We continued our short hops up Behm Canal in Misty Fiords National Monument while staying at US Forest Service buoys. Today’s destination was Walker Cove, one fiord north of the Rudyerd Bay/Punchbowl Cove.
Anchoring within the fiords is difficult because the sides are very steep. About the only places where depths are convenient for anchoring (30 to 80 feet) are near the outlets of streams. Unfortunately those areas are often too shallow, drying at low tide, and then dropping quickly to depths too deep.
Before we left Ketchikan, we stopped by the USFS office and got information on the buoys. The person with whom we spoke said the buoys had all been replaced last year and would be ample for a boat our size. We do set our anchor watch alarm to warn us in case the buoy lets us drift too far.
Our buoy snagging technique must be improving as we got the Walker Cove buoy on our first attempt. We were engine off and moored before 11 AM.
Shortly after we arrive, the rain begins to fall. The kayaks stay in their cradle on top of the boat. Marcia takes this time as an opportunity to get her fishing gear ready for later use. Low tide is in the evening and we see a grizzly bear come down to the sedge grass growing along the shore to graze.
Walker Cove is a stunning setting equal to that of Punchbowl Cove. As we watch the low level clouds drift through the trees on the slopes and pour over the ridges we have a clear understanding why the area is called Misty Fiords. The area is a real treasure.
Today’s mileage – 19.0
Current mileage – 865.1
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