[Sarka Lhotak]

I am starting to dream about some paddling trips in early spring. I’ve never been to San Juan islands and am quite intrigued. Could you suggest good resources, books, maps etc.

[Former Member]

This is the 2nd time I have taken the time to “reach out” and see if I couldn’t find a “compatable” paddling partner for a trip. The 1st time didn’t go so well, I had to send him down the Yukon at Ft. Yukon on that trip. I know it isn’t easy finding someone, work, wives, relationships, kids, money and time. And of course my expectations with no compromising can put a potential paddler off. Knothing out of the ordinary.

Just seems prudent, if I could find the right guy/gal to have someone along. Driving up to Hay River from Bend, Oregon about 2,000 miles, leaving by the end of the 1st week of June. I paddle a Feathercraft K2 Expidition, a tandem, plenty of room for Stormy in the front seat and gear. This is a very stable, safe and trustworthy kayak. With most of you guys/gals being from Vancouver Island and there abouts, I am sure you know of the Feathercraft. I believe these guys who built these kayaks were some of the best. Too bad they went out of business.

I have paddled about 12,000 miles, all solo, unassisted and Stormy has done about 1/2 of those miles with me.

Me: 75 years old, 100% Disabled Vet PTSD out of combat…in Vietnam 26 months/sober 25 years/great positive attitude towards life/practice the 5 P’s in every aspect of my life/divorced/father of 4 very successful kids/now adults/author of 2 books….working on 2 more/paint/practice and soon to play the piano/walk 2/3/4/5 miles every day/beat colon cancer/beating prostrate cancer and out living them all, so far.

I also have been putting off paddling the Inside Passage, but no more. I plan that trip next summer 2023, including taking in Glacier Bay National Park before paddling over and up to Skagway. Once again, be prudent to find somebody if I can, but feel confident that trip will go fine solo, as the rest of them have.  A good 90 days, no hurry.

2024 the plan is to spend the entire summer in Prince William Sound in Alaska, take the Ferry to Whittier, leave from there. I used to spend some time in the Sound when I lived in AK in the 80’s.

My website is: www.1indsob.com ….tab for Journals/pics/videos of some of my trips/tab for ordering 2 books I have written and some other information about me/my life if you get bored.

Few of the miles I have paddled:
The Snake River from Flagg Ranch down to the Columbia, that was both kayak/catamaran thru Hells Canyon. 1,000 miles or so
The Yellowstone from Gardnier, MT to the Missouri at Williston, ND to the Mississippi at St. Louis, down the Mississippi the Baton Rouge, 3,000 mile 100 days.
The Yukon from Whitehorse to Greyling, AK. 900 miles or so, had some hand issues so didn’t make it to the ocean.
Khuvosogul Lake in N. Mongolia, down the Eg, where I got into some trouble/had a herder take me out, then into the Selenga River in Siberia, thru the Selenga Delta, on to Lake Baikal, where I got to the N end of Lake Baikal, knew something was wrong health wise, got off the lake by a fluke encounter about 1,500 miles. Got back, Colon Cancer, beat it, surgery went very wrong and almost killed me twice, but here I am, almost back to being able to wrestle atleast a 100 lb Grizzley.

I am not done yet, I refuse to compitulate to the age factor. I have been accused of being too Independent, too Old and too Contakerous. Not so. I just have certain peramiters I live by and there you go, that is why I wrote the book “101 Ways to Tell the World to Kiss Your Ass”.

If anyone might be interested to the point of considering such an undertaking or know of someone who was in a position to consider it,,,, you can reach me at:

dhscott_46@hotmail.com, we could start there.

I live in Newberry National Monument in Central Oregon, at 6400 ft in a 100 year old cabin, it is pure Heaven. www.volcanoproperty.com

Thanks, Dave Scott

[Josephine Kovacs]

I would like to register for the March 19 & 20 clinics. Josephine

 

[Mike Gilbert]

Hi Everyone,

For those who may be interested in taking a clinic, Paddle Canada Course or to join a tour I am offering in 2022, please take a moment to follow the provided link to my website and scroll down to see what is being offered.

2024 Courses, Clinics & Tours

Cheers,

Mike

 

 

[Kevin Amos]

As Nick pointed out its best to do the Orientation before you go. It looks like you can do it remotely now.

 

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/visit/tarifs-fees

[Nick Heath]

I concur with others here. In approx 2005 I and 3 intermediate level companions paddled for 12 days in SE Moresby I. My info is likely out of date.  Moresby Explorers were excellent – dropped us at Ross I and picked us up at Kunga I. Since then, the company has changed hands, but I’ve heard they are still v. good. Their rental gear is fine and unless you drive there (a time waster) you’ll need some of their gear in addition to a boat – such as stove fuel, flares & bear spray, which cannot go on a plane.

Assuming that orientation is still mandatory, you should do the Parks Canada orientation here in the lower mainland – offerings for yachties in spring usually – rather than waste a day while there.  A trip of less than a week seems insufficient time.

Camping opportunities are excellent. Unless you join the mob at Raspberry Cove, you probably won’t need to share any campsite.  Haida Watchmen in the various former village sites are v good but they are not tour guides so do you own preparation to better understand what you are looking at. I recommend pre-reading and copying bits from Haida Monumental Art: Villages of the Queen Charlotte Islands Paperback – Jan. 1 1983 by George F. MacDonald. It’s too big and expensive to carry in a kayak.

VHF radio communication is essential to establish landing permissions and to communicate with your pickup crew. To be reasonably sure of them working, each crew member should carry one, plus a PLB for emergencies. I wouldn’t trust the VHF for an emergency there – I got no outside contact in many locations and the Parks Canada much-touted repeaters did not work.

Water conditions will vary. We had unexpected rough conditions in Houston Stewart Channel, plus the usual wind, fog etc. In early July, it rained heavily every day except one and there were 4 separate storm fronts transiting from the SW, but your weather could be lovely and it will be mostly a matter of luck. All we carried became rather damp after 5 days or so…

Every paddler should do this trip!

[Steve Best]

Hi Sandra,

I am the Haida Gwaii Region Manager for BC Marine Trails. I echo what George and Tony have said. The east coast of Gwaii Haanas Park Reserve north of Kunghit Island is within the capabilities of intermediate paddlers. Please note that an orientation is required before paddling in Gwaii Haanas. The best guidebook is Neil Frazer’s Boat Camping Haida Gwaii, A Small-Vessel Guide, Second Edition.

I paddled the east side of Gwaii Haanas with two friends in 2019, from the north park boundary to Burnaby Narrows, eleven days, dropped off and picked up by Moresby Explorers. Highly recommended. Looking forward to paddling the southern half, SGang Gwaii to Burnaby Narrows, in the future.

I paddled the west coast of Graham Island solo in 2015, Masset to Queen Charlotte, three weeks; and the west coast of Moresby Island and around Kunghit solo in 2016. Expert only territory.

[Tony Clayton]

Sandra,

I have paddled in Haida Gwaii on four occasions. Our very first kayaking experience in 1986 was in Gwaii Hanaas with a commercial group. Subsequent trips have covered the area from the South Moresby area up to Moresby Camp and have been of 16 to 18 days duration.

As intermediate paddlers and if you have some experience of wilderness camping I suggest that with careful planning you can have an interesting and worthwhile trip. I would recommend something more than a week even if you stay in the area between Raspberry Cove and Skangwaii ( Anthony Island).

I agree with George about the plentitude of potential camp sites and the reliability  of Moresby Explorers. If you would like to talk person to person  you can reach me at 778 888 3829.

Tony Clayton

[George Prevost]

Hi Sandra.  I highly recommend Moresby Explorers.  They can arrange pretty much everything you might need, from airport pickups and B&B stays to boat rentals and water taxi pickups.  As for difficulty level, the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC rates most of the southern portion where you’re planning to paddle as “Class III: Exposed water, sparsely populated areas with more committing crossings, moderate to strong currents with turbulence, moderate to strong wind effects, ocean swells, difficult landings, surf beaches.”  The rest of the southern portion – the west coast and the southern tip – is rated as Class IV.  As for length of days, etc. the SKGABC guide doesn’t include a classification for that.  However, but I’d say it’s a B in terms of length of days – campsites are fairly frequent so you don’t necessarily have to paddle for a full day to get to the next one – and a C in terms of length of crossings, time exposed, etc.

Unless you have some experience with your own self-guided trips in relatively remote areas with some open coast line, surf and current, you might want to consider hiring a guide or joining a guided trip.

I’d be happy to chat with you about this if you want.

[Sandra Waddle]

A friend and I are thinking of paddling Haida Gwaii this summer. We are both intermediate paddlers. We are hoping to get dropped off at the south islands and do about a weeklong trip. We are looking at Morsby explorers as they have gear and itineraries.  For anyone who’s gone there, what is the difficulty level?

SKABC Trip Classification

 

[Sandra Waddle]

Hi there! I have my kayak at Jericho Ever love to paddle sometime. Maybe when it gets a bit warmer? Sandra sandra.waddle@gmail.com  778-895-9125

[Kevin Amos]

We all agree that it’s important to check marine wind forecasts before heading out on the water, but how can you make sense of all different predictions? In this Zoom hosted event, Alan will show how he uses a number of wind forecasting sites and apps while planning his paddles, including Environment Canada, PredictWind, WindAlert, Windy, SpotWx and Big Wave Dave. Expected ocean currents also interact predictably with wind/swell and shoreline features to create the sea states you may encounter on your paddle outing. Doing your homework each time you paddle will keep you safer and make your kayaking experience even more enjoyable!

YouTube video

Siska is a Victoria, BC, Canada kayak club. We enjoy kayaking from Sidney to Sooke typically. All skill levels are welcome to join the club. We provide training through Paddle Canada instructors which includes some Siska members. Read more here on our main website – https://siska.ca/prod/about-siska-contacts/about-siska. Currently we are having our monthly meetings on Zoom which is working well.

 

[Kevin Amos]

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCIxhd33Iq1phFZabjqBzv0g/featured

SISKA has a YouTube Channel you can use to watch past meetings. They record their Zoom meetings and post them.

[Debra Merchant]

Thank you for catching my error! It is January 26 at 7pm.

[George Prevost]

Thanks for sharing this, Deb.  Is it this Wednesday, which is January 19, or is it January 26?  I don’t want to miss it!

[Author]

Replies