8-Day Brooks Peninsula Expedition (140.231)
| Location: | Nuchatlitz |
| Price: | $2849.00 |
| Duration: | 8 days/7 nights |
| Departs from/arrives at: | Comox Valley or Campbell River/Brooks |
| Accomodations: | Combination |
| Tour Type: | Leisure Tour |
| Activity Level: | Intermediate |
| Nearest Town/Village: | Zeballos, Port McNeill, Campbell River |
| Inclusions: |
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| Exclusions: | staff gratuities; personal tent & sleeping bag/pad (can rent); wetsuit (can rent) or drysuit; alcohol |
| Guest Parking: | Yes Details: long-term parking available, including at recommended gateway accommodation |
| First Nations: | Historic site visits; local community interactions; co-owned by Kyuquot First Nations woman |
| Additional Information: Your destination - the dramatic Muquin / Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park - is one of the quintessential west coast kayaking adventures. So, consider joining us for this trip-of-a-lifetime to the mighty Brooks Peninsula, an 800 m high and 14 km projection off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, the upper reaches of which escaped glaciation. This expedition is for experienced paddlers and campers who have done a reasonable amount of paddling and camping in a range of conditions. Participants should be comfortable in a kayak for extended periods (up to 3 hours), and have the physical fitness and stamina to paddle a loaded kayak for several days in a row. The start and end of your trip uses our base camp amenities on Spring Island as the perfect staging ground for this unparalleled west coast paddling adventure. The specific itinerary of the Destination Brooks trip varies with the interests and skills of the group, the moods of the ocean and weather, and the offerings of this spectacularly rugged coastline. Participants should be familiar and practised with: basic strokes, including effective manoeuvring in light to moderate winds (up to 20 knots or 35 km/h) and in moderate swell or wind waves wet exits (getting out of the kayak if you accidentally capsize) re-entry techniques (assisted and solo techniques for getting back into the kayak after a capsize!) |
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Itinerary
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Day
1Morning van transportation from your accommodation in Comox/Courtenay or Campbell River; four to five hour scenic drive on northern Vancouver Island to remote Fair Harbour; chartered water taxi transportation to our Wilderness Retreat base camp on Spring Island - on the outer edge of Canada's west coast!
Early afternoon arrival and a light lunch; after a brief orientation to our base camp facilities (shower, resource library, outhouses, fresh drinking water, etc.), the group will discuss our best options and suitable timing for packing and departing toward the Brooks Peninsula the next day.
Time to settle into your waterfront tent accommodations for the first night in camp; once settled, we'll typically go for a relaxing afternoon paddle close to camp - getting active and further oriented. Alternatively we may jump into reviewing kayak packing and safety procedures, assign boats for the trip, and, if the weather is suitable to depart Spring Island the next morning, dive into getting all of the gear loaded!
After dinner, if time permits, we will enjoy a sunset walk to the wild west side of Spring Island to get a view across Checleset Bay and toward the Brooks Peninsula - our marinescape for the week!
The full day of travel and trip preparation, and the soothing sound of waves on the shore, should help you to sleep despite the excited anticipation of the adventure ahead!
Meals: Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
2You might be woken by the caress of waves on the cobblestone beach, the morning mew of a Sea Otter pup in the bay, the call of a Bald Eagle overhead... or the simply the need to stumble out of the comforts of your tent, urinate, and find a coffee to say hello to the day!
After a satisfying breakfast, if the weather isn't appropriate for immediate travel over the exposed traverse to the Bunsby Islands, we can spend an extra night or two initially exploring closer to Spring Island and using the base camp. This can be a great opportunity to see even more of the area.
Our guides will ensure that everyone is fully introduced to the kayaks and equipment, and related safety considerations for our travels.
If the weather and sea gods are smiling on us while traversing Checleset Bay toward the Bunsby Islands and Acous Peninsula, we'll paddle into a sea cave and maybe even under a waterfall. We are also likely to witness Black Bears foraging for food along the steep rocky shore!
By the time we reach our first campsite, we will have travelled between 8 and 11 nautical miles (approx. 15 to 20 km).Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
3Weather permitting, and depending on where we camped the night before, we may then proceed to Surfer Beach at Jackobson Point on the Brooks Peninsula. Once there, this expansive beach will become home for the next few days as we explore the surrounding area by sea and land, absorbing all that the area offers.
Alternately, we decide it's more sensible to first explore more around the Bunsby Islands and Acous Peninsula (see below).
If at the Brooks, after setting up camp and having lunch, the afternoon is typically less structured: kayak, body surf, swim in the creek, explore the shoreline, or just sit still - the choices are almost endless.
We may see tufted puffins boldly swimming beside us (with their comical beak and cavalier head tufts!), curious teenage Stellar sea lions, or flocks of cormorants sunning themselves on the numerous rocky islets. If we are really lucky, we will catch a glimpse of or hear a passing harbour porpoise ("puffing pig"!), humpback whale, or Minke whale.
If conditions remain favourable, we will remain camped on the Brooks Peninsula. While there, likely day paddles include: exploring the best kayaking rock gardens on the coast as part of our route to Clerke Point (the southwest corner of the Brooks); meandering into Nasparti Inlet (including the powerful tidal entrance to Johnson Lagoon)... or, well, not paddling at all, but instead wandering the beach and rocky shoreline in search of treasures or places to rest, reflect, and absorb the calm and wild-ness of this setting.
Either before or after our camping time at the Brooks, we will also explore the Acous Peninsula, Battle Bay (and River), and the Bunsby Islands. Highlights include: paddling into the Battle River estuary, walking the beaches in Battle Bay, visiting Che:k:tles7et'h' (Checleset) First Nation friends and historic sites (with permission), sand and shell beaches, and prolific intertidal life through the shallows between islets - it's like paddling in an aquarium!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
4As per day 3...Fully exploring where we are, connecting with the area, relaxing, and sensibly positioning ourselves for what will be best to next experience!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
5As per day 3.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
6As per day 3.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
7Depending on sea conditions, weather forecasts and what's most suitable for the group, we may do the return paddle to Spring Island on Day 7.
After packing up, we again traverse Checleset Bay back to Spring Island for the last night.
Depending on our arrival time at Spring Island, there may be the chance for an afternoon paddle, or a unique forest walk to a grove of giant Red Cedars on Spring sland.
We recommend a final sunset walk to the exposed beaches on the west side of Spring Island, where you can look back at the Brooks Peninsula and reflect on experiences of the past week.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodation: Camping
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Day
8If already back at Spring Island, this leaves us the morning to relax, organize personal things, and/or head out for some more spectacular paddling or walking around Spring Island's world-class coastline - whichever suits you.
If still in the Bunsby Islands, we're up early to pack, launch, and enjoy the open traverse across Checleset Bay while returning to camp. Once back, it's time to unpack, repack, and enjoy some quiet or group moments before your water taxi arrives midday - a full, satisfying morning, and exhilarating close to a great trip!
After lunch and goodbyes to Spring Island, the water taxi transportation to Fair Harbour will meet our van shuttle back to your accommodation or connecting travel in the Campbell River or Comox/Courtenay areas.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accomodation: Accommodation by Customer
