S WaS TERWaYS Natural History Coastal Adventures SPRING 2010 You select Travel Green, Travel Locally your adventure People travel across the world to experience different cultures, landscapes and learning. Yet, right here in North America we have ancient civilizations, But let nature untouched wilderness and wildlife like you never thought possible. Right here in our own backyard? select your Yes! It requires leaving the “highway” and taking a sense of exploration. But the reward is worth it, the highlights sense of adventure tangible. Bluewater explores coastal wilderness regions only The following moments accessible by boat. Our guided adventures can give await a lucky few… which

you weeks worth of experiences in only 7-9 days. Randy Burke moments do you want? Learn about exotic creatures and fascinating art. Live Silently watching a female grizzly bear from kayaks in the your values and make your holidays green. Join us Great Bear Rainforest. • Witness bubble-net feeding whales in (and find out what all the fuss is about). It is Southeast Alaska simple… just contact us for available trip dates and Bluewater Adventures is proud to present small group, • Spend a quiet moment book your Bluewater Adventure. We are looking carbon neutral trips for people looking for a different in SGang Gwaay with forward to seeing you at that small local airport… type of “cruise” since 1974. the ancient spirits and totems • See a white Spirit bear in the Great Bear Family Chartering Rainforest “Once upon a time… in late July of 2009, 13 experiences of the trip and • Stand inside a coastal members of a very diverse and far flung family flew savoring our family. long house and hear north to take the "Trip of a Lifetime". We travelled The Bluewater office staff the tribal drums together on a sailing boat named the Island helped me organize the trip • Experience the peaceful- ness of kayaking Roamer through the islands of Haida Gwaii. and Randy, Colin, Hans and • Sail along before the Though we ranged in age from 5 years old to Gavin were the best captain wind under a giant somewhere around 60 and varied widely in taste and crew…they became spinnaker sail and ability and experience we put aside individual family to us as they fed and • See a grizzly bear preconceptions, swallowed our fears and boy did guided us through the fishing for salmon in a we just go with the flow…kayaking, hiking, nature and history that is rushing river swimming, wildlife watching, eating, sailing, Gwaii Haanas. The Trip of a • Take a shower under talking, smiling... Our last night on board we Lifetime…our hearts are All members of the family a towering coastal can get involved with the waterfall sat together late into the night sharing our still full.” – Christine Dill, running of the yacht • See a glacier calve right California in front of you Have you dreamed of traveling with your family • Stand beneath trees or a group of friends on one of Bluewater’s yachts? over 1000 years old Bluewater is able to provide charter group pricing, • Watch a humpback which makes the experience less expensive than you whale breach beside may imagine. While planning ahead is always recom- the boat mended, there are still dates available this summer and • Enjoy a fabulous sunset fall. Our 2011 schedule is now available and groups are in the wilderness, with a already booking their favourite times. This adventure glass of wine with your loved ones is a “once in a lifetime” opportu- ...the list goes on. The Dill family gather on the bow of Island Roamer nity. Share the magic, experience the joy! Be an A Day in the Life of “Kermode” Ambassador ■ The Kermode or Spirit bear (Ursus americanus protection for 10 new kermodei) is actually a black bear, created when both Spirit Bear Conservancies - Tell a parents have a rare recessive gene. This gene is only (amounting to 522,000 Friend prevalent along the Central Coast of British Columbia acres). Conservation where coastal bears likely became isolated from their biologists tell us we need When you tell a friend interior cousins. On some of the larger islands up to to protect at least 44-50% about your Bluewater trip 10% of the black bears are white. They are not albino. of the coastal rainforest Charlene Edwards A young Spirit bear with a you are providing us with They can live for 25 years in the wild. of British Columbia if the best advertising pink salmon ecosystems for bears, possible. To demonstrate ■ The Kermode was named after Frank Kermode, salmon and other wildlife are to remain viable in how appreciative we are former director of the Royal British Columbia perpetuity. Studies show that wolves and bears require of all of our ‘Bluewater Museum. In 2006, the Kermode bear was named vaster areas of intact wilderness than was originally Ambassadors’, we have a the official animal of British Columbia. thought. The new Conservancies are a great step in the special offer. For every right direction, but more effort is needed to ensure person who signs up after ■ The Tshimshian First Nation say that Raven Kermode long term survival. hearing about the trip created every 10th bear white in order to remember from you, we are going to the time when the earth was covered by glaciers. ■ $80 million dollars has been raised by conserva- offer you a 5% discount Their name for the bear is Moksgm’ol. Under First tion groups like the Nature Conservancy to help create off your next trip. If six Nations tradition the white bears are to be revered a sustainable economy for First Nations and local people sign up, you and protected. communities. Part of the money will support First receive a 30% discount. Nations wildlife guides – which Bluewater hires on Please ensure when they ■ Bear viewers and photographers come from every voyage – and wildlife monitoring programs. sign up they mention around the world to catch a glimpse of this rare your name. creature. It is estimated there are only a few hundred ■ It is illegal to shoot a Kermode bear, but until Spirit bear – making them rarer than panda bears. 2009 ‘sport hunters’ could still shoot black bears in Need There are two times of year when Spirit bear sightings the high concentration Spirit bear areas. Certainly can be expected – Spring after the bears leave hiberna- some of these black bears carry the recessive gene, and More tion and are feeding on estuary sedge grasses, and Fall are thus, critical to the survival of the Kermode. News when returning salmon bring them to creeks and for grizzly bears is better. The government has Info? rivers. This is why Bluewater Adventures only offers announced three new grizzly bear “No Hunt” manage- these trips in the Fall and Spring. If you want to check ment areas along the coast – including our principal grizzly bear viewing sites in the Great Bear Rainforest. availability or find out ■ After years of hard work by conservationists, in Coastal First Nations want to see the end of all trophy more details about a 2006 the British Columbia government announced particular trip please hunting of grizzly bears. contact the Bluewater office. Telephone toll- Why do Kermode or Spirit bears occur in one small area Join us this Fall for an 8-day voyage in free 1-888-877-1770. of the British Columbia coast? Isolation is part of the story. the spectacular Great Bear Rainforest. Leanne, Erin and Randy Is there an ecological benefit to being See grizzlies, black bears, and with good luck – the are happy to answer white? Kermode! We still have room available – August your questions. 29-Sept 5 / September 14-21 and September Or contact us via email 28-Oct 5 (this last date will spend two at explore@bluewater days at bear viewing stands). adventures.ca $4185, plus taxes. Randy Burke Special 2010 Trips Southeast Alaska 2011 Northern Vancouver Island Schedule Now Available Planning Ahead? The Bluewater 2011 trip schedule is now avail-

Patrick McCloskey Patrick able on our website – Experience the glaciers, bears and whales of wild www.bluewateradven-

Rick Hulbert Alaska, under foot and up close. Get off the beaten tures.com. We have some Orcas are iconic symbols of the Pacific Northwest! path and join Bluewater’s small group voyages. Join very special trips These sleek whales with their tall dorsal fins are a joy to marine mammal scientist, Rob Lott July 1-9 aboard planned. There will be watch. Northern Vancouver Island is the best place in Island Odyssey; local Alaskan Captain Paul Brown more Khutzeymateen the world to see them, with fascinating native culture, aboard Snow Goose July 18-25 or the Sierra Club grizzly bear trips. We have had lots of success amid a rugged beauty. Join us this summer - July 31- August 6-15. Snow Goose now has additional double with our new 9-day Aug 6 with Bluewater owner and Captain Randy Burke kayaks, so all passengers can experience the joys of Southeast Alaska or Aug 13-19 with noted naturalist, Sherry Kirkvold. kayaking at the same time. voyages. Look for a new $3225 per person, plus tax. 7-day Great Bear Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Rainforest itinerary. Inside Passage Haida artist, Bill Reid’s totem pole is an apt symbol for And of course, our award Haida Gwaii (formerly winning Haida Gwaii the Queen Charlotte (Queen Charlotte Islands). Join us to Islands) trips. Our explore the Gwaii Learning Series with Haanas National Park noted Resource Leaders Reserve with Captain continues with plans Neil Shearar July 18-25 for archeology, whale research and conserva- or July 26-Aug 2. We are tion focuses in 2011. Patrick McCloskey Patrick thrilled to have Captain Contact us for details. One of our most anticipated voyages this season is the Brian Falconer aboard Coastal Explorer – October 7-16. See the different August 9-16 and Aug. landscapes of the coast between Bella Bella and 16-24 bringing his Victoria, BC. Highlights will range from grizzly bears exceptional knowledge Quotes up Knight Inlet, whales in FitzHugh Sound and of the coast. Want to from you... Johnstone Strait, beautiful Desolation Sound and the bring the family? We “This was the best trip of northern Gulf Islands. 10 days for only $3500 per now have August 2-9 my life – even better than person, plus tax. available to charter. Machu Picchu” J.M. Alberta

Association of BC. The Association “ When that spirit bear Bear Viewing has created bear viewing ‘Best came out I just had to put Practices’ and offers annual bear down my camera. It was As interest in bear viewing grows guide training and certification. that amazing.” worldwide, there is a need for Now on all of Bluewater’s bear M.E. Florida greater public education to focused trips – Great Bear ensure bear viewing is carried out Rainforest, Southeast Alaska, in a sustainable, respectful Northern Vancouver Island - we manner. Both viewers and bears have staff trained and certified as need consistent viewing practices bear guides. We want to ensure to ensure comfort and safety. In our guests understand why these 2002, Bluewater Adventures incredible creatures are so became a founding member of special, and why they need our

the Commercial Bear Viewing increased protection. McCloskey Patrick Erin’s Log

“I had the incredible opportunity to join a Queen Charlotte Island trip last July – it was my first time traveling there. A definite highlight was witnessing how nature exists without limitations. There were moments where I became conscious of my senses,

Randy Burke energized by the surreal sights, smells and sounds. 2009 Life slowed dramatically and all that mattered Travel Bluewater - were the Humpbacks, the Orcas, and the countless Passenger critters everywhere you looked! Kate, our Naturalist, shared her brimming enthusiasm for all Quotes Hybrid Style living things and this kept me and my traveling “Our expectations were high. Hybrid vehicles are becoming increasingly popular! comrades searching the landscape for something They were exceeded Our environmentally sensitive mode of travel is to new to share with our group. constantly. The setting is use the wind – sometimes wind alone and at others I feel privileged to have sailed through Gwaii incomparable. The Island with ‘sail assisted’ diesel motors. We also harness the Haanas and hope that the sentiment that I am left with stays with me. For at every glance, there Roamer is exquisite. The crew electricity that is generated by the motors, store it in existed a discovery…it was like seeing through the deftly did their jobs, while batteries and all night long power all the lights and eyes of a child again.” teaching us so much. In short ships electrical needs. So each evening when we stop Erin Boyle joined the Bluewater office last summer for over a week, we slowed and anchor for the night, there is silence… You can as Logistics Coordinator down and “smelled the roses” hear the water lapping against the hull out your open A.F. – Washington porthole, and in the morning, birds calling.

“The meals were one of the over-the-top highlights. Winter Olympics Delicious, imaginative and Wild Salmon In Jeopardy elegantly presented” It was CC – British Columbia Returns of wild sockeye salmon to the famed Fraser inspiring River collapsed last year. Expectations were for millions to watch “I think every day we did of fish to return and spawn. Most of them never Olympic something that was just showed up. Scientists are now reporting that salmon athletes superb. I loved how all the farming is part of the problem. Juvenile salmon making activities gave us an overall ‘smolts’ swim by salmon farms along their migration dreams education of Alaska’s wildlife, route. Farmed fish concentrated together in nets of come true sealife, flora and people” over a 100,000 are natural havens for sea lice. The (and really K.G. - USA special to smolts pass by and sea lice attach – too small to fight witness it in person here in Vancouver). Bluewater “I loved how our crew just off the parasites, most will die. The Canadian Adventures’ Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) ‘explored’ everywhere, and Department of Fisheries must take the precautionary voyage was featured by Olympic broadcasters in then used their expertise to approach and immediately protect the migration ads called “My BC” produced by Tourism BC. Catch help us learn as much as routes of young salmon. Salmon farms can be moved the Olympic spirit on our website under ‘About Us’ possible about the flora, or fallowed each year during the migration. Studies on our ‘In the News’ page. fauna and culture.” now confirm that salmon farms can be separated from SE, California wild fish using closed containment. To learn more “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. visit: www.farmedanddangerous.org and Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!' www.Adopt-a-Fry.org – Goethe

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