Iron Horse Relay 2013

Iron Horse Relay Highlights 2012 from Island Paddlers on Vimeo.

With spring racing season in full swing and a full summer calendar to look forward to of race weekend getaways, the one we always look forward to the most is almost like our multisport grande finale race of the summer, the Iron Horse Relay.

What started out years ago as Seattle's 100 miles in one day, Mountains to Sound race has evolved in recent years to North Bend's excuse to host an adventure festival with the Iron Horse Relay race leg changing hand off zone and finish line smack dab in the middle of downtown as the ultimate spectator friendly relay race ever!

Nostalgically .3 years ago Jim & I had been training together to do Mountains to Sound and Island Quest adventure races when I hurt my back on a big, ultra paddle training in 2009 and had to have 2 spinal surgeries in a month that basically crippled me for a year....and now after many extra 'peaks & valleys in my training, I'm finally going to be DOING IT!! :)

Backcountry Yodelin

Nestled in the heart of the Central Washington Cascade Mountains

 conveniently accessable for snow-enthusiasts 

just a mile off of highway 2 to the East of Stevens Pass summit,

 lay important pieces of our Pacific Northwest's 
past alpine adventure history.   

Quietly left dormant for decades, 
clues can still be found amongst 

the relics of several old ski lifts left in the

  forested ridge shadows behind the former Yodelin day lodge. 

 Yodelin pioneered as a promising early Cascade ski resort in  

operation with a double chair and rope tow from 1961-1974, 

until a tragic nearby avalanche in 1971 led 
to the eventual closure of the ski area.

Now one can still follow the remnants of Yodelin's old 
cleared ski runs up and down a beautiful ridge, 
winding through scenic snowy alpine diversity. 

Traversing these routes make for great backcountry 
explorations on snow shoes, skis and snow/splitboards.  

The rewarding peaceful panoramic views found 
in the surrounding seas of Cascade mountain 
 peaks and ridges are worth lingering for so be sure to pack a picnic

and refuel in high alpine style

before descending back down 

 

 chasing fresh deep powder tracks or 
following others past packed turns
picking lines through the trees or open meadows...

The endless miles o' smiles possible in this 
winter cross-training workout

will keep you craving
just one more run !!

3rd annual 'Seas to Slopes' Countdown

Seas to Slopes ~ Adventure Sport Countdown 2011 from Island Paddlers on Vimeo.
 Just ONE MONTH to go until we get our epic New Years Eve adventure countdown on!...a much embraced adreline-inducing, endurance-testing holiday tradition we look forward to beginning every December 31st with some of our most hearty Pacific Northwest multisport endurance friends!  We rise well before dawn to start the beginning of the last day of each year giving it our all while embracing the best of the Northwest with a sunrise 7 mile paddle/row & row around a couple of San Juan islands, followed by a 6 ~12 mile singletrack mountain bike ride along Anacortes Forest land trails, before taking a couple hour rest break (aka drive;) to the Cascade mountains to finish the evening shredding it up on the slopes of Stevens Pass Ski Resort in the heart of the Cascade Mountains- counting down the final hours of the year with endless vertical miles of runs on our snowboards & skis.

*Event history- The idea for this mid-winter, multisport tradition came 3 years ago when I was recovering from multiple spinal surgeries. After a very long year of restless rehabbing while missing out on some of my favorite sports, by New Years Eve I had one major training goal in mind- to get back to carving up mountains on my snowboard. So for some extra sweet motivational rewards we upped the ante of the first time I'd be returning to the slopes by combining it with a sunrise paddle- WHALA!- Seas to Slopes Adventure Countdown was born!

For the 2nd year we increased the challenge and fun by adding a third leg of mountain biking and invited friends to join us. 

And for the 3rd annual Seas to Slopes year, just how big, how far will we go?!...(check back in after New Year's, even we don't know!;)

Muddbunnies

Paddle to Patos

One of our most favorite big ass weekend paddling trips that we try to sneak in at least once a year is a 60 mile/ 100km round trip push from Anacortes to tiny Patos island. 

At the very northern most tip of the San Juan archipelago and the end of the USA lies the ultimate remote rugged Salish Seas island of all to retreat upon.

And so with the stars, moon, tides and weather goddesses aligning in rare harmony for these notoriously disharmonious seas, we eagerly set out on one of the nicest weekends of the summer. 

Leaving Anacortes on a Friday evening with strong full moon flood tides to ride we easily made it from mid Guemes Channel to the north end of Cypress island in under two hours.

Paddling 8 miles the first night we rendezvous at Pelican Beach to camp with a fellow pirate paddling friend who has launched from Bellingham.

Rising early Saturday morning *aka 4am!* to catch the last couple of hours of helpful strong flood currents to travel north, 

our efforts are greatly rewarded....

Spoiled with flat calm pre-dawn seas, vibrant sunrise colors and wildlife sightings such as this young buck sleeping on a tiny ledge of a beach on Orcas island.

In near perfect conditions we arrived 20 miles later at Patos island still in the early morning, allowing plenty of time for beach naps and much to our excitement....

...lighthouse tours! 

*Having visited this tiny gem of an isle many times and read all of the rich local history books including the colorful tales in The Light on the Island

going up to the top of the light tower was an extra special treat!

Sunday morning we enjoyed a 28 mile downwind paddle home using strong ebb currents to give us a helpful boost while navigating the Strait of Georgia and into Bellingham Channel.