Hood Canal Part 3
(Union - Duckabush - Union)
Placid seas lull us into the Canal - there's wind to come!
Rating: SKIII
Distance: 44 NM (3 days)
Date: April 6-8, 2001
Leader: Pete Schwab Participants: 6
Launch: 09:30 Friday Return: 3:30 Sunday
Weather: FRIDAY: Began with light breezes changed to SW 10-20 knots, ~50F, following seas 2 - 2 1/2 feet all afternoon. SATURDAY: Partly sunny, winds SW 10-15 except for a cold front passage around 1:00 pm which provided strong headwinds for about an hour, ~50F. SUNDAY: Partly sunny, ~45-50F, light breezes in the afternoon and one tiny shower.
Description: A three day trip but without all the effort of making and breaking camp. We spent both Friday and Saturday nights at Mike's Beach Resort located right smack on the Canal about a mile north of Eldon on the west shore. More about that later.
FRIDAY: (16NM) We launched from the Alderbrook Resort about a mile and a half east of Union. Reasons for the choice of launch site were simple. We could have parked our cars at the Hood Canal Marina which is located right next to the public launch pad in Union, but they wanted us to pay $10 per car per day. The Alderbrook Resort allowed us to park, drive through their gate down to the dock to launch, and all for free. Really nice folks. We launched under cloudy skies and with light breezes but we weren't half way across Annas Bay when the wind began to pick up. By the time we headed north on the west side of the Canal we were in following seas of 2 - 2 1/2 feet with winds blowing 10-20 knots. They were relentless. Aside from breaks and lunch we spent about three hours in these seas, mostly bracing, occasionally paddling. Slow Going? No way! With the wind at our backs we were doing about 5 knots (against the flood)! We literally were blown to our destination at Mike's Beach Resort located about a mile past Eldon. The resort was just the ticket. Everyone was tired. The rooms were fine and furnished with pretty much everything we needed. Beds, bedding, kitchen with stove and fridge, silverware, cook pots, shower, towels. Supper was great, but only after most of the folks had taken a short nap. Oh, and did I mention? Back in those following seas the LEADER got dumped...for the first time in Puget Sound. Embarrassment was saved by a successful role.
SATURDAY: (12 NM). Saturday morning was a lot nicer. Winds were calm, and the skies were occasionally sunny. We paddled north along the west shore, past Triton Cove, McDaniel Cove and on to the Duckabush River. Seals were aplenty and the occasional eagle was spotted. We couldn't find a place to stop in the Duckabush area so we turned around and headed back towards Triton Cove for lunch. That's when the cold front passed through! For about an hour we were in strong headwinds and making poor time. After lunch...it had passed! The balance of the trip back the Mike's Beach Resort was breezy and pretty straightforward and enjoyable. Another relaxing evening at the resort, another great meal, and we were ready for Sunday.
SUNDAY: (16NM). Sunday am was beautiful. The sky was mostly clear and the Canal like glass. We launched at 08:20 and crossed to the east bank of the Canal just a little south of Holly. Mostly private land and not very many spots to stop along here. We took lunch break in Dewatto Bay, on private land. When you've gotta stop, you've gotta stop! At any rate, nobody bothered us. We just ate a quick lunch and took off. In the pm we experienced light headwinds but mostly followed the shore through all of the little coves along that side and avoided the wind altogether. Rounding Ayres Point and heading back to the Alderbrook Resort we ran into a small rain shower and seas picked up a bit...but just a bit. Before long the weary crew arrived at Alderbrook, loaded up the cars and polished off a really great weekend.
Tides/Currents: The only current station along this route is located in the Great Bend near Ayres Point. We were only one day past the full moon, twelve foot tide ranges, but the maximum current at that station was 0.8 knots. If the winds are SW the west shore should be a real breeze (pun?). Paddling against the ebb on the east shore was no problem.
Charts:
Waterproof
Chart #30 – Puget Sound – International Sailing Supply.
Chart #18440 - Puget Sound
Chart #18445 - Puget Sound - Possession Sound to Olympia Including Hood Canal,
Page E
Directions to Launch Site: From I5 @ Hwy 16 it takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get to the launch site at Alderbrook Resort (48 miles). Take Hwy 16 across the narrows bridge and turn off at the Hwy 302 exit. Take 302 to Hwy 3 and go north to Hwy 106. Turn left and drive to Union. Follow 106 several miles until you get to the Alderbrook Resort (you can't miss it). The lobby is on the right side of the highway. Just past the main entrance, up to your left, you'll see a gravel (overflow) parking area. This is where they let us leave our cars. They also opened the gate over by their lobby and allowed us to drive down to the dock and beach to launch.
Facilities:
1. There are full facilities at the Alderbrook Resort as well as at
Mike's Beach Reaort.
2. The shoreline on both sides of the Canal is mostly private. There are however, beaches here and there that afford a place to stop for breaks or lunch.
Sample Magazine Submittal: Hood Canal Part 3 (SKIII). 44 NM. On Friday (16 NM) we'll launch at the Alderbrook Resort near Union and paddle north to Eldon. Saturday (12 NM) we'll continue north to Duckabush and then return to Eldon. Finally, on Sunday (16 NM), we'll cross to the east side of the Canal and head south to the launch point.
References:
Campbell, Ken. A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to South Puget Sound. Tacoma: Self-Published. 1997. P. 78-81.
Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 1986. pp. 236-239.
RESORTS:
Alderbrook Resort: Located at East State Route 106, Union, WA 98592. You can call them at 360-898-2200 or visit their website at: www.alderbrookresort.com. Friendly folks. They were a big help to us.
Mike's Beach Resort: Located on the west shore of the Canal about one mile north of Eldon. There's a really nice dock, you can't miss it. Mike's are friendly folks and supply pretty much anything you need. A tremendous amount of work has been done around the resort. You can call them at: 360-877-5324. The address is 38470 N. US 101, Lilliwaup, WA. You can also visit their website at: www.mikesbeachresort.com. For the six of us it cost $62 each for the weekend (at current prices).
