British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest 9-days searching for salmon, bears, whales, and wolves in the largest coastal temperate forest in the world One of National Geographic s 20 places to see in 2014 Discover The abundant wildlife in the largest coastal temperate forest in the world Spot Rare white spirit bears and coastal wolves Learn How Pacific salmon help define the ecosystem
The sailing trip aboard the Passing Cloud not only showed me the bliss and beauty of the west coast but immersed me in 9 days of equally beautiful inner peace. Mary Beth Morrow, Outer Shores Traveller 1
It was an experience not to be rushed, but rather to be savoured moment by moment. Join us aboard Passing Cloud as we experience the wilderness and spectacular wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest. You ll leave this journey rested and relaxed, conscious about the protection and survival of this delicate ecosystem, and filled with wonderful memories about the places and cultures of the B.C. Coast. Contents 3 Outer Shores Expeditions 4 Welcome Message from the Captain 5 Passing Cloud 7 Great Bear Rainforest 9 Itinerary 2
Outer Shores Expeditions Outer Shores offers multi-day wildlife and cultural expeditions that are oncein-a-lifetime experiences. Guided by our crew of professional mariners and expert naturalists, our small groups of 8 guests explore, experience, and learn about the stunning wildlife and ancient cultures of coastal British Columbia. We are committed to providing exceptional expeditions while minimizing our impacts on the wildlife we encounter, and supporting the communities we visit. Each day we sail for approximately 3 to 4 hours as we travel between destinations and activities. We go ashore at least once daily, using our inflatable skiff to shuttle between ship and shore. Due to the nature of daily activities, a moderate degree of fitness is required for our expeditions. All meals are prepared by our onboard chef, serving delicious dishes that are healthy and plentiful. Whenever possible, we source and serve foods that are sustainably raised and caught in B.C. We enjoy dining outside on Passing Cloud s aft deck table, or inside around the dining table in her beautiful main salon. 3
A Welcome Message from the Outer Shores Expedition President, Russell Markel Dear Outer Shores Traveller, It s my distinct pleasure to invite you aboard our beloved schooner, the Passing Cloud to learn about British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest, a vast and vulnerable coastal ecosystem of global significance. At Outer Shores, we recognize our travellers seek truly exceptional and educational travel experiences while gaining an in-depth understanding of the ecosystems and cultures we visit. The diverse and collective experience and expertise of the Outer Shores Crew is our strength, allowing us to peel back the layers of ecological complexity and interconnected cultures and communities for our guests. We hope to inspire people and foster environmental stewardship. This is our passion. This year, we are proudly embarking upon three conservation and citizen-science initiatives. First, for every guest who joins us, we contribute $100 to the Outer Shores Conservation Fund, 100% of which we give to conservation-based research and education projects. Second, we are testing and refining our collection of valuable wildlife sightings data using SpotterPro, an iphone/ipad/android app designed by Conserve.IO Apps for a better Planet. Finally, we are collaborating with numerous post-secondary institutions to offer ship-based field courses that enable undergraduate and graduate students to learn about coastal ecosystems in ways that textbooks, lectures, and labs simply can t compare. Stay tuned for project descriptions and updates! I look forward to seeing you onboard, and sharing our passion with you! Captain Russell Markel, PhD Founder and President Russell has spent his life and career as a marine ecologist and mariner studying, exploring, and sailing the B.C. coast. Founding Outer Shores is the realization of his ambition to bring together his experience, education, and passions to create an organisation that fosters education, awareness, and stewardship. 4
Schooner, Passing Cloud Comfort, Safety, & Sailing Ability Our home and vehicle for this expedition is our beautiful 70 classic wooden schooner, Passing Cloud. This iconic vessel has a rich history on the B.C. Coast, and is renowned for her elegant design and exceptional sailing abilities. Passing Cloud was designed by William Roué, who also designed her famous sister ship, the Bluenose, that is featured on the Canadian dime. Built to sail around the world, Passing Cloud is an ideal vessel to explore the natural and cultural history along the B.C. coast. 5
Passing Cloud was launched in 1974 in Victoria B.C., and features four private guest cabins, a beautifully redesigned main salon, and traditional wheelhouse. The three forward staterooms each have two spacious single berths (beds) complete with fluffy duvets and wool blankets, a private vanity with sink, mirror, hot and cold running water, a skylight or deck prism, brass reading lamps, drawers, and a hanging locker for storage. The aft stateroom is accessed from the wheelhouse, and boasts a large skylight, two double berths, private vanity with hot and cold water, and a small head (marine toilet). A spacious common head and shower are accessible from the main salon. Passing Cloud also features sea kayaks and an inflatable skiff to let us explore the ecosystems and marine wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest. Passing Cloud is a Transport Canada certified passenger vessel and meets the highest standards of safety and construction. She is fully equipped with modern safety and navigation equipment including radar, GPS, VHF radios, EPIRB, and digital chart plotter and satellite telephone. 6
British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest Salmon, Bears, Whales, and Wolves Extending for more than 70,000km 2 (24,000mi 2 ), the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest intact coastal temperate forests in the world. Running from northern Vancouver Island to the B.C.-Alaska border, this area is home to spectacular wildlife that ranges from whales to dolphins, grizzly to black bears, and seals to sea lions. This 9-day expedition aboard our classic schooner Passing Cloud gives us the chance to explore this beautiful ecosystem and learn of its dependence on the bountiful salmon in the region. 7
Kitimat (Haida First Nation) We have the opportunity to track the salmon lifecycle, visit the First Nations communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu, track marine species on the open sea, and potentially catch a glimpse of the rare white Kermode spirit bear. Our 9-day expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest starts and ends in the Heiltsuk First Nation community of Bella Bella. Travelling deep into the heart of the Great Bear, as far north as the Gitga at Nation community of Hartley Bay, we circumnavigate Princess Royal Island in search of salmon, bears, whales and wolves. BRITISH COLUMBIA Hartley Bay (Gitga at First Nation) VANCOUVER 9-days / 8-nights 2015 departures: May 22, 31, Sep 1, 10, 19, 28 Price per person: $5200 CAD PRINCESS ROYAL ISLAND Departs and returns from Bella Bella What s Included? Klemtu (Kitasoo/Xaixais First Nation) All meals, accommodation, transportation, user fees, use of onboard gear and resources, and rubber boots. 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. Bella Bella (Heiltsuk First Nation) 8
Itinerary: British Columbia s Great Bear Rainforest 1 Our adventure begins in the Heiltsuk First Nations community of Bella Bella, a short flight from Vancouver International Airport. Once arriving and boarding our schooner Passing Cloud, we set sail and begin our journey north into the heart of Canada s Great Bear Rainforest. As we slice through the water of the Seaforth Channel we ll be on the lookout for our first wildlife sightings - humpback whales, sea otters, elephant seals, and killer whales. Later in the afternoon, we set down our anchor in a small coastal estuary and go ashore for our first taste of the coastal temperate rainforest ecosystem. 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. Mary Beth Morrow, Outer Shores Traveller 2 Today gets started with an early morning visit to one of the rainforest estuaries, an enclosed body of water with multiple rivers and streams running into it, to observe and photograph wildlife. After exploring this area for the morning, we continue our travels north, potentially spotting humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In the afternoon we visit our first major river system, where we find a comfortable spot to sit and wait to observe grizzly bears fishing for salmon. 3 This morning we have breakfast while travelling north through the Princess Royal Channel, en route to Khutze Inlet, renowned for its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, snow capped mountain peaks, and wildlife especially grizzly bears. We ll use our inflatable zodiac to travel deep into this coastal estuary ecosystem, which is an excellent habitat for spawning salmon, coastal grizzly bears, and wolves. 9
4 5 We continue our exploration of Khutze Inlet with an early morning photography and wildlife expedition into the estuary via sea kayak. Next, we head back aboard Passing Cloud and travel north in search of the iconic white spirit bear. These bears are part of the Kermode species, and approximately one in ten have a completely white coat. After we anchor in Bishop Bay Marine Park for the evening, we head ashore to enjoy a soak in one of the natural hot springs in the area. Today we visit the bear-viewing stands operated by the Gita gat First Nation, where we ll have an excellent chance of observing spirit bears and black bears fishing for salmon in a small coastal stream. We 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. Later this afternoon, we travel a short distance to our overnight anchorage as we begin our southward journey along the west side of Princess Royal Island. 7 8 Today we hope to catch a glimpse of the coastal wolves that inhabit the Great Bear Rainforest. We plan to visit small coastal streams in this region, surrounded by ancient spruce and cedar trees, which provide ideal habitats for wolves and bears. We also have time to explore, photograph, and view wildlife in this area via sea kayaks, inflatable boat, and shore excursions. This morning we pass through Myers Narrows en route to the Kitasoo/Xaixais First Nation community of Klemtu. We are welcomed to this remote coastal community with a walking tour and a guided visit of their traditional Big House. In the afternoon we sail south through Finlayson Channel and Milbanke Sound, getting to experience the outer coast before anchoring overnight in the Seaforth Channel, near Bella Bella. 6 Travelling south into Camano Sound, we spend the morning on the lookout for humpback, fin, and killer whales that congregate here each summer and fall. Weather and time permitting, we ll go ashore to visit whale researchers who live in the area year round and track the whales in this region. In the afternoon, we spend our time sailing through this stunning area before anchoring for the night in Laredo Inlet. 9 As we travel the short distance to Bella Bella this morning we hope for last minute wildlife sightings, and enjoy the pristine landscapes and seascapes of the Great Bear Rainforest. Once we arrive, we say our farewells to the Great Bear Rainforest before disembarking and heading to the airport. 10
Thank you for making every day an adventure and opportunity to learn and enjoy this wonderful coast and all it has to offer. A great crew and a great trip. Lynn and Dave Haggarty, ON, CANADA 11
The beauty and gentleness of the whole trip takes you away from the crazy pace of the world. The peace stays with you. George Brinkman, B.C., CANADA 12
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 360 B Harbour Road Victoria, British Columbia V9A 3S1, Canada info@outershores.ca 1-855-714-7233 (Toll Free in North America) 1-250-220-2311 (Local and International)