|
Welcome Spring 2010!
Dear Friends,
If you tuned in to the 2010 Winter Olympics, hosted here on the coast of British Columbia, then you know ... that it's already spring here.
For many weeks now, we've been watching birds display territorial/nesting/pairing up behaviour.
And so it begins ... the spring restlessness that comes with warm sunny days, flowers and birdsong.
The Maple Leaf crossed Georgia Strait this week to shipyard, and soon she'll be sailing in the Gulf Islands.
We hope you enjoy the features in this newsletter:
- Photos of the Month
- Ship Report
- 2010 Trip Availability Report
- A Request to Help Grizzly Bears
- Crew News
- and more!
If you're feeling the itch to cruise among the islands, smell flowers on the breeze and explore all day under the sun, give us a shout.
Have a wonderful 2010.
Kevin and Maureen & the Crew
| |
A giant, rainforest cedar tree, framed by hemlock and salal.
Taken by Maple Leaf guest Doug Watterson on a Great Bear Rainforest trip.
Click image to enlarge.
Visit the Photo of the Month page to view all photos of the month since the last newsletter - including shots by guest Cathy Holowaychuk and first mate Jose Larochelle.
|
| |
|
| |
| |
If you'd like to sail away into the beautiful B.C. and Alaska island world, see whether one of these remaining places is for you.
Although almost 90% of the 2010 trip places have been filled, there are still some wonderful adventures with a few spaces available.
Gulf Islands National Park + Painting Holiday with MARK HOBSON
Stellar naturalist and artist, Mark Hobson, leads a 5-night adventure on the Maple Leaf in the beautiful Gulf Islands National Park. Peak season for spring wildilfe and wildflowers.
Mark will conduct workshops each morning on painting nature in watercolor (non-painters get extra shore trips). Open to both painters and non-painters.
5 nights/6 days
Dates: Apr. 13-18, 2010
Depart & Return: Sidney, BC
Price: $2150
Click for more information
Inquire about this trip
Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)
Just a few places remain on this extraordinary trip in an archipelago with some of earth's richest marine life.
Also home to the Haida people and the monumental village sites with standing poles and house remains. Peak season for wildlife and weather.
8 nights / 9 days
Dates: May 16-24, 2010
Depart: Masset Return: Sandspit
Price: $4450
Click for more information
Inquire about this trip
Alaska Adventure Cruise
From ancient rainforests to tidewater glaciers, inland waters filled with whales, to the west coast haunt of puffins and sea otters, southeast Alaska breathes majesty with every breath.
Add to that the historic Alaskan towns and a very special natural hot springs and you've got 12 days in one of nature's most dramatic places.
11 nights/12 days
Dates: June 13-24, June 24-July 5
Trip 1 Prince Rupert, BC to Sitka, AK
Trip 2 Sitka, AK to Prince Rupert, BC
Price: $5975
Click for more information
Inquire about this trip
Galapagos Islands Cruise
A few places are still available on this peak-season for wildlife trip, May 6-16.
Includes an excellent itinerary in the Galapagos, plus the best of beatuiful Quito, Ecuador, which is the trip's start and end point.
10 nights/11 days
Dates: May 6-16, 2010
Depart & Return: Quito, Ecuador
Price: $4190 USD
Click for more information
Inquire about this trip
Family/Friends Charter
There is a bit of space in Maple Leaf's 2010 schedule if you and your family would like to book Maple Leaf all to yourselves!
The first half of April and the middle of October are currently available for multi-day trips in the Gulf Islands/Vancouver Island area.
Inquire about a family/friends group charter
Limited-service Reposition Trip
If your budget doesn't stretch to a full adventure cruise on Maple Leaf this year, but you are up for a trip down the spectacular BC inside passage, you may be interested in a reposition from Prince Rupert to Comox July 6-10.
The ship will be under way for about 12 hours per day, with stops overnight. More like a "scenic drive" than a proper Maple Leaf trip.
Dates: July 6-10, 2010
Depart: Prince Rupert, BC
Return: Comox, BC
Inquire about this trip
Questions? Or ready to reserve a place? Email us or call us at 1-888-599-5323 or +1-250-386-7245.
|
| |
|
| |
| |
It's time for our annual report of what we're adding or upgrading on the beautiful Maple Leaf.
Maple Leaf has just returned from shipyard, where Capt. James Warburton, Paul Smith, Sean Byrne, Tavish Campbell, James MacKinnon and Myles Rhynas performed the annual out-of-water maintenance. This is also the time for our many annual Transport Canada inspections.
(We would like to highlight this right now, since another vessel with red maple leaves on its sails that has been in the news lately was NOT inspected by Transport Canada for passenger carrying certification as it was not registerd in Canada. Being a Canadian registered vessel is far more expensive than flying a so-called "flag of convenience" because our standards for ship safety are far higher than many countries'.)
This winter, Kevin, James, Paul and Sean transformed many things on the ship. This includes lots of upgrades to internal systems and equipment.
We're also excited about our new:
- Aft deck seating - sit against the aft rail for a full view of the entire ship and a 360-degree view of the ocean, islands and sky around you.
- Charging stations and shelves for your digital cameras, laptops, etc. - carefully designed by Paul, James and Kevin.
- Sound system, both inside and out, which when used selectively can either play music or ... whale calls relayed from our hydrophone!
- New steps for boarding the ship from dock or zodiac.
See the ship's history and photos on our website.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
"Never have I travelled so far, so close to home.
"Maple Leaf and crew have floated me to the world of my childhood - when cares and responsibilities were someone else's and I revelled in the feel of smooth pebbles shifting beneath my gumboots and the thrill of seeing a deer, an eagle, a sea lion or a wild herd of goats."
- Rachel Goldsworthy, Victoria, BC, from Gulf Islands National Park Trip 2009
Thanks for the trip of a lifetime! Exceeded any and all expectations. Looking forward to other trips.
- Tammy and Dean Muller, Arvada, CO, from the Alaska Adventure trip 2009
"Maple Leaf runs the most exquisite operation – very professional. My sense of adventure was completely and utterly satisfied.
"Captain Kevin, you run the ship in such a competent respectful, and gentle manner. You have attracted a super-duper crew; Lila’s meals were beyond perfect, Sean and Jose possess the ultimate people skills, and our naturalist Andy was a joy to have aboard. I learned so much from him and in fact from all of you. Thank you, thank you for the amazing experience on the Wild Side!"
- Mary Ann Zarichuk, Nanaimo, BC, from the Wild Side Trip 2009
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Paul Smith - Published Photographs
First Mate Paul Smith is an accomplished photographer. Apart from his stunning contributions to our 2009 Year in Photos show, his work recently appeared in the natural history guidebook Wild West: Living on the Edge, about endangered plants, animals and ecosystems in western North America. Paul's photos of spirit bears and killer whales contributed to the coastal section.
Andy MacKinnon - Conservation Legacy Award
In late February, the Habitat Acquisition Trust recognized Andy MacKinnon with its Conservation Legacy Award.
In addition to working full time as a research ecologist for the province of BC, teaching a popular Temperate Rainforest Ecology course at Bamfield and delighting Maple Leaf's guests as one of our stellar naturalists, Andy devotes generously of his time toward land conservation.
He is a past president and longtime board member of the Habitat Acquisition Trust, and has helped bring about land conservation in the lower Vancouver Island region. And, according to HAT, he is also "really handy with a broom picker" - a necessity for restoring natural habitats in this ecosystem.
Mark Hobson - Salmon Conservation Stamp Collection Competion Winner
If you like to fish for Salmon you will have a tiny version of a Mark Hobson painting in your wallet in 2010. Mark won the 20th Salmon Conservation Stamp Competition sponsored annually by the Pacific Salmon Foundation.The announcement was made in the Globe and Mail on Dec. 21, 2009.
Fifteen of B.C.'s top wildlife artists are invited every November to compete for this prestigious honor and $6,000 prize money. The winning image is printed as a stamp and a limited edition print. The $6.30 stamp is attached to all salt water salmon licences and just over a dollar of that is returned to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for salmon restoration work.
Since the program was started in 1989 well over 10 million dollars have been generated by the program for a wide range of projects directed at maintaining the health of the five species of Pacific Salmon and sea going trout. This is the third time the competition has been won by Mark. Previously 2003 and 2005 were also years when the stamp image was a Hobson painting.
Fiona Chambers - Launches Metchosin Farm
Ethnobotanist, university instructor, Maple Leaf naturalist, author ... and organic farmer, Fiona Chambers has launched her growing business at Metchosin Farm.
If you are on southern Vancouver Island, you can visit her farm stand from April until the autumn for heirloom tomatoes, tomato plant starts for your garden, juicy berries and lots of other organic produce. Or you can visit her colourful new website at www.MetchosinFarm.ca.
Hayley Shephard - Kayaking to Save the Albatross
Intrepid expedition leader and naturalist Hayley Shephard is kayaking solo around South Georgia Island right now. This is one of the most extreme environments in the world and is a huge undertaking to visit, let alone kayak around. Follow Hayley's challenges and triumphs on her sattelite-updated blog.
2009 Maple Leaf Adventures Crew Awards
All of our crew are fabulous people who put their heart and soul into their work on Maple Leaf and in the office. But every year, we have a few "fun" awards we give out at our annual crew party. Here are this year's recipients:
- Calm under pressure: LILA RUZICKA (chef)
- All systems go: GREG EVANS (Tall Sails & Ales brewing historian)
Runner up: James Warburton (captain / ops manager)
- Shipwright: SEAN BYRNE (deckhand)
Runner up: Paul Smith (first mate)
- Song (or creative act) of the year: FIONA CHAMBERS (naturalist)
Runner up: Andy MacKinnon
- Sink or Swim: MAUREEN GORDON (for her office work)
Runner up: Corinne Warburton (deckhand)
- Total dedication to maintenance of all systems aboard ML: JAMES WARBURTON
|
| |
|
| |
| |
The Background - Why?
In 2001, the BC government passed a moratorium to stop the commercial trophy hunting of grizzly bears in B.C.
Commercial trophy hunting is not hunting for food; it's the hunting and killing of grizzly bears for fun. Over 10,000 grizzly bears have been shot as "trophies" in B.C. since 1977 -- the majority by people who come from other countries.
There are many reasons to outlaw it, two of the best being it's outdated, unethical behaviour, and it's bad for B.C.'s bear viewing industry, which does not hurt bears. Bear viewing, although a relatively new industry, already produces more revenue for British Columbians than trophy hunting.
However, in 2001, a new government was elected and, despite the fact that most citizens object to trophy hunting, it rescinded the moratorium. (You may ask yourself - why? If you live in BC, you could ask your MLA.)
Each year the hunt opens in April ... the same time that we are entering the coastal estuaries to view grizzly bears with you, our guests.
At this time the bears, hungry from their winter hibernation, make an incredible journey from snowy mountaintops to the estuaries, in order to eat the plentiful and nutritious sedges that grow at the water's edge. This makes it an exceptional time for bear viewing.
Why Now?
The signatures from this petition will be published in a book, Faltering Light, that will be printed and presented to BC's Premier and Environment Minister before the hunt opens. This petition and this book are very important steps in informing the government of B.C. about the economics and ethical issues behind bear viewing versus trophy hunting in B.C. Your signature now could make a big difference.
What to Do Now
Help us in the bear viewing industry and help the grizzly bears:
- Please sign the online petition [scroll to the bottom of the linked page and click Sign Petition] to let the government know you are opposed to the continued sport hunting of bears in B.C. It's quick and easy and protects your privacy on the Internet.
- This is organized by conservation photographer Andy Wright (FalteringLight) with founding supporters Simon Jackson (www.spiritbearyouth.org) and Ian McAllister (www.pacificwild.org), and supported by many others. Please consider making your voice heard.
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
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: Sunset in the Broughton Archipelago, taken on an October Whales and Totems trip by Paul Smith
- Kevin and Maureen in the Gulf Islands, October, by Mark Hobson
- Photo of the month: Giant cedar tree, taken on a September Great Bear Rainforest trip by guest Doug Watterson
- Guests in the Gulf Islands National Park, October, with the Salish Sea spread below them. Taken by Paul Smith
- One of many humpback whales feeding in Juan Perez Sound, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), with the Maple Leaf on a May Haida Gwaii trip. Photo by Kevin Smith
- Approaching a glacier by zodiac in Fords Terror Wilderness Area, taken on a June Alaska trip by Kevin Smith
- Reptile: This cool cucumber is a Galapagos marine iguana, doing a little people watching perhaps. Taken by Kevin Smith on a November Galapagos Islands trip
- Maple Leaf guests on a family and friends trip relax together in Alaska.
- Travelling down the rainforested fjords of B.C.'s Inside Passage, photo by Kevin Smith
- Maple Leaf's bow crossing a road, as she is carried by a travel lift from shipyard to the water. Photo by Kevin Smith
- Deck view, crossing Georgia Strait on the way to shipyard, by Paul Smith
- Sailing in the Gulf Islands, October, by Paul Smith
- A campfire ashore, in a protected, picturesque bay on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, on a June Wild Side trip
- Paul Smith by Kevin Smith
- Andy MacKinnon on the Wild Side trip, by Kevin Smith
- "Surface Tension" painting by Mark Hobson, the winner of the 2010 Salmon Conservation Stamp Collection Competition
- Hayley Shephard self portrait, solo kayaking around Vancouver Island
- Deckhand Sean Byrne and the main sail of Maple Leaf, taken on a June Alaska trip by Kevin Smith
- A grizzly bear sow looks for salmon in the river as her cub snuggles up on shore in the autumn sun. Taken on a September Great Bear Rainforest trip
- Guest taking photographs in the hot springs in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) in May. Photo by Kevin Smith
- Maple Leaf sailing with killer whale in foreground, by Brian Falconer
|
| |
| |
Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach us anytime - we love hearing from you!
Fair winds and following seas,
- The Maple Leaf Adventures Crew
|
| View the Trips | Learn About Us | Contact Us |
|
|
Click here to see the