This will be a truely awe-inspiring trip for those who love wilderness,
wildlife, bushcraft and adventure! We are delighted to be promoting
this trip to the stunning Mountains of British Columbia in Canada, run
in partnership with a trusted local organisation. This area has got
to be one of the wildest and most beautiful places on the planet!
The expedition will begin with a journey by boat plane to a chain of
lakes set high in the Coastal Mountains. The snow-capped, glaciated
peaks and granite faces of the Coastal Mountains dominate the Pacific
coast, some of the highest and least explored in North America. You
will paddle the lakes for 6 days by open canoe with a qualified canoe
coach.
You will be taught the following bushcraft skills:
Basic shelter building
Camp craft
Fire lighting skills
Fishing and trap setting
Animal tracking
Knife skills
Bear awareness
You will also visit Hunlen Falls, with a single drop of 260 metres
it is the third highest in Canada.
In Bella Coola Valley, the temperate rainforest covering the lower
slopes and valleys is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems
on the planet, rivaling even that of the Amazon rainforest. The area
is known as the ‘Great Bear Rainforest’ due to the high density of both
grizzly and black bears. During late summer and autumn the annual salmon
spawning migrations occur and bears can be found congregating along
the riverbanks to feast. Other mammals that inhabit the area include
Wolves, Moose, Deer, Caribou, Bighorn Sheep, Cougar (mountain lion),
Lynx, Mountain Goat, Marmots and the mysterious Wolverine. Once in the
Bella Coola valley we will explore temperate rainforest, the rivers
and creeks, visit salmon spawning grounds, look out for bald eagles
circling over head in the shadow of snow-capped peaks. There will also
be a tour to ancient rock carvings with a local Native Indian guide.
The Nuxalk people are the indigenous population, a community still largely
relying on Salmon for their livelihoods.
Dates: 9- 17 September 2012 (9 days)
Price: $2800 (CA) which is about £1728 (GBP). The price
is in Canadian dollars - the price in GBP is given only as a guide and
will vary depending on exchange rates. The price includes: internal
flight from Vancouver; Vancouver hotel the first night of the trip;
lodging and camping; permit fees; camping equipment; tour guide and
cook; local guide services; accommodation; most meals; park fees. Price
does not include International flight; Vancouver hotel on return;
two evening meals; lunch and snacks while in transit; personal travel
insurance.
Client quote:
"This trip is really different. It takes you to places you would
never see on your own, teaches you another way of life, shows you fantastic
wildlife and gives an insight into First Nation peoples. An educational,
inspirational, spiritual and physical experience." - C. Halek
Itinerary:
09-Sep International arrival day
10-Sep Fly Anahim Lake/Floatplane to Turner Lake/Hunlen Falls
11-Sep CANOE: Junker Lake – a full day canoe and portage
12-Sep CANOE: Widgeon Lake – a good camp provides relative shelter
and opportunities for fire making etc; a 2-3 hours gentle paddle provides
opportunity for canoe instruction and short portage to camp leaves the
afternoon open for instruction
13-Sep CANOE: Sunshine Lake – possibility of moving camp to a wilder
setting with a canoe and portage or using basecamp as a place to instruct
and take an afternoon explore canoe/portage to Kidney Lake
14-Sep CANOE: Turner Lake South – return journey lining the canoes
and negotiating waterways and portages, always a quicker return journey
and more canoe handling skills (not whitewater and can be shallow at
this time of year) and camp by Hunlen Falls, the 3rd highest in Canada
– full day of moving, fishing enroute.
15-Sep CANOE: Turner Lake South/Pick up AM/Bella Coola – a short paddle
2 hours to pick up
16-Sep Bella Coola Valley Tour – rock carvings, estuary and big cedar
trail
