 Audubon
Magazine
June 2000
Walks
on the Wild Side
America’s
best wildlife adventures
By Gretel H. Schueller
#1
Kayak With Whales
Northern Lights Expeditions,
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
 Sleek
black-and-white orcas, as long as 28 feet, are common navigators
around the islands and waterways between mainland British Columbia
and Vancouver Island. Here, you can paddle among pods of orcas as
they rise to the surface and listen as their explosive exhalations
echo off the cliffs. No previous kayaking experience is necessary
in these quiet waters: Even the belly flop of a seven-ton bull will
barely rock the boat. Other common marine residents include harbour
seals and minke whales. The area also lies in the migratory path
of many birds. Nights are spent camping on islands of Sitka spruce
and red cedar and listening to the distant sound of howling wolves.
Contact:
Northern Lights Expeditions, 800-754-7402; www.seakayaking.com.
Cost: Six days for $1,595 per person, which includes
camping gear, all meals, equipment and guides.
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