BAJA, MEXICO – SOUTH of LORETO. 1996.
A guided trip with Scott Aitken of Cetacean Adventures, a jobber for Sea to Sky. Participants were Scott, his girlfriend from Winnipeg and Jan Micklethwaite.
Day 1. Launch 30 km south of Loreto at Ligui. Crossed south of Danzante Island, camped on Punta Baja on the west end of Carmen Island and hiked up the hill east of camp.
Day 2. Kayaked to Arroyo Blanco, a nice beach at the foot of a spectacular white canyon and hiked up to the viewpoint to see the ocean on the other side of the island, a long way to scour for firewood. Camped next on the beach on the south side of Salinas, the town built for the salt works. Salinas was abandoned in the 1970s, except for a “caretaker” wearing gold shoes who told us we were not allowed to camp close to town.
We explored the town and camped at Punta Perico, east of town.
Day 3. Early next AM, we started early to try to beat the usual NW wind to circumnavigate the rest of Carmen. Jan and I were such poor paddlers that the attempt had to be abandoned and we returned the way we had come.
Day 4. On the beach on the mainland, we met a German tourist who told us about Sierra de San Francisco, near San Ignacio, the entry point to a spectacular canyon with 5,000-year-old cave paintings. In town, we met with the headman who organized a guide, Angel Arci, who with 2 burros and 2 mules took us down a spectacular steep trail down into the verdant canyon with flowing water. The best was Pintura, a 100 m-long overhang with confluent paintings of animals and anthropomorphic figures.
Baja Mexico. In the winter of 2006-07 day trips through Gonzaga Bay and Bahia Los Angeles.
I purchased a Current Designs Solstice GT high-volume kayak in 1999 and a second Current Designs GT Kevlar kayak in 2004 for anyone visiting and desiring an adventure.
SLOCAN LAKE. 5 separate trips over several years camping at Wragge Creek Recreation Site, Nemo Creek and Evans Creek. The best hiking is in Nemo Creek past the many gorgeous waterfalls, and up Evans Creek as far as Beatrice Lake. Other hiking possibilities include Sharpe Creek to New Denver Glacier, 13 miles up Wee Sandy Creek.
Slocan Lake Kayak
KOOTENAY LAKE. Over many trips, I circumnavigated Kootenay Lake. West Arm from Balfour to Nelson. Kootenay River Taghum to the first dam, between Brilliant Dam and Kootenay Canal.
ARROW LAKES. COLUMBIA RIVER. In 2 trips, I did the entire lake from Revelstoke to Castlegar. A separate Trip from Hugh Keenleyside Dam to Trail is one of the few free-flowing sections of the Columbia River.
Kayaking the West Kootenay of BC
Pend Oreille Canyon. Launch at Metaline, over Metaline Falls and down the canyon to Boundary Dam through a gorgeous roadless canyon.
GREEN RIVER, Utah – Crystal Springs to Spanish Bottom. 2003. There is not a riffle on the 180 km paddle. With eight others, we camped for ten nights and hiked up gorgeous canyons. We were shuttled to the beginning and from the end of the adventure. As the trip is through Canyonlands National Park, we carried a porta-potty – defecation is not allowed anywhere.
GREEN RIVER – Crystal Geyser to Spanish Bottom
LAKE POWELL.
Trip 1. Launch from Bullfrog. 2004.
Trip 2. Lake Powell. 2005. We launched from Bullfrog, paddled down the lake to the Escalente and explored many canyons in lower Escalente. The Golden Cathedral was inaccessible due to low water levels because of an insurmountable waterfall at the entrance. In Davis Canyon, we camped (a massive thunderstorm and wind collapsed our tent), and hiked ¾’s up past a well-preserved kiva.
Trip 3. Lake Powell 2009, Halls Crossing to Wahweap and the Glen Canyon Dam. We launched at Halls Crossing and were in an incredible wind storm on the first day. We explored the lower Escalente: and hiked up Davis to the narrows but did not find the Everett Ruess inscription. We went up the San Juan River to Cha Canyon. We explored West Canyon hiking past several narrows. After 92 lake miles, it was a 300-mile road trip with a nice Navajo couple to get my truck.
New Zealand. (March, 2010) I took a guided 10-day trip with New Zealand Adventures Ocean Kayaking. Half was spent in the Cavalles where the Rainbow Warrior was sunk and half in the Bay Islands.
Clayoquot Sound
Meares island. (June 2009) I launched in Tofino, walked the Great Cedar Trail and camped at Heelboom Bay and Robert Point and took out in Tofino
Vargas Island/Flores. This was a 10-day assistant kayak guide’s course. We launched from Tofino and camped at Dick and Janes Beach, Cow Bay on Flores, saw the Hilmer House, Ahous Bay, Vargas Island, and took out Tofino.
Vargas Island beach cleanup with BC Marine Trails.
BROKEN ISLANDS
Trip 1. From a launch at Toquart Bay, camped at Hand Island, explored Brabant Is, Dodd Is, Turtle Is), camped at Willis Island, explored Lovett Is, Trickett Is, Turret Is (giant tree), camped at Clarke Is, camped at Benson Is, explored Batley Is, Wouwer Is (walk across), Howell Is, Dicebox (caves, tunnel, old village site), Effingham Is, camped at Gilbert Is, explored the Tiny Islands, Jarvis/Jaques Islands and its lagoon, camped at Gibraltar Is, explored Nettle Is, Prideaux Is, and on our way home, kayaked the Pinkertons seeing black bear, take out Toquart Bay.
Trip 2. (Sept, 2011) Launch Toquart Bay, kayak Pinkertons (beautiful next to the shore at above low tide, and saw bears), take out Toquart.
Octopus Islands (June 2010) motorboat to Mureille Island, camp Octopus Is.
Cortez Island west. (Sept 2010) Motorboat Von Donop Marine Park, camped in the inlet, motored to Carrington Bay, camp rave site, paddled Carrington Lagoon, kayaked Burdwood Bay, around Viner Pt on Read Is to take out at Bold Pt, Quadra.
Read Island Circumnavigation. 2011. Launch Bold Pt on Quadra, camped NW Viner Pt (Read Island), saw the old hotel site, through Whiterock Passage, take out Bolt Pt.
KYUQUOT and the BUNSBYS. Launch Fair Harbour. Camped Spring Island, Bunsbys, South Brooks, Bunsbys, Rugged Point, Twin Island (Nuchatlitz). Took out Little Esperanza Inlet.
DESOLATION SOUND and circumnavigation of Cortez Island. Launch Gorge Harbour, camped at Smelt Bay, Feather Cove, Melville Island, Teakerne Arm Marine Park, Carrington Bay (Cortez), and took out at Gorge Harbour.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION of WEST THURLOW and HARDWICK ISLANDS and SOUTH JOHNSTONE STRAIT June 2012. Launch Little Bear Bay, hike Blind Bay, Greene Point Rapids, camp Tucker Point, Whirlpool Rapids, camp Poyntz Island, visit Yorke Island with WW11 fortifications, camped Blenkinsop Bay, camped Johnstone St’, and took out at Bear Bight at logging camp because of weather (shuttled back to Little Bear Bay)
NORTH GULF ISLANDS June 2012. Launched at Cedar, south of Nanaimo. Paddled around the south end of De Coursey, through False Narrows, Northumberland Strait, lunch at Protection Island Pub, camp at Donseco PP on the north end of Gabriola Island. Paddled outside Gabriola with the fabulous Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola Island (or the Galiano Gallery is a geological formation on Gabriola Island at the end of Malaspina Point. Nothing is confusing about that, given another Gulf Island is named Galiano Island, and Gabriola Island is known locally as the Isle of the Arts. It is understandable then that many people confuse the geological site for an art gallery when visiting. Here is another article by Nick Doe explaining the dilemma in detail titled, “Malaspina Galleries—what’s in a name“. (a wave-like sandstone formation on the north end of Gabriola).
I camped on one of the Crown Islets in the Flat Islands. Paddled outside of Valdes, camp Donsio Point. Outside Galiano, camp at an eco-camp in Active Pass on Mayne Island. Prevost Island circumnavigation and camped at James Bay. West side of Galiano, camped at the Point on the north end of Wallis Island. Paddled around Tent Island and the west side of Kuper and Thetis, crossed to Yellow Point and up the east side of Vancouver Island to take out at Cedar.
JOHNSTONE STRAIT and the BROUGHTONS May 2013. Lauch Naca Rec Site, Johnstone Strait. First day weather day. Camp near Pig Ranch. Paddle Baronet Passage, Beware Passage, camped Mound Island. Paddle around the area, and camped at Owl Islands. Visited Gifford Village, through Fox Group, around the east end of Broughton Is, camped at the Cypress Harbour Rec Site. Up Sutlej Channel, through Hopetown Passage, camped Watson Island. Down Wells Passage to Polkinghorn Is., camped Olden Island, Cullin Harbour. Paddled the west side of the entire Archipelago, camped west side of Hanson Island. Crossed Johnstone St. to return to Naka Rec Site. 10 days, 2 weather days + 8 paddling days. 240km.
Kayaking – The Complete Broughtons
HAIDA GWAII. June 3-16 2013. Launch Moresby Camp, Louise Narrows, camped just after Narrows. Dana Passage visited the Tanu Watchman Site and camped on Kanga Island. Visited Windy Bay Watchman Site, Hot Springs Island (hot springs dried up since Oct 2012 earthquake), camped Ramsey Island x2 with a weather day. Crossed Juan Perez St., camped at Newberry Cove x2 with a weather day. Down Burnaby St, through Burnaby Narrows, Skincuttle Inlet, around Benjamin Pt, camped at Raspberry Cove. Houston-Stewart Channel to SGang Gwaii camped Benjamin Pt. Camped Newberry Cove. Camped. at Gold Pt, Tanu Island. Visited Skedans Watchman Site, Camped Cumshewa. Down Cumshewa Inlet, take out Moresby Camp. 13 days, 3 weather days, PM start first day = 9 1/2 paddling days, 375 miles
Kayaking Haida Gwaii – Moresby Camp to SKang Gwaii and Back
Smallpox and the NorthWest Native Americans
Skedans painting by Emily Carr
CAPE SCOTT. June 29-July 11, 2013. Launch from Port Hardy, camped Nolan Point, Balaklava Island; Sutil Peninsula x2, Experiment Bight, Hanna Point x5 (weather bound for 4 days of highs and NW winds, hiked to Lowrie Bay and cabin, hiked entire beach with a great stream, hiked to Sea Otter Cove, climbed Mt St. Patrick from the head of San Josef Bay), Grant Bay, finally paddled out via Quatsino sound because of a 5 day extended forecast of continued high NW winds to Coal Harbour. Estimated 377 km.
Kayaking Around Cape Scott – Port Hardy to Coal Harbour
NORTH BROOKS June 2016. A beach cleanup, one of eight groups that cleaned the west coast of Vancouver Island. I was part of the three-person crew that collected the 80 tons of marine debris by helicopter and loaded it onto a barge. Helicopter four times across Vancouver Island and the entire west side of Vancouver Island.
Tsunami Cleanup North Brooks
Ballenas/Winchelsea Islands. June 2017. Removed English ivy from Gerald Island
Ballenas/Winchelsea Islands – Invasive Species Clean-up
SOUTH GULF ISLANDS May 2016.
Gulf Islands National Park
FAVOURITE KAYAKING TRIPS
1. Kyuquot (Bunsbys, South Brooks), West Coast Vancouver Island, BC
2. Green River, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
3. Lake Powell. (Halls Crossing →Escalente→Wahweep), Utah/Arizona
4. Slocan Lake, West Kootenay, BC
5. Moresby Camp to SKang Gwaii and back, Haida Gwaii. BC
6. Stuart Houston Channel, Queen Charlottes/Haida Gwaii, BC
7. Desolation Sound, circumnavigation Cortez, BC
8. Broken Islands, Pacific Rim National Park, BC
9. Clayquot Sound, Pacific Rim National Park, BC
10. Carmen, Baja, Mexico
11. Arrow Lakes, West Kootenay, BC
FUTURE TRIPS
Deer Group
South Gulf islands
N and S Pender, Mayne, and Saturna
Texada, Lesqueti
Jervis Inlet
San Juan Islands
Nuchatlitz Group, outside Nootka, Nootka Sound
Claoyquat Sound – to Hot Springs Cove.
Espirito Santos, Baja
SE Alaska – Alaska marine highway.
Great Lakes, USA
