Rating: SKIII

Distance: 18 NM

Date: April 4, 1998

Leader: Henry Romer Participants: 8

Launch: 09:15 Return: 3:15

Weather: Excellent. Cloudy with sunbreaks. 55F. Windless and super-calm.

Description: Launched at Arcadia Point at 9:15 and rode the tide south along Totten Inlet. Entered Skookum Inlet thru the narrows and paddled on to the southwest end of the inlet where we played around the little islets in the mud flats (at high tide). Had a quick return on the ebbv back to Arcadia Point.

Tides/Currents THIS IS A WINTER TRIP ONLY. Summer tides are not high enough and could easily leave you stranded in the mud flats in Little Skookum. Call Henry Romer for details on these tides.

Waterproof Chart #30 – Puget Sound – International Sailing Suppply.

Puget Sound Current Guide – Island Canoe, Inc.

Chart #18448 – Puget Sound – Southern Part.

Notes:

1. Lots of water fowl to be seen on this trip.
2. Along the way you’ll see oyster shucking operations along the shore. A very big area for oyster harvesting.
3. This is a fairly long trip (18 NM). Might be better to start a little earlier and plan a break in the morning and afternoon.

Directions to Launch Site: From I5 @ Hwy 16 it takes a little over an hour (54.8 miles) to get to the Arcadia Point launch ramp. Take I5 south 28 miles to Olympia and turn west on Hwy 101 (Exit 104). Go 18 miles on 101 towards Shelton and turn off at SR 3 (where the divided highway ends). Follow SR 3 for 1 mile to the traffic light at Arcadia Ave. and turn right. Go 7 miles down Arcadia Ave. to the "T" at Lynch and turn left. Then go 0.8 miles to Arcadia Point and the launch site.

Facilities:

1. There are virtually no facilities along the route. It would be wise to plan ahead and stop at the store where Arcadia Ave. meets SR 3.
2. Park you cars in the lot 2 blocks up from the ramp. Plenty of space here.

Sample Magazine Submittal: Arcadia to Little Skookum Inlet (SKIII). 18 NM RT. Launch from Arcadia and explore the north end of Totten Inlet. From there we’ll paddle through the narrows and enter Little Skookum and its’ mud flats. This is an active oyster harvesting area and we’ll see shucking operations along the way.

Bailey, Jo, and Carl Nyberg. Gunkholing in South Puget Sound. Seattle: San Juan Enterprises, Inc. 1997. Pp. 265, 276-278.

Campbell, Ken. A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to South Puget Sound. Tacoma: Self-Published. 1997. P. 68-71.

Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 1986. pp. 244-245.