Cape Edgecumbe

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sun 3 May 2015 22:57
Noon Position: 57 02.5 N 136 12.8 W
Course: South East. Speed: 3 knots
Wind: North West, F2 gentle air
Sea slight, Swell South West 1 metres
Weather: sunny, mild
Day's run: 67 nm

Light winds and clear skies continue to dominate our days. Consequently progress similarly continues slow, but we are making progress nonetheless. Despite drifting for several hours, and having nothing stronger than about ten knots of breeze for the last 24 hours, we have managed to post a day's run of 67 nm, with which I am well satisfied.

Currently we are running square, wing on wing, past Cape Edgecumbe. Behind the Cape lies a mountain of the same name, an extinct volcano. One of my guides tells me that the volcano used to be three times its current size, and that back on the first of April, 1974 heavy black smoke was seen coming from the crater, though the guide goes on to suggest that the cause of the smoke was probably related to the activity in the Pioneer Bar, rather than any activity in the crater. Very droll.

The coast line is still mountainous, but nowhere near as high and rugged as a hundred or so miles north of here. I was particularly impressed with the terrain in the vicinity of Cross Sound which we left behind yesterday. The mountains, completely covered in snow down to their bases, many with glaciers sliding down their flanks, rose to heights of over 10,000 feet, with Mount Fairweather the highest at, according to my chart, 15,320 feet. It is a shame I do not have the opportunity to explore the region but must make tracks for Canada. Maybe next summer. Meanwhile, as we descend into slightly lower latitudes, the amount of snow cover is rapidly diminishing. Indeed it feels noticeably warmer and RC and I have spent much of the morning sitting in the cockpit soaking in some of the sunshine. It has been quite a while since we have been able to do that.

All is well.