Re: [Paddlewise] Weather in the Charlottes

Kirby Stevens wrote:

>>When we were in the islands we were fortunate enough to get a stint of sunny
weather that lasted 9 days.    On the other hand we managed to get 7 days of
miserable weather.    We were fortunate to observe the best and the worst of
nature.

[snip] the worst weather hit us just prior to the entrance of the park in a
place called Pacofi Bay.    The wind started rising from 15 to 25 knots and
getting stronger, so we decided that we should get off the water.   Thus we
surfed the waves down into a small bay where we landed.  By the time we got out
of our kayaks the wind was over 30 knots with no end of subsiding.

We were able to find a small campsite behind a log where we camped for four
days while we weathered out the storm.     The second day was the worst when it
almost flattened our tent.   So we quickly dropped one of our tarps to act as a
wind break and protect the tent.>>

This ratio of good to bad days is pretty typical of summertime in the
Charlottes, although the intensity of what Kirby's party experienced is
extreme, in my experience.  The part of Moresby Island where he got stuck is
notable for a lack of decent campsites ... hence the value of Kirb's maps.

I have many times bemoaned the "overkill" of information about popular places
like the Charlotttes, and have hard-timed Kirby about the effect of his maps.
__However__, there is a definite safety factor for we occasional paddlers in
having campsite info available, which his maps list.  Too bad Kirby did not
know about that really nice campsite at the base of Pacofi Bay ... hope it goes
into his map. <grin>

Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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