Captain's Log 2022 - While We Were Away

April 22nd - 25th, 2022

This year we arrived from the east.  

Leaving Whistler/Blackcomb after a two week ski trip including one week with Audrey and Catherine, Heidi and I took the ferry from Lions Bay to Nanaimo.  Lions Bay is an hour south of Whistler and on our way home.  With no reservation, we arrived about 30 minutes ahead of next departure and given our past ferry experiences it was like a miracle when we drove right on.  

After spending the night in Campbell River we drove north an hour and a half to meet Linda Buttle at the Eve River private dock.  Linda had agreed to shuttle us to and from Hull Island at a reasonable cost.  The time and effort we saved by avoiding the drive to Port Mcneill, getting The BRNR in the water, loaded then driving 45 miles each way to and from Hull Island made the Buttle Shuttle trip a huge blessing.  So much more relaxing to have someone else drive their boat.  

Smooth riding aboard "Shit Happens".  Spring alders trees show where Hull was logged about 30 years ago.

Stepping off the boat onto our dock was such a pleasure! So much quicker and safer than past landings, it's now "hassle free".  The changes on Hull with cabin, kitchen and dock have made the entire experience a lot easier.  While we will never again have the First Pioneer's challenges and thrills, the new arrangements add more dimensions to enjoy.

There was ample evidence that while we were gone the locals moved in, dropping shells, clawing trees and shitting on the trails, again.  Super interesting to see, and I expect someday to learn more of the culprits signs.

Urchin shells on trail from dock. Not certain what animal left them here?

This may be from the animal eating the urchins, or not?
Also left on the dock trail...

Evidence of bear friends? 10' from cabin

I suspect an owl left this on the cross beam in kitchen. 

Good to see the deer are back.  Does this mean the cougars are gone?

Hey Chris - all is well.  For this I'm happy to mask. 

Triangle Island in front, mainland Canada in back

Camp was in really good shape.

One snake in the shower

A second snake on the tent pad

Hull Kitchen solid as the rocks.  Human-made grill hasn't withstood the strength of nature.

Looking east from North Loop Trail

Looking North from Steve's bench. Snow in the mountains far right

North lookout bench hasn't budged

Our first trip this year was outstanding in many ways.  We accomplished our primary goals by getting home safe, recording measurements for the kitchen's metal roof and hauling the bent up Costco tent out of the woods where it was firmly lodged in trees and thick salal. Apparently the winds in past two years were stronger than our anchoring. Not surprising...

It had been three years since anyone hiked the Highway Trail and the number of downed trees and new ones springing up was amazing. Chainsaw in hand we cleared about a 1/4 mile to the west beach then stopped when we encountered a small forest of large alders down across the trail.  Someday with a bigger crew we will tackle the clearing.  For now it looked too dangerous and too much labor.

Most exciting for Heidi was she saw her first whales.  As I lay in bed contemplating more sleep, she was out early enjoying the fresh morning air.  It was so quiet that Heidi heard the whales breathing, then saw a pod of ~ 7 Orcas swimming north up the channel on the east side of Hull.  

Pick-up off island and delivery back to Eve River was pretty rough in the channel and we had to "post up" along the ride to avoid aggravating our backs.  Otherwise smooth sailing as the border crossing took 3 minutes and traffic home was light.Given how easy this trip was we will likely make the post ski trip to Hull a more regular event.