Day 14 - Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

We’re anchored at the head of Khutzeymateen Inlet in the heart of the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary.  It’s a breathtakingly beautiful and sacred place with a broad and expansive estuary at the head of a long inlet threading it’s way to and fro for 10 nautical miles through snow covered peaks and glaciers.  


This is the only protected area of its kind in Canada and we checked in on VHF 18 as directed when we crossed into the park boundary and the rangers came out to meet us and hand us some pamphlets.  They said we were the first visitors in the reserve since last may and they would waive the normal fee for overnight moorage.


We anchored in 30 feet of water at the end of the inlet with an alternating stunning waterfall and glacier view which changes every few minutes with the setting sun painting an ever changing pallet of light.  Every few minutes Patti is running outside with her cell phone to take another picture of the ever changing glacier at the end of the inlet. 


We made the decision at 10am after Adrian confirmed that the part could be airlifted to arrive on tommorrow’s flight to head to Khutzeymateen and God’s pocket with our single engine for a couple days and replace the starter when we get back to Rupert.  We spent the morning making some phone calls, having our first “CowPuccino ‘s” and touring the Northwest B.C. museum, which was a “pocket” version of the Royal B.C. museum in Victoria and it illustrated the areas industrial history and First Nations legacy well.


We were fighting our way against tide and current most of the day with a single engine which meant a long day but so worth it as we pulled into the end of the inlet and saw 4 grizzlies grazing on sedge.  The brochure was informative and interesting facts included that we are smack in the middle of mating season and that a mother gives birth to her babies during hibernation and wakes to meet her children 3 months after they are born. 


It’s a windy and cold night but we all feel that we’ve made it to the half way mark and that we’re finally getting into the groove, maybe the troubles are over….shhh don’t jinx us.  


Beautiful place, beautiful creatures, another great meal, we’re truly blessed to be here in this magical amazing place.  This is what boating is about.  I can’t believe we’re the first tourists to be here in more than a year.  



















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