Canada: Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Mountains
Oooooh la la – stunning, mesmerising, wilderness and wildlife. British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Mountains are everything you’ve ever dreamed about, and more.
Canadian Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Mountains
Canada hadn’t been high on our list of countries to undertake travel adventures. Thank goodness for a couple of people with passion and enthusiasm from Yoho Adventures (now called Adventure Tours BC), whom we met several years ago in Sydney. After years of urging us to come on over and saying ‘anyways, you will have fun’ – we did.
Canadian wilderness – stunning views in every direction
How to get there
So, with a small but enthusiastic group of people along with our two guides, gear and food, our seven day adventure into the Canadian Coast Mountains wilderness began. Starting from Vancouver, we flew to Anahim Lake via Bella Coola – around two hours North West.
Flying over Monarch Ice Field
Then hooking up with a ‘flying beaver’ (aka float plane), we headed out over a remote ice field into a pristine, lake environment where we were dropped off for four days.
Floatplane to the wilderness lake
Each day was both stunning and challenging at the same time. The weather tested both our gear and resolve to keep pushing our limits. We were lucky to be rewarded with delicious food cooked by our guides.
Hiking off trail in the wilderness of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Mountains
From unmarked trails, mesmerising views from atop a ridge, listening to all the bad jokes, through to waking up each morning in a log cabin to plan where to go today – only of course after we had consumed copious cups of coffee.
Wilderness lodge – a great place to call home in the middle of nowhere
This was British Columbia at its best – but wait, there was lots more.
Grizzly Bear paw prints
From grizzly bear encounters, sightings of caribou and numerous wolf tracks, to hiking up to a glacier and sampling the thousand year old ice (in a glass of scotch if course) through to more hiking and glacial lakes and scenery to die for.
Hiking up to the glacier
We can’t wait to experience more of Canada – until next time, Au revoir.
Onwards and upwards.
Trevor
Wilderness lake
Insights
Plan to visit the wilderness with a well regarded local guiding company – they know all the unmarked trails, get to arrange the logistics and that way you will have more time to relax than trying to do it all yourself. We recommend Adventure Tours BC (ex Yoho Adventures).
Hiking poles are recommended to help keep your balance on unmarked trails, as well as to help going up or downhill. Make sure your training plan includes some walks over uneven ground to get your ankles used to it before you go. See our tips for How to Prepare for a Trek.
August and September are the best months to explore and encounter the Grizzlies during salmon spawning season on the Atnarko river, Bella Coola.
Wear layers and appropriate clothing such as wool or primaloft ie. no cotton, as cotton is rotten!
Take a ‘flying beaver’ out to a wilderness lake – it’s an experience that you will never forget.
When trekking the in the wilderness of British Columbia, don’t forget the bear spray – and know how to use it.
