to the CR Bar last May, I was disappointed with how calm
it was over the actual bar (the breakwater is still a lot of fun, and
dangerous, in any conditions). My plan was to head back in the winter,
armed with the information gained during the calmer reconnoiter. I'm not
heading back without a $1000.00 dry suite, however. I looked up some of
the surf cams along the Oregon coast this past November. My heart was
pounding just viewing the images. Huge waves reared up at the top off
the screen. Then I realized I was still viewing the nearshore breakers.
My goodness, you folks who live on the Oregon Coast, such as in Cannon
Beach...how do you get any sleep at night with the pounding surf?  As
far as big waves, National Geographic reported in a recent article that
the bar can reach (historically) 90 feet on big ebbs opposing huge rogue
waves. Now that would be a sight. As for 50 foot waves, that sound about
normal for winter Alaskan offshore waters :-)  Up here in Canada, our
west coast Coasties and Fisheries departments use really large vessels
for patrolling winter waters, especially up near the Charlottes which
can hit 30 meters. Even though canada probably uses bigger vessels than
their American brethren, when it comes to delicate deck removal from
offshore ships, we still call up the Americans for their superior rescue
helicopters.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria, BC


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