I'm going looking for Orcas mid-May. Can somebody suggest some likely spots? Yes, I know the currents are knarlsome. More LEDs: http://www.action-electronics.com/lw2k.htm I got the headlight and PocketBright. Both allege 2 week battery life. The headlight is plenty bright for following a trail. Only complaint is the metal housing makes it kinda heavy. Makes a great reading light. PocketBright is brighter than the Photon and considerably bulkier. Namaste *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "E. Sullivan" <sullivaned_at_pop.mts.kpnw.org> > I'm going looking for Orcas mid-May. Can somebody suggest > some likely spots? Yes, I know the currents are knarlsome. Hi, May is not the best time to spot orcas in Johnstone Strait. It is my experience that they do not become reliably present in large numbers until near the end of June, with the end of July to the end of September being the very best times (but of course you also have tend with all the people). That being said you could still very likely see some residents and/or transients orcas. Last May I also believe a Humpback cow and calf were spotted in the Robson Bight area for a few days. Assuming that you will begin your paddle form the Telegraph Cove area I think the best place to camp to improve your odds of seeing orcas would be anywhere from Kaikash Creek (a forestry service camp site that has a solar powered composting toilet) south to Robson Bight (please note that you can't actually enter Robson Bight). Kaikash Creek is at the centre of some typical routes that the orcas travel in the summer months. If they are traveling between Robson Bight and up the strait past Telegraph Cove they will swim by here and if they are traveling out to Blackfish Sound through Blackney Passage you can also see them from this spot. It has been my most reliable spot to see orcas with them sometimes coming within 20 feet of the shore. There are also many smaller pebble beaches south of Kaikash Creek that are ideal camping spots for individuals or smaller groups. A route that I have done a few times is to paddle along the strait and camp somewhere in the Kaikash Creek area and then the next day continue paddling down towards Robson Bight and then cross the strait to the Sophia Islands. >From here you can find a couple of places to camp in Growler Cove on West Cracoft Island. From here you can either head back across the strait , go through Blackney Passage to Blackfish Sound or paddle across the entrance of Blackney Passage to Hanson Island and paddle along it's shoreline. If you are going to see transient orcas the best chances are the Sophia Islands and the Plumper Islands at the west end of Hanson Island where they will be on the lookout for some nice plump seals. Another possible spot for transients (or marine mammals in general) would be the many islets at the northwest end of Swanson Island. For those reading that aren't aware of the "knarlsome" currents, Blackney Passage and Weynton Passage are best paddled close to slack tide. If you are thinking of crossing the strait and going into Blackfish Sound or visiting Village island I would suggest finding a camp site facing Blackfish Sound as you may still see orcas or other marine mammals swimming by. I have never seen orcas in Village or Indian Channels. But once again you never know where they may turn up. Consider having your VHF on scan mode when paddling so that you can listen to any reports of whales in the area either from whale watching boats, fisherman or pleasure boaters. If you stop by Stubbs Whale watching in Telegrpah Cove you can find out where they have had any viewings over the past couiple of days. I have never visited but there is also an orca lab on Hanson Island just a little south of Burnt Pt. One last thought is to bring a hydrophone. If you do come across some orcas it is wonderful to sit back in your kayak and listen as well as watch them. If you don't have a hydrophone you can rent one from North Island Kayaks ( http://www.island.net/~nikayak/ ) for something like $5 a day. Hope this helps, Andrew ______________________________ Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures Ltd. North Vancouver, BC, Canada info_at_kingfisher-adventures.com www.kingfisher-adventures.com Toll Free: 1-866-kingfisher ( 546-4347 ) Phone: 604-831-6180 Fax: 604-831-6148 ______________________________ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for your detailed response Andrew! Great data. I might opt for the Mission Group on the West coast next month and save the Straight for September. Have the crowds slacked by late September? I had the Broken Chain to myself couple years ago in early October. Have you paddle the Mission Group? If so, any tips? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I agree with others have said about Johnstone. We went in July and all the really nice camps were pretty much taken up by outfitters. From Kaikash creek and closer to Robson Bight was almost continuous camps. It is quite likely you will have neighbors near to your camp. Often the wind comes up in the afternoon so do your crossings of Johnstone early morning. We camped on Parson Island on the Parson bay side, it was a small camp but we were alone. We had a female orca visit us everyday and saw sea otters in the early morning. The paddle to Village island was fantastic and it looks like there are a few more camps on some of the islands along the way. We negotiated Blackney passage during a flood tide, going with the current. The motor boats were watching us intently, I am sure they were skeptical of our choice. We picked our way through skirting some of the squirrelly currents and made it without incident. We paddled on the Hanson Island side of the passage. We saw Orcas everyday; watch for the Stubbs Orca viewing boat. When you see the tour boat Orcas are close by! -- MZ website: http://members.home.net/mzuschlag -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of E. Sullivan Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 2:52 PM To: Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures Ltd; pw Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Johnstone Straight/lights Thanks for your detailed response Andrew! Great data. I might opt for the Mission Group on the West coast next month and save the Straight for September. Have the crowds slacked by late September? I had the Broken Chain to myself couple years ago in early October. Have you paddle the Mission Group? If so, any tips? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "E. Sullivan" <sullivaned_at_pop.mts.kpnw.org> Sent: April 30, 2001 2:51 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Johnstone Straight/lights > Thanks for your detailed response Andrew! Great data. > > I might opt for the Mission Group on the West coast next month and save the > Straight for September. Have the crowds slacked by late September? I had the > Broken Chain to myself couple years ago in early October. > > Have you paddle the Mission Group? If so, any tips? Glad the info is of some help. September can still be a little busy in the strait but it is nothing like what July and August can be like. If you are traveling in a small group it is even less of a problem because you have a wider choice of camp sites. Sorry I can't help with the Mission Group as I have never paddled there. I just got back last weekend from a trip to Barkley Sound with a couple of friends. We paddled from Torquart Bay to Bamfield. We by-passed the Broken Group and went through the Pinkertons and the Deer Group. It was a great trip even though the first 2 days saw lots of rain and a real torrential thunderstorm our first night. We didn't see another paddler the entire trip and the only other boat we saw was a water taxi taking people to a logging camp. The last 2 days were nice and sunny and on our last evening after setting up camp we saw a gray whale, it came into our little bay and it did something that I have only seen humpbacks and orcas do before, it breached. I am sure it is not that rare but it was the first time I had seen it and it was quite impressive. There are also some fantastic sea caves and sea arches throughout the Deer Group. It was nice to be out paddling when you have the water all to yourself and not have to worry too much about other peoples safety (yes I worried but not as I would with beginners). The other two people I was paddling with were experienced paddlers so we were able to put in lots of miles each day and even take some time to paddle in rock gardens and play in the surf. Hope your trip in May is a good one and if you paddle Johnstone Strait in September let me know when as I will also be there. Andrew ______________________________ Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures Ltd. North Vancouver, BC, Canada info_at_kingfisher-adventures.com www.kingfisher-adventures.com Toll Free: 1-866-kingfisher ( 546-4347 ) Phone: 604-831-6180 Fax: 604-831-6148 ______________________________ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Andrew said >I just got back last weekend from a trip to Barkley Sound with a couple of >friends. We paddled from Torquart Bay to Bamfield. We by-passed the Broken >Group and went through the Pinkertons and the Deer Group. ... on our last >evening after >setting up camp we saw a gray whale, it came into our little bay and it did >something that I have only seen humpbacks and orcas do before, it breached. >I am sure it is not that rare but it was the first time I had seen it and >it >was quite impressive. Hi Andrew, Was this towards the Northeast end of the Deer Group? If so, I wonder if there's something about the underwater topography there that encourages this behaviour, as it's the one and only place I've seen full breech as well. A few years back I was on a kayak trip with three others. I heard the whale sighing before I could make him out against the sun's reflection. I told the woman who was paddling nearest me to rap gently on her hull (I've been told it sends out sound that helps make the whale aware of your presence so they won't surface under you.) After about five minutes of this, she's giving me the old raised eyebrow and wondering if there is a whale at all or if this is like sending the new kid on the job to get a left-handed screwdriver or striped paint. Just on time to save my credibility, the whale breeches like a sub doing an emergency surface drill about two hundred yards away. Amazing! Philip Torrens N49°16' W123°06' IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Due to high Spam volume, my e-mail filters are set to accept mail only from known addresses. If you reply to me using an address other than the one that I sent this message to, your message will be "trashed" without me ever seeing it. If you would like to send me e-mail from another address, please reply to me via the address I sent this mail to, advising me of the address you would like me to add to my "accept" list. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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