It’s bad enough the Calgary Herald published advertising masquerading as real editorial content (an unsavory practice shared by a few in the fly fishing world), but their subject matter is is more than just annoying: It’s a sign The Apocalypse is at hand:
Even if you don’t know your dry flies from your leaders, glamour camping destination Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is offering a ‘Reel Wilderness Women’ fly fishing weekend Sept. 18 to 21.
Located on a remote part of Vancouver Island, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is accessible only by plane or boat, but there’s no roughin’ it. Guests stay in white canvas tents filled with Persian rugs, antiques, and four poster beds covered with fluffy duvets.
Yup. It’s “glamping” again - the unholy combination of camping and luxury amenities like gourmet chefs, heated/air conditioned tents, and yes - four-poster beds.
The price? A blueblood-friendly $5500 - for three nights accommodations (including food, drinks, and guides).
With that kind of money, the Underground’s Travel Department could easily fly you to a more interesting fly fishing destination, supplying the biting insects, bad camp coffee, and a soaked, frozen sleeping bag absolutely free.
Or you could buy a single top-end fly rod.
To the doomsday cultists scattered about the globe - who are eagerly looking for portents of the coming end of times - the Underground’s Theological Research Division says “forget checking for numbered birthmarks. Look to glamping for a sign the Cloven Hooved Deceiver is on the way.”
See you in the heated bathroom tent, Tom Chandler.
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Jean-Paul Lipton 08.16.08 at 5:22 pm
WTF is this world coming to? Douchebags are out there dropping $5.5k on something that I can’t even describe as angling, meanwhile fellow brownliners are out there struggling to put fuel in their rigs to go fishing for a meal.
I can think of a lot better ways to spend that kind of money, like a self guided trip to NZ, AK, or Patagonia for a month. See you at camp Tom.
kbarton10 08.16.08 at 5:43 pm
It may be akin to the “pot calling the kettle black” - wasn’t his last two trips accompanied by Porcine Wrapped Canine, and attendants who helped his Lordship to pie and steak?
[Name_Redacted] may have been cover for some friendly fellow named Jeeves …
SmellsLikeFish 08.16.08 at 10:25 pm
I remember mention of the pies. Lots and lots of pies, yet no photos. Strange. And this is the first I’ve heard of the bacon wrapped dog. How’d I miss that. Sounds fantastic!
That girl with the horns. Is she at that camp? Can I say girl?
Wondering if I can squeeze another $5,500 out of my property…
Tom Chandler 08.17.08 at 6:42 am
Jean-Paul: That’s “Mr. Douchebag” to you…
Kbarton (if that is your real name): A quick check of the Underground’s bank account suggests you’re full of bacon-wrapped dogs.
Smells: Hmmmmmmm…
The woman in the picture isn’t at the camp - she serves a valuable function as a metaphor for pure unadulterated evil, which means you wouldn’t be interes… oh wait, you would.
Jean-Paul Lipton 08.17.08 at 11:47 am
touché.
Ron Gibson 08.17.08 at 2:03 pm
Glamping is in!
A fishing weekend for women only, why not. And if you read the fine print for the Clayoquot fishing weekend, you are provided with about $2000 of fishing gear- mostly ‘Hardy’ brand, pretty expensive stuff. The rod alone runs about 750 UK Pounds. Not too bad for a weekend of hands on instruction, fine dining, and in a location such as the Clayoquot UNESCO Biosphere. Thats a vacation you’ll never forget.
fishskicanoe 08.17.08 at 3:44 pm
A single top-end fly rod? My personal top-end fly was a factory second that cost $150. At $5,500 a pop I’d end up with 35 rods and enough left over for a couple of cases of beer.
fishskicanoe
Who likes pie.
Tom Chandler 08.17.08 at 4:41 pm
Ah, the Pro-Glamping faction weighs in. But wait - a quick inspection of the Clayoquot Web site doesn’t turn up a passage about Hardy gear.
Where’s the “fine print” you’re talking about?
Oh wait - you just know because you’re the General Manager of the Clayoquot resort. (Thanks for disclosing that in your comment.)
And plainly, $5500 for three nights is way beyond “not too bad” for a weekend of instruction and a handful of no-longer-made-in England Hardy gear, which - I can guarantee you - isn’t worth anything near $2K.
Glamping may be “in” but it’s still a scam; someone could fish with Ian and Charity Rutter for a long weekend on Hazel Creek, sleeping in cabin tents, getting guided every day and eating excellent food made right there, and do so for… $900.
It’s a free country; if someone wants to spend $5500 for a three-night fly fishing trip, then more power to ‘em. Naturally, that same freedom applies to my ability to say it’s a scam, especially if someone tries to use my site to post a free ad.
Matt 08.17.08 at 9:16 pm
Lemme get this straight… Undergrounders are bent out of shape because some hot, rich chicks in skimpy devil costumes are showing up in luxury in tents in BC? I need to start promoting glamping in Oregon. If that lady in the string bikini and devil horns outfishes me and the slobs in my camp, all the better!
ShillSpotter 08.18.08 at 2:20 am
“Glamping is in!”
Wouldn’t it just be easier to say “I’m gay”? Really.
Ron Gibson 08.18.08 at 7:32 am
Obviously the responses so far are from non-glampers, only a select few have ever been ‘glamping’. This trip is built around those that would like to experience the great outdoors, without all of the negatives associated with ‘roughing it’, because- why bother? This fly fishing weekend is not for the faint of wallet, if everyone could do it, no one would.
If you have the chance to look up Hardy at hardyfishing.com I highly recommend their products (and I own a few myself). These are not your familys run of the mill rods, but fine crafted rods you will hand down for generations- as they have been for 100 years. Waders are made by Bare at http://barefishing.com and I believe these waders are some of the best in the world.
The press release for this fly fishing weekend can be found at: tartangroup.ca/media/clients/24/MediaReleases/Ladies_Fishing_Weekend.pdf
for those that want to read more about this amazing trip.
kbarton10 08.18.08 at 9:42 am
Ron,
Non-Glamper here. In large part what’s missing from the experience is respect.
There’s a certain frivolity of having all the comforts of home, and liveried butlers that us unshowered types cannot abide. Most of our enjoyment comes from Nature as she was created; raw, lonesome, and untrammeled.
“Glamping” makes us grit our teeth, as having all those creature comforts means I’m listening to Rap music instead of the tinkle of a brook, or tripping over tin cans and water bottles - because your guests don’t have to lug them in on their back.
We’d just as soon not meet your guests in the woods, it’s what drove us to piney solitude in the first place.
SMJ 08.18.08 at 10:15 am
“Obviously the responses so far are from non-glampers.”
I’m sure the hoards of glampers who regularly read this blog will eventually respond.
Patience. Most don’t wake until well after noon.
Tom Chandler 08.18.08 at 11:28 am
Bingo: we’re discussing the intersection of conspicuous consumption and the faux eco-friendly outdoors.
Good luck with the gig, but don’t expect anybody who loves the outdoors precisely because it’s “real” to fall in love with the idea of $5500 weekends for those only pretending to interact with it.
Salty 08.18.08 at 12:19 pm
and don’t expect anyone who loves $5,500 weekend “camping trips” to love the outdoors. It’s just another commodity to them, to be bought and sold.
Hardy gear is made in Asia; save a bundle and just get a TFO.
Excuse me, I have to go light a cigarette with a $100 bill.
Amy 08.18.08 at 4:08 pm
I’ll fish at someone’s camp in my swimsuit (heck my birthday suit) if you pay for the gas and the bourbon and build the fire. (I hate building the fire.) You just have to promise not to cry when I catch more and bigger fish than you do.
Tom Chandler 08.18.08 at 6:30 pm
Amy: I’m not sure if that’s a legitimate offer or an editorial comment, but I have to ask: who drinks bourbon when good Irish Whiskey is available?
Amy 08.19.08 at 12:52 pm
Jameson would do nicely, but don’t even think about Bushmill’s.
Ron Gibson 08.22.08 at 10:35 am
I see my post has recently been removed. Its a shame when good solid posts with high value information are cut. Too often one sided views are shown on blogs and intelligent posts which are contrary to the administrators opinion are cut out.
To those interested in how ‘the other half live’ especially those that are interested in ‘glamping’ or talking about glamping and the activities at these resorts, I’d suggest a read of the Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts blog at http://www.wildretreatblog.com.
Instead of just talking negatively, have a look first. Maybe enlighten your views instead of trying to block them from your readers.
Shillspotter 08.22.08 at 10:52 am
Newsflash, Ron!
In case it hasn’t been made perfectly clear to you, nobody who reads this fine blog gives a shit about glamping. You’re wasting your time promoting something here that most us view as a sissified version of experiencing the outdoors. I’d call it gay, Ron, but I wouldn’t want to bring homosexuality down to the level of glamping. Say the word glamping out loud - it even sounds gay.
Tom Chandler 08.22.08 at 12:16 pm
Ron: First, you’re full of crap.
Your post wasn’t removed, but I just installed new anti-spam software, which automatically pulled it for moderation because you included more than one link - a sign to it that your comment was spam.
Frankly, I’m inclined to agree with the software, but instead, I cut the “www” from the links, and they’re back.
But while we’re on the subject, I think we can also agree I have no obligation to provide you with a platform for selling your glamping trips.
Your comments, after all, aren’t about enlightenment, and they certainly aren’t jammed with useful information. They’re about getting free advertising at the expense of my blog.
ShillSpotter 08.22.08 at 1:05 pm
Owned!
Jean-Paul Lipton 08.22.08 at 5:50 pm
Ron, you got served.
If you need to spend time justifying your lame excuse of a phishing expedition on an angling blog, then the point is lost. NO ONE here cares. We actually fish, rather than posing with a bunch of pretentious gear and pretending that we’re anglers.
Now let’s get back to fishing.
Ron Gibson 09.03.08 at 2:13 pm
I’ll provide information to all those willing to listen or ask- for anyone just dropping by your blog from a simple search- or to those that faithfully read your blog. Some may choose not to listen, some will complain while reading it, while others may actually be interested on reading a differing opinion to your own.
For anyone who writes negatively, there should be some positive explanation out there. And while I understand that you and some of your readers believe in ‘being one with nature’- I’m writing to the others that may want to have a more luxurious trip and not pack in beans and wieners to a campsite (which may be luxury to some who prefer to go without any form of what we have come to accept as minimal needs).
For people that want a more pleasurable experience (in their opinion, which may not be yours)- this is what we provide: warm beds- comfort- spa treatments- fine dining- and yes, lets try some guided fly fishing on the side. Maybe even learn how to cast for the first time.
For those that believe there isn’t a place for it… there are just too many locations popping up around the world catering to just this guest.
Tom Chandler 09.03.08 at 9:59 pm
Ron: Since we’re all in a mood to share information, I suppose I should tell anyone “dropping by” that they could stay at the Tofino Research Station on Clayoquot for $85-$120 night (shared kitchen, Internet, no Brie cheese, but you’d get to hang with actual researchers instead of butlers).
That would make a three-day weekend about what… $5K cheaper than the glamping resort?
All of the beauty, none of the pretentiousness.
Just in case anyone was interested is all I’m saying.
http://www.tbgf.org/cfs/