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Kayaking INformation

Tips to enhance your journey

KAYAKING QUESTIONS

General

How much kayaking experience and fitness do I need?

The trip description will inform you if it is best suited for all, or those with some experience. A typical day includes 4-6 hours of paddling with a lunch and snack break. A light amount of fitness is suitable. Kayaks can typically accommodate up to 250pounds. For the trips that request some previous paddling experience it means that you should feel comfortable in your kayak in some swell or open water. Self rescues are not a prerequisite.

Do I need to know how to do a self rescue or be able to swim?

Self rescues are not a prerequisite. Life jackets are always mandatory on trip. They are designed to keep you buoyant in the event of a capsize. If you should capsize, your guide will assist you in your recovery. Steps will be addressed in the orientation and in the event of a capsize to help assist you back into your kayak or onto land. It is not common to tip in a kayak as they are designed for stability, however the chances are still present. Please inquire with us for further information if needed.

How much kayaking happens in one day?

During an average day trip or multi day trip it is common to paddle for 2-3 hours before lunch and 2-3 hours after lunch. For a short day trip such as the Saltery Bay trip a minimum of 2 hours is spent in our kayaks.

Do we paddle everyday?

Only if the weather is not appropriate will we need to stay on land. For a day trip, we will try to notify you as soon as possible to cancel or reschedule the trip. For a multi day trip we will take advantage of our surroundings and go for a hike instead. This is most typically because of either high winds or lightning. Rain or fog aren’t particular safety issues. In fact, on a wet day a kayak is often the best place to be! There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. We supply paddle jackets to keep you dry. Paddling will keep you warm.

Can you accommodate food allergies, vegetarian or gluten free needs?

Mostly yes. Please advise us as soon as possible about your food preferences so that we can accommodate you appropriately. We will avoid bringing foods on trip that may cause allergic reactions. Please be specific with allergies vs preferences.

Are there washrooms?

This will vary. Often our meeting location will have washrooms or pit toilets. Other times we may need to find privacy on or near a beach. Toilet paper and sanitizer is supplied. Guides will designate an area with privacy on arrival to a new beach for use. We use the area below the high tide whenever possible. This is both the most sanitary and respectful to the area and animals. Please inquire further at any time.

Should we tip our guide?

In Canada tips are a common way to show appreciation for a service. 10-20% of the trip cost is the average. It is common to give more or less depending on how well the service met your satisfaction. It is also completely optional to tip.

Do we have to share tents with others?

Tents are provided by Wild Root Journeys. We make sure to offer a bit of extra space by offering 2-person tents for single travelers and a 3-person tent for those sharing with another. We will ask for your preference to share a tent with someone you are traveling with or to have a single tent for yourself. In some areas where we travel like in National Parks, there may be a maximum tent capacity per group. For those traveling together, we may ask that you share a tent but typically find the numbers to work out and that this is not necessary. The benefit of sharing a tent is less gear to fit into the kayaks and extra hands to quickly assemble and tear down camp.

Where can we park our vehicles while we are kayaking?

Parking for your vehicles will be close to where we start our paddling trip from. Most locations offer either street parking or pay parking. Often the hotel you stay with the night before will also offer free parking and can hang onto some of your valuables for you. We will let you know during our pre-trip talk the evening before your trip where will work best!

Do you often have solo travellers join multi day trips?

These trips are often filled with a mix of single participants and those who travel in pairs or more. There is a bond created in our first evening of introductions and it can quickly feel like everyone is traveling as a single group rather than separate ones. So yes, singles are welcome!! There will be ample time at camp and while kayaking to flow between being social with others or choosing to have solo time.

Day Journeys

What is included on a Day Journey?

Your Day Includes:

  • Your guide and trip
  • All kayaking and safety gear including: kayak, paddle, spare paddle, pump, sponge, tow line, spray skirt
  • Lifejacket
  • Paddling jacket
  • Two dry bags for your personal belongings
  • Lunch if listed in the tour description

Please ask about any extra rentals if needed 

What Will I Need To Bring?

Clothing should include:

  • Shoes that can get wet and most importantly have grip. They need to have ankle support. I recommend runners, water shoes, Keen or Croc sandals. Closed toed shoes help against stubbing toes on rocks.
  • Shorts or pants that dry quickly when wet.
  • 2-3 shirts so you can adjust your layers depending on the weather.
  • A wool hat for cold days.
  • Gloves for those who easily get cold fingers.

No cotton/jeans. They become heavy and cold when wet. Synthetics are a better option such as fleece or polyester. These will warm with your body if wet.

Other items include:

  • A hat or sunglasses for sun protection
  • 1 litre of water
  • Personal medications
  • Waterproof camera if possible, otherwise we have drybags which will keep the camera dry during

Multi Day Journeys

What is included on a Multi Day Journey?

Your Multi Day Includes:

  • Your guide and trip
  • All kayaking gear and safety equipment including: kayak, paddle, spare paddle, pump, sponge, tow line, spray skirt
  • Water Taxi if included
  • Lifejacket
  • Paddling jacket
  • Camp chair
  • Three dry bags for your personal belongings
  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • All kitchen and fire gear
  • All meals and snacks

Please ask about any extra rentals if needed 

What Will I Need To Bring?

Clothing should include:

  • 1 pair of shoes that can get wet and most importantly have grip. They need to have ankle support. I recommend runners, water shoes, Keen or Croc sandals. Closed toed shoes help against stubbing toes on rocks.
  • A pair of rubber boots are optional. Perks include your feet staying dry entering and exiting the kayaks. Downside they can flood if a wave fills them. They can also be bulky to wear in a kayak or to store.
  • 1 pair of shoes for land, after kayaking.
  • 2-4 warm socks
  • 2 shorts
  • 1-2 pants
  • Underwear
  • 1 thermal underwear – like the underlays you might wear skiing.
  • 3-4 shirts, short and long
  • 1-2 sweaters, at least one very warm sweater recommended
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Gloves if you easily get cold fingers
  • 2 wool hats
  • Sun hat
  • A mask

No cotton/jeans. They become heavy and cold when wet. Synthetics are a better option such as fleece or polyester. These will warm with your body if wet.

Other Items Include:

  • Sun glasses
  • Glasses and Contacts. Consider a back up if one becomes lost or breaks.
  • Toiletries – biodegradable soaps please.
  • Baby wipes and a few band aids
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent
  • SPF 15 Chapstick
  • Headlamp
  • Personal medications. Bring extra doses medication if is critical to you. Separate and duplicate, storing one set with a partner or guide. A trip can be cut short if there is not enough medication to keep a client safe.
  • Water bottle. It nice to have a clip attached.
  • Book. Keep in waterproof/sealable bag
  • Spirits. Alcohol may be consumed after the days kayaking only.
  • Camera. Small waterproof cameras are great. If you have a larger SL camera a pelican case is a great way to keep it protected. Alternatively, a camera can be wrapped in a sweater and kept in a dry bag for protection.
  • Extra batteries
  • Ziplock bags
  • Sleeping bag and/or mat if you prefer your own over ours.

Leave your watches and phones behind

PADDLING LOCATIONS

PADDLING
LOCATIONS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • Deposits are fully refundable up to 72 hours after your booking. Please notify us by email if canceling within this 72 hour period for a full refund. After 72 hours the deposit is non-refundable.
  • A Day Journey refund requires notice by 5pm the day before your trip via email to info@nullwildrootjourneys.com.
  • Multi-Day Journeys require a $300.00 deposit per person at the time of booking. Full payment is deducted 30 days prior to the tour departure date and is then non-refundable. Credits may be issued under certain circumstances.
  • Bring duplicates of important pharmaceuticals and please discuss any concerns or limitations before booking.
  • Wild Root Journeys guides have the right to remove persons from any trip if they are compromising the safety of themselves or the group. All evacuation costs are incurred by the client.
  • Wild Root Journeys strongly recommends all booked guests to purchase travel insurance for their trip that includes coverage for COVID-related cancellations and trip interruptions and medical expenses and evacuations in Canada. Most insurance policies need to be purchased within a short time of booking. For more information on different types of insurance, click here, and look for the Travel Policy subtitle.

We appreciate your understanding. Please contact us about any concerns before booking.

READING FUN

RECOMMENDED
BOOKS

Heart of the Raincoast: A Life Story (1998) Alexandra Morton and Billy Proctor.

Topics:

Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago landscape

Condemning farm salmon ocean pens and saving our wild salmon

The life of Billy Proctor

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed (2006) John Vaillant


Topics Include:

Haida Gwaii landscape and seascape

Social, economic and environmental issues of the times

Protest by Haida to stop old growth logging

Spirituality and stories of the Haida

The Wild Coast, Volume 1: A Kayaking, Hiking and Recreation Guide for North and West Vancouver Island (2010) John Kimantas


Topics include:

Specific kayaking information and maps for Vancouver Island North and West.

History and geography of Vancouver Island

Information on how to be prepared for multi day kayaking

Let nature awe-inspire you…
Wild Root Journeys