"Gates" on the Inside Passage

I got to Ketchikan yesterday after cruising up from Anacortes over the last two and a half weeks. No weather delays, although we took advantage of a weather window and rounded Cape Caution (Queen Charlotte Sound) a day earlier than expected. Same thing at Dixon Entrance.

The PNW is divided into several different cruising areas, with gates between them. These gates include the Strait of Georgia, the rapids north of Desolation Sound, Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound, and Dixon Entrance.

At each of the gates I flew the drone and took video. It's neat to show people how these much-feared areas actually look much of the time. Neither the rapids nor the major crossings on the Inside Passage need to be feared. Respected, yes, but not feared.

I cobbled together the video today and put it on Youtube. Perhaps some of you will enjoy it. Here's the link:

Nice thanks for posting

So very neat.
A drone in the hands of the right user is a great tool and the music is such a good fit.

Ok, I know it's just water, but I bet we all have areas that just pull at us.
This is mine and I went through 2 large mugs of coffee watching that, over and over and over.

I chuckled at the piece from Dent into Cordero with the all the ducklings following in nice neat little line.

I can hardly wait for Gates II showing the other normal conditions.

Thank you.

Great video! Like Hawgwash, I appreciate the nice vids of those cruising grounds.

BTW, good job on wearing the PFD in Queen Charlotte sound while on the boat deck flying the drone.

But, no drone footage is available when the gates are closed due to higher winds. Yup, be careful of the gates.

Very nicely done, may I ask what kind of drone you have. Thinking of getting one myself.

dhays said:

BTW, good job on wearing the PFD in Queen Charlotte sound while on the boat deck flying the drone.

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Yep, it only seemed prudent! I actually was wearing an inflatable belt pack in all the other videos. When it got a little bumpier I put on the real deal.

Tim Hendrickson said:

Very nicely done, may I ask what kind of drone you have. Thinking of getting one myself.

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DJI Phantom 3 Standard. I found it online for $399 (can't find it that cheap now). At that price I'd be bummed but not devastated if I sunk it. So far I've clocked about 10 hours of flight time, most from the boat, and I'm still amazed at how intuitive and stable the thing is.

sunchaser said:

But, no drone footage is available when the gates are closed due to higher winds. Yup, be careful of the gates.

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Nope, like today on Dixon Entrance. Environment Canada is calling for south 35-45 building to 40-50 knots, with 3-5 meter seas. A good day to catch up on laundry here in Ketchikan!

Hawgwash said:

I chuckled at the piece from Dent into Cordero with the all the ducklings following in nice neat little line.

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I had the 8 boats I was traveling with, plus several more, fall into line behind me. We nailed the timing—a little visible current at Gillard, about 1.5 knots pushing us along. Totally calm at Dent.

A few people in the group asked, "what rapids?" I had to show them videos of when they're running so they take them seriously on the way south!

Thank you Sam for your posts. I have enjoyed following your group. I have made the trip north from Puget Sound to Alaska a number of times and never saw the water as calm as you have, especially in Johnstone.

We had some of our Predicted Log racers go up there to compete in a contest. They came back shakin' their heads on the high currents they encountered. Thanks to your video I got some idea of what they were up against.

Thanks for the great video. I've shown my wife some of the vids of the gates when they were in full flow and not passable.


It's nice for her to be able to see the gates at slack water.

ancora said:

We had some of our Predicted Log racers go up there to compete in a contest. They came back shakin' their heads on the high currents they encountered. Thanks to your video I got some idea of what they were up against.

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Those waters in the video were very benign as intended, to show the lack of risk.

This is the other end of the scale

https://youtu.be/qA2icvYZjXg

https://youtu.be/hVlJTKTW6rQ

https://youtu.be/gNXDgFUzq8w

Sam, looks like the weather may keep you in Ketch a few more days. The 84 bouy is read 25k with gusts to 50k.

Great Video - Thanks

We are making the trek in July and your video adds to the excitement.

Retriever said:

At each of the gates I flew the drone and took video. It's neat to show people how these much-feared areas actually look much of the time. Neither the rapids nor the major crossings on the Inside Passage need to be feared. Respected, yes, but not feared.

I cobbled together the video today and put it on Youtube. Perhaps some of you will enjoy it. Here's the link:

Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing! That was amazingly impressive, especially if you an amateur. Everything about it was absolutely first rate. Not just the editing or the music, but even how you selected the perfect conditions.

What drone do you fly? In your opinion, what is the ultimate consumer drone?

Thanks so much for the great video. Been flying R/C aircraft for well over 45 years and am awe struck at the technology of the Quads. So stable and easy to fly. Keep up the good work, and look forward to future chapters of this trip.

We are in Blind Channel waiting on the winds to subside on Johnston Straight. Spent the night a few days ago in Shoal Bay, what a hoot! Nice pub with great people! Could have spent a few more days there, but promised the Admiral a dinner at a restaurant. Just got back from a hike to see the 800 year old Red Cedar, darn impressive!
Cheers!

Crusty Chief; said:

Spent the night a few days ago in Shoal Bay, what a hoot!

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Shoal Bay, like so many of our little nicks in the landscape has a colorful history. Fortunes to failures, hard hats to hippies.
LOOKING BACK: There’s gold in them island hills - Campbell River Mirror

Mark has endured longer than most and without folks like these, who somehow relish the 8 months of winter with 8-10 hours of daylight, there would be no Government dock for the Nordies, KKs and Flemings. Support them and don't take your scotch to town.

Anyone near there, first week of August should take in the Shoal Bay International Music Festival. Now that's a hoot.

Nice work, Sam. Next time we head up that way I'd like to take enough time to "pull over" and get drone shots of the rapids in full force.

Still have hotcakes every morning at Soal Bay?

Crusty Chief,
I think there's a resturant in Eco Cove. Next one north is Shearwater unless things have changed. Possibly Duncanby Landing too.