An Inside Passage FAQ...and some tooting of our own horns...

Mike and I finished up our last day of work at Orkila on Friday, and are getting ready to start our big adventure on the 17th! The fact that we're leaving jobs that we love in a place that we love with people that we love hasn't quite set in yet, and neither has the fact that we're actually going to go on this trip that's been tumbling around in our heads for over a year. We're super grateful to have so much support from friends and family for this crazy adventure, and we hope to keep updating you along the way!

We've spent our free moments of the last couple months packing, researching, organizing, tweaking our boats, buying food, sorting food, packing food, waterproofing charts, and getting buried under a mountain of gear and supply boxes that has been taking over our room. We also managed to squeeze in a little bit of actual kayaking (not as much as I had hoped for) with some skills sessions at the lake and an overnight trip to Sucia Island. Our gear has been (mostly) tested, and I think we're just about as ready as we can be! Weird.

waterproofed charts drying in the marine center

granola town


resupply boxes

boats packed to head to Sucia Island

Lots of people have been asking questions about the details, and here are some answers:

1) When are you leaving/where are you going/how are you getting there?
On Friday, June 17th, we'll be taking a ferry from Bellingham, WA to Juneau. It'll be like a mini cruise! We store our kayaks down with the cars and camp on the deck/in the solarium. We'll get to Juneau early Monday, then hop on another ferry to Gustavus, AK, then take a taxi to Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park. We'll paddle up to Muir Glacier, then start heading south. Down the Inside Passage. Back to Orcas Island (or Bellingham or Port Townsend).


2) How long does that take?
Three-ish months. We hope to be back in late September.


3) What will you do about food?
We'll be stopping in towns every 10-13 days or so to buy groceries/do laundry/take a shower/sleep in a bed/etc. We're also sending ourselves re-supply boxes of things we want but might not always be able to find in grocery stores. Like quinoa. And dehydrated potato beads. People have wondered about fishing along the way, and I don't think that's going to happen an awful lot. We haven't really looked into permits or gear, and don't really want to attract bears with fishy goodness. This could change, but no fishing for now.


4) What about bears?
Here are the facts: a) The Inside Passage has bears up the wazoo. b) I am afraid of bears. c) I am also afraid of guns. d) We have bear spray, extra SOLAS flares specifically for bears, a bear hang system, and two half-size bear canisters. e) That should just about do it...plus safe/clean camping practices and all that jazz.


5) What if there's an emergency?
In addition to all of the standard kayaking safety items (flares, horn, signal mirror, beacon, VHF, paddle float, tow belt, etc.), we also have a personal locator beacon that will signal our location in an emergency, as well as a Spot GPS messenger, which will do the same thing plus send out check-in messages along the way. Our PFDs also have little emergency "backpacks" which have survival essentials incase we somehow got separated from our boats. Perhaps most importantly, we're taking along a healthy supply of humility and caution, as well as a very conservative approach to calculated risk taking.


6) Where will you be stopping/can I send you things?
Here's a list of towns where we plan to pick up mail and approximately when we plan to be there. If you want to send something, we would love it! But don't feel like you have to...Everything should be sent parcel post to the US, and priority mail to Canada. Allow up to two weeks for delivery and address like this:

Mike Mills and Kelly Vogel
General Delivery
(Fill in address as below)

July 4th:
Juneau, AK 99801-1807

July 16th:
Wrangell, AK 99929

July 26th:
Ketchikan, AK 99901-9998

August 5th:
Prince Rupert, BC V8J3P3
Canada

August 18th:
Denny Island, BC V0T 1B0,
Canada

August 31st:
C/O Telegraph Cove Resort
Box 1 or #5 Telegraph Cove Rd.
Telegraph Cove, British
Columbia, V0N 3J0, Canada

September 11th:
Powell River, BC V8A 5K9,
Canada

And then back around September 20th!