Alaska Trip

[Jon H]

All

A few photo's from last weeks trip around SE AK - visited Point Baker, Warm Springs Bay and Endicott Arm. Hope to go back again in August.

 

[murofrelwart]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ken E.]

Jon, Was it noticeable how few boats there were in your travels? Or did it seem about the same?

 

[Jon H]

Warm Springs Bay was fairly full but most of the rest of the
trip was pretty quiet aside from commercial / fishing vessels.

I passed one yacht between Endicott and Petersburg.

There were 3 large (130' - 200') yachts tied up in KTN but for a trip of
around 450 NM it was very quiet.

Lots of whales, seals, etc.

 

[GFC]

Nice photos but the 3rd and 4th kinda scared me. I thought they were taken from the bow of the Titanic!

 

[tpbrady]

Jon,

Surprised we didn't cross paths as we left Wrangell a week ago and got into Sitka via St John, Rocky Pass, Warm Springs, and Appleton. It is pretty quiet. Some local day charters fishing out of Sitka, none of the custom overnight charters seem to be out. Several of the lodges out of Ketchikan will start up next week for 30 day or so season. Commercial fishing is the largest activity in evidence. Warm and sunny in Sitka now with light winds. This seems to be the first day of summer in SE after a cool and wet spring.

Tom

 

[Jon H]

I was in WSB on the 23rd and Endicott on the 24th then back to
KTN on the 25th.

 

[Ken E.]

Jon,

Surprised we didn't cross paths as we left Wrangell a week ago and got into Sitka via St John, Rocky Pass, Warm Springs, and Appleton. It is pretty quiet. Some local day charters fishing out of Sitka, none of the custom overnight charters seem to be out. Several of the lodges out of Ketchikan will start up next week for 30 day or so season. Commercial fishing is the largest activity in evidence. Warm and sunny in Sitka now with light winds. This seems to be the first day of summer in SE after a cool and wet spring.

Tom

Tom, I'm envious of you being up there. The Canadian border is still closed down here. Did you have to quarantine on arrival? On Rocky Pass, when we went through in 2018 there was so much bull kelp south of the elbow that it took a lot of power just to try to blast through it. Was the kelp bad this year?

 

[Jon H]

Ken

I went through The Elbow about 1.5 hours before high water, didn't notice
much kelp anywhere but this past winter was one of the longer and colder
ones in SE AK.

Jon

 

[tpbrady]

Ken

Ditto on what Jon said.

We got tested before we traveled up but haven't had a second test since our two weeks is up in a couple of days and the results take 3-5 days to get back. So a combination of tests and limiting contact for two weeks.

Tom

 

[Tator]

We are in Petersburg having flown in a week ago last Thursday. We are in day 8 of waiting for our test results taken upon our landing at the airport. it was supposed to take 72hrs. for results. It seems that the labs down south are swamped and running far behind. There are items we need to purchase in person in town as well as pickup our mail before we leave the dock. Oh well, being in quarantine is better than a sharp stick in the eye.

Seems there was a woman on a sailboat in Wrangell who had tested positive. The couple left Wrangell and docked in Petersburg. They were seen running errands in town w/o a mask and were politely(?) told to leave the harbor.

Later, Tator

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

So Jon, I am assuming you and others keep your boats in SE?

So you have to stay in port under quarantine for 14 days unless you test negative?

We are locked down on the Columbia River as Ken stated due to Canada/US boarder. Sucks.....

 

[Tator]

We keep our boat in Petersburg. You can quarantine on your boat while cruising. Just can't go into another port and get off your boat. Groceries and other items can be delivered to your boat while under quarantine.

Tator

 

[Jon H]

Our boat is kept in KTN, we did the covid test at the airport on arrival
and got our negative results back in 2.5 days.

During that time got the boat prepped, etc.

 

[Tator]

I think it depends on when you got tested. Last week is when it seems like tests started backing up. News had articles on Quest and Labcorp being swamped.

Tator

 

[roddy]

US residents permitted to travel through Canada via automobiles and vessels, to or from Alaska with conditions...
NON-STOP travel except for fuel or safety, or emergencies.
ONLY permitted stops are for fuel ONLY.
NO purchasing of goods
NO contact with Canadians
NO food or beverage purchases
NO Motels
NO anchoring
NO docking

Several US residents have abused Canada's recognition of US residents desires to travel to Alaska.
Its a big deal deal here... vehicles with US plates or boat registrations will be watched.
Canada and particularly BC wrestled covid 19 cases down to small numbers and have kept numbers low. We are just starting to slowly and cautiously re-open. Please respect what we have accomplished and help us stay safe.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...g-alaska-loophole-to-visit-province-1.5634397
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/americans-yukon-covid-travellers-1.5598720

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

My only stop would be Port McNeill for fuel. But no anchoring or docking, so we would not be allowed to enter based on the above.

 

[soin2la]

My only stop would be Port McNeill for fuel. But no anchoring or docking, so we would not be allowed to enter based on the above.

No, you would be denied entry because you have no legitimate (essential) reason for travelling to AK.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Travel to Alaska, yes, I am an Alaska resident, Canada probably not.

 

[soin2la]

You are just going to worry away the summer.

Provision the boat and go down to harass those CA delta TFers...sorry Art.

Buy a bike and go to Sturgess.

Build a still.

Crochet.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

You are just going to worry away the summer.

Provision the boat and go down to harass those CA delta TFers...sorry Art.

Buy a bike and go to Sturgess.

Build a still.

Crochet.

We still will be cruising, the Columbia River. May head to the east side and harass GFC.

I've done the SF to Astoria Run. Not again.

 

[Tator]

Day 11. No test results!

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

That's crap. Call the doctor office and ask why. Mine was the next day.

Day 11. No test results!

 

[Tator]

Sea Duction- Not sure when you got your test done. It seems like due to lack of Federal and some States leadership there has recently been an extremely large surge of cases and hence testing. Labs don't have enough capacity and are backlogged. They are rightfully prioritizing symptomatic people and health care workers. We did finally get our results back yesterday afternoon and will be hopefully leaving dock on Wed. after finishing up those tasks that we needed to do in person in order to leave. I know that we are some of the lucky ones.

Tator

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Sea Duction- Not sure when you got your test done. It seems like due to lack of Federal and some States leadership there has recently been an extremely large surge of cases and hence testing. Labs don't have enough capacity and are backlogged. They are rightfully prioritizing symptomatic people and health care workers. We did finally get our results back yesterday afternoon and will be hopefully leaving dock on Wed. after finishing up those tasks that we needed to do in person in order to leave. I know that we are some of the lucky ones.

Tator

My test was done last Monday, results back next day, Tuesday. Test done in SW Washington.

 

[ufish2]

Tom, I believe our paths crossed in Honeydew cove last week.

Perry

 

[roddy]

US residents can stop or anchor in Canada.
Its non-stop travel except for fuel, SAFETY and emergencies.
Bad weather and sleep fall under safety.
Point is to get to, or from Alaska asap. No sightseeing or vacationing.

 

[tpbrady]

Perry

You are correct. Just got to Wrangell after the 4th in Sitka and heading down Chatham to Coronation Is. and then back up Sumner St. A lot of bears in Appleton and Rowan Bay.

Tom