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Khutzeymateen Prologue
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 The Khutzeymateen Valley, tucked away north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is a pristine guarded sanctuary for the North American Grizzly. The valley supports around 50 bears due to its abundant food sources, consisting of sedge grass, skunk cabbage, mussels , salmon, and rugged and inaccessible terrain. The valley is home to a variety of wildlife commingling in 45,000 hectares of protected wilderness. Wolves, migrating geese, ducks, beavers, otters and harbour seals are all part of the landscape. We spent three days on the Oceanlight II navigating the waters on this magnificent 72 foot ketch. However, the majority of time found us in a sturdy zodiac getting up close to these powerful and magical creatures. Our skipper, Tom Ellison provided us with a rare opportunity to observe the grizzly in a safe setting where many myths of a fierce and unpredictable animal were dispelled. Please keep in mind that all bears are wild animals, and should always be observed at safe distances with professional guides if you lack the experience in bear country. Here is the opportunity to overcome those limitations.
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 We started our journey by flying into Prince Rupert and staying two nights at a quaint B& B, the Eagles Bluff Inn right on the harbor. The next day was spent walking around the town, visiting the Museum of Northern BC, and finishing off with a nice meal overlooking the harbor. We were up early on our departure day for a float plane ride to the fjord where the Oceanlight II was awaiting us. The 15 minutes flight took us over several mountain ranges and the good weather allowed us some wonderful sightseeing. And then it was time to descend into the fjord and our Khutzeymateen adventure. The valley name comes from the local native nation and means 'sheltered place of fish and bears'.
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 Touchdown was one of the smoothest landings we have ever experienced. What a great start. We taxied to a gentle stop and then proceeded to swap places with the outgoing party. The weather was calm and mild and we made our way to the Oceanlight II to settle in.  After meeting the crew and fellow adventurers, we made for the ranger station to fill up on fresh water and take in the glorious sights. The agreement that brought protection to the Khutzeymateen valley was negotiated between the BC provincial government and the local native nation, the Tsimshian. The two rangers, who spend 5 months of the year on an anchored house boat, are from the nation and protect this valley form unauthorized use. It gives you a good feeling to see this land being watched over by the very people who hold it sacred, a example for all of us to follow. Just click below to continue the journey.
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