[Theresa Davies]

I am looking for paddlers to go out during the week for conditioning for the season after not paddling all winter. Need to get in shape for summer trips. Launching from local areas such as Deep Cove, Rocky Point, Cates Park for 2-4  hours to start. Leave me an indication of availability and contact.

[Reed Clarke]

I’ll be there.

[Sandy Rubin]

Hi all,

I will be at the meeting March 22.  For those of you concerned about LNG in Howe Sound check out the media statement from My Sea to Sky at myseatosky.org in response to the federal approval of the Woodfibre LNG environmental assessment.

[Peter Tutak]

Karin-

Thanks for the response on this, I appreciate it. Right now it looks like we’ll be on Cabbage on Tuesday night, and Narvaez Bay on Wednesday. I hope that’s sufficient space from the revelers !

Your comment noted about East Point. Question – I’m assuming it’s equally turbulent on flood and ebb ? If I can, I’ll take East Point at slack, if possible, since the paddle to Narvaez isn’t long at all.

May I ask what model VHF do you use ? Reason I ask is that I rely on mobile coverage for weather, tide info, and smart-app GPS, but in a sparse area, I need to really consider a radio.

Last question – the winery – where is it ? Lyall Harbor ? I’m planning a stop at Winter Cove for lunch, but can always change that for a worthwhile reason.

Many, many thanks. I appreciate the tips and recommendations based on your experience in this section of the Salish.

Peter

 

[Karin Hartner]

Hi Peter

Not sure about the mobile service–I’ve also found it to be sketchy in some places. Also I tend to rely more on VHF radio for emergencies as I keep the radio in a PFD pocket.

Your route is very pretty, especially Cabbage Island but warning–it can become party central for local kids so hopefully you are doing this midweek. Be mindful of the currents going around East Point. There is a good reason for one of the features there being called Boiling Reef.

Narvaez is a very sheltered campsite–not much view but you’ll see it all coming and going. The south side of Saturna has spectacular cliffs and there is a winery on Saturna which is a good place to stop for lunch on your way back to Bennett Bay, if it is open. Good to be going with the tide on your way back, but not as testy as East Point.

Cheers

Karin

Karin

[Peter Tutak]

 

Karin and Nick-

Thank you both for your informative replies. Based on what you’ve provided me, I’ve decided on a short-distance two-night route from Bennett Bay to Cabbage Island (1st night) and from there to Narvaez Bay (2nd night). From Narvaez, back to Bennett along the south side of Saturna, and through Georgeson Passage. The distances are relatively short, apart from the third day, which I want to time based on flow and current charts.

I wanted to ask – is mobile coverage in the Gulf Islands as sparse and undependable as it is the in the San Juans ? In the SJs, coverage is mainly possible in towns like Eastsound and Friday Harbor. Out on the water, or off on the islands it’s nil. I was hoping that with the Gulf Islands’ somewhat more hilly topology, the coverage might be a little better.

Thanks !
Peter

 

 

[Peter Tutak]

Nick and Karin-

Thanks very much for your considerate and informative replies. I’ll check out the links you’ve both provided. A lot of the information I have is dated (i.e. the Snowden books), although I do have updated tide and current charts for the area, so understanding what’s available for kayak camping is indeed welcome.

Karin, I do paddle the San Juans, and have been out to Cypress, Strawberry, Doe, Sucia, Patos, Stuart, Henry, and Jones Islands. Channel crossings are fun, but I want to be close in on this trip, so ‘less challenging’ is good, at least this time. We’re staying at Mayne Island Resort, which is pretty close to Bennett Bay, and a great place to both, start and recover from. We’re also going to try to stay one night at the Fairmont in Vancouver on the way back, but I have to call them and see if their valet parking can ensure the safety of a Volvo wagon with a 22′ boat strapped atop. 😉

Nick, I made a mistake – it’s Village Bay I’d be ferrying to from Tswawassen, not Miner’s Bay (I haven’t been up there in a while ;).

And yes, I joined SKABC because I’m interested in doing more paddling in your waters, and I’m also interested in working on some volunteer cleanup/work party activities up there, much the same as I do down here as a member of the Washington Water Trails Association. I have no problem making the trip up there to help. So, hopefully, we’ll have a change to meet before long.

I may have a few more questions eventually, but for now I’ll dig into the information you’ve provided. Thanks again !

Regards,

Peter

 

[Karin Hartner]

Hi Peter

I see Nick has already replied with similar information. Here’s a bit more…..

Thanks for choosing to come to our Gulf Islands for a paddling holiday.

It might be a good idea if you go on the BC Marine Trails Network web site to plan your trip….you will find all the kayak accessible campsites in the area you want to paddle and it is well marked on a map. Camping is not permitted at Winter Cove. It is a day area only. There is also no public camping on Mayne Island. But if you search Mayne Island camping you will find the only camping on that Island at Seal Cottage on Active pass. Since you have a B&B reservation, sounds like it might be better if you camp on one of the Penders which have two kayak accessible sites. The distances aren’t huge and you should be able to get back to Bennet Bay easily on your schedule especially as you are in a double.

I would strongly encourage you to buy proper marine chart (Canadian Hydrographic Services-Nautical Charts-also part of Dept of Fisheries and Oceans) for the area as it will inform you of currents and you can also go to the Government of Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans to obtain detailed tide information.

As for safety equipment–should be the same as for American waters. Do you paddle in the San Juans? I’d say you are choosing a less challenging area in coming up here although it can get exciting going through Active Pass or around East Point on Saturna if you aren’t watching your tides and currents.

The ferry schedule changes for the summer–it likely isn’t set yet. Just keep checking the online reservation system after May 1st. They should have it set by then.

That should get you going. Feel free to contact me at karinhartner@gmail.com for further help.

Cheers

Karin

[Nick Heath]

I withdraw my last comment, Peter. sorry.   I see you just joined SKABC!

Thank you – excellent choice!

[Nick Heath]

Hi Peter. I recommend that you look at the site map shown at  https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/  There you will find some answers.

3. BC ferries has no service to Miner’s Bay on Mayne I.  Last year I launched my kayak from the beach at Sturdies Bay on Galiano I to reach Mayne Eco Camping, where I presume you are staying.  Alternatively you would need to take a car by ferry to Village Bay and drive to that campsite.

1. There is no camping permitted by Parks Canada at Winter Cove (although there is plenty of room). The best alternative is to paddle to Cabbage I.  Be aware of v strong currents and possible boat traffic in Boat Passage.

Narvaez Bay on Saturna or Beaumont on S Pender would be your second night options.  There is plenty of current – be aware of it – but mostly less so than in the San Juans. These sites will likely be full every night in August and take no reservations.

2. Mandatory safety equipment depends on length (re flares). You can download the guide here at the Office of Boating Safety site http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-menu-1362.htm

They have (or had) a separate brocuhure about kayaking safety, too.

Enjoy and maybe even consider joining our club!

 

 

[Peter Tutak]

Greetings-

I’m an intermediate-class paddler planning a two-night kayak camping trip for two people into the southern Gulf Islands this August. I’m hoping I can ask the membership for some advice regarding my planning.

DAY ONE: We will be heading out from Bennett Bay SE proceeding along either the windward side of Samuel Island (or the lee of Belle Chain Islets), and Saturna.  Entry through Boat Pass to camp overnight at Winter Cove.

DAY TWO: Not yet set. I’m thinking about camping at another location on Saturna, or proceeding NW to St Johns Point, and along the W side of Mayne, hoping to camp there, or crossing Navy Channel near Conconi Reef to camp somewhere along the NE or NW shores of N. Pender.

We’re sandwiching this between two nights at a Mayne Isl. B&B (reservations in hand).

My questions are:

1. Can anyone recommend or identify a shoreline campground either the W/SW side of Saturna, W/SW side of Mayne, or NW/N/NE side of N.Pender for my second night ? I’m not having much luck finding one via map research.

2. My tandem is a VCS Aleut II, so ample room. Can anyone point me to the mandatory safety equipment requirements for paddling in Canadian waters ?

3. Calls to BC Ferries regarding reservations to Miners Bay in August have been met with ‘not yet’. But they can’t tell me when they *will* take reservations. Does anyone know approximately when these start to become available ?

Many thanks in advance for any and all information offered.

Peter

Seattle, WA

 

[Jill Thompson]

What better way to enjoy the first day of spring than the beauty and calm of a morning paddle!  March 20^th gear up your boat and be on the beach at 7:00 am, ready to launch.  A hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee, tea, fruit and juice will be served back at the clubhouse.  Please bring a toonie for the bacon, etc., your own mug, and some baked goods (e.g. muffins, croissants, buns, etc.) to share.  1326 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver BC

 Please RSVP by March 14^th to kayak@hollyburnsailingclub.ca

Hope to see you there!

[Jill Thompson]

You are invited to the Hollyburn Sailing Club Kayaking Movie Night.

 Wednesday, March 9^th, 6pm for 6:30 start

1326 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver, BC

 BYOB, Free Popcorn

 Two movies will be shown: Kayaking the Aleutians and Extreme Open Ocean Kayaking.

If time allows, we will also show Kayaking Across the Tasman Sea – an account of a fateful trip from Tasmania to New Zealand.

 For information contact kayak@hollyburnsailingclub.ca

[Roxanne Rousseau]

Dear SKABC Members,

Thank you to very much to Karin for sending along this information. The source is Cheryl Lewis – Force of Nature and her website is: http://www.<wbr />forceofnaturealliance.ca/

In a nutshell and urgently:

“Those who would like to submit comments to our government should review BC’s Climate Leadership Plan Consultation guide beforehand, and structure their feedback into the following four categories:

1. what we value (carbon pricing, general financial mechanisms),

2. how we live (community and built environment),

3. how we travel (transportation) and

4. how we work (industry, business and natural resources.)

After you have read the guide, forward your feedback to climateleadershipplan@gov.<wbr />bc.ca and pass this message along to your networks before the deadline of March 25th.

This our opportunity to have our voices heard regarding the meaningful change that is required for BC to meet its climate targets.  ”

Please note that if you hover over the hyperlinks and click, you will be taken directly to the source.

Please as a dedicated member of SKABC consider participating in this important issue.

Best,

Roxanne

SKABC, Chair Conservation

[Roxanne Rousseau]

Dear Members, Several of you have emailed me directly and informed me that the link to the article does not take you to it directly. My apologies. Please see below the article in it’s entirety:

Times Colonist
March 2, 2016 07:56 AM

B.C. Parks is in trouble. Despite recommendations made by the finance committee in the report on Budget 2016 consultations to increase funding for the agency, this year’s budget does not.

As described in numerous submissions to the committee, B.C. Parks is in desperate need of funds to ensure basic visitor services and adequate management. Its $31-million budget is expected to cover more than 14 million hectares, or 14 per cent of the province, which works out to about a toonie per hectare (about the size of two football fields). This figure remains unchanged since 2001, outstripped by inflation and despite an increase in the area protected.

For comparison, Parks Canada provides 10 times that amount per hectare, and that’s after the Harper government introduced major budget cuts in 2012. Even then, Parks Canada is considered underfunded and suffers a $2.77-billion backlog in infrastructure repair.

Many of B.C.’s parks are starting to suffer from years of neglect, despite the heroic efforts of dedicated but under-resourced staff to stretch budgets creatively.

In the past few years, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society has seen a marked increase in the number of people voicing concerns regarding the state of B.C.’s parks, including poorly maintained campsites and ecological damage due to inadequate monitoring and poor trail maintenance. Core functions such as research and monitoring have had to be cut. With no fat left to trim, these cuts go straight to the bone.

Sadly, this is nothing new. In 2010, B.C.’s auditor general delivered a scathing report on the state of B.C.’s parks, but little has been done to address concerns raised.

B.C. Parks stewards some of the world’s most spectacular and diverse landscapes and seascapes. Almost 20 million people visit B.C.’s provincial parks each year, making them extremely important not only for conservation, but also for the province’s identity, health and economy.

A report by the Canadian Parks Council estimates that every dollar invested in B.C.’s parks and protected-areas system by the government generates $8.42 in visitor spending on food, entertainment, transportation and other goods and services. B.C.’s parks are a cornerstone of the province’s massive tourism industry.

While the creation of new protected areas, including those in the Great Bear Rainforest, is to be celebrated, without new funding this will only spread meager resources even thinner. Without monitoring and enforcement, these are no more than “paper parks,” protected in theory but not in practice.

Parks that are under-resourced become neglected, and declining visitor experience leads to them being underutilized. This, in turn, makes it easier to alter their protection, a phenomenon that has increased since the Parks Act was changed in 2014 to make it easier to do industrial research in parks.

The 2016 budget fails to recognize the societal and economic value that parks deliver to B.C., and threatens the ecological integrity of these special places. It does a disservice to previous generations who decided to protect these areas from development, and to future generations who deserve to experience them in the same way.

Peter Wood is director of terrestrial conservation for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society B.C. © Copyright Times Colonist

 

[Author]

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