Mitchell Cove 5.3.08 w/ pics - no love

JMairey's swell intuition was dead on - Santa Cruz is sucking right now.   

Extended version:

thought i'd save myself about 20 minutes of paddling time meter parking hassle so chose to launch out of mitchell instead of cowell's.  First, it was cold as hell this morning.  The car thermo showed 41 degrees with the snowflake symbol at 0530.

Parked at Mitchell.  OK, I've traversed the stairs before, but that was back in the day with the non-mirage drive lil' Maui.  Just take a look at that doggone maze of handrails and corners and you see how even the tallest yakker would have trouble carrying an Adventure up and down.  I sure as heck did, but eventually got down.  Made a clean launch, although there were definitely some big shore dumps going on.  The picture is pretty mellow conditions, but i saw a few sets that really gave me pause.

Somebody called in a may day at about 0715.  Bounced around for a few short bites, nothing stuck.  Was only wearing 2 mm paddling pants and a jacket under the PFD, started getting really cold.  Wasn't getting bit anyway, so I just started to troll a big broken back rebel to see if I could come up on some schoolies.  Nobody home.

About 0930, a CG Cutter drops off a zodiac with two DFG agents.  They start going boat to boat.  checked everything from license, gear, to the size of your unit.  could hear them admonish the pictured boat about fishing w/o license and "Santa Cruz Superior Court".  Zodiac must have popped at least 5 boats in a half hour period.  The even crept up on me, but didn't try to board or gear check.  Just wanted to see if I was alright and if I'd had any luck.  They confirmed that it was slow overall.

Crappy opener for me, but then, again I could have driven down to SWS or monastery but was just too lazy.  you gotta do the work to get the reward...

I will remeber that Pic of those stairs for a long time

 Next time I look at a launch and think how crappy it might be, I'll think of that.

 WTGive it a try, I also blanked today on ARW...

 

Mitchell Cove stairs, solo, with an Adventure - that's dedication. With two guys, not that big a deal at all.

If the swell lays down and the temps rise a little, then this launch should be fairly decent. Last year tallpaul and I did a trip about mid-May. Nothing to write home about, but the catching was fairly steady, if small. I think I had 4 or 5 underlings for a morning, as well as other assorted rockfish.

Scott

Mitchell Cove stairs, solo, with an Adventure - that's dedication.

Dedication, no.  MADNESS!!! 

Doing essentially a walking military press with that bulky boat in those tight corners and landings is not for people with suspect shoulders or backs. 

The solo portage going up is a lot easier, believe it or not.  Going up, you can tilt the boat at a 45 degree to match the incline.  But that's damn near impossible to do going down.  In fact, I counted the stairs just so I wouldn't have to visually mind my feet.  Its something like 8, 5, 9, 11, 12 stairs for each of the five sections.

The water is pretty cold still.  After I landed, I swam with the lifeguard group that was training at Cowell's.  49 degrees surface temp.  I put in about 400 meters and had to call it.  Brain freeze from the outside in.

I have stared at those stairs but never have tried my 16 foot yak.  I think it would be easier to rope it up and down

Don't be afraid of the stairs, but you need to buddy up with someone...many hands make light work!

That looks like a pretty tuff haul Martin! Madness for sure....the first shots look like a calm ocean, then the last ones look abit rough. Way to get out and put your offerings down. Thanks for the details and pics! 
is that one the northside of SteamerLane? 

For you non-locals those stairs are "north" of the lighthouse/Steamer Lane. But they're west by the compass.   Those stairs taunt me every time go by them, but I'll never do them alone.
Brendan wrote a couple of years ago that he launched to the east in that same cove, and to the west under the one house on the ocean side of the street - it's rocky under that, tho.
   

Next time just bring a bucket of butter and lube up those rails put your yak across the rails and go for A ride!!!

Well, I think we have a pilot episode for a new show developing here: Man Versus Yak!
This time Man won. But who knows what happens next episode, when Man struggles against a 20kt North wind, 10x8 NW swell, and a massive yard-sale on the beach.
Tune in next week to find out!