Going to the Edge: Cruising the Haida Gwaii Islands, British Columbia
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Small Boat, Kayak
Highlights
- Discover the history of this rarely visited place
- Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Watch whales, birds, and other coastal wildlife
Includes
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All meals and snacks from breakfast on Day 2
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All ground transportation and one night’s lodging
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On-trip naturalist/marine biologist discussions
Overview
The isolation and cultural richness of Haida Gwaii -- named one of National Geographic's 20 Best Trips in 2015 -- make it a one-of-a kind, unforgettable destination. Haida Gwaii literally means “Islands of the Haida people." Located about 60 miles off the mainland coast of British Columbia, the archipelago rests on the edge of the North American continental shelf. This pristine wilderness region is one of the richest biological ecosystems in North America, earning the nickname of the "Galapagos of the North." We will spend our time in the southeastern part of the archipelago, in an area known as Gwaii Haanas. Previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, the home of the Haida First Nations People reverted back to the name Haida Gwaii in 2010
The isolation and cultural richness of Haida Gwaii -- named one of National Geographic's 20 Best Trips in 2015 -- make it a one-of-a kind, unforgettable destination. Haida Gwaii literally means “Islands of the Haida people." Located about 60 miles off the mainland coast of British Columbia, the archipelago rests on the edge of the North American continental shelf. This pristine wilderness region is one of the richest biological ecosystems in North America, earning the nickname of the "Galapagos of the North." We will spend our time in the southeastern part of the archipelago, in an area known as Gwaii Haanas. Previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, the home of the Haida First Nations People reverted back to the name Haida Gwaii in 2010.
The Haida were one of the most culturally rich and developed indigenous groups to inhabit early North America. We will learn about their legends, customs, food gathering methods, and how the Haida related intimately to the environment to produce a unique and highly evolved art form. We’ll also learn how this history is being preserved and carried forward to future generations.
We travel among these islands on a motorized sail boat designed for these adventurous trips to visit historical village sites. These sites contain the remains of the great long houses and the best remaining examples of original totem poles in the world. The United Nations has recognized the cultural value of these sites and designated SGang Gwaay as a “World Heritage site, of importance to the history of mankind." Native Haida Watchmen will share their history and general knowledge of each site we visit, including seeing both standing and fallen totem poles, partial long house frames, and a canoe tree.
The number and variety of birds is another highlight. The concentration of bald eagle nests along the coast is second only to Admiralty Island in Alaska. Bird species inhabiting these islands include tufted puffins, horned puffins, rhinoceros auklets, black-footed albatross, peregrine falcons, sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks, and many more! By the end of the trip, we will have an impressive species list.
Our crew includes a captain familiar with the area and its residents, a professional chef, mate, and a naturalist to help us identify the animals and plants in each ecosystem we explore. Throughout each day we keep an eye out for humpback and fin whales, orca, porpoises, sea lions, and seals. We might even spot a few Gwaii Haanas black bears foraging for food along the shore. The tide changes up to 23 feet between high and low tides, creating a remarkably rich shoreline environment for marine life. We explore tidepools and discover the many varieties of sea stars, mussels, clams, snails, urchins, crabs, sponges, sea cucumbers, anemones, nudibranchs, and other colorful creatures that live there.
Daily we’ll update a nautical chart posted with lines showing our route, distance traveled, and where we anchored for the night. Smaller Haida Gwaii maps and Gwaii Haanas visitor guides will be available for each participant.
All past and present Sierra Club domestic and Canadian trips are conducted on lands originally populated by First Nation peoples. This trip takes place in the heartland of the Haida Nation where the Haida people have lived for 13,000 years. Sierra Club Outings has made a commitment to acknowledge the colonial history of these lands in our brochures and continues to embrace the traditional native values of honoring and protecting our planet.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sandspit to meet the group and participate in a short orientation meeting. Dinner is on your own, but lodging is included in the trip price.
Day 2: After breakfast at the hotel, we will be met in Sandspit, Moresby Island by a guide who will escort us to Graham Island via ferry, where we’ll visit the Haida Heritage Centre and enjoy a lunch with traditional Haida foods. In the afternoon, we travel to the marina and get settled in on our boat, have dinner, and begin our journey. Sea kayaks will be available each day for use when the boat is anchored
Day 1: Arrive in Sandspit to meet the group and participate in a short orientation meeting. Dinner is on your own, but lodging is included in the trip price.
Day 2: After breakfast at the hotel, we will be met in Sandspit, Moresby Island by a guide who will escort us to Graham Island via ferry, where we’ll visit the Haida Heritage Centre and enjoy a lunch with traditional Haida foods. In the afternoon, we travel to the marina and get settled in on our boat, have dinner, and begin our journey. Sea kayaks will be available each day for use when the boat is anchored.
Days 3-8: We cruise along the southern and eastern shores of the Haida Gwaii Islands, making shore visits every day for hiking, tidepooling, touring abandoned Haida villages and meeting their Watchmen, and other adventures. Specific highlights planned include Haida Heritage Sites and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of SGang Gwaay, Burnaby Narrows, and Rose Harbour.
While we will probably have opportunities to sail (given appropriate wind and weather), this is primarily a natural history/educational adventure aboard a sailboat rather than a sailing trip. In order to cover the distances necessary for this trip, we will be motoring frequently.
Day 9: We return to the Sandspit airport in time to catch the afternoon flight back to Vancouver.
Please note, the trip price does not include gratuities for the crew. Gratuities are entirely voluntary and solely at your discretion, but they are customary. The crew of the Island Odyssey work hard day and night to make this trip as memorable and fulfilling for you as possible. If you agree they worked hard and contributed significantly to the success and enjoyment of your outing, you may want to express your appreciation with a tip. A guideline of $50-60 per day or about $400-500 (or more) per guest is appropriate. The group gratuity is divided between the captain, first mate, chef, and naturalist. Your Sierra Club trip leader does not share any portion of the gratuity; leaders are unpaid volunteers and cannot accept them.
Logistics
Getting There
The islands are only accessible by plane and boat. Our trip begins and ends in Sandspit on Moresby Island, BC. Air Canada flies to and from Vancouver, BC to Sandspit once daily. Airline schedules require us to stay overnight in Sandspit, Moresby Island at a hotel for the night before the trip starts. Alternately, BC Ferries run between Prince Rupert and Graham Island, with local ferry service to Moresby Island.
Accommodations and Food
Our vessel is an elegant 68-foot custom ketch that features eight cabins for two people each, three heads with hot showers, a large comfortable lounge with an extensive library, a well-equipped galley, and many features that make her suited to this type of voyage
Getting There
The islands are only accessible by plane and boat. Our trip begins and ends in Sandspit on Moresby Island, BC. Air Canada flies to and from Vancouver, BC to Sandspit once daily. Airline schedules require us to stay overnight in Sandspit, Moresby Island at a hotel for the night before the trip starts. Alternately, BC Ferries run between Prince Rupert and Graham Island, with local ferry service to Moresby Island.
Accommodations and Food
Our vessel is an elegant 68-foot custom ketch that features eight cabins for two people each, three heads with hot showers, a large comfortable lounge with an extensive library, a well-equipped galley, and many features that make her suited to this type of voyage. Above deck, a large, enclosed wheelhouse provides comfort in all types of weather.
A professional chef is in charge of all the cooking during the trip. Prepare to be impressed with the variety and excellence of the meals that are prepared. An ample quantity of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and fish, grain, and dairy products is carried for the duration of the voyage. Complimentary wines are served with dinner.
There is no smoking permitted onboard the vessels. E-cigarettes are included in this policy. Our outfitter does not permit any cannabis or CBD products for personal or prescribed use. Our vessels sail in international waters and must adhere to international laws at all times. Participants will not be permitted to board with any cannabis/cannabis-containing items or CBD products at any time.
We follow Leave No Trace guidelines for coastal and marine environments to minimize our impact on this fragile environment. Our outfitter is a pioneer in sustainable tourism practices, including maintaining respectful distances from marine wildlife, minimizing foot traffic in intertidal zones, use of biodegradable and marine friendly products, and removing found marine garbage from the environment.
Trip Difficulty
We have an excellent safety record and make every effort to ensure a safe trip. However, kayaking, hiking, and wilderness travel involve some risks. People of almost any age and most physical capabilities can enjoy this trip. Our vessel is comfortable and relatively spacious but you must be able to care for your personal needs, climb some stairs, and manage in close quarters while on the ship. In order to go ashore, you need to be able to safely climb into and out of zodiacs and kayaks while crew hold the boat, and walk over uneven, possibly rocky, icy, or muddy terrain.
We use professional outfitters and guides for our sailing trips. The industry practice is that our outfitters require participants to sign a waiver in addition to the Sierra Club waiver you will be asked to sign. Your trip leader will provide you with the details for your trip. For more details, see the Liability Release and Assumption of Risk link at the end of this brochure.
Equipment and Clothing
You will be sent a clothing and equipment list specific to this trip upon acceptance by the leader. The trip leader will help you with any specific questions you may have.
Average temperatures in June range between a high of 57°F and a low of 49°F, with a monthly average of 1.2” of rain. All participants should come prepared for clear skies and sunshine as well as cool, gusty winds and possibly some rain.
References
- Reid, Bill, The Raven Steals the Light.
- Smyly, John and Carolyn, Those Born At Koona.
- Jones, Kathleen, Travelling to the Edge of the World.
- Vaillant, John, The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed.
- Blanchet, Wylie, Raincoast Chronicles, The Curve of Time.
- Weyler, Rex, Song of the Whale.
- Krmpotich, Cara, The Force of Family: Repatriation, Kinship, and Memory on Haida Gwaii.
- Vreeland, Susan, The Forest Lover. (A fictionalized biography of Emily Carr.)
Conservation
We will discuss conservation issues of this area of the world as we encounter them. Some topics include old growth logging outside Gwaii Haanas and in culturally significant areas, fisheries management, and the creation of the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve.
We’ll likely also touch on other issues impacting the region such as salmon farming, and impacts of global warming to the marine environment.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider. When applicable, we will operate under permits from Parks Canada.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners