Anyone with experience camping Barkley Sound on West Coast of Vancouver Island?? Looking for island that has pretty good protection from the winds, usually from West or South West at this time of year. Any troubles paddling Coaster Passage, the Pacific Rim National Parks pamplet seems to warn of very choppy seas around noon time and warns paddlers to stay out of area. Toquart Bay is where I plan to put in, anyone with experience getting there and where to put in around the bay?? Thanks, Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Mike...I paddled there several years ago, stopping on Hand and Clarke Islands. Hand Island is pretty sheltered. From there it is pretty easy going to get to the outer islands. The Broken Group is a bit of a zoo in the summer now, with camping space at a premium. You drive to Alberni from Victoria, then along the road to Long Beach, most of the way, making a left on a well marked logging road to Toquart Bay where you can put in, and leave your vehicle. (Don't leave any valuables in it). It is a sheltered paddle out to the first set of islands, then a fairly exposed paddle across towards Hand Island. It's a good idea to paddle before 11 am in the summer as the wind usually comes up from the southwest in the afternoon. If you are a novice, it would be a good idea to go with someone else, and practise your self-rescues with them, as the water is very cold. Fishing is excellent. I'm a high end novice, and I felt comfortable most of the time, except crossing around the outside of Benson, which was a little inductive of concentration. >Anyone with experience camping Barkley Sound on West Coast of Vancouver >Island?? Looking for island that has pretty good protection from the winds, >usually from West or South West at this time of year. Any troubles paddling >Coaster Passage, the Pacific Rim National Parks pamplet seems to warn of very >choppy seas around noon time and warns paddlers to stay out of area. > >Toquart Bay is where I plan to put in, anyone with experience getting there >and where to put in around the bay?? > >Thanks, Mike >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** Chris Hvid Research Officer Evaluation and Accountability Branch B.C. Ministry of Education Phone: (250) 387-4724 EMail: Chris.Hvid_at_gems5.gov.bc.ca *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Christopher Hvid wrote: > > Mike...I paddled there several years ago, stopping on Hand and Clarke Islands. > Hand Island is pretty sheltered. From there it is pretty easy going to get > to the outer islands. [snip] > It's a good idea to paddle before 11 am in the summer as the wind > usually comes up from the [north]west in the afternoon. If you are a novice, > it would be a good idea to go with someone else, and practise your > self-rescues with them, as the water is very cold. Mike wrote: > > Anyone with experience camping Barkley Sound on West Coast of > > Vancouver Island?? [snip] > > Toquart Bay is where I plan to put in, anyone with experience getting there > > and where to put in around the bay?? Chris' advice (much snipped) is good. From the Toquart Bay boat ramp launch point (obvious -- lots of good sandy beach to use), the gnarly section is from the Stoppers to Hand. If you wish to avoid that crossing, and leave your vehicle in (safer?) digs in Port Alberni, you might want to use the Lady Rose service from Port Alberni, which will drop you off at a float near Sechart (look for Canoe Island on the chart), on the E edge of Barkley Sound. From there, the crossings are generally more sheltered and much shorter than the gnarly one mentioned above. In addition, you should have fellow paddlers also launching and headed the same place(s) you are, and the folks who monitor campsites (and collect the $5/night fee) will be on the float to dispense useful tips and advice. The drawback is that you will not get onto the water until probably noon or later the first day. Camping should not be crowded during May, and as a single, you will fit in where larger groups can not. Try to look forlorn, and I suspect you will get invited to eat with larger groups! <grin> I favor Willis, for its sheltered campsites, and pretty decent access to Benson, Clarke, etc. On "bad weather days," you can tour around the Willis/Dodd/Turtle complex, to relieve being stuck in camp. (A tarp is mandatory for waiting out poor weather.) The campsite on Turret is less-protected and a little more work to haul your stuff to a tent site. If you feel up to committing yourself to crossing Coaster Channel, Gilbert's campsite gives quick (and reasonably sheltered) access to the protected sides of Effingham, Wouwer, Batley, Howell, and other "outer" islands. Gilbert's tentsites are in an impressive stand of older cedars, and quite sheltered, though a little dank in heavy rain. I suspect Gilbert will be less-crowded than Hand, Gibraltor, Dodd, Clarke, and Willis, this time of year. Coaster Channel is a barrier only when there is steady, higher wind. I've never found it to be a problem, but have avoided it when the wind was above 10 - 12 knots. Do pay attention to the weather forecasts -- Amphitrite (sp?) Point and Cape Beale are the forecast points to listen to on the weather channels, and will generally have higher winds than you would experience "inside" the islands. Have a great trip! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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