Here we are, upon popular demand, back in the west for some more adventures. The challenge we face this week is the unfortunate reality of BC's wildfire season. The fires themselves are not a direct impediment to the route, but the smoke blankets much of the province, making living conditions quite miserable. Living conditions aside though, the smoke makes for some absolutely beautiful filming, playing natures very own filter.
Our first stop is a perfect example of this. Farwell canyon is no new area for the channel, having filmed it several times before, but with the dense smoke settling into the river valley it is hardly recognizable. Even the old Pothole Ranch assumes a sinister look, as it survives another summer of challenges in the Chilcotin. Sunny skies or smokey, Farwell Canyon is always a pleasure to visit.
Continuing west, I hadn't actually planned to visit my old forest fire fighting camp location, but with the added intrigue of the abandoned military airport, it was a location I was happy to add to the list. There is of course nothing left from the camp I lived in, but the site still offers much to see if you're a fan of history. Most of the infrastructure has been removed from the old base, but the airstrip is still in use today, and at the time of it's completion was the second longest runway in the province. Most of its visitors are now forest fire fighting crews, and a highlight to my visit was seeing the sauna that the crews have constructed. Fighting wildfire is a tough and stressful job, so I am happy to see the boys and girls get some time to relax as well.
The highlight to this trip, for me personally, is the trip up to Perkins Peak. Exploring the alpine is one of my favourite things to do, but my chances to get that high are limited. This new truck offers the chance to get up and explore so many places I could have never accessed with the MoHo. Mining, and mine exploration are the reasons there is a road network to, and around Perkins Peak, but anything brought up the mountain during that time has long but been removed. Never the less, though tight and rough, the network of roads remains and offers great access to the peak itself, and adjacent valleys. Next week we will try to reach the summit of the mountain, but this week were crossing Chromium Creek and exploring the valley south of Perkins Peak. The land at the end of this valley has clear markings of human intervention, clear signs of some extensive mining and even remains of stone structures. I am not sure how far back these sites date, but it is always exciting to stumble across the sign of humans living way up in the alpine.
Our time in the west is beginning to come to an end, but I have enjoyed sharing this with all of you. Growing up in Williams Lake, I have always considered this as my backyard. Having explored much of it already, I often discount the area as a viable location for the channel, but I could not have been more wrong. The history, the diversity, and the vastness of the land itself warrants the Chilcotin a perfect place for adventure and discovery. I will be honoured to dive deeper into these places in the future.
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