RE: [Paddlewise] Queen Charlottes: Park

 -----Original Message-----
From: dkruger [mailto:dkruger_at_pacifier.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 1998 12:45 PM
To: PaddleWise
Subject: [Paddlewise] Queen Charlottes: Parks M


I was surprised and dismayed at the way Parks Canada is managing Gwaii
Haanas, during my visit there.  I felt Parks' style concentrated on
"management from the office," with very few resources in/on the park
itself.  In contrast, the Haida Watchmen were EXTREMELY helpful and
knowledgeable.

Here is a short list of my gripes about Parks, many of them echoed by
locals and outfitters in the Charlottes  Anybody have different
experiences to share?

<snip>

4. Finally, Parks has essentially no presence in the Park itself.  We
used local residents (in Rose Harbour), Haida Watchmen, and outfitters
to help us when we needed it, because Parks was invisible.  I saw three
Canadian Coast Guard vessels on patrol and NEVER saw a Parks patrol
boat, in my 28 days on the water.  The outfitters who ferry people and
yaks into/out of the Park were the best resource in an emergency.

Next year, Parks expects to extract CDN$ 10/person/night for visitors
(to a max of $60/head, I believe).  I do not see Parks providing much
return for that fee.  What do others think?

 --
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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It is similar in Ontario. Non-residents who camp on Crown lands are
supposed to pay CDN $10/person/night for a camping permit, but permits   are
hard to find and Crown lands are rarely patrolled (at least, on the north   
shore of Lake Superior), so many American kayakers don't bother. And the
Canadian government provides nothing in return -- maybe SAR, but   certainly
no improved or even sanitary campsites or other services.

Linda and I just returned from a week of kayak camping in the islands of
Nipigon Bay near Rossport, Ontario. I was disgusted to find that an
"official" campsite in Old Man's Pocket had a shallow or almost full pit
toilet that was located less than 25 feet from the water. This would   never
be allowed in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which maintains
campsites yet charges less for permits. I tried to buy a camping permit   in
Rossport, which is a popular put-in for kayakers camping in the islands,
not to mention motorized fishermen, and was very surprised to discover   that
the closest place to buy a permit was a two-hour round trip away. On my
previous trip seven years ago I had bought my permit from Chucky's   Charter
in Rossport, but the place burned downed two months ago and has not been
replaced yet. Nor does the local sea kayak outfitter issue permits, which   
very much surprised me. In the end, we camped without a permit, and spent   
the money instead on the local economy (a room and a trout dinner at the
Rossport Inn) at the end of the trip.

Chuck Holst  
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