Family Trip to British Columbia Advise

[Mike T]

I’m planning a 3 week trip to British Columbia with my wife and 7yr old twins, in September . We’ll take our Tipi and head for Vancouver Island / Coastal BC, avoiding commercialised camp sites as much as ability/conditions permit but priority is to safely enjoy the nature within the group’s age and ability limitations. We have pre-parenthood experience of backpacking & camping in England & Scotland. Family camping has been limited to warm weekends in New Forest.

I’d appreciate advice from any folk with experience camping with children in BC.
1.Wildlife
a. How are the bears in September? Do Canadian provincial sites have bear - proof lockers like the one Ray Mears demonstrated in Yellowstone? Does stringing food up in trees really work? (bears climb, don’t they?). How high? Would a dry bag be sufficient or should I use air-tight Tupperware type stuff? What about cooking smells attracting wildlife?

b. I’ve heard that Cougars are a problem; is that true or just a wind-up?

c. Any insect problems in September? If so, what works in Canada (excluding DEET)?

2. Weather
a. Any personal knowledge of the weather patterns around September would be helpful.
b. Are fire bans likely or is the rainfall too high?

3. Kit advice:
a. What are your Essentials, Usefuls and Luxuries-if-room?
b. Exactly how cold and wet is it in September? Will Summer sleeping bags do for the children? We have mats and decent waterproofs.

4. Cooking
a. Would you take a stove? If so, what sort? I have butane and meths but are these fuels widely available in Canada?
b. Has anyone recent experience of carrying meths/coleman stoves in airline hold luggage? My meths stove has wadding in the fuel tank, which will hold some meths, even if I drain off the bulk and ventilate it pre-flight.
5. Blades
a. Getting off at Vancouver, what’s the law re knives and axes before we get out of town?
6. Places to stay
a. Any particular coastal/forest recommendations gratefully received, also suggestions for drying out if we do get rained out.

Sorry for this being so lengthy.

 

[moko]

Hi Mike T

Big cats being a problem on Vancouver Island is not a wind up. Unlike Bears which are mainly veggie, old or injuried Cougers have been known to pray on humans. However, the chance of this happening is exceptionally low. VI has one of the highest concentrations of Cougers in North America but the chance of seeing one let alone been eaten by one is so low its hardly worth worrying about.
There are alot of scare stories about Canadian wildlife but if you stick to a few common sense rules all will be well. Dont get to close. If you free camp never cook where you eat. In the two months I spent in BC last summer I never came across a Bear proof food storage bin although the latter in waste bin form are common everywhere. Bears are good climbers, are resouceful, have poor eye sight and an excellent sense of smell. Storing your food in an air tight bag high above the ground is to reduce the risk of Bears picking up the smell of your food.
A tree isnt much of an obsticle for hungry Bear.

I think that people make to much of a big deal out of Bears and other big furries in Canada. In truth, the isolatated nature of up country BC including Vancouver Island and its weather are much more of a concern in September. Whilst VI sits on the west coast and has warmer, wetter weather than the interior it gets its fair share of storms and snow. Dont rely on Mobile phones to get you out of trouble as coverage is understandably very patchy.

like the UK there are plenty of camping shops or as Canadains call them 'outfitters' so kit isnt a problem and most things are about he same price as here.

Have a good one.

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Saygo Mike T, String a high horizontal line between 2 trees and then hang the food bag between the trees high enough fore a bear to be unable to reach. Cook and eat away from where you sleep, wash up and then change into your night clothes (no food in the tent) Do carry Bear spray in a canister (2) (buy an extra one and practise with it, if unfamiliar) PS bear spray is not to be used on yourself a la mosquito repellent style , it has happened before) Contact with bears/cougars is a reality, just be aware it could happen and be mindful but not scared be audible and most bears/cougars will give way before you will see them, fight a black bear/cougar, play dead with a brown/grizz bear. Do not carry fuel on airplane purchase fuel and possibly stove in B.C. Prepare for wet weather and some cooler nights just in case but it is hot now. Get what ever knife and axe you want and bag them till you get in the "bush" no problems, not weapons till you wave then around Enjoy CG

 

[RovingArcher]

The above advice and information are excellent. Even though I've never been to VI, our bears and cougars are similar in habit. The only advice I can offer to you, is if you are faced with a situation with a cougar, never, ever turn your back on them and above all, don't run from them. Always keep your children close by you. Cougars are opportunity hunters and will certainly find a lone child as an opportunity. A grown man with a hand weapon, even a staff, can easily protect himself or his family by making himself appear as big as possible and talking loudly at the animal. Never show fear and don't let the information here or elsewhere cause you undue concern. Really, the odds of coming face to face with an animal that wants to eat you and yours is real slim.

 

[Mike T]

Many thanks for sound advice to date - while (my) relative ignorance could breed fear or mistakes, good counsel does not deter me, though I'm first in line for holding the bears and cats in highest respect - WE will be guests on THEIR home patch. I hadn't thought about differant attitudes/approaches to differant bears; I'd better wise up in bear recognition. Bear spray sounds a good idea (cannot decide which is scariest - person meeting hungry bear or person applying eau de bear spray ) I imagine I can get it at most fishing/outdoor equipment shops?

 

[leon-1]

If you see a grizzly from the side you will notice that behind his neck on his shoulders there is a large lump, it is muscle, the reason they have it is because they dig holes to hibernate. Grizzly are not tree climbers as such and there appearance can vary from the redish brown to grey/brown in colour. They are also generally larger than the black bear. These are the main points I can remember from the bear lecture I had when I was in Canada.

All the advice has been good from the guys, as they have said the chances are slim that you will see one, all the best with your trip

 

[Mike T]

Thanks. This is all good advice and I value it as I realise it comes from experience.
I'm more scared of cougars having never eye-balled a cougar. We saw bears while horseriding in the Rockies back in `89 and were told then the biggest issues with bears were (A) food and (B) accidentally getting between mother and her offspring. The thought of a cat in a tree pouncing on what it thinks is Dinner-in-walking-boots makes me disinclined to pop out for a pee at night .
Regarding making plenty of noise, we're well equipped there - so long as my son doesn't get laryngitis
Keep the advice coming - it's all good

 

[arctic hobo]

http://www.travelsinbearcountry.com/bears.htm Looks good

 

[Mike T]

http://www.travelsinbearcountry.com/bears.htm Looks good

Cheers arctic hobo

 

[NickBristol]

Vancouver Island is such a beautiful place - don't let the fears of the wildlife get in the way of enjoying all that beauty The advice given so far should be more than adequate, with making human noise (talking, singing, clapping etc) and food prep/ cooking well away from sleeping areas the real key.

I was there during a long hot dry spell in 2003 and it was fantastic. I had loads of black bear encounters - including one bear visiting the inside of my tent as it was curious. Fortunately I wasn't in it at the time There were a lot of cubs around enjoying the sun. They were the biggest danger as their curiosity towards humans might have provoked a reaction from their mother that wouldn't have been much fun for me... Enjoy the experience of seeing the wildlife, be cautious but not scared and always plan in advance what the family as a whole will do in the very rare event that things turn nasty.

As for the Island itself, biggest problem I found was getting around. The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail and the West Coast trail are both brilliant, fantastic views and fantastic wildlife. Buy the guide books from MEC in Vancouver (great store ) they really help appreciate the trails, especially all the little off trail trips, such as to hidden coves to watch marine life.

 

[Mike T]

The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail and the West Coast trail are both brilliant, fantastic views and fantastic wildlife. Buy the guide books from MEC in Vancouver (great store ) they really help appreciate the trails, especially all the little off trail trips, such as to hidden coves to watch marine life.

thanks for that Nick, it's always good to know of good book stores too