Wild Earth Adventures

Check out our Travel Journal

2010-11-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

Our new Travel Journal is the place to go...future blogs will appear here:

http://www.wildearth-adventures.com/community/travel-journal/

All posts will now go directly to this page

Seal Rescue

2010-07-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-18T15:21:00.001-07:00

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

2010-06-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

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'

2010-05-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Online Photo Album

2010-05-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

We have been posting some new images to our online photo album. The spring weather has been fantastic so we have been getting out on lots of adventures. Our focus has been to revamp some of the climbing areas. And of course get the garden ready for planting! Traditionally May long weekend (22 - 24) is the time for planting in Bella Coola, so we'll be sowing our seeds soon.

Click here to see our photo album

Bella Coola Valley Tourism

2010-05-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

We have a new listing on this great information site. Take a look at what we offer and find out more about our home in Bella Coola.

click here for Bella Coola Valley Tourism page

Social Networking Pages

2010-05-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

We have a Twitter account under the name 'WEAdventures' and a Facebook Fan Page called simply 'Wild Earth Adventures' so if you want to keep up with our daily movements and weekly adventures then please take a look. We are linking these pages to this blog to provide regular updates. If you have friends using these networking tools then please forward our details to them so we can broaden our network and continue to promote Bella Coola and the unique adventure tours we offer.

New Bouldering Venue in Bella Coola

2010-05-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and (normally) limited to very short climbs (known as problems) over a specialised crash pad. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders. On the west coast of Canada, Squamish, 45 mins north of Vancouver, has traditionally been the mecca for bouldering with a huge area of granite boulders in a small area, with easy access from the highway.

Six hours north from Vancouver 'as the crow flies' the Bella Coola Valley is a wilder and remoter version of the busier commuter belt of Squamish. Bella Coola is the adventurous sister and can now boast bouldering problems to rival any that Squamish offers.

Last year myself and a friend made an unscheduled stop on a logging road 13km from the highway enroute to the stunning Odegaard falls (a bigger version of Shannon Falls in Squamish). I had caught a glimpse of a large boulder tucked away in the forest. It turned out to be a massive boulder field of featured granite rock set amongst a magical temperate rainforest of thick carpet moss and creeks. This Magic Kingdom of boulders has until now remained undeveloped.

The popularity of bouldering has risen significantly in recent years with bouldering venues being developed throughout the world. After dedicating the last couple of weeks to developing a new sport climbing crag in the valley it was finally time to explore the Magic Kingdom and I wasn't disappointed, finding a sea of world class granite boulder problems.

From a slopey rail traverse on the backside of the roadside boulder to a large slab with a series of variations to a large arete high ball (don't fall!) there is something for everyone. The grades range from easy V0 to mid range V5/6 and it looks like atleast two harder V8/9 and beyond.

At the moment there are about a dozen problems ready to climb and I am in the process of developing more this week (the weather forecast is perfect!). This involves cleaning the rock of dirt and moss to expose the features underneath. It has minimal impact on the environment and allows Bella Coola to add bouldering to its list of adventurous activties and another reason to visit this unique wilderness paradise.

The Magic Kingdom is on the Nusatsum logging road at the 13km signpost right side of the road on the top of the roadside boulder. (This is also the access road for Odegaard Falls.) The logging road is directly off the Bella Coola highway at the hairpin bend before you reach Hagensborg). Just past the 13km marker there is a pull out to park. If you miss it you will get to the bridge over Nusatsum river where there is a great swimming hole 5 mins up river!

Running Wild

2010-05-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Last night a Cougar (aka Mountain Lion) was spotted chasing a dog down the street. We live quite literally at the edge of Cougar Hill (although technically a mountain) so it is no surprise. Although sometimes I think the longtime residents are teasing with these local names!

Perfect Spring Weather for a Climb

2010-05-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

There has been a fresh dump of snow on the mountains but we are still enjoying a warm and sunny spring here in the valley of Bella Coola! We have been exploring a climbing crag on a bench above Noosgultch River. I have to say in all the years of exploring this area this is by far the most stunning location. I was absolutely blown away having never been to this climbing crag. It is overshadowed by the most fantastic view of Nusatsum Mountain, still covered in snow with incredible views across the valley. It really reminds me of what a world class destination Bella Coola is for adventure tourism.

The climbing itself is a single pitch sport crag of granite slabs. The site is being rejuvenated with additonal routes and some cleaning to maintain the existing routes (the moss and dirt building up on the rock as the site has been neglected). The climbing is easy to moderate so perfect for groups and beginners. We'll ceratinly be getting some pictures up soon.

Meanwhile I am off to try out my birthday present of a new fishing rod for Cutthroat Trout and Coho Salmon. Bella Coola is also a world class fishing destination. We really are spoilt here!!! So hopefully some fresh fish for dinner tonight...

If you go down to the woods today...SASQUATCH

2010-04-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Bella Coola really is a wild place. WILD. Only last week the rumour circulated that a couple had been surrounded by wolves while walking their dogs on the Lost Lake Trail. And every now and again a dog goes missing, victim to another Cougar (Mountain Lion). In fact at the end of our street is 'Cougar Hill'. And it isn't unknown to have Grizzlies wandering down our road in the early hours of the morning. (I'm just going to check on the dog outside to make sure she hasn't been snatched...)

(The dog's still there). The wildest talk here is of the Sasquatch, known also by the native name which is the 'Boq' (boc), relative of the Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas and first cousin of the Bigfoot of California. If someone here hasn't had a personal encounter someone they know has. Sometimes it's a sighting, other times it could be a large unidentified foot print seen while hiking (I can claim to have seen such), in some cases people have seen nests and unidentified scratch marks high on trees and the rest of the stories involve rocks being thrown from the forest. Unidentified sounds can also be heard deep in the forests and in one case there was even a story of a man being kidnapped by a family of Sasquatch!

I mean really. Seriously? Sasquatch. Really? Well, I wouldn't believe it but these stories are coming from upstanding pillars of the community. The other day I went for a dog walk with a good friend. She has a 7 month old baby and seemed a bit on edge...I would describe my friend to be pretty solid but anytime a twig snapped she spun on her heels. It was a windy day. Cougars maybe? Bears? The dogs would bark, run into the bush and...nothing. Then we started sharing bear stories. We would walk past a creek and a story of a bear the size of a truck would be discussed. I started to get a bit twitchy. It's that not being top of the food chain thing.

And then I turned and asked her if she believed in Sasquatch. She looked at me with a cold stare as if to say, 'Oh yeah, are you kidding me, of course I do!' Then she explained to me that she had seen a 'shape shifter' (Sisiutl). Under the porch late at night she had seen two glowing red eyes. She turned to her husband and he too had seen the eyes...they backed off into the house. Several native representations of the creature depict a long, serpentine animal with small forelimbs and a dog like or crocodilian head. Pacific Northwest tribes were convinced of the animal's existence. It seem my friends share their belief.

Meanwhile I have learnt that local legend has it that the Sasquatch hang around in the Bella Coola estuary. The estuary is a beautiful place to walk the dog but I never see anyone else on any of the trails. Now I know why.

Bella Coola Arrival

2010-04-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

As I sit down to write the long overdue blog update I can hear the curfew siren in the background. Historically this air raid siren would sound at 9pm in communities throughout British Columbia, signalling everyone aged 16 and under that it was time to head home. This is another quirk I love about Bella Coola, a paradise hidden away deep in the Coast Mountain range of BC.

Today I saw my first hummingbird of the spring while I was setting up the tipi in the backyard, (a reminder that I have to fill the bird feeder). Our home is a prominent site enroute the marina so the addition of the tipi to the property is creating a lot of interest!

It is a real treat to be in the Bella Coola valley at the beginning of spring. Two days ago there was a crazy amount of snow here (I lost control twice on the hill into the valley, not prepared for the unexpected conditions!) and the mountains are covered. Today however I was cooking in a t-shirt on the porch. Meanwhile the river remains very low, pre-spring runoff, so I have been able to explore deep into the tidal flats getting far out into the estuary enjoying the rich bird life.

I will be updating the blog regualary now after a long quiet spell. It has been a quiet winter with limited skiing opportunity and lots of administration to keep ontop of! So we are very happy to be back in Bella Coola, once again astonished at the shear beauty of the area! The licence plates on vehicles in the province declare 'Beautiful British Columbia', which it undoubtedly is, but Bella Coola... well this place is on a different level...how lucky I am to be able to live AND work in such an incredible place.

Meanwhile we are regularly uploading photos to our online photo album

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35180121@N07/

New Bella Coola Summer Base

2010-01-24T09:52:00.001-08:00

Wild Earth Adventures has a new base in Bella Coola. We'll be there from April/May through to October. We havn't decided yet if we are going to be there for the winter! It is a great space with a two bedroom house, firepit area, large garden and seperate workshop and office space. We also have a 20 foot tipi to put up somewhere around the grounds!

A short walk to all the town amenities and the estuary and ocean. We are really excited to have a functional summer home in the Bella Coola Valley. This area is the focal point of our operations and therefore the best platform for our expansion. And honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth! SO why wouldn't we just move there? Really we have been putting it off FAR too long and there is lots of potential and new energy going into the valley.

We are particularly excited about growing our own food! We hope to be growing as much food as we can to provide our guests with some good organic homegrown salads and veggy dishes for their stay in the valley. AND some organic meats from either the local biodynamic and organic ranch or lamb from the organic farm!

A big change will be organising all the food from our base in the valley. Our food and nutrition expert will be buying lots of organic bulk supplies, dehydrating food and meals and pre-baking goods for the trips. This will make it a lot easier for guides and less time consuming when in the city organising transfers for guests.

AND we are VERY excited about the potential of a co-operative farming project at a friends farm in the valley. Lots of food growing potential and organic lamb!!! There is going to be some serious good eating for our friends and guests this year. As long as I stay out of the kitchen!

We hope you can come and join us soon. It's going to be a great summer!

Bushcraft and Survival Expedition

2010-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

We are really excited to be offering a NEW bushcraft and survival expedition. A new programme is going to be intergrated into our 27 June Canoe Safari in the Coast Mountains.

Dave is a survival instructor using skills learned in the military and also time spent with First Nation peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. But ultimately his expertise has been gained with spending time with the great Canadian Bushcraft Instructor “Mors Kochanski” from who he gained his Canadian survival instructor qualification. Mors Kochanski is a Canadian bushcraft and wilderness instructor. He has a reputation as one of the world's finest bushcraft instructors and writers.

Bushcraft/wilderness travel skills covered will include:

Basic shelter building
Camp craft
Fire lighting skills
Traditional cooking
Hunting weapons and trap settings
Animal tracking
Knife skills
Bear awareness

Canoe Guide

An expert canoe guide will accompany Dave. During the expedition novices and comparatively inexperienced paddlers will have the opportunity to gain skills that are fundamental to wilderness canoeing.

Canoe skills covered will include:

Solo and Tandem paddling
The portage, lifting, carrying, loading and launching
Manoeuvring the canoe: forwards backwards, sideways and turning on the move
Paddling open water safely and efficiently
Rescue skills: capsize and self rescue, deep water rescue and towing
The theory behind the art of expedition canoeing

Some of the places we go...

2010-01-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

Bella Coola - destination clip

2009-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

A friend has produced this short film on Bella Coola which is the focal point of the adventure tours we offer throughout the summer. It is a real gem hidden deep in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. Take a few minutes to check it out by clicking the link below...

Click below to view a short film of this spectacular area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuYpnNiyBA&feature=player_embedded

Excited for Winter

2009-10-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

But dreaming of summer...

Some of the faces of summer 2009

2009-10-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Fraser Koroluk, Bella Coola River guide taking a break from oaring during guide induction.

Guide training in the spring. Kevin leads Blue as he carries Chris the 'casualty'.

Michelle, one of our french guests on the trail.

Ryan, local guide outfitter, cooking up breakfast during a three day trail maintenance expedition.

Mikey 'Mears' and friends. Always a cheeky grin.

Dave, local legendary horse packer, always good for some fireside chat.

Sir Christopher Kelly, on a rather blustery day hiking in the alpine.

John and Patricia Griffin, lovely folks and always good for a chat on the trail.

Heather, one of the assistant guides, ready for anything!

Fresh Wild Salmon

2009-09-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

This Coho Salmon was fresh out of the Bella Coola River and a real treat for our guests in Bella Coola. We like to make sure our guests eat as much local produce as possible. And it doesn't get much better than a salmon straight out of the river. This Coho was filleted and BBQed for the last night of the Canoe Safari this month. Yum.

Bella Coola Alpine

2009-09-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

It was a real treat to be able to take a group into the alpine of Bella Coola Valley. The Canoe Safari in September had to be cut short by a few days as the forest fires continue to burn. In order to fill the extra days I decided to guide the group along some of the alpine trails accessed high up on some of the old logging roads. The photos don't do it justice...stunning.

Fishing with a Grizzly!!!

2009-09-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

As the forest fires had closed down business in Bella Coola Valley for a couple of weeks I thought it was a good idea to tackle the fires and check out the damage. On the way back out of the valley I decided to try a few casts with the rod, see if I couldn't catch a salmon...I thought I might be in for some competition from one of the local grizzlies...but this grizzly was far more interested in the berries - it's been a killer season for berries with the consistent hot temps. Check out these photos!

Trekking with Wolves

2009-09-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting moments this summer was walking into two large grey wolves on the Chilcotin plateau. We were on our way out of the stunning Rainbow Mountain wilderness park when two wolves calmly trotted into view before slinking into the shadows of the trees. I must have been within 50 feet of the wolves as I guided the group of 8 hikers walking quietly behind me enroute back to the trailhead after 7 days in the backcountry.

After weeks of forest fires, which continue to burn, we had to reroute our popular Mackenzie/Grease Trail trekking trip and explore some new wilderness areas in the Rainbow Mountain range. And we were not disappointed. The first day from the trailhead was a big challenge to guide. It is always intimidating, for me atleast, having the responsibility of looking after a group of tourists, and exploring a new wilderness below the treeline. Due to the nature of the terrain, below the treeline can be tough going. There is a mix of bog, streams, fallen trees and thick bush. This is real wilderness to me...nothing but an old horse trail to follow and some old game trails. After a few challenging guiding moments we managed to get into camp in plenty of time although a longer day than expected.

On these trekking trips I use a local horse packing outfit to carry all the gear. In this case it is the Dorsey family that runs one of the most well known and respected horse packing and hunting outfits in the region. Riding ahead of us they always arrive in camp early to put the horses out to pasture in the meadows and get the fire going ready for tea and coffee. The Dorsey outfit have been using these wild campsites for years. So while the camps are fully wild and remote they do have fire pits and a drop toilet! And they are always in a stunning location.

From the first camp we explored Dark Peak behind the camp and walked the alpine ridges to afford spectacular views. From the high point of the day we descended to alpine lakes, watched by a family of hoary marmots. A short stroll back to camp through alpine meadows we made it back to camp in plenty of time for tea and biscuits before a dinner of steak and mash.

Our second camp of the trip was a challenging day hike over Mary's Pass and over alpine ridge into a forested valley with a series of small creeks flowing into a main river. The camp was adjacent to the river with views across the horse meadows to the mountains. The day hikes from here were stunning and offered some of the best alpine views I have had the pleasure of enjoying.

What is such an treat is being the only group in a vast wilderness of mountain, forest and valley. There are no other hikers in these areas and with the horse support we are given the advantage of travelling light and exploring the area umimpeded by heavy backpack.

I have only scratched the surface of this area, somewhere I would like to bring more groups over the coming years to add to the range of adventures that Wild Earth Adventures offers.

Researching New Frontiers

2009-07-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

It's work. Honest. It just happens to be exploring new areas and discovering new frontiers, all in the name of research and development. I have been looking at new alpine touring areas with floatplane access and going on horseback into remote corners of the coastal mountains to consider new trekking options. These new trips will be featured in 2010 through our travel agents and on our website...really exciting to be able to offer these unique trips that no other companies are able to offer...it's all about who you know! So below are a few shots from the last three weeks.

Meanwhile on the office front things are looking good...bookings still coming in for the summer which is pretty full. And we are looking at being the west coast agent for a large UK wildlife holiday company.

It's a different way of life....part 2

2009-06-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

The continued extracts from the diary of our guest and friend Simon Osbourne during a Canoe Safari in 2009

08/09/08
Not only did the early sunrise wake us, the whole animal kingdom woke to and the chance of a sleep on has gone. Leaving the warmth of my sleeping bag, I get up and find the mist is, once again delicately covering the lake. Anyway, we all survived our first night in the wild, which was met with some relief. After a stunning morning feast of breakfast burritos, we pack up camp and load up the canoes and set paddling down Lake Turner. This transitory camping is something that we'll get the hang of soon enough. Our paddling is slow at first, mainly because of our ineptitude and subsequent zigzagging but we persevere reaching a small creek at the other end. We slowly paddled up the creek and really got a sense of adventuring with the forest bearing down on either side of the river bank.

It is a lovely warm day and we venture for quick and chilly swim in the river. To be honest, it was much of a swim more a in and out.
Then, quick lunch it is time to portage... Canoeing up all the creeks isn't possible (paddling up stream!) and we have to unpack the canoes and carry all the kit to the next launch pad. Fortunately, our sturdy guides take the canoes, which was handy because they are rather quite heavy and we, the poor minions, are left doing shuttle runs with backpacks. But the portage is short and we are soon back in the canoes for some more fun on the river. The first task is to canoe up a rapid - okay, to me its almost a waterfall but in reality a fast stream of water going over a rock. The first two canoes go up easy enough, then Ben and I try. And that's it, we try. After 10 long minutes we eventually get stuck on the rock, but we are not defeated yet, and on the next attempt we make it. We could have just walked the canoe around but this was much more fun. But soon enough we are back to the task in hand which is making it to the campsite on Lake Junker and pass through Cut Throat and Vista Lakes.

Our canoeing is becoming better and armed with our newly learnt strokes (classic j, gunnel (?) and draw strokes) we start traveling in straight lines. Then after a couple more portages we make it onto Junker. We travel around a headland and see the campsite, a sandy beach at the end over looking the whole lake. On the beach we make camp and relax after a tough day. The view from our tent is just unbelievable and we sit down and watch the sun set over the mountains.

09/09/08
Result! I managed to sleep the whole night and as I lie in my warm sleeping bag, I can hear the forest waking and the sounds of little waves breaking on the beach. Once we are up, we have to pack up the tents and equipment and load the canoes, but now it's almost routine and we kind of know what we're doing.
Out on Lake Junker, we follow the coast in the hope of spotting some early morning wildlife when a small opening in the forest entices us to some exploration. Behind the dense folliage of the shore line we find some wolf and moose tracks. Wow.

We head on, our destination today is Kidney Lake - no prizes for guessing why (it looks like that on the map). Passing through Widgeon Lake and another long portage we arrive at Kidney Lake. The campsite is much more rustic and you begin to realise the volume of human traffic up here really is small. At our campsite we are treated to a natural setting that one couldn't imagine. A hole in the bushes gives a border to a view of the lake and the snow capped mountains.
The forest here is amazing, not only for the shear size of it but, as we paddled up the banks it looks that there is nothing happening. Once inside, stand still and you can hear underground sounds pop out: the chipmonks, whiskey jacks (birds) and loons (another bird). The other thing I can't quite get my head around is the density of trees and the field of view - talk about not seeing the wood for the trees.

10/09/08
Today we hike up to Sunshine Lake and this really epitomised this whole trip. Everyday I keep thinking this is stunning only to have it surpassed the following day and Sunshine Lake is no exception. We follow a track and I realise that we have only been keeping to the edges of the forest. The path is marked by axe marks into the trees and we follow these. On our journey we see a mountain hen in the trees. There is a campsite marked up here but even fewer people venture up here. The views at Sunshine Lake are totally different. The Turner Lakes chain is dominated by views of one set of mountains but Sunshine Lake is something new.

We head back to Lake Widgeon and it's burritos for tea - we are truly living like kings. After tea, we sit on the beach on Widgeon Lake and watch the sunset and - see the video link below - it ended a wonderful day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpxCG6ylV5c

11/09/08
Ben is woken at dawn to something rustling around the tent. I, with ear plugs, sleep through it - perfect. This is the laziest day of the expedition as we head back down to Lake Junker. Out on the lake we raft our canoes together and wait silently to see if any wildlife will come to the shore. However, we lie back and all doze off, bobbing along on the lake - this is a holiday after all.

We get to Lake Junker for lunch and have all voted for the afternoon off. As you'd expect there isn't a whole lot to do and it is brilliant. Total uninterrupted chill out. I even push the boat out and try to have another swim and its still cold water.

We have visitors, of the human kind, at our campsite tonight and they're the only people we've seen since being here.

12/09/08
I wake up just before 6am and get up to see what's happening.
Typically, the early morning views and photos tend to be the classics.
The lake is so still its like a mirror and the mountains offer the perfect refection. This morning was slightly different because there were a lot of clouds in the sky but the sun was shinning from the opposite direction resulting in the most epic view I have ever seen - more like a Turner (famous painting) than a holiday snap! Returning to the tent I see frost on the outside - brrrr!
Heading back to lake turner for one more night in the jungle. Today is cloudy - I think one would refer to them as atmospheric clouds. There are a couple of sucker holes - breaks in the cloud that delude one into thinking the weather is turning. No such luck and by the time we reach Turner Lake it is starting to rain. But it's no hassle, as we can put the tents up super fast.
On our last night in the wilderness, we finally loose the plot and have a left handed stone throwing competition and it is the funniest thing I have ever seen. No TV - it's good for you!

13/09/08
We get up very early (6am) to look for early wildlife. But it is cold and there is a wind whipping up the lake. We don't see anything but certainly haven't gone home empty handed. Back at camp we pack up and wait for our float planes to pick us up. And soon enough we say our goodbyes to the forest and are treated to another aerial view of this vast country. This time, however, it is much different, the human impact on forest is much more visible and now more profound.

Arriving back at Nimpo Lake slowly adjust back to that way of life.
Then we head back on towards Bella Coola where further adventures await us...

Bella Coola - and the river

2009-06-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

It is great to be back in Bella Coola. This is the focus of our Wild Earth Adventures. There is no place quite like it - none that I have ever found. It has a feeling of remoteness that is rare...and a wildness still exists here that is even rarer.

A dead end road called the Freedom Highway leads to an ancient indigenous village, a place surrounded by snow capped mountains, shrouded in temperate rainforest, on the edge of what has become known as the Great Bear Rainforest. Grizzly bears roam the forests, salmon fill the rivers, ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks with imposing granite peaks all around. This place is genuine wilderness, far from the chaos of modern life.

We have just run the Bella Coola river with Coast Mountain Lodge. The lodge help to compliment our backcountry adventures with a river drift on one of the rivers in Bella Coola Valley. Fraser and Holly, the owners, run a fantastic lodge and day tours throughout the valley. As likeminded guides and freinds, we love working closely with them to provide the best alround multiday adventure trips in the Central Coast region of BC.

At the start of the season we drift the main artery of the valley which is the Bella Coola river. This is a chance for Coast Mountain Lodge to induct their new guides to the local surroundings and sights of interest. The river is class 1 for the most part and class 2 on occassion depending on water levels. It is not a white water experience but exciting enough and a gives a great perspective of the valley. It is a good chance to see wildlife, in particular bald eagles and bears. The Bella Coola river can be paddled in open canoe in one very long day or split over two days, as we like to do. It is always worth noting that the log jams on the upper section of the river make this trip a very serious undertaking and not to be done without previous white water canoeing experience and rescue skills.

Guide Training 2009

2009-05-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Wild Earth Adventures take safety in the backcountry very seriously. Our guides are certified in Advanced Wilderness First Aid, an intensive 10 day/90 hour course that involves a rigorous testing process. This course is run by our friends at Slipstream (see images below).

Based in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Slipstream have been running innovative and progressive first aid courses for over 18 years throughout western Canada. Recognised by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides we believe that the Slipstream first aid courses provide the best training for our guides to be able to deal with emergencies in the backcountry.

This year we headed to Canmore in the Rocky Mountains to recertify. It was a fantastic and intensive 10 days with so much information to take in that it was like drinking from a fire hose.

Check out the images below...

Guide Training 2009

2009-05-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

A different way of life...part 1

2009-05-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Extracts from the diary of our guest and friend Simon Osbourne during the Coast Mountain Canoe Safari in September 2008

Here is a link to a video of the plane flight into the lakes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBlIwnsqFw

05/09/08
Jericho Beach, Vancouver, BC
We arrive at hostel on a beautifully sunny day in Vancouver and meet our guides, Blue and Jess. A quick briefing on the trip is followed by a quick lesson on what and how to pack. Now Ben and I, in our thirties, would consider us to be quite capable of looking after ourselves but,evertheless, spend the next hour unpacking, packing, dumping clothes/kit and repeat seemingly ad infinitum. The maxim "don't need it, don't take it" is the rule of the day closely followed by "in a bag, in a bag..." (to keep everything waterproof)

06/09/08
The trip starts in earnest with a wake up call at 6am but thankfully we are still on UK time (8 hours ahead). We pack up the van and hit the road. This drive alone shows the vast expanse of Canada, it is utterly mind boggling but nothing in comparison to where we end up. We drive east out of the city and suburbs of Vancouver and through the morning working traffic - cars as big as lorries, lorries as big as trains and trains that miles long. We head to a small town called Hope, famous because Rambo was filmed there, and head north along the Fraser Canyon and the original trail set by the 1860 gold rush. The road north is scattered by small settlements that began as outlets for the gold diggers as they travel north and are named by there distance from Vancouver. 70 mile house, 100 mile house and so on. This barren land, cut by the ferocious Fraser River, expands east and west, through forest, desert and farm land (that exists with the help of some crazy irrigation).

After 7 hours driving through spectacular scenery we reach Williams Lake for lunch. Leaving Williams Lake and the last mobile phone signal we drive west across the Chilcoltin plane and there is nothing except for a handful of tiny communities.

We reach our destination at Tweedsmuir Lodge on Nimpo Lake and are treated to a night in a stunning lake side log cabin. We sense we are been led into a false sense of security and that this will be the last of the old homemade comforts. I somehow don't think that the campsites will have wood stoves with the fire ready to go (it lights with one match).

07/09/08
In the morning, we are given a lovely home cooked breakfast in the lodge, surrounded by the bear skin trophies of hunters. This naturally leads to the bear talk. I, coming from the wild, west country of England, have never seen a bear in the wild and would not know what to do. We are told that bears are, by and large, solitary creatures who don't really want to have anything to do with humans - phew! So, by making bears aware that you are in the neighbourhood by making noise they will probably leave you to it. This was all reassuring but we were to remain vigilant! Other animals that live in this part of B.C. are moose, wolves (probably scary), mountain lions (scary) and wolverines - to be honest I thought this one was a myth like Sasquatch (Big Foot). We left the breakfast with a bit of a reality check and make preparations for the flight.

We fly, by float plane, from Nimpo Lake into Turner Lake in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. We move all our gear to the jetty and await our pilot who emerges dressed like a cowboy. He takes one look at the early morning mist covering the lake and says "we'll be going in a little while" and slowly walks off for coffee. There is no rush whatsoever. Forget about the fast turn around times of the low budget airlines, this is a completely different way of life.

We wait in anticipation as the fog slowly rises and our pilot returns to pack up the plane. Finally, we're all loaded and ready to go into the wild. The journey flies across the forest, scared by the logging roads and patches of logged land, and then into the park itself. We land on a sunny lake and unload the plane and then begin to pack up the canoes.

As there is no point hanging around - it's not like you go on holiday to hang out at the airport - we start to paddle in the direction of Hunlen Falls. Apart from our guides, the group's canoeing experience is minimal and, even to the untrained eye, spectacularly woeful. I am in the back with control of the steering and the power and Ben in the front for ballast. We are shown the basic strokes and slowly make our way to our first camp. We make a little stop on a beach, and see some tracks left by a largish animal.

We make it to our first camp and erect our tents. The campsite is basic: fire pits, marked pits for tents and a toilet 200m away. Having made our base, we hike to Hunlon Falls, a 600m waterfall, and hike to get a good vantage point and, even though we flew across the park, we begin to see the extent and beauty of the untouched landscape. In one view I can see more trees that in all of my life. The forest is dense and you can never really see more than 50 metres but it the quiet
sounds of the forest that gets me: trees creaking in the light breeze, the chirping of birds and screaming of chipmunks warning the forest of its human invaders. Our voices resonate with the trees breaking the sounds of this forested silence.

Out here nature dictates our existence and like sugar-fuelled children refusing to go to sleep, we are left with no choice when the lights are eventually switched off.

Coming soon.....Tipi Retreat

2009-04-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Wilderness Retreat...the beginnings

2009-04-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

We'll be buying our first tipi in May!!! During the summer we'll likely set up in Bella Coola valley as a base for friends and family. It will be 20 ft in diametre which provides about 300 square feet of living space give or take. It will have a high temp stove pipe ring but we'll set a fire place in the centre for the summer. So if anyone fancies coming and helping setting it up...you are welcome.

Spring is in the Air

2009-04-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos from some of our riding adventures...a personal favourite new past-time for me! Yeeha. Read on...

After the Outdoors Show at the UK National Exhibition Centre, some of us were lucky enough to find ourselves back in Canada. And wow did spring come fast out here in the west! One friend even went as far as dusting off her bikini! Even though the winter didn't quite deliver the usual quantities of snow in the local mountains, the Nelson community are ready for a change and spring fever is in the air.

And change is in the air for Wild Earth as we get ready to take to the road and head to the Coastal Mountains to get the gear ready for the summer. (But don't worry there is still someone in the office to take your bookings!) Our gear base is in Squamish just 45 mins north of Vancouver. We'll be dusting everything off and checking the inventory for the summer adventures ahead.

Then we'll be heading over to Canmore in the Rocky Mountains. It's time to recertify the Advanced Wilderness First Aid course with our friends at Slipstream Wilderness First Aid who will be running a course in May, just in time for the summer! It is a very intensive 10 day course but lots of fun and it's always good to learn and review your skills for the mountains, rivers and oceans...also a great chance to network with other guides.

So a busy but fun few weeks ahead as the office continues to take bookings which continue to come in, despite the economic downturn. We are finding that people are certainly booking later than normal but are still keen to escape the doom and gloom for the trip of a lifetime.

Powder Heaven

2009-03-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a long wait...but finally some epic skiing in fantastic conditions. Nelson has been lacking the usual excitement that is so normal in this ski town, typically known for the consistent powder skiing and fantastic backcountry skiing accessed so easily from a great mountain resort.
This year there has been a lack of snow and the buzz of this ski town has been lacking as everyone gears up for spring. So it may have come late but it is great to see beaming faces across the mountain as the town makes the most of this late snowfall before spring really kicks in.

Over the last few days we have enjoyed some great hiking and skiing in Five Mile Basin. Only 25 minutes hike from the resort Five Mile has some great tree runs which we enjoyed in waist deep powder. Yesterday the sun came out giving us a great opportunity to get up into the alpine for some fresh perspective, great views and a fantastic run from the alpine back into the resort. Unfortunately we were too busy enjoying the skiing to get any action shots but here are a couple of the hike...

Bella Coola Valley Fall Fair

2009-02-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

Anyone joining us on our Coast Mountain Canoe Safari 5 - 15 September will be able to experience The Bella Coola Valley Fall Fair and Logger Sports 12 - 13 September. This is a classic community event reminiscent of old country fairs that have been running for years in these small and remote communities. Activities include horseshoes, ring toss and bingo, along with logger sports -- axe throwing, anyone?

Tipis in Bella Coola Valley

2009-02-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

At the moment we are looking at the possibility of getting a tipi that we can use throughout the summer as a fancy wilderness camp that Wild Earth guides and family ca use to rejuvenate throughout the summer http://www.tipi.com/
This could become a great way of also housing our guests on select trips. They are really great spaces and when set on a raised platform with a deck and beautiful scenery to look out at...ahhhh, there is nothing better.

Meanhwhile no exciting adventures as the last week has had the office battling the seasonal flu epidemic. There has not been much snow to speak of either so the skiing hasn't been epic...a few days have been feeling more like spring with sun shine and soaring temps. We do hope to get out for a hike with a camera at the end of the week - so we'll post some pictures soon!! If only we had some of the snow the UK is getting! I never thought I would say that.

Bella Coola in the Winter

2009-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

This is a shot of Bella Coola from a helicopter looking to the west. The airstrip can be seen in the middle of the photo. Flying out is a great way to get a new perspective on the area!

Bella Coola River is the main artery running through the valley bringing tens of thousands of salmon throughout the year to spawn and maintain a healthy grizzly bear population.

Snowy Xmas

2009-01-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

Ski Culture

2009-01-05T18:20:00.000-08:00

Skiing is about the powder...fresh, light and fluffy snow on the top of a solid base, that means as you ski you enjoy the exhiliration of face shots of powder. Sometimes so much that you choke, cough and splutter and inevitably grin uncontrollably to the point of laughing. It is an addiction.

Unless you have skied and experienced the joy of fresh snow you probably won't understand. But in winter the town of Nelson lives by snow, to the point that many work places in town have a 20cm rule. No kidding, in the morning folks will check the snow report via phone or internet to see how much fresh has been dumped on the local ski hill. If it is 20cms or more you can bet that half or more of the town is at the ski hill....atleast until late morning when people have had their fix of powder and are ready to face the rest of the work day.

Nelson is not a ski resort, it is a ski town. In our office this is very apparent as we juggle schedules to make sure that someone is on hand to answer the phone and e-mails and that we all get a fair share of faceshots throughout the week.

And after all that's what Wild Earth Adventures is all about - loving being in the outdoors with great people, in great places. It's all about the balance - even if it means 6am starts in the office to make sure we can afford a few hours skiing later in the day!

Learning to be a Cowboy

2008-12-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

Riding across the plateau, as the sunset over the distant mountains, snow on the ground, I felt a long way from the daily grind. Okay, so life is pretty special, running wilderness trips in remote areas of Canada and splitting time from marketing and other business matters with some turns on the ski hill....but still, there is a stress that comes from dealing with bills and business administration. Work is still work.

Out on the Chilcotin plateau at the ranch it is a different reality. Feeding horses, axing through the ice over the creek to get water, wrangling cattle, collecting wood for the fire, the list goes on. It is a simpler and wholesome existence that while hard work is very satisfying and rejuvenating.

In the summer we work closely with the Dorsey family and friends that run the packhorses on the trekking trips we offer in Tweedsmuir Park. This December was a chance, for myself atleast, to learn how to ride and as it turned out, wrangle horses and cows.

After driving to the end of a quiet side road, literally miles from anywhere I was met by my friend Aileen, one of the horse packers working on the summer trips. After being introduced to 'my' horse Sandy I was shown how to put on a pair of leather chaps, designed to protect from the elements and also very useful to protect against the brush when riding. We then rode for an hour into the Chilcotin Plateau to the ranch, an old homestead with a horse coral and fantastic views across the plateau to the distant coastal mountain ranges.

I awake the first day to a hearty breakfast, before gearing Sandy up for the days ride. Myself and Aileen then ride out to find a herd of horses that are foraging out on the range. We find half a dozen horses in the top meadow, an hour ride from the ranch. The plan is to herd them back to the coral. It all happens very fast and before I know it we are chasing them at full speed, weaving in and out of the trees through the forest. It is quite exhilirating and I can only liken it to skiing through trees, reacting quickly so as to avoid crashing.

As we near the ranch the herd slows down to a trot and I get time to look out across the plateau to the sunset over the snow capped peaks. As the temperature drops and I look forward to a cup of tea by the fire I can't help but keep smiling to myself. The stuff of boyhood dreams, I really do feel like a cowby.

2008-12-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Ready for Winter

2008-12-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

The new office in Nelson, deep in the heart of the Kootenay region of British Columbia, is now fully functioning. We are based in the Building Tree offices, a collective office for business with a green conscience. We are very excited to become a part of this mountain community that thrives so heavily on the outdoor lifestyle. At this time of year the buzz is for snow and skiing deep powder high in the mountains. The winter is creeping ever nearer but the precipiation so far this year has been very low, with only minimal amounts of snowfall recorded and very little since October. It is nothing that hasn't happened before but patience is starting to wear as the locals get anxious to get the skis and boards out before Christmas.

And Wild Earth...? We're reviewing marketing plans for the next two years. Things have expanded with over 10 travel companies and various agents selling our products to their clients. So while we are not moving away from direct sales this is an interesting step for us. Places are going to be increasingly limited on our trips. Of course we are not going to increase group sizes and will be very aware of impacts on the envirnoment. So we'll have new trips to new destinations and changing itineraries for exisiting destinations to vary the trails on which we travel. That way we'll be keeping everything new and fresh whether you're a guest for the first time or a returning friend.

And most exciting, our family of guides is expanding...more highly skilled and knowledgeable locals from the guiding industry that will continue to give you a great insight into our wild places, while keeping you safe and well fed!

That's all for now.

New Canadian Office

2008-10-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

We are really happy to have a new office opening in Nelson, British Columbia. Wild Earth Adventures have joined the The Building Tree's shared office space. An office for eco-friendly business, this convenient downtown Nelson location will serve as Wild Earth Adventures operational office while the administartive office will remain in the UK.

Spring Bookings and No Free Time!

2008-04-01T14:34:00.001-07:00

Unfortuanately there are still a few weeks left before escaping the office. The last month has been very busy taking bookings for the next couple of years. So there really has been no time to escape. Instead we can enjoy looking at these images and get excited about the summer. The first is of Molly Lake in the Coastal Mountains on the south side of Bella Coola. We run a fly-in alpine trip to this area. The other image is of Turner Lake where we run a fly-in canoe trip. At the head of the lake is Hunlen Falls, the third highest falls in Canada.

In mid-March we had a stand at the UK National Exhibition Centre at the Outdoors Show, the biggest of its kind in the UK. It was a great success and we took a picture of the stand at the beginning of the show. About 40,000 people passed through and by the end of the weekend we could hardly talk but it is always really worthwhile and fantastic to get such a great response to the company - not to mention the bookings!

Paul Webb, UK based sales and marketing, getting ready for the 40,000 visitors.

Kayaking in the Realm of the Orca

2008-02-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

We are now working in conjunction with a sea kayaking company on Quadra Island to offer the Johnstone Strait Expedition. Wild Earth Adventures does not run these trips directly but uses the excellent guide services of an affiliate company. This adventure will journey through the Broughton Archipelago and into the realm of the Orca whale.

Winter Wonderland Canada

2008-01-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

Nelson, British Columbia is a tucked away town in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. It is far away from the hustle and bustle of the busy ski resorts. Attracting a different kind of visitor, this is a ski town where the community balances work and play to ensure a rare quality of life.

Albarracin, Spain

2008-01-14T06:05:00.000-08:00

Perfect conditions greeted us in Albarracin for a few days of bouldering. The plan was simple. Escape the computers for a few days, enjoy good company and climb.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

It's going to be an exciting new year for Wild Earth Adventures with new affiliates in the travel industry both in the UK with Walks Worldwide and in Canada with an adventure travel agent based in Alberta...this will hopefully provide opportunities to develop and expand our frontiers. We are also developing relationships with Kynoch Adventures in Bella Coola, working on a joint adventure package to meet the growing demand and interest that is building from the travel industry in the central coast of British Columbia.

Looking forward to being in British Columbia from mid-January to develop some new trips for the summer - watch this space.

All the best for 2008...see you in BC.

HIGHLIGHTS 2007...

2007-12-29T03:20:00.000-08:00

This year seemed to pass by quite quickly and summer passed in the blink of an eye. It was a good year with the first official presence at the NEC Outdoor Show/Expo in the UK...the feedback was fantastic and we are looking at bookings for 2010 as a result. We will be at the NEC again March 14-16 and look forward to meeting old and new faces.

The summer highlight for me was having lunch with guests on a spectacular mountain pass with a large wolf watching us from about 100 metres away. The large black wolf would sit very still watching our every move and then occassionally and very slowly patrol the large snow bank where it sat. Brilliant.

Click on this link to find the image of the wolf: http://wildearth-adventures.com/slideshows/Wild%20West%20Trails/index.html

There were also close encounters with grizzlies, black bears, mountain goats, marmots and moose to name but a few. I'm can't wait for another summer of adventures in Canada!

Ian Mackie Images

2007-12-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

Check out his website for some fantastic images of biking, skiing, sea kayaing and walking...

http://mackieimages.com/photography/

Wild Earth Summers

2007-12-11T05:30:00.001-08:00

2007-12-11T03:18:00.001-08:00

As the cold weather closes in it is nice to remember those warm days by the ocean! This photo was taken from Flores Island, British Columbia.

BEER AFTER EXERCISE?!

2007-12-02T03:53:00.000-08:00

I know a fair few people that after a hard day on the slopes or or the rock like to sink a cold one.

A new study has revealed that 'beer can help someone who has sweat regan liquid better than water, the bubbles help to quench thirst and the carbohydrate in beer help replace lost calories.'

And where does this welcome news come from? Spanish researchers studying the effects of strenuous exercise in hot temps. Apparently the hydration effect in those who drank beer was "slightly better" than those who drank water, said professor Manuel Garzon of Granada University, Spain.

A nutrition expert from Bath University in Britain, said a moderate amount of beer might be just as good as water at helping the body retain liquid, but was unlikely to be better.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307518,00.html

GUERILLA MARKETING

2007-12-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

The book Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson has been an inspiration. Attempting to compete with the big guns of the travel industry on a small budget is a constant uphill struggle. Knowing what a great experience Wild Earth Adventures can offer is one thing but trying to get that message out is another. I love the challenge and can relate to the call to guerilla tactics laid out so well in this book. It is comforting to realise that it is possible to succeed without having to spend the big bucks...and it seems that I have naturally been employing the guerilla tactics. This blog as well as Facebook and are two ways of using modern technology in getting the message out about Wild Earth Adventures without having to break the bank. The Wild Earth Adventures group on Facebook is a chance to see some great images and get updated on new events and trips as well as network with likeminded travellers and even posting their own images - perhaps even organise your own group for one of the advetures in 2008. Check out the following link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5789983269

2007-11-24T12:48:00.001-08:00

In January 2008 I will be venturing into the Kootenays of British Columbia in search of fresh powder and researching for winter trips in 2008/09. This photo is from the backside of the Whitewater ski resort near Nelson, BC in 2006.

WELCOME TO THE JOURNEY

2007-11-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Blogger seemed to be a good way of up-dating the development of WILD EARTH ADVENTURES which is my creation, to allow people the access to a frontier that breaks the mould of our daily perceptions. Escaping the roll-call of the 9 to 5 I am on a journey to find the best trails and views that Canada can offer. The ideal for me is not a wilderness that is overrun by a sea of cameras and coaches...in these places the sense of place is lost. The west coast of British Columbia is a frontier where solitude and beauty can be found away from the crowds.