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Seal Rescue

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to find myself in Squamish for a week, climbing some of the classic problems in the area and socialising with friends. Business in Vancouver had provided a great excuse for a change of scene which is always good for the soul, wherever you live.

The mornings were taken with catching up on work over coffee and walking the dog at the beach. Not a bad way to start each day before pulling hard on some granite rock. My dog Chilko loves to chase sticks, (although not obsessivley I am happy to say) and it sure does work as a great way to tire her out.

Swimming is another favourite and so I launched a stick into the ocean. As Chilko returned to shore another head bobbed up beside her, staying ever so close as if trying to get the stick from her. It was a curious sight as I had not noticed another dog anywhere nearby and it was also a strikingly white face. I had to double take as Chilko walked up the beach oblivious to her new companion. It was a baby seal! The seal was fixated on following Chilko up the beach, crawling weakly and calling gently as a puppy would its mother. At this moment Chilko turned and faced the seal and nose to nose I realised that the seal seemed to respond to Chilko as if it was its mother.

I decided the best thing would be for the seal to return to the water and so throwing a stick for Chilko to chase they both entered the water and the seal pup dissapeared.

As I walked back from the beach amazed at what I had just witnessed I felt uneasy and responsible for this creature that had clearly been in some distress. I heard a distant call further down the shore. The sound stayed with me and I decided to see if I could find a marine rescue centre in the local area. It proved to be quite a mission. Fortunately through some friends I tracked down Brian Vincent a local wildlife conservationist and we managed to find a marine animal rescue centre based at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Back at the beach I found the seal curled up on some rocks, no sign of any other seals and certainly no mother. It had been a few hours and so I sent some images through to the rescue centre via my cell phone. They agreed it looked skinny and that likely it had been abandoned. Within a couple of hours two staff from the rescue centre had turned up at which point we noticed the seal still had an umbilical cord attached. the seal was no more than 24 hours old and looked like he/she had not yet fed. Amazingly when seals are born they are 25% the size of their mother!



It is hard to say what happened. There is a lot of traffic in the water in this stretch of the Howe Sound. Perhaps the mother met an unhappy ending or maybe they just got seperated. Either way I agreed with the rescue centre that with so much impact on the environment from humans and the consequences to wildlife as a result, when we can, it is worth giving something back.

Each month the marine rescue centre has a theme to name the animals, so they are not just a number. This month was mountains and so number 25 will be known as Mackenzie who will be given milk supplements and reintorduced into the wild at a later date.

Secret places that we know

Bella Coola is such a remote and wild place that most people never get any closer than seeing it on a map! The valley is road access (you can also fly direct from Vancouver) but the drive here has a reputation as being a long drive along the infamous Freedom Highway (although it really isn't that far, but shhhh). 20 years ago it would take 13 hours along gravel roads to get to the first major highway....now it only takes 4.5 hours on a good run.

A friend last year reminded me how special this place is when explaining that around every turn there was another incredible, view, a waterfall, a bear...something equally breathtaking.

On leaving the valley I decided to fish the Atnarko River..a young grizzly bear was happily munching on some berry bushes on the other side of the river while I cast my line, huge salmon continually leaping out of the river. Snow capped mountains in the background, nobody else around, and a few feet from the silent highway, only just under 5 hours from a major centre. At this point my friend exclaimed 'this place is ridiculous!'

For a some of us this place really gets under our skin and keeps pulling us back. We are glad to make this place our home and invite you to join us.

The one that got away

We are fully in Spring Salmon (also known as Chinook) fever. These monster fish weigh at most up to 80 lbs and are the prize of anglers up and down the river. They start to run in May and peak during July. So far I have been fishing for trout and learning the art of fishing and discovering the best of the local fishing holes (mostly in jaw dropping locations!) However on the last couple of outings I have been battling with what I can only guess are Spring Salmon with a trout rod and light line...it was quite an experience and immediately reminded me of the film Jaws when the main character declares 'we need a bigger boat'. Finally after up to 30 minutes I lost the line, only to recast and have the same thing happen again.



There was only one solution. Get a bigger rod and heavier line. SO my friend Ernie and I headed back to the fishing hole with two rods and gear ready for the 'big one'. I felt this was my time. Ernie is indigenous to the area and so has had the opportunity to catch a Spring drifting the river with nets as they traditionally have always done (38 lbs being the biggest so far this year). Although neither of us has caught a Spring Salmon with a rod! This is the ultimate challenge and we were pretty confident after my tales of battling monster fish and the story of the one that got away. We headed back to the quiet spot behind the airport, a nice secluded spot where nobody else goes. Ernie got the camera ready as I cast my line expecting great things. And then....nothing. The first of half a dozen trips to the river with not even a nibble. I couldn't believe it. Maybe next time.

Food for thought

I never thought I would look up to Jamie Oliver, one of the prime time tv chefs in the UK, but I have to say I was really moved by his TED talk (an internet site www.ted.com - worth checking if you havn't 'remarkable talks by remarkable people') and his recent series in the USA.

Jamie Oliver is someone following his passion in food and inspiring other people into healthy eating and living. I am sure he makes some good money but it is clear listening to him speak and watching his show that he really does care.

Wild Earth Adventures ethic is to provide healthy and nutritional meals as part of a holistic wilderness experience that can be rejuvenating and refreshing for mind body and spirit. We endorse Jamie Oliver's message and encourage you to watch his inspiring speech:

Close call in the creek

At this time of year the creeks and rivers start to swell with the spring runoff, making for some spectacular waterfalls. It is also a time to be particularly wary when playing in or near the rivers, whether canoeing, fishing or even hiking. The other day while taking a short walk along Nusatsum Creek I was scrambling with Chilko, a young labrador and a great swimmer. I was travelling a little too close to the creek, jumping from one rock to the next, throwing sticks and balancing precariously. There were no steep drops or waterfalls to alarm me but the water was tanking and very cold.

Before I knew it Chilko was in the river being swept toward a massive boulder rock. The current was too strong for her and she eventually got pulled under. Fortunately as I was going in after her I saw her washed out further down the river. I know the rules. I know you should not go in after any victim. Safety first, safety second. But what would you do? It was a tough call and I am glad that Chilko made it out and I didn't have to risk my own life. A good reminder about how fast things can happen, especially on the river!

The 'Great Bear Rainforest'

Our base is the small town of Bella Coola in British Columbia which lies 80 kilometres inland at the head of an inlet and is the gateway to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, a hidden gem in British Columbia's remote interior. The whole area is known as the Great Bear Rainforest.

The coastal mountains, river valley and dense forests provide sanctuary for one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in Canada, as well as a healthy population of black bears, cougars, deer, beaver, wolves, to mention just a few. There are numerous places in mainland British Columbia where grizzly bears can be seen, but the Bella Coola valley is special.

No other location offers the chance of such intimate encounters amidst utterly breathtaking natural splendour. Bear-viewing can be enjoyed on foot or from a boat while drifting serenely down the river - which makes for exhilarating viewing and great photography.