August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Snowmobiling
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I will never forget my first time snowmobiling near Powder King southwest of Chetwynd. The snow was amazing and the terrain was unbelievable.
My friends and I spent a wonderful day riding well-marked trails and exploring open meadows and bowls. Just before we headed down the mountain for home, a good friend snapped this photo. What a perfect day in the mountains!
Editor's note: Learn more about snowmobiling near Chetwynd here.
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Attractions
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On a recent trip from Chetwynd to Prince George, I finally had the time to take the detour into Mackenzie and see the sights there. Was I surprised to see this massive piece of machinery right at the entrance to the town!
I asked around and learned that the tree crushers were used to prepare the reservoir that is now Williston Lake, before the W.A.C. Bennett Dam was built. I sure would like to try driving it!
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Boating & Sailing
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Summer weekends are the time for catching some sun and relaxing by the water for most people. When you've got three year old boys, however, weekends are the time to find fun stuff to do!
Last weekend, we headed out with the extended family to nearby Moberly Lake, where we spent a wonderful day boating and tubing.
I even got the chance to take a "time out" for myself and spend a peaceful half hour floating in the breeze on the tube while the boys watched the big boys go kneeboarding!
Editor's note: Learn more about boating in Moberly Lake and other areas near Chetwynd here.
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
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While walking around Chetwynd and enjoying the beautiful chainsaw carvings, I couldn't help but notice some magnificent murals. I had to go over to the Visitor Centre and ask for more information about these lovely paintings!
Many local businesses have been decorated with paintings depicting variations on the town's mural theme - "Historically where we come from". There are wild animals, trains, trucks, and even some dinosaurs depicted in the various images. Most are painted, but a few are made of broken tile mosaic - the Visitor Centre staff told me they were made by local high school art students.
My favourite is this one, which is on the side of the Peace FM building along the North Access Road. It depicts the history of the area right back to the dinosaur times! I really liked the blue people in the paintings.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Beaches & Swimming
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There's no need to travel long distances to spend time searching for treasures at the beach if you live in Chetwynd - just head down highway 29 to Twidwell Bend, and explore the shores of the Pine River.
Just 10 km from downtown Chetwynd and accessed by a short gravel road near the bridge, the shores of the Pine River have great opportunities for finding driftwood and unique types of rocks. If you're lucky, you might even find a fossil or two!
The soft, warm sand is a favourite place for my kids to play - we just have to watch them closely as the current is quite strong in the river. We often see beavers swimming about in the water as well as big schools of tiny minnows.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Museums
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Recently I had the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Little Prairie Heritage Museum, located just west of Chetwynd on Westgate Road. While I was there I asked about a million questions and learned a lot about the history of the area!
I had a great time looking through the old buildings and checking out the farm equipment and marveling at the flowers along the gazebo - I think this would be a lovely spot for wedding photos! My favourite part of the museum's collection was the BC Rail car, which is full of locally collected fossils.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
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Late this June, I had the great good fortune to be at the Chetwynd Visitor Centre when the new carvings from the 2010 Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship were delivered to their new homes!
Each year, the Visitor Centre changes the carvings displayed along the walkway on both sides of the building. I had noticed that the gardens looked a bit empty, and boy was I excited to see this truck and trailer rolling in with several brand new carvings on board!
With a "beep beep beep" came the loader, the straps went around the carvings and they were skillfully maneuvered into their new homes. These 12 new pieces will stay at the Chetwynd Visitor Centre until next year, when they will find new homes around town and make room for the 2011 carvings to be displayed at the Visitor Centre.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
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Some friends of mine were visiting from southern BC, and I wanted them to have an authentic Chetwynd experience! So we all piled into the car and headed down to the Chetwynd Visitor Centre, where we signed up for a free guided walking tour of some of the local chainsaw carvings.
Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She told us all about the history of the carving project and answered all of our questions about the chainsaw carving championship. I was very excited to learn that almost all of Chetwynd's chainsaw carvings are made of cedar, but a few are made of lodgepole pine which had been attacked by mountain pine beetles - what a great way to showcase local forest products!
I thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour and would recommend it to anyone. My friends loved it too! Here's a photo of their favourite carving - my dad says it reminds him of an old cartoon character, Sgt. Preston.
July 29, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Fishing
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Another peaceful evening in the Peace Country-perfect for a fly fishing trip! We tossed all our gear in the truck and headed down to the shores of the Murray River near Chetwynd, near the confluence of the Murray and Pine rivers.
This little spot was perfect for the kids, as there's a warm creek running through the beach that they could play in while the adults fished the river. I caught a beautiful rainbow trout that evening too!
Access to the shore is down a very rough gravel road-inquire locally for directions. The dust and bumps are totally worth it for the beautiful view of the river valleys and the warm, sandy beach.
July 29, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Fishing
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Last weekend, my partner and I loaded up the kids with their new toy fishing rods and headed out to try our luck in a new fishing spot. We headed down a popular back road and found ourselves a great little fishing hole along the Sukunka River, just south of Chetwynd.
While we didn't have any luck catching fish, we certainly had a great evening playing in the water and teaching the kids to cast their "flies" (mostly sticks and leaves!).
The Sukunka Forest Service Road is a very busy road, and anyone travelling it must use a radio.