June 28, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Beaches & Swimming
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We have many beaches on Haida Gwaii...many rocky ones, and a few sandy ones. If you're looking to go swimming or beachcombing this summer, but you don't want to venture too far from Queen Charlotte City, then Miller Creek might be a great option for you!
I went there recently with my family. I didn't get any photos this last time, but I did find one from last year! The photo shows a little girl heading into the water with her giant turtle floatie...fun for the whole family!
Miller Creek beach does not have signage, so you must look for the Miller Creek sign when you cross a small bridge on the highway. On the right side of the highway, you will see insets into the forest where you can park and go on the beach. When you see one after the bridge, stop there and head out onto the beach! It's a great place to check out intertidal life at low tide. We go there often to get starfish and nudibranchs for our salt water fish tank in the Visitor Centre!
But this beach offers even more! You can fish, hunt octopus, explore the tide pools, go swimming, and even crab fishing! At low tide, check out the sand strip for the sand dollars; everyone loves those! It's not as well known for its crab fishing as North Beach is in Masset, but locals have been seen out there! So if you're in the area, bring your swimsuits and your dip nets! Make a small contained fire on the beach too and have a hot dog roast!
This beach is nothing short of entertaining!
June 27, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Fishing
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Haida Gwaii is known for its fishing. With many fishing lodges lining the rugged West Coast and the vast number of fishing charters operating in season, everyone has a chance to catch some of those 70lb salmon hiding in the water!
Some friends and I recently went out to the West Coast via Skidegate Channel. It took about 2 hours to get to the West Coast, and they stayed near the Rennell Sound area while they fished! The waves out there are not always forgiving, so be sure to check the weather forecast and do not attempt to go there in high winds if you're on a small personal boat.
If you have your own boat and wish to get to the West Coast, you can skip boating through the channel and can tow your boat to the Rennell Sound boat launch. Be aware that you will be driving through backroads to get there and that nearing the Sound, there is a very steep hill that requires cautious driving. Logging is occurring on Queen Charlotte Main logging road this summer, so call the Ministry of Natural Resources & Operations for updates on logging areas or stop by the Visitor Centre in Queen Charlotte City prior to your departure for more information! Better safe than sorry!
When you go out fishing, you never know what you'll catch...or what you'll see! My friends have reported seeing whales and sea lions while fishing, saying that humpbacks will breach almost adjacent to your boat. It's as if they're putting on a show!
Salmon, halibut, red snapper and more are a common catch here! Every so often you might catch yourself a wolf eel too...they are not as pretty as wolves may seem I warn you! It's difficult to find a place to buy a fishing license in Queen Charlotte City, so I advise you to purchase one online. I've done it many times and all you need is a credit card and personal information. And if you lose your license at any time, you can go back onto your account and reprint it! Very handy for the forgetful fisherman (we all have our moments!).
Here's the link! http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.htm
We saw whales, we caught some salmon, and had a great day on the water. Whether you go out with guides from the fishing lodges, with a local charter, or with family/friends on your own personal boat, the experience is always memorable.
June 24, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Wildlife Tours
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It was a beautiful day yesterday, with a high of 18 degrees nearing lunch! Perfect weather for the annual Hosptial Day celebration! Since 1908, islanders gather in Queen Charlotte City to host an event that raises funds for equipment that the government won't pay for for the island hospitals! It began yesterday with a parade, followed by food booths, activities, live music and more! The night ended with a country-themed adult dance, packed full of happy people and more live music!I had a smokey and piece of chocolate cheesecake for lunch...delicious!
The celebration is located at the ball park and community hall in Queen Charlotte City, oceanfront. I was hanging out, eating some cotton candy, when I spotted these eagles (see picture) on the beach! While I'm a little bit too old for potato sack races and tug-of-war, I won't ever be too old or too young to watch the wildlife of Haida Gwaii!
So keep your eyes and ears open...you never know when an animal will show up at any moment! Whether you're in the backroads driving and spot a black bear and cubs, or down in Gwaii Haanas National Park on a four day boat tour and spot a pod of orcas or white-sided dolphins, you will surely realize just how close to nature we all are here.
June 22, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Shopping
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In downtown Queen Charlotte City, there are quite a few shops that have some pretty neat stuff! I went with my friend to Funk It Gallery and Morgan's Store. Morgan's Store used to be owned by the same people, but situated elsewhere. They've now combined the two into one location!
Funk It showcases local artwork, furniture, jewellery, and more! It's a great place to venture to if you're looking for souvenirs or other items. Morgan's Store is a used clothing store. Clothes are brought back to life and sold at affordable prices, and there are some really fun pieces! In the photo to the left, my friend and I tried on our favourite pieces...something out of the ordinary!
Downstairs from Funk It is Queen B's Cafe. After you're done shopping, or just browsing as we were, you can head downstairs for lattes, italian sodas, bread pudding and more! They have great lunches varying daily from black bean enchiladas to artichoke, spinach, and prawn pesto pizzas! The cafe has a very warm and relaxed feel to it. All of July there is a 'Chasing the Light photography' art show featured in Queen B's and Funk it, so be sure to check it out! My friend and I sat down for some warm bread pudding, topped with whipped cream, and two italian sodas. It really helps when the staff at Funk It and Morgan's and Queen B's are all so fun and inviting! What a great day!
June 21, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Summer solstice has arrived and we can officially call it summer now! What better way to enjoy the waters here on a calm day then to launch a canoe or kayak.
The photo on the left is of the most common area in Queen Charlotte City where kayaks and canoes are launched. Located right next to Spruce Point Lodge on the beach, this area allows for tourists and locals to hop in and explore the inlet. With many islands littered throughout, you can stop and have lunch, dinner or enjoy that sunset at any of the beaches!
I went out on a small river kayak that my parents own with my friend yesterday. It was quite calm and it was very light rain, so I was able to just throw on a sweater. We kayaked around Robertson Island, and landed on the beach there near a couple of tourists. They were planning a trip further down Skidegate Channel, out to the west coast. My friend, being very knowledgable about kayaking and the dangers of the area, gave them pointers and showed them where open cabins were located. I was able to tell them the 7 day forecast that we print daily at the Visitor Centre!
We spent the rest of the afternoon travelling to different beaches. Most were the same, but the further we got, the more isolated we were. It really was a great experience! We were able to sit and watch the sunset when we got back onto Robertson Island, with a little bit of daylight left to allow us to paddle back to the launch!
I highly recommend kayaking on Haida Gwaii if you can. If you have no vehicle to transport kayaks, this launch is great! The kayaks can be rented right there and carried easily to the beach. Happy kayaking!
June 17, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Arts, Culture & History Tours
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Long ago, when the small pox was introduced by European settlers on Haida Gwaii, the Haida population decreased by almost 80 percent. The remaining Haida people moved from the southern region of the islands, up north on Graham Island, to the villages that are known today as Masset and Skidegate.
I went with a friend up to Skidegate for the day. It's about a ten minute drive from Queen Charlotte City. We thought we'd spend the day venturing around leisurely and checking out different places!
First off, we stopped at the Haida Heritage Centre & Museum. We spent 4 hours there, walking through the museum and joining in on some tours. The first tour that we went on was the totem pole tour. When the museum was built, totem poles representing the villages of Haida Gwaii were erected, and on the tour, the guide explained the history behind each one, and how to distinguish different designs on each pole! It was very informative; for example, an animal, such as a mouse with a long tongue, indicates communication! The second tour that we went on was about the canoes that are in the canoe/carving shed at the centre. We learned lots about the traditional and more moden ways that the Haida carved canoes! Between the tours we had lunch at Kaay's Kitchen in the centre...I had a nice big bowl of clam chowder!
After the museum, we hopped into the car and drove around the village. In front of the SHIP (Skidegate Haida Immersion Program) building, Bill Reid's pole stands. When it was raised in 1978, it was the first to be raised in Skidegate in over 100 years. The building itself is in the longhouse style, and the pole is on the front. It's quite a beautiful building!
We drove on Front Street, up to the main highway, and took a right. On our left hand side we saw All About U Arts, a gallery owned by Ben Davidson. It was open at the time, and so we went in and saw all of his beautiful carvings. If you're looking to see traditional art, it's a great place to check out.
We continued further down the highway, about 10 minutes out of Skidegate, where we stopped at a pull off on the right hand side of the road. There is a very special boulder on the beach there...yes a boulder! It's known as Balance Rock, and it was deposited on the beach just outside of Skidegate by a glacier. It is believed that it moved it from Alliford Bay, 16 miles away, and many people tell a story about it. There are some Haida legends about it, but the story I heard growing up was that a man attempted to move the rock, with horses, pries, and more, and even contemplated blowing it up with dynamite (but was persuaded not to). We went to balance rock, climbed on top of it (like many do) and beachcombed for a little while!
Before we headed home, we stopped at Jags Beanstalk. It's a little coffee shop/restaurant in Skidegate, that makes great lattes. We grabbed two to-go, and left Skidegate feeling satisfied.
June 12, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Beaches & Swimming
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We waited for low tide, when we knew the River was at its lowest. There was a storm on the way but we really didn't want to have to cancel our trip!
My friends and I got together a few weekends ago. We were the same crew, plus one, who hiked East Beach to the Pesuta shipwreck the week before. This time we weren't going by foot, but instead we were driving through the Tlell River. There are restrictions for driving on this beach. It's always best to talk to the Naikoon Provincial Park Office about doing this prior, or to acknowledge the signage posted. Having knowledge about the area is key and the four of us have been locals since we were babies.
We took two trucks and a dirtbike, and we set off for Cape Ball, a few kilometers past the Pesuta and Gold Creek. One of my friends had a key to his uncle's cabin up there, hidden away in the dunes, and we planned to stay there for a night. As we drove along side the river, and then along side the ocean, we saw lots of debris washed up from the Japanese tsunami. We stopped to take a peek and saw some really interesting things! We drove past the pesuta until my friend saw the entrance to his uncle's cabin. If I had been walking along the beach I would have never even noticed! We drove through the dunes and the forest, which was an incredible experience. When we arrived, we dropped off our stuff and went back out to the beach for some dirt biking and beachcombing.
As the tide came in, we were forced back into the cabin in the dunes. The ocean comes right up to the edge, and as the weather became stormy, the waves were huge. Two of my friends had GoPro cameras, and one was daring enough to stand in the water and film as the waves crashed over the camera. He had to be very careful he didn't get pulled in by the strength of the water though! It was rainy and windy, so we spent the evening in the cabin playing cards and eating homemade deer sausage. The Sitka blacktailed deer here sure look cute, but they're tasty too! The next day we couldn't leave until 8pm, when the tide was low again, so we could cross the river. We embraced the stormy weather and went wandering on the beach and around the dunes in our rain gear and rubber boots. Oh the island life, it's so much fun!
Camping is permitted throughout the Naikoon Provincial Park. If you're looking to hike to the Pesuta, or further, talk to the Park office in Tlell to become more familiar with the area. Bring a small tent, camp in the dunes, and have as much fun as we had!
June 06, 2012 | Tips from Us >
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Beaches & Swimming
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As the 2012 summer season begins, we thought we should spruce up the salt water aquarium at the Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre with some new critters from the ocean!
Some staff went on a hunting and gathering expedition for different intertidal sea life at Miller Creek beach, about 20 minutes away from the village of Skidegate. When the tide was low they found tonnes of different coloured bat stars, a small sea cucumber, and a massive variation of species of nudibranchs (or sea slugs)! They brought a few of each back to the Visitor Centre in a bucket filled with salt water and now they make home in the tank! We've got clown nudibranchs, which are my absolute favourite, as seen in the picture!
You can see lots of this sea life in Burnaby Narrows down in the Gwaii Haanas National Park, but if you can't make it there, you can always check out Miller Creek or our tank! Maybe we'll be feeding the critters when you arrive at the centre! It's always neat to watch the decorator crabs and the sculpin snatch up the clam meat we feed them!