Saltspring Island - Salish Sea BC
July 25th - 30th, 2024
Paddling days will likely be July 26, 27, 28 and 29th.
General registration will open Thursday April 4th at 9:30 pm.
Trip Organizers approved to lead trips for the Event will be able to register earlier.
OOPS is trying out a new venue for one of our 2024 events -Salt Spring Island- located in the BC Gulf islands north of Victoria. Besides fantastic kayaking, there is so much to do on the island with farmers markets, bakeries, outdoor restaurants, hiking and fresh water lakes. The trip will be during a waning gibbous moon so a couple of trips to Chocolate Beach will be a bonus.
Watch for details as Event Manager Chris Mayou, Assistant Event Manager Marty Martinez and Trips Admiral Tom Waldron scope it all out.
Campground reservations have been made at Ruckle Provincial Park in 2 group sites for 5 nights. These 2 group sites have parking 200' from the tent sites. Wheelbarrows are available to haul your equipment. You are allowed to sleep in your car, but it will be in the parking lot, so you may opt to bring a tent. There are pit toilets and potable water but no electricity so bring your solar chargers!
Cost:
OOPS group site $70.00
Non-OOPS (find your own accommodations) $20.00
RVs/Trailers are not allowed in the group sites. There are some RV sites at Ruckle Park that can be reserved. Please go to https://bcparks.ca/ruckle-park/#park-camping-details-container to see availability. If you got one of these RV sites, you'd then register for the Saltspring Event in the OOPS Member, Non-OOPS accommodations category.
Cold Water Protection Gear:
Immersion protection will almost certainly be required, pending water temperature/conditions. See the club website under Resources/OOPS Documents/Activity Policies and scroll down to Cold Water Protective Clothing.
Please come prepared with either a drysuit or wetsuit. Note that some Organizers may not allow wetsuits and may require drysuits only. Cotton clothing will NOT be allowed on any OOPS water activities, except for a cotton hat or a cotton shirt worn over one of the above clothing options.
Ferry Info for Port Angeles/Victoria and Swartz Bay/Saltspring Island:
Book ASAP
Blackball Ferry (MV-COHO) https://www.cohoferry.com/schedule-fares
Ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford on Salt Spring is first come first loaded. Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about 1 hour travel time from Victoria depending on traffic. The ferry departs Swartz Bay about every 2 hours starting at 6:50 am. No reservations are required. Sailing time 30 minutes. Cost $47.05 round trip.
https://www.bcferries.com/fare-selection/fare-calculator
Volunteer Staff:
Event Manager: Chris Mayou, chrismayou@gmail.com (503) 510-2005
Assistant Event Manager: Marty Martinez, amtnbkr@gmail.com (971) 563-6009
Trips Admiral: Tom Waldron, t.wal@frontier.com (503) 706-1505
