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2004 Fires & Slides        Wild Search

WILD BC

The wilderness and all that dwells therein

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Common Garter snake
The most widespread snake in Canada

Fairyslipper or Calypso Orchid. Very delicate: picking the flower usually kills the plant.

Water & Earth: The Farwell Canyon Mudslide

At the end of August 2004 a mudslide dammed Farwell Canyon on the Chilcotin River. Both entrances to the Farwell Canyon dam bridg
e were closed and you can see why. The natural dam was about 15 kilometres from the junction of the Chilcotin and the Fraser rivers.

Air & Fire: The wind-driven fires of the Chilcotin

THE 2004 FIRE

The fire-fighting efforts are concentrated in the Atnarko Trench; yesterday the smoke was so bad that nothing could be done but today there are four helicopters and one water bomber that are going in there, plus some cat work. It's a very difficult area with steep cliffs. Don and Phyllis Irwin's cabins (The Dean on Nimpo) at Little Charlotte are in imminent danger, as are all the homes on Charlotte Lake.

The Lonesome Lake fire: a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night. At the time, July 26, the largest in BC. Photos Rosemary Neads

John Edwards, Chris Czajkowski

One of the tragic consequences of the fire was the destruction of Ralph Edwards' homestead.

"The last stand at Lonesome Lake began yesterday for John Edwards, 77, when he trekked back to the isolated homestead his family has occupied for nearly 100 years in northwestern British Columbia. Far beyond the end of the last road, in a remote valley filled with smoke, with a forest fire roaring so loud it wakes him at night, Mr. Edwards has returned to the wilderness to be with the animals he loves until the last moment." - Globe & Mail, July 24, 2004.

That "last moment" came the following day. The photo shows how complete the destruction was. In October John returned to participate in the rebuilding of his home. His sister Trudy, has written her own perspective of the fire.

A few days later it was the turn of Chris Czajkowski, living at Nuk Tessli, her self-built wilderness "resort". In her words:
July 28: Yesterday started very smoky (again) and the clients I had who were due to fly out that morning couldn't go. By around two pm a fresh little breeze started from the southwest and we began to make out the landforms beyond the edges of the lake so I called the floatplane company and the tourists flew out. That left me and two wwoofers the only people in a huge area - everyone else had been evacuated or burned.
Continue reading this story on Chris' web site and see more dramatic pictures as Chris and her friend are evacuated

Nature can wreak havoc but when people do it unnecessarily, it becomes wilderness abuse.

WILD RESOURCES

CARE & CONSERVATION

Backyard Birds - 56 BC Interior birds
BC Plants Database: E-Flora BC - Database Search Page
Bear Aware: preventing people problems in bear habitat
BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer - Plants & Animals
Melting Mountains - Global warming and BC's changing mountains
Birding in BC - News, articles, events, forum, photos, links
Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society Environmental preservation and education
Cariboo Badger Project Study and protection.
Community Mapping Network Sensitive habitats and species distribution.
Grasslands Conservation Council of BC Education and communication.
Earthwise Ventures Environmental education for youth and adults
Mountain Pine Beetle - Images, projections, maps
Salmonopolis - Salmon protection: education and resources
Tree Book - Online Information about trees and the BC context.
Wildlife Health - BC Ministry of Environment

GOING THERE

Guide Book to the Bowron Lakes by Chris Harris
Nuk Tessli Alpine eco-adventures for naturalists and hikers
One Eye Outfit Wilderness horseback, hiking and fishing in the Chilcotin.
Pathways Canoeing Tours of the Bowron Lakes Canoeing adventures.
Rainbow Mountain Outfitters Guided horse trails in BC wilderness

Great Grey Owl. Photo © Chris Harris

PHOTOGRAPHY & ART

Chris Harris Photography Books, presentations and limited-edition prints.
Stone Bear Gallery Stone carvings of bears and other BC wildlife.
Wildlife Art Watercolours by Judi Wild