San Juan Island Adventures

For those who visit our blog, my apologies for our lack of entries this winter. Much happening though at San Juan Outfitters. I'll give some quick updates, and then follow up later with more detail.
Regarding our staff. I'm very happy to announce that San Juan Outfitters will have close to 90% of our staff returning from last season or previous seasons! One of our goals as a company is to provide a meaningful employment experience, so I'm very happy to have so...

No sign of the Killer Whales (Orcas) spotted yesterday at Kelp Reef. We had no tours today, so I did not fully engage myself networking with my friends out of Victoria who probably had whale watch trips today.

I did take some time looking carefully across the straits on a bike ride today. Despite the cloud cover and Puget Sound Fog/low clouds that settled in over the island today, it was warm and calm. I told my friend Joe we should be thankful for the warm (52...

Noon trip from Roche Harbor, San Juan Island

We had ideal conditions to paddle today. Essentially no winds, minimal tides, and cloud cover made the water absolutely calm. I lead our trip today with four guests out into Speiden Channel, and west into Haro Strait. Tons of bird life right outside the harbor, between Pearl Island and Barren Rock (a national wildlife refuge). We spotted Hooded Mergansers, Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, Buffleheads, and Double...

Orca Whales were heard on the west side of San Juan Island today, through the hydrophone array at Lime Kiln State Park. They were later spotted from land in the vicinity of Kelp Reef around 11:00am. I wish my kayak trip left a bit earlier today, as the whales were south bound. That means they could have been up in the northern part of Haro Strait, where sea kayak tours typically paddle. No news on which whales, but typically when we hear vocalizations on the...

No confirmation on whales sighted between Tuesday and today. The weather picked up today as predicted, with winds and rain persisting between 11am and 3pm. The weather will be better tomorrow, and I'll be leading a group of at least 4 guests at noon from Roche Harbor, San Juan Island.

I'm hoping to spend the majority of the tour on the west side of Henry Island, where I typically can spot great wildlife. A few days ago, we saw Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions...

Updates from San Juan Outfitters HQ: The MV Sea Hawk is back in the water after a successful annual haul out. Coast Guard Inspections are complete, and some upgrades in equipment should increase our fuel efficiency and speed for the remainder of the 2008 season, and into 2009.

Our scheduled kayak tour today was cancelled due to heavy rain, and an incoming front which is predicted to bring us more rain and wind. Tomorrow's forecast is better with only 30% chance...

Mid November is time for boat maintenance. Sea Hawk is out of the water for our annual Coast Guard Inspection, and routine maintenance. We hauled out this morning in 35mph winds in Bellingham. The weather has cleared, which makes boat yard life a little nicer. We're planning on being back in the water early next week following our inspection, and will be prepared for tours during the last two weeks of November.

Whale sightings have continued into the fall....

Captain's Log October 26th
We were lucky (Kendall my naturalist and myself) to have some fall travelers interested in whale watching on a beautiful, sunny, clear and cool fall day yesterday. We were even more fortunate that my friend Ivan called to let me know he had spotted our Resident K-Pod off the west side of San Juan Island, headed north towards our home port at Roche Harbor. By the time we had left the harbor, the whales had traveled all the way up to Open...

Well, the leaves are changing, the air is growing cooler and the sun is setting earlier-- that must mean that fall is here! It's been a great summer of paddling here, and we're not done yet.

Although our regular season ends this weekend, San Juan Outfitters will continue to be available by reservation for both kayaking and whale watch trips through Thanksgiving and maybe later. We will be offering 3-hour, 5-hour and multi-day sea kayak trips along with wildlife...

Last week I set off on a multi-day trip with some expert fishermen in tow. Although I grew up in Portland, Maine I don't know much about seafood and was happy to soak in what they shared. As we paddled, Cindy and Carl let out some line and occasionally felt some tugs. The most successful spots were right off some beds of bull kelp, and they caught all kinds of rockfish there.
Early on the morning of day two (before the others were up), Carl and I paddled out to the...