KAYAKING IN THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
South Moresby Island

Perched on the edge of the Gulf of Alaska eighty miles off the coast of British Columbia (see map), the South Moresby wilderness is the most wild and remote of our kayak tours. The Queen Charlotte islands are the ancestral home of the Haida Indians who call this area Gwaii Haanas (Place of Wonder). Your sense of wonder begins with the float plane ride that carries you over these islands to the start of a week of discovery. Our kayaks give us the freedom to reach abandoned villages of the Haida people and to experience the ghostly presence of their ancient totem poles and long houses in the company of a Haida guide. In addition to the wealth of Haida culture that is present among these islands, there is also an abundance of wildlife. Eagles, the islands' ever-present sentinels, observe our passage from their perch in a giant cedar tree. Peregrine falcons dart about the sky before diving to attack their unsuspecting prey. Immense sitka spruce tower over the darkened forest floor and remote shorelines are a beachcomber's paradise.
	Dates for the seven to fourteen day Queen Charlottes trips each year are in June and July. We run the trips during this period for several reasons. The weather is statistically as good or better early in the summer as it is later in the season. We see far fewer other people at this time, whereas later the area can become somewhat more travelled. Lastly, the seabirds in the Queen Charlottes are nesting early in the summer, and our opportunities to see Tufted Puffins, Ancient Murrelets, and the raptors including the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon are vastly improved.
SLIDESHOW KAYAKING THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
2006 QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAKING DATES: June 24-July 1 (Sat.-Sat. - 8 days), July 1-8 (Sat.-Sat. - 8 days), July 8-15 (Sat.-Sat. - 8 days), July 15-22 (Sat.-Sat. - 8 days) & July 22-28 (Sat.-Fri. - 7 days) QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAKING ITINERARIES:

On our first trip, June 24-July 1, our starting point will be near Hotspring Island in Juan Perez Sound. A luxurious soak in the natural outdoor hot pools of Hotspring Island, with the San Cristoval Mountains forming a spectacular backdrop, will be a fine introduction to the many pleasures of this wonderful part of the world. Next we travel south across Juan Perez Sound, passing through Burnaby Narrows into Skincuttle Inlet. If you are interested in marine biology this is the trip you should consider. The density of marine life in the intertidal zone at Burnaby Narrows (also known as

Another aspect of this trip will be an opportunity to hike up into the alpine ridges of the San Cristoval mountains. Part of what makes this hike so interesting is the diversity of botanical zones that we pass through in a matter of a few hours. None of the zones is unique to the Charlottes but the way they are compressed into such a narrow band is quite delightful. On this trip we will also pass a number of different sea bird nesting sites including thos of Rhinoceros Auklets and Fork Tail Storm Petrels. We will repeat this route in the opposite direction July 15-22.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAK TRIP # 1 PRICE: $1595 ($1335 US)
Price includes floatplane/water taxi between Sandspit and tour area, and $60 Parks Canada user fee.

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The second trip, July 1-8, will continue south from Skincuttle Inlet around the eastern tip of Moresby Island, through Houston Stewart Channel past the tiny, isolated community of Rose Harbour, and ends on the southern-most tip of Moresby, from which we can paddle to the abandoned village of Ninstints on remote Anthony Island (Sgan'gwaii). The southernmost tip of the Charlottes is quite exposed to the Pacific weather systems and again our itinerary will be strongly influenced by the weather. This trip and the following trip have the wildest flavour and some of the most wild and beautiful scenery to be found in the Charlottes. We will be paddling in slightly less protected water and the trees have a more humbled appearance to them as a result of their exposure to the fierce storms of winter. Because of its inaccessibility the village of Ninstints is the best preserved of all the Haida villages, with the greatest number of standing mortuary and memorial poles, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The small islets of this area are nesting ground for several types of seabird including the tufted puffin and the ancient murrelet as well as hunting grounds for Peregrine Falcons. We may also see harbour seals and Stellar sea lions hauled out on the rocks enjoying a midday siesta. These waters are also home to number of different species of

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAK TRIP # 2 PRICE: $1595 ($1335 US)
Price includes floatplane between Sandspit and tour area, and $60 Parks Canada user fee.

Return to 2006 date options.

On our third kayak trip in the Queen Charlotte Islands, July 8-15, we will fly by chartered float plane to the vicinity of Louscoone Bay near the southern end of Moresby Island. This area offers some of the most wild and beautiful scenery to be found in the Charlottes. We will be paddling in somewhat less protected water than on our earlier trips and the trees have a more humbled appearance to them as a result of their exposure to the fierce storms of winter.

On remote Anthony Island lies the abandoned village of Ninstints (Sgan’gwaii). Because of its inaccessibility this is the best preserved of all the Haida villages and with its many still-standing mortuary poles has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We plan to visit Ninstints on a day-trip.

The small islets surrounding this area are nesting ground for several types of seabird including the tufted puffin and the ancient murrelet. We may also see harbour seals and Stellar sea lions hauled out on the rocks enjoying a midday siesta. These waters are also home to number of different species of whales. Bring binoculars.

Our route north from will take us through Houston Stewart Channel past the tiny, isolated community of Rose Harbour, out to the edge of Hecate Strait, around Benjamin Point, finally ending at the abandoned mining community of Jedway in Skincuttle Inlet on Moresby Island The southernmost tip of the Charlottes is quite exposed to the Pacific weather systems and therefore our itinerary will be strongly influenced by the weather. Weather permitting, we return to Sandspit by float plane on Friday afternoon but we strongly suggest that you leave some extra time in your travel plans to allow for delays due to fog or wind.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAK TRIP # 3 PRICE: $1595 ($1335 US)
Price includes floatplane between Sandspit and tour area, and $60 Parks Canada user fee.

Return to 2006 date options.

On our fourth week kayaking in the Queen Charlotte Islands (July 15-22), we will fly in a chartered float plane to a landing site on Moresby Island at or near the abandoned mining community of Jedway in Skincuttle Inlet. We'll time our passage through Dolomite (or Burnaby) Narrows to coincide with the tides so that the rich intertidal zone with its wide variety of sea life can be observed. As with our June 24-July 1 trip, there will be an opportunity to hike up into the alpine ridges of the San Cristoval mountains on Moresby Island, where we get the opportunity to experience first-hand the diversity of botanical zones in the Charlottes. We will then continue north to our take-out in the vicinity of Hot Springs Island at the northern end of Juan Perez Sound. A luxurious soak at weeks end in the natural outdoor hot pools of Hotspring Island, with the San Cristoval Mountains forming a spectacular backdrop, will convince you that the Charlottes are truly one of the most special spots on earth. QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAK TRIP # 4 PRICE: $1595 ($1335 US) Price includes floatplane/water taxi between Sandspit and tour area, and $60 Parks Canada user fee.

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On our final week in the Charlottes, July 22-28, starts with a soak in the natural thermal pools at Hotsprings Island. We'll search for ancient fossils along the shorelines of what has been called one of the most scenic areas in the Queen Charlottes. We travel through the Bichof Islands and Darwin Sound, poking our noses into some of the narrow fjords cut into the side of Moresby Island and getting glimpses through the mists of the San Cristovals towering above us. This trip is a bit off of the beaten track that most kayakers travel in the Charlottes. To top off this trip, we end with a visit to the village of Tanu. The moss-covered village of Tanu (Sea-grass-town) has the best-preserved longhouse sites in the North Moresby area.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS KAYAK TRIP # 5 PRICE: $1595 ($1335 US)
Price includes floatplane/water taxi between Sandspit and tour area, and $60 Parks Canada user fee.

Return to 2006 date options.

Getting to the Queen Charlottes: Air Canada has regular service from Vancouver to Sandspit. If you have more time, the BC Ferries route through the Inside Passage and across Hecate Strait to the Queen Charlotte Islands is a relaxing and beautiful two day long trip.

Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association website: Issues regarding the Gwaii Haanas Backcountry Management Plan.

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