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PUBLISHED BY NIMMO BAY EDITOR
CAITLIN HEDLEY ASSISTANT EDITORS FRASER MURRAY, BECKY MURRAY ART DIRECTION / DESIGN CHRIS ALLEN PHOTO EDITOR JEREMY KORESKI
P 04 SEARCHING FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE: IN PURSUIT OF NEW LINES
Friends set out on a quest for new heli-biking adventures, for beginner to intermediate mountain bikers, along coastal British Columbia.
FRONT COVER A floating sauna, nestled amongst the wilderness. Accessible by kayak or boat, discover where nurture meets nature. Inside this Finnishstyle, yellow cedar sanctuary, relax and listen to the crackle of the wood stove and take in the view of the bay through the large picture window. Refresh between sessions by taking a dip in the cool ocean water or just breathing in the fresh, wild air from the dock. This sauna was built by Nimmo Bay Resort in partnership with ANIÁN.
P 16 SETTING THE STAGE: CRAIG MURRAY
Following a dream to start a fishing lodge and keep his family together, Craig Murray found himself at the base of a waterfall in the summer of 1980 and the rest is history. P 26 NIMMO BAY GOLD: HOT SMOKED WILD PACIFIC SALMON
PHOTOGRAPHER JEREMY KORESKI
WRITER CAITLIN HEDLEY
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Craig Murray shares his time-tested recipe.
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P 28 A NEW ERA BEGINS: CANADA’S CASTLE ON THE COAST
CONTRIBUTORS MACK BARTLETT, TREVOR ELLESTAD, STEVE JACKMAN, JEN MURPHY, BECKY MURRAY, CRAIG MURRAY COVER IMAGE JEREMY KORESKI
A tale of two luxuries; exceptional experiences showcasing the spirit and energy of Vancouver Island, rooted in history and tradition.
BACK COVER Fathom; Nimmo expeditions.
P 34 SEA TO CEDAR: CATCH-CLIP-RELEASE
CONTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES HELI@NIMMOBAY.COM ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES HELI@NIMMOBAY.COM
A local initiative working to fill in the gaps of the salmon genetic database, to protect and manage this keystone species and its environment.
PRINTED BY HEMLOCK PRINTERS HEMLOCK.COM
P 40 A COASTAL INFUSION: SEA TO CEDAR COCKTAILS
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Add a splash of West Coast flavour with a cedar-infused spirit and shake up these refreshing cocktails. P 42 LESSONS FROM AN OUTPOST: WHY BEING OUTSIDE IS BETTER THAN BEING AWAY
Journal entries and insights from a four-day wellness retreat.
@nimmobayresort www.nimmobay.com
P 50 FOR THE WILD AT HEART: WHEREVER YOUR JOURNEY MAY LEAD
©2018 NIMMO All rights reserved.
A wilderness wedding story.
This is an annual publication. All material in this magazine may not be reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any form without the written permission of NIMMO.
P 58 ISLAND HOPPING IN FRENCH POLYNESIA: MURRAY FAMILY TRAVELS
Printed in Vancouver, Canada on FSC Recycled, Green-e Certified paper.
Discovering calm island vibes, along with impeccable service and amenities, amongst the Society Islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora and Tetiaroa.
The stories in this issue reflect the opinions of their respective authors/interviewees and not necessarily those of NIMMO MAGAZINE or the editorial team. P
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WORDS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Jackman
Jeremy Koreski
Searching for the Next Adventure: IN PURSUIT OF NEW LINES 04 | N I M M O
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01 Ryan Leech in the back seat of an AStar, searching for new terrain along the central coast of BC 02 Riding to the helicopter for an early morning departure from Nimmo Bay 03 The bikes are loaded and ready to go 04 Leaving Nimmo Bay out towards Mackenzie Sound 05 Ryan riding down a granite face towards one of the central coast inlets
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As a longtime friend of Fraser Murray, the CEO of Nimmo Bay Resort and eldest son of founders, Craig and Deborah Murray, I have seen the resort go through many changes. Visiting Nimmo Bay for the first time in the early 1980s, before the intertidal chalets, the massage rooms and yoga classes, I’m not sure I could have envisioned back then, what the business would be like in 2018. Earlier this year, I got a call from Fraser asking if, from my days in Whistler, I had any professional mountain bike friends that might be interested in helping him to explore the option of adding one more bucket list-type experience to Nimmo Bay’s repertoire. If I wasn’t excited then, as I load all my gear, my wife and newborn son into the helicopter with my good friend Ryan Leech, I sure am now. Ryan, besides being a Norco sponsored rider for 20 years, is also a yoga instructor and a humble superstar, so his fit with Nimmo Bay’s overall experience is a perfect match. Also joining us to capture every moment is Jeremy Koreski, and as a writer and newly professional photographer myself, someone I am excited to observe and aspire to learn from. Shooting for such clients as National Geographic, Patagonia and ESPN to name a few, Koreski is definitely the right choice for a unique adventure sports trip like this. Helicopters are used at Nimmo Bay to access the remote wilderness of British Columbia, offering one of the most exceptional resort experiences. After we arrive via helicopter at the lodge and settle into our cabins, we meet in the pilot’s briefing room to start planning our day. Looking at the possibilities on the map gives us great perspective of the enormity of what Nimmo Bay has for a backyard to play in. After coming up with a loose itinerary for the day, it’s time to pack West Coast Helicopter’s new B3 with camera gear and 05
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06 A day of exploring and riding offers a diverse selection of terrains 07 A deactivated logging road with a clearing wide enough to land the helicopter
T H E GOAL O F FI NDI NG U NTOUC H ED T ER RAI N CAN BE I NT I M I DAT I NG. — Steve Jackman
mountain bikes. The plan by the end of this trip is twofold: to get a better idea of what terrain is already ridable and to locate an area where we can start building some trails for beginner to intermediate mountain bikers. With those goals in mind, we’re off for an afternoon of exploring. As it is mid-May and the higher granite-filled mountain ridges are still buried in snow, we start our trip looking for lines to ride in lower elevations and through remote coastal forest. After a couple pristine stops near fishing holes, with no luck for a potential trail, we stumble across a deactivated logging road with a clearing wide enough to land the helicopter and let Ryan get some riding in. Although we all ride, it’s great to have Ryan’s perspective on what is possible, affordable and most importantly, safe. After a snowy mountain peaked stop for some of Nimmo Bay’s freshly made snacks and a little more searching, we decide to call it a day and head back to the resort. Of all my times at Nimmo Bay, the things that never change are the quality times spent with friends around the floating fire pit, the peace and serenity of the lodge, the quality of the food and the best sleep I’ve had in years. Finishing our day with delicious cocktails on the docks, a seafood feast set for Poseidon himself, and
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08 Ryan unloading his bike before testing out the granite ridges 09 Stunning coastal mountains provide a spectacular backdrop 10 Reloading the bikes before flying to the next adventure
time catching up with Fraser and his family, this trip is no different. Having the chance to reflect on the day, we discuss what we found for rideable terrain, as well as what we’re lacking. Building a new adventure can be challenging as it’s based on clients’ expectations. Although Nimmo Bay consistently exceeds guests’ expectations with their luxurious resort, hospitality and pristine wilderness setting, the challenge lies in finding experiences that can be consistent and therefore marketable. With that in mind, we all go our separate ways to relax and restore for another adventure seeking day tomorrow. As the sun crests over Mt. Stephens, shedding some morning light upon the resort, my wife and I relax in our seaside Muskoka chairs with a coffee. This morning, I am trying to relax, soak in the surroundings and appreciate the moment, but I am also invigorated to help find a mountain bike experience that the lodge could offer to future guests. After another exquisite breakfast, we head to the helicopter pad to find not only our bikes mounted on one side, but surf gear on the other. Today is going to be a good day.
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As much as the goal of finding untouched terrain can be intimidating, there is a definite comfort with the skill of our pilot, Clayton Spizawka, in how he handles the helicopter. Finding places to ride is one thing, being able to land the helicopter to access them, is another. With his existing knowledge of the coast and what we learned the day before, we head north towards Cape Caution and the west coast in search of mountain ridges, and this time, great waves as well. Within the hour, Clayton has us landed safely in a snowy saddle between two enormous granite ridges, not really for the casual rider, but definitely something fun for Ryan. With the ocean in the distance and Belize Inlet in the immediate backdrop, we spend some time filming and shooting Ryan as he shows off his manual skills, front tire in the air, flying down this remote ridge. A great find for the advanced mountain biker, but still not something Nimmo can offer to the majority of their guests. With that thought, and some of the most unique bike film and photos in the bag, we are off to the beach.
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11 The AStar, loaded with bikes, heading home into the sunset glow 12 Smiles all around from Ryan and Nimmo Bay pilot, Clayton Spizawka, before lifting off from the alpine 13 Expansive, west coast beaches are the perfect playground 14 Using fat tire bikes to cruise a coastal beach west from Nimmo Bay
Checking the surf earlier that morning, this normal hot spot is a little light today, but my surfing skills don’t necessitate the need for a big break. Settling down on the beach, we have now found a great place for the average biker. With fat tire bikes, this two kilometre long sandy beach with nothing but eagles flying above, quickly reminds us just how special Nimmo Bay is. Finishing another great lunch, some light surfing and a gentle cruise down the beach, we head back towards the lodge feeling pretty stoked about the day and what Nimmo Bay can immediately offer. Fraser, who stayed back at the lodge working while we played, is waiting as we land with a trail idea at a nearby location. Switching gears, and hopping in a boat for a short ride, we hike through forest to the proposed trail location. Hiking through the coastal forest and focusing on the natural
fall lines, our day only gets better as Ryan reinforces the potential of Fraser’s find. Feeling like we had accomplished what we had set out to do, a second seafood feast on the dock was the perfect way to close out another amazing visit. As plans are now underway to start flagging and building the trail this fall, I am excited to return soon to experience their latest adventure. Nimmo Bay’s version of luxurious hospitality, balancing relaxation and adventure, is only going to get better with their new mountain biking option. Now, having checked this one off my bucket list, I can confidently say that this is something everyone should consider.
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W E HEAD NO RTH TOWAR DS CA PE CAUTIO N AN D THE W EST COAST IN S EARCH O F MOUN TA IN R I D GES, AND THI S TI ME , G R E AT WAVES AS WE L L . — Steve Jackman 14
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Setting The Stage: CRAIG MURRAY
WORDS
Caitlin Hedley PHOTOGRAPHY
The Murray Family archives & Jeremy Koreski
It was June, 1980 when our little boat entered Kenneth Pass on the approach to Mackenzie Sound, deep in the coastal wilderness. The thick fog overcame us as we approached the mouth of the bay. At my request, the hum of the motor was shut off so I could listen for the waterfall I had only heard stories of. And there it was, the sweet sound of rushing water. We landed on the beach and as soon as I saw it, I knew I was meant to be here. Water is the essence of life and before me was the heart of Nimmo Bay, water to drink, water for power and the natural beauty of a waterfall. This was the future of my young family. We were about to sail away from convention to start a life amongst this wild corner of the West Coast. Hailing from Ontario, Craig Murray moved to Vancouver Island in 1973, nurturing a dream of building a boat and sailing around the world. When the bus dropped him off in Port McNeill, the sight of the small coastal town instantly took hold of his heart. Over the next few years, however busy with work and learning the art of boat building, Craig was always on the watch for new faces, in particular, a woman who might be interested in sailing around the world with him. In 1976, Deborah Davis arrived in town and started working at the Dalewood Hotel, Craig’s local haunt. As she served him that first cup of coffee, neither of them had any idea of the grand adventure that lay ahead. In May 1977, they were married at Black Creek Village in Toronto, and as a wedding gift, Craig gave Deborah a grey kitten named Haywire. “Haywire describes everything that is less than perfect that happens on the coast and with life in general,” Craig explains. Haywire would be a term that would surface often as the young couple embarked on their new life together. At that time, most jobs were found in the logging or commercial fishing industry, which required Craig to travel for work, leaving Deborah and their two young sons back at home. Craig realized
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01 Craig Murray, 1981 02 Craig and Deborah were married in Toronto, 1977 03 The Pelton wheel, bringing natural power to Nimmo Bay Resort 04 Craig and Fraser, 1982 05 Early days at the lodge, 1981 06 The Murray family
that he needed to create a life that would both support his family, while keeping them together. In 1980, Craig’s dream to start a family-run fishing lodge, catering to guests intent on catching ocean-run salmon, was born. On April 30th, 1981, their newly acquired float house was towed by tugboat across Queen Charlotte Strait to Nimmo Bay, at the base of mighty Mount Stephens. “There were 150 million things that could go wrong, and most of them did at some time or another, but we managed,” says Craig. As he thinks back to their first group of six guests, he agrees it was a basic, no-frills resort. “The boats and motors were new, the food was great, everyone caught salmon, and they all slept like logs each night,” says Craig. “And the wonder of it all was that they booked another trip for the next year!”
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After the first season, it was time to get the small hydro system into place. Craig recalls climbing the 800-foot slope hundreds of time before determining the route for the pipeline that would carry the swift water down to the Pelton wheel, a water-driven turbine. Not the least of the tasks was to get the two-tonne turbine to Nimmo Bay and into position, an undertaking that took three very long and tiring days to execute. After months of hard work and determination, all that was required was to get water coming down the pipe through the turbine and they would have 36 kilowatts of ‘green’ power. On May 27th, 1982, appreciation for the waterfall flowed as the hydro system was christened and natural power become a Nimmo Bay reality. Craig recalls that the “champagne, supplied by generous boaters in the area, never tasted so sweet!” The second season was spent looking after guests, catching fish, and with the children, swimming and exploring the coast and forest they now called home. In the beginning, the family lived yearround in the rooms above the lodge. Deborah would do the cooking, while Craig served and entertained the guests. Craig figured there had to be a better angling odyssey than dragging a line from the back of the boat and he continually contemplated how to create a better fishing experience for their guests. He wanted an experience that went beyond their expectations. In November, 1983, Peter Barratt, a Port McNeill-based pilot with Okanagan Helicopters, now co-owner of West Coast Helicopters, took Craig to a secret river where he claimed there were plenty of steelhead. “Within 20 minutes of landing in this remote area, we caught and released two of those legendary fish,” declares Craig. “The light went on, this was the beyond expectations fishing trip I had been looking for - that special feature that would make Nimmo Bay unique. If we could use helicopters to fly guests into isolated, wild fishing spots, we could also fly them in for river-rafting, take them to centuries old glaciers, alpine meadows, and many other wilderness adventures.” In 1984, their fourth season, Craig and Peter promoted the idea as the “most unbelievable sport fishing adventure of a lifetime.” Guests who had booked saltwater fishing trips were offered the opportunity to purchase a full or half-day helicopter fishing, freshwater experience. The first heli-fishing guests were beside themselves, as
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the abundance of fish in the rivers were indeed beyond expectation. Realizing this, Craig immediately implemented their own catchand-release program to ensure that the angling experience would remain for future guests and generations. Over the years, it became apparent that the resort was gaining a reputation and that word was out about Nimmo Bay. Guests were returning year after year and the lodge and its offerings were expanding. Craig was busy fine-tuning the experience and the family involvement, now with three children, Fraser, Clifton and Georgia, added to the pleasure of the guests. Craig accounts humour, music, and detail for their success and they overflowed in all three of those elements. These were the magic ingredients that transformed Nimmo Bay into a live theatre. After dinner and a long day on the water, Craig would take out his guitar and sing and share stories with the guests. “Music is the universal language, and it’s all around us in nature,” explains Craig. Songs by John Prine, Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot and Simon and Garfunkle would sound through the lodge, as Georgia and Clifton would join their Dad with his seemingly endless repertoire of music, captivating groups late into the evening. “Our guests are the stars and Mother Nature our scriptwriter. Our grand finale will challenge the master poets and playwrights. The encore is your return,” read a promotional brochure from the time. Hospitality has been, and still is, a way of life at Nimmo Bay. In 1999, on a family trip to Newfoundland to enjoy the millennium’s
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T H E LI GH T WENT O N, T H I S WAS T HE BEYON D EX PECTAT I O NS FI S H I NG T R I P I H AD BEEN LOOKING FO R - T H AT S PEC I AL FEAT U R E T H AT WOULD MAKE NI M M O BAY U NI QU E. — Craig Murray
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first sunrise at the easternmost point of North America, the Murrays discovered their own “Theory of Hospitality.” On the plane was a Time magazine with the “Man of the Century,” Albert Einstein, on the cover featuring his Theory of Relativity (E = mc2). Craig felt that the tourism industry was in need of a new theory and after a family brainstorming session, their philosophy was conceived: Expectations Exceeded = Memories Created (E2 = MC). “Creating memories to last a lifetime is something we live by at Nimmo Bay,” Craig explains, “if we exceed our guests’ expectations, it not only brings them back, but also gets them to share their experience with others.”
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From the beginning, the Murrays have practiced sustainability and eco-system management, striving to match ongoing environmental practices with sustainable business ethic. They have been stewards of sustainability while inspiring others do the same. Water has been the key to the resort’s existence. It is basic to its identity and to every sustainable decision that the Murrays have made over the years, from their hydro system to their catch-and-release fishery to their state-of-the-art waste management system. Sustainability has always been part of their vocabulary. “Nothing goes back into the environment,” Craig says proudly, and the floating resort and inter-tidal chalets, have been designed with minimal impact on the surrounding forest and habitat. The helicopter has allowed adventure seekers and anglers to access the wilderness in a safe and secure manner and to depart taking nothing but moments to live by and remember. Today, Craig watches as his grandchildren, Fauna and River, are now growing up at Nimmo Bay, the next generation. He wants them to understand how delicate nature is and the importance of being Mother Nature’s protector. His hope for them is to “catch a wild fish, marvel at the majesty of a huge cedar tree, swim in a clear, coastal freshwater river and watch a mother grizzly bear suckle her cub on the banks of a lightly silted glacial stream.” He shares with them that “what their Poppa did for their Daddy, back in 1980, he also did for them. Their Mommy and Daddy must continue to preserve the family unit, and on and on it goes. Fauna and River must now learn to love and hold dear that which will give them life: water, wilderness, and family.”
07 The lodge expands and helicopters are introduced, 1984 08 The day the heli-fishing concept was born! Craig with Peter Barratt, 1983 09 Craig heading out into Mackenzie Sound, 1982 10 A day on the river, 2015 11 The waterfall at Nimmo Bay 12 Heli-fishing, Craig’s beyond expectation adventure
Sharing and exploring this wild paradise, educating about the complexity and stewardship of the land, creating memories, and exceeding expectations, have been Craig’s driving ambitions. Nimmo Bay’s mission statement, a product of his creative mind, really says it all: “To Fly is Human ... To Hover, Divine.” It has been said that going to Nimmo Bay feels like going home, no matter how far one journeys to get there, and what a home this man has shaped and crafted over the years. “Craig is a man that defies the odds and creates his own world. He is unwavering in pursuit of his convictions and dreams,” reflects Clifton. He was determined to make his pioneering lifestyle a reality, while raising a family, and growing a business. Nimmo Bay has Craig’s hardworking fingerprints and steadfast passion all over it. It is not a lodge owned by a family, it is the family, and at the heart of it, a waterfall. Blessed are those that capture a bit of its magical elixir.
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NATURE I S A MAG N I F I CENT A RT IST A N D H E R SCU L PT U RES AND CR E ATI O N S DEFY R E P L ICAT IO N BU T CA N B E V IEW E D T HROUG H THE CR EATI V E A RT IST RY O F T H E N IM M O BAY W I L DE R N ESS A DV E N T U RES. — Craig Murray
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Nimmo Bay Gold: Hot Smoked Wild Pacific Salmon
RECIPE
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Craig Murray
Caitlin Hedley
Jeremy Koreski
“Food is in the details,” says Craig Murray and, “good food puts a smile on the face.” The meals shared at Nimmo Bay have always been a part of the adventure, while using fresh, locally sourced ingredients rooted in the region. Smoked wild Pacific salmon, or ‘Nimmo Bay Gold’ as Craig refers to it, has been served at the resort since the beginning and has become a time-tested custom. In 1981, Craig built a small wooden smokehouse just outside of the floating lodge. Smoke from an outdoor stove was piped into the smokehouse and the hot smoked salmon it yielded was “delicious and loved by all.” Here is Craig’s preferred method, although it has been said that it really is all about the size of the salmon, temperature of the day, and type of alder you use. There are varying factors and the whole process is very visual.
CRA IG’S HOT SMO KED W IL D PAC IF IC SA L M O N
i n g re d ie nts Cleaned and filleted wild Pacific salmon Coarse salt Demerara sugar
m eth od On a baking sheet or shallow pan, lay the salmon skin-down. Start with a layer of course salt, take a spray bottle and mist with water, add a layer of demerara sugar, and mist with water. The moisture from the salmon, combined with the salt and sugar mixture will create a brine. If you have more than one fillet, layer them on top of each other and repeat the process, evenly and generously coating each piece with the salt and sugar mixture, ensuring that all are well packed with the brine. Cover the fish and let it sit for about 8 hours. At this stage, you will see that a glaze has formed over the salmon. Remove the fish from the brine and rinse under cold water. Dry the fish lightly with a cloth to remove any excess water and lay out on the racks in the smokehouse (or smoker). Do not turn the heat on just yet, as it’s best to let the fish cure overnight, drying and absorbing the flavour from inside the smokehouse. In the morning, fire up the smokehouse! Take alder branches, about 3 inches in diameter, and cut into rounds with the bark removed. “Alder is good smoking wood,” explains Craig, “with a light flavor that will not overpower the salmon and allow for a true smoke.” Depending on the thickness of the fillets, it will take between 6 to 10 hours to smoke the fish. To check if the salmon is ready, make a small cut in the middle and take a look at the colour and consistency. “It’s all about the visual,” reminds Craig. Once finished smoking, turn off the smoker and let the salmon sit in the smokehouse overnight, again, curing and absorbing even more of the wonderful flavour. The fish will feel firm to the touch when finished and will continue to harden up a bit overnight. In the morning, the beautiful smoked salmon will be ready to eat, package, freeze, and share with family and friends in true Nimmo Bay tradition.
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A New Era Begins: Canada’s Castle on the Coast
WORDS
Caitlin Hedley PHOTOGRAPHY
Fairmont Empress & Jeremy Koreski
P H O T O : FA I R M O N T E M P R E S S
P H O T O : FA I R M O N T E M P R E S S
Q Bar at Fairmont Empress
Fairmont Empress gracing Victoria’s Inner Harbour
Where land meets sea, Victoria is a unique blend of old world charm and new world experiences. For over a century, the city has been anchored by the famed Fairmont Empress Hotel, adorning the picturesque Inner Harbour. This iconic hotel not only sits regally on the banks of the harbour, it defines the city. Hailed as “Canada’s Castle on the Coast,” Fairmont Empress welcomes those searching for history and luxury rolled into an exceptional experience. Start here and see where this West Coast adventure leads. Since 1908, The Empress has been a significant symbol, woven throughout the city’s fabric. Designed by Francis Rattenbury, and built as a terminus hotel for the Canadian Pacific Railway, The Empress is one of a series of Chateau-style hotels constructed during the early 20th century to encourage tourists to travel the railways’ transcontinental routes, coast to coast. Epitomizing Edwardian-style architecture, the hotel marked Victoria as a cultured outpost of British society in the past and continues to be a celebrated destination to this day. Fairmont Empress showcases the spirit and energy of Vancouver Island in grand style, while staying true to its heritage roots. Its recent renaissance, completed in 2017, shares the history and magnificence of Canada’s West Coast, while moving the hotel into a new
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VIH Execujet’s Cessna Caravan Amphibian
Fire dock at Nimmo Bay Resort
era of modern luxury. The reimagined design, inspired by the coastal rainforests, ocean and natural beauty, is grounded in tradition, with the addition of thoughtful touches, fine finishes, and bold accents.
snow-capped mountains, alpine meadows and rolling vistas of farmland and vineyards, the diversity is unparalleled.
Included in the restoration is the spectacular lobby, the refreshed Willow Stream Spa, and the Fairmont Gold experience with its acclaimed lounge and terrace overlooking the harbour. Reintroduced in the Lobby Lounge, Tea at the Empress continues with its quintessentially Victorian tradition and new, must-visit culinary experiences include the Q at the Empress and Q Bar. Within their storied walls, farm-to-fork and boat-to-table philosophies of cuisine celebrate the best of the region and signature cocktails are masterfully crafted. Recognized for its personalized level of service and central location, Fairmont Empress is the perfect starting point to explore the natural beauty of Vancouver Island, with various options to venture beyond the city by road, water or air. For a private and tailored experience, charter VIH Execujet’s most versatile and luxurious float plane on the coast, the Cessna Caravan Amphibian. With the capability of landing on either land or water, the Caravan will greet guests in the Inner Harbour, just steps from Fairmont Empress, before whisking them away on an exciting island adventure.
After a day of infinite vistas, scenic stops, and a sightseeing picnic, fly over Johnstone Strait towards a scattering of islands which make up the Broughton Archipelago. Just across from Vancouver Island, Nimmo Bay Resort is set amongst the fjords of British Columbia’s fragmented mainland coast. The resort is tucked into the 21-million-acre Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest coastal temperate rainforests left in the world, at the foot of snowcapped mountains. Soar over craggy peaks and ocean inlets, before landing just outside of the bay and taxiing up to the floating lodge. Nimmo Bay Resort, steeped in its own history and tradition, is a remote outpost of its own kind. There is no road access and the wildlife far outnumbers the humans. Guests explore the vastness of British Columbia’s bounty by day, while relaxing in comfort and style by night. From the exclusive harbour-view terrace at Fairmont Empress to the far-off floating dock at Nimmo Bay Resort, this itinerary expertly blends the well-appointed with the wild. The journey offers myriad ways to immerse oneself in the rich beauty and adventure of Canada’s West Coast, delightfully awakening the spirit, thrilling the senses, and inspiring return visits.
Stretching 460 kilometers from Victoria in the south to the weathered headlands of the north, Vancouver Island captivates with a ruggedness that showcases its pristine and abundant nature. From old-growth forests, wave-swept beaches, rivers teeming with wild fish,
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THE ORIGINAL TRAVEL-READY UNDERWEAR Quick drying. Lightweight. Odor resistant. With ExOfficio underwear as the foundation of your adventure, you’ll spend every trip in easy-care comfort.
Sea to Cedar: CATCH-CLIP-RELEASE
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Jen Murphy
Jeremy Koreski
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P H O T O : M AC K B A R T L E T T
Pilot Peter Barratt deftly weaves his helicopter through the morning fog, high above the majestic cedars of the Great Bear Rainforest. From these heights, the winding river systems below look otherworldly. An aerial vantage gives us x-ray vision, allowing us to see every pebble, boulder and log strewn across the river bottom, as well as the prized salmon that we’re after. “I remember fishing that spot right there,” says Barratt, pointing to a shady bend in the river below. “It was dynamite years ago.” Barratt, an avid fisherman and co-owner of West Coast Helicopters, has been flying over these waters more than 50 years and fishing them even longer. Back in 1983, Barratt teamed up with Craig Murray, founder of Nimmo Bay Resort, and the duo helped pioneer heli-fishing, a radical concept at the time. The ability to access 50,000 square miles of terrain, including over 50 isolated rivers and streams, some of which very few humans had ever fished, let alone seen, drew anglers from around the world to the remote lodge. While heli-fishing was the original calling card of Nimmo Bay, and still one of its biggest draws, conservation has become an equally important part of the lodge’s ethos. Barratt’s experience on and above the rivers have made him one of the area’s top fishing guides, but almost more importantly, a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the health of the region’s river systems. “Logging, fish farming, overfishing, and climate change are all greatly affecting the fish and as a result these waters and the surrounding environment,” says Barratt.
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W H EN A SALMO N COM PL ETES I TS L I F E CYCLE A ND DI ES AF TER SPAWNING, IT WASHES ASHOR E TO BE SN ACKED ON BY A BA L D EAG L E T HEN EATEN BY A GR I ZZLY B EAR . — Jen Murphy
01 Thousands of pink salmon school in a coastal BC river 02 West Coast Helicopters co-owner and pilot, Peter Barratt, tying a fly onto his line 03 Clip kit used for collecting salmon fin samples from local rivers
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Many people hear the word salmon and think of a delicious entrée on a restaurant menu. And while many coastal communities rely on salmon for protein, their importance extends beyond food value for humans. These fish are a keystone species and the biological foundation of river ecosystems. Without healthy stocks, there’d be a domino effect of consequences. Salmon runs function as pumps that push large amounts of marine nutrients from the ocean to the headwaters of otherwise low productivity rivers. These nutrients are incorporated into food webs in rivers and surrounding landscapes. At least 137 different species depend on the nutrients that wild salmon deliver. When a salmon completes its life cycle and dies after spawning, it washes ashore to be snacked on by a bald eagle then eaten by a grizzly bear. The remains supply nutrients for the surrounding forests. In some areas, spawning salmon contribute up to 25% of the nitrogen in the foliage of trees, resulting in tree growth rates nearly triple than in areas without salmon spawning. Trees shade and protect the stream banks from excessive erosion. Eventually, those trees fall into the streams and form log jams that provide shelter for juvenile salmon and protect the gravels that adults use for spawning. Salmon are also crucial to the area’s tourism. In 2012, Craig’s son, Fraser, and his wife, Becky, took over operations at Nimmo Bay. In addition to updating the cabins and adding new wilderness and wellness activities, the couple made a commitment to run the lodge as sustainably as possible. Their end goal: to make sure anything
they took for the lodge — energy, fuel, food — was offset in a way that kept nature in balance. Salmon, used for food and sport, were a big take. How could the lodge give back? Genetic diversity is often key to enabling a species to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In salmon, for example, some individuals or populations might carry genes that make them less susceptible to new diseases or warming waters, enabling the species to survive the loss of other genetic strains. A genetic database is used in British Columbia to find out where ocean-caught salmon call home, but this database is almost nonexistent for the Broughton Archipelago and surrounding mainland. Of the more than 115 salmon runs in this region only 25 have any genetic samples collected and only 7 have enough information required by researchers and the federal government to truly capture the genetic diversity of a run. The lack of data meant that decisions around fisheries management were being made without information to back them up. Researchers needed more samples, but collecting them required man power and access to hard-to-reach runs, two things Nimmo Bay could contribute. In a three-month fishing season, Nimmo Bay
averages three helicopters and 15 fishermen per day, visiting some of the region’s most remote rivers. Since its inception, the lodge has been catch and release. In 2015, Nimmo Bay added a new step to its fishing practice, a clip. Catch-Clip-Release is a citizen science-based initiative developed in partnership with Sea to Cedar, a foundation dedicated to community and conservation stewardship projects in the region, and the Salmon Coast Field Station. The goal of the program, says Sea to Cedar director Scott Rogers, is to build a long-term, communitydriven salmon genetics baseline that will help researchers study and protect regional wild salmon populations. Nimmo Bay’s fishing guides received training on how to collect DNA and now fly with “clip kits.” After their clients catch a salmon, they take a small hand hole punch and clip a crescent of tissue from the adipose fin. This small fin between the dorsal fin and tail isn’t critical to swimming. “The fish always swim right off,” says Clayton Spizawka, one of Nimmo’s pool pilots, who likens the process to piercing an ear. The fin clip is placed on a sheet of Whatman paper, which dries and preserves the sample, and is then placed in a waterproof envelope
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04 Aerial view of wild pink salmon making their way up a river to spawn 05 Wild pink salmon on a mission 06 Fraser Murray releasing a wild coho salmon
from specific river systems. The lab uses genetic markers to build a library of diversity within each river for each species of salmon.
that guides label with a sample number. Notes including the date, time, location, species, sex, water temperature and other comments, are documented and kept with each sample. To the average fisherman, hooking a salmon is all about bragging rights and scoring a grip-and-grin photo. But Nimmo Bay attracts a different kind of angler. “The majority of our guests have a deep respect for the fish and a genuine interest in learning about the environment they’re fishing in,” says Spizawka. Guests looking for a more meaningful fishing experience have the opportunity to assist guides as they collect data. “It does take a little bit more time, but most guests are willing to spend a few extra minutes to help with education and conservation,” Spizawka says. “I often say, we’re catching salmon to save salmon because if we don’t do this research now, it’s very possible that we won’t have fish to catch years down the road.” Guides at Blackfish Lodge, a floating fishing retreat located on a little bay of Baker Island in the Broughton Archipelago, also contribute DNA samples, which are stored at Nimmo Bay Resort and collected every few weeks by Rogers. Samples are then sent to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the Pacific Biological Station, a federal fisheries research center, where they are analyzed and added to the current genetic database used to identify salmon
Each tiny fin clip contains large amounts of genetic information that helps researchers understand migration patterns. “Through this program, we’ve been able to gather foundational information from which people can start to ask questions or draw conclusions,” says Rogers. “This information is fundamental when you’re starting to have conversations about how to protect rivers and make decisions about how to best manage salmon and their surroundings.” Salmon stocks have such specific needs that broad management decisions can have drastically negative effects on the entire ecosystem they inhabit. Should a watershed be opened for logging? Can we fish in a spot without hurting a very specific population of salmon? Having access to the diversity of salmon can help in making these decisions, says Rogers. To date, the Catch-Clip-Release program has collected more than 3,000 samples, according to Rogers, and is already shedding new light on the area’s salmon population. Samples collected in 2015 and 2016 revealed that the coho that return to the Wakeman River each year are genetically distinct from the rest of the coho in Fisheries Management Area 12. Research shows they are more closely related to the fish of the Central Coast, rather than those of the northern portion of the South Coast. Initially, the program only targeted Pacific salmon, mainly coho, Chinook, and chum. Last year, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations approved the Catch-Clip-Release program to collect samples from steelhead, Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. Participation has also grown, with Ocean Outfitters in Tofino coming onboard in 2017. “Our simple little idea has really taken off and empowered the local communities to take control of their future,” says Rogers. “Big problems, like protecting the environment and saving a species, suddenly seems surmountable when we all come together.”
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RECIPES
WORDS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Nimmo Bay Resort
Caitlin Hedley
Jeremy Koreski
A Coastal Infusion: Sea to Cedar Cocktails
Cedar-Infused Gin i n gre d i e n ts Strips of freshly cut cedar wood Gin (Wayward Distillation House’s Unruly Gin) me t h od 01 Place cedar strips in a clean mason jar 02 Add gin 03 Seal the jar and let stand for about 6 hours 04 Strain to remove all wood particles
Sea to Cedar Classic 1.5oz cedar-infused gin 0.5oz lemon juice 0.5oz rosemary syrup me t h od 01 Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake hard 02 Strain into a cocktail glass over fresh ice 03 Garnish with a turn of cracked black pepper and fresh cedar sprig
Add a splash of West Coast flavour with a cedar-infused spirit and drink in the wild, earthy essence of the region. Infusing gin with freshly-cut cedar strips adds a woody note with a trace of smoke. These recipes have been inspired by the team at Sea to Cedar working to connect people to place along coastal British Columbia. Keeping it local, try using Unruly Gin from Wayward Distillation House in Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Unruly Gin starts as 100% pure BC honey and is a refreshingly alternative Canadianstyle gin, balancing and complimenting its juniper with a hint of cedar and citrus, a dash of fragrant lavender and sarsaparilla root, and the vibrant notes of coriander.
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Sea to Cedar Sour 1.5oz cedar gin 0.5oz green chartreuse 0.5oz lime juice 0.5oz lemon juice 0.75oz egg whites 3 - 4 dashes of whiskey bitters me t h od 01 Place all ingredients in shaker and dry shake 02 Fill shaker with ice and shake again 03 Strain into rocks glass over ice
Lessons From an Outpost: WHY BEING OUTSIDE IS BETTER THAN BEING AWAY
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Trevor Ellestad
Jeremy Koreski
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On October 16, 2017, Trevor Ellestad arrived at Nimmo Bay with seventeen other wellness seekers, including a four-person team from Vega, during a particularly stormy fall on the west coast. They were there to bring The Outpost - a four-day luxury retreat at Nimmo Bay Resort, dedicated to connection, to purpose, and to collectively driving the future of plant-based nutrition - to fourteen of the company’s biggest champions. Excerpts from his journal entries at Nimmo Bay are indicated in italics. 01
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About Principles
octo ber 19, 2 017 d ay three o f t h e o ut po st
We are organized, systematic beings, but I believe life is best lived, not planned and then escaped. Life is best experienced, not suffered, considered, not criticized.
This evening I’m wrapped in wool and quiet cabin walls, staring out at Nimmo Bay. I’m mesmerized by the dark water. The rain makes tiny, pounding footsteps along the roof, the heavy drops hitting metal. And then the churn of the sea below me. In this cabin - this outpost that trusts the turbulent Pacific on only stilts and boards - I am again built of stone.
We are at our most well when we navigate this world with principles passionately tied to us through our soul’s purpose, our ancestry and community. Adopted or created, taken or borrowed, principles to live by are found in our blood, in our sweat, in fur and fear, in print, digital, and broadcast.
Among seekers, friends, and sweeping cedars, perched above this stormy, salty sea, I have become an adventurer returning to his craft. Air and wood and water holding this history of passed-down musty, resinous aroma. This place, the last of very few nearly-perfect wild places, a beacon calling me back.
Our lives can too easily become a ream of social content. Every celebration and sin becoming a viral, champagne-soaked proposal perfectly curated for the background of our memory. Moments in time flipping between spreadsheets, emails, and open web browser tabs.
Growing up in prairie places I was taught that the only palpability of October is the too-soon-returning cold and the smell of rotted pumpkins. Their frozen and thawed shells, their sunken and scarred jack-o’-lantern faces. There you are taught the different shuffle tones of the dried heads of grass, and the colour of canola and flax fields blurring together gold and blue along the highway.
Now we live at expense of the land and sea, and we are prisoners because of it. In exchange we have given up our wild senses for public debates about the color of a dress and digital noises. Black and blue, white and gold, Yanny and Laurel. We can no longer notice the sudden silence, because we have paid for our lives in quiet currency.
These penetrating coastal sheets of rain, the quiet stir and beautiful loudness of water - this ocean’s quiet riot was not a thing that was taught to me.
My principles were grown as I hope yours were, some perennial, others annual. Nurtured in the soil and sand, hardened in west coast winters, and harvested sporadically throughout my thirtysix trips around the sun, my principles grew alongside my grandmother’s raspberries, my aunt’s sunflowers, and my mother’s scarlet runner beans.
I am a witness now to a break in the aquatic symphony of goodnights, a sudden silence. The bay breathes a resounding sigh of relief, then holds a softening, before grounding again, the winds heaving only at the perimeter.
Locate yours and let them give you something to live by. Let them help you find the purpose you’ve been looking for.
It is a beautiful gaping hush between the din of cedar-toppling gales that leaves me just enough stillness to recount these past three days. The lessons I will take with me.
I can be. An intimate me not hidden behind the extra pile of pillows between us. I can see into the me that reflects back with a line of trees.
I can be. Just as happy to be free. Of every tightly wound night and early morning in sweats.
Sharply cedar, sharply pine, sharply hemlock leading lines. Still sitting in the tired that used to come when I woke, and then lasting until the early afternoon…
Between wisps of cloud and blue treads upon the sky.
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FI ND YOUR PURPOSE AND LET IT BE A CHILD LIKE ADVENTURER. MAKE IT A PU RPOSE THAT’S CLEAR AND N OBLE, BLEED ING IN CONVICTION. — Trevor Ellestad
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About Purpose
About Relationships
Purpose is a deep-seated desire to add just enough gravity to our lives for us to become rooted here. Purpose gives us the means to draw life-giving water and nutrients into our veins, the ability to take what is merely available and transform it into hardened buds to weather winter, layered leaves to capture sunlight, thickened bark to protect us, and tender fruit to feed those around us. Purpose is not a stagnant thing, in fact, I think it is actually what gives us the freedom to grow.
When you have found your purpose - that thing that drives you to it… existing beside you and with you, not just inside you - then find one person walking with that same thing too. Welcome that person into the rest of your life. Accept all the things in them that shift and change and leave space for them to teach you who they are, every day.
Find your purpose and let it be a childlike adventurer. Make it a purpose that’s clear and noble, bleeding in conviction. Make it sturdy enough to withstand those that would rather have you tied to them instead, the ones that would tell you a soul’s direction can’t get richer, can’t shift and change. Tell them to spend more time outside. Nature is the most mutable thing there is. Our souls may be greater than this world, destined for smoke trails curling into the sky. They may also be bound to it, just vibrations and molecules for the soil and the sand. Either way, I know one thing for sure. We are the ones who choose how malleable or fixed while we are, choose growth over reason, and bring life to this skin you are in.
Compromise on everything with them, except that one thing. I believe that might be the type of relationship where greatness, love, compassion, truth, and authenticity are born.
I can be in my me. I can take brutishly, and not worry for today. To not let these things slide slipishly defeating what I have created. Here. Along these steep sliding, craggish echoes of people who knew what it meant to spend time with each other. Their lines drawn only on the rock faces warning others of their prowess and their strength. I can be my ancestry. I can take from my blood and leave nothing but stones.
I am just as much me when I am in community. Taking time to make time. To make space outta lines. And chance just this time to see… what can happen when people meet above the lines. That divides us.
Dug from the soil and made fertile, this man and woman that created the woman who made me. Slipping gently on rolling prairie field and finding their bodies did sweat at night only in the midst of the heat of July.
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Sharply wheat, sharply birch, sharply sweet summer oat. That we’ve drawn. By stepping not so lightly on each other. And by night’s end we will be. A world that has bound its own misery. Suffering so contractually to a time when we were stronger. We were once one, you and me.
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About Environment
About Work
Get outside. We are not granite countertops. We are granite.
In my pragmatic pursuit of success, I stopped writing, but writing didn’t stop me.
I have learned more from the dirt under my fingernails, learned more from my sunburns, and calluses than I have from all my diplomas and degrees. But I too, don’t know how to disconnect. I have tenure in anticipated natural connection. I have a means to interpret my yearning for cedar scales and liquorice ferns. I carry with me always the distant sense memory of the smell of bark mulch and a cascading western front. But I spend my Mondays through Sundays with backlit hoarders of my time. Their blue skies doing nothing for the colour of my skin, their work bringing no sweat to my brow.
I have lived a dichotomous life. A beautiful life of healing and recklessness, of computer desks and cedar trees. Copywriting and planning, promoting and creating, building and leading. I’ve grown used to the pride of surviving. I wrote 389 very important words in Nimmo Bay. They weren’t part of an exercise in strategic planning, press release writing, or inter-personal communication. They were an exercise in listening. Silence will come to find you, if you don’t find it first. You will have your own resounding sigh. Listen to every molecule of it. Create your best work from this place.
Our ancestors are begging us to understand how we could have traded their callused hands and sun-baked laugh lines for recirculated air and annual beach vacations. You are more than skin and these thoughts in your head. You are a universe of stone, soil, and star.
I can be. Just as happy to be free. Setting wings on my spine and taking each feather in time. Greeting plume after plume and tucking gently inside. Stitching these long gliding forms before setting the sky underneath me. For once, I am the ceiling.
01 The approach to Nimmo Bay on a stormy October evening 02 Escape within Cabin #5 03 Exploring the rugged coastline along Brooks Peninsula 04 Refuelling the body with delicious homemade snacks 05 Plant-based picnic in the wild 06 Finding the balance 07 Group discussion circle at the entrance to an incredible coastal sea cave 08 Fog hanging in the trees 09 The group warming up after a nature hike 10 Heading back to the lodge through the rainforest
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For The Wild at Heart: WHEREVER YOUR JOURNEY MAY LEAD
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Caitlin Hedley PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeremy Koreski
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British Columbia’s West Coast provides an unparalleled backdrop for life’s special occasions. Start your new journey together where the timeless magic of the wilderness and romance unite in exquisite fashion. Gather with your loved ones and write your own wedding story, blending traditions with nature and topping it off with “I do” and happilyever-after. Trade in city lights and banquet halls for tree canopies, oceanviews, and star-filled skies. As waves lap the shore in a peaceful rhythm that lifts you from bed each morning and drifts you to sleep at night, time starts to move more slowly. Breathe in the sweet, fresh air and notice the musical harmonies of nature all around. 03
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Take your vows on a remote island, amongst giant cedar trees, next to a cascading waterfall, on top of a snow-capped peak as the sun sets over the mountain range, or with your toes in the sand on an expansive beach; the landscapes are as vast as they are varied. The wilderness awakens a sense of wonder, as it naturally evokes feeling and meaning. This is an adventure for those that live and love fearlessly, some would say, “for the wild at heart.”
01 The Island, Broughton Archipelago 02 Groom waiting and rehearsing vows 03 Wedding party makes their way by boat 04 Excitement in the air 05 The adventure of a lifetime 06 String duo 07 Expansive Pacific Ocean backdrop 05
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08 Beauty is all around 09 Bouquet of red roses and red Hypericum berries 10 Sullivan Bay Marina, General Store
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Island Hopping in French Polynesia: Murray Family Travels
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Becky Murray 01
French Polynesians describe their laidback culture as “aita pea pea,” an expression meaning “not to worry.” After hearing this, we knew that this would be the perfect spot for a family vacation. We began our trip in early January, sending off from Los Angeles. We hopped on an 8-hour flight to Tahiti, landing around midnight. Air Tahiti was great for families with small children and we were given preferred seating as well as some extra amenities. Upon our arrival at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort, we were greeted with welcome drinks and warm smiles. Our 4-year old daughter wanted so badly to go for a swim that, in the early hours of the morning, we took our first dip in the sandy-bottomed pool. The following day, we borrowed a car and set out to do some exploring. The island is located in the archipelago of the Society Islands, the central Southern Pacific Ocean, and is divided into two parts: the larger, northwestern part, Tahiti Nui, and the smaller, southeastern part, Tahiti Iti. We stopped to see some ancient rock sculptures (Arahurahu Marae), a waterfall, and had lunch in Papeari. Driving from Tahiti Nui on to Tahiti Iti, we came across beautiful farmland and drove up Mt. Roonui to take in the view. Throughout the day, we watched as the friendly locals played in the ocean waves and soaked up their calm island vibes. Our next stop was Bora Bora, a quick, one-hour flight from Tahiti. We stayed at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort in gorgeous huts stilted over the ocean, in the shadow of the breathtaking twin peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia. We spent a few relaxing days swimming with sting rays, playing in the pool, exploring the property, and enjoying the daily cultural activities. We were lucky to experience an incredible wind storm that allowed for some sleepy days in our spacious hut with midday family naps and champagne on the windy deck.
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Our last, and by far the most memorable, stop on our holiday was to the island of Tetiaroa. Here, we visited a private resort called The Brando, built on a remote atoll that was once owned by the late Marlon Brando. Opening in 2014, it took two decades to conceptualize this stunning resort, designed and developed by Richard Bailey and operated by hotelier, Philippe Brovelli. Both having built and operated a series of resorts throughout French Polynesia, The Brando is the pièce de résistance of their lifelong careers. The Brando came to be alongside the Tetiaroa Society, which allows guests to enjoy the pristine beauty of the atoll, learn about the natural and cultural heritage, as well as experience the highest iteration of elegant and personalized service. Each well-appointed villa has a media room, outdoor plunge pool and bathtub, a private yard, large bedrooms, and an incredible selection of amenities to enhance your stay. Our daughter loved biking around on the guest pathways, playing on the sandy beaches, and staying up late to see the baby sea turtles make their migration to the ocean. My husband, Fraser, and I took advantage of their childcare offerings and enjoyed relaxing in the intimate and stunning spa with treatment rooms on a small central island surrounded by the most exquisite lake filled with lily pads. Other highlights from The Brando included a private boat ride with lunch and a spectacular presentation of traditional dancing on our final evening. While the activities on offer were executed seamlessly by this impeccable team, it was their passion and attention to detail that made this a memorable family experience.
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01 Pool time, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort 02 Arahurahu Marae, Tahiti 03 Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa, The Brando
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M AU P I T I BOR BORA
TA H A A
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Travel Tips for French Polynesia: While some of the personnel speak English, the main language is French. You can get around quite easily with US currency. The food is seafood focused but also inspired by France. This means that you can start your day with a delicious Pain au Chocolat!
MOOREA TA H I T I
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A favourite dish of ours was Poisson cru (ia ota), which consists of raw fish marinated with lime juice and soaked in coconut milk. One of the main industries in French Polynesia, aside from tourism, is the black pearl. Hinerava Jewelry, created by a local designer, offers a mix of classic and more modern designs, and they are gorgeous.
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A FISH STORY 30 YEARS IN THE TELLING On a fly-fishing expedition in Alaska in 1987, our founders discovered the need for technical apparel that performs as gear. What they wanted, however, didn’t exist. So they got to work. Their vision: engineer a shirt that combined the functionality of a fly-fishing vest with built-in ventilation, all wrapped in a dress shirt’s construction. And with that shirt, the iconic Baja, the first “climate control” shirt was created and ExOfficio was born.