Wanderung Broken Islands August 2008

The Trip:
Sat August 16 to Sun Aug 24 (7 days within these 9) Book your week's vacation Monday to Friday and keep the weekends before and after free until dates are finalized.

Kayak the Broken Islands in a fun, get along group. Eat, drink, hike, play games (board/cards, etc), camp, hopefully see whales, and of course kayak! You have taken at least two overnighter ocean kayak trips (which means you've also taken the rescue course and general paddling lessons).

Packing/Safety:
Tent space is very limited, partner up if possible.

Group meals unless you have many allergies, restrictions (in which case, you are on your own).

Pack small, do not fill water containers.

Late starts on crossing days are NOT an option. Major hazards.

There is NO water in area, we might need up to 20litres per paddler with us, start saving pop bottles, consider this with cooking and washing.

There is little to no firewood at this time of year. Take some of our own or get some from Sechart on the pub run?!

Costs:
Estimates (will confirm as we get closer to trip):

Gas for 360km round trip (30)per person

Campsites $40 pp

Ferry $40 pp round trip

Car park $13 pp

Rentals ~$220

Food ~$80? You will pay for the meals you are responsible for (am following the example of a guided tour group to the Broken Islands... worked fabulously, keeps group together and we will eat very well!)

Food & Drink:
We will divide up the number of meals among us. To be confirmed once we have final commitments. Meal ideas? See:

Bring your own wine/beer (or partner up)

Water:

Food Allergies/Restrictions:

Tentative Itinerary:
Sightseeing Hitlist: Benson Island blowhole Jaques Is. Lagoon Indian fishing traps Visit to Sechart for water, possibly pub?

Itinerary: Start: Sunday August 17th, 2008 leave Horseshoe Bay 8:30 am Arrive Nanaimo 10:05am Paddle to Hand Island?

Kayak Days: Resupply at Sechart in middle for water Pub lunch in Sechart!?

Finish: Sat August 23,2008 Leave early start to Toquart Return boats to Tofino and Port Alberni Catch late ferry to Vancouver 7:30PM 9:05PM 9:35PM

Carpools:
-if you aren't listed... can you make it convenient to get you close to either of these routes?

Group gear:
-GPS (John) -VHF Radio (John) -20' x 30' Tarp (John) -large cooking pots (John) -hatchet (John)

-Rec charts -tow pigtail -real charts -stoves and fuel (what kind) -bigger stove -group cooking utensils -other cooking stuff depending on meals (?) - (small fry pan/boiler - SK/teflon fry pan) -tents arrange with your partner above -water filter drops (?) THIS IS NEEDED -first aid - is there is anything we need to cater for (diabetes/epilepsy/alergies) -boat repair -strobe light - handy for the dance party... (fog crossings) -Flare

Links:
Kayaking the Broken Group Islands on Canada's West Coast, Pacific Rim ... By Jean-Francois (JF) Marleau 

Tide chart for Broken Group Island -- Effingham:

Lady Rose may rent kayaks? Website at

BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay Departure Bay Schedule in Effect: July 29, 2008 to September 1, 2008 

-red tide situation 

-use this map to locate coordinates for red tide 

BROKEN GROUP ISLANDS parcs canada 

Gear List you can use to check off what you have / need / borrow / share 

nice pretty map of broken group 

Broken Island info 1. at Google, click on images and type in broken island group, and you will get plenty of photos, trip summaries, guide comments, maps, and other related information.

Below is a pasted copy of Al Schafer's itenarary. It's just to pick some ideas from.

Gov't Website
Barkley Sound Kayak Trip

75km from Port Alberni to Toquart turnoff

According to the warden, the #1 reason for medical evacuations is stomach sickness. WASH YOUR HANDS.

To avoid the crowds ask the concessionaire that collects camping fees how many campers are at other islands. Ecomarine camps on Keith Island for 5 days. Fri, June 2 – first regularly scheduled ferry to Broken G

$9/person camping, collected each morning. Takes Cash, Visa & Mastercard.

INNER ISLANDS David Island Single file passage behind David Island was all the more beautiful by contrast. Here the shallow water was crystal clear, unlike the churned up outer waters of the sound. Bat stars, and anemones lined the bottom Sechart Lodge If you are out in the park for a long trip, it's nice to come here and have a shower and load up on water. Showers cost $1 for three minutes. 800-663-7192 (during office hours) Alma Russell Islands Houseboats in Julia passage Pinkerton Islands One of the highlights of the paddling on our Broken Islands trip, this area paddles along some of the Vancouver Island coastline and it isn’t uncommon on this day to see black bears along the coast, lifting up rocks and eating the small crab underneath. Hand Closest to Toquart – 2 hr paddle. Great swimming. Benson Great camping on East side, better than at the point. Running water from a hose above the campground. Campground, grassy meadow Check out the tidal pools. The most memorable was the Benson Island trip where we toured an archeological dig Follow the trail from the orchard to the other side of Benson Island. If the seas are right you will be treated to a 50 foot blowhole. Dodd Recommended by Ecomarine. Nice sunrise and sunset. Has lagoon. Whales spotted here. Hike around perimeter Willis Nice beach campsite Jarvis & Jacques At low tide the lagoon is a potpourri of sea life Tiny Group The shallow aqua blue waters are dotted with small islands with white shell beaches. Dempster White sand beach on NE Side Explore the large sea caves on the southwest side OUTER ISLANDS Turrett Campground is busy – not recommended. Lovett Lunch spot on east side Clark Best beach and campsite (large enough 50). Intertidal zone on opposite side of campsite. Gibraltar Batstars off campsite. Sea caves, forest walk. Campsite can be noisy as popular with divers. Effingham Dark and dingy campsite. Water Source.

Meares Bluff on Effingham Island - hike across the east end of the island to the abandoned Indian village. The trail is a 10 – 15 minute easy hike and is marked by pink/red pieces of tape tied to trees. The abandoned Indian site is a beautiful location—pretty much the only beach on all of Effingham Island. Abandoned Indian village site at the beautiful beach on the northeast side of Effingham Island. The remains of several longhouses can still be seen.

Dicebox Go at low tide. once the site of a Nuu-chah-nulth village and also is a fine place for exploring tide pools. Wouwer Sea lion colony.

The BGI Warden Station is located on floats in a bay adjacent to Nettle Island, due north of the Gibraltar Island campsite.

Paddlers are asked to stay away from sea caves during the June to August breeding season.

Water Taxi Based at Sechart, 42 foot skiff is equipped to transport you, your kayaks and gear from Toquart Bay or Bamfield into the Broken Group Islands or to our Lodge. (250) 720-7358 Arrangements for transportation can also be made in person at Sechart Lodge or at any of the Broken Group Islands campsites. Toquart Bay to: Clark or Effingham Island $45.00 per person Sechart to: Clarke or Effingham Island $40.00 per person

DAY 1: From Vancouver, board a morning ferry to Duke Point on Vancouver Island. After a two-hour ferry ride, you will drive four hours across Vancouver Island through old growth Douglas Fir and breathtaking vistas to Toquart Bay, our launching point and campsite for the first night.

DAY 2: Launch the kayaks for a paddle to Hand Island. Paddle through the Stopper Islands where you'll visit Old Growth Rainforests.

- Set up camp on Hand Island where you may encounter artifacts of past peoples such as an old donkey engine used for logging and ancient stone fish traps.

DAY 3: Spend the day exploring the beaches of Dodd and Turtle Islands and tidal pools teaming with sea life. Making a side trip to the Tiny Group Islands, you may see sea lions, seals, gray whales or porpoises. - Set up camp on Turret Island.

DAY 4: On this day, you can paddle as much or as little as you like. For a longer paddle, head out to Wouwer Island -- keep your eyes peeled for sea lions. If you're interested in a shorter trip, Benson Island -- site of an archaeologic dig in 2000 -- is a great place to look for gray whales. Return to your campsite on Turret for the evening.

DAY 5: Today you will depart for Jarvis and Jacques Islands. Here you can look for the infamous moon snails -- huge snails that display a unique protective egg-casing after burrowing in the sand. Or visit a sheltered lagoon, where you may find an ancient fish trap once used by the Nuu-Cha-Nulth people. After a full day of exploration you'll return to Hand Island for the last night.

DAY 6: After breakfast, pack up camp and paddle back to Toquart Bay for lunch. After a van trip back across the island and a ferry ride to Vancouver, the trip officially ends in the late afternoon.

Al Schaffer BARKLEY SOUND KAYAK CENTRE (403) 678-4102