May 26, 2023 - Khutze Inlet

May 26, 2023

We started out in misty, low visibility, conditions and made our way through Gunboat Passage and into Shearwater to pick up cell signal so that we could take care of e-mail and get weather information. After drifting in the bay for around a half-hour we left Shearwater, passing the Chief’s house, before heading out Seaforth Channel.

Given the low ocean swells, we decided to head cross Milbanke Sound and turn north up Finlayson Channel versus taking the back route. Once in the channel, we took Klemtu Passage, passing Klemtu, and on into Tolme Channel and into Graham Reach. As we passed through Klemtu, we noticed a fishing lodge, several homes, and finally the ferry dock. It appeared to be a simple and clean community with a dock and several fishing boats. Approaching Sarah Passage, we came to Boat Bluff and the substantial light house on this point. Nearing Khutze Inlet we spied a rusting smokestack in Swanson Bay. We could not see much beyond the smokestack and the pilings, and it left us curious as to the history behind this structure and whatever else was hidden in the growth. Entering Khutze Inlet, we found one other boat at anchor, Majestic Lady, which we believe we have seen previously. And further back in the inlet, anchored near the Khutze River was another boat, Surfbird, who we picked up on AIS.

As we anchored along the spit, Lois spotted a black bear grazing in the meadow near the spit. And not far from the bear was a deer, also grazing in the meadow! We settled in for a calm, quiet, night at anchor.

While at anchor, we did find that the Khutze River was giving us a steady 0.6 kts of outflow current keeping us pointed upstream in calm wind conditions. This gave us a lovely view from the cockpit of the mountain range to the west as we had our breakfast.