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Issue 33 - January 2018

Glacier Adventuring with Compass Heli Tours

Through their work, helicopter pilots are afforded an incredible opportunity to bear witness to the beautiful landscapes that exist on our planet. In their ‘extended back yards’, they enjoy nature in a way that can’t be experienced through road-accessible parks. Nick Drader and Compass Heli Tours wants to share that experience. They are offering varied glacier adventures to individuals who want to see what lies in the backcountry of British Columbia.

By Kevin Majoros

Glacier Adventuring with Compass Heli ToursAn appreciation for the environment and a passion for sustainability

Drader grew up as an outdoorsman and served as a crew member with his father’s company, D.K. Heli-Cropper. The company specializes in wildfire suppression and aerial tree seed collection to replenish logged or burned forests. His initial dream was to fly for the Canadian Coast Guard but that evolved into commercial helicopter pilot school at age 18.

Drader has been flying for over ten years with his father’s company in Western Canada’s remote wilderness. The experience led to his passion for sustainability of our natural resources.

Since 2007, he has personally collected over two billion tree seeds through his work in aerial tree seed collection. A hanging device below the helicopter takes off a healthy tree’s upper lateral branches. The use of an aerial rake leaves the treetop intact and the same tree can be harvested the following year.

The pine cones are used in reforestation for planting in the same climate, elevation and geographical area of the harvest. The company is primarily harvesting various pine species to combat the devastation being left behind by the mountain pine beetle.

Glacier Adventuring with Compass Heli Tours with a helicopter in the backgroundWildfire firefighting leads to adventuring in the outdoor wilderness

During the size-up phase of an assessment for wildfire, variables such as fuel load, weather and topography determine possible needs. Wildfire suppression firefighters are often on hold for weeks just waiting to execute their initial attack.

Drader found the waiting periods an opportunity to think about what he wanted for his future. In 2016, he launched Compass Heli Tours which specializes in private helicopter adventures in the wilderness around British Columbia.

“The missions I undertake through pine seed collection and wildfire suppression are incredibly rewarding,” says Drader. “I started thinking that there was more to it than what I was experiencing on my own.”

The company’s adventuring tours include glacier kayaking, paddleboarding, ice caves, fishing, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, volcanos and waterfalls. After departing Abbotsford, B.C., clients are flown 45 nautical miles in an AStar helicopter into the Canadian wilderness. With Drader as pilot and guide, flying through the Coast Mountains is as adventurous as the actual endgame.

Glacier kayaking around glacier lakes in British Columbia

Compass Heli Tours utilizes a variety of unnamed lakes for glacier kayaking which are surrounded by unnamed mountains. Snow and ice begins to melt along the outer shoreline of the alpine lakes every June. The appearance is that of a river, but in fact, the water is perfectly still. Kayakers are treated to four hours of paddling in brilliant blue water.

“Most of the time, kayakers can paddle through the meltwater around the entire lake,” Drader says. “Sometimes the melting pattern results in a Mario Kart looking racetrack with all its loops and twists.”

Once the ice melts in the alpine lakes, Compass transitions to a lake that is one-mile long. Adventurers have a choice of activities that are in sight of a wall of ice that is 150 feet high.

Regardless of the activity, Drader uses his background in reforestation to chat with his clients about local environmental challenges.

man in a kayak

The rewards of adventuring in a glacier destination

Whether it is exploring an extinct subglacial volcano or wandering through perfectly formed glacier ice caves, the rewards are plentiful. The backcountry settings of the Compass destinations are prime for an unforgettable experience, even for Drader.

“It’s hard to describe that feeling of being in the middle of nowhere,” says Drader. “Your mind clears of all distractions and you become attuned to your surroundings.”

The personal rewards for Drader have led to him transitioning to Compass full-time this coming spring. There will be no more cone picking or firefighting. He says his favorite time of the year is when the lakes are thawed, and the activities are expanded.

“I have had people tell me that their adventure was the best day of their life. That is super rewarding to me,” Drader says. “I love this job and will never get tired of doing it. Sharing this experience is a great way to make people aware and promote conservation.”

You can visit Compass Heli Tours at www.compasshelitours.com

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Kevin Majoros portraitKevin Majoros shares stories on sports, ocean adventuring and conservation. He is based in Baltimore/Washington and travels the world as a competitive swimmer.

 

 

 

 

 

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Conservation Photography

Dolphin Portrait for January by Karim Iliya

A Hawaiian spinner dolphin passes with a leaf on it’s fin. These spinner dolphins drop the leaf in front of another dolphins who will catch it on their fin and pass on. Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and will often pass the leaf to free-divers if they are in the area. 

dolphin underwater

Karim Iliya

Karim is a professional underwater photographer and Aerial Cinematographer living on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Growing up in the Middle East and Asia, Karim lives a nomadic lifestyle with a focus on photographing wildlife and marine environments to help increase awareness and an appreciation of our delicate ecosystems on Earth.  

www.karimphotography.com
karimiliya@gmail.com
instagram: karimiliya

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SEVENSEAS Media Conservation Photography

SEVENSEAS Media publishes some of the world’s best and most famous photographers, videographers, and artists. Some professional, some amateur, some first timers, and even a growing Instagram community. We all have one thing in common, a shared goal of visually telling a story and preserving what we have left of our natural world. 

If you want to publish with us, online or in monthly issue, just shoot an email to info@sevenseasmedia.org. Also follow and tag @SEVENSEAS_Media on Instagram for a chance to be featured as Photo of the Week.  Contributors never loose rights to artwork. 

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Issue 33 - January 2018

SEVENSEAS Magazine: January 2018 – Issue 33

january 2018 Sevenseas media magazine cover

 Cover art by Pete Oxford

Head shot of Giacomo Abrusci, Sevenseas media executive Director1. Letter from the Editor: Plans for 2018? Be a good human being.

Just be smart, be a good human, plan on one project, and do it well.

 

sevenseas media store advertisement2. Shop our store this season and support ocean conservation

We just opened up our first e-commerce site in time for the holidays! Best part is 100% of the proceeds to go SEVENSEAS Media. 

 

Three kayakers paddle down glacier lake meltwater3. Glacier Adventuring with Compass Heli Tours

They are offering varied glacier adventures to individuals who want to see what lies in the backcountry of British Columbia.

 

dolphin underwater4. Dolphin Portrait for January by Karim Iliya.

A Hawaiian spinner dolphin passes with a leaf on it’s fin. These spinner dolphins drop the leaf in front of another dolphins who will catch it on their fin and pass on. Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and will often pass the leaf to freedivers if they are in the area. 

 

sting ray in galapagos5. FEATURE DESTINATION: The most amazing nature photography you will see from Galapagos in 2018. 

Time to start planning your trip.

 

Sea lion, Isabella Island.6. FEATURE DESTINATION: Galapagos: A DIY Guide for Families

Layers of iridescent blue mix with rays of sun, shifting sand and emerald mangroves. One early morning, hours before the tours from boats anchored offshore would arrive…

 

 7. FEATURE DESTINATION: Galapagos Time Warp.

Twenty-two years ago, I was a bright-eyed, idealistic university student learning Spanish and biology in Ecuador…

 

people jumping in maui by Maui Jeff Beige8. A “SWIM” of a Lifetime: Travel the world, help sea turtles with Loggerhead Marinelife Center 

We all love an amazing trip to an unforgettable destination. But how about a trip to an unforgettable destination that makes a world of difference?

 

surasak nebuit headshot9. Surasak Nuibut, Mountain Climber, Adventurer & Travel Photographer: Germany and Czech Republic

This month Em takes a break from the heat in Thailand and through a winter holiday in Germany and the Czech Republic. Are you ready for an trip like this?

 

shark swimming in a marine protected area10. Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas: Guidelines for Design and Management

The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Big Ocean are proud to announce the latest addition in the IUCN WCPA Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series

 

mangroves11. How mangroves got their roots back in East Java. 

The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Big Ocean are proud to announce the latest addition in the IUCN WCPA Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series.

 

global marine community logo12. Connect with the Global Marine Community. 

In a nutshell, the Global Marine Community is a free interactive resource that gives you access to a weekly email detailing a round-up of events and opportunities in ocean conservation.

  

underwater volcano13. Underwater Fire – Exploring Submarine Volcanoes.

Schmidt​ ​Ocean​ ​Institute’s​ ​research​ ​vessel​ ​Falkor​ ​recently​ ​completed​ ​a​ ​41-day​ ​expedition​ ​near​ ​Tonga,​ ​using cutting-edge​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​map,​ ​view,​ ​and​ ​sample​ ​underwater​ ​volcanoes​…

 

14. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor? 

32 Issues, readership in 174 countries, over 15,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

 

 

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1. Oceanic Society Expeditions. 

See this “Senegal: African Manatee and Turtle Conservation” trip plus many others in the new 2017-2018 Expeditions Catalogue. 

 

2. Bangkok Photo Tours. 

We visit traditional sights but focus on markets, street art, and local food. All camera forward and environmentally sensitive.

 

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5. Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition. 

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6. Loggerhead Marinelife Center. 

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We offer unique, small group expeditions for travelers and photographers to remote and pristine destinations and cultures around the world. 

 

 
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Issue 33 - January 2018

Underwater Fire – Exploring Submarine Volcanoes

Schmidt​ ​Ocean​ ​Institute’s​ ​research​ ​vessel​ ​Falkor​ ​recently​ ​completed​ ​a​ ​41-day​ ​expedition​ ​near​ ​Tonga,​ ​using cutting-edge​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​map,​ ​view,​ ​and​ ​sample​ ​underwater​ ​volcanoes​ ​while​ ​sharing​ ​observations​ ​with​ ​the public​ ​using​ ​real-time​ ​video​ ​streaming​ ​and​ ​chat​ ​programs.​ ​Findings​ ​include​ ​detecting​ ​widespread​ ​evidence​ ​of deep​ ​sea​ ​explosive​ ​volcanism,​ ​observing​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rarest​ ​volcanic​ ​rock​ ​types​ ​on​ ​Earth,​ ​exploring​ ​the​ ​largest known​ ​dacite​ ​lava​ ​flow​ ​on​ ​our​ ​planet,​ ​and​ ​discovering​ ​three​ ​new​ ​hydrothermal​ ​venting​ ​sites.

Tonga – Despite the crushing pressure, extreme variations in temperature and complete lack of sunlight, live still thrives at hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. This is a diffuse flow site dominated by snails and sea anemones.  Credit:​ ​SOI​ ​/​ ​Ken​ ​Rubin

“Submarine volcanism is one of the fundamental processes that has affected both the composition of our oceans and the shape of the seabed, as well as the development of life on our planet,” said Ken Rubin, Principal Investigator and Professor at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai‘i. “It is hard to pick the most exciting things that we have learned on this expedition because we have learned so much. However, perhaps the top four are the number of recent eruptions in the area, the amount of deep sea explosive volcanic deposits, the wide range of volcanic styles on small, closely-spaced volcanoes, and the number and diversity of hydrothermal​ ​systems​ ​and​ ​habitats​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area.”

Most of Earth’s volcanoes are in the oceans, yet scientists know very little about them compared to volcanoes on land. The core goal of this expedition was to understand more about submarine volcanic activity, as well as their impacts on ocean chemistry and ecosystems. By scrutinizing the geological and magmatic evolution of each volcano as a single individual – then studying all of them as a group – researchers are developing a stronger understanding of volcano history, volcanic eruption styles, and how submarine volcanoes grown over time. Additionally, the relationship of volcanic activity to magma generation in the mantle below – across a wide array of volcanic settings – was an important focus. By approaching with a multidisciplinary team, researchers investigated many aspects of submarine volcanism, studying how geological, biological, and chemical processes interact at these seamounts. Vent biology, fluid chemistry, and chimney sampling were also components of the research, ingredients to​ ​uncode​ ​the​ ​relationships​ ​between​ ​volcanoes​ ​and​ ​hydrothermal​ ​vent​ ​ecosystems.

underwater volcano

Tonga – One highlight of the expedition was the discovery of three new hydrothermal venting sites. Here a “black smoker” chimney releases hydrothermal fluid into the deep sea.  Credit:​ ​SOI​ ​/​ ​Ken​ ​Rubin

Although these volcanoes are very closely-spaced (their bases are just 0.6 km apart on average), the stark volcanic differences between them were key findings. Four of the volcanoes have active hydrothermal systems (and another has an inactive site), but the style of the hydrothermal activity, the shapes and spacing of the chimneys, their heights and the biological communities living among them are all​ ​very​ ​different​ ​from​ ​site​ ​to​ ​site.

Researchers​ ​discovered​ ​that​ ​recent​ ​volcanic​ ​eruptions​ ​are​ ​not​ ​restricted​ ​to​ ​the​ ​summits​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Mata volcanoes​ ​-​ ​several​ ​have​ ​been​ ​active​ ​at​ ​their​ ​flanks​ ​and​ ​bases.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​these​ ​eruptions​ ​started​ ​as​ ​a​ ​very unusual​ ​intrusion​ ​into​ ​sediment,​ ​pushing​ ​up​ ​and​ ​blistering​ ​the​ ​sea​ ​floor,​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​lava​ ​oozing​ ​out​ ​of the​ ​base​ ​of​ ​this​ ​uplift​ ​mound.​ ​These​ ​various​ ​eruption​ ​styles​ ​and​ ​locations​ ​provide​ ​new​ ​insights​ ​into​ ​the magma​ ​plumbing​ ​systems​ ​of​ ​the​ ​volcanoes​ ​and​ ​how​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​over​ ​time.​ ​The​ ​team​ ​also​ ​recorded​ ​an unexpectedly​ ​large​ ​range​ ​of​ ​lava​ ​types​ ​(both​ ​slow​ ​and​ ​fast​ ​moving),​ ​and​ ​interior​ ​textures​ ​of​ ​lava​ ​rocks recovered​ ​(including​ ​the​ ​numbers,​ ​shapes​ ​and​ ​sizes​ ​of​ ​crystals​ ​and​ ​frozen​ ​gas​ ​bubbles​ ​known​ ​as vesicles).​ ​These​ ​lava​ ​rock​ ​samples​ ​provide​ ​important​ ​clues​ ​about​ ​the​ ​wide​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​eruption​ ​styles​ ​at these​ ​volcanoes.

The​ ​team​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​closely​ ​observe​ ​dacite​ ​lava​ ​flows​ ​in​ ​two​ ​sites​ ​that​ ​are​ ​enormous​ ​in​ ​area​ ​and volume,​ ​with​ ​flow​ ​lengths​ ​up​ ​to​ ​10​ ​km.​ ​These​ ​are​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​known​ ​dacite​ ​lava​ ​flows​ ​on​ ​the​ ​planet. Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​flows​ ​do​ ​not​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​be​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​any​ ​obvious​ ​volcano,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​puzzling​ ​for​ ​flows of​ ​this​ ​size.​ ​Researchers​ ​determined​ ​the​ ​eruptions​ ​that​ ​created​ ​these​ ​huge​ ​dacite​ ​lava​ ​flows​ ​likely included​ ​an​ ​explosive​ ​phase.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​surprising​ ​finding,​ ​striking​ ​to​ ​see​ ​in​ ​the​ ​deep​ ​ocean:​ ​the​ ​force needed​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​explosive​ ​activity​ ​under​ ​the​ ​pressure​ ​of​ ​more​ ​than​ ​two​ ​kilometers​ ​of​ ​water​ ​is massive.

Millions of viewers watched daily as the expedition broadcast livestreams of the dives over YouTube and Facebook. The live video was captured by Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian at depths of up to 2,900 meters (1.8 miles), then fed to the ship by way of a cable tether before being shared worldwide via a​ ​satellite​ ​internet​ ​connection.

Accomplishments​ ​of​ ​the​ ​expedition​ ​include:

  • 21​ ​ROV​ ​dives​ ​at​ ​11​ ​Submarine​ ​volcanoes
  • 250+​ ​Lava​ ​samples
  • 40​ ​volcanic​ ​sediment​ ​samples
  • 30+​ ​Sulfide​ ​samples
  • 60+​ ​Vent​ ​fluid​ ​samples
  • 470+​ ​Biological​ ​samples
  • 12,000+​ ​km2​ ​​ ​of​ ​seafloor​ ​mapped

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​the​ ​expedition,​ ​please​ ​visit: https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/underwater-fire-studying-submarine-volcanoes-tonga/schmidt ocean institute logo

This​ ​expedition​ ​was​ ​a​ ​partnership​ ​between​ ​Schmidt​ ​Ocean​ ​Institute,​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Hawaii’s Department​ ​of​ ​Geology​ ​and​ ​Geophysics​ ​in​ ​the​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Ocean​ ​and​ ​Earth​ ​Science​ ​and​ ​Technology, NOAA’s​ ​Earth-Ocean​ ​Interactions​ ​Program​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Pacific​ ​Marine​ ​Environmental​ ​laboratory,​ ​plus​ ​other international​ ​partners.

 

 

 

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Click here to learn more about the SEVENSEAS Media Global Marine Community jobs list.

Check out our conservation calendar so you don’t miss out on upcoming events.

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

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