Any one ever try this whole trip?
It looks very possible to me with a long season and lots of planning.

Stormy, Or anyone else.

my answer is no. But. Is kayaking still viable in the Vancouver region at the mid to late October period. None of the charter type operators I have looked at seem to go past late September.

Cheers

Bill

Some of my best trips down the west coast of Vancouver Island have been in September. No big afternoon westerly wind or swell, and the frequency of gales is relatively diminished. October is a transition month with abrupt changes at any time. Daylight obviously diminishes and temps cool down. I've never done the whole island in one go, but know folks who have if anyone wants to be connected, let me know.

doug.lloyd@shaw.ca

Different portions of the island are distict in their feautres, flora and hazards, renderening a full circumnavigation as a worthwhile endevour. Port Hardy to Tofino is the most popular option for experienced paddlers who don't have the time commitment for a whole island circumnavigation. There are more guide books coming out every year. I like Doug Alderson's books availiable through Sea Kayaker. I paddled with him for many enjoyable years along the west coast between my solo trips.

June is a bit early but garners the best weather for trips north of Vancouver Island as the summer fog hasn't arrived in earnest. June on the east coast of the island shouldn't be a problem. Be very bear aware near the top of the island, though don't let black bear fear mitigate your desires - just take the usual precautions. Ditto for wolves and cougars. Be prepared for extended periods of rain, though we have been experiencing dryer, hotter summers the last few years.

Got me some ideas and planning to do.

There is a guy circumnavigating Vancouver Island at the momment. Being April, and considering he's passing Port Hardy about now having finished the east coast just about, I'd say that's a fairly audacious trip. Lots of down days waiting out the weather; and lots of skill needed too.

What can you tell us about who is out there now?

He's a sea kayak guide who works for a west coast company, whitewater background, skilled, and I assume - the off season is when he has to do his own personal trips. He had a rough time up the east coast of Vancouver Island and put in for a rest and small repairs in a north Vancouver Island town.

It is assumed he will be patient travelling down the west coast, given it is early spring still.

Look forward to hearing more.

Update: the kayaker circumnavigating Vancouver Island made it as far as San Joseph Bay after a very intense rounding of Cape Scott. He pulled out there, as he felt the next obstacle, Brooks Peninsula, would be too problematic given his narrow window to finish the west coat leg of his journey. This may have been a wise move. Brooks is notorious for braking surf and boomers which increase in size the further you go out to try and avoid the surf. Brooks is one of the only places on Vancouver Island that the old steamer passenger ships could not get around sometimes in the winter.

Heard that about the Brooks Pen.
Tough spot to keep going.

I spend over 100 days a summer paddling west coast Van Isle.

I completed the Port Hardy to Tofino Section late June - Early July this year (2009). This section is the most problamatic for weather and waves, therefore its best to plan it during good weather. Mid summer is fine, as long as you are comfortable with FOG, and are willing to get up early, paddle early, and get off the water early. Our typical day, was awake at 4am (listen to 0400 weather forcast), pack up, and be paddling by 5am (watching the sun come over the mountains). In this way, we were able to get a solid day of paddling in before the winds picked up (start around 1000... peaking around 1400-1500).

The section from Tofino to Victoria should not be under-appreciated in its difficulty. Long sections of exposed coast with few pull-outs.

Once through the Juan de Fuca straight, after completing the entire west coast, the paddle back up to Hardy would be childs play in comparison. Do not underestimate the wind waves that can build up in the Salish Sea (Georgia St), or the tidal rapids which occure in the norhern Gulf Islands (quadra etc) and Johnstone St. I, personally, once watched a pair of kayakers launch into the Johnstone St, and half hour later, one was dead.

Most commercial companies do not operate multi-day trips after September. One- the summer tourist season is mostly over. Two - the weather becomes tempermental, with the first real storms of the Fall arriving around Canadian Thanksgiving. Three - people generally dont like to paddle the whole trip in the rain.

Cheers,