Minimizing Environmental Impact

We are both committed to the principals of minimum-impact and leave-no-trace. We recognize that our route will take us through pristine ecosystems, inhabited by wildlife ranging from the intertidal organisms that can be crushed if we walk over them, to large carnivores including bears, wolves and cougars.

Waste disposal: In keeping with the practices of commercial kayak guiding companies along this coast, we will “do our business” in the intertidal zone, so the rising tide disperses waste and the salt water kills any microbes.

Although we may leave minor amounts of non-attractant vegetable waste (e.g. carrot ends, apple cores) in the bush to compost, we will carry EVERYTHING else out with us (including toilet paper, if we use it at all).

Reducing human footprint, minimizing impact: Most of the route is over rock, sand and boulders, where the impact of our passage is minimal.

Where we cross areas where our passage may impact flora or fauna, such as bogs or intertidal areas, we will choose our routes carefully, staying on trails if they exist. Where our route crosses forested headlands, we will stay on the marked routes.

We will camp on beaches, so our tent does not damage the plant life.

We will not build campfires, because it will be June and light until 10pm (other than if necessary due to severe weather or an emergency).

Minimizing wildlife conflicts: Bears, wolves and cougars all live in this region. We are both extremely experienced in wilderness travel in British Columbia, and know from experience how to safely manage wildlife encounters if we do come across these animals.

We will not even BRING any attractant foods (e.g. canned fish, oily foods that are hard to wash up from). Meals will be based around healthy, natural and non-smelly ingredients like vegetables, lentils and rice, using minimal amounts of packaging (not freeze-dried processed stuff!)

As much as possible, we will prepare our food and consume it below the high tideline, so that food smells are washed away by the twice-daily tides.

Our main food issues regarding wildlife will actually be due to mice, not bears! This means that we must store our food in well secured nylon bags they cannot get into. We will hang food so it is out of reach of bears where we deem that to be necessary.