August 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
New Hazelton, River Rafting
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Ali Howard is swimming every inch of the 610km long Skeena River. She has so far swam through class four waters and when she completes her swim she will have spent 28 days on the Skeena River. She is taking on this incredible adventure all in hopes of raising awareness about the sacred headwaters of the Skeena river and to connect the communities that live along the River. The communities along the Skeena River have, for the past few years, been battling Royal Dutch Shell’s attempts to develop coalbed methane extraction in the headwaters of the Skeena River, in the Klappan Valley. On August 3, people from the Hazeltons and surrounding towns gathered to greet Ali, her support team, and many locals who joined her in the river as she swam ashore at ‘Ksan. Those who joined her came by various modes of transportation including canoes, kayaks, rafts, traditional First Nations war canoes and some even swam! The evening was filled with a lively celebration with live music, a traditional Gitksan feast, and the ‘Ksan First Nations dancers performed!
(In the photo: Ali is the Swimmer in the Middle, the Kayaker is part of her support team and the canoe on the left is a traditional First Nations war canoe!)