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Dispatches from the Amazing Rainforest World
As I write this I'm preparing to head out to Haida Gwaii to join the Maple Leaf for a trip there, then a reposition up to Alaska.
It's mid-season for Maple Leaf, which means crew in far flung places and lots of great stories flooding back to where I sit at the office.
We really do live by the natural clock - high tide, low tide, slack tide, sunrise, sunset; the time of the herring spawn, the plankton bloom, the growth of sedge and berries, the salmon's return. The return of the coastal rains; the movement of pilchard and sandlance, the migration of birds.
That natural clock is the subject of a major new nature documentary by BBC, who brought you "Planet Earth". Read below for exciting news about places and animals we know being featured!
Got the itch to get out and join the Maple Leaf? Give us a shout.
Maureen and the Crew,
Maple Leaf Adventures
P.S. There have been a lot of change-ups in bookings, so if a trip you wanted was sold out when you enquired previously this year, check again!
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Loved BBC's "Planet Earth"? Well grab your TV remote.
We are very excited to announce that the BBC's follow up series to Planet Earth, called "Nature's Most Amazing Events" is
- About to be broadcast in North America (see below) and
- Features the grizzly bears, salmon and other denizens of the Great Bear Rainforest in a full hour-long feature.
We've seen a preview. We can tell you it's STUNNING.
The episode called "Grizzly Wilderness" in the USA and "The Great Salmon Run" in the UK features this coast.
You May Have Lived This Episode on the Maple Leaf
If you have travelled with Maple Leaf in the Great Bear Rainforest, you will know some of the characters involved (on screen and behind the scenes):
- You may recognize quite a few bears in the film. In fact, all 5 bears in the photo below (taken on a trip in 2007) are recognizably in it: the sow with the reddish face and her 2 cubs (back when she had 2), the sow with the blond face and her very blond, stripe-eared cub (who is now independent).
- You may recognize some of the places in the film ... if you've been with us in the Great Bear, you've been to them, too.
- Behind the scenes, longtime Maple Leaf crew Stephen Anstee and Heidi Krajewsky worked in one of their other roles as boat crew for Raincoast Conservation Foundation and took the filmmakers around the Great Bear on one of Raincoast's boats.
- Ian and Karen McAllister were principle consultants with the filmmakers as well.
Plus, another of the episodes, called "Pacific Feast", focusses on the North Pacific's massive plankton bloom and all the life it supports - life you will have seen aboard the Maple Leaf ... up to and including the massive humpback whales.
The Story Behind the Film
Here's the story as I heard Ian explain it: After Planet Earth, the BBC asked for proposals about what to include in a series about the most amazing events on earth.
They received pitches from across the globe. In the end, 6 were chosen for an hour-long feature each. One of those six was the return of spawning salmon to the rainforests of British Columbia and Alaska's southeast.
As with Planet Earth, the BBC has pushed wildlife filming to new heights. According to the BBC press office:
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"The world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit uses sophisticated high definition cameras, cutting-edge aerial, underwater and ultra slow-motion filming techniques to capture in intimate detail some of the audience's best-loved wildlife, as their lives become entwined with these dramatic events."
We've heard a few stories from Heidi and Stephen about using the new gear (and dealing with some curiousity about it on the part of the intelligent bears).
Preview the entire series here.
Broadcast Times for "Nature's Most Amazing Events"
- In the United States - Starts Friday, May 29, 2009 on DISCOVERY CHANNEL. There are many broadcast times; consult your TV guide.
- In Canada - Starts Sunday, May 31, 2009 on DISCOVERY CHANNEL CANADA. Consult your TV guide for times.
- In the UK - (already ran in February and March - check with BBC for rebroadcast plans)
- In other countries - (check with the BBC)
DVD Release for "Nature's Most Amazing Events"
* The DVD has short featurettes about how the filming was done, as in Planet Earth.
- In Canada and the United States - June 2, 2009
- In the UK - available now
Like to see this for yourself? Read about our Great Bear Rainforest trip - in September each year.
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The British Columbia coast is still considered a remote part of the world.
To mount a science research expedition here is complicated and expensive. So scientists take advantage of other opportunities to gather data about the life on the coast.
Below is some of the research we are helping with (in the background) during our trips.
Eelgrass Bed Mapping
For: World Wildlife Fund
What: Recording the location, dimensions and depth of eelgrass beds in bays and coves around the coast.
Why: Eelgrass beds are critical habitat for scores of species of fish and many other organisms (including our favourite crab, the Dungeness!). In order to monitor their health, we need to inventory what exists today.
Whale, Dolphin and Porpoise Sightings
For: BC Cetacean Sightings Network
What: Recording the location, time, species, number, behaviour and sea conditions when any species of whale, dolphin or porpoise is sighted.
Why: Scientists are still learning about the cetacean species on the coast. They are gathering data to create a baseline from which to measure change; and inventorying what areas are important to cetaceans. This will inform decisions that governments make about activities in the ocean.
Invasive Species Monitoring in Gwaii Haanas
For: Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
What: Reporting the location and behaviour of any invasive species seen in Gwaii Haanas.
Why: Gwaii Haanas is vulnerable to huge losses due to invasive species, such as raccoons, deer and rats.
If you are coming on a trip with us and would like to help out, let the crew know.
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Rated one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" by the editors of National Geographic Adventure, 2009
Great Bear Rainforest, Sep. 7-15 & Sep. 17-26
The spectacular Great Bear Rainforest at peak season for the salmon run. Travel down coastal fjords to river estuary meadows where wildlife catch salmon: grizzly bears, spirit bears, black bears, bald eagles, martens, wolves and more.
We'll cruise among the islands, visit remote hot springs and spend time with whales who come to feed on the ocean's abundant krill and small fish.
2 places available on Trip 1
1 place available on Trip 2
Trip 1: 8 nights, 9 days, $4575 CDN, all inclusive (approx. $4075 USD)
Trip 2: 9 nights, 10 days, $5150 CDN all inclusive (approx. $4585 USD)
See trip info Book this trip Ask about it Download Brochure
Whales & Totems of the southern Great Bear, Sep. 28-Oct. 3 & Oct. 5-10
Northern Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago is the "Serengeti of the sea": rich in wildlife, home to a complex orca / killer whale community, addictive cruising and ancient human cultures.
It is the best place on earth to see killer whales.
Spend 5 nights exploring the 200+ islands, their wildlife and their cultures.
1 place available on Trip 1
5 nights, 6 days, $2450 CDN all inclusive (approx. $2200 USD)
See trip info Book this trip Ask about it Download Brochure
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Oct. 15-20
Step aboard and enter a world where the most important decision is which of 200 islands and islets to explore next.
You're seeing it the best way - by sea. You'll access remote areas (ever heard of Cabbage Island? How about Mandarte, Prevost and Wallace?) and protected beaches. You'll observe wildlife: porpoises, sea lions, seabirds, otters and more.
You'll go ashore frequently in all kinds of environments: rainforest, meadow, beach, trails to spectacular views.
4+ places available
5 nights, 6 days, $2050 CDN all inclusive (approx. $1825 USD)
See trip info Book this trip Ask about it Download Brochure
Tall Sails & Ales: Craft beer & culinary cruise in the Gulf Islands, Oct. 22-27
On this 5-night cruise under the sails of the historic tall ship Maple Leaf, you will sample the best micro-brews of B.C. and visit breweries that range in size from a luxe brewpub to a bucolic Gulf Islands brewery housed, suitably, in a barn-like building.
You'll sample the local cuisine (some infused with beer flavour) prepared by the onboard chef. (Such as cheddar and ale soup, cream ale apple fritters, Salt Spring Island lamb, and stout brownies.) And you'll learn about the islands' history and do some wildlife viewing and walks in nature.
4 places available
5 nights, 6 days, $2215 CDN, all inclusive (approx. $1975 USD)
See trip info Book this trip Ask about it Download Brochure
See all trips Ask about a trip
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Many islands in the Gulf Islands have swirling and looping sandstone formations enjoyable from the water. This photo was taken in the Gulf Islands in late October 2007 by Maple Leaf guest Thomas Kerr, while he was on a Tall Sails and Ales trip. Click image to enlarge.
Visit the Photo of the Month page to view all photos of the month since the last newsletter.
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Chris Marks Garners 3 Honours - and Thanks the Maple Leaf Community
Maple Leaf chef Chris Marks just won two awards, for leadership and motivation, and was selected as the student speaker for this month's awards ceremony Camosun College in Victoria, BC.
As a young chef, Chris cooked on the Maple Leaf in 2005 before a terrible car accident paralized his legs and some of his upper body. He is now completing a business degree at the college.
Chris is a model of resilience, a great attitude and determination.
Here are the awards he won:
- Executive Network Inc./Donald Family Annual Leadership Award - "awarded to Camosun students who have overcome exceptional circumstances to achieve their goals and who also have demonstrated strong leadership."
- Joan Looy Award - "Awarded to B.E.S.T. (better employment strategies and techniques) program students who demonstrate motivation and perseverance in response to the challenges in their lives, strive to overcome barriers, demonstrate a strong sense of belief in self and are committed to personal advancement."
When we asked him about including this information in our newsletter, he said, "Yes, you can put in an update, but only if you send out a thank you to the Maple Leaf family for the support and cards and wonderful things that were sent to me at the time of the accident.
"It was really overwhelming and I still draw on it to this day. And I still listen to CDs that people sent me!
"I feel honored to have been a part of the crew and to have experienced this coast in brand-new ways."
We're honoured to have a friendship with such a great guy. Congratulations, Chris.
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By Paul Smith, First Mate
Boaters continually debate the relative merits of traditional rubber or PVC raingear, versus waterproof breathable raingear.
Many of us as crew on the Maple Leaf use a combination of both.
It comes down to a trade-off between comfort, convenience, and cost.
Rubber / PVC
For crew who sometimes have to stand on deck on watch for hours on a rainy transit (moving the ship without guests), nothing beats old fashioned rubber wetskins. Or, as the young sea cadets like to call them, "banana suits".
They are low maintenance, relatively cheap, and form a solid barrier between you and the elements.
Gore-Tex and other Breathables
But, if the weather is a bit warmer or you're doing some kind of strenuous activity, you'll generate sweat and get wet from the inside. It's the one big downfall of rubber raingear. This has given rise to the popularity of Gore-Tex and other types of breathable raingear.
Generally lighter and more flexible that rubber rainwear, breathable jackets and pants will allow your sweat to escape while still keeping out rain and spray.
Due to their high-performance nature, however, breathables require quite a bit more care (they must be cleaned often), and they weaken when exposed to salt water over long periods.
How to Decide
You don't require Gore-Tex. If you have it, bring it. Make sure it's still waterproof and, if not, add waterproofing to it.
If you don't have GoreTex and can't see yourself using it after the trip, then get the more inexpensive PVC clothing. It is totally fine for a trip and will keep you very comfortable.
Very cheap plastic raingear, however, will not be sufficient. It fails or rips easily.
One of the greatest revelations to people is how comfortable they can be outside in all kinds of weather when they just put the right clothes on!
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All photos in this newsletter were taken by Maple Leaf guests or crew.
Photo credits are:
- Newsletter banner: Brooks Peninsula beach, Vancouver Island, on the "Wild Side" trip, by Kevin Smith
- Newsletter heading: Maple Leaf in Tracy Arm, near the Sawyer Glacier, taken on the Alaska Adventure trip by Kevin Smith
- Some of Maple Leaf's crew (Paul, James, Maureen, Kevin), on the Maple Leaf's foredeck. Photo by Debra Brash of the Times-Colonist newspaper
- Kevin at the helm, motorsailing to Triangle Island, BC. Photo by Greg Shea on a crew-only transit to the Wild Side trip
- 5 grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, taken by Kevin Smith on the Great Bear trip
- Passenger with binoculars, by Kevin Smith
- Eelgrass bed courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund
- Dolphin leaping by the Maple Leaf, by Kevin Smith, in the Whales and Totems trip area (on a crew transit)
- Grizzly bear in a fjord, Great Bear Rainforest trip by Kevin Smith
- Killer whales (orcas) and the Maple Leaf on the Whales and Totems trip, by Brian Falconer
- Maple Leaf at an island anchorage, by Kevin Smith on the Gulf Islands trip
- Beer and chocolate truffles tasting, taken by Thomas Kerr on a Tall Sails and Ales trip
- Gulf Islands sandstone, by Thomas Kerr in on a Tall Sails and Ales trip
- Chris Marks, courtesy of Chris Marks
- Paul Smith, by Paul Smith on a transit to shipyard across Geogria Strait
- Guests in yellow raingear, Great Bear Rainforest in spring by Maureen Gordon
- Guests in Gore-Tex / breathable raingear, Gulf Islands trip by Kevin Smith
- Maple Leaf sailing in Spiller Channel on a Great Bear Rainforest trip, by Mark Hobson
- Guests photographing mountain goats, Great Bear Rainforest, by Kevin Smith
- Maple Leaf sailing with killer whale in foreground, by Brian Falconer
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Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach us anytime - we love hearing from you!
Fair winds and following seas,
- The Maple Leaf Adventures Crew
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"The wind had healed her over slightly giving her sails interesting curves that demonstrated the feeling of power, but it was the brilliant light coming through the rigging with sails highlighted by a menacing dark sky that really got me interested in getting out the paints one more time. 
How to Buy the Mark Hobson / Maple Leaf Cards