Sea kayaking has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, especially in the last few years. It is a wonderful activity that attracts many people who wish to have a remote wilderness experience.
At Batstar, all of us believe in and practice no trace camping principles. On some of our trips, we use established camp sites, such as in the Broken Group Islands. On our expedition trips, we often camp on beaches that rarely see human impact. Wherever we camp, Batstar guides clean up any debris left behind from previous campers.
Fires
If a fire ring has been left behind at our site, we break it up. We usually enlist the help of our guests to help clean up the islands that we camp on. When we break up a fire ring, we take the rocks back to the area that they came from rather than throw them down the beach where they become a hazard to a kayak's gel coated hull.
If we make a fire, we only use driftwood. The pieces are small or cut small. We don't use large driftwood logs as fire-breaks. Scarring of logs by carelessly built fires is a real tragedy. We scour the camping area looking for charred wood for use in our fire so as to rid the area of these unsightly remnants of poorly rendered fires.
Animals
Do not feed any wild animals, no matter how cute they are. Keep a clean kitchen and dispose of waste correctly. Little bits of food debris attracts mice, voles and crows, animals that you do not want in your kitchen.
Batstar guests cleaning up
fire rings on Dodd Island in the
Broken Group Islands.
We're located in Port Alberni on Highway 4 - the Pacific Rim Highway. Across the road is Clutesi Marina, where fishing boats are launched to go out the Alberni Inlet to the open Pacific Ocean. Some of our sea kayaking day trips start from here. We rent Seaward sea kayaks and Rocky Mountain Bicycles. Shuttle service for Log Train Trail.
Batstar is surrounded by walking trails along the Somass River and the paved trails along Kitsuksis Dyke. This is all part of an estuary where you can see all sorts of bird life and the occasional Black Bear. 5 species of Salmon swim in the Somass. Grab lunch from Batstar Cafe & Picnic and sit on the benches and relax by the river.
