I ran up to Bella Bella, Denny Island BC this week.

I cleared Canada Customs in CYCD Nanaimo, and went up the Straight of Georgia past CYQQ Comox, CYBL Campbell River, and in to CYZT Port Hardy for the night. It is a quick 7 min walk down the street to the Airport Inn, so no rental car for me. $$$.

The next day I ate at the newly reopened café in the airport terminal. Esso fuel got me going NW up Queen Charlotte Strait, North up Fitz Hugh Sound, in to Fisher Channel. A hard Left ( West ) turn to fly between Campbell Island and Denny Island to YJQ NDB just to see the light house. I flew over Shearwater Marina http://www.shearwater.ca to let the guys know to come up the hill to pick me up, and landed at the old strip. Good pavement, trees under control for the most part. No tie downs. Solid granite ground, so you can't even auger in to the soil, because there is none. Grab some melon size rocks for the wheels. Cell phones work good up at the airport if you have a CDMA phone (Verizon). GSM phones ( AT&T, etc ) will not work. Bella Bella, Campbell Island RCO does not work on the ground. Buy fuel at Wag Fuel over at Campbell Island. There is a new helipad next to the float plane dock at Shearwater Marina with fuel, but not up at the Denny island airport.

Stayed 4 days and had a good time. I'm not a fisherman, but if I was, I could have gone salmon fishing. Newer lodge was clean and comfortable, great staff, treated me very well.

Neat Spot,

The place used to be a base for the RCAF during WW2. The "seaplane" style hangar is still there and it's being used by various folks.

I flew Goose out of Bella Bella....I know the area quite well.

Did ya manage a look at the Canso crash site just around the corner? Took me forever to find it. Ya have to "hold your tongue just right" to see it.

BladeRunner wrote: No tie downs. Solid granite ground, so you can't even auger in to the soil, because there is none.

A guy needs a Hilti and some 3/8" expansion bolts.

Northern Guy, I'm always up for a challenge to find something like that, with great respect, of course, to the departed who perished.

Z, they are working at getting a Denny Island Airport Commission back together, and one of the things they intend to do is put in tie-down anchors.

Guys, if you want to stretch your legs, its a 1:30 walk down to the lodge/restaurant. I enjoy the walk. The power poles are all numbered. #40 is at the airport. #23 is the turn off for the dump. Take the right turn at #8 down the hill to the hangar. From there the pub is just around the corner on the water. The old FBO building up at the strip is abandoned, but is kept unlocked so pilots can get out of the weather. I have spent quite a bit of time sitting in a chair in that building, and was glad it was there. There is no bathroom at the strip at all, just trees for nature. A call to the lodge will get the van up the hill for $10.00. A sign is posted on the FBO outside wall the phone number.

BladeRunner, what were you flying? I always get a little tingly launching out of Port Hardy northbound, where the first thing you have to cross is Queen Charlotte Strait (or Sound? I can never keep track). Some guys used to land on the beach at Burnett Bay, just before you get to Cape Caution and Egg Island, but one of my buddies got a Turbo Beaver on amphibs stuck in the sand there and it kinda took the fun away. Sounds like you had some pretty decent weather at least. When its nice its nice.

Hey Northern Guy, I hear they're looking for more Goose drivers out of Hardy. New kids can't figure out how to keep the tailwheel behind the mains, and they could use a little instruction.

Forgot to post the pics:

Just back from a run up to CYJQ Denny Island again. There is a brand new outhouse just behind the old FBO building, available all hrs of the day. The bathrooms over at CBBC Campbell Island are inside the FBO and are locked up after business hours.

Good to know when you gotta go.

I was there for 6 days. Had a good time. Great people at Shearwater.

I'm back from the last trip of the year to Bella Bella, Denny Island BC ( CYJQ) for a stay at Shearwater.
I arrived on the day of the big Christmas charity event and was asked to attend. I met new people and became reacquainted with old ones. The meal was very nice and we had drawings for cash and prizes with some lively entertainment to top it all off. The evening ended with dancing. What a great time I had.

This place is pilot friendly.

You can call the lodge from the strip and the van will come and get you.
Shearwater Main phone number: 1-250-957-2666.

If you are on the other side of the bay ( CBBC Campbell Island ), just take a $12 taxi ride to the dock, then wait for the "Seabus" ( water taxi) to take you over to Shearwater. its $5, or free if your staying in the lodge.


New Lodge at Shearwater



The Cedar Lodge at Shearwater



Fishermans Bar and Grill at Shearwater.

Had a $100 'burger there last summer. Everything looked new.