[Kevin Amos]

Greetings!

 

I am writing on behalf of the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP), alongside our Acting Executive Director, Mere Tari Sovick.

 

As some of you know, PPP has been doing an event called “Paddle 4 Pacific” (P4P). This event was originally planned to conclude on August 11, 2024 but has been extended to December 31, 2024.

 

Our organization, We are reaching out to you today to share an exciting opportunity for your club members to participate in our upcoming event, “Paddle 4 Pacific” (P4P).

 

P4P is a unique event that combines the thrill of paddling with a noble cause. It aims to revive the traditional art of weaving in North and Central Pentecost Island of Vanuatu, promoting sustainable living, women empowerment, and intergenerational transfer of knowledge. Every kilometre paddled raises funds for P4P, and we believe your club members would be excellent participants. This event is also suitable for rowing clubs. Basically, if you are travelling through the water without using a motor or simply swimming, you qualify.

 

We are not asking for a partnership, but rather your support in promoting this event to your club members. Your involvement can significantly contribute to the success of P4P and make a real difference in preserving an integral part of the Pacific heritage while empowering communities. If you would be so kind as to post the attached poster somewhere where your members could see it, we’d greatly appreciate it. I’m including three copies with slightly different designs but the same information in case you have a preference.

 

There is an anonymous donor matching funds up to $10,000 until Oct 31, 2024. In addition, we will interview the top donor to this campaign for our e-newsletter Tok Blong Pasifik. If they decline, the top donor who accepts will be interviewed instead.

 

PPP has been working with South Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Peoples for over 45 years to promote peace, justice, environmental sustainability, and community-led initiatives.

 

If this year does not work for you, we plan to launch Paddle for Pacific 2025 preparations next sptring and would be happy to get back in touch with you then.

 

To discuss this further, please reply to me at info@pacificpeoplespartnership.org or to Mere at director@pacificpeoplespartnership.org.

 

Thank you for considering this opportunity. We look forward to the possibility of your club’s participation in Paddle 4 Pacific.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Andy E. Nystrom

Archivist & Research Assistant

Pacific Peoples’ Partnership

Suite 407, 620 View Street

Victoria, BC  V8W 1J6

Ph. 250-381-4131

Fax. 888-812-7346

http://www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org

[Don Froese]

Thanks Philip!

[Kevin Amos]

You might want to contact Ridge Meadows Search & Rescue. They probably have some real world suggestions for the area.

Home

[Nick Heath]

I last went there in 2012 and back then it was delightful, but things can change greatly over time.

Now, BCMT are dealing with a long-standing issue -overuse, overcrowding and poor sanitation practices by campers at Flower I. The local FN asked some time ago that the site be removed from the BCMT map for these environmental reasons i.e site degradation. For various reasons this action was deferred pending other solutions being found – consult BC Parks (it is in a conservancy) – fund-raise for a composting toilet and other infrastructure etc.

If you have recently visited this site, please send me your impression  and recommendation. Were the users all independent paddlers or were there commercial users and other boaters there?

It would be perverse to close a site because it is too popular!

If the site is removed from the BCMT map, it likely will not affect usage much and it will remain in all printed guidebooks – but it is possible for this to become an official, posted site closure by joint action of BC Parks and the FN, thus enforceable by Guardian Watchmen and/or Park Rangers. More or less similar action closed the lovely Burdwood Group north site not so long ago.

Another point is that site closures might not solve the problem, but only displace it, so another nearby site then gets overrun and suffers a similar fate.

Thks for any help with this!

Nick H

groundcheck (at) bcmarinetrails.org

[Kapila Jayaweera]

Another alternate would be to use a ham radio. There are repeaters all over mainland including Mapleridge should be able to hit using handheld radio (although I have not tested myself), as well as pretty much anywhere in the country have ham radio repeaters.

One thing is that you have get a ham radio (Amateur Radio) license which is not hard. If anyone interested getting an Amateur Radio license, please contact me and I am help.
Usually marine radios does not cover frequency range that Amateur Radio operates, needs another radio. You can get inexpensive radios since they are widely available even under hundred dollars.

[Quirine Schuyff]

Thanks Philip.

I’m replying here to gauge interest of other members. I’ll email and see if he knows dates yet.

 

[Brian Pegg]

Bob :

 

Newer iphones (14 or later) have built in satellite sos capability

I have one and have use the test function but have not used it for real.

 

The next option is the satellite communicators.  These include garmin inreach, spot messenger, zoleo, bivystick, and probably some others. I have extensively used garmin inreach and appreciate the two way non emergency communication.  Cheap safety only plans are available. I have used this in a for real emergency and the results were not great.

 

The other option is a radio frequency epirb. These used to be for marine vessels but have gotten smaller so are worth thinking about.  They cost $ upfront but no subscription and are only for emergencies.

 

Good luck!  make sure to have one of these options, or just go old school with a check in person.  BP

 

[Philip Kubik]

Sonny Zlotnik (a member of PIKA) is offering a Paddle Canada Basic Instructor course in the Lower Mainland on Oct. 19-20. Pre-requisite is Paddle Canada Level 1 Skills. Cost will be in the range $250-$300, depending on the number of participants. If interested, contact Sonny directly at 604-880-8086 or zlotnik_sonny@hotmail.com. Do not reply to this message.

[Philip Kubik]

For detailed information about surfing at Surge Narrows, see:

http://www.alyak.ca/SurgeNarrows/SurgeNarrowsInfo.html

I have surfed there a number of times and will let you know if I plan to go again.

[Don Froese]

Is anyone interested in a Surge Narrows trip? I have never been out there so not familiar with the logistics of this area.  Timing flexible but sometime in October/November would be ideal.

[George Prevost]

I agree that an inReach is a good solution.  If you’re going to buy one, I just saw an article saying that there is a new model that allows you to send voice messages and photos, if that’s something you think you might want to do.  I don’t see it on the Garmin website yet, though.  Another option is a Garmin Montana 700i GPS, which is what I have.  It’s an excellent, very waterproof GPS with a large, clear touchscreen and also includes inReach capability.

[Richard Magill]

Hi Henry,

 

Yes it’s still available.  A few bites, but nothing firm yet.  236.586.5309.

[Henry Wilsenack]

Following… And interested if available. \Henry

[Nick Heath]

Hi Bob,

I have long carried a Personal Locator Beacon on my PFD. This provides emergency SOS service more or less anywhere, satellite-based with no monthly fee. The downside is a fairly hefty price of about $400+ and a requirement for the manufacturer to the change battery after 5-7 years.

These are required for crew members on many, perhaps most organized ocean sailing events, after numerous tragedies in which individuals have gone overboard but were never located despite adequate buoyancy and thermal protection. I am surprised that so few paddlers use them.

PLBs don’t perform the variety of functions that the inReach has, but if what you want is a basic locator beacon that is always with you, they make sense. You can also carry them for hiking, skiing etc more or less anywhere with maybe a few satellite-dead zone exceptions.

A decent Marine VHF putting out 25 W of power through a high-gain antenna mounted on a tall mast would almost certainly reach the Rescue Coordination Centre folks (i.e. sailboat moored at N end of Stave Lk) but hand-held radios lack that punch, so unless conditions are perfect and the signal can skip out to one of the repeater towers on Salt Spring or Bowen Islands etc an emergency call from a paddler would likely go unheard unless a boater on Fraser R received the call and performed a Mayday Relay (as they are supposed to do).

I suspect (but don’t know) that a DSC call from a hand-held radio would require less power and would stand a good chance of being picked up by RCC, even from far the end of Stave Lk. It would be interesting to learn if that is so.

[Richard Magill]

Hi Lindi,

Just checking to see if you’re still thinking about meeting me in Ucluelet sometime between October 4th-9th.

 

Thx.

[Author]

Replies