Anacortes Kayak Tours: Reports from the Field

Kayaking with Whales 2008

2008-05-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

Our guide Jeff Porter and his guests are having one of those world-class moments right now. They are out on the west side of Fidalgo Island, on our Burrows Island kayak trip, and are paddling with J-Pod, our favorite local family of Orca whales!
It's a little soggy out there today, but sometimes those hardy souls that brave the elements are rewarded with a unique experience.

Harbor porpoise have been pretty commonly seen recently as well, both on our Deception Pass trips, and out at Burrows Island. I was leading a trip last weekend and had the most incredible porpoise encounter yet. Two females and a young calf surface just a few feet away, and uncharacteristically laid on the surface for several breaths. It was a phenomenal opportunity to get a really great look at these diminutive cetaceans. I'm not sure why they stayed at the surface so long, but I'm glad they did!

This weekend we are conducting the first of two 3-day guide training classes that we hire Body Boat Blade International to teach. These guys are such incredible instructors, we are very lucky that they are headquartered out on Orcas Island. In addition to these 3 day formal classes, we engage our guides in weeks of instruction to ensure that our guests are well taken care of. We're happy to hear that, finally, a few other companies are beginning to see the value of investing in professional guide instruction.

So the weather forecast is looking great for the next week. It's about time! Maybe our time in the Sun has finally come.

Like they say, "April snows bring...."

2008-04-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Snow?!
How can this be, it's Tulip Festival time? We should be enjoying a few refreshing showers as we tip-toe through large fields of Skagit Valley's iconic flowers, not shoveling snow off of our sidewalks! Last Saturday our temperatures nearly reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and yesterday there was a foot of snow on the ground near Everett. Apparently it has been over 30 years since we last saw this happen in western Washington.
Well, it should be noted that, once again, Anacortes actually had pretty nice weather even though things were quite nasty up and down the I-5 corridor. It's our luck to be living in the "Blue Hole" of Washington State. Even when it is soggy everywhere else, an aerial photo will often show a roundish patch of clear sky, right over us here in the San Juan Islands, life in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains is pretty nice.
Friday and Saturday's kayak trips did have to endure a little precipitation (way to tough it out guys!) but the scenery was fantastic. Today's kayakers were in luck. It has been sunny and calm all day long, warm too!
We will be sea kayaking around Burrows Island all week long, and the weather is predicted to turn back into our typical Spring days -warm, with a chance of sprinkles.

Springtime in the San Juan Islands

2008-03-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

There are buds forming on the bushes, cherry trees are beginning to bloom, the days are warming up. Looks like our winter hibernation is coming to an end. It's time to dust off the kayaks and head out for another summer of sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands.

Did I say hibernation? Not with a 3 year old and an 8 month old in the house! Our boys have kept us plenty busy this winter, and sleeping is not really something either child is too interested in. They are wonderful boys, though, and we'll endure the sleep deprivation. It's nice to have a lifestyle that allows us to spend so much time with them in the off-season.

We've actually been sea kayaking quite a bit this past winter. The San Juans turn into a veritable wilderness in the colder months and you can go days without seeing another party on the water.

Now that the days are longer we are working feverishly to prepare for the 2008 kayaking season. By all measures we should have another fantastic year. Our multi-day kayaking trips are selling like hotcakes as lots of our guests from the last few years are coming back for another vacation in the San Juan Islands. Our strongest advertising has always been word-of-mouth and repeat customers, and this year is no exception. We really appreciate everyone's support!!

We've also introduced a new multiday trip this year. For a few select dates we will be offering guided trips that depart from Orcas Island and head up to the Sucia Island Group. For those of you that know the area, you'll agree that this has got to be one of the top destinations in the San Juans. With abundant wildlife, great camp sites, and stunning rock formations, Sucia Island has long been the "Holy Grail" among Washington sea kayaking enthusiasts. By departing from Orcas Island (less than 2 miles away) we maximize our time up there.

Give us a call if you have any questions about this new expedition, or any of our kayak tours, we'd love to help you choose the experience that is best for you!

Autumn in the San Juan Islands

2007-10-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's October, and this year, it feels like it. Last year on this day we were kayaking out there in short-sleeved shirts and complaining about our sunburned noses, but that was last year.

Today is cool and wet, and it appears that the gray skies have no intention of clearing out this weekend. A warm front is expected to pass over us in the late hours of the day, followed by a cold front on Sunday. Next week looks to be more of the same, with storm systems queuing up out in the Gulf of Alaska like sullen pugilists, waiting their turn to hit the Pacific Coast with a nasty right-hook.

But still, it is beautiful this morning.
The air is calm and everybody's lawns are filled with Robins migrating down from Alaska, on their way to warmer climates like Mexico and Central America.
The autumnal bird migration is in full swing now. My favorite time of the year. We never know what will turn up. Yesterday we saw clouds of shorebirds moving into the mudflats of the Skagit River Delta. The local Peregrine falcon population seemed eager to greet these newcomers and we saw multiple attacks on them. There may be no greater beauty that a huge flock of birds flying in absolute synchronization, twisting and swerving and folding in on itself to confuse a predator. Likewise, there may be no scene more powerful than a Peregrine falcon stooping through this confusion of birds at 80 mph and taking one right out of the air in a small explosion of feathers.

The sea kayaking during this time of the year is great. Never mind the passing sprinkles, just throw on a fleece jacket and some Gore-Tex, we have the San Juan Islands to ourselves now. The crowds of summer have long gone and most everyone else is holed up in their living rooms watching soap opera re-runs. For those who have the mettle to get outside the rewards are fantastic. Besides, the hot cocoa tastes better after you've earned it with a little physical activity.

Late Summer Kayaking in the San Juan Islands

2007-09-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

The sweetest days of summer are here. September is everyone's favorite month here in the San Juan Islands. Warm sunny days are punctuated by crisp, cool evenings and the sunsets are spectacular. As the children go back to school the crowds thin out, and a relaxed atmosphere descends over the communities out here in the islands. The sea kayaking is spectacular right now.

Over the last few weeks we've had some extraordinary days out on our kayak tours. The Sunset Tours in particular have been outstanding, with some amazing cloud formations being lit up by the fantastic evening light. It helps that the kayak trips get in early enough now to catch dinner in Anacortes after the tour. (The images posted here are of a sunset from the campground on Patos Island; and Mt. Baker during sunrise from Pelican Beach, Cypress Island. Taken by our guide Freddie on a couple of recent overnight kayaking trips.)

A few trips have had encounters with the big Steller Sea lions that come into the San Juan Islands to stay for the winter. It's an exciting experience to be so near animals that rival Grizzlies in size! The Resident Orca whales have passed through Rosario Strait on numerous occasions as well, but it is the Transient, or mammal-eating, orcas that have all of us on the lookout these days. In September the waters of the San Juans are flush with loads of freshly weaned seal pups, a favored food source for this population of whales. It's impossible to predict where or when these secretive interlopers will appear, but over the last two weeks we've seen them here in the eastern San Juan Islands more than a few times. Last week we were up near Lummi Island watching a large group of about 10 whales stalking seals. We were lucky enough to witness two successful attacks that resulted in a couple of seals becoming lunch for the most awesome predator in the sea. Just two days ago we had another group come in from the south side of Lopez Island. They appeared to be headed for Deception Pass, but changed course and swam north by Burrows and Allan Islands. In the afternoon they skirted the western shore of Guemes Island and headed up Bellingham Channel and through the Cone Islands. We didn't witness any confirmed attacks on this day, but it was exciting just to watch them pass by. Lots of our guests ask if they should be nervous about having a large predator in such proximity to a sea kayak. We always remind them that there has never been a documented case of a wild orca whale ever attacking humans. It's a natural reaction to get a little jittery around them, but there is no reason to fear Orca whales.

Most of our overnight trips have booked up for the rest of the summer, but we still have a few spots left on some weekend departures. Give us a call if you want to experience the beauty of kayaking in September!

August Sea Kayaking

2007-08-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

You never know what is going to happen on our sea kayak tours. Just the other day our guide Jeff was kayaking along, minding his own business, when a young seal attempted to hop up onto the back of his kayak. It's hard to say who was more surprised by this. The seal quickly realized that the "log" he had chosen to sun himself on was already occupied by Jeff and so he disembarked with a snort and a loud splash. Jeff was impressed with how smoothly the animal slid up onto the back deck. He noticed the weight, but said that the kayak hardly even shifted.

The Orca whales have been in and out of the Salish Sea region quite a bit this week. Luckily for the whale-watching boats there have been Humpbacks to look at over near Victoria, but the kayak companies who put all of their eggs in one basket and focus on paddling with Orcas have been out of luck. It's nice not to feel that kind of pressure. We'd rather not build up any expectations that we can't deliver.

Our multi-day kayak camping trips have been wonderful this month, especially the trips out to Cypress Island. The hike up to the summit of Eagle Cliff seems to be what puts the whole experience "over the top". It has got to be one of the most dramatic vistas of the San Juan Islands anywhere. Although all of these trips have filled for the rest of the month, we still have a few spots available in September. Give us a call soon to reserve your place!

Sea birds and Sea kayaking in August

2007-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

I love the cycles of the seasons out here. Sea kayaking daily connects us with these ancient rhythms and we watch the quiet drama unfold before us.

The Rhinocerous Auklets are numerous these days. We observe them foraging in the tide-rips off of the shoreline. Auklets are members of the Alcid family, which also include Puffins. These compact little birds are the northern hemisphere's answer to penguins, using their stiff wings to propel themselves through the water in pursuit of small fish. At dusk they can be seen flying low over the water, heading south to Protection Island where 18,000 pairs nest in burrows. "Rhinos" are named for the horny protrusion that forms on the upper side of their bills during the nesting season.

We've also noticed an abundance of Murres moving into Burrows Bay, and the Deception Pass area. In the early summer these birds nest precariously on rocky cliffs on the outer coast of Washington. At the end of the nesting season the mothers abandon their families and fly into the San Juan Islands to forage in our nutrient rich waters. When the chicks fledge (in a spectacular leap of faith into the sea) they are flightless and need to swim into the San Juans with their fathers. We see large rafts of these father/chick pairs a few weeks after the females arrive.

The weather has been great, and the paddling is fantastic! Come join us.

Mid-Summer Sea Kayaking

2007-07-29T13:32:00.001-07:00

Somehow July blasted by us with hardly a passing glance. I suppose that Megan having a baby didn't help. Luckily she's one of those women that can't be slowed down, she was back in charge after only a few days. Little Tashi seems to like being strapped to her chest here in the store.

Although we had a little burp in the weather last week, it's been sunny and warm ever since. Kayaking out at Deception Pass has been awesome. On calm days we've been able to explore the caves up towards Sares Head. You can actually get a sea kayak all the way into these things and gaze up at the sea life that encrusts the walls and ceilings. Our kayak tours out at Cypress Island, and Burrows Island have been reporting on the growth of the newborn seal pups. It's amazing how fast they fatten up. I guess if you only have one month to nurse on mother's milk then you'd better make it count.

The lazy days of August are just around the corner. It's great to be here in the San Juan Islands!

Kayaking in the Rain?

2007-07-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Oddly enough, it's been rather soggy over the last few days. July is usually one of the driest months of the year, but a typhoon in Japan seems to be affecting us all the way over here.

We've been fielding a lot of questions about whether we still go sea kayaking in the rain. The answer is an emphatic "Yes!"
We would never think of canceling a kayak tour under such beautiful conditions. The still air, the calm waters, misty fog in the trees, not to mention the great feeling of satisfaction that everyone gets for "braving" the elements.

Our longtime guide Mira Lutz emailed us her thoughts on yesterday's trip:

Sufficiently clad against the damp and tucked into our cozy cockpits, we set the bows of our kayaks toward Burrows Island. Pausing at the mouth of the marina, we take in our surroundings. We sit suspended between silver sky and emerald sea, cradled amidst forested islands on all sides. Mist clings to the tree tops, bathing the slopes of Fidalgo Island to the south, and obscuring Fidalgo Head from sight. Clouds condense, empty their burdens, and move over the water in their ancient, cyclic dance. There is silence but for the soft sprinkle and occasional splash of rhinocerous auklets diving to fill their beaks with fish. Reverence: the only word to describe the mixture of awe and gratitude for this wonderland in our backyard, and the secret of sea kayaking on a day when most outdoor enthusiasts are hiding indoors. My guests today are from Phoenix and marvel at the climate contrast, and especially the quiet. The eagles, porpoises, seals, and coyote we are to meet along the way pay no heed to the gentle rain, why should we? Together, we have the eastern San Juan Islands to ourselves. A harbor seal rises to wonder at these guests in her domain as we cut the glassy surface on our way toward the island with mist on our eyelashes and excitement in our hearts.
Ear-to-ear smiles after the kayak trip let me know that these visitors now understand the secret of taking full advantage of a quintessential Pacific Northwest day!

Sea Kayaking with Orca Whales......again.

2007-07-14T22:01:00.001-07:00

The fun never ceases here at Anacortes Kayak Tours. We've had Orca whales here in Rosario Strait so many times over the last few weeks, I'm beginning to lose track of the sightings. Today was an incredible day as both our Multi-day Kayaking trips and our Outer Islands trips were graced with the presence of J-pod out near Cypress Island. It was an unusual sighting as well. The whales were coming down from Lummi Island, a common route for them to take, and when they reached Bellingham Channel they were hit by the full force of the flood tide. So they did what any smart whale would do when faced with the prospect of an "uphill" swim against the current, they took a nap. When Orca whales "sleep" they gather up quite closely and begin a series of rhythmic breathing patterns, moving slowly forward.

Monica called in from the campsite on Pelican Beach and told me that they were kayaking out in the Cone Islands when the whales came through. She said that all of her guests got a great look at all of the animals. When Freddie's Outer Islands trip came in I could see in everyone's faces that they had an incredible encounter. From their reports, the whales came right into Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island. If they hadn't respectfully paddled out of the way the whales would have apparently swam right under the kayaks. I was pleased to hear that Freddie was following the Best Practices Guidelines that have been developed over the years by the Whale Watch Association Northwest, a great organization of whale watching companies that we belong to. Resting whales should always be given a lot of room, even kayakers can possibly disturb them and so we always take the responsible approach and get out of the way.
I was told that the Island Adventures whale watch boat may have taken some nice photos of Freddie's encounter. I'll post them tomorrow, hopefully.

Apparently the whales were heading back north at the end of the day. We may get to see them again tomorrow!

In other news, our new baby Tashi is doing well. He's an great sleeper, and an incredible eater, which of course means.....lots of diapers.

Introducing our newest kayak "guide-in-training"

2007-07-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

He's finally here! After nine months of waiting, dreaming, and speculating, Megan gave birth to an 8 pound 4 ounce baby boy. We've named him Tashi, the Tibetan/Sherpa word for "lucky", or "good luck". Ironically he came into our lives on 07/07/07, an auspicious day if there ever was one.
It won't be long before he and his older brother will be leading kayak tours out here in the San Juan Islands.

In other news, the sea kayaking has been phenomenal this last week. We've had some pretty interesting seal encounters, and Julia had a great porpoise experience out at Burrows Island a couple of days ago. Yesterday south Rosario Strait, and the west shore of Burrows Island, was thick with Orca whales. K-Pod and L-pod came in from out by San Juan and Lopez Island and spread out across the entire area. L-pod actually continued north up Rosario Strait where they joined up with our other Resident whale family, J-pod. North bound orca whales in Rosario Strait is an uncommon event to witness. Today those same whales came right back down the strait, I saw them today as they swam right offshore of the Burrows Island lighthouse.

It's gorgeous weather right now, not a cloud in the sky and over 80 degrees air temperature. Perfect conditions for sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands!

Independence Day Sea Kayaking

2007-07-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it been nice out here! The sunscreen came out yesterday as we enjoyed the Fourth of July celebrations under clear and sunny skies. I've lived here my whole life and I can probably count on one hand the number of Independence Days that it did not rain. We actually joke about how summer begins on July 5th.

We've been kayaking all over the place this week. Jeff Hoeben has a group up at Sucia Island on a 5 day expedition. Todd has been sea kayaking around Cypress Island with some great folks over the last 3 days. Our Outer Islands trips have been going out every day, and our ever popular Burrows Island trips and Deception Pass kayaking tours have been filling up every day.

Loads of seals are now being seen on nearly every kayak tour. The pups are so much fun to observe as they follow their mothers around.
All three pods of Orca whales finally got together in a "Superpod" celebration last night. It was the first time that this remarkable event has happened this year. Loads of breaching, lob-tailing, and general revelry. The summers are an incredibly important time for these whales to reinforce their social bonds, mate, feed, and teach their babies about how to succeed in their world. We are fortunate to be able to see these iconic creatures and be able to sneak a peek into their mysterious lives. The Superpod occured way up north in the Strait of Georgia. The whales stayed up there all afternoon and then came down Rosario Strait in the evening. I'm still waiting to hear from our multi-day kayaking trip that was up on Cypress last night, it's likely that they saw them. The whales were just off of Burrows Island at sunset.

In other news, this will probably be the last post for a few days. The next time that we post a report we'll most likely be the proud parents of another baby boy! Megan is due on Saturday morning. Keep an eye on this page, we'll post pictures as soon as we can.

Summer kayaking trips in the San Juan Islands

2007-06-30T17:19:00.001-07:00

Although the weather man apparently didn't get the memo, summer has officially begun. We've had a few soggy days since the Solstice last week, but now it appears that the dry times have finally begun. Today was 70 degrees and beautiful.

We've had some terrific multiple day kayaking trips these last few weeks. Lots of seal pups are being seen now out at Cypress.

Oh yeah, I should also mention that Brent and Monica just called in a few minutes ago. They're looking at whales as I type this report. Yup, it's Orca whales, again. J-Pod is swimming down the west shore of Cypress Island and giving our kayakers an amazing encounter. Apparently Ruffles (J-1), the big male in J-Pod, just came pretty darned close to the kayaks. Another large group of whales followed right behind Ruffles, giving the kayaks a great look, with Mt. Baker as the backdrop. Apparently the Island Adventures whale watching boat got some nice photos. I'll post them on the next report.

Sooooo......who's kayaking with the whales now?

Not one other sea kayaking company in the San Juan Islands saw whales today (In fact, we just had two people come into our store today, to buy some of our kayak t-shirts, who were out for 6 days with one of our competitors. 6 days, and they saw whales once...."from a long way away").

So why do they advertise "kayaking with the whales" so heavily?
It's because they can book a lot of trips with that tired old overstatement.

Us? We choose to take the high road. No overstatements, no ommissions of fact. Just good clean sea kayaking fun. Sometimes with the whales.

OK, enough of poking the other guys in the eye.

Rebecca Morse sent us some great photos from their Cypress Island 3-day kayaking trip a couple of weeks ago. Brent and Todd were their guides. Thanks to the whole gang for coming out with us (and for giving the guides a run for their money). Carter and Sandy, you have a wonderful family. We hope that you'll come out to visit us again!

Whales and Sea Kayaking

2007-06-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

We got 'em again!

Orca whales under Eagle Bluff, my favorite spot to see them. Today it was Mira's kayak trip out at Cypress Island that got lucky as J-Pod came down out of Georgia Strait on the tail end of an ebb tide. Apparently they were putting on a "Discovery Channel" kind of display, loads of breaches and aerial acrobatics. The kind of stuff that burns into your retina and sticks with you for years.

A few days ago it was our Deception Pass kayak tours that were the lucky ones. Jeff and his guests got a great look at both J-Pod and part of L-Pod as they foraged along near Northwest Island.

While it's always a rush to see these whales at eye level from a sea kayak, it is not the kind of event that any kayaking company out here should be actively selling. They just travel too darned far, and too darned fast. It's just good timing, and a lot of luck.

Here at Anacortes Kayak Tours we feel that to sell trips based on kayaking with whales sets the wrong tone for the whole trip. It's an overstatement that forces the guides, and the guests, to focus only on the possibility of seeing a whale. There are so many beautiful things out here that will get missed in the process. We remember when we were guides out on San Juan Island where some outfitters would simply paddle down the coast a mile or so and then just sit there, going nowhere, in hopes that the whales would swim by. So great was their need to "produce" whales that they seemed reluctant to do anything else. If the whales didn't show up, which happens more often than not, their guests would feel that the whole kayak tour was a failure. When we started Anacortes Kayak Tours we pledged that we would never create such an unreasonable expectation.... even if it cost us some business. These days it is hard to say if it cost us anything at all. On the contrary, most people comment that they appreciate our candor and honesty.

Regardless of what the flashy brochures and websites may claim, sea kayaking with whales is all about luck.

And today luck was on our side.

Great sea kayaking, and more Body Boat Blade training

2007-06-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

These last two weeks have just flown by. We've enjoyed great kayaking out there on the tours. Lots of overnight kayak trips have been getting out Cypress Island. Although the weather has been "hit and miss", everyone has had a great time. It is hard to go wrong when you are kayaking around one of the most beautiful spots in the San Juan Islands. The Burrows Island kayak trips have also been seeing all sorts of great things. Lots of seals, eagles, and porpoise have graced us with their presence. We are getting close to the pupping season now, soon the water will teem with tiny little Harbor seals. Although it seems to make their mothers anxious, the pups are curious about us and often approach fairly close. Another large marine mammal was hanging around the island last week. A male California sea lion was spotted on several tours. Once it surfaced just a few feet away from our guide Brent. It was hard to tell who was most surprised. Apparently it lifted about half of its body out of the water, bringing it literally eye-level with Brent. According to his account, the sea lion could have used a breath mint!

Our training has been amazingly intense and productive these last four weeks. We've been hitting it hard nearly every day. Last weekend was Phase 2 of our formal classes with Body Boat Blade International. We had perfect conditions to practice skills and rescues in the swift moving waters of Deception Pass. It always amuses us to see some of the overstated claims of certain San Juan Island companies in regards to training. Having been residents of the island for many years, and full time kayak guides, we know all too well that a few sessions in a warm pond (and maybe a few days learning how to identify zooplankton) is not enough to prepare a guide for the rigors involved in rescuing someone in rough conditions. Although most days in the San Juan Islands are beautiful, and rescue situations rarely arise, we feel that a kayak guide should be trained to handle levels far exceeding the usual conditions encountered on a tour. (For example, as this report is being written, several of our guides are out in some local tidal races working on rescues in the rough water- we'll never take guests out there, but our staff can handle the conditions) . Hopefully these companies will eventually follow our lead and incorporate some professional coaching into their training program. Sure, it costs money, but the investment is a good one. Our reward for making the investment is watching our team develop advanced sea kayaking skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.

Every day gets warmer and warmer out here. Summer Solstice is just around the corner, and the days are nice and long. Pretty soon we'll be into the heart of the summer kayaking season and everyone's "smile" muscles will be sore.

Oh yeah, for those of you who have been following the Reports over the last few months, our new baby is coming in just three weeks (07/07/07)! The little guy seems anxious to join us, he's kicking like crazy. Keeps his mom up at night.

Summer weather....in May?!

2007-05-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

The thermometer got up to nearly 80 degrees in Seattle today! Out here in the San Juan Islands we are blessed with the natural cooling effects of the sea we were in the 70's. Perfect weather for sea kayaking. Although it was the day after a holiday weekend, which is usually pretty quiet, we were out in force as people looked for a great way to spend the day.
J-Pod came right down the Fidalgo Island shoreline this morning. The whales swam underneath the Burrows Island Lighthouse, and cruised by Allan Island before heading out towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
This whole week looks like great weather. We're sending out a couple of multi-day trips over the weekend, let's cross our fingers and hope that this warm spell continues!

Memorial Day Weekend in the San Juan Islands

2007-05-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

The first big holiday weekend of the 2007 sea kayaking season is drawing to a close today. Although the weather wasn't very cooperative yesterday, it was blowing a gale down at Deception Pass, our Burrows Islands kayak trips were able to go out into the sheltered waters behind Allan Island, Young Island, and Burrows Island. At least today's Memorial Day celebration will be treated to sunny skies and warm temperatures.
The orca whales were over on our side of the San Juan Islands again yesterday, right in our backyard actually. J-Pod was sighted over on the northwest side of Cypress Island, right where our Outer Islands kayaking trips and Multi-day kayak expeditions often paddle. To add to the excitement, a group of about 8 Transient (mammal eating) Orca whales were just a couple of miles away at the time. Usually the Resident and Transient orcas stay well clear of each other so it was a bit of a surprise to see them in such proximity. The Transients wisely ducked into Peavine Pass over by Blakely Island and headed west into the inner San Juans, thus avoiding a potential confrontation with the more numerous J-Pod. The guests aboard the Island Adventures whale watching boat were treated to a great encounter that I'm sure few of them will ever forget.

Last week was a big week for training here at Anacortes Kayak Tours. Our weekend with the instructors from Body Boat Blade International was outstanding, as always. It's amazing how much their professional coaching elevates everyone's sea kayaking skills. The whole course took place in Deception Pass State Park. The Deception Pass Narrows are widely known as a fantastic training ground for advanced sea kayaking, and our guides took on the surging water like they were born to it. Of course we would never want our kayak trips to be put into that sort of situation, but it's nice to know that our kayak guides are trained to handle rough conditions.
The rest of the week was spent honing our skills and preparing for the Big Weekend.
I'm so impressed with this year's staff. Everyone seems to possess wonderful paddling skills and local knowledge of the area. To make things even better, the chemistry between everyone is wonderful. I think that we're all going to have a lot of fun this summer!

Now if I could just get them all to give me some pictures so that I can update our guides page on this website......

Kayak Guide Training

2007-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that wonderful time of the year again. Migration. Huge skeins of Snow geese can be seen flying north over the eastern San Juan Islands and towards their Arctic nesting grounds. Robins are moving through as well. It's fun to imagine them in Central American rainforests, they are such a Pacific Northwest bird to me, yet they call the hot and humid jungles home as well.
Another creature is also in a seasonal transition. Our kayak guides have been returning from their winter habitat high on mountain slopes, or in university libraries. Over the last two weeks we have been out on the water nearly every day going through the skills training that every trip leader needs to have. Over the last few days there has been a large exchange of water through the San Juan Islands. These tides, called spring tides, create large currents that course through some of the narrow waterways. We've been able to take advantage of the swift moving water to practice rescues, rolls, and the kayaking skills that make our guides some of the best trained kayak tour leaders in the San Juan islands. Tomorrow we'll begin the first day of formal training with Body Boat Blade International. This is the first of two 2-day kayaking courses that help to take our guide training program to a whole new level. Under the expert tutelage of the world-class instructors at Body Boat Blade Intl, we are able to fine tune the kayaking skills that will ensure that our guests enjoy a safe and memorable trip. The course is always a highlight of the season for everyone. This year we will be holding the class in the waters of the Deception Pass Narrows, widely recognized as one of the best training grounds for advanced sea-kayaking.

Speaking of Deception Pass, we had a wonderful trip on Wednesday with the students from Tulatin Valley Junior Academy. Our longtime guide, Andrew Rice, set the trip up through his company Academic Adventures. He moonlights as a kayak guide, but his real job is educating children about the natural worls through exciting outdoor adventures. This week the students helped him conduct his annual Sea Star Survey of Bowman Bay. Thanks Andrew for another great trip!

The great thing about Deception Pass is that there is something for everyone. The Narrows offer exciting and rough conditions, and the areas outside of the Pass are calm and beautiful places to experience a day on the water.

Cypress Island Sea Kayaking with CWU and the Mount Bachelor Academy

2007-05-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

The "best guide on the east side", or so he claims, spent enough time up on Cypress Island these last two weeks to qualify him for residency. Ryan came back over the mountains from Yakima to take a group of students from Central Washington University up to Pelican Beach, the same camping area that we all were at the previous weekend. His trip was a great success, the students had a fantastic sea kayaking experience and were also able to take in some of the nice trails that Cypress Island has to offer.
Since he was in the area, we solicited him to stay for the rest of the week to assist with our annual San Juan Islands sea kayaking trip with the Mount Bachelor Academy. Using the Island Express water-taxi we transported the kids, kayaks, and camping equipment to Pelican Beach where we set up our base camp. The weather was good for the whole week. We had a bit of wind on the first two days which helped us to teach the kids about the importance of group dynamics and he non-verbal signals that are so vital for a safe sea kayaking experience. The last day was picture perfect weather, sunny and warm, so we opted to make a longer crossing over to Sinclair Island. From the south shore of Sinclair we were able to take in the outstanding beauty of the eastern San Juans. It had been a while since I had been able to enjoy kayaking along that shoreline, the series of pocket beaches and meadows of wildflowers was a real treat to experience. We saw lots of Bald eagles and seals on this trip, not to mention the array of intertidal life that comes out during low tides. On the last morning, as we headed in on the water-taxi, we looked up Bellingham Channel and saw J-Pod (one of our Resident Orca whale families) coming south towards Anacortes.
This was our fourth kayaking trip with the Mount bachelor Academy and we really appreciate their support of our program. This is one of my favorite trips of the year.

The next ten days is promising summer-like conditions and our trips are filling up fast. It looks like we will be getting busy early this year!

Sea Kayaking to Cypress Island

2007-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend our friends from Yakima ventured across the Cascade Mountains for their annual sea kayaking and camping trip in the San Juan Islands. The first year that we did this trip we went up to Sucia Island for three days. At that point we had two small babies in the group (our son Taiga, and his "girlfriend" Ruby Duke). This year we stayed closer to home, opting to kayak out to Cypress Island. Our group has grown, doubled in fact. In addition to Taiga and Ruby, we had two more little ones- Harper, and Maren. As if that wasn't enough, two of the women were very pregnant (including Megan- the brains behind Anacortes Kayak Tours). It was a fantastic family adventure. Although rain fell on Friday it didn't slow the kids down one bit. Taiga and Ruby kept busy re-arranging the stones on the beach, digging holes in the sand, and re-filling the sea by throwing rocks. They were wet, but happy, and so were we.
Watching them interact with their natural surroundings strengthened our resolve that becoming the most "family friendly" sea kayaking outfitter in the area is a great idea. It's in the best interest of the children to make certain that they get a connection with the landscape, and develop a sense of "place".

This weekend Ryan Hopkins (our seldom seen kayak guide) is leading a group of students back up to Cypress Island. He called in last night to tell us that the kayaking was great, they passed through the Cone Islands on the way to Pelican Beach. It appears that the big Bald eagle's nest is once again being used by the resident mating pair.

On Monday Ryan and I will be leading a 5 day trip back up there. The weather looks fantastic. Although we've seen a lot of the place, we're excited to go back. Cypress Island is one of those magical places that are hard to get enough of.

Sea kayaking and Opening Day for Boating

2007-05-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Although we've been running sea kayaking tours out here since January, the boating season has officially arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. Opening Day celebrants had great weather yesterday as they enjoyed the boat parades down in Seattle.

May has finally arrived, and our summer sea kayaking season is in full swing! The days are getting longer, the air temperature is warming up, and the sunsets seem to linger on forever. Last night the sun set at 8:31pm. Our weather only gets better from here. The Pacific High (a massive semi-permanent high pressure system) is moving north and east across the Pacific Ocean, and the Aleutian Low (our winter storm factory) is receding to the west. The presence of that monstrous high pressure system limits the strength of approaching weather disturbances and creates warm, sunny days. The average precipitation for the Anacortes area is less than 2.5 inches in May.

Our spring wildflower dispay is winding down now, but the fresh smells of new plant growth still permeate the air. Great weather and favorable tides meant that we were able to circumnavigate both Burrows and Allan Islands on several kayaking trips this week. Allan Island's west shoreline is remarkably rugged with overhanging cliffs and shallow sea caves. Eagles roosted in the trees above us, and curious seals escorted us down the shoreline. It's amazing how bold these animals can be when they are in the water. When they are hauled out on the rocks we have to exercise great care to avoid disturbing them, but in the water they feel much more comfortable and actually follow us around. Once again it was a week filled with wonderful porpoise encounters, we are quite fortunate to have these little cetaceans around so often.

The sea lions that have been hanging around the northern San Juan Islands this winter appear to be working their way back out to the Pacific Ocean for the summer. We have been seeing one or two of them a day off of Burrows Island as they head south down Rosario Strait. Once they all leave we generally won't see them again until the summer is nearly over. The Stellar sea lions that we see here in our waters are almost always males. They appear to be either young males (not ready for the big guys out on the coast), or older individuals that may be past their prime. We've also been seeing a few of the smaller California sea lions foraging on the east side of Allan Island. California sea lions are distinguishable from the Stellars by their darker color, smaller size, and the sharp forehead of the males (called a sagittal crest). Although we don't see large numbers of these guys around the San Juans, they seem to be in the area all year.

San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking in April

2007-04-25T20:28:00.001-07:00

It's hard to come to grips with the fact that the long, cold, wet, windy winter has finally released its grasp on us. But the truth is evident everywhere we go. Sea kayaking around Burrows Island is a wonderful way to see the wildflowers blooming. On a kayak tour last week we came upon an area so thick with our native Nodding Onion that we could actually smell it while sitting in our kayaks! There are some thick patches of Blue Camas, that all-important source of starch for the indigenous folks who lived here in the San Juan Islands before us. We also are seeing huge areas of Death Camas. The flower is a delicate creamy yellow, and is quite beautiful, but the plant is deadly poisonous. In fact, the natives who harvested the Blue Camas took great pains to separate the two species (which grow side by side), pulling out the Death Camas and throwing it away from the patches of edible Camas. In some areas a careful look reveals this activity, Death Camas growing heavily on the high side of a slope, Blue Camas growing in thick patches down a bit lower.

We continue to see Coyotes on nearly every kayaking trip out to Burrows Island. I'm starting to think that it must have been a very sucessful year for those coyote mommas out there. I hope the trend continues.

We've also noticed a few shoals of baitfish hiding in the new kelp forests that have just recently re-appeared. Not surprisingly, our Harbor porpoise sightings are also becoming more frequent. They tend to be where the food is.

A big "shout out" goes to Joey and Brian who joined me for a kayak trip last Friday morning. That was one of the most fun trips that I've had out there. You guys were terrific, we hope that you both will come sea kayaking with us again sometime soon. Bring your daughters next time Brian!

April is just about over and we've had the most amazing start to our season ever! We took out a lot of kayaking trips during the last six weeks, and our multi-day kayaking trips, which begin at the end of May, are already filling up. It's looking to be a busy summer.

Sea Kayaking, Trail Blazing, Scotch Broom, and Us

2007-04-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

This week has been a lovely mix of sea kayaking, long walks in the woods, playing with our little boy, and a dash of habitat restoration, enough to make the soul sparkle.

We were down at Deception Pass State Park this weekend, it was the monthly gathering of like-minded individuals who come here to battle invasive Ivy, acres of Scotch Broom, and other nasty botanical elements trying to take over our beautiful native forests. Rick Machin, of the San Juan Preservation Trust, and I climbed up to a beautiful mossy "bald", or grassy clearing, high above Deception Pass to tackle a particularly thick copse of Scotch Broom. Although the plant produces a showy yellow flower in the spring, it is a particularly nasty invasive species that crowds out the plants that have existed here for thousands of years. It took a couple of hours, but at the end of it we felt pretty good at the work we had accomplished. Next year we might be able to walk up here to enjoy the beauty of native wildflowers blooming against the gorgeous backdrop of Deception Pass.

Speaking of wildflowers, our kayak tours are enjoying a fantastic bloom out on the south side of Burrows Island right now. Acres of Camas, Monkeyflower, Calypso Orchid, and Shooting Stars give the steep slopes a great contrast in color. We've also been able to watch Coyotes foraging along the shoreline. They seem to be seeking out the Chitons that are exposed on the rocks at low tides. From what I understand, Burrows Island, Allan Island, and Fidalgo Island are the only San Juan Islands that host a Coyote population. They seem smaller than the ones I grew up with back on the farm in the south Puget Sound. Small, but healthy.

Spring Sea Kayaking in the San Juan Islands

2007-04-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! it's been busy these last couple of weeks. The weather has been terrific and lots of people have been calling to join us on a kayaking trip.
Spring has most certainly arrived here in the San Juan Islands. The grass on my lawn is growing faster than I can keep it mowed, the Tulips are officially in bloom in the Skagit Valley, and the Peregrine falcons on Burrows Island have fledged another chick. That is the sixth consecutive successful year of nesting, that I know of, from that pair. We heard the adults chattering for a couple of days, a sure sign of fledging for these generally quiet birds, but we couldn't find the chick. But on Friday we got lucky. The chick was sitting on a rocky outcrop just a few yards away from the nest. What a great thing for us to be able to witness! These birds seemed doomed to extinction just twenty years ago, and now they are poised to have their "Threatened" status removed. A great success story for conservation, to be sure.

Friday's kayak trip also saw coyotes (twice) foraging for their lunch in the inter-tidal zone. They seemed to have a knack for prying Limpets and Chitons from the rocks. I've eaten both Limpets and Chitons before, and I'm hear to tell you, those Chitons are tough to chew! In fact, we had to tenderize them like Abalone before our teeth could handle it.

On Saturday we had a great combination of mirror-calm water, and a low tide. We took out some family members of one of our regular guests, including Adam (6 yrs old) and Evan(4 yrs). As we explored the exposed shoreline, inspecting cracks for sea stars and gently petting an urchin, I was again reminded of why I love this job so much. It's the act of discovery that makes sea kayaking so rewarding, and it's the kids who bring this point home so clearly. Thanks Christine, we'll see you again soon! Another thanks goes out to Darryl and Jackie, another couple who joined the group. You two were great sports about having the little ones along on the trip. (In fact, these two were like two big kids when it came to exploring the intertidal zone, proving that you are never too old to have fun.)

The Bald eagles seem to be back in the San Juan Islands in full force now, and Turkey vultures have returned from their southern ranges to ride the thermals above the San Juan hilltops.

The San Juan Islands in March

2007-03-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Spring time comes to the San Juan Islands without too much fanfare. We witness no break up of ice on the river, no great herds migrate through our landscape, and we rarely hear much word from the ground hogs. Spring time in the San Juan Islands starts quietly, persistently, and earlier than you might think.
As early as February we are already beginning to see the signs. Red-flowering currant bushes and skunk cabbage are among the first plants to bloom. Willows are not far behind as they produce the fuzzy catkins that kids love so much. By early March the whole forest is greening up.
The weather slides into Spring in the same sneaky fashion. The cold storms of December give way to the warm storms of March. It's hard to notice the warming of the air unless you get outside, but going outside is somewhat less than attractive - when it's raining and the wind is blowing. From the living room window it looks like winter, but outside the change is palpable.

Today's air temperature was about 63 degrees, yet the wind down on Whidbey Island was gusting at over 50 miles per hour.
We were down at Deception Pass State Park this afternoon during all that wind. It was not a great day for sea kayaking, so we took our son for a walk out to Reservation Head where there are some great little pocket beaches for kids to play. The landscape around here always impresses me. Of course the iconic Deception Pass Bridge looms large in the scene, but there is so much more that grabs attention. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is the major player here, a huge body of water that is our direct link to the Pacific Ocean. Today the winds were from the southeast, but when it blows in from the west, the swells can be phenomenal.