CALL GUINNESS… PHOTO: SANDER JAIN


ALUMINUM KAYAK/ CANOE TRAILERS


Worldwide Shipping Available for most models


HAPPENINGS BY DAVE QUINN Blazing the Trail


WORLD’S LONGEST PROTECTED PADDLE-WAY CONNECTING WASHINGTON STATE AND ALASKA


The numbers are staggering: an estimated 27,000 kilometers (16,750 miles) of coastline; 1,500 potential sites, including launch points, rest stops and camp sites; 10 paddling clubs and two official trails already open with a combined total of 179 sites. The British Columbia Marine Trail Network (BCMTN) has arrived. Born nearly 20 years ago in the tidal mind of West Coast kayak pioneer and author of Kayak


Routes of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Peter McGee, the BCMTN vision has been a long time coming. In the early 1990s, McGee envisioned a marine trail that would connect paddle strokes from Washington to Alaska. McGee’s ambitious project foresaw increasing pressures on popular and critical kayaking campsites and rest stops from both private land interests and heavy indus- try, and had the goal of mapping and securing permanent access for paddlers up the entire coast. After a flurry of activity, including a mid-coast survey and the creation of a campsite at Val-


des Island’s Blackberry Point, as well as a rest stop and toilet on Saltspring Island’s Musgrave Point, the association lost steam and by the late 1990s the BCMTN vision began to blur. Nearly 15 years later, with pressure mounting on popular paddling sites, mainly by private


landholders, the movement re-awoke with new energy and support from the B.C. Govern- ment’s Recreational Sites and Trails program. Parksville’s Stephanie Meinke is the president of the BCMTN Association and has been


working hard with a small army of volunteers to identify, ground-proof and begin adding the sites to the growing list of official B.C. Marine Trails Recreation Sites. “Campsites vary,” explains Meinke. “Most do not need any form of booking as they are com-


pletely undeveloped wilderness sites. Other sites in parks may require a fee and may have pre- booking options, such as those in the Gulf Islands National Marine Park Reserve. We will be adding some commercial campsites and even strategically located B&Bs and resorts shortly.” “We are continuing to identify prospective new sites to propose to Recreation Sites and


Trails B.C.,” says Meinke, “concentrating on the rest of the Vancouver Island coastline and adjoining islands for now. We are also developing our website to become a comprehensive first stop for information on the B.C. Marine Trails Network and its sites.” The B.C. Marine Trails Network website and online interactive map launched this spring


at bcmarinetrails.org. With detailed satellite imagery and info on access, water availability and marine hazards, the map offers paddlers a glimpse into the grandiose scheme of creating the world’s longest marine trail. And the association never rests. Due to the scope of the initiative, they anticipate the com-


pletion of the trail to take several years. The seemingly endless work of installing signage for access and launch sites, filling in the existing network of sites and, finally, expanding the BCMTN north to Alaska is ongoing. Dave Quinn is a wildlife biologist, guide and writer based in Kimberley, British Columbia.


suspenz.com 866-787-7369


Visit our website to see more new racks! www.adventurekayakmag.com 23 Supnz_6th vert _2.375x4.875 AdvKayak ad.indd 1 3/21/11 4:33:09 PM Boat Stands


Kayak J-Rack


PRIMO TRAILER SALES


Ottawa, ON Canada • 800-558-5178 www.primotrailersales.com


TM


Indoor & outdoor racks that keep kayaks,


canoes & stand up paddleboards trip ready, protected and looking like new.


Free-Standing


Loading & unloading is easy with the high


performance load-assist pivot arm.


Wall Mount


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56