Anderson Island Overnight
Rating: SKIII
Distance: 19NM
Date: August 19-20, 2000
Leader: Gayle Swanson Participants: 12
Launch: ~10 am Return: 2:30 pm
Weather: Excellent weather. Temperatures in the low 70s and light breezes. We did experience a pretty nice rain shower on Saturday while touring in and out of the bays on the east side of Anderson. Sunday was clear, warm. Both crossings to and from Steilacoom were basically flat.
Description: A really nice way to spend a weekend in the south Sound. We launched at Steilacoom and headed down south a short ways to reach the Steilacoom Marina and then crossed over to the north end of Ketron Island. The weather couldn't have been any better so we set a leisurely pace and made the crossing to the ferry landing on Anderson. After a short break we headed south along the shore until we reached Cole Point. At this point a really nice rain began to fall. There was no wind associated with it so no problem. Did a thorough tour of Oro Bay and had lunch on the north shore. After lunch we headed around Lyle Point and entered Thompson Cove. We spent the night here on private property with friends but it's a simple matter to paddle a little further to reach Carson Bay where the Marine Trail site is located (see the aerial photo below for it's exact location).
Sunday dawned a beautiful day. Just cool enough to paddle comfortably. We were on an ebb but staying close to the shore had us in a light back eddy that carried us along to Carson Bay, around Treble Point, and into Drayton Passage. Along the west side of Anderson we took a nice little detour into Amsterdam Bay and then continued north into Balch Passage and Eagle Island for lunch. Lots of seals on Eagle but mostly they were out in the water keeping a curious eye on us. After lunch we headed on to the Anderson ferry dock, took a little break, and then made a direct crossing to the Steilacoom ferry dock. Beautiful skies and flat seas. The crossing was so easy we experimented with paddling with our hands (well, for a little while anyway).
Tides/Currents:
1. Anderson is usually circumnavigated in a clockwise direction due to the fact that Drayton Passage always ebbs and floods in a northerly direction.
2. Off the south end of Anderson, on the flood, you'll find an obvious area of heavy chop. It's caused by a back eddy running against the flood. Just stay near the shore to avoid it.
3. If you approach Eagle Island from the west, against the flood you'll find some pretty stiff currents. To get past this problem just stick (within a couple of feet) to the north shore on Anderson. If you want to land on Eagle just paddle along Anderson until you're at or past the east tip of Eagle, and then ferry across to land on the beach.
Charts:
Waterproof Chart #30 – Puget Sound – International Sailing
Supply.
Puget Sound Current Guide – Island Canoe, Inc.
Chart #18445 – Puget Sound – Possession Sound to Olympia, Page C.
Chart #18448 – Puget Sound – Southern Part.
Washington Water Trails Site:
The WWTA website is at: http://www.wwta.org
The site, located on the south side of the island, is a RESERVATION ONLY site managed by the Anderson Island Park District. Call the WWTA office for reservations.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/shorephotos/scripts/mapsearch.asp?id=584
Directions to Launch Site:
From I5 @ Hwy 16 it’s 10.5 miles and takes about 20 minutes. Take I5 south and get off at Exit
129 (Highway 74). Go west on 74 and eventually it becomes Custer. Follow Custer all the way to 88th Street SW (just like
going to the Pierce College pool) and turn right. This will become Steilacoom Blvd. When you get into the town of Steilacoom
turn right on Puyallup and then left on Rainier. You’ll go 2 or 3 blocks on Rainier and run into Union Ave. Turn right a drive
down to the ferry landing. The launch ramp is just to the right of the ferry landing, parking is there as well.
Facilities:
1. The parking area at Steilacoom has a port-a-let and there is also a bathroom in the restaurant up on the ferry dock. Restaurant food is OK. We arrived early and had breakfast there.
2. Parking at Steilacoom will cost you $10 for the weekend.
3. There is a bathroom up on the ferry dock at the Anderson side as well.
4. Plenty of places to stop along Anderson and find a tree. Eagle Island has a port-a-let (and trees).
Sample Magazine Submittal: Anderson Island Overnight (SKIII). 19 NM. Paddle over to Anderson from Steilacoom and spend the night at the Cascadia Marine Trail site. We'll take two days to circumnavigate the island, poking into bays, seeing sunken ships and listening to frogs baying at the moon in the evenings.
References:
Bailey, Jo, and Carl Nyberg. Gunkholing in South Puget Sound. Seattle: San Juan Enterprises, Inc.1997. Pp.
235-241, 223-239.
Campbell, Ken. A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to South Puget Sound. Tacoma: Self-Published. 1997. P.43-50.
Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of
Washington Press. 1986. pp. 220-221.
