2003:
May 4-11, 11 - 19, 21-29, May 31-June 8, June 9-17, June 18 - 28
June 29 - July 7, July 8-16, July 17-25, July 27-Aug 4, Aug 5-13, Aug. 14-22, Aug. 23-31
Our feature voyage for 2003 takes you and your group on a trip of a lifetime to one of the world's most spectacular archepelago, the Queen Charlotte Islands.
The southern isles of the Queen Charlottes abound in colourful marine and bird life and are endowed with ancient old-growth virgin forests, and a rich Haida cultural legacy.
If you want to see the incredible marine life at its peak, join us this summer and early fall to watch the plankton spectacle. When the long days of sunlight induce the plankton to bloom, a reaction triggers down the food chain, leading to a feeding frenzy which begins with the throngs of herring and other fish that gather to feast on the plankton. This, in turn, attracts migrating and resident whales and a high concentration of bald eagles.
Sea birds, such as the comical puffins or agile petrels, and their chief predator, the Peale's Peregrine falcon, are nesting at this time and are also active throughout the region.
Whether you're on the lookout for sea birds, killer whales, black bears, sea lions or deer, a voyage aboard the Copper Sky to the Queen Charlotte Islands this summer will leave you with unforgettable memories.
Your itinerary listed below is approximate and is subject to change due to weather and tide conditions, but a number of highlights your group get to choose from are described here.
ITINERARY (Includes 8 nights and 7 full cruise days aboard Copper Sky):
Day 1: Arrive Sandspit on morning or afternoon flight- transfer to Copper Sky, get settled,- arrival day is spent in port. Activities may include visit to Haida museum, totem carving sheds, bookstores and Haida art galleries, or if you like, you can just wander around soaking up the rustic ambience.
Day 2 - early departure for full 7 day cruise of Gwaii Haanas wilderness
Day 8, we arrive at our anchorage in the early evening.
Day 9, everyone disembarks after breakfast for the transfer to Sandspit and flights home
Days 1 & 9 are travel days to & from Vancouver.
A typical itinerary will take us to the 'can't miss' places such as the principal villages, and Burnaby Narrows. But our voyages are also explorations of this vast area, and we always look for, and often find on each trip, at least one or another remarkable new place of wonder, where humans may not have tread for over a hundred years.
Day 2 We cast off early for Skedans, a long abandoned village highlighted by colourful wildflowers, with deer browsing in knee deep grasses, and lush mosses slowly engulfing the remaining totems. In the herring-rich waters beyond Skedans we go to view and photograph a sea lion haul-out, then spend some time relaxing or fishing for fresh salmon or halibut before anchoring for the evening in a peaceful Bay.
Day 3 to 8, we keep an eagle eye peeled for a sight of the swift peregrine falcons nesting on the sea cliffs in this area, before reaching our next destination, the Haida village Tanu (or "Seagrass Town"), a favourite of renowned Canadian artist Emily Carr. It features low, lush mosses engulfing the remains of a silent, deserted village, and a small graveyard, where artist Bill Reid was laid to rest.
A sprinkling of islands with seal rookeries known as the Tar Islets dot the way from Windy Bay into the biologically rich Juan Perez Sound, which incorporates a dozen scenic inlets and islets. We stop at one of these islets, called Hot Springs Island, for a wonderful soak in the steaming natural waters. Our exploration of the Sound occupies several days of our itinerary, with plenty of time alloted to viewing and photographing the large resident eagle population, the playful escorts of porpoises, and the stunning scenery. The area also offers us some excellent fishing, swimming, and snorkelling.
British Columbia's
QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
GWAII HAANAS ("Place of Wonder")