Fall in British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest Edition. Discover Abundant wildlife in the largest coastal temperate forest in the world.

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1 Fall in British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest 2017 Edition 9-days exploring the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world Discover Abundant wildlife in the largest coastal temperate forest in the world Encounter Iconic bears and ancient coastal rainforests Learn How wild Pacific salmon define the ecosystem

2 British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest Salmon, Bears, Whales, and Wolves The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest intact coastal temperate forests in the world. Extending from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska, and covering more than 64,000km 2 (24,000mi 2 ), this area is home to spectacular wildlife including whales and dolphins, bears and wolves, sea lions and sea otters. This 9-day expedition aboard our classic schooner, the Passing Cloud, gives us the chance to explore this beautiful ecosystem and learn how it depends so critically on wild Pacific salmon. 2

3 We will have the opportunity to follow the salmon lifecycle, visit the First Nations communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu, encounter marine mammals on the open sea, and potentially catch a glimpse of the rare white Kermode or Spirit bear. Our 9-day expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest starts in the Heiltsuk First Nation community of Bella Bella and ends in the Haisla First Nation territory if Kitimat. Travelling deep into the heart of the Great Bear, north through the Gitga at Nation community of Hartley Bay, we circumnavigate Princess Royal Island in search of salmon, bears, whales and wolves. 9-days / 8-nights 2017 departures: Sep 1, 10, 19, 28 Price per person: $5995 CAD Departs from / Returns to: Bella Bella/ Kitimat, B.C. What s Included? All meals, accommodation, transportation, Conservation and Sustainability fees, and use of onboard gear and resources including rubber boots, one day at the bear-viewing stands operated by local First Nations What s not included? 5% GST, travel and accommodation before and after the expedition, gratuities, any personal expenses incurred due to weather, logistical delays, delayed departures of chartered aircraft, taxis, ferries. 3

4 Sample Itinerary: Fall in British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest We structure our Great Bear Rainforest expeditions as one-way voyages between the northern (Kitimat) and southern (Bella Bella) portions of the Great Bear Rainforest, rather than return trips. By doing so we are able to reduce our travel time and spend more time exploring and sailing during each expedition. A distinct feature of all our expeditions is that we have no fixed itineraries. Instead, our days are structured by the winds, tides, and wildlife we encounter, and the interests and expertise of our guests and crewmembers. Please note that the following sample itinerary describes a northbound expedition and will be reversed for a southbound expedition. 1 Our 9-day expedition begins in the Heiltsuk First Nation community of Bella Bella, a short flight from Vancouver International Airport. Upon boarding the schooner Passing Cloud, meeting the crew, and settling into accommodations, we ll set sail and begin our adventure. As we transit Seaforth Channel we ll be on the lookout for our first wildlife sightings - such as humpback whales, sea otters, elephant seals, and killer whales. Later in the afternoon, we ll anchor in a small coastal estuary and go ashore for our first taste of coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems and spawning salmon in action. It s virtually impossible to find the adequate words to express my gratitude and wonder for such a magical week. The fact that such natural beauty, such isolated wilderness, still exists gives me hope for our world. Megan McCaslin, Outer Shores Traveller 2 3 This morning we ll visit the Kitasoo/Xaixais First Nation community of Klemtu as we re welcomed with a guided tour of their traditional Big House. We ll learn about the deep history of this indigenous nation and their presentday initiatives to protect their culture, community, and economy. After lunch we continue our journey north into Fiordland Recreation Area, on route to Kynoch Bay. A stunningly beautiful place to watch for grizzly bears coming to the river to feed on salmon. After an early morning inflatable boat excursion into Culpepper lagoon, we continue our journey deeper into the Great Bear. As we travel today we ll enjoy vast landscapes, towering granite mountains, and cascading waterfalls. We also expect to encounter more marine wildlife, particularly the humpback whales that are returning to this region in great numbers. Weather permitting we ll spend the afternoon exploring Carter Bay, another excellent place to encounter grizzly bears. 4

5 4 5 This morning we ll have breakfast while traveling north through the Princess Royal Channel, en route to Khutze Inlet, renowned for its waterfalls, snow capped mountain peaks, and wildlife. We ll use our inflatable boat to explore this expansive coastal estuary ecosystem, which provides excellent habitat for spawning salmon, black bears, grizzly bears, waterfowl, and wolves. We plan to spend all afternoon here, leaving lots of time for bear-viewing, photography, and sea kayaking. We start the day with an early morning boat excursion into the estuary to spend more time amazing ecosystem in action. Back aboard the Passing Cloud, we ll enjoy a late breakfast as we continue our journey north. Along the way, we are likely to encounter more humpback whales, perhaps engaged in bubble-net feeding. We ll also make a short stop at the historic (and now abandoned) community of Butedale. We ll and spend the night anchored in Bishop Bay Marine Park (optional soak in hot springs for those who wish!). 8 In the afternoon we plan to visit a small research station (Cetacea Lab) and learn about on-going whale research in this region. We ll spend the rest of our afternoon sailing and whale watching in Squally or Whale Channel before anchoring for the night. After optional morning sea kayaking (or quiet cup of coffee on deck), we depart for Wright Sound and the Gitga at First Nation community of Hartley Bay. On route, we are hopeful that we ll encounter the enormous fin whales (the second largest mammal on earth!) that are increasingly found congregating in this area. In Hartley Bay we ll enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful boardwalk community and learn about the Gitga at Nation. Afterward we ll set sail in Douglas Channel and travel east towards Kitimat and our final overnight anchorage. Tonight we ll celebrate all that we ve experienced and learned over the past week in the Great Bear Rainforest. 6 7 We re up early this morning to spend the day at bearviewing stands operated by the Gitga at First Nation. We ll have good chances of observing both black bears and the iconic Spirit bear fishing for salmon in a small coastal stream. We ll spend the majority of the day quietly observing and photographing the salmon, bears, and other wildlife from the viewing stands at the edge of the stream. Late this afternoon we travel to our overnight anchorage, determined by distance, weather, and tides, as always. This morning we hope to catch a glimpse of the secretive coastal wolves that inhabit the Great Bear Rainforest (but certainly no promises!). We plan to visit a small coastal stream in this region, surrounded by ancient spruce and cedar trees, which provides ideal habitats for wolves and bears. We also have time to explore, photograph, and view wildlife in this area via sea kayaks and inflatable boat. 9 As we travel the short distance to Kitimat this morning we hope for any last minute wildlife sightings. Upon arrival and MK Bay Marina, we say our farewells to our shipmates and new friends before disembarking and heading to the Terrance-Kitimat Regional Airport. 5

6 If you have any questions about our expeditions, or a specific detail about the expedition you have booked, please let us know by phone or visit our website for more information. Photo Credits: James Thompson, Ryan Flett, Owen Perry, Tavish Campbell, and Russell Markel. 360 B Harbour Road Victoria, British Columbia V9A 3S1, Canada info@outershores.ca outershores.ca (Toll Free in North America) (Local and International)