Customer Reviews

Volume 2: British Columbia's West Vancouver Island

5 star:		(1)
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John Kimantas had enough research and insight to break up the West Coast region of Canada into a three volume set (known as the 'Wild Coast Series') and offer detail never before seen of one of the finest kayak destinations in the world. With the almost-overnight success this series, I was eager for the chance to check out his next venture - the BC Atlas series that accompany the books.

Note: Perhaps as a testament to their popularity, both the books and atlases have been difficult items to keep in stock. It would ultimately keep me waiting for almost six weeks to obtain my Atlas.

I purchased Volume II which covers the entire West coast of Vancouver Island. The quality of the production is top notch: 51 water-repellent laminate pages including a 'splash proof' outer book-cover definitely made me feel like I received my money's worth (I paid $26.00 at Amazon, compared to the List price of $40.00). Each page is in full and rich color with photos included of noteworthy sites and locations. As described, the maps offer useful information specific to kayakers that you would not normally find on any chart - campsites, anchorages, launches, wildlife viewing/nesting areas, trails, ruins, intertidal areas, navigation markers and call-in points. In addition, these maps are littered with interesting tidbits, such as 'exceptional sand island; may be surf', 'recommended kayaking' areas, and 'potentially dangerous turbulence off the Point', etc. Information you would hope to have on hand before planning your visit the area. It would have been nice if he elaborated more detail with regards to First Nation Heritage sites - such as known fish traps, clam beds, middens and such.

My biggest issue with this product is the scale - 1:100,000 when compared to the Canadian Hydrographic Charts of 1:40,000. Granted, trying to keep in scale with the Hydro-charts would almost triple the size of the atlas (as well as the cost). The Hydrographic charts do offer more lush topographical detail and professional appearance. I compare it to the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series.... great resource, but when you are at the trailhead, you are better served with a good old topomap.

That said, I think Kimantas does every serious kayaker a service by offering a powerful set of resources for everyone to use. His work alone, renders most other guide publications of the same area obsolete. These are excellent tools for planning your next trip and I am pleased to have access to them. I would consider using a BC atlas for shorter trips. But for the extended excursions, you still cannot go wrong with a good old Hydrographic Chart.

I had previously kayaked using the standard canadian nautical maps. Even for the smallest trips, I would need a couple of them. Constantly need to refold them during the day.
These atlases solve all those problems. Big scale but with plenty of detail. I have had both nautical and these atlases on one trip and I kept turning to the Atlas - clearer and get a bigger picture.

The fact that they are waterproof is a big plus for that time you do need to flip the page in roughish water. I used one of the atlases for a 3 week trip last year abd the pages did get slightly damp between the laminate. Water will eventually seap throught the not perfect seals. I just use the atlas with a map case, no further issues.

Adding in all the extra info these maps have, eg campsites, towns, current speeds, hazards etc. they are a must have for any vancouver island trip.