Brad asked: <<< Our group will be paddling in the vicinity of Goletas and Gordon Channels NW of Port Hardy, Vancouver Island this summer. Does anyone have specific information on where to camp and fish in that area consisting of many islands. Also, I worry increasingly about encounters with cougars. How does one reduce the possibility of becoming an object of a cougar's attentions? Do cougars swim from island to island like the wolves and bears do? >>> Brad, Fellow Paddlerwiser Kirby Stevens has a nice map of that area "Quatsino-Goletas Channel" through his Coastal Waters Recreation buisness. You can pick up the map in any of the kayak stores in Port Hardy, and elsewhere. Essentially, the intended area you wish to travel is ideal for the experienced paddler looking for a softer, less committing experience than that found north of Nigei Island or just south of Cape Caution. If you pull out of Port Hardy later in the day to paddle, you can usually count on more advanced conditions being present crossing over to the Gordon Islands. The transition off Duval Point is very sudden. Hurst Island and Bell Island located in God's Pocket Provincial Marine Park have some lovely tenting sites -- notably the one deep in Harlequin Bay (my fav). Very romantic. Your female companions will not need to bring along a Harlequin novel :-) To the south of the entrance to God's Pocket (the bay) there is a tenting site, as well as on the south side of Bell Island overlooking the small island adjacent to the south of the camping area. Across Christie Passage is Balaklava Island. The Scarlett Point lighthouse is worth a visit. On the south end of this island near Jerome Island is a good camp site, as well as the west side half way up. If you have the time and inclination, a trip to Malei Island will give you some exposure to the fuller sweep of Queen Charlotte Sound. There is unofficial camping on the south of Malei, set up as a courtesy to kayakers by the proprietors of the lodge around on the exposed side of Malei. There are usually a couple of guest kayaks stashed nearby. Please don't touch. Expect a long walk to navigable water on a low-tide departure, as the protected channel at Malei dries significantly. The area is magic. Pure magic. There should be good fishing everywhere, though off the exposed tip of Malei are nutrient rich waters. Check in at the fish and game store in Port hardy for details and license, Watch for restrictions this year. This whole area is just wonderful for whatever your intrest: photography, fishing, diving -- and somewhat underutalized. I use Malei as a jump point to Pine Island and Storm Island, but those crossing are heavily tide influenced and subject to highly unstable weather changes and a ever-present westerl bump. There is further camping on the south of Nigei, half way along, but it is a long paddle in an area of less interest than the more exposed side. For all intents and purposes, the exposed side is benign when the weather is stable -- though wind is a given in the afternoons during NW patters of flow. As for you cougar concerns, yes, cougars do swim in search of prey. Encroachment continues to put pressure on these magnificent animals, who prefer a significantly large range per dominant male. Nature has conferred exquisite specificity to these predatory animals. They are stealthy, have vision that is 10 times more acute than humans, are blessed with keen smell, powerful jaws, and razer-like claws. Their other name of "Mountain Lion" is a bit of a misnomer. They hang out anywhere. If you spend anytime in the BC bush, you have probably been stalked unknowingly by one, but most likely it was just curious. Their normal prey succumb very easy, as a big cat will have you locked in its jaws - having come from behind you before you even know it. They sometimes jump up in a tree to look on after being successfully beat of a victim, as they are so flabergassed that something small had other enteties come of defend it. This is not a normal pattern for them. However, cougars don't normally attack adults, and I really think you need not worry yourself. My wife and I pent countless hours in the bush here in BC, on weekends and almost every evening, as well as canoe and kayak trips. The small children always go between the adults, we make lots of noise, and I've taught my girls to raise their jackets above them to appear bigger if they do happen to have a face-to-face encounter. I've spent many hours solo in the bush, and on small islands with posted cougar warnings, -- and cougars are not one of my fears. Bigger is more intimidating to cougars, so eats lots of donuts before coming to BC :-) And always keep small pets, children, and petite women near everybody else. I'd be more worried about adequate sun-block and preventing cancer, than anything else. Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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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