The Bowron Lakes

My first week working the Bowron Lakes did not disappoint. Our first day on the Bowron circuit was a long day of hauling our gear and and crossing many portages. We headed straight to the Babcock Creek Cabin where we would be staying for the next few nights. We crossed 3 lakes and used 3 boats to get there. The journey took all day but once I was there I began to understand why Dave (My work partner) wanted to get out there so quickly. The area is secluded, beautiful and full of wildlife. We began working around the cabin which had not been used since last October when the Park closed. The next few days were spent driving to the top of Mcleary Lake (the end of our responsibility), and down the circuit servicing remote campsites, looking for danger trees, bucking and chopping firewood, and navigating the Cariboo River looking for lethal deadheads, sweepers, or any potential safety concerns. I have to admit the Park is alot bigger than I imagined. One day we were trapped by a storm that surged through Lanezi Lake, this enabled me to read through the logbooks in one of the drying shelters. There were many stories of wildlife sightings, adventures on the "chute", and an all around sense of accomplishment and happiness by everyone that attempts the Canoe Circuit. I am back home now for my sisters wedding, but I will be back up in Bowron Lake Provincial Park next week, where I will be staying until late June. I hope to come out of the bush on my days off to complete some blogging and attempt some phone calls. I am positive I will have to many stories to tell by then but I will try hard to include the best ones.

Below is a:
3-D map of the Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit
The Cabin I live at on Spectacle Lake (Pats Point)
The Cabin I live at on Babcock Creek (Look for the moose in the background)
One of the Jet boats we drive around the circuit
And a few more photos of the beautiful Park

The Journey

I left the Island Thursday May.9th, for my start date at Bowron on Saturday May.11th. It was a hard goodbye because I love the Island life so much and I knew I would miss Tamara and the animals alot, but we all have to make sacrifices now and again. My first stop was to Surrey to see my father, and then onto Abbotsford where I stayed the night with my friend Evan, it was good to see them before heading out to Bowron.
I left bright and early Friday. I absolutley love the feeling I get when approaching the mountains, it is such a great feeling. I headed North on the #1 past Hope, onto Hells Gate, Yale, and through to Cache Creek where I had my first stop (Subway!). I was making good time; however, I did not know when the sun would go down up in Wells (where I stayed the second night), so I moved along rather quickly. It had been a very long time since I had last been North of Cache Creek and it did not let me down. What a beautiful Province B.C is. Williams Lake was spectacular and I did not find Quesnel too bad either (Wal-Mart!).

Once in Quesnel I had to find the #26 Barkersville Highway which would bring me to Wells, and later on to Bowron Provincial Park. And this my friends was an awesome ride, not a soul on the 80km drive. I was able to view 2 mother Black bears and there cubs feeding on the fresh grass by the sides of the roads, and I was trying hard to spot a Moose, but with no luck. I pulled into Wells (Population: 200), around 5:30pm and grabbed a room at the Wells Hotel. Very nice establishment. I was able to meet around 20 people that night, all which reminded me of being back in Friendly Manitoba again. Everyone knew I was the "new guy", so that was pretty good since I am quite the talker myself.

Early on Saturday morning I drove the 28km to Bowron Lake where I was to begin training for the Park season the starts May.15. I quickly met Don (30 year Ex-B.C Park Ranger), Dave (My work partner), and all the other staff that would be working the circuit with me. We went through, Chainsaws, First Aid, Bear Aware, Boat Safety, Fire Prevention, etc, etc, etc. Then they handed me the keys to the jet boat and said "drive", I quickly replied "buckle up". It was a great first day with an awesome group BBQ at the end. Tonight (May.11) I will be staying at the registration office, and tomorrow off to Pats Point with all our gear (Chainsaws, 3X 15hp motors, 1x 40hp motor, my belongings, etc, etc, etc), it will be a hard but great day.

Photos to come soon.

Mounting Up

Well, I have a few more days before I head out to Bowron Lake Provincial Park for my first week of training. I have some more equipment and supply's to get before I will feel confident with what I will need to sustain me. I will be gone up to Bowron between May.11 and May.16, only to leave to beautiful Vancouver to see my sister Jennifer get married on the May long weekend. Hopefully by then I will have time to post the first few pics of Bowron and have a few stories to tell.

I will have every Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday off of work from June to August, and I will be staying around Bowron Park for those days. I would love to see you here. I will have accommodations (wood cabin) to share with you, and plenty of fishing for you to enjoy.

Stay tuned.....