Exploring Spencer Island

Battle between raptors. Photograph by Steve Weileman

Summer has finally arrived here in the Northwest with a vengeance with temperatures soaring into record breaking highs. Thankfully we were able to spend most of the weekend on the water by participating in ANEW Outdoors guide training program. Those of us that make up the core of ANEW are veteran guides but we still enjoy the camaraderie of getting on the water together, sharing past stories, adventures and sometimes misadventures.

John wanted to also use this trip to explore new territories for possible future venues, so the plan called for traveling to Everett and meeting at Langus Riverfront Park. From there we planned to explore the waterways surrounding Spencer Island.

We all arrived at 8 am that morning and it was already getting warm as we packed our boats. Years ago I had led a trip in this area, or I should say tried to lead a trip as lighting and forced us off the water that time. Clear blues skies insured that this would be an issue on this day, although we might have to worry about an equally unusual condition for us; hyperthermia.

Making our way around Spencer Island. Photograph by Jason Goldstein

John led us through the maze and it wasn’t long before we came across a graveyard of derelict boats apparently abandoned to their fate. It reminded me of a B movie I watch as a kid where a steamer gets trapped in an