The "Broken Group - Part 2" - August 2015.

Back in the summer of 2013, 3 of us drove north from Seattle with a plan to kayak through the Broken Group Islands off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. We planned for a 3 day trip, seeing as much of the Islands as possible in just a few days. By day 2, every paddler and guided group we came across seemed to be calling it quits. There was a large storm heading for the Islands and was forecast to hit sometime the following morning. It was hard to believe the 75 degree temps were about to give way to heavy winds and an unthinkable amount of rain. Despite the weather report, our plan was to stick it out one more night as planned. The storm ended up being about 12 hours behind schedule which for the most part, gave us another great day on the water. Around 5pm on our final evening in the Islands, everything changed. The storm strengthened throughout the evening and early morning hours so we built a shelter, drank whiskey and played cards. The next morning, even with the heavy wind and rain, it was time to pack up and head for the car. The paddle back was...interesting to say the least.

It had been 2 years since that first trip to the Broken Group. I was anxious to get back up there and paddle a different route to see more of the Islands. The forecast was all clear this time around. Sunny with temps in the low 70's each day. This time around, the plan was to leave Seattle after work and catch a late ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo, then make the drive over to Toquart Bay, and hopefully get a few hours of sleep before paddling out to the Islands. Good plan in theory....but the two of us who were not behind the wheel fell asleep on the ferry and one missed turn later, we woke up in Campbell River. So after another tank of gas, a disturbing amount of coffee and about 3 more hours of driving, we made it to the boat launch. A quick 45 minute nap later, we were on the water.

Share this Story

A Surf Trip

Stevens to Snoqualmie

August 18th, 2018

A kickoff to the summer backpacking season

Winter backpacking

November in the Methow

August 18^th, 2018