Time to Plan for Next Year

Oct0ber-November 1995

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

Books to plan your paddles by

by Al Schaffer

Now that you have finished this year's sea kayak holiday, it's time to start putting together some ideas for next year's destination. In preparing for another extended paddling trip, I would like to offer some planning ideas that would have you spending much of the winter preparing for what might make your next trip even more rewarding and satisfying. For me, this preparation can be almost as much fun as the actual trip!

In offering some ideas, I am suggesting that sea kayaking should be more than just going somewhere in a boat -- it can become an opportunity to discover our historical roots, more fully understand native heritage and the marine and coastal environment.

History of Paddling Area

I appreciate an area even more after I know a little more about the early history. Significant events associated with the experiences of the natives, explorers and early white settlers make a new area more alive to me.

Examples might include reading the journals of John Jewitt's adventures at Nootka Sound as he was held captive as a slave for 2 years by Chief Maquinna, after his trading vessel was attacked.

Dream Isle in Clayoquot Sound also has an interesting history.

In the Charlottes, as well as the Haida history, the early logging and mining interests had a tremendous impact on the area.

George Nicholson's Vancouver Islands West Coast, 1762-1962 presents a summary of almost every event of historic value which occured on the Island.

For a treasury of biography, history, and anecdotes, check out Walban's British Columbia Coast Names -- Their Origin and History. This book is certain to get you really excited about the discovery and exploration of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Native History

Research the names and locations of former native village sites along with significant native leaders, battles, customs.

Although time-consuming, check into the background on native cultures - living, eating, cooking habits. What use the natives made from the local vegetation and forests; how they harvested their food supply (fishing techniques). An excellent resource here are a few books by Hilary Stewart, Cedar and Native Fishing Techniques where as well as describing in detail information about native life, offers excellent line drawings on each subject.

If planning an expedition to Queen Charlottes, a detailed study of the Haida peoples would be in order as well as a look into the significance and meaning of totem poles. Many excellent reading resources for this area.

A real bible of a book is Plants of Coastal British Columbia (Projar & Mackinnon). This is great for folks desiring a field guide as well as notes describing aboriginal and other local uses of plants, trees, and shrubs for food, medicine and implements, along with unique characteristics and origins of their names.

As a personal goal, as well as attempting to identify most major tree and plant species, I challenge myself to recall at least one major use that the natives had for each tree and plant.

A visit to the Provincial Museum in Victoria offers an excellent opportunity to view, first-hand, many native artifacts. This should be enough to get you excited about further reading into native history and culture.

Marine Life

As well as developing a sharp identification eye for much of the marine life - challenge yourself by attempting to recall at least one significant characteristic about each marine creature that you can identify. Examples of interest might include the unique homing device possessed by limpets, molting characteristics of crabs, why starfish are so clean looking, sex life of a barnacle, etc.

An excellent resource book here is Stephani Hewlett Paine's book Beachwalker.

Current Issues

Follow current news events to gain a better idea of issues relating to logging mining, land-use decisions, native claims, salmon fishing, etc. in areas you plan to paddle in. The logging and fish farms of Clayoquot sound offer lots to follow here.

To be even better informed of logging issues, plan on taking an organized logging tour just prior to your next kayak trip. This will offer you another perspective on logging practices, tree farms, etc.

When you finally arrive at the staging area for your trip, pick up copy of local newspaper to gain a better feeling for current issues.

Kayak Navigation

If you still have some time available, try reading more than three chapters of David Burch's book on the Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation. Review your compass and chart reading skills and study unique methods of keeping track of your position as well as checking up on your night and fog navigation skills.

A dry subject for many sea kayakers, but important skills!

Kayak Skills and Rescues

Get a hold of the video Performance Sea Kayaking (distributed by Performance Video and Instruction). This offers an excellent review of paddle strokes and commonly used kayak re-entry skills. Combine this video with some actual pool practices of these skills during the winter months.

A kayak trip and expedition can be as much about history and other subject matters as it is about sea kayaking. The sport of sea kayaking and the experiences can become intertwined. This last point is the feature I have attempted to describe. I hope the above suggestions might open another world of interests that you can combine with your regular sea kayak adventures.

Al Shaffer owns and operates Schaffer Kayak Institute, Box 1050, Canmore, Alberta T0L 0M0. Phone/fax: 403-678-4102.