It was a beautiful first day on the island of Haida Gwaii. We marveled at poles and Haida artifacts at the Haida Heritage Center. We also welcomed aboard our Cultural Specialist, Linda Tolla who will be guiding us in the cultural experience of this place. Our hike around Spirit Lake this afternoon was the perfect temperature beneath the boughs of spruce, hemlock, and cedar. We walked among slugs, blooming salmonberry, mosses, lichens, and meandering water.