Summer in the Cariboos and North Blue

Strait Creek campground on Murtle Lake August 2011.
The Murtle Lake Nature Conservancy is adjacent to the Snowy Mountain Tenure, it is North Americas largest canoe only lake! Surrounded by some of the most intact wilderness in British Columbia, this area of Wells Gray Provincial Park is a must visit! Combine paddling the north arm with a hiking trip from the Strait Creek campground to the North Blue chalets, travelling through the high country of the Wavy Range.

Astrid enjoying the last week before school in the wilderness of Murtle Lake, Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC.

A railing added to the sleeping loft in the Kitchen and Dining Yurt in the North Blue valley.

We were lucky enough to have visitors stop by in July - these endangered Mountain Caribou utilize the North Blue river valley during summer, early -mid winter and spring. There continue to be challenges with obtaining adequate data regarding the population that exists for most months of the year in the North Blue River valley. Snowy Mountain has been an advocate for Mountain Caribou conservation and has provided input to the BC governments Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Process based on the 20 years of observations we have made in the Wells Gray/North Thompson planning unit. Please consider donating to the Yellowhead Ecological Association (yellowheadecological.org and or Wildsight.org if you wish to support Mountain Caribou conservation in British Columbia.

Stay tuned for our next instalment getting you all STOKED for a great winter to come and more of the legendary deep powder skiing at Snowy Mountain.

Riel Macboudreau Photography

Snowy Mountain Alpine Tours

Happy student!

Our classroom

Magic mountains delight us.

Avalanche Skills Training Course Jan 7-11, 2011 North Blue Chalets, Cariboos

Rutchblock test Jan 2011

Last prime week in March still open - March 12-17, 2011

Call 250-674-2988

Snowy Mountains tenure....nothing but the best skiing in the world. Photo Frank Weber

"Read my Skis"

Frank Weber

The skiing was fabulous for our powder friends. The natural glading here is phenomenal, this run ends right at the doorstep of the chalets. Current height of snowpack at tree line above the chalets is 350 cm.

First we ski...then we eat!

More great terrain and beautiful light! Photo Frank Weber

Photo Frank Weber - Skier Chris Mccrumb

Cariboo mountain powder the best in the world! Chris was so helpful during this trip, we told him the check is in the mail! Thanks Chris...thanks to everyone!

New Non-Motorized Designation for the North Blue Backcountry Ski Area

The Banff Mountain Film Festival was a huge success and a great opportunity to get the word out about our Backcountry Ski Chalets and Blue River skiing in general.

Setting up in the Eric Harvey Theatre at the Film Festival!

he North Blue River valley where our Chalets and Licence of Occupation is situated has recently been designated Ungulate Winter Range Habitat or "Protected Mountain Caribou Habitat".

The trees around our crew tent from last winter are loaded with arboreal lichens...this is why it is protected Ungulate Winter Range specifically for Mountain Caribou.

This area is designated as "Ungulate Winter Range ID#3-004" This level of protection is specifically for preventing displacement of Mountain Caribou in their winter habitat". The high elevation forests that exist in the valley surrounding our chalets supports a rich source of arboreal lichens that are the primary winter food source for Mountain Caribou.

The BC Provincial Government supported a fourteen member independent mountain caribou science team that convened in 2005, under the direction of the Species at Risk Coordination Office (SaRCO) to identify potential constraints to the maintenance and recovery of Mountain Caribou populations. A draft of the recovery plan was released in November of 2006. The primary concern under the public recreation component was the huge problem of public snowmobiling in core Mountain Caribou habitat.

Cariboo tracks in the narrow valley bottom of the North Blue River - Snowy Mountain Tenure

Trees heavily laden with Caribou Food in the North Blue River headwaters.

Caribou Antler - Cariboos

During the spring we have observed that the Mtn.Caribou love to eat the fresh herbaceous shoots such as fireweed, groundsel, arnica when they emerge in the spring. In late spring the animals stay in the valley bottom where these plants are coming up in the natural openings. Unfortunately, we also see them munching heavily in the cut blocks where their winter food source used to grow.

During the summer the animals have a route that they use during daily migration between tree line and the valley bottom. This route is also used to escape predators from the narrow valley bottom during early and mid-winter. They also move up in elevation as the snow recedes or when the females separate from their group to give birth to young in late spring.

In the winter the family group that inhabits the valley bottom in the North Blue stay in the Old Growth forest in the lower middle section of the valley where they utilize the abundant and rich winter food source of lichens.

Below is a Mountain Caribou leg we found in March of 2010 in the North Blue River valley...we did not find the remainder of the carcass. It is suspected that the demise of this "Endangered Animal" was either due to a low elevation avalanche or predatory hunting by Wolverine.

In the North Blue River the Mtn.Caribou use the lichen rich old growth forest to sustain themselves throughout early and mid winter. In early December we can also find large groups of animals feeding above the trappers cabin on the north facing slopes.

The Mountain Caribou is listed as "threatened" if populations don't stabilize or recover to a sustainable level this ungulate could easily slip into the "Endangered" category. There are less than 1800 animals left in the world. The Mountain Caribou is a sub-species of woodland caribou, most closely related to the now extinct Peary Caribou.

Below are Wolverine tracks a few hundred meters above our Chalets from last February. The North Blue snowpack is not conducive for travel by Wolf packs as the snow is usually too deep and unconsolidated. Good for us not so good for wolfs.

However, the Wolverine exist in this valley in very high numbers...they also prey on vulnerable Mountain Caribou. The Wolverine is currently listed as a "species of concern" in Canada by Cosewic.

Below is just a small sample of the fine ski terrain of the North Blue...

We have engaged land managers, politicians and local stakeholders to formalize our commercial activities in the North Thompson. Receiving the first non-motorized multi-season commercial licence of occupation tenure in the North Thompson in the past 40 years. This also a first for a crown land tenure in the entire Cariboo Mountains that is self-propelled.

The north end of the Snowy Mountain Tenure...and the eastern boundary of Wells Gray Park will see additional mountain huts to facilitate excellent access to huge amounts of skiing terrain. Combine your spring ski trip to the North Blue with a traverse of the Southern Cariboos Haute Route...Summits and Icefields author Chic Scott.

So come and ski the Cariboos deep powder and long runs...we will guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Dave, Conrad and Steve.G warming up at beer thirty in the Alpha tent. We can't quite put our finger on it but those who come to work in the North Blue are captivated by the place...they just want to come back. I think it's the energy given off from the Old Growth forest, maybe its the power of the snowy mountains...maybe it's the purity of living under the stars...or the sound of the Blue River rushing towards the sea...perhaps it's the magic of wilderness. There is a deep human desire to feel bare in the rawness of nature...something primal deep inside each one of us...It is there inside you too!

Ryan just after shredding his pants on....something. Here is the footbridge crossing the mighty North Blue River half way between the trailhead and the Chalets.

Supporting the local economy with jobs and product purchases.

Below are some photos of the sleeping Chalet as of October 13, 2010. Rustic luxury in backcountry BC. More snow coming to the high country this week. The snowpack will begin to lay in... but what will winter bring this year? One thing we know for sure, this area of BC's backcountry has cooler temps and fewer rain events producing a more generally stable snowpack. This is partly due to the immense amounts of snow the area receives. We have the fattest snowpack next to the coast range....can you tell we're excited?....Winter is coming soon to Blue River!

The delivery truck having a wee problem, this load contained about 18 000 lbs of building materials. Amazing truck and even more amazing driver. Thank you Huey!

The snow line is beginning to drop in the Cariboos. The wind has picked up bringing the sharp crispness of winter in it's wake. The construction crew just spent another nine days working on the sleeping chalet in the North Blue. The flash flood that occurred at the end of September just about severed the thin thread that links us to the outside world...our road almost washed out. It also wreaked havoc at the Bone Creek project. The cold wet weather of September left a foot or more of fresh snow in the alpine. A cell of intensely warm air drifted through the region then it was immediately followed by a day of torrential rains. The snowpack runoff combined with the heavy rainfall was too much for waterways to bear pushing the limits of culverts, ditches and eventually road and trail beds.

The second floor of the sleeping chalet with master builder Dave working until late in the evening.

The bedrooms each have a window looking out at the wild snowy peaks of the Cariboos. Each room is small but provides a private space to rest in the glory of powder skiing nirvana. Downstairs there is a cozy wood stove to sit and enjoy the views or read a book by. The facilities are starting to really take shape and this dream to have a cabin in the mountains is slowly becoming a reality.

To be honest we just love and live for powder skiing. We can describe what we are selling with all the applicable superlatives that get slung out into backcountry skiing advertising campaigns...we have fallen victim to that. Here you will only understand what makes this place different and worthy of the most discerning backcountry skiers, if you come to experience it.

We can tell you it's the best and the biggest and the deepest and all that...but really we are first and foremost skiers so this place was chosen for the outstanding ski terrain. We are wilderness lovers and we know.... there is something extra special about the the secret Cariboos.

This is our first operational season the bits and pieces are coming together to give us a solid and successful beginning.

Blue River backcountry skiing will get into your bones....Blue River will get into your bones...most people find it hard to leave...and they always, always can't wait to come back.

Come join us and we'll take you someplace very special.

There is no turning back....

The snowcat in waiting....delivery with comfy heated passenger box coming this November.

Snowy Mountain Alpine Tours and Chalets will be exhibiting at the Banff Mountain Film Festival and Trade Show November 5-8th, 2010.