August 30, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Bella Coola, Historic & Heritage Sites
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While attending the 73rd Annual Anahim Lake Stampede, as members of the group who had ridden horseback from Titetown Lake, led by Dale and Yvonne Dunn of the Blackwater Spruce Ranch, four of our number decided to take advantage of our proximity to visit Bella Coola. As students of the history of the Cariboo Chilcotin region know, Bella Coola played a major role in the early development of the area. All manner of goods, from foodstuffs, to cookstoves, to farm machinery, were brought in to Bella Coola by boat and packed inland by horse and mule. When they established the Frontier Cattle Company in 1937, Rich Hobson and Pan Phillips made extensive use of this route to supply their ranch needs. Anyone who has driven down "The Hill" into Bella Coola will appreciate just what a daunting undertaking it must have been to lead a heavily laden pack string up from the coast onto the interior plateau; anyone who hasn't should avail themselves of the earliest possible opportunity of doing so. What is equally amazing is the history of the construction of the "Freedom Road" from Bella Coola inland. Undertaken by the citizens of Bella Coola, it was only taken over by the provincial government after its completion in the late-1950s, a task which provincial engineers had predicted could not be accomplished. As one wanders around Bella Coola, the history of the area comes alive, and a good place for any visitor to start is the Bella Coola Museum. Located in one of the first permanent dwellings built by white settlers to the area, its construction obviously borrowing heavily from the Scandinavian maritime tradition, the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and covers the the whole period from prehistoric to modern times. An interesting sidebar to our trip was a visit to the Bella Coola United Church. The grandfather of one of our number was the resident preacher at this church around 1927. During his tenure, the church was located on the opposite side of the river to its present location. Due to chronic flooding on that side of the river, the townsite was moved across the river in 1929 and the church was floated across during the move. Lunch and a tall thick milkshake rounded out our visit, and we made it back to Anahim Lake in time to enjoy the afternoon's events.
August 24, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Anahim Lake, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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On Friday, 3 July 2009, three wagon teams, nine riders, two spare saddle horses and two dogs entered Anahim Lake, intent on attending the 73rd Annual Anahim Lake Stampede. And attend we did, enjoying to the fullest all of the rodeo events, and participating enthusiastically in the daily, $10.00, all-you-can-eat, BBQ suppers, and the Saturday night, Stampede dance. Led by Dale and Yvonne Dunn of the Blackwater Spruce Ranch, we rode and drove for 10 days, from Titetown Lake west of Quesnel, via the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail and the old wagon road along which Pan Phillips drove his cattle to the Quesnel stockyards. Enroute we visited the Pan Phillips Fishing Camp, operated now by Robbie and Linda Phillips, and camped overnight at the long-deserted Home Ranch. The adventures that we enjoyed on the trail were surpassed only by the warm welcome and hospitality that we received at Anahim Lake. Our group camped on the property of Frank and Betty Ayres, who very generously hosted us for the three days of our visit. However, members of our support team, who brought much needed supplies for the return trip, found very comfortable accommodation in Anahim Lake motels. Everything written on the Tourism BC website regarding the desirability of the Anahim Lake Stampede as an adventure destination spot can be taken as gospel. It also puts you within easy striking distance of Bella Coola, another location well worth a visit. On Monday, 6 July we turned our horses' noses eastward, and nine days later arrived from whence we came, Titetown Lake. Another great BC adventure!!
August 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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When he rode to the Anahim Lake Stampede in 1977, Dale Dunn and a group of his friends were hosted overnight by the legendary Pan Phillips at his fish camp on the Blackwater River. From 24 June to 14 July 2009, Dale and Yvonne Dunn led a horseback trek from Titetown Lake to Anahim Lake and return. During this trek we had the pleasure of visiting Pan's son Robbie and his wife Linda at the Pan Phillips Fish Camp, which they continue to operate on a year-round basis. Robbie and Linda were extremely gracious hosts who invited us into their home (and main lodge), which is replete with memorabilia extolling the life and times of Pan Phillips. Anyone who has read the numerous books about Pan's life and adventures would relish a visit to the Pan Phillips Fish Camp, as would anyone wishing to avail themselves of the magnificent fishing opportunities afforded by the Blackwater River. The accompanying photo shows (left to right) Linda Phillips, Yvonne Dunn, Robbie Phillips and Dale Dunn with the main lodge in the background.