THURSDAY, AUGUST 17TH - MONDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2023
SAN JUAN ISLAND, WASHINGTON
TOTAL COST: $1,400 | DEPOSIT AMOUNT: $350 (THIS IS NON-REFUNDABLE)
Plan to arrive before 12 P.M. PT, on Thursday, and departing in the morning, before 12 P.M. PT, on Monday.
TRIP DETAILS + INFORMATION
This kayaking adventure allows kayakers the opportunity to paddle through prime orca whale habitat to the picturesque Stuart Island - an island off of Washington state that is only accessible by boat. Paddlers will travel through waters inhabited by migrating salmon with views of the Canadian Gulf Islands and the Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges. Ten women will make lifelong memories on the water during this trip to the Pacific Northwest. Plan to land in Seattle, Washington before 12 P.M. PT on Thursday to allow the group time to travel together to the Anacortes ferry and take the ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. This does not include the price of a rental vehicle or fuel which you will be required to split between the other women on this trip. As a group, we will enjoy dinner on the island our first evening and share lodging accommodations before our adventure begins the following morning.
ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY OUR GUIDES AT OUTDOOR ODYSSEYS!
On Friday morning, we will meet our guide(s) at Friday Harbor, where the company’s van will take the group to the launch site. Here, we’ll pack our gear onto the kayaks, get oriented with our boats, learn paddling techniques, and have a safety orientation. Once everyone feels comfortable to get on the water, we’ll paddle north along the rocky, tidally rich coastlines of San Juan and Henry Islands. After a day of scenic views and wildlife viewing opportunities, we’ll set up waterfront campsites and enjoy a three course dinner at Reid Harbor.
Saturday, we'll do "le grand" circumnavigation around Stuart Island, passing by numerous uninhabited islands in the Boundary Pass and John’s Pass and staying in prime whale watching habitat. We'll kayak beneath the cliffs of the Stuart Island fog and light station and look out to Mount Baker all while sharing the coastline with resting harbor seals and nesting bald eagles. Match your exploration on water, with a hike in the afternoon to the Stuart Island one room schoolhouse and light station or relax at camp while your guide prepares another gourmet meal. We’ll once again conclude the evening by the campfire and under the light of the stars, or see the “stars in the water” on a guided bioluminescence kayak tour.
ALL MEALS DURING YOUR TIME KAYAKING + CAMPING WILL BE PROVIDED
Our third day on the water will start with a hearty breakfast before we pack up camp and revisit the waters of the Speiden Channel and Haro Strait, maximizing our time in prime whale territory and increasing our chances of seeing the J, K, and L pods of the endangered orca population. We’ll dine on one last artfully prepared lunch before completing our paddle and landing back on the west side of San Juan Island. Our guides will have us back to Friday Harbor between 3-4 P.M. to meet the Washington State ferry. Once back on the mainland, our group will travel back to Seattle, where we will stay as a group at an Airbnb near the airport before departing anytime on Monday.
Because we’ll be paddling our gear around for three days, aim to pack light layers that are quick drying! Outdoor Odysseys will take care of all kayaking and paddling gear, as well as food and cooking gear. They will also supply two-person tents, a sleeping bag and pad for each camper, and dry bags for your personal belongings. A more detailed packing list will be provided to trip registrars.
LICENSING + REGULATIONS
No licensing is required for this trip, as our guides will be handling the permits for us.
TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS + MISC. DETAILS
The night before and after our kayaking adventure, our group will share an Airbnb. Keep in mind that you will likely be sharing a room or a bed with your other trip attendees – please be prepared for that! While kayaking, we will be camping in two-person tents with sleeping bags and pads provided.
This trip will include three full days of guided kayaking in the waters surrounding San Juan Island, two nights of lodging, two nights of camping, and most meals. This does not include a tip to your guides or price of a rental vehicle/fuel which you will be required to split between the other women on this trip. You should budget $100 for a cash tip to your guide, $100 for your portion of a rental vehicle/fuel split between all attendees.
PHOTO BY OUTDOOR ODYSSEYS
AIRPORTS + TRAVEL INFORMATION
The most convenient airport to San Juan Island is Seattle (SEA), which is 96 miles from the ferry. We will all aim to arrive in Seattle by early afternoon on Thursday, which will allow us time to drive to the ferry and take the ferry to San Juan Island the night before our kayaking adventure begins. The individual ferry tickets to and from the island have been included in the cost of this trip.
The cost of this trip does not include the price of a rental vehicle or fuel which you will be required to split between the other women on this trip. Budget around $100 for your portion of a rental vehicle/fuel split between all attendees.
DEPOSIT + PAYMENT INFORMATION
We are able to offer this trip at $1,400 per person which will include a non-refundable deposit of $350 and three additional payments of $350 due every other month!
NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT DUE AT REGISTRATION: $350 (04/07/2023)
PAYMENT #1 OF 3 $350 DUE MAY 1
PAYMENT #2 OF 3 $350 DUE JUNE 1
PAYMENT #3 OF 3 $350 DUE JULY 1
MEET THE COORDINATOR
Sam was raised in a pheasant-hunting family in Wisconsin. After high school, she headed west to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the pursuit of big mountain adventure and big game!! These days, she’s hiking to hunt elk, mule deer, and antelope, with the dream of someday drawing a moose tag. Even outside of hunting season, she’s still on the hunt: for shed antlers, for the next mountain to climb, and for the most technical backcountry snowmobile lines.
This trip has been on Sam’s bucket list for quite a while, and she looks forward to sharing the experience with Her Wilderness members! Given the intimate group size, this trip is likely to fill up fast, so don’t hesitate to register. Please feel free to email questions@herwilderness.co with any questions about this trip!
*BY REGISTERING FOR THIS TRIP, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
*Once registered, you will be emailed a link to join a Facebook group for the respective trip. There you can discuss packing lists, travel plans, and more. Please be sure you accept the invitation to be in this group.