Camping in the San Juans

Camp Orcas

Every summer, on the first full weekend in August, the EAA on Orcas Island hosts a fly-in and camp out. This year the event was cancelled, so a few of us flew up over Labor Day weekend for a night of camping and island hopping.  

The weather leading up to the trip had been sunny for a week or so, but a cold front was moving in a few days prior so it was looking like the trip would be a no-go. The forecast showed the front moving through by Sunday afternoon and then nothing but sunshine for the next few days. The forecast turned out to be correct and we departed for KORS Sunday afternoon with a nice flight direct to KORS, passing over Olympia, up the Hood Canal and then across the Strait of Juan de Fuca for an arrival into Eastsound. After setting up camp we made the short walk into town and had a nice meal at the White Horse Pub. For the oyster fans, the pub serves fresh oysters from nearby Judd Cove.  The next morning, our plan was to fly to Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor before returning to Salem.  We packed up our gear and after getting breakfast at Enzo’s, (nice Italian bistro with good espresso and baked goods) departed for Roche Harbor (WA09). Roche Harbor is a popular marina and resort and is about an 8-minute flight from KORS. After securing the aircraft at WA09, we walked around the marina and admired the vast number of yachts and we walked over to the mausoleum on the north west side of the airport.  The mausoleum is a shrine to the John McMillan family, which founded the Roche Harbor lime kilns in 1886.

McMillin Mausoleum

After a few hours at Roche Harbor, we departed for Friday Harbor (KFHR) to get a bite before flying back to Salem. The town of Friday Harbor is about a 15-minute walk from the airport, so headed to the east end of town to visit Friday’s Crab House for some chowder and fish tacos. Friday’s has a couple of outdoor tiered decks which overlook the ferry terminal and marina.

The weather was perfect for the 48-hour trip and the feedback from the group was that we’ll return next year for a longer duration to visit some additional airports and do some more island exploration. If you are an airplane camper or want to be, you should add KORS to your list as camping at KORS, is pretty modern with a bathroom and showers, loaner bicycles, ice machine, and the mini-mart and restaurants are a 15-minute walk from the airport. 

Mid-field crossing Roche Harbor

Northeast tip of Orcas Island