I apologize for not writing all year. I have been preoccupied with the new Facebook page for Orca Island Cabins that I have been keeping up also. Well, I have some photos to share form summer '09. To start with I have the river otters that live near the island. We have counted four in years past but this year we counted seven! These are very fun little critters that show themselves frequently. They climb on our docks and wonder over the rocks. The family has definitely grown. These are river otters also known as land otters, they are different sea otters. They are smaller and can walk on all fours while on land.

We are proud to announce that our cabins have been published in a national magazine that is on the news stands now! We can be seen on page 106 of the September 2008 issue of COASTAL LIVING MAGAZINE. I hope you will check it out in your local grocery store or book store!

The photos in this group are from an early morning kayak paddle that I took in the cove while I was waiting for the water taxi to arrive with new guests. It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining and the water was like glass. This big orange jelly fish popped up right next to my kayak and it was so beautiful. As I came beck I circled the island as the sunlight was just beginning to reach it.

We added a new boat to your kayaking fleet, a row boat. It was well received, our guests loved it. It is easy to maneuver, easy and light weight to lift in and out of the water and best of all should it get swamped with water it will not sink even with 4 adults in it. The brand is Port A Boat and will fold up flat for storage or transport. Here are some of our guest having fun fishing from it! What fun they had!

Summers end 2008. We are just beginning to wrap up a wonderful summer season of 2008. We have had many happy guests and Dennis and I have made many new freinds. I think it is time I finally put some new photographs up for everyone to see. To start with I would like to show some of the wonderful creatures we have in our tide pools on the island. These tide pools fill in every day with new sea life that is fun and exciting. Here are some beautiful sea stars, shells and a sea anemone! Hope you enjoy them.

Testimonial:
"The Orca Island Yurt experience was the highlight of our Alaskan adventure. From the moment Dennis picked us up in the water taxi to deliver us to our hideaway in Humpy Cove, it was a delightful adventure!

We loved every moment - fishing off our Yurt's deck, kayaking to a fresh water stream to see spawning salmon and hungry bears, watching porpoises and otters playing nearby, lounging in the Adirondack chairs by the fire pit, barbecuing fresh-fish and cooking delicious meals in our private kitchen and, most of all, soaking in the sites, smells and scenery of the peaceful, relaxing nature all around us. Susan and Dennis are gracious hosts and we would recommend their getaway to anyone!" ~~Matt and Janet Mehlhop
These are photos that Matt and Janet sent to us the last one she said was the view from their private deck!

These guests are enjoying an early evening campfire in August. I have come to join them in the second picture, and in the third picture they are watching as other island guests return from kayaking over to the waterfall.

Spring of 2007 we added two new observations decks at the south end of the island. We also bought and painted 14 adirondak chairs that we added to all the decks, you can see some of them here. Dennis is getting a wonderful moment of rest inbetween his many island duties!

We had a beautiful Harbor Seal and her pup living in the cove very near Orca Island for the months of May and June 2007. We saw it the year before but not quite as often as we did this year. Here are a few pictures of it, I only wish they were better. Every so often she would get courious and swim around the island to come and look at us! The first picture, though distant is the mom and pup side by side on a rock.

Here are some photos of a sea otter playing in Humpy Cove near our dock.

Killer Whales or Orcas are seen in Humpy Cove. Sometimes guests see whales right from their cabin deck!

What is a Yurt? Yurts have been used as nomadic shelters for centuries in Central Asia. Our modern version of the yurt, adapted from a centruies-old Mongolian design, consists of a circular structure with weather tight covers, tension band and a wood frame including a lattice wall, radial rafters that terminate at a compression ring, and a framed French door. The compact shape of the yurt and the combination of lightweight members in tension and compression result in a structure that is highly efficient in maximizing strength while minimizing material. Our yurts are reinforced for snow and wind conditions; have propane heaters; and are, therefore, well-suited for year-round use in Alaska. With modern amenities such as full kitchens, private bathrooms with compost toilets, and private decks, they are environmentally friendly, comfortable and offer a truly unique overnight lodging experience. We have chosen yurts for use as cabins because they are environmentally friendly and are, with it's beautiful wood framing, a pleasing architectural alternative to the traditional framed cabin.

The following pictures show family and freinds at the various stages of constructing our third yurt on Orca Island.

Kayaking on a rainy day.
A honeymoon couple enjoy a kayak paddle in the rain in Humpy Cove. The beauty of the islands and the coastline in and near Humpy Cove is evident even on the misty days.

Guests often conclude a day's activities around a campfire on Orca Isalnd, among it's tidepools. A variety of wildlife often come by and visit, from land and sea otters to porpoise and an occasional whale.

Here are some photos of some of our board walks between the yurts and of one of the yurt's private deck.












This beautiful waterfall is not on Orca Island but is a short distance away reachable by kayak. These guests have rented our kayaks and paddled over to this salmon stream that flows out from the montains over head. They pull their kayaks up onto the beach and walk a short distance up to where the waterfall can be viewed. The stream is filled with pink salmon during the months of June, July and August.