Returning Sea Otters are Transforming the BC Coast
If you’ve spent any time out on the BC coast recently you may have noticed something exciting that’s happening – the return of sea otters
Russell Markel
April 12, 2023
Ecosystems, wildlife, natural history, and Indigenous cultures of the West coast of Vancouver Island
This remarkable expedition region offers our guests a true west-coast experience as we explore sprawling island archipelagos of ancient rainforests and wave-carved coastlines, a magical place where herring spawn in kelp forests, bears forage on beaches, gray whales sift the shallows, sea otter dives for sea urchins, and killer whales hunt for salmon and seals. From our inflatable skiff and on shore excursions, we’ll explore the unique natural history of this region – islands, beaches, old-growth forests, rocky intertidal zones, kelp forest communities, seagrass meadows, estuaries, and fiords – and the biodiversity of wildlife it supports.
We’ll also explore and learn about the ancient and contemporary cultural history of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations who have lived here for thousands of years. You’ll see and learn about shell middens, stone fish traps, and clam gardens, and you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the ancient village and fortress site of Kiix?in. We’ll also delve into the “post-contact” era of this region – from sea otters to basking sharks, and from whaling stations to marine research stations.
Zodiac excursions, sea kayaking, guided shore excursions, chef-prepared meals, and sailing aboard our beautiful classic wooden schooner.
Diverse wildlife viewing opportunities and habitats, including gray, humpback, and killer whales, black bears, sea otters, seals, sea lions, eagles, seabirds, kelp forests, eelgrass meadows, rocky intertidal, and old-growth coastal rainforests.
Cultural experiences including a guided tour of the ancient Huu-ay-aht village and fortress site of Kiix?in (pronounced "kee-hin").
Our West Coast Vancouver Island expeditions aboard the schooner Passing Cloud take us on a remarkable exploration of the ecosystems, wildlife, natural history, Indigenous cultures, and the post-contact era of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Our expedition into Barkley Sound and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve begins at ~10:00 AM with a tour of the Ucluelet Aquarium. This award-winning aquarium is unique for it’s annual collection and return of local marine flora and fauna. With it’s strong emphasis on marine education, this is great primary for our journey ahead.
Afterwards, we’ll join Passing Cloud, settle into our accommodations, and enjoy lunch. Following our safety briefing, we’ll depart Ucluelet Harbour and enjoy our first encounters with seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and possibly even sea otters. Over the course of our afternoon we’ll explore, set sail, and spend our first night aboard in the nearby Pinkerton Islands.
After a morning of zodiac explorations and wildlife viewing, today we’ll enter the Broken Group Islands, one of three Units of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Depending on timing and availability, we hope to start with a visit with the Tseshaht First Nations Beach Keepers, who will share with us a introduction to the remarkable cultural history of the region.
This afternoon we’ll make our way through this maze of small islands and passages to our overnight anchorage in the natural ‘lagoon’ formed by Willis, Turtle, and Dodd Islands. Along the way, we’ll be on the lookout for bald eagles, black bears feeding along the shore, as well as mink, river otters, seals, sea lions, and whales. During our shore excursion this afternoon we hope to take you to some beautiful stands of giant old-growth western red cedar forest. We’ll also encounter and discuss the shell “middens” that are ubiquitous here, testament to the more than 6,000 year history of First Nation communities living here.
We’ll start off our day with a zodiac exploration of nearby islands, beaches, and waterways. We expect to cruise cruise alongside kelp forests, and explore the white-sand pocket beaches are so typical of this region. Depending on the tide we may encounter the remains of ancient Indigenous clam gardens, village sites, and stone fish traps. Afterwards, we’ll set sail to cross Imperial Eagle Channel on route to the nearby Deer Group Islands, where we’ll spend the night anchored in Dodgers Cove, home of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation and site of post-contact trading post.
On route, we’ll be on the lookout for marine mammals, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, and grey, humpback, and killer whales. We’re also likely to encounter high diversity of coastal birds including belted kingfishers, mergansers, harlequin ducks, bufflehead, goldeneye, oyster catchers, cormorants, grebes, loons, turnstones, pigeon guillemots, rhinoceros aucklets, and ancient murrelets.
This morning we’ll travel the short distance from the Deer Group Islands to the nearby historic boardwalk community of Bamfield, situated within the traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. This picturesque coastal community is home to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, a Canadian Coast Guide Lifeboat Station, and both seaweed and shellfish aquaculture industries.
Today we hope to enjoy a guided tour of the ancient Huu-ay-aht Nation village and fortress site of Kiix?in. Our Huu-ay-aht guide and cultural interpreter will lead us on a cultural journey through the history of this remarkable site, situated on a beautiful beach fronted by sea stacks, and surrounded by old-growth coastal temperate rainforest. The moss-laden remains several longhouses, including standing house posts and beams, outline this village that once housed more than 500 people. This afternoon we’ll return to Passing Cloud set sail for our overnight anchorage in the Outer Broken Group Islands.
The outer Broken Group Islands is one of favourite regions of the entire BC coast. We’re likely to wake up to sounds seal lions barking, eagles crying, ravens crooning, the sounds of waves rolling over the outermost shorelines, and the smells of ancient cedar and spruce rainforests. It feels intensely alive here. After breakfast, thanks to a particularly low tide, we’ll explore the fascinating biodiversity of the rocky intertidal zone, including everything from colourful nudibranchs, giant green anemones, purple encrusting sponges, chitons, limpets, and alien-like clingfish!
The remainder of our day today will really be up our guests onboard, as most days are, in fact. We’ll have plenty of time this afternoon for wildlife viewing, shore and zodiac excursions, sea kayaking, and sailing. We look forward enjoying our last night onboard, on the edge of this inspirational region, basking in a spectacular west coast sunset, and in all that we experienced and learned over the past few days.
If you’ve spent any time out on the BC coast recently you may have noticed something exciting that’s happening – the return of sea otters
Chixuu Tll iinasdll: Nurturing Seafood to Grow In every region we explore on the BC coast we experience pockets of unique microclimates and ecosystems, each
The Haida Gwaii archipelago is situated approximately 100 km west of the mainland coast of British Columbia on the edge of the continental shelf, and
This trip was more than I could have asked for as a person living in a world where the future of our planet and all of her inhabitants is in question. This trip gave me hope – not only that the Great Bear Rainforest still exists, but seeing the conservation work people are doing first hand, including providing the opportunity for this beautiful place to be seen and to inspire others. Anyone wanting to experience adventure, inspiration, the most natural beauty, profound animal encounters, once in a lifetime photography experiences, and the trip of a lifetime with genuine and amazing people who truly care about you having the best excursion possible – travel with Outer Shores.
Thank you for a truly awesome trip. The highlights – there was almost nothing but highlights – the bears, the whales, the natural world, the sounds, the seas – above all the companionship.
The inspiration provided by this trip will live on for years to come. Highlights: Spirit bear, humpback whale breaching near Whale Point, the Crew (Graham, Molly, Joel, and Russ). Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Every time I come aboard, the Passing Cloud feels more and more like home. This is partly due to the heart and soul of this ship, but mostly because of the people on board. From the mystical Kermode (Spirit) bears to the breaching whales, this trip has been a journey like no other. To the ship, the crew, and our undeniably charismatic Captain Russell, thank you for the trip of a lifetime.
“Leaving Passing Cloud and the Great Bear Rainforest after an amazing journey – both physical and spiritual. The ship, crew, and of course Russ, have transcended our expectations with a truly spectacular environment.”
“Everything was impressive about this trip. Every day stunning adventure, scenery, megafauna, and the friends we’ve made and been able to share the days with. We will share with all our friends an understanding and realization of a pristine and vulnerable coast.”
Date | Price | Status | Depart / End | ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
May 30-June 4 (5-nights) | $5,950 CAD | Available (4 of 4) | Ucluelet/Tofino | Passing Cloud |
June 5-10 (5-nights) | $5,950 CAD | Available (4 of 4) | Ucluelet/Tofino | Passing Cloud |
June 11-16 (5-nights) | $5,950 CAD | Available (4 of 4) | Ucluelet/Tofino | Passing Cloud |
