12/02/12, 14:19:04 EST

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Trips to Canada's best Spots Fit the Pocket

by Hazel Heyer, eTN

In the days of tight travel budgets, people think twice before taking a much-needed break. Although most economists say harder times are just ahead, we say best times are still ahead for travellers booking our exciting trips. Woes about recession, credit crunch and market slowdown pale beside our special rates and superb excursions.

A dream vacation is never too far with Desolation Sound Boat Tours and Bute Inlet Adventures.

Hope is at your doorstep. Let us in, we’ll show you why.

It’s nearly impossible to consider an adventure of a lifetime without Canada’s pure and genuine desolate west coast wilderness coming to mind. This destination located in British Columbia is the most attractive in the tourist market for its panoramic coastal mountain vistas. Desolation Sound Boat Tours escorts you to Canada’s perfect get-away site at the proposed 17th-century Waddington City north of Desolation Sound at Bute Inlet. This landmark was first discovered in 1792 by Capt. George Vancouver.

Among the best features of the trips on offer, landscape is the tourist lure. Here lies Canada’s foremost tourist magnet. Its unique selling points are bountiful in a region blessed by nature where life imitates art. “Because of the mountainous areas surrounding British Columbia, we have places like Whistler hosting the Olympics in 2010. It will definitely help bring millions of people to B.C. for the first time,” said Desolation Sound Boat Tours owner and operator Greg Dickie, a gifted historian and nature-lover extraordinaire.

Whistler is a two-and-a-half-hour-drive from Vancouver, at the same entrance to the right of the B.C. Ferries Terminal at Horseshoe Bay. The ferry route connects to the Sechelt peninsula on to Sunshine Coast. At the end of the ferry-road system is the quaint seaside town of Powell River behind which runs the 32-mile long Powell Lake where Greg gives his audience a glimpse of paradise.

Farther than the northern reaches of British Columbia’s coastline, Greg takes his guests to over 2000-foot-deep fjords stretching over three miles wide. Over 50 breathtaking glaciers on Bute Inlet, North America’s largest fjord known as the Serengeti of the West Coast Waterways, are viewed by tourists who got off Powell Lake. Homathko Icefield, Canada’s largest ice fields and into Chilcootin Plateau, travelling east over coastal mountains comprise Greg’s treasured adventures. An option includes hikes with guests to Canada’s third highest peak Mt. Waddington, used by many British expeditions for training before negotiating Mt. Everest. There are Twin Falls and rock-climber’s death-defying heights close to the Chief of Squamish. Backcountry grizzly and black bears abound in Loggers Crummy Van, a favorite activity of the owner-operator himself. Big Bear attractions come right into the property. This, in stark contrast with classic excursions where guests go down the river awaiting the presence of furry animal friends of the rainforest. At Greg’s location, bears come say hi to guests.

Afternoon bear-watching plus river walk can be your thrill. Hiking is on Greg’s agenda in the morning from eight o’clock. The trail starts from the water tower. Hikers also get to see how the loggers camp harnessed the power of water to generate electricity to run the camp facility. Take a peek into the fresh water supply that comes out of the glacier melt that fills the cabin turbines from the top of the slopes. Then explore the mighty Homathko River in search of tracks of a great variety of animals foraging up and down the banks.

Popular river-fishing trips promise the best catch in the world found only in Bute Inlet is Greg’s ‘stress-buster’ pick. During fishing season in Bute Inlet, catch bright silver Dolly Varden, cutthroat trout or record-size steelhead. Guests are limited to catch and release only as owner is a conservationist on all counts. All fishing equipment is provided. On-location fish guide takes guests to the site barely minutes away from camp. Guests can choose drop-off and stay for as long as they want at the river, or book on-site guide for basics or tips on techniques all day long.

Before the day is over, guess what? Surprise! Groups travel to Twin Falls and enjoy a 1000-foot high waterfall located just 20 minutes from base camp. This panoramic vertical cliff is comparable to the Chief of Squamish. Glacier water runs down the mountain and fills the icy-cold catchment base. Try a ‘refreshing’ or freezing dip and face the challenge Greg fondly calls the Grizzly Bear Swim.

If that were not enough, wait. There’s more to secret surprises. Expect to rock-climb to your heart’s content at Bute Grunt. You can scale heights of vertical walls over 2,000 feet and more than 350 M years old – only if you are up to it. Volcanic in origin, this cliff dates back to the Pre-Cambrian (previous to the earliest part of the Paleozoic era) times with rocks carved by glaciers and are extremely smooth. Excursion departs from the logging camp, goes off to a short 30-minute drive and 20-minute hike to the location, through the thick underbrush to finally the awe-inspiring rock face. A certified guide demonstrates the tricky climb and assists guests on the way up.

Greg offers two different types of accommodation at Bute Inlet. They are available in rustic logging camp accommodations or old homestead with cabins. Spend the night in West Coast loggers’ accommodation or on more than 200 log cabins floating on Powell Lake. Rates vary depending on season and package. Full-board includes complete with authentic West Coast cuisine (local fish, local salmon grilled or barbecued on location), grilled Alberta beef and North American full loggers’ breakfast capped with lots of fresh fruits.

And the price tag?
You won’t believe it - if you'd only make a call. For a limited time only, these can be yours for the price you can’t resist. The offer covers plane flight-in/ boat-out or boat-in/flight-out from Mt. Waddington or boat in/ boat out with extensive viewing of 100 miles of coastal fjords in the journey.

DESOLATION SOUND BOAT TOURS is a five-year-old progressive and uniquely-situated adventures operation run by highly experienced operators and guides.

DESOLATION CANADA
Toll free 1.877.551 BOAT (2628)
Overseas (250) 213 1529 or (604) 414 8233
www.buteinletadventures.com/ info@desolation.ca

 Printable Version  | published Apr 15, 2008