... Discovery Expeditions kayak tours est. 1986 ... Discovery Expeditions kayak tours est. 1986 ... Discovery Expeditions kayak tours est. 1986
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Smith Sound Expeditions Smith Sound is a remote wilderness trip into a part of the inside passage where cluster of islands and inlets offer hidden treasures of the coast of British Columbia. It is a place few visit during the summer months. It is located on the BC Coast just north 300 km/220 miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia.
It is a twenty minute charter flight ride from Port Hardy. To date, we were the first sea kayaking outfitter to operate remote trips into this very special area of the Southern Central Coast of British Columbia. In our quest to find an area that is devoid of people yet inspiring in it's remoteness we found a jewel that offers us a unlimited coastline to sea kayak. The area is a blend of exposed shoreline and protected channels between a vast group of rugged island. Beaches are formed from granite and appear like gold in color.
Two large islands mark the entrance to some fifty miles of hidden passages and bays. Vast immature rain forests of cedar, spruce and Douglas Fir support an amazing variety of wildlife. The forest here is alive with a great variety of birds of song and birds of prey. Past trips have seen eagles, bear, wolf and gray whales. Short walks in the quiet forest allows us a moment to absorb the beauty and the mode of nature. Footprints of wolf and deer are seen in the sand of the beaches. A summer resident Gray Whale has shown up each year during our brief visit to these waters. Many other marine mammals visit these waters including sea lions and sea otters. In one direction you have the Open Pacific pushing gentle swells into the sound and in the other direction you have the snowcapped mountains of the Coast Range Mountains. On a clear day you can see the coastline of northern Vancouver Island and the tip of a peak we know as Mt. Waddington, a mountain rising some 13,000 feet into the blue sky. This trip is not for beginners. It requires individuals who are familiar with the demands of a wilderness trips.
The beaches are made from a granite sand. This type of sand is unique only to this area of the Southern Central Coast of the Inside Passage.
Smith Sound adventures have become one of our most remote and exciting expeditions. To fully enjoy these trips you should be prepared for the little challenges everyday of the trip. As the sole outfitter in this very special area, we enjoy the remoteness as do our participants. We found a jewel that offers you unlimited coastline to sea kayak. The area is a blend of exposed shoreline and protected channels between a vast group of rugged islands. The beaches are unique. The beaches were formed from glacial erosion of granite rocks and appear like gold in color. Little dirt is in this granite sand. Small stream are abundant on the beach sites we camp at during the trip.
Arrival in Port Hardy by the late afternoon book into a local Bed and Breakfast. Use that evening to relax and sort out your clothes and personal items before tomorrows departure. Following morning Charter Flight departure at 9:00 am. Baggage must be given to your guides by 8:00 am. This scenic charter flight into Smith Sound takes us over the spectacular waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. The flight takes only forty minutes and gives us an aerial introduction to the islands and beaches you will be visiting in the next six days.
Day One: Your guide(s) will meet you at the B & B for breakfast at 7:30 am. Transfer to the Floatplane charter takes only 10 minutes. Board the Charter Flight at 9:30 am. Scenic Flight of 40 minutes. Unload gear on our destination beach, set camp, safety session and off we go to explore a sheltered shoreline that always has some wildlife interaction happening. Catch a relaxing lunch and a few pictures of a great cove. Later that after we will explore an archipelago of small islands to watch the eagles forage for lunch.
Day Two: Early morning pack-up and a paddle towards the mouth of the Sound during which time we keep a sharp eye out for Gray Whale and Stellar Sea lions. Both species frequent waters where the feeding is easily accessible. Observations of these mammals can sometime last for hours. The gentle swells of the Pacific are often present at the mouth of the Sound bringing more nutrients in from far away which will help us catch dinner. Don’t forget to bring your fishing rod. Our campsite is a quaint island of a wonderful rich coastal rainforest. Here the marine life is rich and abundant. Miniature tidal pools team with life.. Late afternoon rainforest hikes into the old growth groves of trees and investigation of a nearby island will complete a day of exploration. Evening is left for beach fire and a beverage.
Day Three: This day is a full day of paddling, beach combing and hiking along the remote northern coastline of the entrance to Smith Sound and beyond. Visit to an exposed coastline complete with sea cave, towering cliffs and interesting narrow passage that lead to quiet lagoons where the even vigilant gray heron, western grebe and kingfisher frequent the shorelines. Afternoon will be spent searching for glass balls and hiking the interesting the coastline. Time for a little fishing for dinner and an evening around a warm beach fire.
Day Four: Open water crossing to a group of Outer Islands where the richness of marine life doubles in size. Encounters with more wildlife occurs at this site. The Lighthouse on Egg Island sits on the horizon as the last post before the vast waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. Otter colonies and sea lions become the entertainment during this evening. This is an outstanding spot for photos’ of sunrises and sunsets. We make visits to areas of porpoise and sea lion activity.
Day Five & Six: Our fifth and sixth days take us in a new direction to investigate a special group of islets where whale sightings are possible. That afternoon will involve a long beach walk and short hike up a special stream. The evening paddle will take us into the basin of a lagoon and culturally modified trees. The sixth day starts with a short paddle and ends with our flight over Smith Sound back to Port Hardy by 3 pm.
Note: Discovery Expedition guides reserve the right to change the itinerary at anytime due to accommodate changes in weather patterns. This trip is in a remote setting and subsequently safety is our utmost responsibility.
Smith Sound Expeditions
Commonly Asked Questions...What Makes This Destination So Great? Smith Sound is a destination of remote wilderness and that is reason enough to explore this wonderful area. The scenery is spectacular. Some thirty Islands are located within the protection of this Sound. These islands are near perfect for exploring by sea kayak. Beaches are accessible at any tide level and campsites. The interaction of the wildlife and the sheltered waters combine to provide us with a perfect area to go adventure sea kayaking.
How To Get to Port Hardy? Port Hardy is situated the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. If you are driving a car from either Vancouver or Seattle allow a full days travel to reach Port Hardy. If you are flying, your destination is Port Hardy. Daily scheduled flights from Vancouver or Seattle are available and a limo service connects with each flight providing transportation to Port McNeill. Canadian Airlines can be contacted at 1-800-665-1177. Or Pacific Coastal Airlines can be contacted at 1-800-663-2872 .
What is the weather like? For much of the year, Smith Sound is battered by southeast storms on a continual basis. When Spring arrives the storms moderate and dominance of high pressure systems start to take change the air temperature. From late June to early October nature gives us a window of light winds, sunny days and moderate seas which are near-perfect conditions for sea kayaking. Temperatures during these months approach the low 70’s. The mornings temperature are mild and gradually increase to warm and often hot sunny afternoon that persists long into the evenings. Bugs are little or no problem.
What clothes do I bring? The West coast weather patterns in the summer are variable. The mornings start with mild temperatures and quickly increase to warm and often hot sunny afternoon that persist long into the evenings. In preparation for these trips we have a suggested Paradise Sound Equipment List that will inform you of the necessary and optional clothing to bring on these trips. Everything must be compact for storage in your sea kayak but don’t forget these craft carry amazing amount of clothing and sleeping gear. A synthetic sleep bag is a must because of the moist mild climate. Light raingear, top and bottom should be taken. If you bring it your prepared and the sun will shine everyday of your trip. A comfortable sleeping pad is essential. And if you plan on protecting you feet consider purchasing a pair of wellington boots (aka rubber boots, gum boots, deck boots). See the list for clothing suggestions and don’t forget your camera and lots of flim. Finally, if you play a musical instrument consider bringing it. We often have adventurers bring flutes and guitars.
What do you serve for meals? We prepare fresh wholesome meals with a focus on pasta, salmon and summer vegetables cooked to perfection. Our favourite way to complete the day is with a glass of wine and a piece of freshly cooked salmon. Breakfast starts with lots of coffee, a choice of hot or cold cereal, pancakes or fruit. Often lunch is a time to mix wild blackberries with bagels and creamed cheese or on gray days indulge with hot soup. Meals focus on salads, salmon, pasta and freshly steamed vegetables. Feel free to inform us of any special dietary requests for meals when you receive your registration package.
How do we accommodate our guests? Camping is done is roomy expedition dome tents and the sleeping is made ultra comfortable by our thick therma-rest sleeping pads. Camps are set in quiet, secure settings where wildlife can be seen nearby. We take extra time and effort to make great outdoor meals. We supply two guides well seasoned guides for these trips. And after the trip is over we often assist guests with return travel plans. We supply a small keep sake album of the trip for each of our guests.
Smith Sound offers the adventurer in you a unique opportunity to get away from the busy spots for sea kayaking and explore the out reaches of the Inside Passage of the Coast of BC.
To Contact Us
Tolll Free 1-888-756-0099
International 1-250-756-0094
Fax # 1-250-756-1908
email info@orcaseakayaking.com