North Island Lodge "Operation Change Over"

August 11, 2012

For anyone that hasnt visited North Island Lodge or has plans to in the future you might be asking yourself how we do "it". And by "it" I mean transport and accommodate over 600 North Island Lodge fisherman within a three month period while the Chinook salmon run is at its peak at Langara Island in the Haida Gwaii.

North Island will remain fully booked over the course of the season from the end of May until the beginning of September accommodating 24 guests per trip that changes over with new guests twice a week (every Monday and Friday). While moving freight, fish and guests to and from an extremely remote location in the Haida Gwaii might sound like a logistical nightmare .. our fishing guides, inside staff and dock crew work together and in sync like a well oiled machine to make "it" happen.

Change over day begins with our dock manager Steve kicking off eager anglers for their last morning on the water and while the guests are out fishing their prized and carefully filleted catch from their trip is boxed strapped, labeled and weighed for the flight home.

Transported and stacked at the end of our Dock all fish and baggage is ready for Helijet's Sikorsky S76 to touchdown at North island.

With pinpoint accuracy our Helijet pilot Pierre lands on the end of our dock so we can begin loading freight and baggage.

Meanwhile inside staff promptly attends to our guest rooms to ensure they are ready for our next set of guests. Celina poses for a quick shot.

Stevearino assumes his position in the chain gang as long arms Gallacher stacks fish boxes in the helicopter with tertris like intricacy.

With the freight chopper completely loaded ... management makes an appearance to ensure everything has made it aboard and we are cleared for take off.

Two more choppers arrive to take 12 guests / flight back to Masset and onto Vancouver.

The last of a group of guests makes their way down the dock to board their flight home ...

My good friend Doug Baine uploaded this youtube clip of Helijets Sikorsky on approach at North Island Lodge ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUyLlsIgw8

Another trip ends while the next begins. A seamless exercise in efficiency orchestrated by the North Island team.

from 54°14′03″N 133°01′13″W,
Pat Cullen | NIL Fishing guide | WCFC sales & client services
patrickcullen@westcoastfishingclub.com

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JOHN BAKER
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