New West Coast Trail Squidoo Lens

We've created a Squidoo Lens about the West Coast Trail. It has basic information about taking a hike on the West Coast Trail, whether it is a DIY tour or a fully guided one. Click: West Coast Trail Squidoo Lens.

The Touring Season is Over for 2010!

Now into October and the weather is changing. The guiding season is over and the play, preparation, and learning season for us is just beginning.

We have trainings, re-certifications,and practice to do-and in some of the most interesting conditions!

Part of our off-season is to sort through the massive numbers of photos and video that we took during our tours and trickle them out to you-the best of the best.

Keep an eye out for yourself or friends as the memories pile up on the blog.

Until the next post....cheers!

Gulf Islands Sea Kayaking - Trip to Rum Island

 

Paddling from Sidney, cross to Sidney Spit. It is often easier to carry kayaks over the spit than paddle all the way around it. From the northeast side of the spit, island hop to Forrest Is. and Rubly Is. over to Gooch Is. The more interesting side is the north side. Travel along this north side of Gooch to Rum Island. Look for the National Park sign.

On your crossings, watch for the wind, especially if it will be opposing current. It can get pretty choppy out there. Also watch our for Washington State Ferries passing through the channel.

Gulf Islands' Sidney Spit Sea Kayaking Virtual Tour

 

Check out this day trip to Sidney Spit by sea kayak. Mornings are usually the best time to kayak over because the wind can kick up in the afternoons. We show a panorama of the spit from the water, walk through the day use area, and pick up a heron "strolling" along the spit. This is a great place for a short sea kayaking trip from Victoria.

Update to Paddlefest Attendance

Stats from MEC's Michael Pardy show that there were more people out on the water at this year's paddle fest than last year. I can say that the off-beach vendor's area had much less traffic.

It looks like more and more people are taking advantage of the short, on-water instructional sessions than ever before, but not so interested in gear, equipment, and tours.

We will definitely be reconsidering attendance next year if the format stays the same, as are a number of other vendors, so they say.

All in all, good for people getting on the water, not very economical for other businesses to spend a day with very little traffic going their way. Hmmm?

Gulf Islands Sea Kayaking-Crossing Sansum Narrows

 

Heading out of Maple Bay on the south side, there is a long stretch of shore before a gap in the land-Sansum Narrows. This gap feels the rush of water as the tides change, creating rips and eddies. Paddling a sea kayak through the narrows or crossing it is best done near slack current. Here, we cross it at about 1 hour past slack and get a little bit of the choppy swirl about two-thirds of the way across. This is some of the fun with more advanced sea kayaking skills-playing in currents.

Take a Virtual Sea Kayak Tour in the Gulf Islands-Burgoyne Bay on Salt Spring Island