Hello, I will be rock climbing the Squamish Chief BC August 8 - 16th with my sweetie. We fly into Vancouver BC and rent a car for the drive north. A rest or rain day will work itself into the week and to add some variety we'd like to visit to Vancouver Island.

I'd like to sort out:
1. possibly chartering a tiny sightseeing plane for arial photos combined with the hop over. I see that there are small airports along the west shore but it looks like some driving is needed to get out of the cities. Water-airports? Would there be worthwhile photo ops? I read this thread:
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=34816
2. some cove waterfront photos; trees, rocks, water & fog. Like Neil's Port Renfew shot in this thread:
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....amp;hl=victoria
3. some whale watching. Is this a reasonable time of the year or just pass on this?
4. a reasonable B&B to stay, preferably within walking to a dawn / dusk waterfront shoot. I can't see spending for the likes of Wickaninnish Inn.

Is there something that could be squeezed in? Vancouver BC > puddle jump > shoreline > room for the night > whalewatch > ferry or fly to Vancouver > back to climbing? Better than nothing?

Does it even rain there anymore? This year it seems to rain in my Colorado high desert nearly every day. I think we have your rain. - Ralph

Might have a look at the Yellowpoint Lodge. In particular, read about the beach cabins, they are indeed right on the beach.

If you have a day to spare, take a scheduled seaplane flight from Vancouver Harbour to either Victoria or Tofino. It's a relatively cheap ticket to the absolute best way to appreciate the British Columbia coast.

Tofino is a small town on the outer coast of Vancouver Island. It offers outstanding ocean beaches, and a great place to spend a day. The Mears Island trip offers a visit to true old-growth forest (nearly all gone), whale watching is excellent and overall, it's a great coastal experience. The flight is about 45 minutes.

Victoria is a middle-sized city on the south end of Vancouver Island. It's foot-accessible from the inner harbour and has plenty of neat things to see in a day. You can arrive in the morning and depart the same (late) afternoon and have a great time. Overnighting would be even better. Plenty of accommodation within walking distance of your seaplane dock.

Seaplane fights from downtown Vancouver's harbour to Victoria's inner harbour are one of the best sightseeing values in North America and a great flight adventure. To round out the tour, take the bus back to Vancouver and ride the inside passage on a superb, two-hour ferry ride through the Gulf Islands. Time it so your crossing is at or near sunset.

http://www.harbour-air.com/

http://www.bcferries.com

Call in advance and find out what equipment is being used on each flight. The most fun ride is in a DeHavilland Beaver, a single engine float plane that carries about four passengers. You can even sit up front with the pilot, if you're lucky. They also operate DeHavilland Twin Otter aircraft. These seat about ten and offer a completely different (albeit comfy) flight experience. Both flights, Tofino or Victoria offer extraordinary value (IMHO) speaking as a 50-year veteran of Vancouver living.

In downtown Vancouver, the gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain is a good trip, too. Do it around the sunset hours.

Have a blast in the best province in Canada.

Hi Ralph:

There's a lot more than you can pack into a day or so; you'll have to decide where you want to go. There are a number of charter services working on the island. Some offer regularly scheduled flights and some offer charters and some offer both. Just keep in mind that a charter flight of any distance is going to cost more than a night at the Wick Inn. An amphibious aircraft can land JUST ABOUT anywhere... at least some of the pilots I've worked with can.

Here's an example:

http://www.kenmoreair.com/ (out of Washington, but does fly to Victoria)
http://www.pacificcoastal.com
http://howesoundseaplanes.com/db/
http://www.harbour-air.com/
http://hawkair.ca/
http://www.canadianaircharters.com/
http://www.patbayair.com/
http://www.seairseaplanes.com/
http://www.tofinoair.ca/
http://www.atleoair.com/
http://www.westcoastair.com/

This might also be of help:
http://www.airportsenroute.com/

BTW, Pacific Coastal even has a Grumman Goose available for charter. At least I hope it's up and working again. It crashed last year.

Let's see... you can find photo ops just about anywhere on the island. It depends on what you're looking for. There are rivers, lakes, streams, ocean, mountains, big trees, waterfalls, caves, farmland, a herd of water buffalo (seriously) wildlife of various sizes and descriptions, totem poles, fishing villages, big boats, small boats, yachts, museums...

As far as whale watching goes, the gray whales and humpback whales migrate so mid-summer isn't the best time for them, but there are resident pods of orcas that are around all the time. There's more whale watching done on the east side of the island, but Tofino does offer it and there's also a Tofino Whale Festival.

(If you happened to be in Squamish in say, January you'd be up to your backside in bald eagles as they congregate by the river mouth there.)

You really need to determine where on the island you want to go and how much time you have.

Mike.

I should have mentioned that there's a helicopter service from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour, too. A whole different experience than a seaplane, but fun, too. Maybe better to shoot from. Maybe.

www.helijet.com

Howdy Folks -

I knew I could count on some LuLa BC residents for help, thanks so much. You've given me a bevy of flight outfits to check out.

Let's narrow it down: where would you send me for a dawn/dusk shot with waves, rocks and trees? Wouldn't that mean the west shore? Tofino? Port Renfrew? Sorta kinda like Neil's shot I mentioned, but possibly with waves: http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....rt=#entry281241

Is whale watching therefore going to be a miss this time, or is there a reliable spot for those Orcas? The longest lens I have is a 200mm f/2 (+1.4TC; also 70-200mm f/4), but will leave that at home unless you folk whould think that photos of whales would be worthwhile using that. Or whale watching could just be a sightseeing treat for my girlfriend.

I found this outfit that flys right from Squamish, so I sent them an inquiry because they save on driving and it appears that they fly small aircraft: http://www.seatoskyair.ca/sitemap.htm

Cheers, Ralph
Colorado (that dry state where it rained all day yesterday)

Your best bet for waves and rocks is probably Pacific Rim National Park - the South Beach area is nice at Sunset - there are always bears at this spot at dusk. Also, Ucluelet has many areas with rock outcroppings at the ocean. Not sure you will get big waves in the time frame you mentioned. I typically shoot on the west coast of Vancouver Island 4 or 5 times a year, but never in the summer - too many people for my taste. If you go to Tofino - don't miss the food at Sobo's.

If you go to Port Renfrew try Botanical Beach,China Beach and Sombrio Beach. The dirt roads from Port Renfrew to Duncan has some great mossy tree imagery. Tougher in summer, due to the maples leafing out - spring is best on cloudy days.

Steven

www.friedmanphoto.com

Sweetie got a look at today's weather forecast and decided she wouldn't have fun hanging out in the Squamish rain. We now have miles tickets to climb around the Verdon Gorge in the South of France, leaving tomorrow morning for a week

I'll have to try for Squamish and Vancouver Island again next year.

Rain is desperately in BC - the province is on Fire. A record year for forest fires.

Steven

www.friedmanphoto.com