Re: [Paddlewise] Washington Coast paddling

aldercreek_at_qwest.net wrote:
> Yep, Matt, it IS a challenging trip.  Helmets, drysuits, proper kit and
> expert skills are required.  Our Shellback team is well trained!
> 
> On this trip we had 6-8' swell/ surf and 2-3' windwaves and on our trip out
> to Tatoosh, 4-5 knots of flood current.  Last year we had an 11' day.
> 
> Dealing with surf was an everyday duty.  Tough job but someone's gotta do
> it!

I did a shorter version of the trip from Neah Bay around the cape.  My
wife and I finally uploaded some of our pictures.  We slept inside of a
sea cave on gravel, the pictures show where we camped.  The conditions
were nearly flat the first day, it was foggy and we had bit of swell
(2-3') the second.  Leaving our site, there was a lot of confusing seas
where the swell was rebounding, but once in out in the open, it leveled
out.  Our pictures haven't been extensively edited yet, and they are
somewhat low-res, but you can get the gist:

http://www.ochawan.org/photogallery/olympic/index.html

The tide range was very small, it was warm, and there was little wind,
mostly ripples, and little current.  The Costal Indians were doing their
annual cedar canoe tour and we watched teams of them paddle up the
strait.  On Sunday, we ate dinner back in Neah Bay where they were
having a gathering before moving out.

I do agree that the weather, even in July, can be very fickle and
extremely dangerous, so we only made it an overnight.  Probably a bit
safer would be making an easy day trip to and from Cape Flattery,
stopping along the Strait to explore the caves.
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