Hi there,
Im planning a trip to haida gwaii via bc ferries from Port hardy to Prince Rupert then over to the islands.
We're doing this as foot passengers and would like to keep the budget low. Im wondering about accommodations for the fall months and if weather would permit camping at that time of year.
Any recommendations on sight seeing: hikes, maybe a little kayaking and cheap lodging or awesome camping would be helpful. no bells and whistles necessary.
October can be anything from beautiful fall weather to constant chilling and drenching rain. The latter is the likelier bet. Without transport, you're pretty limited in what you can do, although you could hitchhike from the ferry landing to Tlell, and hike up the East Coast and all the way around to Masset via the North Beach, then hitchhike back south.
With a rental car, there are lots of good camping options available. Depending on your budget, there are also many good B & B options.
Most kayak tour operators will be shut down by then, but outfits like Budgies Backpackers or Moresby Explorers could fit you out with gear. Again, the possibility of stormy weather makes preplanning any such expedition chancy.
If you don't bring camping and personal gear made to withstand torrential downpours, you'll be in the wrong place. If you're on a tight schedule, forget long kayak trips. Try http://www.gohaidagwaii.ca/directory/kayaking/ for information.
Haida Gwaii is not a good choice if you are doing it "on a dime" nor weather wise in October. I was there in August a few years ago and it rained incessantly even then. I don't know how you'll manage without a car and the kind of camping gear you would need would be hard to hitchhike with.
The only way to see the National Park is with a boat tour of some kind (from kayak to zodiac to larger) and these are VERY expensive. Storms are fierce and constant here so it's not a place to rent a kayak and venture out on your own unless you really know what you are doing and understand the terrain. In many areas the cliffs are harsh and you can go hours with nowhere to haul out.
Anyway, if you'd like to seem my blog and some photos they are posted here: http://lifewellspent.com/TRAVEL/CANADA/Alaska/AlaskaEight.htm
I stayed at Premier Creek Lodging in Queen Charlotte City an they have cheap backpackers rooms for about $40. QCC is probably the best place to rent a kayak and paddle around the sheltered waters in the area. I explored by bicycle, rode up to Masset and back.
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