Sea Kayak Paddling Through History: Vancouver and Victoria

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

These three new paddling guides from Rocky Mountain Books are “must
haves” for sea kayakers of all skill levels on the west coast of
British Columbia. The authors have many years of kayaking experience in
their regions. In the guides they provide first-hand, field-tested
directions and advice for 87 voyages of exploration: 50 on the mainland
coastline and islands encompassing Desolation Sound, the Sunshine Coast,
and Howe Sound; 25 in Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds; and 12 in the urban
waters of Vancouver and Victoria.

A summary table at the beginning of each trip includes a difficulty
rating (conditions and risk factors), overall distance, duration in
hours or days, nautical charts needed, and information on tides and
currents, camping facilities and land jurisdictions. Highlights of the
trip and special paddling considerations introduce the route
descriptions, which are full of detail and include black-and-white
photographs. Sidebars expand on the wildlife and historical sites to be
seen.

The trips are organized by area, with an introductory map, history, and
travel directions for getting there.

Besides the trip descriptions, these little guidebooks contain a wealth
of other valuable information for paddlers, including names, addresses,
phone numbers, and websites of useful contacts in the areas; tips on
health and safety considerations; gear checklists; sources for
background reading on the areas; and name indexes of the places visited
on the trips.