Kayak Camping Pacific Coast for overnighter: the gear and basic techniques
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- Gear, Food, Equipment and Techniques: Packing for an overnight kayak camping trip to the scenic Pacific Northwest Washington coast. I lay out the basic gear I take for short trips such as 1 or 2 nights of kayak camping on the Pacific North West coast, then use the gear during an solo overnight trip to the scenic Cape Flattery in Northwest Washington state.
The beginning of this video shows a few scenes of kayaking thru the sea caves and thru the rock gardens during some extremely calm conditions on one of the most rugged coastlines in the lower U.S. the very North West corner of Washington State.
In this video I am cooking a meal of fish and rice, making coffee, selecting a sleeping site on the beach. I do not bring a tent on this trip as I know that no rain is forecast and I want to travel very light. This represents the minimal amount of gear that I take for going on a very simple overnight trip. The emphasis is on traveling very light. I know this area very well and I know that I am close to help if anything goes wrong and I have full coverage on my cell phone. I can either hike out, signal a passing boat, or wait for hikers to pass my area if I need to. With all these safety options as backup I do not pack to stay in one area for many days as I would on an expedition.
Awesome video, really inspiring! thanks for going over the gear list.
Hey Todd, I'm 22 and I live in Florida. I want to tell you that as an individual you expell good nature. Watching your videos makes me happy. My generation, here, and elsewhere is really struggling. Depression, lack of critical thinking(for various reasons), which leads to ignorance is very much taking a hold of my generation and younger. After finding meditation and saving myself, When I realized what city living did to me (among other things), I cried and became very paranoid. I realized my lack of connection to the earth and nature was a big issue I faced as well. It took over a year of training my brain to function neurologically again. But ive accomplished much success.Now, with my common sense, critical thinking, and self confidence instilled again, I am ready for adventures like this. Your videos on the Alaska trip inspired me greatly. I crave true adventures and I've planned many on a large high quality map of America. The reason I'm sharing this is because I'm not always sure if other's realize what's going on in other places even within their own country. I really hope to be like you soon. I have a lot of energy now, and adventure is in my heart. I Thank you for your videos.
You're way more mature than I was when I was 22. You won't be like me, you'll be a much better version, and I hope when I'm 80 I'll be watching your adventures. I was really a mess when I was your age. It took me many years to even start to figure out my life. So give yourself a lot of credit. You have a full life ahead of you and I hope all the best for you. So plan your steps and enjoy it. Time and health are far more important than anything we get in this life, so don't waste these gifts. If you're thinking ahead and planning big adventures at 22 then you are far ahead of the curve. Get out there, you'll find a world of people with the same ideas as you that are willing to support you. I look forward to your adventures.
Touching comment, Kyle. I am sure you'll get there!
Great video. I've spent some time kayaking in the same area as well as fishing from a sled. One of my favorite places ever.
It's been 4 years since I've been there and it's still the place I want to go back to when I can.
Beautiful. This is so different from the East Coast.
+PressCheck The extreme NW coast of Washington is very different than most our coastline too. It's great to be able to get there a few times per year.
Beautiful! Love watching your vids man, keep exploring!
Cool video. I enjoy them. I too have a couple of those Thermos brand coffee mugs. They're really nice. I haven't found one that keeps coffee hot as long as those do.
+zwatson127 Thanks for watching. Those mugs don't leak either. I agree with you, they're the best ones I've found.
solid documentary... love it. You are the man to look up to! really ! love your videos, will sub
+timohaism Thank you. Spring is finally here and I'll start putting out more and hopefully better videos this year.
what an awesome place....beautiful!!!
+Hike with Mike It's amazing what the raw power of the Pacific can carve out. I just wish I could get there more often.
I just love your videos and couldn't get enough of it. It makes me want to move back to Ocean Shores to retire there. My wife in other hand totally against the idea. Too cold for joins and too far from family. Nothing can beat the sunny shine in Southern California in her eyes. Maybe some days when I retired I will take few trips up there to join your company if and of course with your approval. Happy New Year to you. Be safe and be happy. Dino
+SHTFPrepper 2015 I grew up in So Cal...okay, so I'm still growing up. But I know what you mean. It's cold and nasty up here 8 months a year, but it's magical when the sun comes out. Snow today so you're not missing much here.
Very cool Todd, good to see you!!!
+joesneon Thanks for watching it!
Hey Todd. Like Kyle, I just want to say thanks for the videos. Because of you and a few other UA-cam people who have my respect, I bought a Greenland style kayak and am planning my first recorded trip this weekend. Im in middle Alabama so no ocean but a nice big lake, some stealth camping and hopefully a nice 15 minute video with no time spent in jail for trespassing. The guy who ordered my boat kind of laughed at a landlocked Alabamian buying a Greenland style kayak to do lakes and rivers. Your videos are therapeutic for me. I have lived a crazy, dangerous life and in what time I have left, I'd like to slow down and enjoy it. Thanks again.
Right on. I keep telling folks you don't need an ocean, a lot of lakes will work just fine for some great kayaking trips. Stay out of jail and I'm looking forward to seeing the video.
great video and very much enjoy your no nonsense dialogue. thankyou.
Thanks for the feedback.
Funny. I was stationed at the Makah AFS on the mountain overlooking Tatoosh island in the mid 80’s. Always wanted to fish that area.
That's a spectacular post. Incredible fishing on the few days per year with the right conditions.
Hi Todd, I️ love your videos. Thanks for posting them
Thanks.
very nice and interesting video keep them coming please I saw your Alaska video and love it, I think you will have a lot of subscribers
+Rodolfo Hernandez Thanks. Hopefully my videos get better. The feedback helps me a lot.
Thanks. That's a very useful video.
+MetaView7 Thanks!
Your my hero! If I had the cash I'd be begging to go with you on one of your kayaking expeditions!
Time is your most valuable commodity.
Very Inspiring video, I watched that Alaska solo trip where you said you were turning 50, I am not to far behind ya ;P. but you're doing things i dream of, yes i'd would of crapped myself with those bears. But this is on my list of thing too do, but don't know the first thing about it. but now I think its a mission. so if you ever paddle over to Port Orchard - I'll buy a beer or coffee ;P. keep up the video post, so i can see my future destinations.
+Terry Rau Hey Terry, give me a shout if I can help. I'm just across the water from you. And yes, get out there and just go for it. A trip out to Blake Island is the perfect place to start, and check out Washington water trails map of all the campsites in the Puget Sound. We aren't going to grow any younger, and you know that already.
Wow, absolutely gorgeous area!
Agree 100%. I've traveled a lot of coastlines around the world, this one blows me away every time I visit it.
Awesome man. Definitely agree, any coffee is better than no coffee. But that looked kind of desirable. Maybe the scenery. Know it is an old video but keep it up and please continue to give as much technical advice as possible.
Thanks. It's been a few years since I camped in that spot, but it's still one of my favorite coastlines.
So nice. you should make a quick video of how u cook your fish
+Joseph Borgerding Yes, I've heard that a couple of times now. Next time out I'll do that video.
Great video. Thumbs up. I would add a VHF radio for emergencies and weather forecasts. The cell phone would be backup. Also, I'm surprised not to see a paddle float and bilge pump among the gear.
I had cell phone. The AK govt put in a lot of repeaters to cover much of that area with 1 bar so text messages get in and out. VHF is of little use given the high peaks. I carried a paddle float and bilge pump for many years when beginning, ditched those decades ago, now I have many alternative methods of re-entry and draining a kayak if needed. Best solution is to not go over.
Very informative. Thanks! BTW, I know that last beach in your video.. Discovered it on foot 40+ years ago on a very low tide. Spent too long enjoying the solitude and beauty and got caught by the tide. Too dangerous to walk back through the one tunnel so spent the night unprepared.. with 3 other people.
+2Ply789 Nice to know it's still unspoiled. As long as it's a warm summer night sleeping over is not so bad.
Thanks for the vidoe. Very calm, fun, and informative. Any experience going up the BC Canada coast? Hoping to try it myself this summer.
Yes, I went up to the NW tip of BC about 10 years ago to the Bunsby Islands. The hard part is the 60 km of dirt logging road getting out to the coast then about 15 miles of paddling up the coast to the Bunsby Group. It's exposed coast with lots of hidden breakers, but if the swell is down below 2m or so you'll be fine. Once you're in the island group you'll find most of it is protected from the swell and wind. It's really an amazing place out there plan on staying at least a week. Fishermen will ferry you back for a fee if the weather gets horrible. Enjoy.
Love this video.
+nostalgicsound Thanks. I'll be making more of these kayak camping videos this summer.
awesome trip. the Alaska vids are raw though. best footage I have ever seen. yak on good sir.
The Alaska videos were shot on a cheap 720 dpi camera. My original thought was just to make a few short videos for friends. I never thought they'd become popular. I guess it's the location. Thanks
the bear footage you got was amazing but what you went through in that 3 weeks not many men could probably handle without losing it. Cant wait to see more of your adventures. thanks.
That area of SW AK is one of the most remote areas I've ever known. I'm always thinking of a way to get back there. Next time better videos.
when you plan on going back to Alaska?
I'm trying to get back there this summer, weather is a big factor tho
If you get something to put those grounds in you could make like a tea bag lol
I think Starbucks makes a product like that...for people that don't like to chew their morning coffee.
Gorgeous spot. Thanks for sharing. Sending a sub your way!
Thanks!
Thank you for the videos. I thought I would share an idea for a traveling/camping towel that has worked for me. It's called the Absorber and is similar to a chamois but is a lot more durable and cheaper. Compact and easy to wring out it works well as a bath towel or to dry anything.
+M Messier The small camp towel has become a vital piece of my gear.
Two questions while watching were: How do you deal with Sand Fleas while sleeping in the sand and do you plan for visits by raccoons? I know they are bad at the Sand Point camp area.
+2Ply789 Sand fleas are a pain and they seem to get more active later in the night. I put a t-shirt over my head to keep them from jumping on my face all night. I went back a few weeks later and brought a tent that time. I usually pack all food back into the kayak hatches to keep animals out, but I've never had issues with a raccoon out at those beaches.
Hi Todd, I am seriously thinking about kayak camping out there this summer. Looks like a great adventure. Perhaps I will need to pick your brain before I go. I am from Seattle too. What is the lat long for that Canoe Slide Beach you camped at?
+iviewthetube I don't know the Lat/Long. It's the first sand beach north about 2.5 miles north of Hobuck beach. The tide, wind and swell need to be right to get in through the reefs.
+Todd Switzer OK thanks, I see it on the aerial. I wasn't sure if you went there or south towards Shi Shi.
+iviewthetube Shi Shi is difficult to land at during the summer due to the prevailing SW swell direction during the summer months. The landing at Canoe Slide faces NW and has some protection from reefs. I only go when the swell direction is SW and the wave height is less than 4 feet. If you go when it's really calm you can see how the reefs layout to form entrances to the beaches. Pick a day with perfect conditions.
Hi Todd. I just watched your 9 part series about your 3 week Kayak camping in Alaska. You did look sad to be going home . . Lol! and I really enjoyed the series! I actually wanted to ask you about your kayak choice and opinion. You mentioned that you added 6 layers of fiberglass to the bottom of your kayak for strengthening. This must have added some weight. If the main reason for choosing fiber glass kayak over plastic is weight but plastic is stronger, would it not make sense to just get a plastic Kayak. Im interested in your input to help me choose my own sea kayak. Thanks and I look forward to hearing your response.
+MrJobcon In some situations like impacts the plastic boats might hold up better (i.e. white water boats). Fiberglass can crack when flexed to a breaking point while plastic tends to rip or tear. The big difference is that fiberglass can be repaired to full structural strength with a very simple repair kit in the field while plastic repairs require heating and melting in plastic material into the damaged area to act as a glue. Repairing a plastic kayak will not return the structural strength and it will likely split at the damaged area again. To gain full strength you'd need to fasten a plate over the damaged area (if possible) adding bulk and weight. I've never seen a repair on a plastic kayak last very long once they get a good crack they usually end up in the recycle bin within a few months.
The big move in the past 20 years toward plastic comes from the profit margins companies make from plastic vs fiberglass. Automating the plastic kayak industry allowed these kayaks to be built at production cost of around $350, then retailed for around $1,000. Since you can't automate fiberglass kayak construction production cost remain around %70 of the retail cost. With a 200% markup from production to retail the plastic kayak industry took off and put a lot of fiberglass kayak companies under.
The good news is that if you can do fiberglass work yourself they're are plenty of older fiberglass kayaks for sale cheap that need a few repairs. Fiberglass and Gel Coat repair work can be expensive unless you can do it yourself. However, if you add layers to the hull like I did then re-coat the entire kayak with new gel coat plan on at least 60 hours of work and at least $200 in materials. My overall goal was to have a kayak I enjoyed paddling that would hold up to a lot of abuse but could be repaired in the field. The weight added depends on how much layering you do but plan on at least an additional 7 pounds, mine has been repaired and re-coated many times and I estimate it has added 15 pounds.
what kayak is that I really like it?☺
+bubba fisher That's a 25 year old Necky. I change the color all the time. I'm doing a river camo gel coat on the hull now.
Do you live in Bellingham wa or near Bellingham?
I'm in Seattle
Don't
camp
inside
Tunnel
Island
Cave.