We are fortunate to have our boat in Powell River, BC, at the doorstep of some of the best cruising in the world. One of our favourite day trips is to
Mitlenatch Island.
Mitlenatch is sometimes called the Galapagos of the Georgia Strait. The island is a
provincial park and boasts the largest seabird colony in the strait. Primarily you see
Glaucous-winged gulls, but I have also seen
cormorants and
black oystercatchers on the rocky cliffs and riding the updrafts in the sky. It is a raucous cacophony everywhere you go. The island is also the fall and winter haul out for
California sea lions and northern
Steller sea lions. Local
harbour seals are resident year-round.
On a recent trip anchored in Mitlenatch's north bay with only a light wind and swell. The only other boat was the
Misty Isles, a kayak mothership out of Manson's Landing on Cortes Island. Her passengers with their seven kayaks were on shore for lunch and a hike. We ate our lunch on board and then went to hike the islands paths on our own.
Late spring and summer flowers were in full bloom. A low yellow carpet covered the cliffs where gulls still nested. Above the bay, we saw two bald eagles harrassing a seagull until he dropped his fish and fled. That wasn't very neighborly. Winter, fall, spring or summer, Mitlenatch has a different story to tell.
A free
podcast about Mitlenatch is available at
www.PowellRiverBooks.com. For more information about boating in Coastal BC visit
http://PowellRiverBooks.blogspot.com 
Mitlenatch Island - Galapagos of the Georgia Strait 
