what's the earliest you can head up the inside passage?

Sea Wolf":2greyz00 said:
One could avoid a lot of the 'return trip blues" and the exposure to the open to the ocean water (except for Dixon Entrance) by launching at Prince Rupert, going north, and then hauling out on the trailer for the return trip at Skagway. This is, of course, IF you could arrange some shipping or transport of the tow vehicle and trailer on the ferry or by the AlCan, though the cost would be fairly high. (???)
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To me that is the ideal trip to do in pairs - e.g. drive up and launch at Prince Rupert and boat north to Skagway. Have another friend fly into Skagway on Alaska Air to boat back to the tow vehicle/trailer while you fly home. By only going in one direction, you can spend twice as much time getting there w/o having to bring the boat back. Just a thought...
 
Well, if S.E. is your only destination, then by all means, drive to Prince Rupert to launch. In my book, focusing on S.E. and ignoring Northern B.C. would be a mistake. I am with Casey, the Northern B.C. Coast between Cape Caution and Prince Rupert is an equally worthy area. So maybe one time you launch at the Port Hardy and cruise B.C., and the next year, you launch at Prince Rupert and cruise S.E. I agree you should not try to fully do both B.C. and S.E. in the short season we have. How about this, Campbell River launch for a season in Desolation and the Broughtons, Port Hardy launch for the a season in the B.C. part of the Inside Passage, and a Prince Rupert launch for a third season in S.E.?
 
I have made two trips from Anacortes to Skagway and one from Skagway to Anacortes. The one down was in October and that is pushing. You need to be able to wait for weather windows.

The best time to go up would probably start in June. You will have some fishing then but it get better in July. Queen Charolette crossing needs to be planned for. Johnstone Straight can be tricky. Otherwise Dixon Entrance is of a lesser concern but it is still open to the outside.

Use the West Otter Buoy report for Queen Charolette.
 
It is the ONE trip that I wish we could have made with Fan-C-Dory, but we started to late in life. I did make the trip last summer on the ferry with the Van, made me wish even harder.

I checked on shipping the Fan-C-Dory from Seattle to Wrangell and it was ~$3500 on an open top pallet.

Snack, the Wander Yorkie was trained to pads as a pup and has always used them with no problem. She would rather go for a walk but doesn't mind. We keep it in the head - wherever that may be, RV, home, or boat.
 
Patti and Barry

I am also planning to go up the inside passage -4-6 weeks this next summer. The discussion has been very helpful - especially justifying another two weeks - Hope we can meet up with others making the trip.
Jim
 
A couple of years ago I checked with the Alaska Marine Ferry System and they advertised that they would haul a rig, with-out driver, from Bellingham to Skagway, or the other way around, for $50 above the normal vehicle fare for the trip. I don't know if that option is still available, but, it would be a great option for anyone wanting to boat one direction or the other with-in a limited time frame. Example: launch at Bellingham, tow the trailer to the Alaska Marine Ferry dock for check-in, boat to Skagway, haul the boat out (unless you have a really fast boat the vehicle and trailer will beat you to Skagway by days or weeks) and load it aboard the Columbia for the return trip to Bellingham. It's 3 1/2 days from Skagway to Bellingham aboard the Columbia. Given the cost of fuel, oil, food etc., the cost of the fare on the Columbia for the return trip is cost-effective IMHO. :D Regards, Jim
 
I like the idea of using the Ferry [with Cdory on trailer] - to get to Alaska, then come back leisurely. Anyone want to consider using the same trailer I use to get to Alaska via Ferry to come back home from Alaska via the Ferry..

That way both parties would gain alot more time going either way and have trailer to transport CDDory the other way - need to find trailer storage, in Alaska? Perhaps pay some one to off load and then later load the trailer on Ferry using their 4x4 in Alaska to save charge of having vehicle go both ways.


Jim
 
On the thoughts of one way (such as ferry up or one person up and the other down in the boat)--you miss so much of SE AK if you do that. You really don't have to repeat any stops or cities in a round trip. In our 4 summers going up, we only stopped at the big cities for resupplies etc--and because of all of the different Islands and passages it is not at all redundant.

I think it would be a mistake to not do up and down--different ways--for example around Admirmality Island--out side of Baranoff Island etc.

Same is true of upper BC. Upper BC can easily take a summer, especially if you out to the Queen Charolettes.

The Sea Dory is fast enough--and can get into so many places, that it is an exceptional vehicle for traveling in these areas. Take full advantage of its capabilities.
 
The areas in Southeast Alaska that Richard Cook prefers to spend the majority of his summer cruising time is in agreement with ours with the way to access them being the difference. Have made the trip from Prince Rupert north, but to us just to many expensive boat miles to go to access the Petersburg north area. Not that it or starting from the Seattle area doesn't make for a great trip. We have made three cruises south out of Skagway, Alaska after trailering the boat there from Wyoming. That access point makes for a grand combination road trip and cruise at the same time allowing us time to thoroughly explore the areas in Southeast Alaska that we have come to prefer. Have started out from on a cruise from Skagway in late May and in the future would go in early May. During May and early June the storms are usually more frequent and stronger, that shouldn't be much of a problem away from the direct coast and even there its just a matter of waiting for the right time to access the protected areas one might like to explore off Baranof and Chichagof Islands.

The primary advantage other then added cruise time for a early departure no matter from what point is early May to mid June being the best bear viewing period in this cruise area. This is the time in the coves and meadows mostly at stream heads the sedge grass a primary food source for the bears is at its best in nutrition and taste. Also during this period the grass is short enough to greatly lesson the chance of surprising a bear when going to the shore in these areas. Later the grass can grow chest high to me making a walk about a dicey proposition in these areas.

On the choice decision between Northern BC, southern section of Southeast Alaska or the more northern area of Southeast Alaska of course is a matter of personal preference of how one wants to spend their limited time. What is more factual in this debate is though all of these areas are supremely rugged and beautiful the further you go north the more the wildlife to view.

George, concerning your 27 foot sailboat cruise from Prince Rupert, BC to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. There's got to be more to that story and I wonder the reason for such an undertaking. That much time in that particular area in a 27 foot boat combined with the time of year seems to have made for a very dangerous undertaking making me wonder if it was the challenge or something else. Know it couldn't be just for pleasure cause of having just a small taste of the Alaska Gulf and that was with cherry picking the days to be out with a ready retreat to safe harbour at all time.

Jay
 
Hi Jay, yes being that early was part of a bigger quest. For myself and 2 mates to become the first private vessel through the Northwest Passage west to East in one season. The small boat was for the max draft of 4 feet to get as early a start on the pack ice as possible. (Also we had originally thought of a 2 season transit with trailering to Inuvik. We tossed that after the boat was half done as too troublesome. One goes up the beach as the ice leaves the shore, hence the shallow draft) :thup . We did that leaving May 8th from Nanaimo and ending in mid September in 1995 pulling the boat at the hamlet of Pangnirtung on the bottom of Baffin Island. Some 7300 miles (long ways at max 5.3 knots) and being the smallest vessel on the smallest budget to ever do it.. I believe we hold the number 104 spot of all vessels to ever transit this waterway (iceway) . When I do talks several times a year on this voyage folks want to know what the Bering sea looks like. I ask the crowd if they've seen "Deadliest Catch"? That's what it looks like.
The funiest episode of that show I ever saw was when the guys were trapped in a flat calm and freaked out wondering "what the hell is this? who's is in it"? When that part of the ocean goes calm for any reason it is sucking in one big blow. Look out. The only seas bigger than this area are generated off Baffin Island and that is another story. Our last night at sea there in September (start of winter sept 1) we were hove to under bare poles and sea anchor praying to anyone who would listen. That same night the QE2 lost wheelhouse windows while passing 600 miles south of us. The skipper said "it was like steaming into the cliffs at Dover" His house was something well over 100 feet up. It takes a good dose of luck to survive conditions like this and one tough boat. Our little boat was built in steel. I truly have no idea how large the run of sea was and the wind speed is a guess. From a perch in the wheelhouse that little boat resembled photos I've seen of submarines awash on the surface. We were swept continuosly that last night and we are only here by the grace of god. Conditions like those are called 'survival conditions" for a reason. Living through it affirms that a higher power is watching over me and I don't need to test my luck. I am so glad I did that trip it was really a tough, beautiful, and amazing adventure. Now I am very happy to voyage in my C dory and I don't need to prove a thing. Mark Shraeder from Seattle and crew went through last year thinking it would be a walk in the park with global warming and all. Did they get a surprise with how hard it was. Lots of ice. They made it too, but it was harder than they thought. I'm glad we're calling it climate change now much better. :smiled George
 
George,

A very impressive story; Thank You. I've read various accounts of transiting the NW Passage, and all I can say is Wow! (Somewhat understated.) I presume you've put the story in book form somewhere? If not, please get to work (...not too subtle a suggestion, I guess). If you haven't read "Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak" (Victoria Jason) - it's a good read. Also "Arctic Crossing" (Jonathan Waterman).

It seems that in life, for some folks, Adventuring often gives way to simpler modes - but still the desire to cruise and see the World around us never ends.

Thank you.

Best,
Casey
 
George,

What a great story and experience. Thankyou for sharing that. (And I second Casey's vote for a book.) Sure hope Kerri On gives all the pleasure, performance and peace you earned on that other "trip".

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
thanks guys it was a great voyage. There is a couple books out on it mine was The Northwest Passage on $10 a day" hokey maybe but that's about what I spent. It was a pretty cheap trip. Our artist aboard Len Sherman wrote "Arctic Odeysey" Len's is available on Amazon. Mine was in limited production and may be on Amazon but may be out of print. My publisher is Nighthawk Marine in Vancouver and I'm looking at doing another run of print. Lots of work but fun to do a book. George
 
George, Your quest was much more impressive than I imagined with it seems the segment from Nanaimo to Dutch Harbor just the first amazing joust. I too would very much like to read a detailed account. Have also read several books about travel and survival on land and water in the Northwest Passage area, so though not personally experienced with what your quest entailed, I know enough from reading those other accounts to really appreciate your accomplishment.

Sure looking forward to reading Len Sherman's and your book.

Jay
 
An amazing odyssey George. You must have wondered about your sanity at times. Glad you made it and lived to write about it. Reminds me of Pierre Burton's book Prisoners of the North and how close to the edge life is in the North.
Thanks for the tip on Arctic Odyessy I ordered a used copy on Amazon, your book however was listed at $193! so I'll wait on that one.
Bill Nash
 
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