Southeast Alaska 2012 with Jay, Jo-Lee & the Hunkydory

I have a quick question. As I follow you on spot and study the map I see a lot of small rivers going into the hill's. Most of these rivers end at one of more lakes and some even connect multiple lakes. I would love to hike into one of these lakes and have a look. Do a little fishing and maybe stay the night. With the bear population in these mostly unpopulated areas, how safe is it to go hiking inland?
 
Yeah, I figured you got the brunt of the storm out there given the ugly we had here. Say high to the folks who own that little store and cafe. I had a nice chat with them a couple months ago when they were in town for some surgery I did on their pooch. We often fly animals in from Pelican for treatment and try our best to help them out by phone if we can. Nice people out there but it can be tough with the isolation and weather holds. The landing craft you followed sounds like it might have been the Lite Weight. Red hull, white superstructure? He does a lot of freight, vehicle and fuel hauling to remote places out of Juneau. Hard working guy. Goes reeaall slow. Being nice to the bears brings good karma. Looking fwd to pics.
 
Tom,  very few people hike this country without some protection, but some do.  Personally wouldn't hesitate with shotgun & bear spray.  I carry both most of the time on shore, but when the winds whipping the spray turns worthless.

Steve, your right on with the boat name "Lite Weight" for the landing craft & just said Hi! For you to the restaurant owner.  

Looks like with weather we'l be around here for some time.  Will try to do some photo work.

Jay
 
Hi Jay and Jo-Lee,

To paraphrase the song, "You gotta know when to hold 'em..." Hope the weather gets better for you. As long as you aren't on a schedule, spending extra time in one place while waiting on weather becomes more of an attitude thing, and you two have a great attitude.

Glad to hear the new Wallas is working as it should. Do you have good access to diesel where you are? What do you carry for stores?

Take care, stay warm. Keep those reports coming.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
J & J, while you were lounging, I made some final preps and got the boat in for a shakedown. I filled up with 12 gal of gasoline for the kicker tank and it was only $4.25 a gal. at the fuel dock. Dint check the diesel price. Sitting out near S. Shelter as I speak watching a lone Orca. Not exacltly calm out here and pretty grey and misty. I know, get over it. Its a rain forest. So far all the new electronics are working well. No surprises on the first dunk of the year. Jay is so right on the bear spray and shotgun with slugs. In the wind though, the bear spray, which is normally very effective becomes a rather debilitating seasoning applied to the sprayer. Still good stuff to have. What's the plan for your next leg?[/list]
 
We've never had much success hiking on the outside coastline of Chichagof or Baranof Islands. The weather has either been too bad or the times we have been able to hike we seem to run into bears, usually with very little warning that they are in the immediate area. It also seems that the weather can set in pretty severely for several days and then when it does let up you start thinking should I stay at my present location and try doing a hike or should I make a run down the coast to the next safe anchorage. Though I have had stretches of great weather out there with lots of sun no wind just the rollers coming in off the North Pacific. Lots of places to explore along that coast plus the hot springs are such a treat.
 
Jim, Yes diesel for sale here in Pelican & less expensive then I posted before. The town bought out the fuel supplier & now diesel & gas is about $5 not $6. I carry 7.5 gal in containers + 1.5 gal container that the stove draws from of diesel & 93 gal of gas when topped off.

And I sure agree waiting is all about attitude & much better since there is no deadline.

Doc Steve, good to here your out on the water with all working well. Plan is when weather breaks to head on out to outer coast. Thinking about the hot springs then Sister Lake area. From there haven't decided whether down to Sitka & around to Red Bluff Bay or back around by Hoonah to Red Bluff Bay either way slow with lots of exploring. After Red Bluff Bay will work our way down to Port Alexander & then decision time for working back north or further south to the Craig area.

ALF, agree with you on the outside waters. Always tough to decide when the weather breaks to use its advantage of moving on to new anchorage or enjoying where you are.

Jay
 
Wow you guys are living the dream! Glad to hear the new wallas is working well. Just wondering how far south your planing on going. I'm planing on being in Rupert and possibly ketchican for may long weekend maybe we'll cross paths somewhere this summer. I hope to be on the coast till the end of may at the least. Hope to see you on the water! Happy travels. Jeff.
 
Jim, main tanks hold only 40 gallons. Have 2, 5 gal ,& 1, 2.5 gal containers between the main tanks & 8, 6 gal containers in two large 3' long x19.5 " high x21" wide plastic containers. I also use these containers to sit on with seats from west Marne & to set the Honda 2000 generator on with the exhaust to the stern. All working very well for us this cruise, but with all that weight have added Permatrims to the Trim tabs.

Jay
 
Rough night even being at the Pelican Dock. High winds, boat bouncing, bumpers squeaking & groaning. Now at the Pelican Internet Cafe & heavy snow falling. Several people here waiting on the float plane & glad it isn't going to make it in today. Pretty good storm when the locals don't want to fly & the pilots won"t. Sure making memories here.

Looking forward to more days like this
146_G.jpg

Jay
 
Jay,
I was looking at Skagway's weather just cause I have it listed on my weather fav's. Next Wednesday and Thursday it is supposed to be sunny and reach a balmy 57 degrees. No wonder you bought a new stove. I know you are over in Pelican but things look dreary for a few more days over in Skagway. I hope Captain Morgan doesn't get hurt too bad. You might have to lean on him till the the sun comes out.
D.D.
 
I think the rainbow means it hasn't started yet. Saw one over Auke Bay on our way in today shortly before it started to rain.
 
Looks like J & J headed out to the Gulf of Alaska and didn't like what they saw, turned around and headed for friendlier waters and parked it for a while.
 
After showers,  laundry,  buying 2.5 gal diesel for Wallas, & the Internet cafe headed back out to the dock & cabin on Lisianski Strait.  Day started with snow then rain off & on.
To & from Pelican 15 miles & 630 total

5-9-12

Out to Lisianski Strait entrance to open ocean.  Poor reception, but could make out weather forecast on VHF Weather Channel 1.  Nine feet seas today & gale starting tomorrow with seas building to 23 feet by Sunday.  We will sit it out here at the dock on the strait unless waves increase to much there too.  If so will seek refuge at Pelican.  After this storm ends, which is hopefully Tuesday or wednesday we can head out Lisianski strait entrance to the open ocean  & south to the Chichagof Island Wilderness area, which is official wilderness in route from what many would already consider to be wilderness.

Today after testing the outside water conditions, visited Fresh Water Cove & then to Stag Bay again.  Saw hunters in a skiff there & when we got back to the dock their mother boat a very nice trawler was already there.  From the guides & hunters, gathered the hunt was not going well.  They too had seen very few bears along the shore.

Saw many sea otters popping up & down, but mostly  they were relaxing, eating or grooming while floating on their backs also a land otter catch a fish & then race up the rocks on the shore line with it.

Jay
 
You were right on with both counts, Steve. That photo was future hopes of more of the same & as I just posted sure didn't like what we saw out there.

With the high winds driving waves right into the dock from the direction they came had to untie with some difficulty & head back to Pelican where we are now. This storm is stalled right here, so have to wait until it decides to leave.

Jay
 
Curious to know if you have gone south of Pelican on Lisianski Inlet. It is actually quite interesting down there. Not the best of anchorages but at certain times of the year it can be excellent wildlife viewing. I seem to remember spending 5 days waiting at Lisianki St. to get out and down the coast to Imperial passage then another few days waiting at the islands in front of Klag Bay to make the next hop down the coast. But we also did a lot of exploring of the protected bays and passages while waiting there. As long as you have time this coast line can be very rewarding to explore but never do it on a tight time schedule.
 
AJF,

We've been to the head of the Lisianski Inlet many times.  The first time on my birthday in 2007 & was one of the more memorable days of my life.  It was May 31st & we saw 11 different brown bears & I took the Mokai up the Steel Head River.  Both the 2007 & 2010 cruises, I wrote up with photos & are in this Grand Adventure Forum. 

Concerning venturing down the outside coast & never doing it when time constricted.  I agree with the statement in principle, but in fact did it in 2007.   We raised our risk level at times & made decisions to reduce it as much as possible, but bottom line the choice was to either not to go at all or take the risk.  Not knowing wether we would ever make it back to Alaska & not wanting to sit in a rocking chair wishing we had, we chose to go, but would be hesitant to recommend the same.  One thing for sure we much prefer being able to wait until we know conditions are just right such as the cruise from Pelican to Sitka & circling Baranof Island in 2010 & the total of this summers cruise.

Jay
 
ALF, curious to type & size of boat you have cruised here. We very seldom see anyone in less than 30 feet with most more than 40. There are many near the various towns less than 30 feet, but are fishing only & not anchoring out.

There are advantages to the smaller boat with comfort & accessing big seas not two of them.

Jay
 
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