The Matelót Kayak Club is a Tacoma-area group of paddlers that are active throughout western Washington. Paddle trips, clinics and recreational paddling opportunities contribute to a dynamic club environment, where our only limitations are things we haven't tried yet. Membership is $12/year and open to kayakers, canoeists and standup paddleboarders who are looking for more time on the water.

Monday, February 1, 2010

A Perfect winter paddle


The Anderson Island trip went off without a hitch. The paddling conditions were perfect, the temperatures were pleasant. There were five of us that made the trip, leaving from Steilacoom at noon on Saturday. We stopped at Eagle Island on the way out, just to stretch our legs, then made our way down Balch Passage to Anderson Park.

The tide was still on the way in and it got high enough that the spit where we would normally have camped was almost submerged. The tide height for the following morning was going to be even higher, so we made the decision to camp up the hill to the east. We set up the tarp down at the base of the spit for a kitchen area and collected wood for a fire.

A brief word about the food. Rich Hahn did the cooking, dutch oven heaven for the rest of us. The evening meal was a spicy tri-tip roast and the breakfast was a scramble with hash browns, egg, sausage and mushrooms. Waaay better than what I would have made for myself... thanks Rich!

The conditions on day 2 were even better than they had been the day before. Not a drop of rain, warm breezes and calm water. We didn't get on the water until just after 10am, but the current gave us a boost and we got to the beach on Ketron Island by about 11:45. From there back to the launch ramp went quickly... done at 12:20pm.

A great trip... hard to believe it was January. I hope everybody who couldn't make it on this trip got out on the water somewhere. See you next time.

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