{"id":107285,"date":"2025-08-08T16:57:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T16:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorersweb.com\/?p=107285"},"modified":"2025-08-08T16:57:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T16:57:20","slug":"kayaking-the-inside-passage-2200km-from-canada-to-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorersweb.com\/kayaking-the-inside-passage-2200km-from-canada-to-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayaking the Inside Passage: 2,200km from Canada to Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last month, Pascal Smyth completed a 2,202km kayak journey from Canada to Alaska. Smyth, 35, set off from Vancouver on May 1 and reached the coastal city of Skagway on July 18. The wilderness journey took 72 days, including 15 days on shore, either resting or windbound. That averages 38km a day when on the water.<\/p>\n

Smyth’s route followed the Inside Passage, a network of largely protected waterways stretching up the Pacific Northwest coast. \u201cThe Inside Passage is, by its very nature, quite a sheltered route,\u201d Smyth explained. \u201cThere are some areas where exposure to the might of the Pacific is unavoidable.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the British Columbia resident, this initially meant navigating from the calm waters behind Vancouver Island to the open coast around Cape Caution, which left him vulnerable to the Pacific. Yet, once past this exposure, he regained some protection from the open ocean.<\/p>\n

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One of the idyllic beach landings en route. Photo: Pascal Smyth<\/p><\/div>\n

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While he had a background in hiking and camping, Smyth\u2019s kayaking experience was more limited. He started paddling in 2018 and quickly immersed himself in the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dove into paddling pretty intensely, becoming a Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC certified guide at the start of COVID, and have since gotten my Paddle Canada Level 3 certification,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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The Inside Passage. Image: Wikipedia<\/p><\/div>\n

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Harnessing the wind<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The unpredictable weather was one of the main challenges. For much of his journey, he was fortunate to encounter sunny days and favorable southeast winds. To take full advantage of these conditions, he brought along a Falcon Sail, a lightweight rig that stows easily when not in use. \u201cI was able to use it often, which was a great help on longer days,\u201d he said. Still, some stretches were more demanding than others.<\/p>\n

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The sail. Photo: Pascal Smyth<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI had to wait a few days of bad wind just out of Port Hardy before racing across Queen Charlotte Strait,\u201d he recalled. \u201cOnce I reached Burnett Bay, I spent a few more days waiting for the next weather window. While on the beach at Burnett Bay, I got to enjoy the sight of a gale bringing huge swells crashing upon the beach. I was happy to look at those big waves from the safety of shore, and was appreciative that my landing and launch were both in waves of one meter or less.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Burnett Bay: an easy place to be windbound. Photo: Jerry Kobalenko<\/p><\/div>\n

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Even when he wasn\u2019t paddling, Smyth was immersed in the beauty of the coast. \u201cSoutheast Alaska, particularly Glacier Bay, was absolutely gorgeous,\u201d he said. \u201cPaddling through icebergs to look at glaciers, all the while hearing the sounds of humpbacks feeding all around, is a pretty unique experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smyth also encountered a pod of orcas on the central coast.<\/p>\n

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Glacier Bay, Alaska. Photo: Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

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A journey through history<\/strong><\/h2>\n

But the landscape was only one part of the experience. The coast is steeped in a rich history, from Tlingit petroglyphs etched into the stones near Wrangell to remnants of old industrial sites along the British Columbia coast.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite, though, has to be the cabin at Burnett Bay, which was constructed from driftwood by a paddler many decades ago,\u201d Smyth reflected. \u201cIt\u2019s been maintained by visitors throughout the year, and flipping through the logbooks revealed many familiar names.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Smyth continued his journey, the history of the land continued to unfold. One particularly memorable moment occurred on Admiralty Island, known for its high population of brown bears.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day, I saw a huge male grizzly, then two separate groups of mothers with two cubs each. All within about an hour of getting to camp,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

To feel safe with wildlife nearby, Smyth set up a portable electric fence. \u201cYou can be sure I used it that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

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One of the bears Smyth spotted. Photo: Pascal Smyth<\/p><\/div>\n

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The planning behind the paddle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Smyth\u2019s journey was years in the planning. He modified his kayak with the Falcon Sail and installed waterproof deck-mounted solar panels to ensure he had power during the long stretches between resupplies. He also dehydrated all of his meals ahead of time, shipping them to post offices along his route for later pick-up.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n