High on Lowe Inlet

 

Anchor up at 0650 (6:50am) in Bottleneck Inlet.

Today is going to be a good day.   This is the earliest in the season we've been up this route so we are anticipating many great looking waterfalls through the various channels we will pass through.












And we were not disappointed at all.
One particularly spectacular waterfall we passed is in the abandoned town of Butedale.  Butedale was a remote cannery town, founded in 1911 around a major salmon fishery.   At its peak, Butedale supported 400+ seasonal workers, powered by a small hydroelectric dam and surrounded by fishing, logging, and mining activities.

After the cannery roof collapsed in 1950 and the industry centralized elsewhere, the town declined and was finally abandon in the 1970's becoming one of BC's most iconic ghost towns along the Inside Passage.

I understand someone has acquired the rights to rebuild here.   Probably an ideal location for a marina/fishing resort.   We did see a new dock, and that is a good start!

Continuing up Graham Reach to Princess Royal Channel, we encountered some serious fog.   This picture is the "before it closed in" shot.   For a while we couldn't see anything.  

So, we navigated by instrument (radar, GPS, chartplotter, & depth sounder).   The old fashioned (sort of) way.
Finally, it lifted a wee bit...
This picture is as we crossed between Whale Channel to the south and Douglas Channel to the north.  This shot is looking west up Grenville Channel.
We pulled into Lowe Inlet and anchored right in front of the waterfall in about 55' of water.   There is so much outflow from the falls that we should be held in place all night.
And we immediately were graced with a Black Bear.   He was foraging through the grass and rocks along the shoreline maybe 100 yards away.
You might get the impression that all we do is eat.  That would only be mostly true.   This is leftover doctored Pho from a few night's ago.   This time with fried crispy gyoza added into the mix.   

Tomorrow we are off to Kumealon Inlet, about 25 miles up the coast and halfway to Prince Rupert BC.   Prince Rupert will be our northernmost Canadian port before we cross back into the USA in Ketchikan.
And I'll leave you with another Zen moment...

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 28, 2026 at 10:16 PM

    Serene! Wishing you safe, spectacular, and serene days ahead. -CM

    ReplyDelete
  2. PeterMay 29, 2026 at 11:41 AM

    Thanks. We hope so too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 30, 2026 at 11:30 AM

    Those waterfalls are stunning! Here's to more smooth sailing ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  4. KipJune 6, 2026 at 4:22 AM

    We get socked in too at our apartment on the 4th go floor ! I always pretend I’m on BlueRedd when that happens. Will send a photo when it happens again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. PeterJune 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM

    Maybe you should get radar at your apartment, so you can rally feel as if you are here? Or better yet, come and visit again!!!

    ReplyDelete

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