438 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Yup.

[AllseeingEye]

Right, the Sayward motel is a good one. Those bungalows are great.

Last time I was there, I camped on Stewart Lake, past White River Prov Park. I’ve never seen the night sky reflect quite like it did there. And you’re in the vicinity of Victoria and Warden peaks, which for the Island are massive, just a touch below Golden Hinde, believe it or not.

 

Headed back to our favorite Sayward motel "resort" this weekend for some steelhead fly + gear fishing on the Salmon River near the junction of the White River. For most fishermen steelhead are like unicorns and a fun fact about the Salmon River it is the ecosystem that yields by far the largest steelies of any river on the island. The record was nearly 30 pounds which would literally be the fight of one's fishing life.

 

http://saywardvalleyresort.com/

 

Some pals are joining us from Vancouver this time and staying in their RV in the parking lot, heh. As with the rest of the group the days of camping in tents are rapidly drawing to a close. While that is a relief on one hand it's kind of sobering on the other. Hard to beat the fresh air and outdoors atmosphere of tenting with the smell of fir trees and open fires etc. Eventually the brain simply has to defer to the body which increasingly just says "nope!"

[Mike K.]

You guys have fun out there. It’s a beautiful part of the island.

[LJ]

Headed back to our favorite Sayward motel "resort" this weekend for some steelhead fly + gear fishing on the Salmon River near the junction of the White River. For most fishermen steelhead are like unicorns and a fun fact about the Salmon River it is the ecosystem that yields by far the largest steelies of any river on the island. The record was nearly 30 pounds which would literally be the fight of one's fishing life.

 

http://saywardvalleyresort.com/

 

Some pals are joining us from Vancouver this time and staying in their RV in the parking lot, heh. As with the rest of the group the days of camping in tents are rapidly drawing to a close. While that is a relief on one hand it's kind of sobering on the other. Hard to beat the fresh air and outdoors atmosphere of tenting with the smell of fir trees and open fires etc. Eventually the brain simply has to defer to the body which increasingly just says "nope!"

My idea of roughing it now is no room service.

[AllseeingEye]

/\ .....Fortunately we're generally ok for now, within certain age and health limitations, to experience the more "rustic" aspects of backwoods fishing/camping, although I can foresee the end of that road coming up. Fortunately our group is very experienced camping in often *very* basic camping situations especially once you get to the back country beyond Strathcona, out towards Tahsis or up into the Insular mountains north of Sayward.

 

One of our favorite areas is the Conuma River almost at the very end of what passes for a road between Gold River and Tahsis; it features remote, almost primitive camping conditions - meaning camping spaces that are provided and exist but are not actively maintained by anyone including the province - but superb country and obviously great fishing, especially if you know when to go and where to look. The guys would kill me if they knew I even mentioned the name of the river here, lol. Only hard core fisherman and campers are generally aware of it.

 

Once there however you have to be comfortable in those surroundings because you are humping in all of your camping and fishing gear, your food, water, emergency provisions and supplies, first aid kits (multiple kits - we all carry our own to ensure lots of supplies), night lights, logging road and topographical maps etc., so you need to be everything from an electrician to a cartographer to a back woods Paul Bunyan in terms of navigating and getting to and setting up your campsite including starting a fire - we also carry multiple flints and other fire starter gear to ensure we get one going because fire is your number one priority after setting up your tent; ditto for bear spray. We all carry at least two canisters of the stuff for obvious reasons. And we know how to use them, unlike the poor guy we saw once on a trip to the Athabasca River in the Rockies, who pulled the spray off his belt to test it and proceeded to spray himself. That I can assure you was a most unhappy and painful experience!

 

You need to have good knowledge of your boy scout knot tying skills or, if not, at least have on hand and be able to zap strap multiple tarps together and tie them off onto trees and/or the tree canopy to provide shelter against rain; food prep and cooking and proper waste disposal (bears LOVE camping food left-overs!), repairing any and all gear as necessary, troubleshooting an issue with your vehicle....the lot, because the cavalry isn't just over the horizon waiting to come save you in those conditions. For the most part there is no cell service so even if they were you couldn't contact them so you're on your own for the most part.

 

That all said between mobility issues for about half the group, one guy who only has one kidney, my arthritic knees, and another guy who has had not one but two heart stent procedures, we know we're just about at the end of the line in terms of that kind of fishing adventure. The next logical move is to head out in an RV which is a good and smart compromise I think.

[LJ]

Good luck carrying on camping for as long as you can, whatever you enjoy is important.

[Victoria Watcher]

The WCT is a 75 kilometre trail on Vancouver Island that traverses through remote, pristine beaches and coastal old-growth forest. It draws hikers from all corners of the globe who want to experience its incredible beauty and are willing to take on a challenge. This backcountry trek is a mud-logged obstacle course and includes dozens of old wooden ladders. Hikers must carefully pack a week of provisions — usually weighing an average of 40 pounds — to fully self-sustain themselves without the luxuries of running water and shelter.


https://www.cbc.ca/n...est-coast-trail

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 May 2023 - 09:26 AM.

[Sparky]

We recently had a chance to do a little "Glamping" up at Qualicum First Nations Campground at Qualicum Bay.

 

First time there, nice spot...right on the ocean's edge.

 

 

Not very busy.

 

 

 

[Mike K.]

It’s a nice spot. Didn’t look too busy.

How was the weather?

[Sparky]

^ Windy on Tuesday, glorious on Wednesday.

[Victoria Watcher]

An airline lost his gear, dashing his dream of hiking the West Coast Trail. Then strangers stepped in to help

https://www.cbc.ca/n...-gear-1.6884633

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 June 2023 - 10:54 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

Did you happen to toss lines and fish up near the hatchery or at Nile Creek Sparky? I know you can't fish the section of the Qualicum river running through the reserve.

[Sparky]

No, I didn't. Next time I will bone up on the local skinny and renew my fresh water license. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Steve Wallis camps in Campbell River a few days ago:

 

To make camping life easier on the road I've set up my car to have a half bunk in the back with a small table (shoe organizing rack) to use as a desk and table to put my laptop on. I have a 100 amp hour lithium iron phosphate battery to provide me with enough power to run a coffee maker and lighting. My bed is leveled out with some pine boards and shims so I can sleep level. The whole camping setup can be removed in minutes to return the car to normal.

 

VIDEO:

 

https://youtu.be/rm6...tJLQGKz4AP02-4o

[Mike K.]

I met him a year ago. Great guy. Not sure if I told you guys that story or not.

[Matt R.]

You did, but let’s hear it again.

[Mike K.]

Ok, grab a chair. I’ll wait.

[Matt R.]

Ok I’m in a chair.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

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Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 February 2024 - 05:21 AM.