Following George Vancouver



Among the Marsden Island Group

We departed “Monday Anchorage” on Tracey Island heading west passing by the Marsden group of islands then through Trainer Passage between Crib Island and Eden Island.  At this point we could see the expanse of Queen Charlotte Strait with Foster Island in the far distance.  Making a sweeping turn around Eden Island, we traveled east up Fife Sound. 

Approaching Pearse Peninsula

As we approached Pearse Peninsula on the southeast end of Broughton Island, we stopped along the shore to see if we could spot the pictograph reported to be at this site.  There are a number of known pictographs in the Broughton Island region, most of which were first discovered in 1792 by Archibald Menzios, the botanist on Captain George Vancouver’s voyage of exploration to the Northwest.  

The Pictograph

We finally spotted the faded orange pictograph, the image of a face.  Natives obtained the orange coloring from ochre, a natural earth pigment.   We continued up Fife Sound, passing Benjamin Islands and then beautiful Burwood Islands located at the east end of the Sound.  From here we turned northward following Raleigh Passage heading toward our night’s anchorage at Simoom Sound.  

Burwood Islands (foreground)

Port Turn to Simoom Sound

Simoom Sound

Simoom Sound, a long finger-like bay, is tucked behind Wishart Peninsula on the mainland of northern British Columbia.  Beautiful Simoom Sound was one of the extended anchorages used by Captain Vancouver in HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham during his voyages of exploration in the summer of 1792. 

Simoom Sound

Most of the Sound or bay is deep, requiring a stern-tie to shore in many places.  We were able to find a more suitable 50-foot spot to anchor at O’Brien Bay located at the end of the Sound.  

Simoom Sound

I have to admire Vancouver’s choice in selecting this beautiful spot;

Simoom Sound

but as Leonard pointed out George didn’t take into consideration the poor cell phone reception due to the high mountains.