Surf and Camping Weekend - Hobuck Beach & Neah Bay

Trip Report

Last weekend (Feb 6 to 10) a group of kayakers went out to Hobuck, the northern most beach on Washingtons Pacific coast, for a weekend of sea kayaking.  February is a bold time to go as the weather can be difficult.  The plan was to show up, camp, and decide each night what we would do the next day.  There are many options, suitable for different conditions.

The conditions turned out to be calm sea, little wind, little precipitation but temperatures around freezing day and night.  

Thursday

The drive out was beautiful.  Trees and ground were all covered with snow but the roads were fine.  Snow showers in Port Townsend but then clearing skies at the coast.  I was the first to arrive and the only camper there.  Most of the campground was covered by 4 inches of snow but the raised trees near the cabins was grass so I established a camp there.

The sea looked very calm.  Visibility was great and I could see islands well south of Point of Arches.  The sea was inviting us to venture upon it.

GiGi (aka Angela) rolled up and introduced herself.  She didn’t have a kayak on her car so I didn’t recognize her as a kayaker.  Her secret:  a 3 part Romany.  Michelle, Colin, Alan, Derek and Nelson all arrived that afternoon.  We gathered around a fire and planned to paddle to Shi Shi Friday.

Friday

We drag our boats through the snow - this is even easier than wheels - and launch at 9:15.  We head directly for Point of Arches to have the highest tide.  While the sea looks calm, there is a 2-3ft swell with 14s period.  This makes for some activity around the rocks and through the caves.  

We land and have lunch, many observing they have never had snow on the beach before.

After launch, we paddle north, catching rides in on the waves.  The further north we get along Shi Shi beach the larger the waves.  Then, a particularly large set arrives.  I’m out far enough that I’m able to sprint over what feel like 6ft waves just before they break.  Others are caught inside to varying degrees of mayhem. 

We play among the rocks around Anderson Head.  This is a beautiful area and quite accessible.

We see Melinda rolling her kayak up the beach as we return.  Doug, Sandra R, Sean, and Stephen also arrive.  We are now 12 people.

Light snow is forecast so I set up my tarp and we gather under it to plan Saturday.

Saturday

We send out two groups.  Colin, Derek, Nelson and I launch from Neah Bay and head west toward the cape.  Skies promised sun but deliver a light overcast.  The ocean is inviting, but remains active enough that there is 3 to 5ft surge around rocks.  We enter some caves and decline others.  

In a protected little cove Colin capsizes to avoid a rock.  A deer jumps into the water and swims past me toward Colin.  I believe the deer is going to rescue Colin.  Grab him by the drysuit and drag him to the shore.  However, Colin gets his feet under him and stands and the deer continues swimming around a headland. 

After lunch we decide to add a loop around Tatoosh islands.  The crossing out is done with a light ebb current.  We circle counter clockwise.  On the north side a large colony of stellar sea lions barks at us.  We don’t enter any of the caves - it is common to scare birds out and I didn’t want to do that today.  On the crossing back we encounter one narrow band of a strong ebb current and later a narrow band of flood current.  (On Sunday, we hike to the overlook and can see how Jones rocks shapes those bands.)

More caves are explored and some avoided.  We land at Hobuck at 3:00pm.

Alan, Sandra, Doug, and Stephen paddle to Anderson head to explore and play around the rocks, returning about the same time we do.

Evening we gather for snacks behind Colin and Michelle’s trailer and later a fire.  Skies are part clear.

Sunday

Our plan is to surf in the morning.  Waves are quite good and we all have some great rides.  

I borrow Michelle’s Kaos sit on top surf kayak and have some great rides.  It is more maneuverable than I expected, super fun, and not intimidating.  On shore I declare that everyone in the country should surf these.  We would be happier and less divided.  The Seattle SK committee should purchase 10 of them.  (Later I propose we purchase up to 3 and am working on that project.)

In the afternoon we hike out to the cape Flattery overlook.  

Monday

Colin and I held out the possibility of another surf session.  After breakfast we survey the ocean and find the waves too small to inspire us to endure the cold.  

It was a cold weekend and camping outside was rigorous.  However, it was mainly dry so the main challenge was staying warm.  All weekend I and most others were comfortably warm while paddling.  It is only on shore that the cold becomes a problem.  Breaks were short. 

Thanks you for everyone who joined in.  We have a trip to Tofino planned for April 4-7.

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