Expedition 1 – Ocean Falls to Bella Bella

Great Bear Swim 2016

ocean-falls

Mid July 2016 Susan Simmons, accompanied by friends Dale Robinson and Jill Yoneda, jumped into the water from the historic site of the Ocean Falls Aquatic Centre, Ocean Falls, British Columbia and swam down Cousins Inlet and Fisher Channel to Stokes Island, at the half way mark.

A grizzly bear and her cub had been spotted about 1 mile from where the swimmers exited the water.  Not wanting to disturb the local wildlife the swimmers headed to Drifter’s Cove on Denny Island where they spent the night. The next day they return to to Stokes Island and began stage 2 of the swim swimming through Gunboat Passage to Shearwater and across Lama Pass to Bella Bella.

You can learn more about the swim here:

  1.  What the Heck Happened @Great Bear – GBS part I
  2. The Journey to Ocean Falls – GBS part II
  3. Swimming the Great Bear Sea