Editorial: The Heart of the Adventure

February-March 2002

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

COVER PHOTO:Vargas Island, Clayoquot Sound - Jaqueline Windh©

You've had an exciting day paddling among clustered, cedar-fringed islands, drifting over sudden reefs, drawn by the colourful profusion below and the mounding islands beyond, seeing eagles, ducks, otters, salmon, even whales!

It's been a long day and you're starting to feel tired, but as the campsite is spotted ahead, a burst of energy comes with the thrill of anticipation.

You pause as you near shore, drifting gently to the beach, and step out, marvelling at the quiet. This will be your home base for a few days.

You turn and assist your paddling partners as they each drift in to shore.

Soon the boats are up above the high tide line, the hatches popping, gear emerging, you're stripping off paddling gear, choosing tent sites, relaxing, joking.

Those with cooking duties start to establish the hearth-soon to be the center of the camp-while others have a quiet time, wander about, or stretch out.

But before long you all start to gravitate toward the hearth for a pre-dinner drink, some hors d'oeuvres, stories from the day, plans for tomorrow.

And then the communal feast commences, the core event of any trip.

That's what this issue is all about-cooking and camping, the heart of the adventure.

We hope you find it useful and will soon be tucking into a marvellous meal amid wilderness splendour. We especially want to thank our Paddle Meals columnist Deb Leach for her great work on this issue, and thanks to all those who contributed recipes and other ideas to help you visit the wilderness in comfort.

Speaking of wilderness, 2002 is the UN International Year of Ecotourism and pundits predict that travel within North America will actually increase as we see a shift away from inter-continental travel. Staying closer to home means more paddlers will be exploring our continent's amazing coastlines, especially its wilderness fringes.

We live in the Pacific Northwest-one of the world's greatest sea kayaking meccas and we hope you'll come to our islands and inlets, from Washington's intricate Puget Sound, up British Columbia's wild coast, to Alaska. You can fly or drive from anywhere on the continent to Seattle or Vancouver, and catch a ferry, or perhaps a floatplane, to reach an isolated location where life goes on as it has for millennia on this coast- rainforest, salmon, whale, bear, eagle, and a First Nations culture 10,000 years old.

One item of note for US citizens, if you cross the 49th parallel (i.e. into Canada) your dollar is suddenly worth over $1.50.

See you on the water!

©Alan Wilson

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