Important Safety Tips for Kayak Trips in Pybus Bay

While fishing is perhaps the single most popular adventure activity that visitors to Alaska take part in, it's far from the only one. Our state offers numerous opportunities to enjoy its beauty, wildlife and more, and one format that many people enjoy is the use of a kayak on various bodies of Alaskan water.

At Pybus Point Lodge, our all-inclusive Alaska vacations include numerous activities in addition to fishing, with kayak trips available at your convenience to explore any part of the stunning scenery in Pybus Bay and surrounding areas. Like with any other boating or watercraft trip you may be taking, use of a kayak involves several important safety considerations -- here's a list of important safety areas to ensure you're covering for any kayak trip you'll be taking in Alaska.

Float Plan

First and foremost, your kayak trip out to Pybus Bay should include a float plan, which involves providing someone back home with your expected trip dates and destination, as well as a list of any other people who will be involved in your outing and the number in your party. This information should include where you'll launch from and where you expect to return to.

While this tip might seem obvious to some visitors, it's an important consideration for any boating and watercraft adventure, and is critical in case there's an emergency or accident that involves the search parties. You should also include basic information on how long past your expected arrival time your party should wait for you before they become concerned. All of these are areas our staff will be happy to assist you with.

Self-Rescue

No matter how skilled you are with a kayak, accidents can happen. It's absolutely vital that your kayak excursion includes a self-rescue or survival kit, plus a first aid kit. While our lodge's staff is more than happy to assist with a kayaking trip, you'll need to ensure that your party can handle any possible situation that might arise on their own before accepting our assistance.

Communication

In case anything goes wrong while you're out on the water in a kayak, it's important to maintain communication that you know will be robust enough to work. While many of our visitors' trips will include the use of smartphones, it's important that you realize these devices can often lose their functionality in certain areas far out on the water where there is low cell phone coverage.

While they might seem like a somewhat heavy-weight option, satellite phones are very popular with kayakers who are planning on venturing many miles away from civilization, and our staff at Pybus Point Lodge will be happy to assist you with any rental needs you might have for your satellite phone. Others use radios -- in fact, the US Coast Guard monitors various radio frequencies to ensure they can advise on any potential emergencies.

Equipment Considerations

Like any other boating trip you're considering, both motored and otherwise, the proper equipment is essential for a safe and pleasant excursion. First of all, clothing should be considered carefully -- lightweight but durable materials are ideal, as well as making sure to include protection against the elements you might run into at any time of year or weather conditions.

Sunscreen is also crucial for preventing sunburn, while sunglasses can help protect your eyes from debris or bugs that could fly into them out on the water. You'll also want to consider footwear, which should be comfortable but durable enough for standing on your kayak's decking -- many people use kayaking sandals, though sturdy water shoes are often more than up to the task.

And of course, safety equipment is absolutely vital on a kayaking trip, and you should make sure to stock up on the essentials -- a first aid kit for injuries on the water or on land, as well as your own life preserver. Every single person traveling in a kayak must have a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device for every trip, with a whistle to use in case of an emergency. A marine VHF radio can be invaluable as well.

For those planning on exploring kayak rental options, our staff here at Pybus Point Lodge can point you toward the best equipment out there for your Alaskan adventure.

Weather and Tides

Finally, before embarking on any kayak trip around Pybus Bay, it's important to check on basic weather and tide conditions. These are areas that our staff can help advise you on as well, to help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Don't underestimate the weather conditions in Alaska -- even during summertime, storms can hit quickly and without warning. Tides can be extremely dangerous for those who aren't familiar with them -- many an unwary kayaker has been caught on rocks or mudflats, and getting out of the water after such an occurrence can be challenging.

Simply put, you may have to be willing to adjust your planned kayaking schedule if conditions aren't quite up to standard. Your safety is much more important than catching your targeted fish, after all! Our guides will be happy to provide basic information and expertise on the weather patterns in our area, how they impact tides, and other bits that might help you make the most informed decision here.

For more on how to ensure full safety at all times on any Alaskan kayaking adventure, or to learn about our fishing or wildlife vacation packages, speak to the staff at Pybus Point Lodge today.