Winding its way through the saw-toothed granite spires and crags on the edge of the Coast Mountains flows the Bulkley River, a cobalt water course in the heart of Wet’suwet’en territory.
The Wet’suwet’en word Yin’tah not only describes the First Nation’s land, but also encapsulates the interconnectedness of the diverse ecosystems and human world which have coexisted longer than memory can recall.
Our river journeys serve as conduits to explore the history, ecology and geology of the lands we travel through each summer. The means of this particular journey however was not to navigate the Bulkley’s ripples and waves – which remain mostly frozen over in the winter months – but to dip our toes into an alternate form of water based transport: skiing.
Each year guides past and present, as well as other team members and the Hibbard family outfitters, gather together from across the country to join a company-wide staff trip focused on team building and connection.
Community is an integral part of our culture; we are proud of our reputation for not just world class river trips, but also for being an exceptional company to work for. Excellence in river expeditions begins with a team who have a strong sense of belonging and shared passions for the outdoors.
So this is how we found ourselves one blue bird Friday morning in late January, skiing down the empty runs of Dzilh Yez – the Wet’suwet’en name for Hudson Bay Mountain – as a pack of 20 or so river lovers mustered in the mountains. River helmets were swapped for ski helmets, oars for poles and Xratufs for touring boots as Canadian River Expeditions took on water in a very different form.
Fuelled by a hearty breakfast of apple pancakes (a firm favourite on our river menu many guests over the years have come to love), we had the powdery runs almost all to ourselves. A full day of laps, chairlift snacks and the odd wipe out ensued, right up until the last chair.
With each of us parting ways at the end of every summer to embark on our own winter endeavours, it felt good to see familiar faces and reconnect in the off season whilst enjoying the breathtaking scenery that northern British Columbia has to offer.
Saturday brought more blue skies and blissfully warm temperatures, so we headed to Hankin-Evelyn for touring laps among the old growth trees. A tour up above the treeline rewarded us with captivating views of the surrounding Coast Range, a mystical sea of snow and ice carved out by the elements which hinted at the secrets held by this timeless landscape.
A warming hut provided a log fire and a chance to refuel and recount stories of past adventures before a final ski out through the lichen-draped forest and home to dinner.
Sunday blessed us with more clear vistas above the valley, so we took to skidoos to explore deeper into the backcountry around Mount Hyland. Three snow machines transported a group of 15 up into the alpine, an eager crew ferried on sledges and tow ropes.
The afternoon was spent enjoying the electric sense of freedom that spending time in the mountains ignites. When the sun began to finally dip behind the peaks, our parting descent was illuminated by the syrupy, golden glow of an alpine sunset and the ecstatic exhaustion of a wholehearted adventure.
Descending beneath the clouds, we left only memories and skin tracks to the mountains, relinquishing the wildness of the land which had permitted us to explore it over the past few days.
The memories made on this trip reinforced the passion for wild places that runs deep through each of us; experiencing these landscapes not only forged new connections among our team, but also served to highlight the timeless, cyclical nature of rivers and their watersheds, and the myriad ecosystems they support.
In a few months’ time, the intricate mosaic of rivers and creeks across the North will thaw once again, and our team will reconverge to forge new memories and welcome new travellers to some of the world’s wildest places.
Every journey – whether powered by pole or paddle – leaves a mark on each of us and adds a thread to the rich tapestry of the North.
Yin’tah, it was a privilege.
