SISKA's January 2022 Newsletter. Upcoming events, reports and articles

January 2022 SISKA Newsletter

Introduction

Dear Tony,

Thanks to those members who contributed photos and materials. After enjoying a SISKA event or paddle, please consider sending a short (100-150 words) summary article; for more information, contact one of us. If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!

Alan Campbell (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.

PPS: Siska has it's own Youtube Channel HERE

PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR

Upcoming SISKA Events

For more details, go to the SISKA website

Community Events of Interest

Thursday, January 06th, 2022 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Nanaimo Paddlers January 5, 2022 Meeting: Paddling Nanaimo Harbours

These events are not formally supported by SISKA, but considered to be of interest to a significant number of our members.

Any member may request an event to be included in this section by sending a note to chairperson@siska.ca.

Hoping for a Happy New Year in 2022!

by Alan Campbell

This time last year we expected the Covid pandemic would be brought under control in 2021 so we could safely resume our normal activities once again. Remember that?
Unfortunately, we are now experiencing higher Covid case numbers than ever due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, whose ultimate effect on BC’s people and health services is not yet fully known. Most eligible people are vaccinated and at less risk of serious illness, but since vaccines are not yet sufficiently available worldwide the virus continues to spread and mutate, with tragic results.
Since we have passed the Winter Solstice our days are gradually lengthening once again, and, despite our current deep freeze, we will have noticeably more daylight and warmer temperatures in the weeks and months ahead.
It’s a great time to become inspired about paddling, for most of us once warmer weather returns, and to plan for future kayak outings both nearby and further away.
SISKA’s day paddles, on-water and off-water clinics, and Spring Training programs are excellent ways to ensure you’re prepared to really enjoy kayaking in our gorgeous ocean waters.
Spending time exercising outdoors is beneficial in many ways, and sea kayaking tops the list for many of us as our preferred recreational activity.
So, let’s stay safe from Covid, keep on paddling, and have a Happy New Year in 2022!

January 27, 2022 Monthly Meeting

by Fred Pishalski

The Cape Scott Marine Trail

SISKA is planning a January meeting however, as of the publishing of our January 2022 newsletter, we do not know if it is going to be in-person or by Zoom. This is obviously because of the rapidly changing Covid protocols. If we are able to have an in-person meeting, we will hold a gear swap ahead of the start of the meeting. Clearly, we can’t do that if using Zoom. Our members will be notified, closer to the meeting date via email and a posting on our website, of the meeting’s set-up.

By tracking the number of people who have attended either our in-person or Zoom meetings, we know that SISKA members love to hear kayaking stories by our own members.

Over the past few years, a number of groups of SISKA adherents have kayaked the route around the Northern part of Vancouver Island. Rather than have a single report about the Cape Scott Marine Trail, we are going to try something a little different. A member or two from a few of these groups of paddlers will share a portion of their group’s story. Each group will speak about certain geographic section of the trip and describe their experience. They have been asked to do this with photos, charts and/or video images.

The route extends from Fort Rupert/Port Hardy around the top of Vancouver Island, through Cape Scott Provincial Park, and back to Coal Harbour via Quatsino Sound. It is approximately 96nm or 180kms.The trail heads into some of the most dramatic wilderness areas on the British Columbia coastline.

The Cape Scott Marine Trail is a paddle route developed by the BC Marine Trails which is a non-profit organization whose vision is: “The entire BC coastline linked through marine routes and land sites for safe and sustainable water based public recreation.”

Topic: SISKA January Zoom Meeting (if not in-person)
Time: Jan 26, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88102116811?pwd=MVZveU1xaUxvOXllWnRzMEpLS1FCQT09

Meeting ID: 881 0211 6811
Passcode: 116744

Spring Training 2022

by Alan Campbell

Latest Update HERE!

Covid Update

by Alan Campbell

Vaccination Required Jan 1/22 for All In-Person SISKA Events

88% of eligible people in BC (age 5+) have now been vaccinated once, 83% have had two shots, and booster shots are now underway. Unfortunately, Omicron, the latest Covid-19 variant is much more transmissible and is causing case numbers to soar once again. The advice from our Public Health authorities is for everyone eligible for vaccine doses to get them as soon as possible.

To better protect all those attending any SISKA event, confirmation of vaccination status is required as of January 1, 2022 for members participating in indoor or outdoor SISKA events including courses, paddles, or other in-person group gatherings.
Many thanks to the almost 70% of our members who have confirmed their vaccination status so far. Once this has been done, members only need to identify themselves to organizers to participate in club events.
If you have not done so as yet,
(1) upload your BC Vaccine Card to the SISKA website Click Here, or
(2) email an image of it to standardsandsafety@siska.ca

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safer while participating in SISKA activities!

NOTE: In addition to confirming your vaccination status, you should only attend SISKA events if you can answer NO to each of these questions: In the past 14 days, have you:
1. experienced any symptoms related to COVID-19?
2. travelled outside Canada, and did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption?
3. had contact with anyone travelling outside Canada who did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, or experienced symptoms related to COVID-19?
Review requirements to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller
We strongly encourage all SISKA members to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible to protect yourselves, fellow paddlers, friends, families, and communities.

SISKA - Invitation to Join Nanaimo Paddlers Zoom Meeting - Jan 5, 2022 at 7pm

by Alan Campbell

Ron Everard of Nanaimo Paddlers forwarded the following invitation to SISKA members

Paddling Nanaimos Harbours

Launching usually from Brechin Boat ramp or from Kin Hut, most of us have paddled Nanaimoâs harbours many, many times. But who travelled and lived in and around these waters before us? Have you wondered about the history of Newcastle Island? What can we learn about the colourful, ribald history of Departure Bay? Why is it called Gallows Point? Whatâs the significance of the tall post in the channel festooned with all those colourful brassieres?

Attend this lively, informative presentation by local historian, Lynne Bowen, and learn more about the local waters we paddle and have all your questions answered.

Lynne Bowen is the author of seven books: Boss Whistle, The Coal Miners of Vancouver Island Remember; Three Dollar Dreams; Muddling Through, The Remarkable Story of the Barr Colonists, Those Lake People, Stories of Cowichan Lake, Robert Dunsmuir, Laird of the Mines, Whoever Gives Us Bread, The Story of Italians in British Columbia and Those Island People. Among the awards her books have won are the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, the Lieutenant Governors Prize for Writing British Columbia History and the F.G. Bressani Literary Prize. Her other writing includes video scripts, magazine articles and the column Those Island People for the Times Colonist in Victoria. She was the Rogers Communications CoChair of Creative Non Fiction Writing at the University of British Columbia for fourteen years from 1992 to 2006.

This meeting takes place online, using the Zoom video conferencing platform.

Nanaimo Paddlers January Meeting
Jan 5, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87894653186?pwd=MmJuSzJOczVzMHVqWDhsakdpdDY2dz09

Meeting ID 878 9465 3186
Passcode 452225

Trip Advisors Directory

by Vic Turkington

The days are getting longer and we're now into 2022. Naturally, thoughts arise to plan a possible summer kayak\camping trip. Fortunately, we have a vast wealth of knowledge and tripping experience within SISKA members, both on coastal Vancouver Island and beyond. If you were thinking about a kayak trip this year but wondered about safety, difficulty, best launch, campsites, highlights, how to get there etc. - you've got lots of help. A number of experienced members have generously volunteered to share their time, experiences, offer guidance and generally assist you to plan an unforgettable kayak adventure in 2022.
Thanks to Dave 0 and Alan C., their contact info.is posted on the SISKA website. Just log in to get sage advice for your proposed trip: ie Members/Documents/Resource Info/ SISKA TRIP ADVISORS Directory and drop them a line.
Extensive information on Vancouver Island is also available on the BC Marine Trails website "bcmarinetrails.org" and John Kimantis's series of books on Coastal Vancouver Island.

Happy planning and tripping 2022...

SISKA's Outdoor Christmas Party was a Blast!

by Jennie Sutton

High wind forecasts cancelled the paddle, but two kayaks came dressed for the occasion anyway.....continue reading full article HERE.

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

I haven’t tried this recipe, but chanced upon it on a Facebook post. It looks intriguing……

Safety Tips

by Lynn Baier

While this tip mostly refers to whitewater river paddling, when we follow a downstream current such as under the Gorge Tillicum bridge, it’s useful to know. Thanks to paddling.com for better wording than I could do.

The Downstream V
The most basic and important feature to look for in current is the ‘Downstream V.’ Dark or ‘green’ water fills the middle of the ‘V’ and whitewater forms the edges of the ‘V.’ You’ll literally see a loosely formed V in the water with the point of the V pointing downstream. The V shows you the deepest and usually the best route to take through a rapid, especially in class II and III rapids. Current that is dark is deep and usually obstacle-free. Whitewater is formed by water flowing over rocks or debris in the riverbed and indicates obstacles in the river. This doesn’t mean that whitewater equals shallow water – some big rivers like the Grand Canyon – have whitewater that is very deep. The V shows you the obstacle-free and deepest entrance to the rapid. The V also usually leads into fun, friendly waves. The V can be described by some as a ‘tongue’ of water flowing into a rapid.
At first it will be easier to recognize downstream Vs from above so you’ll want to get out of your kayak and look at them from shore. Eventually it will get easier and easier to see them from your kayak sitting in the water. At times you’ll have to get very close to the top of the rapid before you see the downstream V. If you’re approaching a rapid and you’re not sure if you can see the V and you’re nervous about running the rapid blind then it’s always best to get out and look at it from shore.

Siska 2022 Calendar - Last One!

by Fred Pishalski

We have one last SISKA 2022 calendar left. Who wants it? Still only $20 if picked up or $25 if mailed. Remember the small profit from each calendar is donated to charity, this year it will be to help the homeless. So send me an email gailmiller@shaw.ca for the best paddling calendar ever made.

Kayaking Klips

by Debbie Leach/Jennie Sutton

GO SIDE SADDLE. You are wearing a skirt anyway! Even works in the surf! To launch - reverse the moves.

Tips From The Trips

by Debbie Leach

HI VIS VHF. Apply fluorescent tape or paint so you can easily find your radio - even if it floats.

SISKA's 2021 Zoom Christmas Party - Photos and More!

by Alan Campbell

All those who attended will agree, our Zoom Xmas Party was great fun......continue reading article HERE.

Probe Your Strobe

by Gary Jacek

Years ago on a SISKA visit to our local Rescue Coordination Centre at CFB Esquimalt, I chatted with a former SARTEC about the best ways to make yourself visible to rescuers. His response was to use the VHF/PLB to call for help. When rescuers are spotted in daylight, pop a smoke flare. If it is dark or you expect it to be dark soon, or your hands are getting cold, start up a strobe. Strobes operate for many hours and light up the whole sky in the rescuer’s night vision goggles.

As advised, I purchased strobes and smoke flares.

Years passed.

On this cold winter day I decided it was a good time to inspect gear and replace worn items.

I planned to strip the kit off my much-too-old PFD, inspect and reinstall it on my replacement PFD.

So off came my water supply, knife, tow rig, VHF and PLB. All in good working order.

The final item was my Princeton Tech Strobe which was sewn to the shoulder patch. Yes, still operating when tested.

Off it came, and of course I opened it to inspect the alkaline battery.
It turns out the battery was just starting to ooze. Fortunately, the metal strobe components were not yet affected by the evil ooze.

Tossing the battery, I decided to soak the internal housing (not the cap) of the strobe with white vinegar in order to neutralize the battery residue.

As I poured in the vinegar, it promptly poured right back out the bottom of the waterproof strobe housing.

Hmmm…not good.

Careful inspection of the housing revealed a crack around the unused lanyard attachment point.
The crack is difficult to see, so I have marked it with a red sharpie in one of the photos.

Riding high on my shoulder, the strobe only gets wet when I roll or practice rescues. And of course during the momentary post-paddle, freshwater rinse.

In a real emergency, when I could be in salt water for hours, the strobe would have soon flooded and expired.

Have a good look at your Princeton strobe and all your other gear. Is it ready for another season on and in the water?

Our Place Donations

by Fred Pishalski

SISKA donated the profits ($250) from our calendar and signature mug sale to Our Place Society in an effort to assist the homeless and those in need in Victoria. Our Place Society has grown from a unique inner-city community centre to nine locations serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable, including people struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use issues, the working poor, and impoverished elderly.

Individuals and businesses provide 50% of the financial support for its programs and services. Our Place provides over 1,000 meals every day plus snacks, 400 units of housing plus transitional shelter spaces, hot showers, education, job skills, health care, addiction recovery services, donated clothing, counseling and outreach services, and a 60-bin storage facility. Most importantly, Our Place provides a sense of hope and belonging to our neighbours in need.

Lost And Found

by Alan Campbell

A Canada Flag-themed chair was left behind after our Christmas Party at Gyro Park Sat Dec 11.
To pick it up please contact Alan at alanglencampbell@gmail.com

To Buy or Sell

If you have any buy/sell items that you would like to post in the Newsletter, please send a short description and your contact info to newsletter@siska.ca.

SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners

There are some fine discounts available from our kayak skills course partners for SISKA members who sign up for their skills training programs; have a look at https://siska.ca/prod/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners.pdf

Our partners are: