Queen Charlotte Islands Kayaking
The Queen Charlotte Islands are known as “The Canadian Galapagos” due to the fact that this archipelago was isolated during the last ice age, possibly remaining unglaciated, and as such, supports a unique assemblage of flora and fauna. In addition, the Haida people who were it’s earliest inhabitants were noted as perhaps the most war-like yet artistic of the native peoples of the Northwest Coast. Their art stands today as the most valued of the coast, and their culture is alive and well in the Charlottes.
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.
Our first trip in 2010, June 12-19 Tanu to Hotsprings, we will taxi to Moresby Camp, where we’ll meet the Zodiacs (motorized boats) that will take us south into Gwaii Haanas Nation Park. The first stop on our journey south will be a visit to one of the major highlights of any trip to the Queen Charlottes, the long abandoned village of Tanu (Sea-grass-town). This moss-covered village has the best-preserved longhouse sites in the North Moresby area. From the Tanu area we travel south via Darwin Sound and the Bischof Islands, poking our noses into some of the fjords cut into the side of Moresby Island. To round out a fantastic week of exploration in the Charlottes we visit Hotsprings Island for a luxurious soak in the hot pools, with the San Cristovals and Juan Perez Sound forming a spectacular backdrop. This experience will convince you that the Queen Charlottes are truly one of the most special places on earth. We will repeat this itinerary in reverse on the July 24-30 Hotsprings to Tanu trip.
Our second date in 2010, June 19- 26 Hotsprings to Skincuttle, will begin near Hotspring Island at the North end of 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 Dolomite Narrows) is probably without equal anywhere in the world. We will repeat this route in the opposite direction July 17-24 Skincuttle to Hotsprings.
The third trip, June 26-July 3 Skincuttle to Ninstints, will be a kayaking trip through the Queen Charlottes Island. With our sea kayaks, we 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 two trips have the wildest flavour and some of the most wild and beautiful scenery to be found in the Charlottes. 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 will paddle this route in the opposite direction on our fifth trip, July 10-17 Ninstints to Skincuttle.
Our fourth tour, the Kunghit Explorer July 3-10, is a loop trip that will spend the week exploring the area at the south end of the park. A highlight of our journey will be a visit to one of the major highlights of any trip to the Queen Charlottes, the long abandoned village of Skaang Gwaii, or Anthony Island. This moss-covered village has the largest number of original standing poles in North America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a breath taking location for a settlement. This area offers some of the most wild and beautiful scenery to be found in the Charlottes. Possibilities include fantastic beach combing, stunning intertidal life, a possible visit to the isolated community of Rose Harbour, some of the choicest campsites in the Charlottes and for sure the power and majesty of the outer coast.
Kayaking through the Queen Charlotte Islands is truly an amazing trip and sea kayaks allow you to see scenery from a unique point of view.