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Hesquiat Peninsula Trail
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***The
following is an excerpt from Philip Stone’s chapter
on the Hesquiat Peninsula from his book
Coastal
Hikes - A Guide to West Coast Hiking Trails in
British Columbia and Washington State.***
What sets the
Hesquiat Peninsula hike aside from most treks is that
almost the entire 50+ km hike is along the shore. There
are only a handful of short sections of forest
concentrated at both ends and the fact that there
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Footprints |
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are very few significant cliffs or other obstacles. The geology
of the shoreline is remarkable throughout with expansive tidal
shale rock shelves, wild sculpted conglomerate and sandstone
formations, endless boulder fields and stunning sandy and pebble
beaches that run for miles.
Much of
the land on the Hesquiat Peninsula is now Provincial Park from
Escalante Point all the way around to Hot Springs Cove which is
part of |
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Maquinna
Marine Park. This region is the ancestral home of the Hesquiat
First Nation who are part of the west coast Nuu-chah-nulth
people. The Hesquiat have an indelible relationship with the
land and sea of their territory. |
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TOP PICTURE : Getting
dropped off at Escalante Beach
BOTTOM PICTURE : Sunset on Hesquiat Peninsula |
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Points of interest along the route include the
beaches at Escalante, Estevan Point lighthouse,
Hesquiat village, beaches around Anton's Spit and
Cougar Annie's Garden in Boat Basin.
At the
time of writing the Hesquiat trail is one of the
least trodden paths along the coast of Vancouver
Island but destined to become one of the most
popular.
The name 'Hesquiat' is derived from the
Nuu-cha-nulth word heish-heish-a meaning to tear
with the teeth. This references the technique for
stripping off herring spawn from the eel grass
around the shore of Hesquiat village.
Distance and Duration: 50 km with options 4-6 days
Rating: Easy, remote expedition
Permits/Fees: Ask permission before entering the
Indian reserve near Hesquiat.
Maps: 92 E07, E08, E09.
Advance Logistics: Flight reservations for your
group's transport to and from both ends of the trail
must be made well in advance to avoid
disappointment.
Access: The Hesquiat Peninsula trailhead can be
reached from Gold River. The usual direction is to
start at Escalante and hike counter-clockwise around
to Hesquait Harbour and Boat Basin. |
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Rates
Flights to the Hesquiat Peninsula Trail from Gold River
are all charter flights, and the rates are as follows
(one
way fares and taxes not included):
Cessna: takes up to 3 passengers and a maximum
weight of 750 lbs (passengers and baggage)
Price: $277.20 (total for flight)
Beaver: takes up to 5 passengers and a maximum
weight of 1100 lbs (passengers and baggage)
Price: $415.80 (total for flight)
See chart below, to help you calculate rates according to
your group size:
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Passengers |
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Aircraft |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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Cessna |
$277.20 |
$138.60 |
$92.40 |
n/a |
n/a |
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Beaver |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
$103.95 |
$83.16 |
Cessna - max. weight 750 lbs
Beaver - max. weight 1100 lbs The same rates apply for the return leg from Hesquiat
Lake/Boat Basin back to Gold River.
Your flight can be booked to suit your itinerary and
aircraft availability. However, note that it is best to
fly into Escalante Beach (trailhead) in the morning,
because of wind and swell conditions. |
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