a kayak - Wavelength Paddling Magazine

WaveLength
COAST&KAYAK
The magazine of adventure and recreation on the water
Volume 21, Issue 1
Spring 2011
FREE at select outlets and
online or by subscription
Magazine
BC’s Marine Trails
Network is born
We give an exclusive world preview
to this epic new kayaking option
We’ve turned 20!
Celebrate with us as we give
away a custom kevlar Titan VI
from Atlantis. Details inside.
There’s more online in our multimedia edition: www.coastandkayak.com

WEEKLY AND SPECIAL
EVENTS THIS SUMMER
• Every Wednesday, Women on Water
Women only evening paddle with discounted rentals
• May 15, 2011, Tour De Indian Arm Kayak and SUP Race
Come join in fun and test your skills
• June 25, 2011, Stand Up Paddle Board Demo Day
Check out what the new boards have to offer
Deep Cove Outdoors is now located at:
352 Lynn Ave, North Vancouver 5min from 2nd Narrows Bridge
Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak
deepcovekayak.com / 604.929.2268
Rentals • Lessons • Programs • Courses • Events
2 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

This issue’s features:
8 With this paddle, I thee wed
A honeymoon well off the bridal path
12 Made for adventure
Introducing the BC Marine Trail
16 Leg one: The North Island
20 Leg two: Brooks/Kyuquot
24 Leg three: Nootka
30 Leg four: Clayoquot
42 Pick a kayak, any kayak
What to consider when buying
44 Ibis, the ancient seabird
Wildlife
8
36
44
Regular items:
6 News
34 Tours and Services
38 Kayaks
Necky Looksha Elite,
Atlantis Titan VI,
Delta 20T
43 Instruction Directory
46 Skillset
by Alex Matthews
48 Paddle Meals
by Hilary Masson
50 Kayak-friendly
Accommodation
52 Fishing Angles
by Dan Armitage
Contents
THE ORIGINAL BRITISH SEA KAYAK
www.valleyseakayaks.com
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 3

The First Word
Spring 2011 Volume 21, Number 1
PM No. 41687515
Editor John Kimantas
Advertising Sales Brent Daniel
Copy Editing Darrell Bellaart
Cover Photo:
Surveying sites for the BC
Marine Trails Network meant
long hours of paddling by
volunteers. BCMTNA president
Stephanie Meinke crosses
toward Brooks Peninsula on one
such trip to survey Heater Point.
Photo by Stephan Meinke.
COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE is an independent magazine
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and globally on the web. Also available by paid subscription.
Articles, photos, events, news are all welcome.
Find back issues, articles, events, writers guidelines and
advertising information online at coastandkayak.com
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To subscribe, visit
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ISSUE AD DEADLINE DISTRIBUTION
Spring 2011 Feb. 4 March 1
Summer 2011 April 15 May 16
Fall 2011 July 1 Aug. 1
Winter 2011 Oct. 1 Nov. 1
A product of:
Wild Coast Publishing
#6 10 Commercial St.
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada, V9R 5G2
Ph: 1-866-984-6437 • Fax: 1-866-654-1937
Email: kayak@coastandkayak.com
Website: www.coastandkayak.com
© 2010. Copyright is retained on all material (text, photos and graphics) in this magazine.
No reproduction is allowed of any material in any form, print or electronic, for any purpose,
except with the permission of Wild Coast Publishing.
Some elements in maps in this magazine are reproduced with
the permission of Natural Resources Canada 2010, courtesy
of the Atlas of Canada. Also, our thanks to Geobase for some
elements that may appear on Coast&Kayak maps.
by John Kimantas
What’s in a name? I guess I’ll find out
Is it fitting or a cop-out to rename a magazine on its 20th birthday? Or is that
a betrayal to history and tradition? Either way Wavelength Magazine is officially
Coast&Kayak Magazine now, though I expect unofficially it will be Wavelength forever
in many people’s minds.
Don’t get me wrong. Wavelength is a great name. Too good a name, actually. It’s
so good that there are multiple other Wavelength Magazines out there. There is:
Wavelength Magazine, the weekly live music series and monthly
zine based in Toronto; Wavelength Magazine, the official
publication of the Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials (APCO) in Canada; Wavelength Magazine focusing on
news and advances in radiation therapy, information management
and neuroscience; and most troubling of all, Wavelength
Magazine, the UK surfing magazine. Woe be the subscriber
who contacts me wondering where their next issue is and what
happened to the free flip-flops they were promised. All I can do
is point them in the general direction of England.
This wouldn’t be a problem say 20 years ago, when Wavelength was first conjured
up out there on Gabriola Island (with thanks to Alan and Peter and the rest for
creating such a fantastic legacy). Today Wavelength runs into a problem that couldn’t
have been anticipated 20 years ago – the electronic media. So much depends now on
Google, and if you punch in Wavelength most of the 12.6 million or so search results
will invariably involve Blue Tooth technology or similar (in case you were wondering,
a wavelength is the spatial period of the wave or the distance over which the wave’s
shape repeats. Not particularly poetic by definition.) Not to mention that if you go to
the Official Wavelength Magazine Facebook Page, it’s not us. It’s those Brit surfers.
So I hope Coast&Kayak is distinct enough. I think it summarizes us nicely, since
I like to think our focus extends beyond paddlers to anyone who loves the coast, so
emphasizing that aspect isn’t a bad thing – though I’m sure many will appreciate the
irony that the lead article in this magazine has no coast at all and more rafts than
kayaks. My rebuttal is we are all about inclusion. Canoeists, paddleboarders, surf skiers,
surf kayakers – in fact, anyone who loves exploring by water – you’re all welcome here.
If I owe anyone an apology I think it’s Canoe and Kayak, as we now share the same
initials (C&K Magazine), but I’m sure the world is big enough for the two of us. At
least it’s less crowded than the Wavelength Magazine world.
But to put minds at ease, the name is the only real change. The rest is a constant
evolution, such as our multimedia online edition (please visit if you haven’t seen it
yet), our rejigged website (the online Kayak Buyer’s Guide is awesome now), and other
advances. So here’s to looking back at our history, and ahead to a great next 20 years!
- John Kimantas
We put aside paddles to hike the
Nootka Trail. Get details on this
magnificent route on page 26.
Coast&Kayak Magazine is dedicated to making self-propelled
coastal exploration fun and accessible. Safety and travel
information is provided to augment pre-existing safety and
knowledge. A safety course and proper equipment are advised
before any exploration on water. See a list of paddling instruction
locations at www.coastandkayak.com
4 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 5

News
Summer 2011: it’s made for going around in circles
Setting the speed record for
circumnavigating Vancouver Island may
be for the elite, but enough other circle
adventures are set for 2011 to keep paddlers
occupied in everything from competitive
hauls to free-spirited fun runs.
Back again is the Alert Bay 360, set this
year for July 31 to coincide with the BC
Day long weekend. It will feature a race
around Malcolm Island (off Port McNeill
on northern Vancouver Island). Plus the
community gets involved with a Big House
celebration, seafood buffet and First
Nations cultural dance performances.
The only catch: registration is being
limited to 200 participants this year.
Registration will take place online soon at
www.alertbay360.com.
Back for its 11th year is the Round
Bowen Island Challenge. Well situated for
Vancouver and Greater Seattle paddlers, the
race is set for Sunday, June 26 and features
a tough 35-kilometer slog around the Howe
Sound island north of Vancouver. Visit
roundbowenchallenge.com.
Bound to entail less competition, the
Gabriola 360 Fun Race takes place for
its second year on Sunday, Aug. 21. The
first year race organizers Silva Bay Kayak
Adventures attracted 26 participants. Visit
www.silvabayakaking.com.
For more summer events, visit
www.coastandkayak.com/events.html
Clayoquot at risk – again
With plans already in the works for open
pit mining of the iconic Catface Range in
Clayoquot Sound, a new threat is being
faced by Flores Island as logging company
Iisaak is looking to build roads into an area
it signed an agreement in 1999 to preserve
from logging. The Wilderness Committee
is launching an email petition to halt the
logging. Visit wildernesscommittee.org to
add your voice.
Meanwhile, Coast&Kayak columnist
Dan Lewis and partner Bonny Glambeck
will be touring British Columbia coastal
communities this spring with a presentation
called ‘Secrets of Clayoquot Sound’.
Bonny Glambeck photo
The Catface Range from Dick and Jane
Beach. See page 30.
The seasoned naturalists and expedition
paddlers will share stories about their
adventures at home in Clayoquot Sound
backed by wildlife and landscape shots
from some of BC’s leading outdoor
photographers.
The show will cover the natural beauty
and splendor of the Clayoquot Sound
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the ecology
of the region’s ancient rainforests and
threats to that ecology including fish farms,
logging and the open-pit mine proposal.
For dates and details visit the Friends of
Clayoquot Sound website at www.focs.ca.
My Arctic Tern 14 is the
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of eleven boats I own.
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6 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

News
One new website address.
All the kayaking
information you’ll ever need.
• Back issues of magazines.
• Kayak Buyer’s Guide.
• Gear Buyer’s Guide.
• Kayaking skills information.
• Boat building information.
• And much, much more.
www.coastandkayak.com
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of your world, ours begins
Explore...
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and kayaking, Haida Gwaii Culture,
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See what exists
outside of
cell coverage.
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 7
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Destinations
by Nikki Rekman / photos by Mark Klein
With this paddle
I thee wed
This isn’t every girl’s
dream honeymoon.But
could it start a trend?
8 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

The Grand Canyon
A paddling honeymoon – I certainly did not have dreams
of this as a little girl, I can assure you, but then again there
are a few of those dreams that thankfully were never
fulfilled.
When Mark and I finally decided we were going to take
the plunge into matrimony I figured there would be nothing
traditional about our wedding. Heck, I was just thankful
we were finally getting to this point. But to my delight
and surprise this is the story of a paddling adventure that
exceeded a little girl’s expectations.
On Oct. 9. 2010 Mark and I were married. It was everything
I had hoped for and much more – not a huge affair but one
that was representative of who Mark and I are, shared of
course with the important people in our lives. But Mark had
his own idea of how to celebrate our life-long commitment –
a paddle down the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon.
Here is where the adventure begins. On October 11 we
left our home near Vancouver, BC, and headed south to
Flagstaff, Arizona, where we were to meet up with the crew
from Canyon Explorations/Expeditions for a 15-day paddle
down the Colorado. Also on the trip was our friend Lynne
from Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford, BC. So
there we were, the three of us, at the put-in at Lee’s Ferry
on the north shore of the Colorado. There was definitely the
excitement of exploring a new river. And not just any river,
but one that winds its way through the bottom of one of
the most remarkable geological features on the planet: the
Grand Canyon.
Over the course of the first few days it was amazing to
me how we lost our inhibitions with the total strangers we
had only just met and ultimately became our own little river
tribe. Picture the girls going upstream to pee and the boys
going downstream – on the Colorado to adequately handle
the number of people that visit each year you pee in the
river and haul everything else out in sealed ammo boxes
(also referred to as “the “groover” for the grooves left in
your behind from the boxes before some river guide genius
thought of using a toilet seat).
I wasn’t sure at first how it would be unwinding all the
craziness of the wedding and end-of-season work for me
(I’m a sales representative in the paddling industry). It was
work – the paddling, the river life, all the people and the
weather – but the 225 miles were some of the most amazing
paddling days I have ever experienced.
I had never been on the water for that many consecutive
days and had certainly never planned a trip where you had
to take down camp every morning and set it all up again
later in the day. However, you get into a routine and it is very
much a part of your experience of being on the river. Finding
just the right spot to quickly set up your tent for the night
(remember we were paddling in October, so the days were
shorter) became something to look forward to – a type of
nesting, really. Ah, I love it.
Evenings were spent cooking, visiting with fellow
paddlers, debriefing the day and planning the next. Did I say
there was some work involved? I love the river life. Crawling
into the tent, feeling certain that your sleeping mat was four
inches thick and not 1.5 inches because you could feel the
relaxation in every muscle in your body as you lay down.
The river is most certainly a good analogy for married
life. It winds and meanders and with its mighty flow makes
many of the rough spots smooth – over time. Mark is my
best friend and our most significant meeting place is the
out of doors and particularly paddling. Some might think
a paddling honeymoon could be the beginning of the end
(we heard from one guide a story of a couple that decided to
get divorced on a trip at about the half-way point). Mark and
I fared much better. We work stuff out better on the river
than we do at home. I think this is mostly because things
are simplified on the water. You need to make so many
miles, eat, sleep and with those objectives we each know
what we have to do to get those things done successfully.
We established our roles on paddling trips many years ago.
At home we call these departments. Mine, for example, is
cooking and his is dishes.
u
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 9

Destinations
We paddled the river at
8,000 cubic feet per second
(CFS – think 8,000 basketballs
passing by you each second –
isn’t that a visual!) and during
the summer months the river
is typically at about 20-22,000
CFS. The features of the river
at 8,000 CFS are more exposed
because of the lower flow.
This allowed us to paddle the
inflatable kayaks with greater
success, which essentially
means less swimming. In addition to the
two inflatable kayaks, we had five oar boats
and one paddle boat. I had never paddled
in water as big as this and it was thrilling –
and at one point frightening – after being
eaten by a huge hole at Horn Creek rapid.
How happy was I to eventually pop-up
downstream only to see the big eyes of my
betrothed saying, “I’m glad that’s over.”
The highlight of the trip in terms of the
river for me was successfully running Lava
Falls, the largest rapid on the river, with
multiple features and must-do moves. Mark
and I, having demonstrated some degree
of competence while sitting
comfortably in our drysuits,
were honored on the one
hand, but also quite petrified
that we were selected to be in
the front of the paddleboat
to run Lava. We had an
opportunity to scout before
we ran and looking down
from our vantage point I was
pretty sure I was going to
either puke or cry. That thing
was big (even at 8,000 CFS)!
I was not the only one with anxiety. The
entire day before and that morning we were
all praying that we wouldn’t have an out-ofboat
experience. And it was important for
the guides too, as this was their last trip of
the season and they too seemed eager to
end on a high note.
As it turned out no one swam Lava Falls
– the river had mercy on us this particular
day. The next stop was Tequila Beach for
a night of celebrating with some liquid
libation which our guides’ called a “bucket
of stupid” (need I say more).
I would be remiss if I did not tell you
story and images by John Kimantas
that the canyon is more than just the river.
The geology is mind-boggling and touching
rocks that are over a billion years old,
well, that’s pretty impressive. The hiking is
incredible in the side canyons and although
I am not much of a hiker I was so glad
that I did them because those tucked-away
places that you can’t see from the river were
gorgeous.
Many people have gone before us on this
amazing river. Some are famous, like John
Wesley Powell, and some infamous, like
Bert Loepper, and their stories and others
were such an important part of our own
journey down the river. If you get a chance
to visit this magical place, you won’t regret
the time it took or the money it cost – we
sure don’t and more specifically a paddling
honeymoon is one that you will never forget
because who does that?
In the words of a paddlesports colleague,
what a fitting trip as Mark and I start on our
grand journey together.
<
Nikki enjoys sharing paddling adventures
with her husband, Mark, and is a sales rep in
the canoeing & kayaking industry.
Get it at
ecomarine
Avocet LV
Performance kayaks
from the UK
604-689-7575
sales@ecomarine.com
10 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011
Spring 2011.indd 1
2/3/2011 3:06:21 PM

The Grand Canyon
A gentle moment along the Grand
Canyon. Click online for a slideshow.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 11

The BC Marine Trail
by John Kimantas
It was a day of perfect paddling conditions
when passing through the Bunsby Islands
on a trip following the new West Coast
Vancouver Island North Marine Trail.
Official status to the route along the wildest coast
of Vancouver Island will ensure passage through
some of the world’s most spectacular scenery and
the best kayaking imaginable. It is a route truly
On my first run down the outside of Vancouver Island by
kayak, Cape Scott served up a thrashing. The cape is the
northwestern-most point of land on Vancouver Island, and it
was deceivingly calm as I passed the cape’s resident sea lion
rookery at dawn. Rubbery whiskered noses snorted at me as
they surfaced beside the kayak. I lingered absently, unaware
of how my leisurely approach was working against me. No
sooner was I past the lighthouse than the wind picked up
from the south. In moments I was fighting vicious wind
waves of several feet, coupled with an adverse and growing
current. My progress slowed to a crawl, and to make matters
worse, the current kept trying to push me towards the
cape’s sharp reefs. My GPS kept dropping to a reading of
0.0 kmh – too slow to be measured. By doubling my effort
the end of the peninsula slowly crept into view. There the
current seemed to release me, and I managed to drop into
the relative safety of Lowrie Bay. I did have ample time to
recover, though – the next two days were spent waiting out
a storm.
My second crossing was more peaceful but eery. The
wind behaved, leaving just a gentle swell. The reefs loomed
in and out of view, causing us to constantly second-guess
where they were hidden, while a heavy mist made the
background surreal.
Both instances left indelible memories, as did most of the
rest of the outer coast of Vancouver Island. The run from
Port Hardy to Tofino, a distance of about 800 kilometres by
kayak, covers the best of the coast of British Columbia in a
run remarkable in so many ways. The rugged nature, the
isolation, the diversity of scenery and the varied and rich
ecology is remarkable. In addition, each region has its own
particular attractions and charm. Given that it is so wild and
uninhabited the need to formalize a route like this might
seem unnecessary – after all, most is Crown land (that is,
public) or already protected as parkland. But consider that it
might not always be this way.
A wakeup call for the kayaking community in British
Columbia was the advent of the Maa-Nulth Treaty in 2006.
More than a century overdue, the treaty served to right
wrongs left over from British colonization that eroded
12 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Port Hardy
The WCVIN section
This issue: We take you on a journey
through the rugged new West Coast
Vancouver Island North Marine Trails from
Port Hardy to Tofino.
Next issue: Hopping serene islands
along the new Gulf Islands Marine
Trail Network.
Tofino
aboriginal rights without legal resolution. The Maa-Nulth
Treaty was British Columbia’s first coastal treaty, and so
provided a glimpse for the future of how coastal native
communities will be transformed.
Not surprising, the treaty grants additional land, but in
contrast to previous treaty lands the Maa-nulth lands are
fee simple: that is, essentially private property that can be
bought and sold. And not surprisingly, many of the parcels
picked out in the treaty are among the most heavily used
coastal recreation areas, such as Spring Island in the Mission
Group off Kyuquot Sound, and Toquart Bay, the main launch
point for kayakers heading to the popular Broken Group
Islands.
In response to this and other changes along the coast,
paddling clubs across British Columbia united in 2007 to
begin the process of creating a marine trail composed of
launch sites, campsites and safe havens to allow travel by
paddle along the entire BC coast for generations to come. The
result, when complete, will be the largest marine trail in the
world. What followed was a lengthy process by volunteers
of nine paddling clubs in identifying sites, visiting them,
working with the government and consulting with First
Nations interests to push forward the goal.
With enough of the preliminary work out of the way, the
government has agreed to lift the veil of quiet behind-thescenes
work and announce support for the full trail while
officially opening the first two portions: the West Coast
Vancouver Island North section from Port Hardy to Tofino
and the Gulf Islands Trail Network between Victoria and
Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The official announcement
will be made at the Vancouver Island Paddlefest in May, along
with a ceremonial group paddle through a portion of the Gulf
Islands route to celebrate the occasion. It may well be the
most historic paddle in the history of British Columbia.
The changes for kayakers will initially be largely invisible,
as site development isn’t part of the equation. At least, not
yet. What does change, though, is the designation of the land
itself. Once a marine trail site, the designation trumps other
possible proposed uses such as fish farms and resorts.
In other words, the trail is here to stay.
u
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 13

The BC Marine Trail
For the West Coast
Vancouver Island North
section, currently 147
marine trail sites are on
the table (including access
points, overnight locations
and picnic sites where
kayakers can visit but not
stay.) How many will end
up officially on the trail is
still an unknown, as some
considerations have yet to
be resolved. For instance,
many key kayaking campsites
in areas such as the Bunsby
Islands won’t be part of
the initial inventory, if at
all, because they are located
in the Checleset Bay Ecological Reserve,
which restricts foreshore access by the
public. The ban on access has always been
in place; it has just never been enforced.
Cultural sensitivity for First Nations is
another issue. Government representatives
working with the planning group, the
BC Marine Trails Network Association
(BCMTNA), have been approaching First
Nations representatives to work together
in designating appropriate sites for the
trail, but issues such as historic use (for
instance, camping on a former village site)
mean some sites are still in limbo or may be
dropped.
The first two sections to be unveiled
are just the first of the many legs that will
eventually join to allow travel by paddle
John Kimantas photo
Kayaks on the beach at Apple Islets before
crossing Brooks Peninsula.
down the entire BC coast from Washington
State to Alaska. While some areas, such as
the Discovery Islands north of Campbell
River (the cluster that includes Quadra and
Cortes islands), are fairly complete, other
regions such as the North and Central BC
coast are more complex. The huge area to
be covered, the distance from home bases
(in terms of BCMTNA volunteers being
able to “groundproof ” potential sites),
cultural issues and even the province’s
recent creation of vast parcels of newly
protected areas are all factors that will slow
the trail’s completion.
That’s the long-term problem. In the
short-term, even trail
portions will help create
a network of known and
reliable camping locations,
removing the question of
where to stay at the end
of the day – a traditional
hurdle for treks along
the BC coast in both
populated and isolated
sections.
While the trail
announcement is a huge
step forward, the process
won’t end even once all
the trail components
are announced. The
BCMTNA expects to
continue to play a key role in searching
for and lobbying for new sites in the years
ahead, as well as working on a public
education and trail advocacy component.
There may also be a need for campsite
development as wilderness areas become
better used and begin to require services.
What follows is an introductory look at
the West Coast Vancouver Island North
trail section. Because this is a preview in
advance of formal designation, some sites
mentioned may not make the official end
list. In addition, a multitude of other sites
remain on the BCMTNA “dream list,” not
yet publicly released but with hopes for
future inclusion. Others will follow on the
list shortly as paddling in British Columbia
enters an exciting new era.
14 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

The WCVIN section
Paddling is invigorating.
It feeds my spirit. It renews my mind, body
and soul. It’s a chance to get away from
deadlines, construction noise and cell phones.
Paddling is bliss.
- Ashley
Ashley - kayaker, snowboarder and photographer, exploring
rock formations off the Oregon Coast. ©Mike Hood/NRS
What does paddling mean to you?
Share your thoughts at nrsweb.com/share
800-635-5202
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 15

The BC Marine Trail
Cape Sutil, the northernmost point on
Vancouver Island, offers an exceptional
kayaking beach. The area can also be
hiked now via the new North Coast Trail.
16 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

The North Island
Welcome to the end of the world. Officially it’s only the
northern end of Vancouver Island, but when you paddle west
past Cape Sutil, the northernmost point on Vancouver Island, you
pass a magical point where civilization has tried to encroach, but
nature continually reclaims. Many ruins are testimony to nature’s
dominance here, which you can feel like the morning mist.
The majority of the coast in this region is within Cape Scott
Provincial Park. While the West Coast Vancouver Island North
Marine Trail will formalize marine access, foot access went through
a similar unveiling in 2008 when the long-awaited North Coast
Trail was officially opened. The extension of the Cape Scott Trail
allows hiking over the entire north end of Vancouver Island from
Shushartie Bay to the old Cape Scott Trail trailhead at San Josef
Bay. This opened foot access to vast stretches such as Shuttleworth
Bight and Cape Sutil previously limited to access by kayaks and
small boats. But don’t worry about overcrowding. There’s more
than enough beach for everyone, and this area has some great
stretches of sand – an unexpected amount, actually, given the fact
this area has a reputation for a rocky, storm-ridden coast.
Crossing Cape Scott by paddle is an exercise in bravery, planning
and discretion, with (knock on wood) some luck thrown in for good
measure. If all goes well you gain the privilege of being among the
few who have successfully transited one of the most notoriously
tricky points on the British Columbia coast. South of Cape Scott
can be equally problematic. Troubling southerly winds, storms and
numerous offshore rocks can make this relatively short stretch of
water daunting. But as in all things coastal, timed right you are likely
to find yourself immersed in a world populated not by stormy seas
but by sea lions, sea otters, grey whales and humpbacks.
A new circuit growing more popular is a circle route from Port
Hardy and around North Vancouver Island and back through
Quatsino Sound. By making arrangements with tour operators in
Port Hardy you can be picked up in Coal Harbour and returned to
your vehicle – a convenient ending to a great adventure. u
Laura Cr.
9 (hike-in only)
Cape Scott
9 9 Nissen Bight
Nels Bight
9
Guise
3 Bay
Lowrie
North Coast
9 Bay
Trail trailhead
F (San Josef)
9
y 9
San Josef Bay
9 Cape Palmerston
9 Raft Cove
Hope I.
2 Nahwitti Bar
Jepther Pt.
9 Cape Sutil 9
Skinner Cr. (hike-in only)
Nahwitti River 9 9
9
9
F
Shuttleworth Bight
North Coast
Trail trailhead
(Shushartie Bay)
´ y Holberg
Map legend
Nigei I.
9 Designated marine trail campsite
9 Non-marine trail campsite
y Launch site
F Trailhead ´ Community/services
Park, reserve or conservation area
Route of 2009 Coast&Kayak trip
3 2009 Coast&Kayak trip campsites
Please note: these maps show most key
established campsites along the WCVIN
route even if not designated as part of the
marine trail. These sites may be candidate
sites in the process of being formalized.
Some established sites that are under
discussions with interested parties (such as
BC Parks or First Nations) have been omitted
from the maps.
Deserters/Walker Group
9 Loquillilla Cove
Harlequin Bay
Balaclava Island booms 9
9 God’s Pocket
9 1 9 Bell Island
Nolan Pt.
(Balaclava I.)
Goletas Channel
Songhees Cr. 9
Goodnuff Beach 9
Hardy
´ Bay
Port Hardy y
To find tour operators, water taxis
and service providers for areas
covered by this trail, see page
34-35 and watch for the
logo.
WCVIN
y Coal Harbour
Rupert Arm
Beaver
Harbour
y
9Topknot Pt.
´ 9Winter Harbour
y
4
9 Grant Bay
9 Hunt Its.
Ahwhichaolta
Inlet
y
Quatsino Narrows
Quatsino •
Quatsino
Provincial Ildstad Is. 9 9 Drake I
Park
Quatsino Sound
Varney Bay
To Port Hardy
Marble River 9
(drive-in only)
Mahatta River
Quatsino Entrance
(drive-in only) 9 Route to
Gooding Cove
Side Bay
9
y
9
9 Rowley Reefs (two Port Alice
SPRING
sites) and Blue
2011
Cod Islet
COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 17
Map continues south on page 21
y
5
´

The BC Marine Trail
u Trail guide preview: the North Island
The North Island isn’t just one adventure
opportunity. It’s a dozen. Take your pick
from idyllic island clusters near launches
and pavement to remote and rarely visited
beaches. Just be sure to match your skill
level to your intentions.
Access Points: If you follow the Island
Highway north of Victoria you’ll run out
of blacktop at Port Hardy, about 500 km
north (308 miles). This is the logical starting
point for most North Island adventures,
though if you turn west just before Port
Hardy’s downtown you’ll follow a rough
logging road for 60 km that ends at San
Josef Bay and the Cape Scott Trail trailhead.
A Western Forest Product campsite offers
a boat ramp into the San Josef River,
best navigated at high tide. Other options
exist within Quatsino Sound at places like
Coal Harbour and Port Alice, though they
The north Island by foot
For decades Vancouver Island’s most
famous hike has been the West Coast
Trail, a rugged multi-day route between
Bamfield and Port Renfrew near the south
end of the island. But it has become a
victim of its own success, popular to the
point reservations are now necessary.
A new rival for any hiker’s “mustdo”
list is the North Coast Trail, which
opened in 2008. It adds 35 kilometers to
the Cape Scott Trail for a total hike of
48 kilometers – less than the West Coat
Trail’s 78 km, but no less imposing for all
the challenges hikers will endure.
It is easy to consider the North
Coast Trail the equivalent of the West
Coast Trail 20 years ago before it was
discovered: undeveloped, rough and
tumble and the wild challenge one
would hope to experience in so remote a
location. Don’t expect the myriad of trail
aids that many believe have spoiled the
West Coast Trail.
Travel is difficult from the outset. The
trailhead at Shushartie Bay requires boat
access, usually a water taxi from Port
Hardy. From there it’s a difficult hike
overland to Skinner Creek, and from there
are less convenient to the best kayaking
locations of the outer coast. Winter
Harbour offers fairly quick access to great
paddling at the expense of a rough logging
road. Bring a spare, or better yet, two.
Short trip options: Good day paddle
and weekend trips out of Port Hardy
include all the nearby islands, which are
numerious. The most accessible are in
Beaver Harbour just east of Hardy Bay.
God’s Pocket Provincial Park offers
weekend adventures or longer trips spent
exploring nearby islands, with the caveat
that winds, tides and traffic are high here,
particularly in Goletas Channel, which must
be crossed. Other destinations in Quatsino
Sound offer sheltered paddling, such as
idyllic Varney Bay and the mouth of Marble
River. Winter Harbour is an ideal gateway
for terrific scenery in Quatsino Entrance.
the trail gets even more difficult, with the
toughest area surrounding Cape Sutil.
Once near Shuttleworth Bight the trail
levels and becomes mostly an idyllic beach
hike westward. Trials along the way will
include self-propelled cable cars (bring
gloves), routes blocked at certain tide levels
(bring patience) and the almost inevitable
black bear encounter (bring spray). Add
one last inevitable feature – rain – and
your North Coast Trail adventure will be
complete (bring a rain jacket).
Should you find it daunting you can always
stay away from open water and explore
Ahwhichaolta Inlet instead.
Moderate trip options: Several weeks
can be spent exploring the God’s Pocket
area, with side trips to the Deserters/Walker
Groups and the two larger islands off Port
Hardy: Nigei and Hope islands. Going as
far as Jepther Point or, with the necessary
expertise, Cape Sutil, is recommended. Or
by launching from San Josef you can reach
Guise Bay and other nearby attractions,
including Cape Scott (should conditions
allow; if not, San Josef Bay has lots to offer,
with beautiful beaches, sea caves, sea stacks
and even a trail to the top of Mount St.
Patrick for panoramic views of the area).
From Winter Harbour trips to Kwakiutl
Point are highly rewarding (see the next leg
for details of that area).
Heading west toward Christensen Point
on the new North Coast Trail, another
spectacular way to experience the
grandeur of northern Vancouver Island.
Hikers should allow six days to
complete the trail, though it can be
done more quickly. An extra day spent
reaching the lighthouse at Cape Scott
is worthwhile. For more information,
a detailed article can be viewed in
the Spring 2008 issue of Wild Coast
Magazine (find a copy at Coast&Kayak’s
online magazine carousel). You can also
purchase a detailed North Coast Trail
route map, available at outdoor stores or
online at www.coastandkayak.com.
18 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

The North Island
Nearing Cape Scott in the fog. A video
of this eery crossing can be viewed in
the multimedia online version
at www.coastandkayak.com.
Quatsino Entrance is the biggest
benefactor of new sites in this region,
with established places like Raft Cove
and Hunt Islets getting the tentative nod,
while new sites have been inventoried
near Rowley Reefs and the north entrance
(with a brilliant new find at a place dubbed
Quatsino Caves Beach, where the sea caves
make great exploring).
Only about half the sites in this region
are listed. The remainder have yet to be
given the official okay.
Advanced trips: The waters in this
area tend to be among the most advanced
anywhere, with difficulties such as Nahwitti
Bar and Cape Scott awaiting any run of
this region. Either despite these features
or because of them, a circle route growing
in popularity is from Port Hardy around
Cape Scott into Quatsino Sound to exit
at Coal Harbour. The advantage is a very
short return trip back to your vehicle at
Port Hardy. Plan two weeks allowing for
foul weather days at key crossings; any
leftover time can be spent exploring the
myriad attractions of Quatsino Entrance
before the run back to Coal Harbour. Due
to prevailing weather an anti-clockwise run
is best. If transportation logistics allow it,
variations can include ending at San Josef,
Winter Harbour or continuing down the
coast for a partial or complete run of the
whole trail. (A solution in these situations is
two vehicles for the group, with one parked
at each trailhead. Otherwise options such as
the shuttle bus to the Cape Scott trailhead
may suit. Local operators may also have
solutions – contact the tour operators and
water taxi services listed starting page 34.)
New BC Marine Trail sites: Veterans
of this area may be disappointed to see
few if any unknown sites added to the
inventory, and quite a few missing. But
there is progress. Sites on Vancouver
Island at Songhees Creek and a protected
cove dubbed Goodnuff Beach are now
protected, as well as Nolan Point and the
booms across Goletas Channel on Balaklava
Island. Not much can change along the
north shore, as it is already within Cape
Scott Provincial Park, but all established
sites at places like Nissen Bight, Nels Bight
and Cape Sutil can now be considered
marine trail sites as well.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 19

The BC Marine Trail
Stephan Meinke photo
The tufted puffins won me over, but
it was the humpback that made the
greatest impression.
During my first pass through this
area back in 2003 I left Klaskish Inlet
well before dawn to make good time
around Brooks Peninsula while I had a
favorable weather forecast in advance
of a storm. It was dead calm as the sun
rose, and the only sound for hours was
the splish of my paddle and thousands
of tiny jumping fish that kept me
company. The fish may have been a
warning of what was to come, because
in what seemed a monstrous parody a
humpback whale breached the water
in front of me, close enough so I could
see the individual ventral grooves, and
crashed down in an explosive landing.
This was the start of a parade of
wildlife that day. The stars were the
hundreds of colorful tufted puffins
flying past in businesslike fashion,
then crash-landing in an ungainly ball
of sprayed water. Eight years later, I
still rank this as my single best day
of kayaking. At one point two grey
whales surfaced in front of me, side
by side, so close to my kayak I couldn’t
have fit my fingers between the closest
and my kayak. There they were, two
whales stacked together in front of my
kayak. If only my film camera hadn’t
run out!
Brooks Peninsula may seem a
distant and imposing stretch of land,
BCMTNA president Stephanie Meinke
pauses to take in the scenery during an
early morning crossing to Heater Point.
20 COAST&KAYAKMAGAZINE SPRING 2011

5
Kwakiutl Pt. 9
9
Side Bay y
9
Lawn Pt. (three sites)
Map continues north on page 17
Heater Pt. 9
9 y Klaskino Inlet
Klaskino Anchorage
Brooks/Kyuquot
Side Bay
Cape Cook
Solander Island
9 9
Big Bunsby Park Beach
9 9
Klaskish Inlet
East Creek
Muqin/ Brooks
Peninsula
Provincial Park
9 Marks Creek Estuary
9 Crab Apple Islets
6
9 Nasparti Pocket Beach
Brooks Peninsula
9 Columbia Cove
Jackobson Pt. 7
Big Bunsby Island
9 Nordstrum Cr.
9
9 Black Sand Beach
Clark Pt.
Bunsby Islands
Checleset Bay
Ecological Reserve
British Cr.
Trail Cr. 9
9
Kyuquot Sound
Tahsish-Kwoi
Provincial Park
y
Artlish
River
y
Fair
Harbour
9South Spring I.
8-9
Mission Group Islands
Union I.
9
Amai
Inlet
9 Rugged Point Provincial Park
Map continues south on page 25
and indeed it does have a well-earned reputation as a stormy
and dangerous location (the last kayaking fatality was in
2008, while five fishermen were lost in Side Bay in 2010). But
access to both the north and south sides of the peninsula
mean the best features can be enjoyed without the danger of
a full-fledged crossing. Popular kayaking destinations are the
Mission Group Islands near the entrance to Kyuquot Sound
to the south, or the Bunsby Islands which lie closer to Brooks
Peninsula. Both are notably excluded from the current list of
marine trail sites – the Bunsby Islands due to the ecological
status of the archipelago’s foreshore, which precludes public
access (an oddity that has been ignored by both visitors and
reserve officials for decades).
Another world awaits exploration to the north of the
peninsula. Arriving here from Quatsino Sound means passing
the rugged and exposed shores of Lawn Point Provincial
Park, which offers several inviting camping options as well as
fantastic reef-strewn shores. Inside Side Bay are more island
clusters, beaches and inlets to be explored. A trip to Solander
Island, a major seabird sanctuary, is recommended if
conditions allow. Don’t worry, you won’t bother the seabirds.
The island is surrounded by inaccessible cliffs.
Several spectacular beaches are located near Jackobson
Point. Long established as campsites, they run the same
difficulty as the Bunsbys in that the foreshore is within the
Checleset Bay Ecological Reserve. So they’re off the marine
trail list and within that grey area that is a bit of a parody of
the no-trace camping slogan: sneak in, sneak out.
That and First Nations considerations have kept most of
the stretch between south Brooks Peninsula and Kyuquot
Sound unmarked for designated marine trail sites. While
recreational use is likely to continue to be enjoyed, official
designation is still a question mark and a major quandary for
marine trail proponents.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 21

The BC Marine Trail
u Trail guide preview: Brooks/Kyuquot
While seemingly too wild and
inaccessible for a casual visit, many kayakers
enjoy serene visits by taking a water taxi.
This, for instance, cuts down the length of
the trip from the launch site at Fair Harbour
or Artlish River, which would otherwise
require one day out and one day back by
paddle. Add another day of paddling each
way if your goal is the Bunsby Islands.
Water taxis are harder to come by if your
goal is the north end of Brooks Peninsula.
Luckily water access is a bit simpler as
paddling to some key locations will take a
few hours, not days.
Access Points: For south Brooks
Peninsula, two key access points exist
in Kyuquot Sound. Both are within the
auspices of the Kyuquot/Checleset as a
result of the Maa-nulth Treaty. Public access
remains unchanged, however.
For visitors to the north side of Brooks
Peninsula, two points provide handy access
to the water, though transit requires a
lengthy drive over tough and active logging
roads. Expect white knuckles. Side Bay
provides the most direct access, with the
advantage of being on an extremely scenic
beach, while Klaskino Inlet has a small and
very rough boat launch with limited parking.
It is also possible to reach the Side Bay
area from the Quatsino Sound launches
such as Winter Harbour.
Short or moderate trip options:
Almost any trip here should involve several
days, but it is worth the investment. While
water taxis will cut the travel time to your
base camp, a week is still recommended and
you won’t regret the time. For self-directed
trips, a launch from Fair Harbour makes
Rugged Point a great and easy destination,
with the Mission Group a slightly more
advanced option.
To the north, both Side Bay and
Klaskino Inlet make Heater Point a
wonderful destination, or any of the other
campsite options from Lawn Point to Apple
Islets. Weather permitting a day trip to
Solander Island is exceptional.
Advanced trip options: The prize,
of course, is a transit of Brooks Peninsula,
usually run from north to south to take
advantage of good weather (that being the
prevailing northwesterly).
New BC Marine Trail sites: This
region is problematic as the foreshore
along the south peninsula including the
Bunsby Islands is in Checleset Ecological
Reserve. Because of this the foreshore
is barred from public access (the islands
themselves are not). The ecological reserve
was created in 1981 to protect sea otters
that were reintroduced here. They are now
flourishing, but the current strategy remains
to direct recreational use away from the
islands towards Big Bunsby Provincial
Park, which was created to serve the
recreational needs. Unfortunately, camping
is at a premium on the island, and the two
inventoried sites surveyed by the BC Marine
Trails Network Association are less than
ideal. Also off the list are many Mission
Group sites (with the notable exception of
South Spring Island, which remains outside
the Maa-nulth Treaty lands). In other words,
this area still has much to be done.
22 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Brooks/Kyuquot
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 23

Rugged Pt. 9
The BC Marine Trail
Map continues north on page 21
Jurrasic Pt.
Tatchu Pt. 9
Yellow Bluff
There’s a magical sense of history in Nootka
Sound, highlighted by the quaint little church at
Yuquot. Step into the foyer and you’ll see stained
glass windows donated by the Spanish government
to commemorate Spain’s role here that included the
only Spanish military fort in Canada. Step inside the
church and you’ll see some fantastic totems.
You can visit here by paddle, of course, through
relatively protected waters. Advanced kayakers will
relish the outer shores of Nootka Island, the largest
island off the Vancouver Island coast. For those who
wish to see this spectacular coast but prefer land,
there is the Nootka Trail, one of the lesser known
major coastal hikes, which runs the shore from Louie
Bay to Yuquot, with a few tough headlands between
beaches thrown in for good measure.
Similar to most other regions, Nootka Sound
offers numerous access points to a diverse range of
attractions, which vary from the storm-thrashed reefs
of Nuchatlitz Provincial Park to the more protected
waters of the Spanish Pilot Group.
One of the great features of this area is the
greater range of options available, from cottage
accommodation in Nuchatlitz or water taxis from
Zeballos or Tahsis to regular scheduled freight and
boat passenger runs from Gold River to Yuquot and
beyond. Getting here need not be a hardship, though
paddling brings the greatest rewards.
Kayaking past Rosa Island in Nuchatlitz
Provincial Park, with Catala Island,
Tatchu Point and the rugged outer
coast in the distance. Inset: a totem
in the quaint Yuquot church.
u Trail guide preview: Nootka Sound and island
Access points: The main recreational hub for central
Nootka Sound is Cougar Creek, a recreational campground
and boat launch that is seasonally very busy. Fees apply.
Gold River is too distant along Muchalat Inlet for quick trips,
but is the base for the freight and passenger service Uchuck
III for transport into the sound and beyond. Access to the
north is possible from either Tahsis or Zeballos. Both are
popular and convenient gateways to Nuchatlitz or Catala
Island, with water taxis available at both communities. A
popular launch point for self-directed trips is the bridge
between Little Espinosa and Espinosa Inlets.
Short trips: From Cougar Creek a journey up Hisnit or
Tlupana inlets is a great introduction to the mountain
scenery of the area, particularly the cliffs of Perpendicular
Bluff in Tlupana. The area has several resorts that cater
mainly to fishing groups but will likely accommodate
kayakers. This enables base trips in the vicinity of the
Spanish Pilot Group. Inflow and outflow winds can actually
aid day trips – ride the outflows in the morning and the
inflows in the afternoon, if conditions are favorable. Of
course, beware variations and best to plan to travel early
before the day’s winds rise.
Moderate trips: The Spanish Pilot Group and Bligh Island
offer an option away from the open ocean swell, with limited
24 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

´ y Zeballos
y 9
Little Espinosa Inlet
´
Tahsis
y
9 Lord Waterfall
9 Catala Island (two sites) 9 Garden Pt.
Saltery Bay 9
9
Nuchatlitz
10 Provincial Park
Belmont Pt.
Santiago Cr.
9
9
9 Benson Pt.
Nuchatlitz Inlet
Oldham Beach
9 9
Louie Bay
NOOTKA
F F ISLAND
9 Third Beach
Strange I.
Strange I. NOOTKA SOUND
9
Bligh Island
9 Calvin Falls
Marvinas Bay 9
9 Provincial Park
11
9
Vernaci Island 9 9 Charlie’s Beach
Beano Creek (hike-in only)
9
Espinosa Inlet
Tahsis Inlet
Tlupana Inlet
y
9 Cougar Cr.
Muchalat Inlet
Nootka
Gold River
y
9
9
9
Callicum Cr. Yuquot
F
Maquinna Pt. East 9
12
9 Burdwood Bay
9
Escalante Pt. (two sites)
Escalante Island
Barcester Bay
9
13
Hesquiat Peninsula
Map continues south
on page 31
camping opportunities. A day trip to Yuquot is highly
recommended. To the north, Nuchatlitz Provincial Park
and Catala Provincial Park are both kayaking magnets for
obvious reasons – great camping, scenery and opportunities
to explore reefs, sea caves and the many other features. A
scenic highlight is Nuchatlitz Inlet. See it before it is logged!
It is a treasure.
Advanced trips: The outer coast north of Tatchu Point
offers a rugged getaway, if conditions allow. Tatchu Point
can be treacherous, but the rewards of the beaches near
Jurassic Point are substantial. A circumnavigation of Nootka
Island is an adventure for veteran paddlers, with the outside
of Nootka Island a definite highlight. Pick either sweeping
beaches like those near Calvin Falls or pocket beaches
like those at Callicum Creek for campsites. Note the inside
passage through Tahsis Inlet is prone to wind funneling,
which can slow a trip considerably.
New BC Marine Trail sites: Nootka Sound is likely to
evolve as issues are resolved, such as cultural sensitivity
keeping locations in Nuchatlitz Provincial Park – Nootka’s
most popular kayaking destination – off the official list
while consultations continue. Until then, the omission of the
region constitutes a key missing component of the trail.
Most of the confirmed sites in Nootka already exist by
way of provincial parks (Catala Island and Bligh Island, for
instance). But there are also notable new additions, with
Strange Island, Marvinas Bay, Saltery Bay and Lord Waterfall
newly minted as campsites – great new areas to check out.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 25
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 25

The BC Marine Trail
Nootka Trail: covering outer Nootka Island by foot
Kayaking the outside of Nootka
Island is a great adventure, but it’s not
for everyone, as the water is wild and the
risks potentially high. But the same great
shoreline can be experienced by foot –
if you take the time to overcome a few
logistical hurdles.
The Nootka Trail is a world-class
wilderness experience by any standard. It
meanders the outer shore southward from
Louie Bay then east to cover the two most
spectacular sides of Vancouver Island’s
largest offshore island. The tradeoff is
logistics. Being on an island, the Nootka
Trail requires transit of some sort to
both arrive and depart. This is usually
handled by a charter flight into Louie
Bay’s lagoon then timing the journey’s
end to leave via the Uchuck III from the
dock at Yuquot (something that must be
timed with care, as the Uchuck only visits
twice a week). A more flexible option is
water taxi, available from Tahsis (Tahtsa
Dive Charters) or Zeballos (Zeballos
Expeditions). Since water taxis can’t pass
the shallow lagoon entrance, the arrival is
a bit more circuitous, requiring a low-tide
jaunt along the shore of Louie Bay then
a climb over rocky shore till Third Beach,
the traditional first stop of a hike. Those
dropped by plane will have a simpler
time crossing from the lagoon, only a
Pausing at a rugged pocket beach near Maquinna Point. Places like these wont’ be seen
close up from a kayak, making both journeys remarkably different – and worthwhile.
short distance to Third Beach. From
there the hike is mostly along the beach –
sometimes on sand, but mostly pebbles,
cobble or even rocks. At Maquinna Point
the trail heads overland again, offering
access points to some caves and pocket
beaches. The rocky clambor ends near a
tidal channel for a lagoon that can make
crossings extremely wet at higher tides.
The trail ends with an easy beach walk
to Yuquot and the docks at Friendly
Cove. Note that Yuquot is a Mowachaht
First Nation reserve and a fee is charged
for access (currently at $45 per person),
payable on arrival at an office on the far
end of the heritage church.
A highlight is always Calvin Falls, a
waterfall set in the midst of the longest
sand beach on the island. This is usually
the second campsite of the trip after
Third Beach. Overall the trail takes
four relatively leisurely days. Longer is
recommended to linger at some of the
more scenic locations.
26 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 27

We’re celebrating
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And we’re giving you the birthday presents.
In our online edition, click here
to read Vol. 1, Issue 1
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28 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

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RapidUp Sail
Turn your kayak into a sailboat
with this durable, fast and efficient
kayaking accessory. We have it here at
Coast&Kayak, we’ll be testing it for a
future article, then sending it to a lucky
winner. The RapidUp Sail’s curved frame
mounts to the deck of the kayak and can
be deployed or stowed on the fly.
Here’s how to win:
No purchase is necessary. Here are the steps.
1. Subscribe to Coast&Kayak Magazine online. It’s free. This
will entitle you to notification of upcoming magazines and a
quick link to read us free online.
2. Find the link embedded in the online magazine. It’s not
hard: just click on the green dots. One will bring up the link.
Follow it, then fill out the entry form and click to submit. That’s
it!
Why make it an online contest? Well, we’re adding content
and features to our online edition that you won’t find in print,
and we want to introduce you to the extra value. Plus we have
been an online magazine since about 1996, and have a strong
internet following. Not everyone can get a print copy, but
everyone can read us online, so this is a way to be able to say
thanks to all our readers. Good luck and here’s to the next 20
years!
The small print: All collected email addresses are confidential and will only be used for online subscription notification and/or contest entries. No information will be
given to a third party at any time for any reason. Contest void where prohibited by law. Geographic location may restrict delivery to some winners. While every effort
will be made to ship free to the winner, in some locations freight costs will have to be borne by the winner.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 29

The BC Marine Trail
Map continues north on page 25
Boat Basin (3 sites) 9
9 Barcester Bay
Hesquiat Harbour
13
Hesquiat Trail
F
Hesquiat Peninsula
Provincial Park
Clayoquot Sound is the most accessible of the regions of the
West Coast Vancouver Island North marine trail, but don’t hold
that against it. The bustling little surf, resort and tourist trap of
Tofino, blessed by paved highway access (tumultuous as it is), is
the obligatory starting point, but once on water you are quickly
immersed in wilderness. Turn right at the kayak launch (yes,
Tofino actually has a designated kayak launch), and head into some
brilliantly mountainous passages that run between Vancouver and
Meares islands, or any number of smaller islands that dot the region
for a journey through protected waters. Turn left from Tofino
(that’s west, by the way) and head out towards incredible open
ocean, storm-battered, reef-strewn shoreline and sprawling beaches
that mark Vargas Island and other smaller camping options. Head
straight north and leave everything behind, either taking the easier
waters on the inland of Flores Island to reach the pristine beauty of
Shelter Inlet or take the outer waters of Flores where the humpback
and grey whales frolic year-round.
Head far enough and reach Hot Springs Cove, a renowned
attraction with a heated mineral spring that feeds a rocky channel
set just above the waterline for a perfect soak. Water taxis and
floatplanes feed a steady supply of tourists, though, and make the
shore of Maquinna Provincial Park toward Hesquiat Harbour a
better wilderness option for kayakers.
Several remote trails offer opportunities for land access, from
the short, pleasant and civilized Big Cedar Trail on Meares Island
to the wild mountain climb of the Wild Side Trail on Flores Island.
For the most adventurous, there’s the rarely visited beach walk of
Hesquiat Peninsula. Take your pick of hikes and/or paddles to
suit your ambitions and interests. There’s always something for the
adventurous spirit in Clayoquot Sound.
Access points: Tofino is the only town that borders the
waters of Clayoquot Sound, making it the de facto starting
point for almost any trip into this region. The kayak launch
is located next to the main government dock off First Street.
Parking is available nearby, though a fee may apply. One
alternative is within Pacific Rim National Park at Grice Bay,
but parking is restricted overnight at the launch. Water taxis
cater mainly to the tourist trade here, not kayaks, though
kayakers may be accommodated by some service providers.
A regular and reasonably priced passenger shuttle runs to
Ahousat on Flores Island, solving access for hikers of the
Wild Side Trail.
Short trips: A traditional beginner’s adventure from
Tofino is Lemmens Inlet set in Meares Island. It avoids the
currents on all but the short crossing of Duffin Passage. A
visit can be combined with hikes of either the Big Cedar
Trail or an ascent of Lone Cone for spectacular views of the
sound.
Moderate trips: Vargas Island is a great destination for
intermediate paddlers. Though channels can have strong
currents near Tofino, an easy route is on the inside via
Maurus Channel to Dick and Jane Beach on the northwest
corner of the island, or any number of secondary campsites
on Vargas or nearby islands. A more demanding route
is south of the island to spectacular Ahous Bay, noting
the water around the La Croix Group can be tricky.
A circumnavigation of Meares Island is a moderately
ambitious agenda through mostly protected and serene
passages with a few currents to watch along the way.
Advanced trips: Kayakers willing to brave a bit of swell
on exposed water can reach Whitesand Cove on Flores
Island, while veterans will enjoy the achievement of reaching
Hesquiat Peninsula. The trip to Cow Bay can be a long
weekend adventure (done as a Coast&Kayak Magazine
trip in late September 2008, pictured here), but a week is
recommended. If Hesquiat Peninsula is too ambitious, Shelter
Inlet is scenic with waterfalls and reef-strewn side channels to
explore. While Hot Springs Cove is a worthwhile destination,
crowds can be an annoyance during peak hours. Consider
Hesquiat Harbour the better goal.
New BC Marine Trail sites: There are no designated sites
for this region yet as the marine trail process works its way
south. The sites shown here are already established, and will
hopefully compose the backbone of this leg of the trail.
30 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Sydney Inlet
Provincial Park
Strathcona
Provincial Park
Clayoquot Sound
Maquinna
Provincial Park
Hot 9 Fee campground
Springs
Cove
Shelter Inlet
Sulphur Passage
Provincial Park
9 Obstruction Island
F Bedwell Valley Trail
Millar Channel
9 Mate Islands
Flores Island
Herbert Inlet
F Wild Side Trail
Halfmoon Bay
Ahousat
9 9
Catface
Cow Bay
Range
Whitesand Cove
9 Saranac Island
9 Whaler Islets
9 Robert Pt.
Dick & Jane Beach 9
9
Miltie’s Beach
14 Vargas I.
Blunden Island and Islet
Rassier Beach
Kirshaw Islets 9
9
9
Ahous Bay 9
Meares I.
La Croix Group
Medallion Beach 9
Maurus Channel
TOFINO y
end
Lemmens Inlet
Bedwell Sound
Heelboom Bay9
F Big Tree Trail
Tofino Inlet
Grice Bay y
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 31

The BC Marine Trail
u Trail guide preview: how to run the whole WCVIN
It was, in a word, a slog. I can find no
better way to describe the run friend Carey
Lockwood and I took down the yet-to-exist
WCVIN in late August 2009. We battled
our way down to Tofino against strong
southerlies for most of the 15 days. My
favorite coastal scenery was viewed mostly
from a distance of a kilometer or more
offshore to avoid the danger of high swell
on hidden rocks. (We didn’t know at the
time, but the unseasonal swell was residual
from a storm off Hawaii).
Regardless, it was a great adventure, with
a few good days of serene paddling in the
mix, particularly around the Bunsby Islands.
Paddler Carey Lockwood slogs past Cape
Cook on the outside of Brooks Peninsula.
Websites:
• The official BC Marine Trails Networks Association website
is www.bcmarinetrails.org. Visit for updated route information,
membership details and news bulletins.
• coastandkayak.com has detailed information by region
for the entire BC coast, along with maps and a directory of
archived magazine articles for each area. Visit
www.coastandkayak.com/PaddleBC.html. Find information by map
location on www.planetkayak.net.
Guide books:
The Wild Coast, Vol. 1 by John Kimantas (Whitecap, 2005 and
2011): Specific kayaking information location by location. Much
of the information presented here is drawn from the Wild Coast
Many of the photos that accompany the
BC Marine Trail preview are from that
trip. Photography was limited, though,
during the battles, such as around Escalante
Point, the south end of Nootka Island and
Hesquiat Peninsula, when our endurance
was put to the limit. (I tried to videotape the
waves crashing at Estevan Point. It was not
terribly successful, with a Youtube version
getting one response so far – a thumbs
down. So much for that effort.)
While a run is recommended for
confident veteran paddlers, the trail has
enough access points that portions can be
enjoyed in smaller, less imposing trips. But
if you do run it, plan on three weeks to fully
enjoy your time on the water. There will be
places you will want to linger. Trust me!
- John Kimantas
u Where to go for more BC Marine Trails information
knowledge base (John is the Wild Coast author and Coast&Kayak
editor). Updated for 2011 and available soon. One of a series of
Wild Coast guides covering kayaking the entire coast of British
Columbia. Order online at www.coastandkayak.com
Sea Kayak Around Vancouver Island by Doug Alderson (Rocky
Mountain Books, 2004). A handy pocket guide for the greater goal
of circumnavigating the island. One of a series of books by Rocky
Mountain Books on kayaking regions of the island.
Tours and services:
Our Tour Directory begins page 34. We’ve marked tour
operators and service providers who operate within the area of
the West Coast Vancouver Island North section of the trail with a
“WCVIN” designation.
32 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

SALES * RENTALS * INSTRUCTION * DAY TOURS
ComoxValleyKayaks.com
Need a new kayak ?
Or maybe a PFD ?
We’d love to help you out . . .
Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes
by the water in Courtenay , Vancouver Island, BC
1-888-545-5595
“ WE ARE A PADDLING SHOP ”
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 33

Tour/Service Directory
Tours and Services: British Columbia
WCVIN
By Adam Bolonsky
Designates West Coast Vancouver Island North Marine Trail service provider
WCVIN
WCVIN
Paddle with sea otters
Kayak transport between Zeballos and Nootka Island,
Nuchatlitz Park and Friendly Cove. Kayak rentals.
CEDARS INN rooms and restaurant in a historic
Zeballos lodge. Good food, friendly service.
Phone: 1-866-222-2235
Web: www. zeballosexpeditions.com
Email: info@zeballosexpeditions.com
WCVIN
WCVIN
Nootka transport and rentals
Experience the best kayaking in the Pacific Northwest
from Tahsis, B.C. in the heart of Nootka Sound. Kayak
rentals and transport to Nuchatlitz Park, Yuquot
(Friendly Cove), Bligh Island Marine Park and beyond.
Phone: 1-866-934-6365
Website: www.tahtsadivecharters.com
Email: dive@tahtsadivecharters.com
Tours and Services: Tropical
WCVIN
WCVIN
Wilderness Sea Kayaking
Vancouver Island Kayaking Tours and Wilderness
Retreat. Guided ecotourism adventures in remote
Kyuquot, the Bunsby Islands, and Brooks Peninsula.
Unmatched base camp, spectacular kayaking, diverse
wildlife, and First Nations cultural interactions.
Phone: 1.800.665.3040 or 250.338.2511
Web: www.westcoastexpeditions.com
Email: info@westcoastexpeditions.com
WCVIN
Odyssey Kayaking
BC Ferries port; Gateway to Northern and Central
BC Coast destinations. Sales, Rentals, Lessons, Trip
planning. 8625 Shipley Street (across from the Post
Office) Port Hardy.
Phone: 250-949-7392 or cell 250-230-8318
Email: odyssey@island.net
Web: www.odysseykayaking.com
WCVIN
Tofino’s Kayak Centre
Tofino’s kayaking centre providing daily sea kayak
tours and kayak rentals since 1988. Pick up books and
supplies for the West Coast lifestyle. Enjoy espresso on
our waterfront deck.
Phone: 1-800-TOFINO-4 (1-800-863-4664)
Web: www.tofinoseakayaking.com
Email: info@tofinoseakayaking.com
Tours and Services: East Canada
1-888-652-5268
.CA
MADAWASKA KANU CENTRE
Located near Algonquin Park, Ontario. Offers personal instruction
from beginner to expert levels. Weekend and 5-day courses.
Tours and Services: Alaska
Kayak Transport Co.
A Mothership Serving SE Alaska. Kayaking from
the comforts of a mothership for a week. Paddling
our boats and exploring fantastic scenery and wildlife.
Eating fresh caught Alaskan seafood. How good does
it get?!
Email: staff@kayaktransport.com
Web: www.kayaktransport.com
Phone: (206) 719-0976
Tours and Services: Yukon
Kanoe People Ltd.
Explore Yukon's great rivers and lakes! Rentals, sales,
guided tours and logistic services. Cabin rentals
summer and winter on the scenic Lake Laberge.
Outfitting on the Yukon for over 35 years.
Web: www.kanoepeople.com
Email: info@kanoepeople.com
Phone: 867-668-4899
Tours and Services: Europe
Natura Viva: Sea kayak Finland
Enjoy the unique Finnish coastline and the Baltic
Sea archipelago, or the lake country labyrinth of
waterways. Day trips, multi-day guided tours, selfguided
tours and kayak rentals are all available. All our
guides are trained professionals and our equipment is
top of the line.
Web: www.seakayakfinland.com
Email: info@naturaviva.fi
Phone: +358 50 376 8585
34 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Tour/Service Directory
Eco Adventures & Education since 1991
Eclectic itineraries in the Spectacular Gulf Islands
Kayaking Day Tours, Expeditions,
Youth Camps & Guides Courses
Two Kayak friendly accommodations
on Salt Spring Island
1 888 529-2567 • 250 537 2553 • www.islandescapades.com
Lund Kayak Tours & Rentals
Kayak tours, lessons, rentals & marine delivery.
Desolation Sound, Mitlenatch Island, Copeland Islands
marine parks. Personalized service, stunning scenery,
fascinating history, delicious organic lunches. Family /
child friendly programs.
Phone: 1.888.552.5558 OR 604.483.7900
Web: www.terracentricadventures.com
Email: fun@terracentricadventures.com
Tours and Services: Haida Gwaii
Kayak Desolation Sound
Rent kayaks from waterfront locations in Lund or
Okeover Inlet. Try the Famous Aquarium Kayak Tour or
snorkel at Urchin Alley. All-inclusive multi-day trips into
Desolation & Mountains.
Phone: Toll free 1-866-617-4444
Web: www.bcseakayak.com
Email: info@bcseakayak.com
WCVIN
Gabriola Sea Kayaking
Kayaking adventures in the Broken Group, Clayoquot
Sound , Broughton Archipelago, Kyuquot Sound ,
Nootka Island and the Gulf Islands. Unforgettable
paddling and great people since 1995. See you on
the water!
Phone: 250-247-0189
Web: www.kayaktoursbc.com
Wilderness Adventures for Women
Kayak beautiful Vancouver Island, spectacular
mountain vistas, old growth rainforests, amazing
wildlife, rentals, lessons and tours, open year round.
Women’s Transformative Journey by Kayak.
All Women - All Fun!!
Phone: 250.755.6702, toll free 1.866.955.6702
Web: www.adventuress.ca
Email: Jan@adventuress.ca
Kayak Haida Gwaii
Among the world's top paddling destinations, Gwaii
Haanas is an awe-inspiring oasis of wilderness at the
southern tip of Haida Gwaii. Local outfitter providing
guided multi-day kayak adventures since 2000.
Web: www.gckayaking.com
Email: paddle@gckayaking.com
Phone: 250-559-4682
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 35

New Gear
Maui Surf Co.
Touring Whitewater Recreational
If you are a kayaker forever on the
lookout for versatile kayaking footwear,
Maui Surf Company has unveiled the
Cirrus, a shoe that combines the sleekness
and comfort of an athletic shoe and the
Cascade Creek
ventilation and draining ability of a water
shoe. As you can imagine for a company
based out of Hawaii, the shoe is best used
in warm weather (60F and above). Which
counts out the last six months here in the
Pacific Northwest. Maybe a version with fur
lining is next. www.mauisurfcompany.com
Wild Coast
This innovative little company from
Huntington, New York, adds to its lineup
in 2011 with the YakCatcher, a clip-on rod
holder for kayaks and canoes. Part-time
kayak fishermen and women will appreciate
there are no holes to drill, no tools needed,
it is fully adjustable and quick to install and
remove. No need for stories now about the
one that got away. www.cascadecreek.com.
First released in 2005, The Wild Coast
Vol. 1 set a new standard for kayaking guide
books for the British Columbia coast. It
returns in 2011 with new and updated
information in its second edition, mirroring
the area covered by the new West Coast
Vancouver Island North Marine Trail. It
and an updated BC Coastal Recreation
Atlas Vol. 1 will be released this spring.
Order direct at www.coastandkayak.com.
Crystal -X
P r o u d l y C a n a d i a n
36 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

New Gear
KayakPro
If you’re like us here in the Pacific Northwest, your
paddling muscles gather as much dust each winter as your
paddle. For recreational paddlers this may not be a huge
issue, but for kayak racers, it’s a tragedy. Enter KayakPro with
the Multistroke designed for dragon boat athletes, outrigger,
sit-and-switch and pro canoe athletes. The machine replicates
the resistance and on-the-water feel of an actual boat by
careful attention to blade entry, the relationship between the
forces on the shaft and the top guiding hand. Plus you can
select the ergometer particular to your sport.
Dustpan not included.
www.kayakpro.com
New Portable
Boat Stands
For Kayaks, Canoes, SUP’s
TM
Suspenz.com 866.787.7369
Suspenz Storage Racks
Suspenz arrived a few years back with
their high-quality distinctive yellow storage
racks. They’ve now expanded their line with
a new compact, lightweight and portable 24-
inch boat stand. Use it for washing, repairs
or storage. The four-leg sturdy aluminum
core stand is stable on flat or uneven ground
and uses UV-resistant webbing to protect
the hull from damage and scratches. Two
stands per kit fit into a mesh bag with carry
handles. www.suspenz.com
Water
Ventures
British
Columbia
Coast
Recreation
Maps
original outdoor maps
specialized for sea kayaking
DVD video guides
(available later in 2011)
www.CoastalWatersGroup.com
NEW
over 30 titles
Baja
Mexico
NEW
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 37

Kayaks
Click here online for
a video presentation.
Gary Doran, a Victoria, BC-based
kayaking instructor, puts the new
Looksha Elite through the paces.
A new Elite option
Necky has expanded its cornerstone
Looksha series in 2011 with a new Elite
model that will be of interest to kayakers
looking for a high-end performance model
with a rudder and touring capacity.
The combination makes the Elite a
highly versatile model with a bit more
emphasis on performance than the popular
Looksha 17 but without having to resort
to the more Brit-boat style of the Chatham
series. The Elite trims down the Looksha 17
by 1.75 inches for a nimble 22-inch width,
aiding speed, tracking and performance with
some trade-off in stability for beginners.
For comfort an aggressively-styled raised
foredeck aids leg room and thigh bracing
while performance paddlers will appreciate
Necky Looksha Elite specs
Length Beam Depth Cockpit Total storage Weight
17’ 22" 12.5" 32"L x 16"W 201 litres 52/47 lbs
Hull Chine Design: Base model Options Control
ShallowV Med/Full Swede form Fibreglass Carbon Rudder
the low rear deck for ease of rolling.
The Elite shaves six inches off the
Looksha 17 Composite’s length, arriving
at just 17 feet, but still with good storage
capacity (Necky managed to fit in thirteen
15-liter dry bags; we didn’t have enough
bags to try this, so we’ll take their word).
Rudder pedals are SmartTrack that
utilize toe control and a easy-lift locking
adjustment that is simple to use on the fly.
The seat is Necky’s durable molded foam
with an adjustable back band. The moulded
seat won’t retain water and includes the
option of placing support under the foam
to raise the legs to offer sciatic nerve relief
and other comfort benefits.
The Elite comes in both fiberglass and
carbon options, and weighs in at 52 pounds;
the carbon option shaves five pounds off
that for a remarkably light tourer.
38 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Kayaks
Click here online for
a video presentation.
Secure Your Next Adventure
Cable Locks for Your Kayak
Testing our custom Titan VI
in cold water at Maple Bay.
Setting loose a Titan
If the name Titan VI evokes images of a
big and beefy kayak, you’re only partly right.
The beef is there – it measures in at 18’3”,
making it best enjoyed by paddlers 5’5” and
above – but otherwise Atlantis’s flagship
touring kayak is simply what an all-purpose
touring kayak should be: well-rounded for
features and performance.
Where Atlantis did push the envelope
is in the production details. If you opt for
the kevlar layup you are looking at one of
the true high-end handmade kayaks. Add a
custom fade paint theme on the deck and
clear gelcoat on the hull and you are looking
at a one-of-a-kind boat in a world of mass
production. Such was our test sample,
and the one we’ll be giving away courtesy
Atlantis Kayaks (see the giveaway details
page 28-29).
Made on Vancouver Island, the Titan
VI is a typical West Coast cruiser – a
good clean design for ocean waters with a
relatively soft chine, a good stable 24” width
and a rudder for easy control. Nothing
radical and no surprises. Those looking
for carefully thought out details will find
many things to like on the VI, such as the
polypropelene rope for the rudder line that
won’t hold salt water, no drill holes in the
deck for the seat and a stretch point in the
deck lines held taut by the handle.
While small points to mention, it’s the
myriad of these and other thoughtful design
points that make the Titan VI interesting.
Those looking for versatility and comfort
in the seating will find six straps on the
backband and a sliding seat for that exact
perfect fit. Those who appreciate seeing
the Kevlar web in the design will enjoy the
clearcoat hull – kid gloves sold separately.
Lasso Security Cables
are simply the strongest,
easiest and most effective
theft deterrent available
for your kayak.
www.lassosecuritycables.com
707-498-9905
www.bckayaks.com
(250)391-03331 nwca@shaw.ca
Atlantis Titan VI specs
Length Beam Depth Cockpit Total storage Weight
18’3” 24" 13" 31"L x 17"W 392 litres 58/52 lbs
Hull Chine Design: Base model Options Control
ShallowV Soft Fishform Fibreglass Kevlar Rudder
outrigger
canoe egrometer
by
“Paddle to
your heart’s
content”
+1 914 740 5055
KayakPro.com
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 39

Kayaks
Seeing double with Delta
You have to be in the right situation to
fully benefit from a double kayak.
First, you have to love the person you
paddle with more than the independence
of kayaking a single (doubles aren’t called
“divorce boats” for nothing).
Then you have to have the space to
store it and the brawn to move it, as many
doubles can weight in at more than 100
pounds.
If you have the necessary Zen and
Herculean credentials to be still in the market
for a tandem, then the Delta 20T comes with
one huge advantage off the mark: it weighs
in at just 82 pounds, considerably less than
many other doubles that may tempt you.
It does this while still managing a spacious
central hatch, providing a luxurious 716 litres
of storage in three compartments – enough
to make this a bona fide candidate for that
dream trip to Alaska.
If your interests are closer to home and
family, the 20T has another nice touch. The
central compartment doubles as a third
passenger compartment – nothing new for
large doubles – but with a curved bulkhead
Delta 20T specs
Length Beam Depth Cockpit Total storage Weight
19’6” 26.5" 14" 32.5"L x 18"W 716 litres 82 lbs
Hull Chine Design: Base model Options Control
ShallowV Hard Symmetrical Thermoform -- Rudder
to provide added extra leg room for a child
without having to lengthen the boat. What
you lose is space alongside the seat in the
forward cockpit, an area not likely to be
missed. The result keeps the 20T under 20
feet in length.
One unlikely facet of the 20T is the
Browse kayaks online.
Our online Kayak Buyer’s Guide lists hundreds of
kayaks by make, model, length and type. Browse
multiple categories, view photos, read specifications
and quick-link directly to the manufacturer’s website.
Your dream kayak awaits!
www.coastandkayak.com
ability to talk about performance. The hull is
ShallowV with a hard chine and considerable
rocker, meaning it’s a good candidate for
surf, rock gardens and “play” areas that most
traditional doubles tend to avoid. Edge in
tandem, turn on a dime. Skilled kayakers
willing to give up independence (if there are
such people) will be drawn to the 20T like
beach flies to intertidal kelp.
Like so many boats these days, the
Delta 20T’s features are well thought out.
For instance, the seat is easily removed,
doubling as a camp seat for extra comfort.
The construction of the 20T is
thermoform – an ABS base with an acrylic
cap that provides both impact and UV
resistance. Is it better than fiberglass?
We won’t wade into that debate! But it is
definitely more affordable.
40 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

C L O T H I N G • F O O T W E A R • O U T D O O R G E A R • K AYA K S • C A N O E S • S U P • I N S T R U C T I O N • R E N T A L S • T O U R S
Getting You Out There
Since 1981
1824 Store Street
Victoria, BC V8T 4R4
(250) 381-4233
“Getting You Out There”
A SIMPLE CONCEPT
...KNOWLEGABLE FRIENDLY STAFF
...TOP QUALITY PRODUCTS
www.oceanriver.com
ON-LINE SALES,
GUIDED TOURS
AND INSTRUCTION
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 41
C L O T H I N G • F O O T W E A R • O U T D O O R G E A R • K AYA K S • C A N O E S • S U P • I N S T R U C T I O N • R E N T A L S • T O U R S

Starting Out
A
KAYAK is one of the best
recreational investments anyone
can make. But the initial outlay
of cash and choices you have for those
dollars can seem daunting. So how to pick
the correct one? Here are some points to
consider, courtesy of Chris Ladner, the
owner of Ecomarine on Granville Island
in Vancouver, a consultant to thousands of
kayak buyers over the years.
1. Know what you’re buying your
kayak for.
This sounds obvious, but it’s not. “You
need to be thinking not just what you
imagine what the kayak could be used for,
but what you intend to use it for further
down the road,” says Chris.
Here’s where a crystal ball might come
in handy. You may imagine tours of distant
shores in Alaska, but in reality if all you will
be doing is lake paddling from your cottage,
a recreational boat will suffice. Here’s the
general types and the purpose they’ll serve.
Recreational boats: These boats are
ideal for an hour or two in the bay, and
work equally well from the deck of a yacht,
motorboats or a summer cottage. These
boats are generally shorter – 9.5 to 12 feet
in length – and can have a range of options
and material styles that dictate the cost. One
important consideration is buoyancy. Look
for a hatch and bulkhead that will ensure
the boat won’t sink if swamped. If there is
no bulkhead, you’ll need to install flotation
bags before your trip.
Day trip boats: These are longer
recreational boats starting at about 14 feet,
resulting in more glide, speed and efficiency.
One consideration is the boats may be
narrower, which aids performance but
means less stability.
Touring boats: If you’re looking for
When buying,
a game plan
helps. Here are
some hints on
how to navigate
the options.
Click here in the online edition for a
video on how to buy a kayak.
more than just day trips you’re looking at
boats longer than 14 feet to manage the
storage demands and sea conditions you’ll
meet. Most touring boats are in the general
range of about 17 feet in length, making
them faster, more efficient and capable of
hauling gear – often several week’s worth,
if need be.
Other options: Kayaks can serve very
particular purposes, such as the racing
kayaks, which are very long but also very
narrow; or fishing kayaks, which are usually
sit-on-top, extra wide for stability and have
lots of features specifically designed for
fishing.
2. Set your budget.
The initial investment may seem large,
especially for the high-end boats, but keep
in mind after the purchase there are few
incidentals such as lift tickets or launching
fees (at least not yet). In addition, kayaks
hold their value and won’t need replacing
for years, possibly decades – if ever.
Naturally, you need not spend much
if budget is a consideration. Recreational
boats can be the least expensive, but still
with a vast range depending on the features
and construction. The addage applies: you
get what you pay for.
3. Think about the features and
benefits you want.
There are lots of different things
you can get for your kayak, and a good
first place to look is the hatches. The
arrangements and styles vary by model,
but a popular style is the two-piece with
a neoprene cover below the strapped-on
hatch. A style proven seaworthy is the onepiece
rubber hatch, usually available as an
oval that simply pulls off around a lip then
pushes back on again.
The trick is matching the features you
want with the style of kayak. For instance,
rubber hatches may not be an option for
the style of recreation boat you’re seeking.
The control device is another key
consideration. A rudder controlled through
cables attached to foot pedals is a popular
configuration and allows for easy steering.
An alternative is a skeg, a fin that pops
down to add stability in wind and waves.
This requires the additional skill of learning
how to use a paddle blade to turn the boat.
The cross-section of your hull should
also be part of your evaluation. The
rounder the hull the faster it’s going to be,
but at the cost of stability. A flatter bottom
and defined keel will enhance stability and
(with the keel) tracking.
Also, consider the amount of rocker in
the hull – that is, curvature in the shape.
“The more rocker you have, the easier it
is for the boat to turn, but the deeper the
boat sits in the water so the slower it’s going
to be,” says Chris. “So the tradeoff is lots
of tracking means straight-line, fast speed
and efficiency but harder to turn, and the
42 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

y Chris Ladner and Coast&Kayak Magazine
How to buy a kayak
more rocker means easier to maneuver in
rough weather but slower.”
The construction type will be another
key factor in choosing a kayak, which in
large part is affected by budget. Plastic
(polyethelene) is the most economical, quite
tough and rugged but it’s a bit slower in the
Instruction/Education
water and can get gouged, as it is a softer
material. Thermoform is a middle-of-theroad
option. It has the ruggedness of the
softer plastic but the characteristics of the
fiberglass for speed.
Higher in price are the fiberglass and
finally kevlar options. These are considered
the highest performing type of kayak, and
also good for weight and durability.
<
Thanks to Ecomarine owner Chris Ladner for
sharing his expertise for this article. You can
visit the store online at www.ecomarine.com.
w w w. n i c . b c . c a
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 43

Wildlife for kayakers
by James Dorsey
FOR THOSE OF US who love
to paddle coastal waters, there
is a feathery companion whose
historical link to coastal man may date
back further than any other seabird.
The ibis is a wading bird, often
mistaken for a heron. It frequents coastal
shallows, lagoons, marshes and bay, and its
historic connections with humans can be
traced all the way back to the bible.
They are of the family Threskiornithidae,
(order Ciconiiformes) and their name is
believed to be Greek, borrowed from the
ancient Egyptian “HIB.” There are about
30 known species and 13 separate genus
of this varied and curious creature.
I have often glided silently by them
in the marshy wetlands of Southern
California where I live, and also in the
mangroves of Baja, Mexico, where I
frequently paddle. They walk along nobly
as they use their long curved beak that
they often bury up to their eyes to probe
in the mud for mollusks, crustaceans, and
small fish.
They are found in warm latitudes
throughout the world with some of
them migrating to warmer climates in
wintertime. They can stand two and a
half feet (75 cm) in height on their long
legs, and vary in color and plumage
depending on the particular species. All are
identifiable by the orange beak. Because
of the beak’s unique curved shape and
strength, the ibis will also probe into grass
to find worms, helping to aerate the soil as
it feeds.
They nest either on the ground or in
short bushes near the coast, building homes
of small tree limbs. The female will lay
three to five green or blue eggs often with
brown speckles. They are social within their
species and often nest colonially with both
male and female caring for the eggs and
newborn hatchlings. They feed their young
small fish, frogs, and sometimes human
detritus that both male and female collect.
During mating they are known to make
grunts and croaking noises, but other than
that are usually silent. When hunting they
can draft low over the water looking for
prey, riding the thermal currents just off
the caps of waves. While rooting along in
shallows they will usually be found in pairs,
one standing watch while the other hunts.
Among the species, the glossy ibis is
found throughout the lower eastern United
States and as far as Europe and Australia,
while the white face and white ibis are only
found in the Americas. The scarlet ibis,
bright red or pink as its name implies, is
native to South America where it is often
hunted for its bright plumage. Because it was
so devastatingly hunted there, the scarlet ibis
was introduced to the United States in the
1960s in hopes of maintaining the species
and it is now doing well there. It is still the
national bird of Trinidad and Tobago.
44 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

The ancient ibis
The sacred ibis, the largest of them all, is found in coastal Africa,
usually south of the Sahara, but is no longer seen in Egypt where it
was once worshipped as sacred.
In the Birecik region of Turkey, near Mount Ararat, where
Noah’s ark supposedly
came to rest after the great
flood, local legend claims
the northern bald ibis to
be the first bird released
by Noah as a symbol of
fertility, and because of
this strong local belief, it allowed that particular bird to thrive in
that region long after it became extinct across the rest of Europe.
In ancient Egypt, the god Thoth, symbol of wisdom and
knowledge, was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis.
Throughout Egypt there are murals and statues of the ibis, and
at the city of Hermopolis the birds were specifically bred for
sacrifices. In Saqqara, home of the famous step pyramid south of
Giza, a building known as the Serapeum was used to bury bulls
worshipped by a religious cult, and in it is confines the mummified
remains of one and a half million ibises was uncovered along with
thousands of mummified falcons.
In the southern United States, local folk claim the ibis is the
last animal to take cover at the approach of a hurricane and the
first to reappear after the storm. Because of this the mascot of the
University of Miami is an American white ibis.
They are magnificent to watch in flight as they crane their
elegant necks forward while extending their long legs straight
out to the rear. On a recent paddle in Mexico I was privileged to
watch dozens of white ibis soaring low over the water, riding the
thermals while spotting baitfish, then landing all around my boat
to feast as I sat there, silently marveling at their quiet beauty. For
at least a thousand years the kayak has been one of mankind’s
steadiest forms of coastal transport and the ibis was there long
before.
<
You can follow James Dorsey’s work at his website, www.
jamesdorsey.com. You can also read past articles by Dorsey in this
series on seabirds at www.coastandkayak.com/Articles_wildlife.html
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 45

Skillset
By Alex Matthews
1 2
3
Set your course dead ahead? No!
IN SOME SITUATIONS, one
very useful strategy for navigation is
to deliberately aim away from your
intended target. While this may initially
seem counterintuitive, intentionally “aiming
off ” can be the most reliable way of
finding your way to your destination.
Let’s say that you are making a crossing
to a small campsite. From your starting
point, the far shore appears very uniform
in geography and there are no distinctive
landmarks to denote your intended
campsite’s location.
Knowing the campsite’s position on your
chart, you can set a compass course directly
to it. But if you should fail to pick out the
site by the time you reach the far shore,
you won’t know which way to turn (right or
left) in order to reach it. The site might be
very close by on your right, but if you guess
incorrectly and turn left instead, you will
waste a lot of time before doubling back
and finally locating the elusive campsite.
A better strategy is to intentionally aim
off to one side or the other of your target.
That way you are guaranteed to know
Aim off
How aiming away from your target
can get you there more reliably
which way to turn in order to locate your
goal.
1
Working with the chart, aim off
to a point that is a predetermined
distance from your final destination. Pick,
for example, to cross to a point half a
nautical mile to the right of the campsite.
If, like most paddlers, you cruise at about
3 knots, then it will take you about 10
minutes to cover that half nautical mile.
Your new plan then, is to paddle
across the channel, hit the far shore, turn
left and paddle along the shoreline for
approximately 10 minutes. This should put
you very close to the campsite.
In this scenario the shoreline is serving
as both a “backstop” and as a “handrail”
that will guide you to your goal. It’s also
worth noting that this strategy works just as
well in dense fog or at night.
2
In another scenario we might use the
same strategy but with a particular
emphasis on the backstop and handrail
aspects. Imagine this time that we are
crossing to a far point of a distant island
completely enveloped in fog. If we set a
46 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Aiming off
compass course aimed directly at the point,
any minor drift to the right will result in
missing the island altogether. Aiming off
to the left at the bulk of the landmass
precludes passing by the point, and instead
sets us up with a backstop and a useful
handrail that will guide us safely to the
point.
When navigating, a backstop is not
necessarily a physical barrier. When we
calculate a distance and the time we require
to cover it, we are using time as a very
effective backstop.
3
In a final example, the paddler
embarks on a crossing to a long
narrow island lost in fog. Rather than
attempting to hit the narrow point directly,
the kayaker instead uses time as a backstop.
Working from the chart, he establishes a
position past the point (in this case let’s say
3 nautical miles), and some distance off of
the left coast of the island (let’s say half
a nautical mile). Since the kayaker cruises
at 3 knots, the plan is to paddle for one
hour, make a 90-degree right-hand turn
off his original course, and then paddle
for 10 minutes to bring him to the island’s
shoreline. From there he knows to turn
right and handrail his way along the coast to
the point and his campsite.
When aiming off, it’s obviously of
primary importance to have done all the
chart and compass work before setting
forth. Because compass courses and
paddling times for each leg of a journey can
easily get jumbled, it’s best to write them
down. I’ve found myself second-guessing
my memory in thick fog more than once.
Some like to write directly on charts, while
others will record courses and times on
their foredecks with a wax pencil.
<
Alex Matthews is the author of “Sea Kayaking
Rough Waters” available at
www.helipress.com. More of Alex’s Skillset
articles plus other skills columns can be read
online at on our Skills page at
www.coastandkayak.com/Articles_skills.html
Now you can comment.
All new online magazine articles now have a feedback
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 47
photo: M. Scriver

Paddle Meals
by Hilary Masson
Recipes with a sting
Natural plants can
add flare to your
cooking, with a
surprising option
being a good-old
patch of nettles
ONE MEMORABLE
springtime kayak trip I
discovered some good
stinging nettle habitat in and around
the Flat Top Islands south of
Gabriola Island. My good friend is
an endangered species biologist, and
we set off in our kayaks to explore
around the Gulf Islands looking for
great blue heron nests. Paddling to a
known heron rookery we got out of
our boats for a closer look with the
spotting scope in order to count the
number of fluffy squawking chicks.
Herons typically nest inland from their
shoreline feeding habitat in large Douglas fir
or broadleaf maple trees, seeking protection
from their main predator, bald eagles. Upon
nearing a big fir tree we found a phenomenal
patch of nettle thriving on nitrogen-enriched
soil from the heron poop. This meant that
we couldn’t approach too close to the nests
in fear of being stung by the big patch of
nettle. Most of the nest sites we visited
around the Gulf Islands had similar patches
of nettle growing underneath the large trees.
Great protection!
The spring is an ideal time to not only
get out on the water to enjoy the wildlife
but also to harvest edible plants. When
paddling this spring, try collecting some
native plants to add local flair to your
camp cooking. This is the best season
for collecting many edible plants such as
dandelion, fiddleheads and nettle. These
can all add nutrition and flavor to your
meals, but our local nettle has to be my
An exploration of the Flat Top Islands near
Gabriola can be made more interesting if you
keep your eyes open for edibles.
personal favorite. Stinging nettle is a
‘super food’ providing the highest plant
source of iron. Nettle also contains other
minerals such as calcium, magnesium,
silicon, sulphur, copper, chromium, zinc,
cobalt, potassium and phosphorus as well
as high amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E,
and K. This ‘super food’ was previously
used to prevent and treat scurvy (which
I’m sure is a big concern for all you sea
kayakers during long expeditions). Some
may be surprised to learn that nettle is
not only nutritious but also flavorful. First
Nations had many uses for our common
nettle, including drying and processing the
strong and silky fibers to make twine, rope
and fishing nets. Nettle can be dried and
stored for a flavorful tea, picked fresh and
substituted in any recipe that calls for
greens such as spinach, Swiss chard
or kale.
Nettle thrives in the rich moist
soils of shaded fields, clearings,
along streams and, as noted, under
great blue heron nests. The young
shoots spring up in early April,
and the leaves can be collected
throughout the summer. To identify
this plant look at the stems. They
are ribbed with fine spines and can
grow up to 1.8 meters tall. The
leaves are coarsely toothed and grow
in opposite pairs, covered with fine
stinging hairs. Each leaf can grow to
be an average of 10 cm long.
Another way to identify this
plant is to look for the tassels of
very small greenish flowers that
hang from the leaf nodes. When
the hairs on nettle leaves contact
your skin, a small amount of formic
acid is injected, creating a powerful
stinging sensation which can last
several hours; hence the name.
Avoid stinging by wearing gloves,
or cover your hands with a plastic bag
while harvesting the leaves. Once dried or
blanched in boiling water for one minute,
the sting is completely removed.
Kayakers Camp Tip:
A small and flexible cooler on a trip
is a benefit, even if its effectiveness
only lasts the first few days. It is great
for providing fresh food menu options.
Frozen meats, frozen seafood, frozen
sauces (like the pesto, page 50) and
dairy products can be kept for use in
the early days of an expedition. After
the freezer pack thaws, normally by day
three, and the items in the cooler have
been eaten, simply collapse the cooler
and store it in your hatch. Enjoy more
creative and elaborate meals. Go for
it, be the gourmet on your next kayak
adventure.
48 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Nettle Recipes
Try a tasty nettle tart, but spinach works as well
Nettle Tart Pastry:
• 1-1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
(Try freezing the butter and
packing it in a cooler bag to use
within the first few days of your
trip. The cooler butter creates a
better texture for the pastry.)
• 1/3 cup cool water (Put the water
bottle in the ocean to cool below
air temperature. The colder the
water, the more flaky and light the
pastry.)
Mix the flour and salt in a large
bowl, add the butter pieces and
pinch with your fingers to make
a crumb texture, then slowly add the
water. Don’t mix the dough too much;
the desired flaky texture of the tart pastry
comes from the butter crumbs. Divide into
two discs and set aside in the shade for 10
minutes while making the tart topping.
This pastry recipe is quick and works
wonderfully with any toppings you can
imagine. Another of my favorite savory
tarts is blue cheese, pear and walnut. Or
try a sweet tart for desert with fruits and
nuts.
Nettle Tart:
• 1 disc pastry
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 3 cups nettle, blanched in boiling water
for one minute, then chopped
• ½ cup parmesan cheese,
grated
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• zest of one lemon
• salt and pepper to taste
Roll one of the pastry discs to
the size of your Outback Oven
or Dutch Oven (use a water
bottle dusted with flour instead
of a rolling pin while camping).
In a frying pan add olive oil
and garlic, stir in your blanched
nettle leaves, parmesan cheese,
and egg. Remove from heat,
season with salt and pepper. Grease
Outback Oven pan with butter or oil, then
place rolled pastry in pan and spread
nettle topping evenly over pastry. Sprinkle
the sesame seeds and lemon zest on top
and bake for 20 minutes. Slice tart and
enjoy! Try substituting spinach for nettle in
this fun and savory tart recipe.
SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 49

Paddle Meals
Stinging nettle pesto: try packing ahead
• 6 cups fresh nettle, blanched in boiling
water for one minute, drained then finely
chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• ¼ cup almonds (substitute walnuts,
cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
Place the blanched nettle, garlic,
shallots, parmesan cheese and lemon
juice in a hand- crank blender (my
favorite kitchen tool) and mix until a
smooth consistency. Chop the nuts finely
on a cutting board or use a rock to crush
them, kind of like a mortar and pestle.
Blend in the nuts, then slowly stir in the
olive oil. Finish by seasoning with salt and
pepper. This can be tossed with pasta,
spread on crackers, wraps, sandwiches
or pizza, and is fabulous as sauce for
your freshly caught salmon grilled over a
beach fire!
Consider preparing nettle pesto
before you go camping, and save by
home canning or freezing. I like to freeze
the pesto in a small container and pack it
into my small portable cooler to use on
day three or four of a kayak tour.
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50 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

Substitute nettle in this Japanese salad
Nettle Recipes
Gomae Salad
• 7 cups nettle (ordinarily
spinach or kale)
• 1 tablespoon salt
Blanch nettle in boiling
water until tender, drain and
cool.
Sesame Dressing
• 1 tablespoon tahini (sesame
butter)
• 1 teaspoon spicy peanut
sauce
• 1 teaspoon tamari (soy sauce)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (or
substitute olive oil)
• 5 tablespoons sesame seeds,
roasted on hot frying pan,
sprinkled on top of salad
This Japanese steamed
spinach salad with sesame
dressing is a great recipe to try
with stinging nettle. It is the
ultimate recipe because it is
so easy. Just steam the nettle,
make a quick dressing, and
roast some sesame seeds to
sprinkle on top. Easy, tasty and
healthy, this nettle recipe that
is a great side salad for when
you make sushi with freshly
caught (from your kayak)
salmon.
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SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 51

Fishing Angles
Thinking tackle? Think big
A kayak fishing
professional shares
his thoughts on the
best tackle for the job
If you already own a rod and reel
and simply wish to fish from your kayak
occasionally, there is no reason to go
out and buy new tackle. If you have a
serviceable rod and reel with which you are
comfortable fishing from a boat deck or
shore, chances are the rig will be fine for
fishing from your kayak. Use the money you
save from buying a new rod or reel to go
towards a good rod holder and a leash to
secure what’s already in hand, then go fish!
On the other hand, if you find yourself
absolutely hooked by the fishing angle, or
simply want to give yourself the best shot
at success as you learn to fish from your
favorite paddle craft, you might want to
consider purchasing tackle made specifically
for use from a kayak.
Whether you prefer to use spinning, baitcasting,
spin-casting or fly tackle, you can
stick with the common reels when fishing
from a kayak; it is the rod that differs from
the traditional in paddle-fishing tackle.
“It’s all about length,” says Craig Kivi, a
kayak fishing guide who started producing his
own line of rods when he couldn’t find tackle
to his liking. “Spinning and casting rods used
from a kayak need to be at least seven feet
Craig Kivi at work.
long, on up to about nine feet. Fly rods should
start at nine feet and go up from there.”
According to Craig, rods used for
fishing from kayaks need to be longer than
conventional ones for two reasons: “The
primary reason is the casting advantage
offered by the longer rod. The angler is
seated in a low position relative to the water
and the extra leverage offered by a longer
rod makes for longer, easier casting.
“The other advantage of a long rod
comes when fighting a fish,” says Craig.
“The longer rod allows you the length and
leverage required to work a fish around
the boat; the rod needs to be long enough
to clear the bow and the stern if the fish
makes a run or dives under the kayak.”
The grips on kayak fishing rods are
different from the traditional as well. Craig
prefers them to be longer than found on
most fishing rods.
“Too long a butt end (the grip below the
reel seat) will get in your way and jab the
angler in the stomach; too short a butt and
the rig will be hard to cast with two hands,
which is helpful when casting from a seated
position,” he says. Craig recommends 10-
inch butt ends for both casting and spinning
rods in most situations.
The fore-grip (the cork or foam area
above the reel seat) can be longer on kayak
rods used in cold conditions, but otherwise
they are much the same as found on
traditional rods.
“When your hands are wet and cold, it’s
way more comfortable to wrap your fingers
around foam or cork than having them
against fiberglass or graphite.”
As for hardware, Craig says the best kayak
fishing rods feature premium-quality guides
with super-slick inserts to allow line to flow
freely when casting. He also recommends
single foot guides on rods where weight is an
issue. Ditto all-graphite rod construction to
keep weight low and sensitivity high.
For line, Kivi provides his kayak fishing
clients with rigs spooled with premium
monofilament line for the casting attribute.
When clear water conditions require it, he
will rig a leader of fluorocarbon.
And as any angler who has done much
casting from a low-to-the-water, seated
position knows: size and distance matter.
<
Dan Armitage is a boating, fishing and
travel writer based in the Midwest. He is
a licensed (USCG Master) captain, hosts a
syndicated radio show, and presents kayak
fishing seminars at boat shows.
Craig Kivi is the owner of Michigan’s
Golden Drake Outdoors.
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inside its own custom designed backpack.
Find Airis Kayaks at:
Harbour Chandler
52 Esplanade
Nanaimo BC V9R 4Y7
(250) 753-2425
52 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 53

Vignettes
We’ve had fun paddling on recent Coast&Kayak
Magazine trips. Well, mostly we’ve had fun. Here are a few
memorable images we’ve accumulated on recent outings.
u
Is this a case of the kayaking natives growing restless or
an affliction to which Greenland paddling enthusiasts
are prone? We’re not sure, and perhaps it’s best if we
never find out. Photographed during a lighter moment
during the difficult task of dressing for protection from
the sun at Cape Sutil on north Vancouver Island.
u
Greenland paddlers gone wild
The cutest bilge sludge ever
Occasionally the oddest things can be found washed
up in the bottom of your kayak’s cockpit. In this case
it was Julianne Chetcuti (occasionally referred to as
Jujube), the newest member of the Coast&Kayak team.
who joined us for a three-generation family paddle in
our tester Seaward Passat (proving it is indeed a kayak
suitable for the whole family) with mom Brandie who
joined us from her home in the Yukon. Bet the copies of
this issue that we mail to Kanoe People in Whitehorse
won’t last long!
u u
The latest in beach fashionware
How to protect the perfect urchin shell that you
find on day one of a five-day trip? Simple – braid it
into your hair! The odd thing is that the other hikers
we encountered on the Nootka Trail never once
commented. Perhaps they didn’t notice? Or maybe it
looked so natural it appeared a regular hiking/fashion
accessory. Or more probable, they were scared to ask.
Navigation hazards gone wild
Here’s a tragic example of what happens when a bad
idea catches on. Or perhaps there’s a very odd and
highly selective magnetic pull to this old piling that
sits in Newcastle Channel near Nanaimo, BC. We’ll be
keeping an eye open, no doubt, to see exactly how this
marker becomes populated.
u Advertising directory
Accommodation:
Kayak Friendly Accommodation.........50-51
Associations:
BC Marine Trails Network Assoc................. 27
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC................. 43
Destinations:
Gwaii Hanaas Provincial Park Reserve.....56
Haida Gwaii / Gohaidagwaii.com.................7
Quadraislandtourism.ca....................................19
Directories:
Instruction/Education....................................... 43
Kayak Friendly Accommodation................50
Tours and Services...............................................34
Events:
Vancouver Island Paddlefest......................... 27
Kayak Manufacturers:
Advanced Elements...........................................38
Atlantis.........................................................................11
BorealDesign........................................................... 47
Delta................................................................................5
Feathercraft................................................................6
Klepper....................................................................... 14
Necky Kayaks.............................................................7
Nimbus....................................................................... 26
Orca Boats................................................................38
Peregrine Kayaks..................................................23
Pygmy............................................................................6
Seaward..................................................................... 49
Valley...............................................................................3
Waters Dancing Boat Kit Company.......... 45
Gear Manufacturers:
Blue Water Kayak Works................................... 37
Cascade Creek....................................................... 37
Coastal Waters....................................................... 37
Danuu Canoe & Kayak Covers...................... 37
H20 Paddles.............................................................36
KayakPro.................................................................... 39
Lasso Security Cables........................................ 39
Natural West Coast Adventure Gear........ 39
Nimbus Paddles....................................................23
NRS.................................................................................15
Seals Sprayskirts....................................................22
Solo Rescue Assist...............................................36
Suspenz Storage Racks..................................... 37
Instruction:
Instruction/Education Directory................ 43
North Island College.......................................... 43
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC................. 43
Vancouver Island University.......................... 43
Repairs:
Blackline Marine.................................................... 45
Retail Outlets/Dealers:
Aardvark’s.................................................................. 32
Alberni Outpost.................................................... 55
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe........................... 39
Aquabatics............................................................... 45
Comox Valley Kayaks......................................... 33
Deep Cove Outdoors...........................................2
Ecomarine................................................................. 10
Harbour Chandler................................................ 52
Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear............................. 52
OceanRiver Sports................................................41
Western Canoeing & Kayaking.......................2
Valhalla Pure Outfitters..................................... 53
Tours:
Baja Kayak Adventure Tours..........................40
Coast Mountain Expeditions.........................19
Gulf Islands Kayaking..........................................19
Tofino Sea Kayaking........................................... 32
Tours and Services Directory.................34-35
54 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 55

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve,
National Marine Conservation Area
Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
parkscanada.gc.ca
Réserve de parc national, Réserve d’aire
marine nationale de conservation,
et site du patrimoine haïda Gwaii Haanas
parcscanada.gc.ca
ExploreÊtheÊnewÊGwaiiÊHaanas.
Real.ÊInspiring.
RedŽcouvrezÊGwaiiÊHaanas.
ÊÊ Unique.ÊVraiment.
GwaiiÊHaanasÊisÊnowÊtheÊworldÕsÊ
firstÊareaÊprotectedÊfromÊmountainÊ
top to deep sea.
The Haida have had a connection with these islands and
surrounding waters for more than 12,000 years. They managed
and cared for this place according to the belief that everything
is connected to everything else – people, plants, animals, land,
sea and air. Now Parks Canada and the Council of the Haida
Nation manage the land and sea together as one entity.
Gwaii Haanas invites you to explore this amazing place.
GwaiiÊHaanasÊestÊleÊpremierÊendroitÊauÊ
mondeʈÊêtreÊprotŽgŽÊduÊsommetÊdesÊ
montagnesÊauxÊprofondeursÊdeÊlaÊmer.ÊÊ
Les Haïdas ont des liens enracinés dans ces îles et les eaux
environnantes depuis plus de 12 000 ans. Ils ont pris soin
de cet endroit selon le principe que tout est interrelié – les
gens, les plantes, les animaux, la terre, la mer et l’air.
Aujourd’hui, Parcs Canada et le Conseil de la nation haïda
gèrent ensemble la terre et la mer, en tant qu’une seule entité.
Gwaii Haanas vous invite à découvrir cet endroit magnifique.
1-877-559-8818ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
HAIDA NATION