Channel Islands Exploration
   Oxnard, California
(Sea Kayaking - 80 Miles - Class IV)
Oct. 22 - 31, 1998

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Adventure paddling down in the Golden State. The channel Islands are part of the Channel Islands National park located in S. California off the coast of Oxnard.  The islands offer probably the best playground for kayakers along the entire West Coast of the US.  These rugged islands abound in marine birds, mammals, coves, and countless caves for exploration under the right conditions.  After meeting in the park headquarters at Pt. Hueneme, we will then catch a commercial boat to hall us out to the start of our trip at San Miguel Island.  Then, onto the others islands of Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa, camping at national park sites on each island.  The open ocean conditions of this trip along with large crossings and unlimited cave exploration will make this a trip to remember. 

Requirements:  This is a Class IV trip, requiring individuals capable of paddling in open ocean conditions with distances between 10 and 20 miles per day. Though we expect calm conditions, you must be prepared to handle high winds, large seas, and possible surf landing conditions.  A boat capable of carrying 1 weeks supply of food and water is required.

Costs: Beyond your transportation costs to S. California and camping food, you will need to pay approximately $150 for round trip boat transportation to the islands.

Sign-Up Procedure:  Receiving information from us does not get you signed up. You must ask or tell us that you are officially signing up.  We will then notify you of your acceptance on the trip or in rare cases, non-acceptance.

                                                                            More Details

Information:  The following sites will give you a wealth of information. 
     Channel Islands National Park  (Camps)            Island Packers Inc.  (Boat Transport)             
     1901 Spinnaker Dr.                                             1867 Spinaker Dr.
     Ventura, CA 93001                                              Ventura, CA 93001
     Phone: 805-658-5730                                          Phone: 805-642-1393
     Web Site: www.nps.gov/chis                                Web Site:  www.isle.net/~ipco

Permits & Reservations: We need to get camping permits from the park headquarters as well as reserving a spot on the boat going out to the islands as well as coming back.  I'll make the reservations once you sign on with us, but I recommend that you contact each of these agencies to obtain background information.

Maps:  Get a hold of the free map and brochure #GPO:1996-404-952/40062 from the park headquarters for a good over-all map.  Any additional maps and charts we can pick up at the headquarters when we start the trip.

Itinerary


(Channel Islands Kayak Trip - Continued)

  • Oct. 15 (Thurs.)  -  Assemble at McGrath State Beach Campground.  We'll meet at this campsite located just a few miles south of Channel Islands National Park at 12 noon which should give us time to iron out last minute details, visit the park headquarters, etc. Book your campsite in advance or share one with us.  800-444-PARK.
  • Oct. 16 (Fri.) -  Park Headquarters to San Miguel Island.  We'll catch the boat from park headquarters early in the morning.  Boats must be empty and water containers can be no more than 3 gallons in size. We'll be landing at Cuyler Harbor. You must also have a bow line for towing.
  • Oct. 17 (Sat.) -  Rest Day. For either relaxing or exploring.
  • Oct. 18 (Sun.) - San Miguel Is.  To Santa Rosa Island.  Our first open water crossing and into our camp at Bechers Bay.
  • Oct. 19 (Mon.) - Rest Day. For either relaxing or exploring.
  • Oct. 20 (Tues.) - San Miguel Is. To Santa Cruz Island.  This will be the major crossing of our trip, approximately 10 miles. Our campsite here is unknown. It is very unlikely that we will be able to make it in one day to Scorpion Ranch so we'll just have to crash on an unknown beach somewhere.
  • Oct. 21 (Wed.) - Scorpion Anchorage. We'll be coming up the north side of the island to the walk-in campsite at Scorpion Ranch.
  • Oct. 22 (Thurs.) - Rest Day.  For either relaxing or exploring.
  • Oct. 23 (Fri.)  -  Anacapa Island Crossing.  If the conditions are right, we'll make the crossing to Anacapa and it's even more exciting dock on the north end of the island.  We will have to prepare slings in advance for the precarious haul out onto the elevated landing.  Then a 1/2 mile haul of equipment to our campsite beyond the light house complex.
  • Oct. 24 (Sat.) - Return to Port Hueneme.  We'll meet the boat in early afternoon for a return to civilization.

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Wayne Martin

Moses Lake, WA 98851
Phone: 1-509-393-3714
E-mail: nomints85@yahoo.com
Web Site:  http://www.nomints.com

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