Clayoquot Wilderness Resort Blog

Sneak Peak - Spring Newsletter

It is a wet and windy Valentine's Day morning here at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.  With winds expecting to gust up to 90km/h and close to 20mm of rain, the renovations have been put on hold for the day.  Despite the delay, things are moving at a good pace – bathroom walls are even going up!  Check out the Ensuite Bathroom Renovation Photo Album for a visual. 

If you would like to catch up on the details of this project as well as other projects on the go, we will be releasing another newsletter shortly; however, I was able to get my hands on a copy.  For a sneak peak at our spring newsletter - The Sounder – click on the link below.

Download The Sounder

Bedwell River Hatchery Project - Update

 
To bring you all up to date, in 2008 we started a hatchery project on the Bedwell River in hopes to increase the Chinook salmon population. Every October since, Doug Palfry from the Tofino Fish Hatchery, has collected male and female Chinook salmon species. On October 5 2010, Doug collected 4 females and 6 males from the Bedwell River and, in turn, produced 15,000 live eggs. Doug raises the eggs at  
the Tofino Fish Hatchery along with species from various watersheds in Clayoquot Sound and surrounding areas. For the first few months after the eggs are fertilized, they are carefully monitored in an incubator where they grow into fry sacks. During the last week of December, the baby Chinook were moved from the incubator, weighing only .6 grams, into a tank. They will be fed daily by an auto feeder until they weigh approximately 7 grams. In June, Doug will release the baby Chinook salmon into the Bedwell River. We are extremely grateful for Doug’s efforts to increase the salmon population; moreover, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our past and future guests as you have all
contributed to this cause with your 3% environmental-sustainability fee. Thanks! If you are interested in past information and photos please check out our archived blog post and photo albums; in addition, you can visit this site for updates.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort - Adventures In The Wild

In the past eleven seasons we have evolved so much that we decided to update our promotional video.  During the 2010 season, Jamie Tracey our videographer had the very important (and exciting) job of following our guests around while they experienced their adventures in the wild.  He created a short 3 minute video for a quick glance, as well as an 8 minute video for a more in depth look at the experience.  Starting in Vancouver, Jamie took the beautiful one hour floatplane ride across Vancouver Island and landed at the Resort in Bedwell Sound.  The video show everything, from the wagon ride into the resort to the finishing touches that you would think you could only dream of having in the wilderness.  The only thing missing from these videos is the lifetime of memories that you can only gain by actually experiencing the adventure.  The videos have been paired like a fine wine to the music of the Kings Without, our house band - www.myspace.com/kingswithout.  Please take the time to watch the videos which can be accessed on our website www.wildretreat.com or directly by following the link under the video section.

Tent Upgrades

    Clayoquot Wilderness Resort has decided to upgrade 12 of our 20 tents and build ensuite bathrooms to accommodate the requests of our guests.   How is this possible?  “Thanks to advances in waste water technology we can now provide within our tents full ensuite bathrooms, including in-floor heating, flush toilets and gorgeous indoor/outdoor showers with double shower heads,” says John Caton, managing director of the resort.  For all the details of this sustainable development and clean technology please read the “When nature calls, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is listening” press release – just follow the link below.

Download When nature calls, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is listening

    The upgrades started Monday January 4^th with a small crew of about 10 guys; they hunkered down and worked through the rain, wind and even wet snow – it was a muddy mess! Despite the weather by the end of the second week they already had the tent platforms ripped apart, the boardwalks pulled out, old composting toilets removed, toilet houses floated away, concrete footings poured and the beginning of new boardwalk started.  The guys have proved to be a hard working positive team who are all going to be in tip top shape by the end of this “off-season”.  You can check out some photos of the upgrades in the blogs Photo Album. 

    For those guests who were completely happy with the way we were, you will still have the option of booking one of our Deluxe Outpost Tents.  In our Deluxe Tents, you will continue to get the beloved childhood feeling of camping, when you step outside of your tent to use the existing composting toilets and a walk through the rainforest in your robe to a private shower house.  Regardless of the tents that you chose, we continue to offer a truly unbelievable wilderness experience for all.

 

           

Black & White Adventure

  There is so much going on for Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in 2011.  We are extremely excited about a new partnership we have with another amazing Canadian resort operator in Manitoba.  Clayoquot Wilderness Resort has teamed up with Churchill Wild to offer the only vacation in the world where you have the opportunity to view Black Bears, Black Whales, White Bears and White Whales in one truly unforgettable summer trip.  For all the details of this opportunity of a lifetime please read the press release below.  You can visit the Churchill Wild website and follow their blog by linking directly from our blog – simply click on their links under the Website Links section.  Also, you can check out an online article from WESTToday which features our Black & White Adventure package as their top story - just follow the link on Online Articles.   

Download Black and white release FINAL

  You might have heard another “rumour” that we have decided to renovate.  Well it’s true!  We are upgrading 12 of our 20 guest tents and building ensuite bathrooms.  Check out an artist rendering of what the tents will look like in our photo album section.  Moreover, regular updates will be posted on the blog with the renovation progress along with photos.  It’s rounding out to be a fantastic year!

 

Park Use Permit Amendment

In 2007 Clayoquot Wilderness Resort designed a Park Use Permit Application website.  This website was intended to provide a formal introduction and informational site for public use to gain feedback through comments.  To view the original application please follow the link below to access the cwr application webpage.

www.cwrapplication.com

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort has submitted an amendment to the Park Use Permit Application.  Please take this opportunity to review this document submitted to Strathcona Provincial Park by following the link below. 

Download Park_Use_Permit_Application_Amendment[1]

 

Salmon Are Sacred

OH Boy!  It has been so long since my last entry.... SORRY!  I was away for a family emergency BUT I am back now and the 2010 Clayoquot Wilderness Resort season is just around the corner.  Everybody is busy getting the camp ready and I could go on and on with all the details, however, I am going to use this entry to talk about an extremely important issue.

If you haven’t already heard about “The Get Out Migration – Wild Salmon Are Sacred” it is imperative that you get informed ASAP!  This is a walk that was organized by Alexandra Morton - whale researcher, scientist and activist.  Alex has done, and continues to do, amazing things for fish and whales by exposing the negative impact of salmon farms.  The walk started in Sointula, at the North end of Vancouver Island on April 23^rd and they plan to arrive in Victoria on the Parliament Grounds on May 8^th. 

Our very own Cosy Lawson and her daughter Laterra have joined forces with the Wild Salmon Are Sacred call to action.  Cosy and Laterra started walking from Tofino April 25^th and walked over to east side of Vancouver Island where they met up with Alex and her followers.  They are now walking the rest of the way together, to Victoria.  Moreover, Saturday May 8^th is Laterra’s 12^th birthday.  Can you imagine having your birthday cake on the Parliament grounds with a movement to save wild salmon… WOW!   

If you want to show your support there are a few things you can do.  First, sign the petition on the www.SalmonAreSacred.org website which includes the mission statement, info, itinerary, a map and much more.  You can also find info on the Facebook pages Walk For Salmon – Clayoquot Sound or Salmon Are Sacred.  Most importantly, if possible, come to Victoria on Saturday May 8^th and show your support.  Many of us from Clayoquot Wilderness Resort will be there including the Team and wagon as well as riding horses.  The more people that show up for this event the better…. Power in Numbers.  The walk starts in Sidney SaturdayMay 8^th in the morning at 8am and we plan to be in Victoria on the Parliament Grounds at 4pm.  Once again, you can find the events itinerary at the Salmon Are Sacred website.

Last but not least I just want to take this opportunity to tell Cosy and Laterra how proud we are of them…  Hopefully we see you in Victoria.

  eThe T

Winter Wonderland??????

 
It was only five days ago that the core staff were spending a beautiful sunny day outside.  Some of us were out on a long horseback ride while the rest sat around an outdoor fire pit and roasted wieners for lunch.  We all congregated at the end of the day around the fire for a little staff meeting… some people go to the office, not us. 

  This morning I woke up and was surprised to see about four inches of snow on the ground.  It is definitely not a normal sight, on the west coast, for this time of year; consider that Tofino has the  mildest winters in Canada.  However, the kids were ecstatic… snowball fights and tobogganing is the chore of the day.

  What else is going on at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort?  It’s that time of year when the seasonal staff starts joining our team.  This year Owen Davies is back in the mix, he worked with us 10 years ago.  Chuck and Owen have been in the paint booth getting all the boats in tip top shape while Courtney has been back and forth to Quait Bay working on the Barge.  Chad and Dickson have been cleaning up all the old trails as well as cutting a lot of beautiful new trails.  Digger Dave, our excavator operator, is busy digging, of course.  Adele is training me in the office which is a totally new CWR experience for me.  Finally, John is all over the place… travelling for business, in the office and overseeing the entire operation.

  The scientists for the Wild Fish Conservancy are back at Quait Bay for their second year of a 5 year Sea Lice Project.  Once they get settled in, I will be sure to update you on their research.       

Most Excellent Lodge

  There are a few new changes at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort this year.  First, I am no longer a wrangler.  Yup, that’s right I’m trading in the cowboy hat for a computer; I am now in the Office alongside Adele, training to take her position, so she can get out and do the things she has been working towards all these years.  I know what you are all thinking… what about the horses?  But I can assure you, that you will still see me saddling up and galloping around the claim.  I traded in my hat, not my horse.  One good thing about this new position is that I will be able to really focus on other things such as the blog.  I have been thinking of new topics and albums but most exciting is the decision to put a weekly video clip which will be referred to as a vlog.  You can expect to see the vlogs in April.

  Moreover, we are proud to announce that we have been given the award for Most Excellent Lodge for the United States and Canada from Conde Naste Johansens 2010 Awards for Excellence.  Conde Naste Johansens is one of the most comprehensive hotel guides which invite only the best to feature on their site.  You can check us out, along with other hotels around the world, on their website at www.johansens.com

  It is a busy time of year so keep checking in with us to get updated on everything.

Go Canada Go!

Barging in Summer

 
Barging, barging, and more barging is what has been going on with Clayoquot Wilderness Resort for the month of February.  We were without a barge for 3 months as it was being serviced in Port Alberni, BC. Since we have had it back our guys have been busy doing trips almost every day.  We have restocked on the necessities such as hay, fuel, propane and we have moved some vehicles around but I think Laterra will argue that the most important barge trip so far was bringing her new horse, Summer, home.  Summer is a 3 year old Palamino filly that has only had one month of training; however, she boarded the barge without a problem.  Laterra’s horse has a very sweet demeanor and is getting to know the new herd.  Once she has settled in (and the west coast rains stop) her training will start.  You can look at pictures of Summer in the Photo Album titled “Summer” and once the training starts I will post updates of her progress.