Inside Passage

J

jhayes1068

New member
It's been some time since I've posted on the site, but, one question I have for the "Brats" that have made the Inside Passage trip is: During the run from Wrangell to Petersburg has anyone used the Dry Pass at high tide with a CD-19 or CD-22? During our trip up the passage on the Alaska Marine Ferry Columbia this spring, I was looking at the chart for that area and at low tide the water was very shallow 2-3 1/2 feet in places. Of course the Columbia was drawing 26 feet with it's load at the time so it followed the Wrangell Narrows route. I have not looked at tide charts for that stretch of water at high tide because I don't know of a good source on this darn compter! (rookie) :D

We got off of the Columbia in Petersburg for a brief visit and darn if there wasn't a CD-22 parked in front of a house as we got off the pier where the ship docked. I didn't get a close look at the boat because I didn't want to intrude on someone's property or mess up their day unannounced. I thought that maybe the owner of the boat may be a "Brat"? Good looking boat!

71 and still have the dream! :D Thanks, Jim
 
Jim,

The simple answer is yes, you can do it with a good tide, but you will want to check with some of the folks in Wrangell to get local knowledge. If you're going to the LeConte glacier that might be the most direct route, but it is pretty shallow.

On the other hand, you really should not missed the Wrangell Narrows. The Narrows is an interesting area and if done at night (which I don't recommend, except on the Ferry...) it's spectacular. In any case, you will want to top-off fuel in Petersburg for the long run up to Juneau.

Casey
 
The area in question is the delta of the Stikine River, and is a constantly changing shallows of sand bars. Leave Dry Pass for the locals and use Wrangell Narrows.

SE Alaska has many hazards, including rocks, floating ice, imperfect charts, weather, cruise ships, tug and tows, and fishing boats. Adding a risky passage might be pushing the odds a little. Remember, there is no Sea Tow/Vessel Assist in SE!
 
I did Dry Strait this summer. Here's a thread with a brief account of some of the trip, including the Dry Strait portion. Inside Passage 2011[/quote]

Here's a Chartplotter screen shot from our trip:

Inside_Passage_2011_258_Southbound_Dry_Strait.jpg

As noted, a lot of planning is called for before attempting Dry Strait. I've done the Wrangel Narrows several times, and also did Keku Strait this summer on the way up, but Dry Strait is a whole different game. The charts are at best a rough guide, and can be downright misleading. Sand bars come and sand bars go. Count on zero visibility in the water. I would strongly recommend some reconnaissance work from land or air and some conversations with locals. You definitely want to go on the last couple of hours of a flood tide, and I would recommend at least a 15 foot high. Go slow, engine up as far as you can get it.

There are several C-Dories in Petersburg. There are pictures of some of them in my photo album, in the "Petersburg" folder.
 
Jim:

We spent a week based in Wrangle while cruising up there in a Norhavn 46 several years ago, and made some jet boat trips around the Stikine River delta.

Have also flown over the area with a helicopter several times for each of the past two summers, including flying the Le Conte Glacier, and the length of the Stikine up into Canada.

With that as background, I would avoid Dry Straight and just run the Wrangle Narrows...which in itself is kind of fun.

Particularly when seen from above, the Stikine river delta sand bar locations can be pretty tricky, and every now and then contain an imbedded log or other debri, which in that murky water at high tide would be 'seen' only by one of your outboards.

Kevin Ware
Tom Cat 25.5
 
I have done Wrangell Narrows at least 5 times in the Cal 46, and Keku Strait in the C Dory 25 and once in the Cal 46. I would leave Dry Pass (Straits) for the locals, and jet boats/outboards.
 
As Casey mentioned the The Wrangle Narrow's passage is really beautiful by ferry.  We went that way late in the season with very few others aboard in 2000.  We stayed awake late through the night to not miss the show & was well worth it.  Slept out on the deck on lounge chairs in our sleeping bags.    Most who are used to the cruise ship amenities might not agree, but it was a unique & special experience for us.  We have also cruised it north & south on the 22 CD when our chart plotter a Dell computer with Nobletech Navigational Software was down from the Fords Terror near disaster.  The exceptionally  good navigation markings made that easy.  Also have been through Rocky Pass, I guess better known as Keku Straight to some.  With my very limited experience at that time found it a challenge that I carefully prepared for as I should have also with the Fords Terror tidal bar.

Have never been through the Dry Pass being discussed on this thread, but now have been through other dry tidal passes & shallow areas of shifting glacier  & river silt that I think would be as much or likely more hazardous, so would not hesitate to make the run, but only for the challenge not to save time or fuel on it's being a shorter route.  And that would be my only reason to recommend others to take this route too.

Jay
 
Thanks for all of the information on the Dry Strait and Pass. I thought it might be a tricky passage due to low water levels. We ran the Wrangell Narrows on the Columbia during daylight hours and everyone is right; it's one of the prettiest area's I've ever seen. My only concern about parts of the Narrows is meeting a large vessel like the Columbia or something bigger and have to really scramble to keep from getting run over. As everyone has suggested, it would take good planning for the trip, and I think adding local knowledge before leaving Wrangell would certainly be a big help.

The thing that impressed me during the trip from Bellingham to Haines was all of the different sea conditions occurring in just that one snap-shot of a trip. Through Johnstone Strait everything was from dead flat to 2-4 ft chop. Queen Charlotte Sound had 6-8 ft waves from the west with a 8-9 second period, and a wind driven cross-chop from the Northwest. Dixon Entrance was 10-12 feet from the west with a 9-10 sec period. Fredrick Sound was 6 feet from the southwest. Everything else was mostly smooth or choppy. That was just one snap-shot in time on a small but important part of the trip. :D Thanks again, Jim
 
Jim on your comment on the weather. With the C Dory you can go fast enough that you can take advantage of good weather--and when it looks bad, stay in. However we found that days when we didn't move (not very many)--even the larger yachts and fishing boats were also not moving--or going very short distances). Also what is a big roller on a larger vessel, is just an "up and down" on a small boat.
 
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