I'm planning to travel over Snoqualmie Pass to Spokane April 26 and coming back over on April 29. Do you think that is a good time to travel over the pass or should I wait? I need to make hotel reservations soon and I haven't traveled over the pass this time of year before. Thanks for the tips before hand.
Several reasons. The first being that a SOT is ALWAYS a wet ride. There is no way to keep wave splash and paddle drip from washing over you, so a wet suit or preferably dry suit is mandatory in the conditions you state. With a SINK (sit inside kayak) your lower body is sealed inside the hull with a spray skirt. Some of us also use a sea sock, which is a waterproofed nylon sack that slips over the cockpit coaming , sort of like a short bivy sack, that encloses your body from waist to feet and provides additional warmth and prevents water seeping around the sprayskirt from swamping the hull. And SOT kayaks tend to be wider and slower than SINK's, which makes them less maneuverable in the sort of conditions of waves and wind that you would tend to encounter on Superior. The narrower vee-shaped hulls of sea kayaks handle lumpy water much better than a barge-like SOT. SOT's have their place they are great for warm coastal waters and fishing or as dive platforms. But in cold open waters with waves and wind, SINKs are the norm for good reason. All that said, I would also not choose a Tsunami 140 for Superior. The boat is too short and I find Tsunami's to be kind of slow. Still would pick it over a Tarpon (which is a warm water fishing kayak), but my preference would be a 15' to 18' sea kayak. Of the 5 kayaks I own at the moment, I would take the Necky Looksha or 18' replica Greenland skin-on-frame hunting kayak if I was going to tackle Superior.
because it adds to the panic. you know, you have to break the glass before you could get the extinguisher and put the goddamn fire out. it pumps the adrenaline, dude.
