[Paddlewise] Tripped Report

   Six paddlers left Port McNeil and headed for an island in the Broughton
Archipeligo to the east of Vancouver Island. We prepared for our tripped
by enduring 10 days of temperatures near 100 F in Portland, Oregon, with
a maximum of 106 F. Our 8 days of camping consisted of 55 F days with
moderate winds, fog, and occasional steady rains. I had forgotten the joys
of shivering. But no worries mate, for I had brought along 2 sets of rain
gear, 3 pile jackets, wool socks, 3 ski caps, and 2 backpacking stoves,
1 thermos. In other words, I was determined to live through this adventure.
My campanions likewise frequently looked like x-country skiers.

   Waters were calm, even when the wind blew down miles of fetch, and the
scenery was panoramic and splendid. It is worth going just to see the
dreamscape of islets drifting in and out of the fog. Instead of charts, I
used a kayaker's atlas of the area, which cost the same as 2 charts and
held much more information. We hunted down an obscure campsite that the
atlas insisted was there, and found a man and his dog hunkered down. He
had carried his kayak high upon the rocks, and was attempting to cook with
charcoal, as his stove had expired. He seemed in good spirits.

   Our island has a wonderful campsite. On one day there were 21 people
camped there, with 18 kayaks. Talk about your wilderness experience.
Two of the tour groups asked if they could borrow furniture from us,
as we had all of the 2 by 6's. But most of the time we had the place to
ourselves.

   As is our custom, we brought too much food and too much clothing, so
we were in danger of generating a culinary bacchanal. But better to have
too much than too little. At the end of the trip we still had half our
food left. I had to force feed myself apples all the way to the US-Canada
border.

   Now to the fishing report. I fished 8 days. The number of rockfish or
bottom fish I caught was ZERO. This is in stark contrast to my first
kayak trip to Barkley Sound, where I caught a fish about every 2 minutes.
I fear the bottom fish population has CRASHED. We saw few eagles, and
even fewer seals. Something very significant is happening in the waters
off Vancouver Island. I don't know the causes, but the effects are clear.
The place is in trouble. Salmon are still in evidence, but the rockfish
have disappeared. Back in Port McNeil, we learned that the herring fishery
has also crashed, and I think the prawn fishery may also be in trouble.
A lot of boats are up for sale.

   The highlite of the trip was going into a little shop and asking if
the t-shirts ever go on sale. Without batting an eye, the owner said
ok, the t-shirts are now half price! Gotta love that place.

That's my tripped report, and I'm sticking with it.

Brad
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