After we'd been here a couple of years, we started thinking about sharing what we see here with other like minded people. We knew others would love it, and we like to show what is possible, to others.... so we really looked into it. But the obstacles were ridiculous. After about 7 months of paperwork, meetings, talking to Government Officials.... we put our dreams of sharing away.... except on this blog.
Even the big beautiful Lodge down the lake stands empty.... the Guide Outfitter who built it could make a go of having people stay there because they were willing to pay BIG BUCKS. (12,000 to 18,000. for one person for 10 days). Now that lodge is left empty and is starting to show the effects of neglect.
Here's some of the list of things we found out and learned from experience.
1. A Trap Line Tenure can not make money on anything else but trapping. Well, we didn't need to make money outside of the trap line so that was no problem.
2. To get a Adventure Tenure..(Bear Watching, Bird watching) you have to let go of the Trap Line Tenure. (You can not add an Adventure Tenure to a Trap Line Tenure). Now we were told we could have taken the Lake Line Cabin out of the trap line and applied for another Line Cabin Location but when we applied for a new cabin site it was put on hold because of Land Use Planning, that is still working its self out. Also talking to the BC Government people we were told that Mom and Pop operations just don't make it any more. He said the Insurance will kill you. The rules and regulations are so many that only large Corporations with money to burn can succeed. This Government Official told us to save our money.
3. Most people from the city are on a schedule. Out here you can be stuck for weeks at a time without being able to fly in or out. The fog in the high Pacific Coastal Mountain Range that has to be crossed, the low valley fog so you can't see the lake to land on. The lake overflow in the winter makes landing here possible only sometimes.
4. Bear are not seen often... neither are Mountain Goats. It's an event that thrills us. We can spend days and days stopping what we are up to and going to look with binoculars and not see anything. So far this spring we have just seem the 7 Mountain Goats twice. Still no Bears on the hills behind us. And in the fall Bears are here for about 2 to 3 weeks. That is the time of year when the land is starting to cool and the fog is here, making flying very dangerous. So it is a difficult thing.
5. Some of the best well know Bear Viewing Lodges are up for sale cheap. If there are no Salmon in the fall the Bears are not going to be there.
6. Some lady thinks people would pay for listening to Wolves..... well maybe on a tape recorder. We've been out here 5 years and I can count on my fingers and toes how many times we have heard Wolves howling. Try to get someone to pay for that change.
7. A Bush plane trip one way out here costs between 1,200 and 1,500. A helicopter is 2,000 or more for a one way trip. A person can fly anywhere in the world for that kind of money.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Your dreams are around you every morning when you first look out they are in your cabin walls and in all that you do. Forget those small minded anonymous comments and keep to your goals, that is what counts. Bless you Bryan&Vikki for having the guts to cut yourselves off from easy street and lead the life that you both clearly love, Brian the Scottie your distant friend :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what that Anon said. Was she/he on an anti-trapping thing?
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad the animals are not close like they once were. In our little corner of NE SK. there are countless bear (they're getting to brave and are causing damage to some older bins and such)There is a sow and her cubs who walks through our yard every few nights, you can hear her talking to her cubs. There are quite a few outfitters who attract the tourist hunters. It's a good thing because they aren't alone to trophy hunt with wild abandon.The wolves are making a comeback here, you can hear them singing late at night.Since I w as a little girl I've loved hearing them, nice to fall asleep to. (better than any music I know)With raising my now 8 year old grandson I'm not able to do many things so have to work around that responsibility and still do a few things that I like. Have a sunny Sunday.
ReplyDeleteTo Stan. She was alright when we were debating whether Griz or Wolves should be taken. We had no problem with discussing things respectfully. But then she rants and raves about people out in the bush and killing animals. We don't need to discuss anything with people who rant and rave and froth at the mouth. They are like barking dogs to us. Once you drive by they don't bother you again. If you've got a blog we can always shick her on you. You can get your blood boiling. We don't need it.
ReplyDeleteIf I had that much money I would pay to fly out just to see and live for a short time a life that is so connected to the earth and the changing of seasons. I have to admit it would be a positive not seeing any bears! I love reading your blog, as always! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you can't have people come and go on your trapline. The plane fare is the big killer for you. I checked into going on a trapline in BC and the ones I found were run by outfitters so didn't have the problems you encountered. Plus they were in larger cities where you didn't have the added expense of flying into a remote area.
ReplyDeleteI live in Washington state where we can no longer use body gripping traps. My only option for trapping is to either use cage traps or trap as a non resident in a neighboring state that welcomes non resident trappers. We are fighting to get trapping back but it is not an easy battle.take care,bob maier
If you want to build a dream (or castles in the sky) you have to put a good foundation under it.
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand why you cannot offer tours on your trapline or perhaps sport fishing. I knew a person who did this. I thought fishing concessions could overlap. Liability is the only issue I am aware of.
Maybe you can keep trying. If you continue to trap, even if its only to keep your lic. active- can you work something out?
Hi Stan... We could have people follow us around on the trap line but it is dangerous here. It would not be worth it. We could not have guided fishing here. That is not allowed under our trap line tenure.
ReplyDelete