Beachcombing Firewood Alert Bay BC

Alert Bay is a small island community on the west coast of BC. What timber that is on the island is all privately owned. So the only way a lot of people get their firewood is to catch the logs as they drift by and tie the logs up until they feel like cutting them up. To the locals, a beachcombed log that is tied up with just the smallest of rope is sacred. To take someone's log that has been tied up would put you on the same level as a horse thief in the old west.

 

Wow. Nice pics of some nice logs! What brings you to the beach Alan? I know you get your wood elsewhere.

 

GIBISA= Get it before it sails away!

 

Thanks campinspecter ... great perspective Allan, for those of us who're lucky to have plenty of wood down back...

 

What level would you be on if you took the wood that was all bucked and split by the side of the road?

 

Snail scum...

 

Salt water soaked logs? How do their stoves tolerate them?

KaptJaq

 

It is something that just never happens.

 

For the people that burn beach wood, it is very hard on stoves but it is their only source for firewood.

 

Just went to the beach to take the pictures. Granny's original furnace went 35 years but the same units that burned beach wood had a life of 15 to 20 years. I drive along the beach to get to Granny's. Granny lives in Alert Bay.

 

Wish that were true everywhere.
Is any of that private beach?

 

I'll bet that old sneak Relic would grab it if he had a chance.

 

What would a truck load sell for delivered ? Or not aloud to transport to the island ? Once again Allan, a neat story and pics.

 

Around $ 200 a cord and no restrictions on wood going to the island.

 

My beech wood doesn't have salt in it.





That's an interesting way to get firewood, but you do what you have to do.

 

Adds a whole new meaning to "Aqua-Logging"

 

Really neat pictures once again. This also gives a different perspective on firewood gathering.

Looks like there could be a need for someone who sells firewood around there.

 

Thanks for the different perspective. I never thought about beach wood before.

 

I guess with all that pressure to spot wood floating by, and the chance that their logs might get lost.. it's good that they're always..

on Alert!

 

Amazing pictures, thanks for sharing. Must be such a hard but rewarding life. I live on Lake Erie and get large logs washed up on the beach from time to time. Couple years ago I got a beautiful 30" black walnut about 15' long. Mill didn't want it as it was soaked and starting to get punky in spots so I turned it into the prettiest firewood I ever saw. Don't have to worry about salty wood on the Great Lakes but the sand sure does a number to my chains, no matter how much I sweep or blow the wood off first.