Inside Passage Butedale update

Ken E. said:

In terms of going through Hakai, hazards, etc?

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Yeah, and is the area open, is it ok to visit? Anything to watch out for ?

PNW Drifter said:

Yeah, and is the area open, is it ok to visit? Anything to watch out for ?

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It would be really helpful, if you could paint a broader picture, starting with when and what you are hoping to accomplish.

That said, why would you want to enter Hakai Pass?
What do you mean is the area open and ok to visit?
Do you mean the Hakai Institute or the area around Calvert/Hecate Islands or Fitz Hugh Sound in general.

Are you travelling by boat from Terrace?
If not, from where?

Soin2la is following this thread and he knows this area better than most of us, I'd say. But I can give you a couple observations. Hakai connects the ocean above Calvert Island with the relatively protected Fitzhugh Sound. Hakai means 'Big' or Big Passage in the native language. There is a lot of current and a persistent SW swell rolling in from the ocean, at least when I pass it going up or down in Fitzhugh. Hakai is wide and deep with rocks and small islets on the sides; there are no mid-channels obstructions. The salmon fishing is good and there are good anchorages in the area. Douglass's book, 'Exploring Northern BC" explains this area in detail.

soin2la said:

It would be really helpful, if you could paint a broader picture, starting with when and what you are hoping to accomplish.

That said, why would you want to enter Hakai Pass?
What do you mean is the area open and ok to visit?
Do you mean the Hakai Institute or the area around Calvert/Hecate Islands or Fitz Hugh Sound in general.

Are you travelling by boat from Terrace?
If not, from where?

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Thanks for replying back. Appreciated!

The questions:
Why? - to explore, walk the beaches,beachcomb,
Is it open? - it’s a park, and Covid had it closed I think.
Specific area? - Area around - mostly Calvert, as I don’t think the institute normally allows visitors (but it should imho)
Travelling by 29’ diesel boat from Port Edward.
Definitely not going to stay in a lodge, but I’m curious if a boater could have a fine dining experience without having to stay in the lodge

I want to avoid rude people and/or unpleasant situations.

Thanks again for anything you can share.

Ken E. said:

Soin2la is following this thread and he knows this area better than most of us, I'd say. But I can give you a couple observations. Hakai connects the ocean above Calvert Island with the relatively protected Fitzhugh Sound. Hakai means 'Big' or Big Passage in the native language. There is a lot of current and a persistent SW swell rolling in from the ocean, at least when I pass it going up or down in Fitzhugh. Hakai is wide and deep with rocks and small islets on the sides; there are no mid-channels obstructions. The salmon fishing is good and there are good anchorages in the area. Douglass's book, 'Exploring Northern BC" explains this area in detail.

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Appreciated. I might fish a little too. I have the 2019 Waggoner guide, and Anchorages and Marine Parks by Peter Vassilopoulos.

Ken, thanks but there are dozens of people on here, far more knowledgeable than I, on just about anything, including Hakai Pass. You just demonstrated that. You described it well.

Drifter:
Hakai Lúxvbálís (BC Parks) Conservancy is closed.
The lodge doesn’t open until July 4, and they are slammed with cancelled 2021 visitors and new 2022 guests, right through until the end of August, when you might have a chance of joining them for dinner, IF you can raise them on the radio, in advance.

Likewise the institute, which is not flat out inaccessible.

The trail from Pruth to West Beach is open.
https://hakai.org/
https://hakai.org/location/

Lots of gunkholing between Port Edward and Calvert Island.

Stabi said:

According to the Waggoner site


Water at Butedale is currently not available. Moorage at the dock is by permission only. Uplands are closed for construction. Contact by email: skennedyau@gmail.com or call 604-649-1665 for permission to stay at the docks.
UPDATED
4/12/2022


https://waggonerguide.com/updates/

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Bumping this thread down the road. I emailed Shawn Kennedy and he responded promptly. We have permission to stay at the docks tonight. I will report back on the conditions later.

Jim

Jim, I intended to tie up there last summer but the wind in Princess Royal was such that the docks really were rocking and rolling. In more benign weather it should be fine. Give us a report on your stay.

Ken. There’s definitely a bit of movement at the dock. Hopefully that will come down tonight. Docking was fine today, but in the past we experienced strong and difficult currents that made things difficult. There was a couple on the dock to took our lines. Lots of dock space remaining. That’s a Nordy 46 behind us. Probably 150’ remaining?

Edit: two commercial trollers came in at the end of the day. Left at 05:15, 10-June-2024.

Jim

The current at the dock there is a mystery: it will go one direction for a half hour, stop, then go the other for a half hour. Repeatedly.