Maple Leaf Adventures Wildlife Cruises Blog

Reach beyond the big-box cruise with Maple Leaf Adventures

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:13:49 +0000

Community interaction at the heart of each West Coast adventure

Two ways to cruise the Inside Passage & Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)

Before walking the gangway to a large, impersonal cruise ship, making all the same ports of call as the other big name cruise lines, consider taking a more personal voyage – book with Maple Leaf Adventures for an intimate sailing adventure to some of the West Coast’s smallest communities and most unique, off-the-beaten-track experiences.

Since 1986, Maple Leaf Adventures has been offering adventure sailing cruises aboard the 92-foot classic sailing ship, SV Maple Leaf; a beautiful, comfortable and strong expedition ship built on the coast in 1904. With only eight guest spaces, and five crew, the cruise is an intimate, luxurious way to experience the whales and wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest, the First Nations culture and communities of Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands), and the historical towns of Alaska.

Viewing the monumental poles at UN World Heritage Site SGang Gwaay with a Haida guide and just the Maple Leaf guests on the island

“With Maple Leaf Adventures, guests don’t just steam by these far-flung communities and incredible wildlife viewing opportunities at 20 knots. We anchor in remote bays and allow our guests to explore by kayak, shore boat and on foot with an experienced local guide or our onboard naturalist,” says Kevin Smith, president of Maple Leaf Adventures, who is himself a coastal resident. “On the Haida Gwaii: Islands at the Edge of the World tour, guests will be the only ones on an island, walking amongst the 150-year-old totem poles at the UN World Heritage Site SGang Gwaay with a knowledgeable Haida First Nations guide.”

Maple Leaf Adventures’ unforgettable West Coast journeys:

Haida Gwaii: Islands at the Edge of the World: Travellers looking to experience the ancient and modern culture of the First Nations should consider joining this eight night adventure. On Graham Island, guests will visit Old Masset and take a tour of the award-winning Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay (Skidegate); then guests spend 7 nights cruising monumental village sites scattered among 138 wildlife-rich islands. Departures from May 7 through June 13, 2012; price per person is $4,640 including all shore excursions, meals, accommodation and use of gear on board.

Visiting the researchers at Orca Lab, a remote whale research station on the Inside Passage

Great Bear Rainforest’s Whales & Wild Islands: For those travellers looking for an intimate view of the Inside Passage, hop aboard the Maple Leaf Adventures’ eight night adventure. Along with cruising spectacular fjords, this summertime sailing expedition’s highlights include a visit to Klemtu, a small village in the Great Bear Rainforest, where you can meet the locals at the village’s only café. The crew also has a planned stop for guests to talk with local whale scientists at a remote research station. This adventure sails Aug. 2, 2012; price per person is $4,650 including all shore excursions, meals, accommodation and use of gear on board.

Whales & Totems of the Great Bear Rainforest: Whale lovers will want to join Maple Leaf Adventures’ five night whale watching extravaganza. Guests will spend many hours with whales over the course of several days. Guests will also be immersed in the local culture with a visit to the impressive U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay to hear residents tell stories of the Kwakwala speaking peoples, see their world-renowned art, and enter the world of the potlatch with a special guided tour. At Echo Bay, guests will also visit Billy Proctor’s homestead. Billy is a long-time resident widely regarded as a local elder, who has created Billy’s Museum, which showcases a collection of beachcombing artifacts that provide insight into the history of the Broughton Archipelago. This adventure departs Aug. 15 and Oct. 8, 2012; price per person starting at $2,700 including all shore excursions, meals, accommodation and use of gear on board.

Alaska Super Voyage: For adventurers wanting to experience Alaska’s wildlife and history, Maple Leaf Adventures’ 12-night super voyage is the perfect balance of calving icebergs, newborn seal pups, school bus-sized whales, brown bears and historical towns and villages. Guests will visit the islands of Baronof, Kruzof, and Kupreanof (whose names echo the Russian period of Alaska’s history), explore Ketchikan (steeped in Gold Rush history) and Petersberg (with its strong Norwegian heritage). Guests can also expect to visit and talk to locals in one or more off-the-grid hamlets, in remote parts of southeast Alaska that big ships cannot access. The expedition also includes a customized visit to Sitka, with a historical tour, visits with raptors, meals and a stay in town, where Tlingit, Russian and American history converge. This adventure sails July 19, 2012; price per person is $6,780 including all shore excursions, meals, accommodation and use of gear on board.

About Maple Leaf Adventures

Maple Leaf Adventures has provided conservation travel experiences aboard a classic sailing ship since 1986. With a reputation as one of Canada’s top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day excursions give guests one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most beautiful and rare places in the world, often in areas that were once under threat of destruction or in dire need of protection. As a long time practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered travel in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island and has made significant contributions to conservation. National Geographic Adventure has rated Maple Leaf one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”. For more information, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com.

Sample tweet: Reach beyond the big-box cruise with @MapleLeafAdv #Cruise #Travel

Note to editors: High resolution images available upon request

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures: 250 386-7245, 250-881-6143 (cell) or Maureen@MapleLeafAdventures.com

Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-882-9199 (cell) or deirdre@tartangroup.ca

Alaska Adventure Cruise by Sail – Review

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:01:31 +0000

Click the image to read the PDF of the article.

If you can’t read the PDF that is linked from this image, you can read the online version (without photos) on the Edmonton Journal website.

Click to view a slide show from this exact trip.

To read more about taking this trip, visit our Alaska adventure cruise page.

To ask or book this trip, inquire now.

The Wild Coast of BC & Alaska by Tall Ship

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:06:22 +0000

Maple Leaf Adventures and the Grant MacEwan Mountain Club Present:

The Wild Coast of BC & Alaska by Tall Ship

Slide Show & Story Telling Event, Saturday, May 12, 2012, 7:30 pm

What: A visual story telling about the Wild Coast of BC & Alaska by Tall Ship.

Maureen Gordon, conservation economy advocate, sailing ship crew member, and co-owner of Maple Leaf Adventures, will take her audience on a photo and video odyssey along the B.C. and Alaska coasts. Guests will learn about the natural history of this spectacular coastline and nature’s engines that drive it. The show includes stunning imagery of spirit bears, whales, and other wildlife as well as of coastal villages, fjords and beaches. Presented with the Grant MacEwan Mountain Club of Edmonton. Proceeds to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.


Where:	Citadel Theatre’s Zeidler hall 9828 101A Avenue, Edmonton

Info & RSVP: 1-888-599-5323, More information may be found at www.mapleleafadventures.com/events/

Cost: Entrance by donation with proceeds benefitting the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Suggested donation $10 / person.

Why:

Conservation-based tourism on the coast, especially in the Great Bear Rainforest, is growing. It provides a counterpoint to extractive or dangerous industries in the region and can work hand in hand with conservation science to provide a sustainable future for the area. The Great Bear Rainforest has a long and complex history of conservation battles, threats and wins. The area is heating up again with the proposal to lift the moratorium on oil tanker traffic through the wildlife-rich waters, a proposal that is opposed by the majority of British Columbians and all coastal First Nations. Maureen will also provide a thoughtful look at this conservation issue.

Video and photo footage also includes remote wilderness areas on the coast that can only be reached by ship or seaplane. Information on the heritage schooner Maple Leaf and its tours for 2012 and 2013 will also be available.

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Download the poster!

About Maple Leaf Adventures

About the Grant MacEwan Mountain Club

The Grant MacEwan Mountain Club is a group of mountain base sports enthusiasts, based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who value a sense of community in organized mountain hiking, climbing, skiing and cycling trips at every knowledge and fitness level.

The club was formed in 1978 by a small group of people interested in the safe pursuit of

outdoor activity, particularly in the mountain back country. Their focus was one of

respect and concern for the natural environment. They took the name of a former

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Honourable J.W. Grant MacEwan, in recognition of

that gentleman’s deep regard for the wilderness of Alberta.

The club has grown steadily in size, and now averages well over 200 members. There are

no special prerequisites to join, and there are activities available for all skill levels, from

beginner to advanced. The club offers a wide range of trips throughout the year, as well

as courses, workshops and social events. For more information, visit http://www.gmmc.ca/

Media Contacts:

Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures: 250 386-7245, 250-881-6143 (cell) or Maureen@MapleLeafAdventures.com

Will Skaley, Grant MacEwan Mountain Club: 780-940-3501 or will.of.earth@gmail.com

Map to Open Ship, May 2012

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:37:48 +0000

How to get to the Maple Leaf “Open Ship” in May 2012:

Maple Leaf is in Victoria’s Harbour, at the Wharf Street Floats, which are below Wharf Street, at the bottom of Fort Street. (Not in front of the Empress.)

There is a parking lot right at the entrance to the Floats. You enter it off Wharf Street (see diagram).

There is a gate at the marina entrance. When you RSVP, Kimberly will give you the gate code. Please write it down and bring it with you, so that you can get in.

We look forward to seeing you.

Inside Passage & Haida Gwaii Cruising Conditions – why you probably don’t have to worry about seasickness

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:49:48 +0000

Frequently Asked Question: What are the sea conditions?
Answer: Why Ocean Travel in B.C. and SE Alaska Is the Calmest on Earth

By Maureen Gordon

“Is this a lake or the ocean?” someone once asked me half an hour into a Whales & Totems trip.

There aren’t many places in the world where someone would feel compelled to ask that question.

This coast is unique on earth: about 1,500 kilometres of protected waterways, from Puget Sound and the Gulf Islands, up the inside of Vancouver Island and the islands of the Great Bear Rainforest and into southeast Alaska as far as Skagway and Sitka.

Because it’s unique, a lot of people have trouble comprehending that even if they are sensitive to motion in other areas of the world, they can take a Maple Leaf trip and be fine. (I know this personally: I can make myself dizzy on a kid’s swing but I’ve travelled through the Great Bear Rainforest with ease.)

A Little Geography Explains It

Take a look at the maps below of three of the planet’s great marine-based wildlife areas: Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands and the Inside Passage of British Columbia & Alaska.

All of the islands off the coast of B.C. and Alaska create protected water. Why?

First, wind blowing over water creates waves. The longer the distance the wind has to blow over the water, the more it stirs up waves, and the larger they can get. The distance that the wind can blow over water unimpeded is called “fetch“.

When you have a large open area of water (the entire Pacific or southern ocean, for example), you have a very long fetch.

The other important thing is that waves (they are energy moving through water) continue to travel until they hit land and break up. So if you have a very large body of water, then you have lots of potential waves being created that continue through it.

In North America’s Pacific Northwest, all the offshore islands help in two ways:

They create a barrier that stops incoming waves. Water on their insides doesn’t get ocean swells because the islands block them.
The islands and also the contintent’s fjords create narrow channels of water. Thus, there is often limited or no “fetch”, so large swells can’t form.

That’s why when you are on the Inside Passage, the water is quite flat. The same happens when you enter many bays and coves.

An additional benefit of Maple Leaf is that she’s a very heavy ship with a 40,000 lb. lead keel. This means she is a much steadier ship than small boats or fibreglass boats you may have been on before. Maple Leaf rides slowly and calmly on the sea.

How to Choose Your Trip
On some Maple Leaf trips you don’t have to worry about swells or waves at all. Generally these are:

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Great Bear Rainforest
Whales and Totems

On other trips, you may have an area or two where there are swells for a couple of hours, depending on the weather. But everything else is protected. Generally these are:

Southeast Alaska
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands

The only Maple Leaf trip that may be exposed to swells for longer periods (but still nothing like the Galapagos or Antarctica!) is the Wild Side of northwestern Vancouver Island. However this is mitigated again by the protection afforded by Checleset Bay, Kyuquot Sound, Quatsino Sound, Brooks Peninsula and Vancouver Island itself.

So, if you have been wondering to yourself, “will I be seasick?” … the answer is that likely you won’t. So come on out and enjoy the coast!

Gwaii Haanas Tour – May Is the Best Time

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:20:24 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, summertime is not always the best time to take a British Columbia expedition cruise.

Here, biologist Trudy Chatwin talks about spring in Haida Gwaii.

May Tours in Haida Gwaii – interview with Trudy Chatwin
Q: Why do you like being in Haida Gwaii in May, Trudy?
A: It’s absolutely bursting with life.

The whales are just fabulous at that time of year in Gwaii Haanas. You can be surrounded by whales.

There are great concentrations of seabirds. During the sooty shearwater migrations there can be groups of up to 10,000 shearwaters in Hecate Strait. There are concentrations of ancient murrelets on the water as their chicks hatch.

The tide pools are really coming to life; the animals are spawning and everything is bursting because you’re getting so much light then.

Q: Anything else?
A: It’s a quieter time at the Haida village sites then. You can take your time. Sometimes we are the first visitors of the season, and you can be the first person that walks on the beaches this year.

The weather’s better in May. But the weather can change rapidly and you can get all sorts of weather throughout the entire season.

Trudy Chatwin is an endangered species biologist for the province of BC. She was involved in the protection of land in Gwaii Haanas and had a cabin on the Tlell River, on Haida Gwaii, for 20 years. You can join Trudy and her infectious enthusiasm for nature on – where else? – a May trip in Haida Gwaii

View a video of our Haida Gwaii tour, made from May 1-9, 2003:

Alaska Glacier Cruise Maple Leaf Style

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:13:17 +0000

Watch the video: Alaska glacier viewing, Maple Leaf Adventures style!

If you think you’d like to try a trip, or learn more, visit Maple Leaf’s Alaska Small Ship Adventure Cruise page.

And please feel free to share this with your friends – there are social sharing links below.

Video: How We Get Maple Leaf Out of the Water

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:27:20 +0000

Watch the video: How We Get 95-ton SV Maple Leaf Out of the Water for Maintenance!

How this film was made:
Brandon Harvey and Kevin Smith set up two GoPro cameras, one on the ship and one on shore. They then set them to take a series of photos, and then edited them all together.

Great work, guys! Thanks for taking time out of this tricky task to set up the cameras.

Triva: That’s Capt. Greg Shea who waves at the camera mid-way through.

If you would like to see more about the ship and what she does, visit the Maple Leaf Adventures website.

Trade in the Spring Break for a spring adventure in the Great Bear Rainforest & Kitlope

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:51:29 +0000

Avoid the all-inclusive resorts and join Maple Leaf Adventures for an authentic sail-away

March 13, 2012, Victoria, BC – Adventurous travellers looking for an authentic Spring Break getaway without the repetitive meal options, chlorinated pools and boisterous college kids can sail through Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest and Kitlope aboard Maple Leaf Adventures’ classic 92’ schooner, April 27 – May 5, 2012, instead.

On the Great Bear Rainforest Spring Explorer trip, recognized as one of the “50 Tours of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler, guests enjoy the pristine landscape and the incredible wildlife aboard the SV Maple Leaf, while accompanied by an expert sailing crew, gourmet chef, and experienced naturalist. The Great Bear Rainforest has been described as “the last stand of the great North American rainforest” by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As guests sail down the coast’s longest fjord, the Gardner Canal, to reach the Kitlope river valley, many liken it to what it would be like to sail through Yosemite.

“Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered eco-tourism along the coast and in the Great Bear Rainforest more than 20 years ago, and we have built our business on authentic experiences on BC’s wild, remote, West Coast,” says Maureen Gordon, co-owner of Maple Leaf Adventures. “We love being able to offer guests the opportunity to intimately experience the beauty, history and adventure throughout the planet’s largest intact temperate rainforest.”

The Great Bear Rainforest Spring Explorer trip departs from Bella Bella, BC on April 27, 2012, returning to Kitimat, BC on May 5, 2012. Cost per guest is $4,180.00 Cdn and includes all shore excursions, meals, accommodation and use of onboard equipment. The departure and return points are easily accessed from Vancouver, BC. For more information and reservations, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com or call 1-888-599-5323.

Those with more time to spare may opt for the Maple Leaf Adventures’ Coastal Supervoyage, an epic journey that sails guests along the BC coast from south to north, from dry rainforest and Salish Sea islands to the fjords and waterfalls of the Great Bear Rainforest. It departs April 18, 2012 from Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island. The 19-day, 18-night journey is $7,130.00 Cdn per person.

Although early spring is often considered off-season for travel, the Great Bear Rainforest erupts with new life and wildlife viewing opportunities during this period. The area is home to both grizzly and black bears, as well as whales and wolves. Newly-awakened bears walk the beaches and meadows at water’s edge in spring to graze on tender new sedges or shore crabs. Above the green meadows, the Coast Mountains rise to snow-capped peaks. Maple Leaf’s expert guides take guests ashore for rainforest and wildlife walks.

A particular trip highlight is the natural, out-of-the-way hot springs that bubble up along the Great Bear Rainforest. Anchoring in a cove or bay, guests can go ashore and sink into the rejuvenating warm waters. A far cry from commercial hot springs, natural pools at the water’s edge lie in a tranquil haven surrounded by the untouched wilderness.

At the end of each day, guests can relax on the ship’s main deck watching the scenery pass by or in the ship’s library with a cup of tea before enjoying a gourmet meal and glass of wine with newfound friends. Guests also have the comforts of home with three bathrooms (each with hot showers) and large, comfortable beds complete with cozy duvets.

About Maple Leaf Adventures
Maple Leaf Adventures has provided conservation travel experiences aboard a classic sailing ship since 1986. With a reputation as one of Canada’s top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day excursions give guests one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most beautiful and rare places in the world, often in areas that were once under threat of destruction or in dire need of protection. As a long time practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered travel in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island and has made significant contributions to conservation. National Geographic Adventure has rated Maple Leaf one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”. For more information, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com .

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Sample tweet: This spring, skip the all-inclusive resorts and join a BC rainforest adventure with @MapleLeafAdvent http://bit.ly/ABh0wR #Travel

Note to editors: High resolution images available upon request

Media Contacts:
Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures: 250 386-7245, 250-881-6143 (cell) or Maureen@MapleLeafAdventures.com
Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-882-9199 (cell) or deirdre@tartangroup.ca

Cruises from Victoria, BC

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:35:36 +0000

Victoria is the gateway to the beautiful Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, on BC’s southwest coast. It is also at the southern end of BC’s Inside Passage.

Maple Leaf Adventures, an award-winning Victoria, BC, expedition cruise company, has been operating multi-day cruises of these two spectacular areas since 1986. These cruises depart from Victoria, BC.

About the Cruises from Victoria, BC | View the Gulf Islands Cruise | View the Vancouver Inside Passage Cruise | Reserve Now | Ask a Question

About the Cruises from Victoria, BC

The cruises that Maple Leaf Adventures offers are multi-day nature cruises, aboard a 92-foot, classic schooner (a sailing ship). They take 8 guests with a crew of four expert guides, naturalist and gourmet chef.

Sail the remote Gulf Islands National Park or Vancouver Island’s Inside Passage. View wildlife including sea lions, porpoises and sea birds. Walk the dry rainforest, remote beaches, and scenic bluffs with the ship’s engaging naturalist.

Are These Cruises for Me?

These cruises are for people who like nature and experiential holidays. They are engaging, personalized and an up-close experience of the beauty of the Victoria area. They are not for people who need an urban environment or the experience of a big ship cruise.

Entertainment on the Maple Leaf trips is enjoying nature’s beauty, the actions of wildlife, helping to sail the ship, and camaraderie with fellow guests and crew. Gourmet meals and snacks are produced each day by the chef.

This award-winning expedition cruise company is owned and operated by British Columbians and has won international recognition for the quality of its trips. This recognition includes National Geographic Traveler’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime, Frommer’s Best Travel Experience, National Geographic Adventure’s Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth, the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Signature Experiences Collection, and an honourable mention in the international Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards.

Additional Cruises in BC and Alaska

In addition to cruises from Victoria, Maple Leaf Adventures offers wilderness expedition cruises in the Great Bear Rainforest, northern Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) and Alaska’s Inside Passage. These start a short (less than 2 hours) plane ride form Vancouver’s airport.

Get more information on Maple Leaf Adventures’ cruises that depart from Victoria, BC or Reserve Now or Ask a Question.