Flamingo to East Cape

[vivian]

I have not been on this route for a few years.  Is it possible to stay very close to the shoreline at high tide phase all the way there?  Next weeks weather looks a bit windy and I wanted to see if we can hug the shoreline to East Cape.

[Terry]

You know what I'll say -

the inside route is the only way to go.

[vivian]

Terry, we will be returning into the backcountry via the nightmare and running the old camp routes back to hells bay trail.

[Kim Gass]

Last passage two years ago. No. The problem is there are mud flats in odd places both close to shore and a little off that could make lots of breaking waves. I have had the distinct unpleasure of getting out and dragging.  But I was not in high winds.   

[Terry]

For East Cape, I mean the inside route of Bear Lake Trail and out East Cape Canal or

follow Homestead Canal to the middle of Lake Ingraham.   When you leave Cape Sable

go in the inlet between Middle and Northwest Cape and take Little Sable Creek.

[vivian]

I thought that trail was not open all the way through to the East Cape Canal?  How difficult would it be to portage all the gear across that new dam?  We have 10 days worth of gear/food/water

Kim thanks, I kinda figured it would be as you described.

[Adrian Valella]

I just did the Cape Sable loop on Dec 14th through the 18th. We did this route on the last day. the wind was coming out of the east so we stayed as close to shore as possible. we left east cape right at low tide and we had no problems staying close to shore except in some small spots we just went around. zero waves even with pretty high winds. lots of blacktip sharks!! very fun paddle i thought.

[Gary M]

Vivian,

As far as I know, the inside route is not passable. If anyone knows different please do tell!

The plug(s) are much larger than they used to be, but are less than 100 feet wide. They are very well done with nice docking on each side and planted with shrubs to help keep them stable, but there is a very easily walked path through the plants. Portaging would be little more than unloading and reloading.

Outside, except nearshore between Bradley and Curry on the bottom of the tide, I do not think you will have any problem. Once you pass the Clubhouse beaches outside the ditches will be where it might get skinny.

vivian said:

I thought that trail was not open all the way through to the East Cape Canal?  How difficult would it be to portage all the gear across that new dam?  We have 10 days worth of gear/food/water

Kim thanks, I kinda figured it would be as you described.

[vivian]

Thanks Gary and Adrian for the intel. We will have a morning outgoing so water will be high but winds are forecast 20-25 NE on Wednesday. This of course might change. I am worried with that high of a wind speed and full load of gear, might be better starting at hells bay instead.

[Jay]

Vivian - a few years ago I went out to East Cape with a howling NNE wind.  It was blowing so hard they were not going to permit me.  I told them that I was going to hug the all the way out to the cape.  It was a rising tide on the way out and I had no trouble at all.

With that said - that said - that evening the front came through and the wind shifted to NW30-35 and blew a tremendous amount of water into the bay. Although I was camping just east of where the beach turns NW and the water was smooth, the water rose to within inches of my tent.

Jay

[vivian]

It's the 327lbs of "stuff" in my canoe that is worrying me about getting stuck in low water conditions.   I guess if it gets bad I can pull into Clubhouse and then head up to NW Cape on Thursday. From what I read, the consensus is that I will have enough water on a falling tide to get there without problems. 

Jay, were you in your canoe when you did that East Cape run?

[Jay]

A couple of times in my Kayak and once in my Canoe.

[Kim Gass]

Clubhouse has the most miserable boot sucking landing I have ever made. I hope more water than usual does not get pushed out.  I have landed there twice and IIRC it was high tide.  There was one side that was better but I don't remember which.  At the least you can get out if you have boots that stay on.