Hike to Ika Island
This is an inherently dangerous adventure. Proceed at your own responsibility and risk.
As always, please respect any posted areas.
This island lays at the mouth of the North fork of the Skagit River and at the head on Skagit Bay. It can be reached by kayak, or can also be reached by hiking during low tide. This is how I reached the island. It is an awesome adventure well worth doing at least once in a lifetime.
This is an island that is the embodiment of Northwest mystery. During the early 1900’s it was referred to as “Hika” island, but is now more often called “Ika”. Fifteen feet SW from the highest part of the Island is a tree marked by surveyors in 1907 with the initials JHB80. I have read they were still visible as late as 1960.
On January 28, 1988 nearby resident Jerry Lang reported seeing strange multiple colored lights of a UFO around Ika Island, that hovered and separated and strobed in the early hours from midnight till before dawn.
Well, maybe.
When approached when crossing the 1.30 mile tidal flats on a gray and foggy morning as I did, this is one of those living scenes that you often see in northwest art. Gray space with looming shapes; Washington’s own version of Zen.
To get there, go to the very end of Rawlins road and park at N48° 21.335 W122° 27.577. From there hike out to Craft Island where you will find the Skagit Bay View From Craft Island cache, then drop down onto the flats and you are on your way. Be sure to check the tides before heading out for Ika Island. They can catch you! It is best to head out on a descending tide or at extreme low tide. You will want to be on your way back from Ika by the time the tide reaches 5’ or before or else you may do some serious wading. Never the less, this cache does require some minor wading through several shallow riverlets so be prepared. As the river rises these may also rise. The cache itself (an ammo can)is tucked into a boulder about 20’ above the flats (about four boulder levels up). These boulders are very rotten rock, so be careful. Just above you, on a rock ridge, is a benchmark (TR1140) about 38’ above highwater and near the end of a slanting tree. Bring more than sandals if you plan to reach it. Round trip from car to car is in the neighborhood of 5 miles. Good adventuring!
"Cache seekers assume all risks and responsibilities involved in seeking this and any cache."
"May also encounter HOT coffee ~D (which may be HOT) while driving to and from this cache." :O