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West Canada Hiking Tours
Hiking Trips Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island West Coast Trail, Pacific Rim National Park Trekking, Tofino Hiking Packages, Canada Walking Tours, British Columbia Hiking Trips, Canada Escorted Trekking Vacation, British Columbia - Vancouver Island Outdoor Activities, BC Camping
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8 Day West Coast Nootka Island Hiking Tour
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Overview: The 35-km long Nootka Trail is a hikers' paradise on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Nootka Sound is famous for their rugged coastline, broken up by hidden coves and long stretches of sandy beach that make for ideal camping. The intertidal life is plentiful and the surf-pounded beaches are spectacular. Black bears & sea otters are often seen. This hiking tour starts with a floatplane ride from Gold River to a sheltered lake on Nootka Island just north of Nootka Sound. This is one of the more remote, less traveled west coast hiking destination with a fabulous assortment of mammal, bird and marine wildlife, important historical significance and many outstanding scenic rewards. The Nootka Trail is relatively unknown in international circles and does not experience nearly the foot traffic of its well-known and well frequented cousin, "The West Coast Trail".
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Itinerary
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01
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Arrival day at the lodge. Relax, settle into your room... go for a refreshing swim in the lake. At 17:00 h meet your instructor and group. After dinner receive pack, provisions, and instruction for the trek. In March 1778, Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy became the first European to set foot on British Columbian soil when he visited Friendly Cove on Nootka Island. While anchoring in Resolution Cove on Bligh Island, across from Friendly Cove, the natives hollered "itchme nutka, itchme nutka", meaning "go around" (to Yuquot), but Cook misinterpreted their calls, believing the name of the area to be Nootka.
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| 02 |
Breakfast at 7:30 h Depart by Lodge transportation to Gold River where you will be flown by Air Nootka's seaplane to Starfish Lagoon at the north end of Nootka Island. Hike to your first campground located on an open Pacific Ocean beach. Nootka Sound and the community of Gold River received tremendous media coverage worldwide in July 2001 when Luna the Killer Whale became a media sensation when he turned up in Nootka Sound after being separated from his pod in Puget Sound in Washington. Attempts to reunite Luna (L98) with his family were suspended, as the Mowachaht and Muchalaht First Nations believed Luna, or Tsuxit, embodied the spirit of Chief Ambrose Maquinna, who had died just days before the whale was first seen in the area. The orca loved to play around boats, and sadly this ultimately led to his death in March 2006, when Luna got too close to the propellers of a tug boat in Mooyah Bay, one of Luna's favourite places in winter. (Approximately 1 Hour Hiking)
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| 03 |
Hike the beach to where the beautiful Calvin Creek tumbles into the ocean. Swim above and below the waterfall or play in the ocean waves. Calvin Creek provides also the most beautiful sandy beach on the entire trip. Look for sea otters off Bajo Point and look for the ancient native site which was inhabited as much as 4,500 years ago. (Approximately 6.5 Hours Hiking)
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| 04 |
Today's destination is Bajo Reef, a perfect place to examine the rich sea life amongst the kelp in pristine tidal pools. Watch for the colony of sea otters playing in the kelp. Flocks of sandpipers and oyster catchers (birds) roam the shoreline for their dinners. (Approximately 2 Hours Hiking)
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Our camping spot is close to Beano Creek where you will be rewarded with a refreshing dip. The smooth pebbles are not only comfortable to sleep on, but provide hours of sorting entertainment. (Approximately 4 Hours Hiking)
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| 06 |
About an hour south of Beano the trail becomes difficult and challenging. Sometimes you can make short scrambles over headlands. More often you will be forced up into the dense foliage of the rain forest. The by far most strenuous part is the traverse to the rugged headlands of Maquinna Point. We camp near there at a tidal lagoon 1.5 hrs west of Yuquot (Friendly Cove). (Approximately 8 Hours Hiking)
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| 07 |
Enjoy a short, pleasant hike to Yuquot (Friendly Cove - about 1.5 hrs), the historic landing site where Chief Maquinna and the Nu-chah-nulth people welcomed the first Europeans, including Captain Cook. Visit the restored Spanish Church where there are artifacts of First Nations and European history. The adjacent lighthouse is one of the few remaining manned lighthouses and one of the most stunning on the B.C. coast. The keepers are most receptive and hospitable people. Walk the beautiful polished pebble beaches, swim in the small fresh water lake, and chat with the First Nations peoples about plans to restore the village to its former historic grandeur. Board the working vessel M.V.Uchuck III for the voyage to Gold River. After pick up by Lodge vehicle arrive back at SPL by 5:00 pm, in time for a hot shower, and maybe a swim and sauna before dinner.
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08
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Hearty breakfast and depart by 11:00 am.
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Difficulty/Fitness Level: 1
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Dates & Rates per Person in CAD$
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Month
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Dates
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Rates
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August
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06, 20
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$1340.00
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Services Included
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• 2 Night Lodge Accommodation
• 5 Night Camping
• Mountaineering Gear
• All Meals
• Hiking Guide Service
• Backcountry Permit Fee
• Camping Gear
• Local Transfers
• GST Tax
• Group Size 8 Clients
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