This is the third and lougheed island in the BC’s Inside Passage. From the little that I know of it, it is difficult to describe because it doesn’t really have a name. The islands on the inside passage are known as the Islands that do not belong to any particular nation but have their own flag of Norway.
This tiny speck in the ocean is truly a place that you can only ever dream of visiting. However, I only know this because it is where Steve Fossett set his 13-hour sailing record back in 1995.
Contents
All About Of Lougheed Island
History
Historically, Lougheed Island was known as Islay (meaning “Island of the Eagles”). The island was first explored by James Cook in 1778 and named after Lord George Erskine, a Scottish nobleman, and friend of George Washington.
In 1865 wealthy American Civil War veteran Captain John Wesley Powell discovered the island while exploring the Inside Passage.
In 1995 Steve Fossett set a sailing record by covering 13 hours and 45 minutes in a self-built, single-hander. He then changed the record to 15 hours 10 mins but was eventually surpassed by Richard Branson’s around 2014;
Fossett entered his boat into the Guinness Book of World Records from this unsuccessful attempt but since he never submitted it information is deemed not accurate due to him being dead at that point in time.. The island is located at various map places.
It exists on both the British Admiralty charts and in 1884 it was plotted onto the Russian Hydrographic Office charts by Georg Vasnetsov, being verified only a decade later by William David Messier.
The original name of this island is “Islay”, which has been translated as “Island of the Eagles”. However, its Russian name was “Lougheed” – translation would be something like “the white island”, although its official more recent common name is just Lougheed.
Climate
The island has an oceanic climate. This means that the weather is moderated by both the warm waters of the Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as being influenced by winds from these two bodies of water.
The average temperature on Lougheed Island is about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) in July. Though the snow-covered peak of Prudhoe Peak (Onja) is about above sea level, most of Lougheed Island’s 31 inhabited communities do not exceed sea level.
In January 1925, Arctic explorer Elisha Kent Kane made a failed attempt to reach the summit on dogsleds and skis—the first recorded attempts by humans.
Culture
Lougheed Islanders have a deep cultural connection to the land that surrounds them. Traditionally, they have practiced subsistence farming and fishing, with some families remaining in the same location for centuries.
They also pride themselves on their artistic and musical heritage, which is evident in ceremonies and festivals such as Gathering of the Woodbine Stems (held every other year), Drumming Competition (held annually) and Island Music Jamfest (held biennially).
Politics
The Island of Lougheed is a self-governing British Columbia island municipality with a population of approximately 2,500 people. The Island of Lougheed has its own municipal code, police force, and elected officials.
The municipal council is composed of seven members who are elected by the eligible voters in each electoral district according to the first past the post system.
The main office of the Municipality is located at Lougheed Plaza near Highways 97/3 and 11 in Whitehorse, Yukon. Municipal Council consists of a Mayor (or Reeve), Deputy Mayor, and Councillors from each district.
The current municipal administration was elected on October 19, 2003: Paul Plett (Mayor) – District 1 Kees Van Tighem – District 2 David Loland Jr.(Deputy-Mayor) Richard Bruneau – District 3 Darcy Jones-Seligman(Councillor) – District 4 Heather Irish (Cllr.) – District 5 Steve Simpson -District 6 Clarence Tyrell Jr.(Councillor ) Peter Klinker(Councilore).
The History of Lougheed Island can essentially be traced to the year 1901 when a group of prospectors headed out into Chilkat Pass during their search for gold in the Klondike gold rush. Ten years later, those individuals transformed their mostly wilderness island into the bustling community that we see today – including a school and store relocated from Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory.
Government services
Lougheed Island is serviced by the Whitehorse Airport, located in Whitehorse, Yukon. Communication exists via satellite communications with Hamilton, Ontario (Airlink technology), or the existing terrestrial radio system. Regular mail runs to Whitehorse and Vancouver Island in British Columbia every other month from February through May/October.
Tourism
Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Lougheed Island and offloads labor costs onto local businesses. The island offers visitors access to nature, shops, restaurants, and accommodation facilities. The islanders provide guided outings to Chilcat Glacier, Klondike Gold Rush Site McBride Lake, and the Russel Fiord.
Tourism services include: The Lougheed Island Gaol was first constructed in 1901 – to service a group of prospectors who had disembarked from their ships at the Bonanza Goldfield. Nineteen years later, with Whitehorse booming as the hub for Yukon’s gold rush activities.
Bill and Jules McBride moved their shop across town to an area known today as Ash St. This location is now owned by Hotel 1001 acting on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, and is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Transport
The island is served by the Whitehorse Airport, located in Whitehorse, Yukon. There exists an existing terrestrial radio system connecting Lougheed Island with Hamilton, Ontario (Airlink technology).
Mail runs operate every other month from February through May/October to Whitehorse and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. They are operated by the Canada Post postage stamp series ‘Whitehorse – Vancouver’.
‘Lougheed Island Airport’ weather information is provided via Mackey Airports. Trans-Polar Airlines and Northwest Galaxy charter flights service Whitehorse; Calgary International has a daily arrival from their seasonal destination in Eagle Plains, Alberta.
In 2015 BC Ferries was launched between Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Nanaimo, and Departure Bay marine terminals using an intermodal ferry.
Cuisine
The cuisine on Lougheed is influenced by both local ingredients and those brought over from the mainland. A favorite dish, mussel soup, is made with a specially prepared mix of oils (found in areas such as Haida Gwaii) to give it a distinctive flavor. Local beef, pork, and lamb are also popular choices for meals.
The wine industry on the island produces award-winning chardonnays and pinot noirs that can be found at most vineyards on Vancouver Island, as well as Whitehorse’s Treaty 6 Winemaker Awards. Most of the wines are only shipped to inland North America or Europe and can be hard to find or expensive elsewhere in Canada.
Conclusion
For anyone who has ever used Google Maps to plan a trip, you will know that there’s a lot more to exploring than just zooming in and zooming out. You will know about places you’d like to see and things you would like to do.
But, here’s the thing: when you go on the road, there is always the option of booking a flight instead. With this in mind, why not learn how to travel cheap by planning your trip? First off, let’s outline how there are different ways of traveling and how they all have their own benefits and disadvantages.
FAQs
1.Can I Go There During The Summer Months?
Ans: Yes, the island is open year-round. However, during peak tourist season (July and August) Lougheed experiences a high population density and limited lodging availability.
2.What Does It Look Like?
Ans: Lougheed is a small island in the Strait of Georgia, located about 45 minutes from Victoria harbour. The landscape ranges from pine-covered slopes to sandy beaches and salt marshes. There are also more than 60 kilometres of hiking trails that wind their way through the island’s diverse habitats.
3.Where Is It Located?
Ans: Lougheed Island is located just off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia.
4.How Do You Get There?
Ans: If you’re coming from Vancouver, Alberta, the quickest route is to fly into Victoria and take a ferry over. Alternatively, you can drive south on Highway 1 for about two hours until you reach the Strait of Georgia and then take the Lougheed Island Ferry.
5.What Is Lougheed Island?
Ans: Lougheed Island is a small island located in the Strait of Georgia. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria, British Columbia and offers visitors plenty to do, including hiking and beaches.
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