Aug 25, 3:50 a.m.

About an hour ago (a few minutes before my alarm was set to go off), I was awakened by the sound and force of a wave crashing around my tent. I felt the force of the ocean wanting to wash me right off this rock. I suspect that if I weren’t inside it acting as an anchor, my tent would now be floating towards South Sawyer Glacier. The shock of the water pushing against my tent sent a shot of adrenaline through me and I went from being sound asleep to totally awake in a split second. This all happened about 2 minutes before my alarm went off. I set it for one hour before high tide, so I could check on the rising water level. I got out of my tent in semi-shock not knowing when the next wave would hit me. I looked at the water level that was about 10 feet below the level of my tent thinking what could have produced such a wave. I leaned against the rocks rising up in back of my tent not knowing what to do; there was no higher ground easily accessible. I watched the water intently trying to decide if I’m better off inside my tent or if I should try to hold onto it from in back should another wave come. The surges continued for the next ½ hour but none of the waves come close to my tent even though the tide is rising.

I looked over at my kayak and was relieved to see it safely perched where I had left it. I can at least paddle out of here if I loose the tent, but I shuddered to think of my chances of survival if I were swept into these icy waters.

It’s now 4:20 a.m. – 15 minutes past high tide according to my tide book and the water is calm as can be, a good four vertical feet below my tent. I will try and go back to sleep and hope there will be no more surprises. I’ve had enough excitement over the last 12 hours.