Fat Salmon Backpackers

Tubing, Tramping & Tooting Yer Own Horn

Salmon — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:38:23 +0000

Ahhhhhhh, MATE! She’s beaut and blossoms over here in the Alberni Valley. You haven’t been here, yet…?! Well, holy Haliburton, git yer silly self over The Hump and across town to the Fat Salmon before the season is a mere memory.

All things lovely are what we are made of, here, at The Fat. Mornings filled to overflowing with fresh java and hot tea, lazy days spent hiking & tramping & kayaking & diving & biking & tubing the Mighty Stamp, serene evenings peppered with idyllic sunsets seen best from the back deck whilst sipping on a Vancouver Island microbrew. Yeah, really, we DO live like this.

Did I forget to mention the sockeye salmon run? Forgive my manners, won’t you, please? The Pacific salmon are running at break-neck speed up the Alberni Inlet, past the hostel, through the fresh waters of the Somass River, all the shockingly lengthy way up to Stamp Falls. Impressive, they are. Tired, too, I imagine. Their spawn doesn’t last too particularly long, so you best come see them now. And, those who don’t make it all the way to their egg-laying grounds, make fine eating, if we do say so ourselves. Our BBQ is a testament to the awesomeness of the grilled salmon.

Had a ukelelee master in the hostel for the past three nights, so nightly entertainment has consisted of Lorraine on the strings and whatever sidekicks we could bribe to rock the neon green hula hoop in accompaniment. It has been rad. Randy Newman’s got nuthin’ on Ms. Forrester, although, truth be told, the ukie is no piano, eh? Angus acts as a sometimes percussionist, but that sways with bedtimes.

Thunder in the Valley is quickly approaching and if you know not what it is a go on about, get thineself here. You will not regret having a gander. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s strictly Alberni Valley, tell you what.

Call us. Make a reso. We’ll do the rest.

Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon.

Out Like a Lion

Salmon — Wed, 11 May 2011 04:14:05 +0000

Word to the wise – come and stay at the Fat Salmon. Now, you didn’t hear it from us because, you know, you just didn’t. But, we understand that the dorms at The Fat are all going through extreme make-overs, being painted up like wee tarts. Kirsten and Katie have been staying with the Marschella team since mid-April and the hostel shows it. Apparently. You need to come and see for yourself. Obviously. But, you didn’t hear it from us. There is no longer a back lounge – but, rather, a RAIN FOREST ROOM. The Daisy Field has been adorned with, imagine this – daisies. And the Mullet Room – well, come and see for yourself. We can easily say that it is rad, makes a backpacker’s stay THAT much more comfortable and relaxing in balmy Port Alberni. Takes the edge off the day, the blisters off the heel, the excess sodium off the instant noodles. But that is just us. Come on, come see for yourself. May is usually the month when The Fat slips silently into the seasonal waters of ease and peacefulness, working up to a pleasant pace of swimming by June. But not this year, no sir. Keeping in line with the rest of the tumultuous world this 2011, we are hitting the fish ladder at full stroke and giving ‘er our all, already. So, need a bed before tackling the West Coast Trail? Need a bed coming off of it? Thinking of attempting Della Falls this spring? Or planning an early kayaking trip in the Broken Group Islands? We’ve got space for you, Friend. Just call. 1-250-723-6924. The Fat works in mysterious ways. Let us show you how.

Grilled Salmon

Salmon — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:13:24 +0000

El Gordo is back … and smelling better than ever before! He still has one or two scales to primp and preen back in to prime position (say that 10 times fast), but he welcomes you to have a gander round the new site and tell us what works or not for you. Of course, you could also just drop by the hostel for a spell to say ‘hi’ and stay a few days breathing in his salmony goodness.

Holy Fish-Fry!

Salmon — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:56:16 +0000

Don’t worry folks, the Salmon is all well and good … just doing a little clean up, de-scaling and trying to air out that fishy smell. Just hang on a bit … we’ll be back better than ever soon!