Anna Leigh and Daydream to Ketchikan
- Thread starter Alyssa Jean
- Start date
Pat Anderson
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Pat Anderson
New member
Back in Fall City! Some explanation about communications, or lack thereof...we had a wi-fi internet connection at Sullivan Bay on Broughton Island, and I posted the one pic from there. Then...into the abyss. No cell anywhere, not even in Prince Ruppert, until we reached Ketchikan, no internet until we reached Ivory Island, where I posted the report of our first four days. The internet connection was via satellite, and the computer kept reporting the connection dropped. Amazingly, our cell phones did not work in Prince Ruppert, we kept getting some message from the local cell company to contact our carriers, and we were only there long enough to fuel up and head out across Dixon Entrance anyway, so no time to look for internet. I could not even let Patty know how we were progressing. In Ketchikan, my cell phone worked, but the only internet connection was at a laundromat called Thomas Wash Basin (!) and my power supply failed right in the middle of posting. This was not meant to be. Heading out, there was internet at Yes Bay, but I was a ways behind David, and only had time to fuel. Back in Ketchikan, I finally got the Treo Blue tooth to work - sort of...anyone here remember 300 baud connections? :lol: David has given you the blog, and I will get busy, perhaps tonight perhaps not, uploading a bunch more pix...It was a GREAT trip altogether, just far too short to see everything I wanted to...maybe next year!
Pat Anderson
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Here we are heading off for the hot springs at Bailey Bay...little did we know what was ahead! Alan Olson, one of the crew on Daydream, is in the middle, not shy but physically not able to turn around for the photo!
The Douglasses describe the hike to the hot spings as "challenging" - and that is pretty much an understatement...The trail starts out gaining a lot of elevation right off the bat, then it goes from a nice gravel path to the typical Alaskan muddy path, over and under logs, boulders, and...a waterfall. The bridge had washed out, the pics do NOT do this justice, both ways I just kept hoping Patty had my life insurance premium paid up!
And the prize at the end of the trail! (Not me, the hot springs!) There was also a very nice Forest Service shelter there, where David built a fire and we dried out our clothing as best we could. In fact, my overriding memory of Alaska will always be wet socks!
The Douglasses describe the hike to the hot spings as "challenging" - and that is pretty much an understatement...The trail starts out gaining a lot of elevation right off the bat, then it goes from a nice gravel path to the typical Alaskan muddy path, over and under logs, boulders, and...a waterfall. The bridge had washed out, the pics do NOT do this justice, both ways I just kept hoping Patty had my life insurance premium paid up!
And the prize at the end of the trail! (Not me, the hot springs!) There was also a very nice Forest Service shelter there, where David built a fire and we dried out our clothing as best we could. In fact, my overriding memory of Alaska will always be wet socks!
Pat Anderson
New member
Ivory Island Light Station is a stop any C-Dory making this trip absolutely should make. Brent Hacking ("Lightkeeper" on this site) was the head keeper when we stopped by (Brent is now the head keeper at Estevan Light Station on the west side of Vancouver Island), and his wife Sylvia is now the head keeper at Ivory Island, the first female head keeper in the history of the Canadian Coast Guard. Brent and Sylvia welcomed us at the beach on the back side of the island, where we tied up to Brent's mooring bouy and dinghied ashore.
The beach and the light station are connected by a 100 year old boardwalk.
Brent launches his boat by a high line powered by a donkey engine. I can't explain the mechanics of how the boat attaches to the line and gets dropped down to the water, but that is how it works. Jeff Messmer tried to convince Brent that a CD16 would work just fine on the high line. Brent allowed how as the CD16 might be able to take it, but his ticker couldn't!
We walked up to the keeper's residence, where Sylvia made us tea, we had an almost-functional satellite internet connection and we had an unquestionably delightful visit! Lightkeepers all monitor VHF channel 82A, and are happy to respond to inquiries about weather and sea conditions. If you are going by either Ivory Island or Estevan, definitely PM Brent here and let him know you will be coming by!
The beach and the light station are connected by a 100 year old boardwalk.
Brent launches his boat by a high line powered by a donkey engine. I can't explain the mechanics of how the boat attaches to the line and gets dropped down to the water, but that is how it works. Jeff Messmer tried to convince Brent that a CD16 would work just fine on the high line. Brent allowed how as the CD16 might be able to take it, but his ticker couldn't!
We walked up to the keeper's residence, where Sylvia made us tea, we had an almost-functional satellite internet connection and we had an unquestionably delightful visit! Lightkeepers all monitor VHF channel 82A, and are happy to respond to inquiries about weather and sea conditions. If you are going by either Ivory Island or Estevan, definitely PM Brent here and let him know you will be coming by!
Pat Anderson
New member
(Reflection of clouds, Von Donop Inlet, Desolation Sound)
Pat Anderson
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(Surf at West Beach, Calvert Island, Queen Charlotte Sound)
Pat Anderson
New member
Pat Anderson
New member
Pat Anderson
New member
There are quite a few more pix, I will post a few more highlights (mainly the "Hike from Hell" in Meyers Chuck), and David will no doubt finish his blog. Stay tuned!
Catman":25ocjwv7 said:Nicely stated, Steve. I agree. What a trip. And fine reporters you are!
hoto
Alyssa Jean
New member
This is from day 14 to a day or two ago. I will catch up while here at Prince Rupert, BC. Our first day on the return trip.
Pat Anderson
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David - tell us all how it went with Captain John aboard!
Pat Anderson
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OK, a quick note, one last vignette - the "Hike from Hell" at Meyers Chuck. Dave Olson's sister-in-law Nancy Olson lives in Meyers Chuck, and has a nice home on the waterfront there. Dave's brother, Ken Olson, and another man lost their lives at the lake at Meyers Chuck in 1996 when they fell through thin ice while ice skating. The skates are still hanging in a tree as a memorial. Dave wanted to spend the week at Meyers Chuck while Patty, Alan and I circumnavigated the island with the name nobody can spell. So we headed out of Ketchikan directly for Meyers Chuck on the afternoon of Sunday the 18th. Casey and Sandy were already there on Naknek, and we exchanged pleasantries.
Monday Casey and Sandy headed out for Wrangell and it was our day to hike to the lake. I am not sure what we were expecting exactly, but Nancy said the trail was about a mile and half. I am starting to get suspicious of the Alaskan "mile" by the way - after the Bailey Bay hot springs hike and this one. Right off the bat, Nancy lost the "trail" - which is not so much as a trail but a series of surveyor tape flags from tree to tree, some there and some not. So we decided to follow the pipeline, which generally follows the creek. There is not really a trail, and it kept going...and going...and going, uphill all the way, over and under logs, boulders, bogs, whatever. Patty's legs got rubbery and burning, and she literally felt like she could not go on, except she had no choice - I did not get a good shot of her looking daggers at me. But we did go on, and we got to the lake, but not where we wanted to be, which was at the trailhead where the skates were. Here we are at the lake. Left to right, Dave Olson, Pat, Patty, David, and Alan Olson (Nancy took the pic).
After this pic, we still wanted to go over to see the skates. But Nancy couldn't find that either - we clambered over hill and dale, over peak and swale, through forest and marsh - no sign of the trail. At one point, we had to cross a little stream, and I promptly slipped on the moss, banged my chest into a log and fell in the stream! I pulled some muscles, and it still hurts...finally David found what appeared to be the trail, but by then we decided the best direction was to head right back to Meyers Chuck rather than left to the lake...we were disappointed not to see the skates. It was much easier going back. We were however completely soaked through and through, tired, and the mud of the Alaskan trail is forever embedded in our clothing. We ended up with hot showers from Nancy's propane fired hot water heater, dry clothing and a nice turkey dinner that Nancy fixed. This day will however be forever be fixed in our memories as the "Hike from Hell" in Meyers Chuck.
Monday Casey and Sandy headed out for Wrangell and it was our day to hike to the lake. I am not sure what we were expecting exactly, but Nancy said the trail was about a mile and half. I am starting to get suspicious of the Alaskan "mile" by the way - after the Bailey Bay hot springs hike and this one. Right off the bat, Nancy lost the "trail" - which is not so much as a trail but a series of surveyor tape flags from tree to tree, some there and some not. So we decided to follow the pipeline, which generally follows the creek. There is not really a trail, and it kept going...and going...and going, uphill all the way, over and under logs, boulders, bogs, whatever. Patty's legs got rubbery and burning, and she literally felt like she could not go on, except she had no choice - I did not get a good shot of her looking daggers at me. But we did go on, and we got to the lake, but not where we wanted to be, which was at the trailhead where the skates were. Here we are at the lake. Left to right, Dave Olson, Pat, Patty, David, and Alan Olson (Nancy took the pic).
After this pic, we still wanted to go over to see the skates. But Nancy couldn't find that either - we clambered over hill and dale, over peak and swale, through forest and marsh - no sign of the trail. At one point, we had to cross a little stream, and I promptly slipped on the moss, banged my chest into a log and fell in the stream! I pulled some muscles, and it still hurts...finally David found what appeared to be the trail, but by then we decided the best direction was to head right back to Meyers Chuck rather than left to the lake...we were disappointed not to see the skates. It was much easier going back. We were however completely soaked through and through, tired, and the mud of the Alaskan trail is forever embedded in our clothing. We ended up with hot showers from Nancy's propane fired hot water heater, dry clothing and a nice turkey dinner that Nancy fixed. This day will however be forever be fixed in our memories as the "Hike from Hell" in Meyers Chuck.
Pat-
I was a-thinkin' that if I ever did the trip you and David did, I'd like to alow down to take in more of the local scenery and experience the people a little more. But upon hearing of your two Hikes to and from Hell, I think I'd prefer to stay on the boat and the immediate shoreside.
Maybe Patty would be ready for a rainforrest treak along the Amazon next summer? Maybe you could take Daydream and do the "African Queen" routine!
Joe.
I was a-thinkin' that if I ever did the trip you and David did, I'd like to alow down to take in more of the local scenery and experience the people a little more. But upon hearing of your two Hikes to and from Hell, I think I'd prefer to stay on the boat and the immediate shoreside.
Maybe Patty would be ready for a rainforrest treak along the Amazon next summer? Maybe you could take Daydream and do the "African Queen" routine!
Joe.
Alyssa Jean
New member
Presently at Prince Ruppert, BC.