Baranof Hot Springs

June 1, 2010

It finally rained! Light rain overnight and then heavier rain as we pulled up the anchor and set a course for Warm Springs Bay and Baranof Hot Springs. The rain stopped within 30 minutes and it is calm and partly sunny once again as we head down Stephens Passage, around the south end of Admiralty Island and across Chatham Strait to our destination. We begin sighting whales and one actually got within photo range, however we could use a more powerful zoom lens.

Marine traffic is very light, a few fishing vessels, and one cruise ship heading south to Victoria via Chatham Strait. As we approach Frederick Sound, both the wind and swell increase, with the swell right on our beam most of the way to Point Gardner, at the south tip of Admiralty Island. From that point it is just a short six mile run into Warm Springs Bay (Baranof Hot Springs) on Baranof Island.

There is room at the public dock for us as we tie up in a significant current coming from the falls at the head of the bay, just a few hundred yards from the dock. The falls are really impressive, with more water than we have seen in the past. Two boats we had seen twice before, "DX" and "To Polo" were there. Both boats had already been to Tracy Arm and were slowly working their way to Juneau.

We all quickly changed into bathing suits and headed up to the upper hot springs. The mosquitoes were out in force, and this early in the season the pools at the top were still pretty slimy from lack of use, however they were just as hot as always. We quickly tried them anyway and then headed back to the boat for a dinner of leftovers as we watched "Chopped" on the Food Channel. The tubs in the public bath house were not as warm, and one of the three tubs had rusted out on the bottom, but they were clean and ready for use.

Our log now reads 1343 nautical miles.

Photos when we get to Sitka.