Serpent Group, Kildidt Sound

[Featheron]

The Serpent Group of small islands lie in the middle of Kildidt Sound, SW of Hunter Island. There is wonderful hidden campsite (51 47.75' N, 128 10.08' W) on the SE side of the middle and largest island, which is numbered '57 overline' on CHS charts 3935 and 3937.

A small sheltered sandy cove is hidden behind a line of rocky islets. It is not obvious and can be hard to find, especially at high tide; a perfect pirates hideout. It is best approached from the NE (see GE image below). At mid to low tide, a narrow sandy beach is visible between the main island and the rocky islets. This initial beach appears to end in rocks. This is the landing. The sandy cove opens up to the right only at the head of the initial beach. At high tide the initial beach is covered. This makes the campsite even harder to find but it is then possible to paddle all the way into the sandy cove. The cove also has openings between islets to the S and SW, these are rocky and exposed to swell from Queen Charlotte Sound, the NE approach is recommended as it is sheltered and safer.

The sandy cove is large enough to provide sufficient tent sites for a large (10 person) group. Vegetation has been cleared to provide two tent platforms above beach level.

There is no fresh water on the Serpent Group. Fresh water should be available within a 3-5 nm radius (Hunter Island or Spider Island).

We failed to find the pirates buried treasure. Neither did we find any serpents!

Also see page 117 of The Wild Coast 2 guide book by John Kimantas.

For further photos and info from this trip see http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtngoat/sets/72157624423831271/.

 

[chodups]

Hole in the Wall

We followed Dave along the rocky lee of the group and around one point after another. I couldn’t imagine how a decent campsite could exist here as the shoreline was all near-vertical rock topped with wind tortured trees. We reached the end of a nameless point and Dave announced that it was right around the corner but as soon as we rounded that corner he said that we had passed it. We backtracked about 30 feet and looked for a campsite. There was no place to even get out of a boat except maybe a little patch of sand back against the rocks. We paddled towards it and as we got closer that little patch began to unveil itself. It was larger than we had thought but this was close to low tide and there was no visible place to camp that would be dry at high tide. Oh well, might as well pull up and rest on the beach. Have a bite to eat. Exiting our boats we could see that it extended back at least 75 yards bordered by steep rock. Nice place to take a break.

Serpent Beach
Larry Longrie

Walking back into the gap between the rocks we discovered that this became a shallow passage at high tide and could hear surf crashing beyond. Suddenly the passage stepped back on the right side to reveal a beautiful little beach that faced the rock wall on the left. Seaweed on the beach showed the most recent high tide mark and told us that there would be adequate dry space for us to camp. After some discussion we decided that after only 9.7 miles this would be our campsite for the night.

As we set up camp a beautiful orange throated hummingbird approached and hovered at arm’s length. It zipped between us, pausing, curious, sizing each of us up. After we had been thoroughly introduced it shifted it’s interest to the red trim on Larry’s Marmot tent. Then, as quickly as it had approached it disappeared.


It was really interesting watching the tide cover our landing beach and creep towards our tents. The area in front of camp became a lagoon that pulsed with swells that broke against the western end of the gap.


We dubbed it Hole in the Wall. What a strange and beautiful place.

Jon
http://3meterswell.blogspot.com

 

[Featheron]

Jon,

Yep, it is well hidden but quite the gem when you find it. Thanks for adding to the write up.

Ron

 

[carsten]

Such nice pics of The Serpents! One of my favorite places. Kildidt Sound is a beautiful place to explore. I witnessed a bubble formation of humpbacks close up - just off the island! So many whales...