...at about 5:00 AM PDT (still dark) on September 28, 2011, from my home in North Vancouver. The call came from the direction of our local creek, repeating every 30 seconds or so for at least 10 minutes.
My best guess is that it's a Great Horned Owl, although it doesn't sound exactly like what I've been able to find online.
We have Barred Owls in the area, and while the tone is about right for them, the pattern is simpler than what I've heard from a Barred.