Charles and Margo Wood - Charlie\'s Charts North to Alaska

94

PRUTH BAY AND GOLDSTREAM HARBOR

These anchorages are alternatives to Safety Cave. Eaeh has its o~n

attraction and is well worth visiting.

Kwakshua Charinel lies between Calvert Island and Hecate Island to the

north. The entrance off Fitz Hugh Sound is about 7 miles north of Safety Cove.

The channel is about 5 miles long and has remarkably parallel, steep-to sides

for this distance. At the eastern end it divides into several finger~, while

the main Kwakshua Channel turns sharply northward in a right-angled turno

Keith Anchorage lies on the south side, opposi te Whittaker Point at the

turn of the channel. BC TeIephone Company microw8\'e to\.:ers stand atop the Iow

summit, and a smaii house and dock lie at the head of the bay. Anehorage ean

be taken here although winds may blow down the channel through the Iow passes.

Pruth Bay lies at the ~estern end of K~akshua Channei ~here it divides
into three fingers, Anchorage is best to~ards the head of the center finger,
off of a smali beach with two houses, in about 6 to 7 fathoms, sand. A trail
leads from the beaeh across the neck of land to a ~ide beach on the Pacifie
side of the island. A fantastie mask is carved ioto a cedar tree part ~ay
along the trail. A notice marks the start of the trail.

Anchorage can also be taken in a little cove in the northern part of

Kwakshua Channel on the east side about 1/2 mile north of Whittaker Point. The

south part of the cove is deep and shoals rapidly at the eastern side. Two

smail isIands (separated by a drying rock) mark the northern part of the cave.

Pass on either side of the roek to enter the northern seetion far anchorage.

There is sufficient spaee far two or three boats, sand bottom.

Proceeding north in K~akshua Channel, ~eay Islets and the surrounding reef

and shoals constriet the channel, which is other~ise clear. At the northern

end one may choose to go to the west to use Adams Harbor, or turn northeast to

pass through the narrow channel between Rattenbury Island and Heeate Island.

In both cases, use the chart as a guide, generally favoring the Rattenbury

rsland side. Eagles nest right alongside the channel on Rattenbury Island.

Upon leaving Kwakshua Channel one enters Hakai Passage ~here the effect of the

open sea Is felt. In summer the fog that often plagues these ~aters rol1s in

through Hakai Passage.

Goldstream Harbor is at the northern tip of Hecate Island, on the south

side of Hakai Passage as it joins Fitz Hugh Sound. An unnamed island lies off

the tip to form the harbor, which must be entered from the east off Fitz Hugh

Sound. Midway into the harbor the channe1 i5 narrowed by a drying reef

(Evening Rock) in mid-channel, and Hat Island which lies off the Heeate Island

shore. Pass between to enter the' basin where good anchorage can be taken in 7

to 12 fathoms, sand and mud.

Other anchorages along Fitz Hugh Sound can also be used. Kwakume Inlet is

on the east side of Fitz Hugh and ESE of Goldstrea~ Harbor. The entrance i5

very narrow -- between a small island on the north and an exposed rock on the

south. Anchor towards the head. Koeye River is about 5 miles north of K~akurne

Inlet. Ihere is a small bay south of, and behind the rock at the south part of

the entrance. Pass on the north sjde of this rock ~hen entering.