The primary route north on the famed Inside Passage is via Seymour Narrows. Until 1958, that passage was obstructed by Ripple Rock. Numerous wrecks made that stretch of the passage north of Campbell River BC, daunting. In an amazing controlled explosion (largest non-nuclear explosion ever) Ripple Rock was pulverized.
You can read the entire account at Vancouver Island Bound, here.
(Ed. note: Thanks to BE reader Rod Pugh for the link.)
Update from Norton Rider: Here's a video of the Ripple Rock explosion:
2 comments:
Here's a video of the Ripple Rock explosion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVQOvKh3IWY
This brought back some memories. In 1966 I found myself in Vancouver,BC. With my British Chief Mate's Foreign-Going Certificate I found a 'summer' job with West Tours of Seattle. At that time they operated, under the Canadian flag, the "Glacier Queen" and "Yukon Star" on eight day cruises from Vancouver,BC. Both were converted HMRCN WW2 Corvettes. As the Third Mate I was trained in Inside Passage Pilotage from Vancouver,BC to Scagway,AK. On the Bridge bulkhead there was a series of photos of the Ripple Rock explosion. You can well believe how my eyes opened on transitting the Seymour Narrows!! I guess I learned because for the last month of that summer season I was Second Mate in CNR's "Prince George".
Good Watch
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