Charles and Margo Wood - Charlie\'s Charts North to Alaska

190

TUXEKAN NARROWS TO SAN CHRISTOVAL BAY

This "inside passage" through the waters south of El Capitan Passage

continues the very interesting and seenie route southwards. The series of

1arge and small islands sereen off this route from Sea Otter Sound and the open

sea beyond. US Charts 17403 and 17404 should be used for navigation.

Tuxekan Narrows has daybeacons on the main rock reefs. Aikens Rock is

passed on the east side, but Village Rock can be passed on either side. The

route passes about 300 feet east of the rock, keeping well away trom Kinani

Point on the Prince of Wales shore. A vessel i5 then aiming right into the

600-foot wide opening of Tuxekan Narrows. Though narrow, it is deep, and

currents are not extreme. Thus, this passage i5 preferred by most vessels.

(It i5 possible to go around the west side of Tuxekan Island into Sea Otter

Sound to join the route south through Karheen Passage.)

At the 50uthern end of Tuxekan Narrows there is a village and logging camp

at Little ~aukati Bay, but anchorage is not recommended. A little further

south on Tuxekan Island at Nichin Cove is another village with a dock and

float. Anchorage appears to be better at this loeation.

Tuxekan Passage is wide and about lO miles long. The current is not
strons, and the route is unmistakable. At Kauda Point (the southern tip of
Tuxekan Island), Tuxekan Passage, Karheen Passage, and Tonowek Narrows meet in
a large, square bay which is littered with islands and reefs. Careful exam-
ination of the chart is needed. Enter Tonowek Narrows in mid-channel leaving
the green daybeaeon to the west and the red buoy NNE of Point Swift rocky shoal
area to the east. Known locally as Little Skookumchuck, pas5age through the
narrows is usually possible sinee the eurrent reaches a maximum of 3 knots.

As one passes the first island on the we5t side within Tonowek Narrows look

well above on the shoreline. Two mortuary poles and a buriai box can be seen.

The loeation on the island in the pass and the talI and guardian-like trees

make an atmosphere that engenders respect for the per50nage buried here. Pass

by and do not disturb the quietness of this buriai spot.

From Tonowek Bay there are two routes south~ard. One may proceed aiong the

outer route into the Gulf of Esquibel, elear Curacao Reef and the rocks off St.

Philip Island to enter San Christoval Channel. This route is exposed to the

swell and above-mentioned dangers must be identified. The preferred (inner)

route stays in the channel behind Harmony Islands and the string of is1ands

that follows, then behind Culebra and St. Philip Islands before exiting north

of Blanquizal Island. Most rocks are visible except for the mid-channel reef

which is east of the north end of St. Philip Island.

At the southern end of St. Philips Island a sandy spit joins it to a small

island to the south. Middens of white sea shells can be seen here. This is

Bobs PIace, the site of an old village. Good anchorage in about 5 fathoms can

be taken in mid-channel, protected by the islands. San Christoval Channel, just

a, fe'" miles further, leads through a well buoyed pass into San Al berta Bay.