Back from Where We Came

On 7/7 we left Sika at 6:00 am.  We had planned to explore the outside (west) of Chichagof Island however, the weather forecast said a gale was coming in.  Although it was sunny and calm we decided we should not go that route.  Instead we went back through Peril Strait arriving at Schultz Cove at 10:50 am (4 hrs 50 min) to stay overnight so we could time going through Sergius Narrows in the morning and check weather again just in case the forecast had changed,  If it had we could have easily decided to stay with our original plan to go around Chichagof Island. 

7/8 and the weather forecast was still expecting strong north winds for the next four days so we left at 9:30 am to continue going west on Peril Strait through Sergius Narrows at slack tide. We slipped into Poison Cove just to take a look. Don said in 1799 150 Aleut hunters were on a Russian ship (Russians used these natives to hunt sea otters) that stopped here to rest. The Aleut’s were poisoned by mussels they gathered and ate here succumbing to an agonizing death within 2 hours. In 1869 the cove was renamed to Poison Cove by U.S. Navy Commander Meade and the passage within Peril Strait between Poison Cove and Nismeni Pt was subsequently named Deadman Reach. We cruised on to Appleton Cove arriving at 1:05 pm (3 hrs 35 min) with lots of horse flies buzzing around.  Ann took a militant approach by swatting horse flies on the mid-deck with our electric Zap-It rackets.  Her diligence made a difference and they finally retreated in the evening.  We stayed here in Appleton Cove on our way to Sita but anchored at the opposite end.  It is a great and popular overnight anchorage off of Peril Strait.  We decided to stay another night here. Gary and Ann helped by setting crab pots and Ann , Bosun, and I had fun taking the dinghy out for a spin.  We saw the Northwest Explorations flotilla come in to anchor surrounding us.  Most of their boats are Grand Banks like ours because they have a large number of them in their charter fleet. 

Poison Cove - Beware

Poison Cove where the Aleut Indian Hunters were Poisoned by Mussels they had collected and eaten here.

On 7/10 we left Peril Strait (forgot to record time).  We stopped briefly in Hanus Bay to fish but no luck.  We took the short cut into Chatham Strait heading south enjoying flat seas stopping at a beautiful waterfall near the entrance to Ell Cove.  Another boat was there and came over by dinghy to switch phones to take pictures of each others boat in front of the waterfall.  That was really nice and fun to do.  We anchored at 5:10 pm.

We went fishing for halibut while we were here.  I caught a huge (well huge by my standards) for me halibut.  Don had to help me bring it in.  It is nice to have a dinghy with a fish finder on board.  We then stopped at a little very pretty sandy beach so Bosun could get a little run in.    In the small anchorage we met a nice couple on a sailboat named Soulstice.  We also saw John and Chase on Miss Treva, a beautiful sailboat, from our yacht club come in and anchor.  They came over for happy hour with us so we could exchange cruising adventures.  We had both left Poulsbo the same day, May 10th traveling the same direction but different routes and plans.  It was fun to catch up with them. We had roasted crab for dinner from our crab pot bounty caught in Appleton Cove.

The falls outside of Ell Cove but this picture Ann took.

This is the whole group. A little hard to see everyone. From the left its Don, Lois, Ann, Gary and Bosun in front of us. Nice picture of the boat and the falls.

Ell Cove - a beautiful little anchorage.

Don holding the dinghy while Bosun is frolicking around and digging in the sand.

Bosun has the beach to himself. He ran around crazy and dug holes in the sand.

On 7/12 we left Ell Cove at 7:00 am headed for Warm Springs Bay just down Chatham Strait aways.  We loved it here so I was excited to return with Ann and Gary.  We noticed a lot of fishing boats were anchored out in the strait.  We have seen this before.  They are waiting for the next fishing opening which was either going to start that day or the next day.  We could not find a spot when we arrived at the warm springs dock even after hanging out a bit to see if anyone would leave.  No one left until we left. Then a boat pulled out and another one pulled in so they were reserving a spot for another boat they obviously knew.  We went and anchored at 11:00 am (4 hrs) in a small inlet on the north side of the bay near the entrance.  We still had a wonderful view of the falls and we took the dinghy in for a hot tub at the bath house and a hike to the lake.  That tub soak was just what we all needed.  How relaxing!  This is the most spectacular waterfall we have seen on our journey.  The raw wildness of the water tumbling down the boulders and the ferocious volume of water is absolutely amazing.  There were a lot of fishing boats in the bay here also waiting for the opening of the next fishing season.

All the fishing boats hanging out in Chatham Strait for the next fishing season window to open.

The falls at Warm Springs is as ferocious as ever.

We left Warm Springs at 7:00 am on 7/13 headed for Chapin Bay near the southern tip of Admiralty Island on Fredrick Sound.  We arrived there at 10:20 (3 hrs 20 min).  Beautiful spot but the black flies were out in full force. 

On our way to Chapin Bay in Frederick Sound on Admiralty Island.

The cliffs on the sides of Chapin Bay. The bay goes way back in. We were dodging reefs on the way to get into a good anchor spot. This was our first time in this anchorage. A beautiful spot.

We left the bay the following morning on 7/14 at 7:00 am.  While on our way to Cannery Cove which we had also anchored at earlier in our journey to Sitka, we stopped to do some halibut fishing.  Don is good at finding the right spots for fishing.  Gary caught a really nice size halibut, then Don caught a smaller one.  I was feeling left out but switched to the magic pole and caught the biggest one (with Gary’s help to reel it in for me).   Ann didn’t want to try.  We anchored at 1:00 pm (6 hrs) and guess what we had for dinner?  Yummy halibut! 

My halibut which was big for me.

In the anchorage with us we saw again the flotilla from Northwest Explorations which is in Bellingham Washington.  We saw some of their cruising tours several times in different spots we were at here in Alaska.  Most of the boats that are chartered from them are Grand Banks.  The yachts are privately owned but they put them up for charter and then when the owner wants to use it they pay as well.  We have no idea how profitable it is for the owner but if you are not going to use your boat all the time it probably is a good option.  Some of the owners we have talked to are from out of state so they don’t have the opportunity to use their boat all year long like we do.  The flotilla looked great all lined up, anchored and stern tied to shore so they don’t move around.  I’m sure they were having a wonderful time.  It’s a nice way to go cruising and meet new people.  The guides are very experienced and they have a mechanic on board if anyone has any issues. 

The Northwest Explorations flotilla looking dapper in their formation.