Desolation Sound is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been. Earlier this month I had the opportunity to explore this incredible place with my family. We chartered a sailboat out of Comox for a week of exploration in this sound, located Northwest of Vancouver in British Columbia. Desolation Sound is so stunning because of the deep fjords and channels that wind their way through glaciated peaks with mountainsides covered in majestic, deep forests. Most months of the year can be quite gloomy, however the summer months generally see sunshine. Due to a tidal phenomenon the water in the sound, which looks like it should be 40-50 degrees heats well in to the 70s, making swimming, sailing and other water activities very enjoyable.
Our week-long voyage aboard our mono-hull, Hart Beat, was fantastic. Each day we would sail to a new bay or cove and anchor for the night. We would explore the surrounding areas by hiking through the forests for fun, or more often with the destination of a freshwater lake, which were crystal clear and wonderful for swimming. We would also kayak around the shoreline looking for tide pools, seals, or Native American pictographs. Fishing was a lot of fun too. We caught enough Ling Cod to feed the family two nights (disappointingly, we didn't catch any salmon). One of the real highlights was the deep-water soloing. Many of the impeccable granite cliffs continued directly into the water for several hundred feet. The rock was excellent granite and the falls were clean into warm water. I think there is a lot of potential for the development of deep-water soloing in the area.
Overall it was an unforgettable trip filled with great family time and the enjoyment of God's beautiful creation.
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| Hammock on the bow of Hart Beat |
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| Fresh Ling Cod |
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| Deep-Water Soloing |
