Any sea kayakers here? Extending backpacking to the sea

I’ve paddled a lot of southcentral Alaska (Kodiak Archipelago, Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound) over the past 30 years. Here’s an example:

More recently I have been using packrafts since they allow you to carry your boat with you:

The nice thing about sea kayaks is their ability to haul significant loads. Getting 2+ weeks of food and gear into a boat is very doable.

Another sea kayaker here. You’re right Ethan about kayaking opening up a whole new world. Just like backpacking, it’s easy to get started, but you can go as deep as you’d like into the various kayaking skills and disciplines, such as Greenland rolling, surf kayaking, whitewater and current skills, trip leading, expedition kayaking, etc. It’s a very good complement to backpacking and hiking in that way.

Our most memorable trips were extended ones out on the Olympic Coast, or along the West and Northern shores of Vancouver Island, including the Broken Group of islands, and especially Gods Pocket near Port Hardy.

We used to paddle in Puget Sound a couple times per week, until we moved away from Washington state in 2020. Now it’s gentle rivers and mountain lakes, which are enjoyable too.

For camping from a kayak, just take your backpacking gear and throw it in dry bags instead of a backpack, bring a shade and rain fly and a big haul bag (like an Ikea bag) to carry gear from your boat to your campsite and you’re good to go.

@Philip I can’t believe I forgot to mention you in BPL kayakers above. I’ve been enjoying your films for years and scrutinize boats you’ve used for different trips. You’re in a sea kayaking paradise. I’m also starting to learn more about packrafting as a means of extending backpacking. Giving up the speed, maneuverability and stability of a sea kayak for a packraft is going to take some getting used to. It’s crazy how much distance you can cover in a kayak with good technique.

@Lester I paddle with both a Euro blade and traditional Greenland Paddle and rolling opens up a lot more trips. PNW has beautiful paddling, but you’re right, where there’s water and nice scenery, there are nice trips to be done.

Etan: I’d love to kayak with you and your partner around Santa Rosa (Channel) Island or maybe do the Northwest Passage. If you ever visit the west coast again :-(

It’s a natural for a backpacker. And it’s easy to carry some extra comfort items. I have canoe-camped a lot of rivers for years. More recently I did a trip around Isla Espirito Santo in the sea of Cortez of Baja and was blown away by how beautiful it was. It seems like the ideal way to explore areas near shore.

Hey Ethan, sorry for the typo.

@Philip those videos and the others on Vimeo are great! I can appreciate the work that goes into filming yourself when solo adventuring.

I would average 33 miles per day on big trips in my sea kayak. I can make 15 miles per day on the ocean in my packraft, so it cuts my progress in half, and I am far more affected by wind, tidal current and sea state. Sea kayaks are literally designed the way they are to make them efficient in adverse conditions. Packrafts are literally designed the way they are to be lightweight and pack tiny. Those are completely different and intentional goals, but those disparate design philosophies allow you to create completely different trips. Long ago I circumnavigated Kodiak by sea kayak, so I’ve paddled the entire length of the island in both directions. I’ve also hiked the entire length of the Kodiak Island. Plus I’ve hiked+packrafted  the entire length of the island. Each experience was quite different and I wouldn’t put one above the other. As I get older, I might migrate back to see kayaking though because it’s more like car camping, lol.

PS thanks, Bob

Phillip – I very much agree with your choice of sea kayak paddle :). Once you paddle a bent shaft Kalliste, nothing else will do.

Also, re: the videos you posted…were those solo trips?

Phillip – I very much agree with your choice of sea kayak paddle :). Once you paddle a bent shaft Kalliste, nothing else will do.

Except for my carbon, bent-shaft Werner Cyprus.   :-)

They are the Cyprus models. Yes, the Werner carbon bent shafts are excellent.

Many of my trips are solo, especially the hard ones. I have done a some with friends, but since I often do things sort of spur of the moment when a weather window presents itself, or I am doing a trip that not many other people would enjoy, I just head out alone. vimeo.com/kodiakak/videos

I would feel a bit uneasy kayaking solo.

I’ve canoed before, on lakes.  It’s nice how you can carry a lot of weight.  Like all the drinking water (or beer) you’d need.  Weeks worth of food.

Werner!  Best paddle available :)

Pretty ballsy heading that far out solo.  Massive kudos. You must have a great deal of experience in that environment.

Yeah, I’ve paddled thousands of solo miles here in AK. I’ve been around Afognak Island twice (210 miles each), around Kodiak Island (450 miles), Kodiak to Homer twice (210 miles each), Homer to Seward around the Kenai Peninsula (300 miles), a lap through Prince William Sound (330 miles), and lots and lots of shorter trips. It’s a cool way to see a place, and southcentral AK offers some of the most remote, beautiful, and wild paddling in the world.