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by Dave Resler
Dave and I planned to paddle from Port Hardy around the north end
of Vancouver Island…..sort of. I say sort of because normally there are
months of detailed planning that precedes these trips but both of us were so
busy with family and work that planning was crammed into very short, individual
and last-minute time slots. Dave, the fastidious planner, would normally
have three routes carefully worked out with different timelines for each.
We would pick one as conditions presented themselves and stick with it. I
had learned a lot from him and incorporated his style into my solo trip plan in
2012. During that trip, however, I found that I was very comfortable
going off-plan and switching from one to another as conditions and
opportunities presented themselves.
Our basic plan was to paddle up Goletas Channel towards Cape
Scott, the far end of Vancouver Island, and down the west coast to Quatsino
Sound ending in Coal Harbour. Conditions and whim would determine our
exact path to Cape Scott and our daily distance, overall. We weren’t
pressed for time as we had three weeks. We could finish early or afford to get
pinned for days somewhere with no way to get off the beach.
Ultimately, tides, winds and sea state would dictate progress and
we could choose to cross Goletas Channel to the God’s Pocket complex, Nigei
Island and Hope Island areas to just poke around and hide from high winds and
weather or just hang out. We could also choose to benefit from the
favorable morning ebbs that should push us up the channel and on our way.
Current in Goletas Channel runs up to 3 knots with intersecting currents
running to 5 knots providing an environment where rips and ragged water can be
generated. Throw a west wind against the ebb and progress could become
arduous and busy.
Between Vancouver and Hope Islands Goletas Channel escapes into
the open Pacific where Nahwitti Bar rises up from the depths to confound and anger
the current, winds and swell. Vessels of all size consider conditions on
the bar and it can go off.