A Christmas Note

A Merry Christmas from the Keller family at Coast Mountain!

We are warm and snug in our home overlooking the protected shores of Evans Bay on Read Island. The temperature outside is a chilling -12 C and it is snowing but at least there is no wind tonight. There has been snow on the ground for nearly a week. It is winter here in British Columbia.

The summer passed successfully (thanks to all of you) and while we were not always grateful for the never-ending sunny days--you were! From the beginning of our season in May until the 21st of September, the last day of our bears trip, it rained only 6 days. After a brief and colourful Fall, the rains finally did come in late October’Ķ and did it ever rain! By mid November we broke the rainfall record for that month. After 22 days, the deluge finally stopped and we abandoned our plans to build an ark. Just as we were beginning to dry out we were slammed by a frigid, powerful Arctic outflow wind funneling out of Bute Inlet. Within a very short time the wind had gone from calm to storm force. We watched the famous ’ÄúBute’Äù wind or, as the Xwemalhkwu people call it, ’ÄúKwoch’Äù snap mature trees in half, and blew snow about creating blizzard conditions. Temperatures plummeted to well below freezing. The wind tore the roof off the kayak shed’Ķ last seen heading for Oz. A well rooted Douglas fir just behind the house refused to be toppled so ’ÄúKwoch’Äù snapped it in two, sending the top hurtling down onto our outhouse, smashing it to kindling. The ferocious wind sucked the heat out of the house leaving us huddled around the wood stove. But, we’Äôre OK and the house is OK and it was well, quite an exciting show! We are humbled by the power of nature.

It’Äôs hard to believe this is the 20th Christmas letter we’Äôve written since Coast Mountain began many years ago. Since then many of you have returned numerous times and watched our children, Emily and Albert grow up and watched us grow a little older. We are happy to continue sharing this part of the world with you, and honoured that so many keep coming back for more kayaking adventures. Your confidence allows us to improve the lodge, the trip routes and the food more each year. Some of you are darn close to reaching family status!

Both kids are in Victoria: Albert is in his second year studying economic geography, statistics, computer science, international politics, and creative writing’Äîand whitewater paddling whenever he can. Emily is taking a semester off to work as a research assistant for the Centre For Non-timber Resources at Royal Roads University’Äîher first stint as a commuter, steady pay-cheque, evening free person. She indulges in Yoga, the climbing gym, stain glass lessons, and a social life. We are at home on Read Island with the cats and the chickens and an already too long list of things to do.

Our year has been a contrast of joys and sorrows. We’Äôve been touched by the loss of dear friends and challenged to understand the natural dis-order of life. We have ever more gratitude for our good health and this wonderfully abundant part of the world in which to live. We are thankful to many people who make us feel special. We wonder at the horror that humans inflict on one another and are fearful of our collective disregard for the planet that sustains us. But our lives are full and good, if a little stupidly busy. We take some solace in the fact that we are lucky enough to call work not-work and that makes it all play’Ķwhat more could one ask for?

We leave you now with Lannie up stairs working on the computer, entering the year’Äôs addesses on the data base and Ralph is at the kitchen table designing, among other things, a new outhouse.

Best Wishes,

Ralph & Lannie

Coast Mountain Expeditions
Discovery Islands Lodge