EVERETT — Cindy Christopher planned ahead for her trip to Jetty Island.
She anticipated many others would want to enjoy the sunny weather Sunday on the 2-mile-long island and arrived at the 10th Street Boat Launch at 11:30 a.m. to wait in line.
Her group of family and friends had tickets to board the 2:30 p.m. ferry to the island.
“We’ll get the kids in the water, relax on the beach and have a little picnic,” Christopher said.
Her sister, Maureen Welly of Everett, added she hoped to see some kite boarders on her first trip to the island this summer.
“It’s such a beautiful resource for Everett and the surrounding communities,” she said. “It’s perfect on a great day.”
Monday is the last chance this summer for people to board a ferry and spend time on the Jetty Island beach. The first ferry is set to depart for the island at 10 a.m. and the last ferry is scheduled to leave the island at 5:50 p.m. The annual Jetty Island Trash Bash, a chance for people to form teams to clean the island and compete for prizes, is planned from noon to 4 p.m. A closing celebration is set at the end of the event.
This summer’s Jetty Island Days began on July 1. More than 42,200 people had visited the island by Thursday, according to Maggie Hillmann, Jetty Island kiosk manager. She expects the total number to be close to 45,000 by the time the last ferry leaves today. The attendance total will likely be less than last year’s 48,000 people who visited the island.
“Last year we had those 80, 90, 100 degree days,” she said. “It’s good for this year’s weather.”
Visitors select boarding passes at the Jetty Island kiosk near the 10th Street Boat Launch and Marine Park. They choose their return passes after arriving on the island.
The Jetty Island Ferry can bring up to 80 people over to and back from the island at one time. On a nice day, ferries are bound to fill up fast, said interpretive naturalist Stephen Bellrichard.
“Any time you wake up and there’s not a cloud in the sky make sure you get here as early as you can,” he said.
The most popular event of this year’s Jetty Island Days was a glass sea-float hunt on Aug. 20, Hillmann said. The event broke one day attendance records for the island with 1,509 people. Anywhere from 700 to 800 people visit the island on a typical day, she added.
The long line of people waiting for a chance to hit the beach Sunday afternoon surprised Heather Ramos of Renton. She and her family tried to visit Jetty Island for the first time but decided those plans would have to wait until next summer.
“It’s too long of a wait to get on (a ferry),” she said. “Plan B is to head either to Mukilteo or Edmonds beach. We’ll do next year for sure.”
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
If you go
Monday is the last day Jetty Island is open for the summer. Beach stewards can form teams and help clean the island during the annual Jetty Island Trash Bash from noon to 4 p.m. The day’s schedule also includes a nature walk at 1 p.m., a puppet show at 2:15 p.m., and a closing ceremony at 4 p.m.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
