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Vancouver, BC
Canada
262 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 2:47 PM
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Just got back from a month-long wilderness leadership program in Hesquiaht Harbour at the Hooksum Outdoor School. Thought I'd promote what I think is a BC gem for people interested in expanding their outdoor skillset or simply living in a beautiful place for a month. I took the course in the hopes it might open a few job doors and because I knew it would be awesome :)
The course I took included certification in kayaking (through Paddle Canada), First Responder 1st Aid (Red Cross), Maritime Radio Operator, Pleasure Craft Licensing, Bronze Cross (Lifesaving) along with integrated knowledge (Hesquiaht Nation) of local flora, fauna and history taught by the family running the school. It was great to get certified in water and surf conditions that apply to what I love doing, rather than in some chlorinated pool.
We spent a lot of time exploring in and around Hesquiaht Harbour going inland and down the coast to see some beautiful places of spiritual and cultural significance.
There were 10 of us students camped out in tents along a beach close to Boat Basin; instructors came and went by floatplane throughout the month. We ate unbelievably well in an open air kitchen...3 mouthwatering meals a day complete with fresh-baked bread and often fresh seafood. The warm and multi-talented family running the operation has been offering courses there for over a decade, starting off with rediscovery camps for local youth and now inviting people from around the world to come and take part in short or long programs of study.
Besides the outdoor kitchen and our tents, we had the shelter of a longhouse for rainy day classroom sessions and a woodstove drying shack for our wetsuits etc. A frigid, yet welcoming creek served as our bath.
For me, the most important part of the experience was getting to absorb the beautiful landscape, gradually expanding my sense of place to include a wide area around the harbour as we had a chance to explore all over; all the while I was constantly challenged and really got to know some of my strengths and weaknesses.
Life overflows in this area, we were treated daily to: Orcas, Grey Whales, Deer, Bear, Fresh wolf tracks, Otters, Sea Lions, Frogs, Ravens, Martens, Eagles, Ospreys, A tasty and beautiful intertidal buffet and a plethora of sea birds and hummingbirds. I was also pretty stoked to catch my first waves on a gnar point break on Hesquiaht Point.
I could go on and on with stories...I'm thankful I could go and would recommend it to absolutely anyone, it will definitely impact you for life.
Here are more than a few pics to give you a sense of the place:
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
517 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 3:05 PM
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| Great pictures. I like the kayaker watching the bear on a beach. Seems like an awesome way to spend a month. How much does the course cost? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
262 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 3:15 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by runningclouds
Great pictures. I like the kayaker watching the bear on a beach. Seems like an awesome way to spend a month. How much does the course cost?
It was a hefty (for me) $4300, but it works out very reasonable if you calculate each certification cost individually, plus abundant food and travel (and for me living rent free for the month). Several students including myself already have job prospects lined up after less than a week home. |
Edited by - weegit on 06/03/2011 3:16 PM |
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| piika
Intermediate Member
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
726 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 3:57 PM
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Wow- what a wonderful experience!  |
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Abbotsford, British Columbia
Canada
16 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 4:25 PM
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| Great Pictures, I especially like the one of the bald eagle! I was wondering if you could tell us what the big, red thing is in the 7th picture? Thanks :) |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1762 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 5:27 PM
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That sounds incredible, didn't know such a thing existed. Did you get to see Cougar Anne's garden at all?
We hiked the Hesquiat trail in September and the area was incredible. I would love to return. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
262 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 6:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jd22
That sounds incredible, didn't know such a thing existed. Did you get to see Cougar Anne's garden at all?
We hiked the Hesquiat trail in September and the area was incredible. I would love to return.
Yea went and checked out Cougar Annie's; Pretty impressive cabins Ecotrust has built there. My dad was doing some work with the Hesquiaht band around the area in the 70s and can remember smelling Cougar Annie's terrible cooking wafting across the bay :)
@Anitabrar- We were all perplexed by that creature. I think it could be a White-spotted Anemone flopped over; either that or some kind of squirt or cucumber. |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2529 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2011 : 6:20 PM
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| AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! That must have been SO GREAT!!! Love the pictures........super jealous :) |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
298 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2011 : 7:09 PM
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| Great pictures weegit and a wonderful experience! We send some of our students to Hooksum every July for a week of great food and adventure! The Charleson's are fantastic people with a wealth of knowledge. |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2011 : 9:27 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weegit
Yep, I can see where you are expanding your skill set. 
Seriously though, this is a great report and pictures.
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Hesquiaht Harbour Area May 1-28th
