Abandoned Island Town and Military Base | Destination Adventure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ย. 2023
- Exploring Haida Gwaii takes a lot of time, especially if you want to see both islands. My first two weeks were spend on Graham Island, which is beautiful, but Moresby Island was even better than I had expected. There is a small ferry that will take you from Graham Island to Moresby, and right away you are greeted with some beauty and history. South island is full of history, and is also the location of Gwaii Haanas National Park. There is a small section of paved road, and the rest of the islands are only accessible via boat or old logging roads. We explored a small amount along the network of logging roads, but the real treat came once the boat was in the water.
Leaving from Moresby Camp, which is the site of an old town and logging camp, the banks of each channel are littered with old towns, camps and canneries. We had a couple of days exploring the channels here, and barely scratched the surface of what is left to find. You can only enter the national park if you have a permit, but we found lots of beauty without any issue. Going through Louise Narrows is a real treat, and also gives access to a whole new area of exploration.
Looking at the satellite map, I was able to identify what looked to be an old town site. Once pulling the boat onto land, it was obvious almost immediately that there was in fact at some time in this location. There was little left for actual structures, but paved roads, gardens, rock structures and town infrastructure were abundant all throughout the location. After speaking with some locals, I have learned that it was in fact a logging camp, but incredibly well established. There were families, businesses, a school and even a recreation complex with a pool. I have seen a few photos provided by locals, but unfortunately there is little to find online.
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Grew up with Saturday morning cartoons. Now it's Saturday morning destination adventure thanks Dustin
I was thinking the same thing
Haha yes, very true
Same here!
What a treat it is bud
agree i look forward to my saturday mornings with a coffee and at least 30 min of EXCELLENT material
Sewell Inlet was actually a bustling logging camp from 1969 til the late 90s. At one point it had over 50 families living there. From what I gather the last few residents/workers left in the early 2000s. A short distance along a logging road into the valley takes you out to the west coast to Tasu Inlet where there was another town called Tasu which was a modern company town that included several apartment buildings, a hotel, general store, bakery, cafeteria, dining room and pub, as well as a school and recreation centre with swimming pool. Tasu was based around an iron and copper mine which ran from the 60s to the 80s. Lots of interesting history in that area!
the townsite for Tasu was on the piece of land across from the open pit the grey slope was waste rock. I was a kid there from 66 to 77 It was fly in or boat,love this footage
I lived in Sewell Inlet in 1988....can answer a few questions. It was a logging camp for many years, with families, a one room school, bunkhouses and the Full Boar Inn pub. You were walking on a tennis court. It was a great little community!! Everything was barged in but we would go out for groceries once a month on a crew boat, through the narrows to Moresby Camp and shop in Sandspit. Waterfall Creek was a great spot for clams, there were no Dungeness crabs there, but plenty of prawns in Fairfax Harbour on the Tasu side. Lots of salmon, it was a great place to live, thanks for the trip down memory lane, pretty sure you were walking in what was once our backyard.
You should write about all this! :)
In 1967 when I was 17 I worked for my Uncle Joe not far from Moresby on his float camp. He had three A-Frame floats with donkeys up the hill swinging logs down to those A-Frames. My job was Chaser on one of those floats. Each week Bill Bell took the camp boat to Moresby to get supplies. The camp was on Talunkwan Island.
In those days you went to camp for five or six months at a time. I bought a speedboat so I could explore and I did.
That was long ago but thanks for waking up those old memories.
"I have never been lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."
Daniel Boone
Holy crap, D - the wildlife footage you caught is stellar! Great episode, heck, the whole Haida Gwaii series has been top-notch.
That shot of his buddy just chilling on a bridge right next to an eagle was wild.
Thanks dawg. :)
When my parents first immigrated to Canada from Japan, they lived in Tasu, Queen Charlotte Island. I think there used to be a power plant there. It was so neat to see it mentioned in this series!
I was really hoping to make it there, but just a little too risky.
Probably my favorite Dustin adventure video in quite some time!...NOT to downgrade ANY of the previous ones- it just seemed to resonate with me......old iron relics, abandoned mystery structures and infrastructure, a blend of seriousness and comedic stuff! So wonderful Dustin...THANK YOU!!
Thank you ☺️
Same with me.
Moresby Island absolutely had a military base during WWII. Paternal grandfather was stationed there (if i remember correctly), maternal grandfather was one of the early airport managers in Sandspit (I was raised out there). So much history out there! Sewell was a logging camp/town complete with a school. I believe the last families were moved out in 1988 or so.
I’ve gotten to look it up now, and it was quite the operation back in the day. Not much left, but cool to see the remains. You must have some amazing stories of that area, it is some awesome history.
My wife’s grandfather was also stationed there.
@@Destination_Adventure There are so many amazing stories that have been passed down over the years. It's so awesome that you are documenting this!
"I'm the biggest king in the smallest castle" . You and that castle go to some amazing places. Every episode is just so good to watch. I can't say thank you enough times.
Found your channel while in the hospital recovering from a sudden heart attack and a quadruple bypass. All shockers as all I had was some stomach pain, but those hard times were made easier following along on the adventures with you. 20 days later I can say I got a two mile walk in on my way to a full recovery. Thanks man, owe you one. Keep up the outstanding stories, camera work and music choices. Tommy Ljungberg - Rebuild Me really stuck with me. You really helped me man, thank you so much.
Hey Dustin. As I read through the comments I note that you are bringing up good memories for a lot of people just as you did for me when you were on Chilko Lake. I’d like to thank all those who take the time to fill in the knowledge of what those places were. I had some correspondence with Denny Boyd while he was with the Vancouver Sun but it was only in his obituary that I learned that he was born in Anyox. Keep on truckin’ Dustin!
If you go onto Google Earth you can co back and see there were still buildings there in Aug 2005. Crazy that it's all gone in less then 20 years!
Is there a way to see all of the older google sat images or were you just seeing older footage that hadn't been updated yet?
@@thedrainjunkie5654 on actual google Earth, no maps there are 4 google images
When you don't post, you are greatly missed! Thanks for the world class content!
by far one of my favorite adventure exploration channels around man, great work!
Great job again. Thank you. I’m pretty sure you’ll find out the history behind this video 🇨🇦
Thank you. 😊
I am totally amazed with every video you put out. Your videoing skills are amazing. You bring us to places where most people can't even begin to imagine. And the history you share is very interesting. I am very grateful you bring us with. You are letting me live my dream by sharing your adventures. I am so glad that your friend Curtis got to come with you for a week. Stay safe, Dustin. God's blessings on your adventures from Proctor Minnesota!
Thank you so much.
Dustin!!! I know I say it continually-BUT! You’re video’s are National Geographic worthy! You had me in tears because of all the beauty of nature! So many WOW’s. As usual, I watch and then go back to the beginning and watch again!!!! I will be looking at these comments to see if anyone knows about your discovery. Thank you!!! You always make my Saturday!!!!!! You Rock!!!!
Thank you very much. It’s amazing what I learn about the locations from what folks post in the comments.
me to
Dustin: My uncle was based in the"Queen
Charlotte's" during WW11. All he could rem-
ember was the rain and the beautiful scenery,
but there was activity there ! The closeby
Aleutian Islands were invaded by the Japanese
forces,but they expelled,of course!
I was fortunate to visit my husband(he was doing
telecom work) on Haida Gwai and enjoyed the
great scenery and friendly people there! The
halibut was delicious too! A very laid back existence
and one so linked with nature! Loving this exploration!
Cheers,Sandy&Andy
In around 1974 I went by boat to a logging camp that was setup like a small town. I had a beer in the pub. It was called Sewell. I wonder if that was the place where you were digging around at.
Just pure gold all the way to the end. You covered every angle from cinematic to adventure to comedy... while living such a legit nomadic lifestyle. 😢
"I'm the b-biggest king in the smallest *snrk* castle!"
The square brick building on the left side of the road, was one of the RCAF bomb storage buildings. There were several more, but I believe only that one is still standing. The large concrete structure with the wall, is a gunnery backstop, for sighting in the guns on aircraft. There is one just like it in Terrace, BC, most RCAF bases had them.
The bear turning to watch the eagle fly by was a chef’s kiss from Mother Nature. She meant it for you Justin!
It was really cool to see that. I was shocked when that eagle started our way across the bay.
@@Destination_Adventure I know my birds, but most of my knowledge is Southern Alberta mostly. Was that a golden eagle?
What a hoot. Good times with a good buddy.
When I was on the fishboats we went through the narrows in a 42' troller😮😮 that only travels at 6 knots. We went through on a rising tide about 3/4 through the rise. That way if you hit something or break down you are floating off of it. That was a wild ride. Imagine a 12' wide boat going through. 😂 it felt like we had 1' on either side.
My best friends dad was a logger on the Charlotte's back 50 years ago. He told us about the size of the trees they felled. He had a pic of him standing at the butt of a log. His saw had a 4' bar on it. He was holding the saw above his shoulders and the tree was still 3' higher. Amazing.
That would be awesome to see going through the narrows.
We look forward to your expeditions and adventures!! Your our favorite TH-cam channel ever. Your funny and clean in your adventures.
You see things we will never see or travel too. We love you videos and music with them.
I can''t believe you found Queen Charlotte's rhododendron...(out of season, of course), and noticed it, then walked away
Another fantastic video tour! This brings back great memories of my time living in Masset 1984-87 with my wife and 2 children. Absolutely one of the best places I’ve ever been to and explored. The communities on both Graham and Moresby islands are full of so many great people we met and made friends with. In 3 years I still didn’t get to see everything there was to see and experience and a few years ago I made a return trip with my daughter and granddaughter staying at an off grid cabin on North beach between Masset and Tow Hill. We visited all the main sites and discovered fantastic new places including the world class museum in Skidigate. Haida Gwaii and it’s people are truly amazing and I will be back again.
It wouldn't surprise me if that mystery town was to service the mine or surrounding mines as you noted. Likely it was put in that location due to proximity to creeks for hydropower. Also likely is that the homes were probably trailer type and got floated in by barge. They do look that way in the pics. When the minework dried up, they probably just packed them up and left. All conjecture though. I have no idea what they were up to there.
Also those rock crabs were absurdly big
I lived in the “Charlottes “ in the late 1980’s and the road in Swell Inlet did go to Tasu. It was to connect the east coast to Tasu because of the storms that would be on the west coast. The road was a alternate way to get civilization.
Only Destination Adventure is allowed to make bad jokes and I live for them. Also, that was a nice rhododendron bush there, someone really had a nice home.
Wait ... are there really people who don't appreciate the jokes?
I swear, Dustin, you wow and awe me, week after week, with what footage you capture. I can't tell you how many times I've shouted "holy crap." From wildlife of birds, bears, seals and even jellyfish, to the gorgeous scenery. All those shades of green, from the most vibrant shades to the darkest. And even in the literal middle of nowhere, you still manage to find awesome history, even when it's covered in leaves, fallen trees and moss. Whether rain or shine, I'm wowed, every. Single. Time.
That old townsite! Wow, and that tree is a very healthy and happy rhododendron. And that basketball court may have been a hockey rink on the winter.
Another awesome video. Thank you.
I think that one "tree" was actually a tall rhododendron bush. We had some big ones like that when we first moved into our house. The cable wrapped around the stump looks like how they used to anchor log yarders, those big towers that moved the logs to a landing. They would often anchor to old stumps rather than valuable timber. My guess from the growth of the alder, this was clear cut not exceptionally long ago, maybe a couple decades?
Good afternoon from the south Okanagan where we finally got a wee bit of rain. Thanks for taking us along once more, the scenery is stunning and you captured it very well again. Safe travels.
"Be prepared, don't be scared" sounds like a great slogan to put on a shirt. (Also a great motto to travel by.)
Dustin!!! U finally caught a Fish!😮😮😮😮 thanks so much for sharing ur adventures with us!!
I'll say it again....this must be the most beautiful part of this beautiful planet. Thank you for letting us visit it with you.
I am loving the guests. Their reactions of amazement tinged with jealousy. YOU are a Trailblazer and a Blessing.
Wow.. Sewell inlet! I logged there in the early 1990’s. If I got this right it used to be a small town before a logging camp. It had a bar, bowling lane and golfing when I was there.
That’s the one!!! I’ve learned a bunch of stuff about it now, and it was quite the place back in the day. Cool to see the photos of it.
There was a Military Base in Massey it closed I believe in 1996. I was posted there in 1981- 1983, beautiful place . Enjoy your channel because you visit all these beautiful out of the way destinations.
I bought a conversion van during and a enclosed 14' trailer covid and loaded my ATV and camping supplies and left N. Carolina and spent 4-5 months living in the state and National Forests on the US west coast. When I explored everything in one place i would move to another state or forest. I realized that you don't need a whole bunch of shinny fancy things to be happy!
What about last week mystery that you couldn't show us?
Lots of abandoned places on Haida Gwaii, military camps and lookouts, old logging camps like Juskatla, one in Shannon Bay, Skidegate lake, and much more, although a lot is hard to find since some spots were from a time when steam donkeys and huge spar trees were still being used to log, they only things you might find from that era is steel cables and rigging.
I love when you have guest adventurers, not just for the uniqueness they bring to the episode, but for what it brings out in you, Dustin. Hoping for more.
Stunning!!! With the everyday world so full of things that make life difficult, your wonderful eye for detail and beauty and, your choice of music, your personality, and humour, are so lovely. Your videos calm me and make me feel at peace, thank you for that!
This was amazing and beautiful. The ending made me chuckle because this has been a society driven stress week. As I watched this video, stress started to leave and acknowledged my desire for an off grid vacation. Yet, you get to do this all the time. So, who's the richer man? The one who enjoys his surroundings not driven by society rules or the one who suffers through stupid weeks of being told what to do so the boss man can make that money? You're doing it right Dustin!!
I really enjoy the lifestyle. It’s certainly not for everyone, but it’s for me. :)
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤@@Destination_Adventure
Dustin you are a cut above most of the other channels I follow. Your personality is incredible! Thank you for creating these masterpieces!
For one reason or another you have a lot of followers who can’t do what you do or see so thank you for allowing us to go along with you
Ok so officially this is my favorite way to destress! I can just relax and enjoy the beauty of these locations you visit. What a great life you have! And thanks for sharing with those of us who just enjoy the journey via TH-cam!❤
Well another exciting and wonderful trip under the belt, thank you so much for taking us to places we would probably never see if weren't for your footage and explorations, you are King in my book, thanks again Dustin, and I just love your humor, makes me laugh everytime!
Good Morning, first cup of coffee and Destination Adventure! i was loving all the ferns, they are so huge there! The stillness and pureness of this area is just breathtaking. Thank you for taking us along
Having lived 2 weeks in a caravan while earthquake repairs were done I admire how you live in your van good for you , sadly for me heck no lol I was in my front yard and suffered homesickness. Just love your show the scenery stunning
Its amazing how quickly nature reposes & covers an area thats been abandoned
What a great start to my morning. Broke my leg hiking in Darrington WA the other day, and this video gets me out again! Keep it going buddy
Damn those were some beautiful shots. Still, pristine waters, with lush green mountains/islands and fog rolling by. Quite a view innit.
From a fellow "vagabond". I´m not laughing of you and the tiny thing you call home. I´ve been living in a 38 foot Nauticat for almost 10 years now, traveling the coasts of Scandinavia and seeing places most people don´t know exsist. My father once said: do what you feel, and not what others mean. Keep being a free soul 💗
Another superb video. My take on the little town is that it rains so hard and so long in the winter, that the dirt roads would wash away. The logging company was making so much money from stripping all the giant trees from clear cutting, they could afford to pave the settlement roads and provide some semblance of amenities. It was tough to keep people working there. Weather, isolation, backbreaking redundancy of the work contributed to an plenty of alcohol being consumed is my take from people i have known who work in the industry in that general location. Did some crabbing in Skincuttle Inlet a little further down waiting for a herring opening and Red Rock crabs is all I got as well so, don't feel bad. They taste good but the meat is sparse compared to dungies. The Halies are out at the opening of these inlets. We hand lined a 75 pounder with a Norwegian jig and then shot it with a 410 when it surfaced. Tasty. To bad you cannot make to Tasu Inlet and the abandoned mine there. Slept overnight beside a ore freighter trying to avoid bad weather in 1981. That Louise channel almost looked man made? Keep Truckin and Boatin and stay safe. Cheers
Love the locations and the footage. With all those different camera angles it must take forever to edit. Great music too.
Awesome video of the bear with the hawk flying thru. Enjoying your adventures.
Your vlogs should be a tv series. Great story and photography.
Hahahahaha I loved the ending with you two.
Glad that you went back and closed the camper’s door!
The abandoned site at Sewell Inlet is an old logging camp. Even has it's own FB page.
You have a great channel! Absolutely entertaining and educational. Thanks.
Dustin,
Really enjoy your channel and content. You have a good eye for the shot. Keep up the good work. Be safe, Boe
Anyone else picking up a Dead Pool sense of humour or vibe?
Love the channel and wish i was there and not in the uk because of the breathtaking views
You are living your viewer's dreams, Dustin
Fantastic! Thanks for including the "interview" at the end.😆
Thanks so much - that’s the content I love the most - exploring the forgotten things of the past!
Dustin you’ve done it again! While Iam sitting under our gazebo at our trailer site , drinking a hot cup of joe and the rain pouring down all I can do it smile while watching yet another great adventure of yours! Thanks dude and looking forward to next Saturday! Cheers and safe travels 👍🇨🇦
Thank you😊
Thanks for the reply Dustin, have a great thanksgiving weekend 👍
Always very cool ,I also look forward to Saturday morning adventures with Dustin. Hope that flute wasn't there only form of music,lol
Saturdays are the BOMB! Absolutely loved this episode, one of your best yet! I kept waiting for Mick to show his face in those abandoned places…
Cheers!
Bryan from Vancouver
Dustin. I really enjoy seeing you take that boat of yours into the ocean and go on adventure to the unknowns. Your never know what your going come a across in your travels. Reminds me of the days with my father and his 14 foot wooden boat. Trolling for Spring and Coho. Sport fishing is a favorite past time. Your adventures in the Charlotte's is so far one of my favorites. You really have great a way of telling some great stories and cliff hangers to keep me coming back for more. I love it. Your amazing as always. Cheers.
What a incredible shot, that eagle and bear!!!
Another banger! I could set up camp in that old town. What a beautiful location, and so peaceful. Thank you for letting us tag along.
Amazing how quickly nature takes it back.
Another great Adventure Justin,the guys dancing on crab boat at end laughing my 🫏 off🤣😂🤣😂
Sorry Dustin
Since you showed the can label, I figured I'd share some fun Chef Boyardee facts!
Did you know that Chef Boyardee was a real person who found success selling his canned products to the US Army during World War II, and that after the war they started selling the same product to consumers which means that Chef Boyardee is literally rebranded WWII field rations lol. Taste the history! XD
Keep up the awesome work, been watching you since the very very beginning fellow nomad.
I was moving to a new job in North Carolina and picked up a slide in truck camper to live in. (while my house was being sold in Maryland) Made for a 1/2-ton pickup it was not big. I bought this one because it had a shower. Lived in it for 4 and a half months and LOVED it. Being a vet, the American Legion let me park in back of their building. That gave me power and I had water from an outdoor spicket. Surprised myself that I could live in something so small and be happy. Now that I have done it when I retire the plan is a small piece of land with a garage, power and septic and a converted bus.
I agree, it is a great lifestyle. It definitely isn’t for everyone, but for the right person it is just perfect. I couldn’t imagine anything different. Lol
Very interesting that you didn't find remnants of any living spaces. Looks like a fun time with golf balls, toy flute, axe throwing 😂
Love watching all your adventures ❤❤
I am so envious of you and your lifestyle. I’m a good bit older than you but it reminds me of when I was 16 years old and life hadn’t jaded me so much. Watching your adventures let’s me unplug to a much simpler time when curiosity and energy took you wherever the day led. Thank you so much for all you do for us by letting us into your life. Just please stay safe out there dude.
Still don't understand how you do not have more views/subs. Keep up the great work.
Another cool adventure from the Big King 😀
You are My favourite adventure youtuber. and Tied for First place among Canadians with Victoria's own Loading Ready Run.
Another great adventure video (as always)! That item you found at 25:53 appears to be the frame for a windsock. At the base is a bearing for it to swivel and the was likely mounted on the pole you found nearby. Perhaps they had a helipad or it was for floatplanes, or both. Look forward to the next adventure.
Just found your channel and have been binging on videos for the past 3 hours ;) Thank you for sharing these precious moments, stunning landscapes, adventure and nature with us. So many amazing wildlife shots, too! Makes it a bit easier to still get to "explore" places through your footage even when not having the opportunity to go traveling for the moment.
Lol that tree you saw that looked like it would be planted outside someone’s house is a Rhododendron!
Excellent Episode! I noticed there are stickers for sale on the merch page and....I bought one! There will be a very special place for it on my Jeep, right next to my Flying Spagetti Monster sticker! hehe!
Once again amazing video. I have always wanted to see Haida Gwaii, so this series has been so wonderful to watch. Thank you 😊
Beautiful day today up there.
Blew a tire on a camper on a 15 degree slope. Scary, but we put out triangles, chocked all the tires of truck and trailer with rocks and changed the tire!
I got a scare with the seals. If one decided to leap into your boat others might follow, which could easily cause it to sink and/or capsize. Now, I will continue watching. lol wow, just wow. and thank you
Ive been trying to convince my wife we should move the family to Canada for years. We now are free to do so and it the worst possible housing prices ive ever seen. I have always enjoyed the MoHo lifestyle but with a huge family… things get complicated quick.
I guess i will just have to keep living vicariously through Destination Adventure. ❤
Prices in the Cariboo are more reasonable as long as it's not too close to a lake. Dustin's back yard. I have a cabin up there.
You're not alone. There are a lot of us living vicariously through Dustin's adventures. I say come on over from where you are. Lots of cheaper housing and great towns in central BC.
I spent a week on Haida Gwaii in July of. 2023. Rennell Sound was very nice but the Rennell Sound FSR had the most pot holes of any road I drove on. I stopped to check out that old dozer as well. Gray Bay on Moresby was also very nice.
I saw it! You got a fish and some crab! Yay!
I lived in a overhead camper for 6 years raising my daughter. It was a good life living in the wilderness. Thank you for sharing
We are so brand new to your channel but we are enjoying the stuff out of it! And your music? Copyright free?
It's so great. But you are amazing. We travel all over and maybe ..just maybe an exploration channel for us? Because folks can't always travel. They learn about places from you from those who go and explore. You are lighting a fire.
Thankyou.
You do grest things ❤
🖤🐈⬛
Thank you for sharing ❤. The bush that doesn’t belong is called a rhododendron. Finally I can help you. 😊😊
Very beautiful scenery and I am totally as freaked out as you were by the town. It looks to be really developed to be so abandoned. Probably the company went bankrupt and everybody left and nature has reclaimed it quite well. Keep these amazing adventures coming!😊
Ya, just an amazing channel. Have to comment, it would be a deservice not too. Kick ass adventures, cool camera work. 😎 👍 Kicks fear aside, love it.
A person doesn’t realize how beautiful Canada is - just stunning - thanks Dustin
Made me laugh at the end when you said about living in a smaller RV than your a class , 😅you wouldn't believe how small my Van is and I live in it full-time over here in the UK. Absolutely brilliant Chanel ❤ thanking you for your video's 📽️🚐
Quite often I feel as though I’m Curtis, ridin' shotgun on your adventure. Thanks for taking me along. Great video!