Logging in the West Chilcotin
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
The following came up in a Google alert that I have set up for different keywords. I read it yesterday in a Nelson paper and now I’ve found it in a Boundary paper. It’s a letter to the editor by Wendy Webb of Nimpo Lake. I don’t know the facts of the case, and I know that logging is a big economic driver in the Chilcotin. I’m not a pinko tree hugger by any means, but I thought I’d re-print the letter here in the interests of increased sunshine.
Dear Editor,
When the movie Avatar made its debut, it caught the hearts of people everywhere as they empathized with the Navi, a people whose world and way of life was threatened by the intrusion of a huge profit-focused corporation. What most fail to realize is the very same thing is happening right now – here in the real world, in our own country – in the West Chilcotin of interior British Columbia.
When the provincial government decreased the number of forest districts by increasing the area covered by each, it left the door open for the major forestry corporations – West Fraser, Tolko and government-owned BCTS – to extend their operations into areas previously out of their reach. These companies, having overcut their own operating areas for the past seven years, have now marched into the last green forests of the BC Interior.
Every day more reports come in from local ranchers, wilderness operators and First Nations communities – expressions of dismay at the thousands of ribbons circling trees as the major forestry companies compete to claim vast tracts of previously untouched green forest in the West Chilcotin. No formal application has been made to government and no consultation has been made with local First Nations and other residents. This is a fact, and it’s still happening as you read this letter – and yet no one seems to know about it beyond our local borders.
If these corporations are allowed to log the vast areas they have walked in and claimed, it will destroy a way of life for the communities in West Chilcotin that has existed for hundreds of years. Gone will be the world famous fishing of Nimpo Lake, Tatla Lake and many others. Gone will be the endangered Woodlands Caribou and other wildlife at risk. Gone will be the employment provided by wilderness tourism and small local logging companies that know how to conduct business without endangering sensitive ecologies.
How could such a thing happen while the rest of the province sleeps? If you think that you live too far away for this to be your concern, think again. It would take almost a hundred years for these forests to grow back. Forests that beneficially affect the air you breathe and the temperature you feel every day. Think of going on vacation to find that ugly stumps and scarred earth is all that remains of the beautiful landscapes that surrounded you last year.
The Forest Review Board convenes in two weeks, after which it will be too late to protest if they grant West Fraser, Tolko and BCTS the logging rights they wish to claim in the green forests of the West Chilcotin. PLEASE, write, email or phone the BC Forest Practices Board or Minster of Forests Steve Thomson. Write to your local editor or put it on Facebook, but get involved and prevent the large scale logging of these major corporations in the last green forests of British Columbia.
Wendy Webb
A very concerned resident of Anahim Lake, in the West Chilcotin, BC
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Chilcotin Wildlife – Horses and Moose
This is a great picture of Chilcotin wildlife. Some will argue that horses aren’t wildlife because they’re actually feral. Fair enough. They’re still wild in that you can’t just go up and ride them, and they live outside, year round, with the moose.
You can find more of these pictures at Friends of Nemiah Valley.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Moose Lake
Moose Lake is located west of Williams Lake. It is 300 miles northwest of Vancouver. It lies to the northeast of Anahim Lake. It is very remote.
The lake lies near the headwaters of two rivers, the Dean and Entiako. It is east of Tweedsmuir Park and due south of Entiako Park. If you’re using a GPS the coordinates are 53.089694, -125.365334. Access is by floatplane, backcountry wheeled aircraft, horseback, wagon or really tough four wheel drives. You can get close by logging roads from Vanderhoof, but it won’t be easy to find the way.
This is a real wilderness lake but it has great hiking, fishing and hunting opportunities. Like the rest of the Chilcotin it has grizzly bears, black bears, moose, woodland caribou and wolves.
Moose Lake Lodge offers accomodations and activities at the lake. They can fly you to superb fishing spots in Tweedsmuir, Kitlope, Fiordland and Spirit Bear Rain Forest. You can also fish the Blackwater and Dean Rivers with them.
There appear to be three lots on Moose Lake, and one more close by. There is an active airstrip on one of the lots at the west end of the lake.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Free Camping in BC
Camping for free is the best way to camp. It gives you a chance to really get back to nature because you camp without services. It also gives you a chance to see some unique places on your own, because you aren’t herded into a specific place with a bunch of other people.
In BC you can camp free in a few ways. One makes use of Forest Service sites. The second explores backroads and camps on them. The third involves parking the vehicle and hiking, biking, paddling or using some other mode of transport to penetrate the back country. 
81 percent of BC is Crown Land, meaning it’s owned by the public. That’s covered by over 200,000 kilometres of dirt roads. These logging and resource roads open vast areas of the province to campers who want to camp for free. 
The BC Forest Service maintains almost 1,300 Forest Service Recreation sites. Most are no fee, although there are some low fee sites. Most are in remarkable spots, either because of the natural beauty or because of some sort of local attraction. Roughly half are maintained by local organizations, forestry companies or First Nations. The balance are user maintained – you bring it in you take it out.
You can also use the network of roads to take you to unorganized camping. These sites are often the best ones. The law says you can camp anywhere on Crown Land as long as you don’t stay in one place longer than 14 days. You will find roads leading to lakes, or crossing rivers or meadows that make great camping places. Watch for logging trucks, especially during the week, and try to get off to the side of the road when you encounter one. 
You can take potable water or boil your own when you set up camp. In much of the province firewood is very easy to find. Because of widespread beetle kill there are areas where a chain saw will drop a dead tree that provides more than enough dry wood. Practice safe fire-making, and make sure your fire is extinguished when you leave. Forest fires are a big deal in British Columbia. Fire season starts in mot areas by April and last to October.
If you are more adventurous or energetic you can park at the trailhead. From there you can hike or canoe to a fantastic spot. Some make use of ATVs, and in the winter go camping on snowmobiles. This allows you to access areas that most people never see. It offers great opportunities for wildlife viewing. The BC Forest Service has also created some canoe routes and hiking networks. There is a system of trails through the South Chilcotin as well. Some are very amenable to almost everyone. There are some routes, however, that require some experience for self guided expeditions. 
Remember to pack out everything that you pack in. Also make sure to properly address sanitation. Use existing fire rings when possible, and try to leave your campsite cleaner than when you arrived. It sucks to find a great place littered with someone else’s garbage. On the other hand, it’s nice to find a camp with a small supply of ready cut wood. Some back country camps are outfitted with some of the heavier articles that make life more comfortable, like frying pans and grills. If you find them in a camp, use them, but leave them when you go.
There can be issues with wildlife, specifically bears. Leave a clean camp, and in bear country be aware. It may make sense to hang your food, especially if you’re a small party, or not armed. You don’t want to be caught in a small tent in the middle of the night, together with your food, looking for bear spray. On the other hand, a black bear walking by an occupied camp in the middle of the day is a completely different experience. Use common sense and remember that they are wild animals and are opportunistic. Realistically, however, you’ll lose more food to mice. 
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Tsetzi Lake
Pan Phillips was a legendary cowboy who, with Rich Hobson, founded the Home Ranch. Tsetzi Lake, I believe, was the site of the Home Ranch, and boasts an grass strip. There is a resort there operated by Phillips’ son Robbie and his wife Linda.
Photo by M. Teller
Coordinates are 52°58′19″N 125°01′36″W, elevation is 3,550 ft / 1,082 m. The Transport Canada Location ID is CBT3. Runway directions are 02/20, length is 2,700 ft./823 metres.
Tsetzi grass strip from the outhouse - photo by Ole Wasmuth
This is a private runway. You need permission to use it. I’ll try to get some contact info.
Photo by M. Teller
Be careful of the wind generator!
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Recall for the Cariboo-Chilcotin!
The Recall Cariboo-Chilcotin Committee has decided on a date to start the recall process of Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. The kick off date is February 15.
The recall program for the Cariboo-Chilcotin is being ramrodded by Gary Edwards (garyedwards44@gmail.com/(250) 593-0219) and Eric Freeston (elffree2@yahoo.ca/ (250) 303-1975).
Not everyone agrees with the recall, of course, which has been spurred largely by the HST. See, for example, a letter to the editor from Karl Post.
Interesting times….
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Price Reduction!
The price has been reduced on this 7 acre Nimpo Lake property.
You can find more info here, in my free real estate classifieds.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Where to Go According to The Seattle PI
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 604-298-3235, mail at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7, or by email.
From Joel Connelly in the Seattle PI, on “Where To Go”:
–Lorna Lake to Spruce Lake (not on NYT list) is one of the world’s most spectacular backpacking trips, located in the South Chilcotin Mountains. Lorna Lake is remote, at foot of glacier, and grizzly country. Sruce Lake is more tranquil. Between them are two days hiking up/down the spectacular valley of Tyaughton Creek. Fly-in to one lake, fly out from the other. Whistler Air will take you there. r Village .
Joel Connelly can be reached at 206-448-8160 or joelconnelly@seattlepi.com. Follow Joel on Twitter at twitter.com/joelconnelly.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7.
Gun Lake – South Chilcotin
Gun Lake is in the South Chilcotin. It is located in the Bridge River Valley,112 km west of Lillooet and 247 km north of Vancouver (4-1/2 hours), 78 kilometres northwest of Pemberton and just west of Gold Bridge. Most people get there through Pemberton and the Hurley Mountain Road.
It’s about 6 miles/10 km in length. The latitude is 50.8379 north and the longitude is 122.9066 west. The elevation is 886 m. or 2906 ft.
Gun Lake & Lajoie Lake Topo Map
Fishing pressure is moderate, and the lake is drained through Gun Creek into the Bridge through Carpenter Lake. Lajoie Lake (sometimes called Little Gun Lake) is close by. There are Dolly Varden, Kokanee, Bull and Rainbows. There is lots of wildlife on the land and in the air, including plenty of deer and bear. The mountain scenery is spectacular.
Lajoie Lake Bathymetric< /a> There is a forest service campsite on the west side. Its a steep bank to the lake, but not too bad. If its full you can also go to Mowson Pond (not a bad site and I’ve caught some big fish there on the fly).
There is a public boat launch at the north end of the lake.
There are a couple resorts by my last count – Gun Lake Resort and Highland Cream.
There are a few roads names there: Gun Lake Road, Lakeview Road, Weaver Road, Stafford Road, and Slim Creek Forest Service Road.
Most of the properties there are recreational/seasonal, but there are about 200 year round residents.
There is an airstrip of unknown condition at the north end of the lake.
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Cariboo/Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7. If you’d like to contribute anecdotes, information or photos to this page, please drop me an email!
Charlotte Lake
Charlotte Lake is located about 3 1/2 hours, 285 kms, or 180 miles west of Williams Lake by road. Its about 30 kilometers south of Nimpo Lake. The latitude is 52.1915 north and the longitude is 125.3441 west. The elevation is 1169 m. or 3835 ft.
Fishing pressure is moderate, and the lake is drained by the Atnarko River. There are Rainbow Trout and Char. Like the rest of the Chilcotin, there is lots of wildlife on the land and in the air.
There is a forest service campsite on the southeast end, on Nielsen Road, and at least three resorts by my last count – Chilcotin Cabins, Atnarko Retreat Bed and Breakfast, , and The One Eye Outfit.
There are a few roads names there: Remarko Road, Engadin Road, Nielsen Road and Charlotte Lake Road.
Properties on Charlotte are in Land District 12, Range 3, and are various sizes, although most are small, being less than 10 acres most of the time. I believe that there are 25 titled pieces of waterfront property on the Lake, and 1 small piece quite close to the lake. On the south east end there is an old airstrip in unknown condition on private property.
Charlotte Lake & Little Charlotte Bathymetric Map
Charlotte Lake Bathymetric Map
Rob Chipman is a realtor based in Vancouver, BC, who really enjoys flying, real estate and the Chilcotin. His company is Coronet Realty Ltd., located at 3582 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A7. If you’d like to add an anecdote, some information or some photos, or if you want more information about something, drop me an email!
