Port Hary:Camping: Deserters Group / Walker Group

[Sharphooks]

Good Evening, all:

I have boat-camped in a couple of places within spitting distance of Port Hardy but never explored the Deserters Group or the Walker Group Islands for a place to anchor up and maybe set up a tent on a beach.

Anyone out there have any experience up there? My main interest is good bottom to hold a hook when she blows, reasonable protection from the Northwest stuff coming in off the GOA, maybe a beach or a place up off the water like Harlequin over on Hurst.

Anything in Shelter Passage or on the Deserters Island?

Thanks!

 

[Cuba Libre]

Sharphooks, while exploring more of the area this year I went through the narrow pass between Kent Island and Staples Island.

There is a steel mooring bouy in the pass that is completely protected from NW and SE winds.. That might be a good possibility for you.




20ft Alumaweld Intruder

 

[Sharphooks]

Hey Cuba Libre

Thanks for that. Maybe that's the Walker Group Cove I read about somewhere, maybe in a kayak book. I suppose if the buoy is not navigational, it's fair game to tie up on?

19 ft. Arima Seachaser

 

[traParatus]

Check out this link. This guys did a kayaking trip Port Hardy to main land. He has some beaches and such marked in that area.
http://www.bcbn.ca/photos/tom_va7fab_2007.htm

I've also seen sailing boats moored overnight on the south side of Deserters Is about a mile west from Castle Pt, in that little "horse shoe" hole. Well protected from NW. Not so much from SE.

Cheers

 

[Cuba Libre]

No-- definitely not a nav buoy. There are also some small beaches in the pass that I think would be good for pitching a tent. And yes-- there were 'yakers in the area as well.




20ft Alumaweld Intruder

 

[Dogbreath]

Watch out for some kayaking operators who think they own those better spots!

They may have camped there off and on for years/moved a few logs around and now take exception to someone using their spot. [)]

 

[Sharphooks]

Funny you should mention those kayak operators. While sharing a camping spot with a group of them they looked at me and my friend and our boat like we had a bad case of herpes (we had got there first which seemed to ruffle their feathers).

They walked around with their noses in the air like they'd just smelled shiat.

We had a good laugh one evening when returning from a day on the water, we found a blood-soaked Maxi Pad right at the top of the trail, donated by one of their group just before breaking camp.

We had a few debates about the mentality of the person who would do such a thing (you know, leaving a dead rat in God's Pocket?)

There was also the issue of who would get to pick it up, put it in an envelope and send it Postal Express back to one of those kayak operators.