Video of cruise & mishap in Fords Terror Inlet, Alaska

Hunkydory · Last edited by Hunkydory on Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:44 pm; edited 2 times in total

With appreciated help from Bill Giese, we will see shortly if I've figured out how to post a link to a short video from our last trip to Alaska.

The video is a streaming video 3 min 25 sec long, that includes our entry into Fords Terror Inlet, some wildlife & scenery, and our preventable mishap on exiting the inlet, which cost us several thousand dollars and we felt very fortunate, that was all it cost.

The trip is written up in the forum, under Grand Adventures, " A Hunkydory adventure in a 22 cruiser."

The following should be the link to video.

fords terror video

oldgrowth · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:43 pm Post subject:

That was a good video, just wish you had more of it at the end. Fill us in with more detail, on what happened.

Levity · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject:

Great video. The scenery is spectacular. It isn't clear what happened. Did you fall into a hole behind a standing wave? Did you hit the rock or obstruction which created the hole? Hope all is well with you and your boat. Thanks for linking the vid.
Mike 'Levity'

Papillon · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject:

Great film....I didn't know that the C-Dory was a "White Water" boat...Please give us the details of the "Wild Ride".

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject:

OK, I clicked on the link, Winamp opened but nothing happened - what do I need to do to see this puppy??

Sneaks · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject:

Stuff the URL into Windows Media Player, nephew.

Right click the link, select properties, copy the URL. Open media player, click on file, open URL, paste it in the box and watch.

P.S. Glad to see Pattie's vertical again.

Don

Papillon · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

Hunkydory · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:40 pm Post subject:

Dave,

We wished we had more of it at the end too. Was lucky to still have any video, our boat and lives. When the water poured through the front window it ruined both our cameras and computer including the navigational software. This is a extremely isolated area. Would like to know if any other c-brats have been there? The Inlet is located on the Alaska Inland Channel off Stephens Passage and up Endicott Arm which is directly south of Tracy Arm, and which we had explored the day before.

Up to this point in our trip, the guide book seemed to way over estimate the dangers and difficulties of entering, exiting, and passing through narrow high tidal areas. We had already gone through Rocky Pass and a lot of other remote small inlets with difficult entry ways. The easy entry of Fords Terror Inlet on a high ebb tide led us to complacency on exiting on a low ebb tide. The video doesn't show just how deep and straight back up that 1st hole was crossing the bar. You can tell by our gasps, that we knew big trouble was ahead. The bow dug in at the bottom and a wall of water came completely over the boat. Then it was a very wild ride through several more holes. Jo-Lee was knocked to the floor and our stuff thrown and scattered about the boat. Very fortunate not to have hit bottom. After rereading guide book it said emphatically not to traverse the bar during a low ebb tide. Fortunately for us the c-dory boat covered a very bad operator error. When I wrote about this in "A hunkydory adventure on a 22 cruiser", I thought most readers would think I was exaggerating the experience. So was glad the video survived

This spring we are planning on a return trip to see if it really was as bad as it seemed.

Jay

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject:

Fords Terror Inlet. Seems to be a warning in the name here. Thanks for sharing AND surviving.

Adeline · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for a great video segment. I admire your courage as you ventured into the unknown waters. I also appreciate sharing your "white water" ride. Your experience may better equip me when I'm facing similar hazzards.

oldgrowth · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:01 am Post subject:

uncleralph123 · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:33 am Post subject:

Is that someone's heart pounding you here at the end of the video?

Ralph

Hoot · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:56 am Post subject:

Very forunate indeed..

everyone should read Waggoner Guide about these "rapids"...Some can get even worse..

Glad you're all OK. WOW.

Hoot

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:55 am Post subject:

Unfortunately, those of us with Mac computers get only this from the link:

"Sorry, this file is a secure streaming Windows Media file. Currently Windows Media Player for Macintosh does not support https"

Anyone know of a solution short of using a PC type computer?

ON EDIT: Here's a link to a Mac compatible video version of the Ford's Terror video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7400800146367816800&q=Ford%27s+Terror&hl=en

Joe.

Salmon Slayer · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

Unfortunately I use a MAC and cant see the video either but that must have been quite a ride. I have seen Fords terror and it can really live up to its name.

The extreme tides take a bit of getting used to up here, I was used to North Carolina when I moved here and you have to take the tides into consideration at all times. Even the launch ramp I use goes high and dry at times and anchoring for the night takes a little more consideration as well.

To those who havent been up here, the absolute remoteness and wilderness can be a bit intimidating at first because there is often no one around to help, VHF calls can go unanswered and cell phone coverage is very spotty. You get in trouble here and you more often than not have to get yourself out of trouble on your own. That is part of the draw of this area though for most of us that live here.

Now that its over and everyone is safe all I can say is WOW, what an adventure!