Nelson and I set of in search of an adventure into the unknown...
Through the narrow waters of the Inside Passage we entered a wilderness of vast forests and towering peaks. A place where rivers of meltwater plummet down snow-capped slopes and shrouds of mist blanket the trees, churned up from the sea by crashing swells. We watched in awe as the Coast Mountains slipped by and the Great Bear Rainforest unfolded in front of us. Untouched beauty stretching for miles and miles and miles.
Exposed to the rugged coast of Northern BC we experienced a place dominated by nature.
The solitude of the forest revived us and the eagles, wolves and bears we encountered will captivate our minds forever.
Our journey began on a bus winding its way up Vancouver Island to the small fishing village of Port Hardy. We had dinner at the local seaside pub then walked along the ocean watching giant Stellar Sea Lions playing in the water and howling on the rocks. After a game of ping-pong at the North Coast Hostel we crawled into bed, anticipating an early wake-up call and the start of our 15 hour ferry ride North to Prince Rupert. We were finally on our way to meet the Grizzlies of the Khutzeymateen!
We boarded our BC Ferries cruise very early in the morning. Hot coffee cheered us up a bit and we lounged in our comfy reclining seats and waited to set sail. As we headed out of Port Hardy and into Queen Charlotte Strait we were met with pounding surf that sent the ship into a hard lean and made walking down the halls a wall-banging, side-stepping challenge! We were off to an exciting start!
After about an hour we entered the sheltered Inside Passage and the waters calmed down dramatically. It was definitely time for a hot breakfast!
The route up the Inside Passage becomes increasingly narrow and we found ourselves running from one side of the ship to the other, admiring a towering waterfall on one side and a soaring eagle on the other! Being mid-May the weather was wet and rainy but that made for some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen. Snow-capped mountains melting streams of water down vertical slopes into the ocean- it was incredible!
We passed lighthouses and old forgotten cannery towns, like Butedale, slipping into the sea. Eventually the dreary weather turned into patches of blue sky and sun streaks. We were even blessed by a pocket rainbow sitting in the mountains :)
After 15 hours at sea and some of the most spectacular scenery we could have imagined, we arrived in Prince Rupert, our home for the summer.
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| A rainbow hiding in the mountains of the Inside Passage |
I would highly recommend this ferry trip to everyone, the new ship is state of the art and the views are unparalleled. British Columbia is so blessed to have such an incredible coastline of rainforest, mountain peaks and rivers. The planet cannot afford to lose the unique habitat and pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. We have a responsibility to ensure this rugged and beautiful place remains natural forever.
Next up: We settle into life in Prince Rupert and head north to the Khutzeymateen Inlet, Valley of the Grizzly Bears, to Palmerville Floating Lodge.
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