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The wilderness and all that dwells therein

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Common Garter snake
The most widespread snake in Canada

Bighorn sheep in the Rockies
(Click to run video)

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 bridge 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. - Rosemary Neads

• July 25, All alone at Lonesome Lake
• July 26, The Homestead is Gone
• July 26, A really bad situation
• July 26, Their mistake cost me everything
• July 28, Report from Nuk Tessli
• July 28, This Morning's Interview
• July 28, Nuk Tessli Update
• July 28, Cabin at Singing River
• July 28, Updates
• July 29, Media Reports on the fire
• July 29, From Chris Czajkowski
• July 30, Fire update
• July 31, Fire Update from Rosemary
• July 31, Update from Chris Czajkowski
• August 01, Update from Rosemary
• August 02, Fire update and Context
• August 03, Fire Update from Rosemary
• August 03, Hand-drawn Map of the Fire
• August 05, The Recovery Begins
• August 05, Fogswamp - a story
• August 07, Going Home

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.

• Crusoe of Lonesome Lake - The book by Leland Stowe that tells the story of Ralph Edwards at Lonesome Lake
• Tony Wade's video of the Edwards family at Lonesome Lake

WILD RESOURCES

CARE & CONSERVATION

Backyard Birds: 57 BC Interior birds
For the love of bees and butterflies: Helping them in your back yard
BC Plants Database: E-Flora BC - Database Search Page
BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer: Plants & Animals
Birding in BC: News, articles, events, forum, photos, links
Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society: Environmental preservation and education
Cariboo Badger Project: Study and protection.
Grasslands Conservation Council of BC: Education and communication.
Friends of Churn Creek: Environmental education for youth and adults
Scout Island Nature Centre: in the heart of the city of Williams Lake
Tree Book: Learning to recognize trees of British Columbia. Free download, or order for $6.
Wildlife Health: BC Ministry of Environment
Wild Cariboo Backyard Plants
Williams Lake Field Naturalists

GOING THERE

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
Six Mile Ranch Trail riding in BC's Chilcotin and Tweedsmuir Park

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