Clayoquot Connections
Fun, Affordable, Family Oriented Marine Tours
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Preventing Wolf Habituation; from BC Parks
| Posted on August 21, 2021 at 12:55 AM |
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Good day,
You are receiving this notice as a Park Use Permit holder authorized to conduct commercial recreation activities within Vargas Island Park.
As you may already know, there have been some concerning interactions between park guests and the wolves as of late. One or more wolves have been showing behaviour that would indicate that they are food condi...
Read Full Post »Notice to Clayoquot Connections from BC Parks 09/06/19
| Posted on September 7, 2019 at 4:29 PM |
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From BC Parks; You are receiving this as a Park Use Permit holder for Vargas Island Provincial Park. As you may already know, BC Parks has received several recent reports of wolf activity in the provincial park on Vargas Island. I would like to take a moment to remind operators of the importance of their responsibility to ensure that their guests are not having a long lasting impact on the animals present in the park. There have been some concerning reports of park users seen in close proximity to wolves and in areas currently being frequented by the pack. Approaching wolves and maintaining a presence around them can and will lead to habituation. Wolves should be allowed to roam free in their range and have access to food without interference by park visitors. BC Park Rangers have been patrolling the beaches in the areas of concern and will be taking action against anyone found to be harassing or interacting in any way with the wolves. In light of this, I would strongly suggest that all operators transporting guests to Vargas Island ensure that they are aware of the following messaging posted on the BC Parks website: |
Notice from BC Parks; Sept 6/19
| Posted on September 7, 2019 at 4:25 PM |
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ATTENTION: With the recent increase in wildlife activity in and around Vargas Island Provincial Park, BC Parks is advising park users to adhere to the following;
Do not attempt to get in close proximity to wildlife, specifically large carnivores. Please do your part when recreating in the backcountry and help keep wildlife wild. If you encounter an aggressive wild animal, report it by calling the Conservation Officer Service 24-hour hotline toll free at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the Telus Mobility Network. |
Notice from BC Parks; Sept. 6/19
| Posted on September 7, 2019 at 4:23 PM |
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BC Parks will continue to patrol the area to ensure that visitors are acting in a responsible manner. Any concerning behaviour or willful disregard for the regulations in the Park Act or Wildlife Act will lead to enforcement action. If you see anything of concern, please feel free to report it to me. Habituation and food conditioning will undoubtedly lead to conflict with humans and serious consequences for all involved. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding with this matter. All the best, Michael Grandbois Clayoquot Area Supervisor BC Parks Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy West Coast Region (250) 725-2149 |
Exceptions to Fire Ban
| Posted on May 29, 2019 at 12:53 PM |
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However, the ban prohibition doesn’t apply to larger Category 3 fires or to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes. That said, anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire. The government said that anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs. The prohibition will remain in effect until the public is otherwise notified, the government said.To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. The latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories is available on the government’s website. |
NO CAMPFIRES DURING FIRE SEASON
| Posted on April 18, 2019 at 6:52 PM |
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When camping in the wilderness, be aware that no campfires are allowed during Fire Season. In the past campfires were allowed in the 'Fog-Zone' (a 1 km wide strip on the west side of Vancouver Island) during Fire Season; this designation has been terminated. Please remember to bring a safe & contained means to cook your meals. Please do your part to ensure that these magnificent Forests are not lost to Wild-Fires. |
Safety Orientation & Safety Info
| Posted on June 6, 2017 at 4:50 PM |
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Safety is our #1 regard; Before departure all guests receive a Safety Orientation and are informed as to the location of Safety Equipment. 1 You will be shown the Red DSC button on the boat radio. When required, if you push the button for 5 seconds it will send the digital ID and location of the boat on a Mayday protocol which will be received by all commercial boats including the Coast Guard. 2 All guests will be supplied with life-jackets that must be properly worn (clipped in) at all times. 3 All guests will be informed as to the location of Safety Equipment, this includes: Air horn & whistle. Dry Bag with spare horn, water proof flash light & radio, flare gun & flares. Throwing ball & throwing Life-Ring both with heaving lines. Anchors (2). First Aid Kit with thermal blankets. Fire extinguishers (2). Paddle. 4 Our boats are maintained to meet and exceed Transport Canada requirements. All are equipped with VHF marine radio, GPS plotter, depth sounder, automatic bilge pump, & running lights. 5 All skippers are extensively trained and have a min of 1 full season of professional marine experience in Clayoquot Sound. All have passed the required courses set by Transport Canada including Marine First Aid. All boats carry a tool kit. |
Giant Trees
| Posted on May 15, 2017 at 11:13 PM |
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As you drove through Cathedral Grove on your way to the West Coast of Vancouver island the tall tree there is Douglas Fir, at 100 m. (330') tall it is not recognized as the tallest tree on the planet. However, some unusually tall specimens at just over 120 m. (400') were the tallest trees ever recorded; try and imagine a single tree as tall as a 40 story building. The tall tree on the West Coast is Sitka Spruce, at 90 m. (300) or 30 stories high. The wide trees at both Cathedral Grove and here on the West side of Vancouver Island are the giant Western Red Cedar. There the trees are 6 - 800 year old. Here in Clayoquot Sound the oldest of the ancient trees are estimated to be 1,500 to 2,000 years old and a number of them are about 6 m. (20') in diameter. The nature of these ancient trees is that they are hollow which allows them to bend with the wind rather than break. This makes it difficult to determine the age of these old giants, however, scientists compare their growth rings patterns to those of known tree ages to discover their age. At the end of the Big Tree Trail on Meares Island near Tofino in a grove of beautiful giants is the 'Hanging Garden Tree. She is estimated to be at least 1,400 years old and is an eco-system unto herself as she nurtures a variety of flora including several trees of different species; she is a prime example of a standing 'Nurse Tree'. |
Meares Island Big Tree Trail; upgrades 2017
| Posted on May 5, 2017 at 9:07 PM |
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Welcome to the Big Tree Trail; the feature tree is the Hanging Garden Tree which is estimated to be at least 1,400 years old and is just 6 cm. shy of being 6 meters (over 20 ft.) in Diameter. She is a giant Red Cedar and gets her name as she is an incredible example of a 'Nurse Tree'. Several other trees (some of different species) grow on her, she is an eco-system unto herself. There are a few changes trail as the boardwalk no longer circles the huge Hanging Garden Tree. The boardwalk comes to an end about 30 m or 100 ft. in front of the Hanging Garden Tree, from there you`ll see both Pink & Yellowsurveyors tape to your right. If you want to investigate some other giant trees while doing just the shorter 1 to1.5 hr boardwalk section of the trail then follow the yellow tape as it slowly goes counter clockwise to take you back to the Hanging Garden Tree. From there you return back down the boardwalk for your pickup. To connect with the '3 Km Loop' (extra 2 miles); you should follow the same trail marked by both the pink & yellow tape until the 'yellow' goes left and the 'pink' goes right. This divide in the trail is the connection to the 3 km loop and adds about at least an hr. to your hike. Before you decide to take this option make sure you have discussed it with your skipper; we will give you a trail map and go over the details of the trail with you. And to make things even more confusing, there is also more pink tape behind the Hanging Garden Tree that goes off to the left to the shoreline within Lemmens Inlet. Trust me, navigating the trails was a lot more confusing when all the trails were marked by the same pink tape. Make sure you bring a means to communicate while in the wilderness and cell phones work well on the Big Tree Trail. |
Free Boat Rides May20 & 21
| Posted on May 5, 2017 at 8:01 PM |
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FREE BOAT RIDES;on May 20-21/17. To Stubbs Island (AKA.Clayoquot Preserve Island); the owner of the Island hires several boats including Clayoquot Connections for Saturday & Sunday of the Queen Victoria Day Weekend each year. Boats leave the dock just in front of the Whalers on the Point hostile starting at noon. The last boat over is at 5:00 pm and everyone should be off the Island by 6:00 pm. Stubbs Island is right in the harbour and only about 1 km west of Tofino. Come checkout the beautiful gardens & beaches, stroll on the boardwalks through the beautiful ancient forest. You can paddle over if you want. A great affordable (FREE) time for the whole family; have a picnic. And no dogs please. |
