Hope Island at Extreme Low Tide, L2, 6-15-22

This trip is limited to members with a wet exit certification (except for level 1 trips when the paddler is not using a spray skirt....if the paddler is wearing a spray skirt on a level 1 paddle, the Wet Exit Certification is REQUIRED).  To successfully register you will need to sign into your OOPS member account, and your account will need to be a member of the "Wet Exit Certified" group if you intend to wear a spray skirt.  Your acceptance is conditional on approval by the Organizer, who may contact you with questions about your skills and equipment.  If the measured water temperature is different enough from that listed below to warrant a change in required immersion protection, the Organizer will contact all participants and the Trips Board member with the update at least a day before the trip.

Full Name: Chris Mayou
Activity Title: Hope Island at Extreme Low Tide, L2, 6-15-22
Date of Activity: 6/15/2022
Narrative: Join me for a daytrip to Hope Island, near Olympia, WA, on Wednesday, June 15th. Hope Island Marine State Park is a 132-acre marine camping park on Puget Sound near Squaxin Island. This island is only accessible by boat and is blanketed by forest and saltwater marshes. Hope Island also has a meadow with apple trees, campsites, and a trail system. Plus deer, and--you guessed it--raccoons! Fresh water is not available, but vault toilets are provided. An extreme low tide of -4.67 ft. at 1:14 p.m. will expose a reef east of the island which is reported to provide amazing marine life viewing.

We’ll launch from Arcadia Point Boat Ramp. It should be free to park and use the ramp. Please be water-ready by 10:30 a.m. We’ll paddle over to Hope Island, exploring the shorelines and the reef on the east of side of Hope Island as well as nearby Streamboat Island. We’ll have a lunch break on Hope Island, perhaps allowing time for a short hike around the island, but maybe the water beckons more! While paddling, we’ll have a mix of current assist, paddling at near slack, and working against some mild current. Many shellfish companies use the Arcadia Point Boat Ramp, which is owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe at all times of the day or night. We’ll stay clear of the boat ramp, or use a very narrow section on the side of it.

Here is a DeepZoom visual of an approximate route, showing the changing current speed while we’re there: https://www.deepzoom.com/trip/w59bvsbk

Hope Island info: https://parks.state.wa.us/517/Hope-Island---Mason
If conditions are not conducive to both paddling and driving (Portlanders will have a minimum two-hour drive each way), this trip will be either cancelled or relocated to somewhere closer to the Portland metro area.

Meeting Time: 9:45:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Arcadia Point Boat Ramp
Take out: Arcadia Point Boat Ramp
Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD, but likely Portland metro area
Required equipment: Towline
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Chris Mayou
Assistant Organizer(s):
Has organizer paddled here before? Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? No
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
First Aid /CPR Person:
Maximum number of paddlers: 6
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 60-65
Estimated Water Temperature: 50
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 5 hours
Tide times & heights: 9446666 Arcadia, Totten Inlet, WA
Date Day of the Week Time (LST/LDT) Predicted (ft) High/Low
2022/06/15 Wed 05:36 AM 14.67 H
2022/06/15 Wed 1:14 PM -4.54 L
2022/06/15 Wed 8:38 PM 15.84 H

Current information: Totten Inlet Entrance (PUG1544) Depth: 14 feet
2022-06-15 09:42 AM ebb -1.38
2022-06-15 01:30 PM slack -
2022-06-15 04:24 PM flood 2.18
Squaxin Passage, North of Hunter Point (PUG1543) Depth: 5 feet
2022-06-15 09:00 AM ebb -1.82
2022-06-15 01:06 PM slack -
2022-06-15 04:00 PM flood 1.99

Hazards:
Wind strength: Level 1: 0-7 knots (8 mph)
Swell/Surf size: Level 1: Under 1' waves, no breaking waves
Sea state: Level 1: Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled, no whitecaps
Landing types: Level 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
Currents: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 2: Less than 1 mile
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments:
Location (Optional): 9450-9498 SE Lynch Rd, Shelton, WA 98584
Photos (Optional):
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
This should be a very conservative approach to returning to the launch site.  I allowed an hour to paddle approximately 0.75 miles up-current along the shoreline and 0.6 miles down-current while we cross.