There is a trail fee per person payable to the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations Band to provide access to their facilities at Friendly Cove and the traverse of their three reserve sites on Nootka Island. History in this remote area was made again when the British signed a treaty with Spain at Friendly Cove in 1790. Friendly cove juts into Nootka Sound, the site of the historic meeting between Captain James Cook and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations people on March 29 1778. The traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation incorporates much of the western portion of Vancouver Island, having been inhabited by the Nuu-chah-nulth people for thousands of years. Other wildlife that may be encountered or viewed from the trail include cougars, grey wolves, black-tailed deer, Orca (killer whales), grey whales, California sea lions, harbour seals, sea otters, bald eagles, and shore birds. Keep all supplies cached well out of reach of these animals. At present, these bears do not associate hikers with food. There is a large population of black bears on Nootka Island, and the chances are therefore good that hikers will encounter them along the beaches. ![]() Visiting ancient First Nations sites can be very inspiring and enriching, and can foster a deeper understanding of the traditional way of life and ancient culture of the first inhabitants of this land, but please note that middens are protected archaeological sites, and disturbing archaeological sites in British Columbia is a criminal offense. Highlights of the trail include freshwater showers at Calvin Creek waterfall, swimming and body surfing in the Pacific Ocean, beachcombing, and exploring ancient First Nation middens. Hikers must be completely self-contained and are advised to carry a handheld marine radio, as the sole source of help is from the lighthouse staff at Yuquot. Allow five days to complete the hike one way. The best time to hike Nootka Island Trail is between May and September. Be aware of the potential for rogue when on the rocks. Some rivers must be forded, which must be done at low tide if crossing at or near the ocean, as with rounding headlands. In order to avoid an exhausting amount of bushwhacking, consult tide charts for the most opportune times to cross beaches. Be prepared to bushwhack around fallen trees brought down by the frequent, savage winter storms that pound this section of coast. This 22-mile (35-km) trail is gradually becoming a choice hiking destination, and is a complement to the West Coast Trail.īy comparison with the West Coast Trail, the Nootka Island Trail is poorly marked and infrequently maintained. Yuquot, Mowachaht, Kyuquot, Opitsaht etc.).The Nootka Island Trail, also called the Friendly Cove/Yuquot Trail, rambles between Louie Bay on the north side of Nootka Island (Louie Bay Trailhead) and Yuquot (Friendly Cove) on the south (Friendly Cove Trailhead).Īlong the way, the challenging trail crosses exquisite beaches and tidal shelves, as well as leading inland to bypass rocky headlands and deep river mouths. An older term for this group of peoples was "Aht", which means "people" in their language and is a component in all the names of their subgroups, and of some locations (e.g. In the 1980s, the First Nations peoples in the region created the collective autonym of Nuu-chah-nulth, a term that means "along the outside (of Vancouver Island)". ![]() The Spanish and later English applied the word to the island and the sound, thinking they were naming both after the people. ![]() They likely thought the natives were referring to the island itself. CCG IRB Station Nootka Lightstation on Nootka IslandĮuropeans named the island after a Nuu-chah-nulth language word meaning "go around, go around". It is separated from Vancouver Island by Nootka Sound and its side-inlets, and is located within Electoral Area A of the Strathcona Regional District. It is 510 square kilometres (200 sq mi) in area. ![]() Nootka Island ( French : île Nootka) is an island adjacent to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |