NORTH B.C. / KITAMAT AND BUTEDALE

Kitamat-

A full days travel from Hartley Bay is the town of Kitimat. The town was originally built during the mid 1900’s to manufacture Aluminum and still does today. The politics are on everyone’s mind nowadays, with the possibility of LNG pipeline and crude oil ports, the population which is currently around 7,500 could double or even triple in a few short years.

The marina is not the best and we were placed on the outside dock exposed to the bay. Very little breakwater has been installed; so all the docks are subject to the weather.

We hooked up with a Trawler Forum member, Murray, who was extremely gracious. Provided us with the local history and even took us into town for dinner and the local hotspots! We really enjoyed spending time with him and his family. 

Murray and John at the marina. Murray's trawler is between them in the distance.

They are a very lovely family!

We enjoyed a fine dinner at the Chalet.

View of the marina as we headed in to Kitamat,

Evening skies returning from town.

Harbor master, store and deli.

Port side tie which was very rockie, rollie in the winds.
I got a windy docking lesson that day, complete with drawings.

Butedale-

Butedale is an old cannery that closed down many years ago. At its peak operation it employed over 500 people but now has fallen to vandalism and squatters. A few years back, the land, remaining buildings and bay were purchased and plans to rebuild into a resort style marina are in the process. The dock is available to tie up to not only visit, but to tour the area. Cory the caretaker has been on the site for the last few years and greeted us at the dock and gave us a tour.

Lucky for us, a rumor of a Spirit Bear that frequently visits the dock area came true and we got to witness the bear for a few hours. This bear has been in the area for several years and supposedly gave birth to two cubs a few years back. Spirit Bears are rare and have only been seen in just a few places along the BC Coast, so we felt privileged to witness  one up close.

If you look closely, you can see, this is actually a ship wreck.
Wonder if the bear could help on the property clean up!
 Can you see her to the right?

I thought this was an interesting bottle and tool collection.

From just 30 feet away!  She moves 1 ton boulders like they were pebbles.

Cory the caretaker and Bud,
Bud alerted us of her presence.
He had to put Bud up in his cabin,
 so we could spend some time watching her.

Just a little fixer upper!

Remember you can click on a picture for enlargement and scroll through.
The Spirit Bear had been eating berries, now she began hunting crab.

We were quiet, keeping our distance.

She had heard us whispering, but knew we were no threat.

She paused the show to scratch her snout.

The Wonder of the Spirit Bear

The “Spirit Bear” is not an albino. It is not related to the Polar Bear. It is a black bear. A rare genetic trait, a recessive white gene, gives this bear its cream color or white fur. It is quite rare. Only about one tenth of the black bear born in the Great Bear Rain Forest of British Columbia is a “Spirit Bear”. 

Because of their ghost like appearance, Spirit Bears hold a prominate place in the mythology of the First Nations. The mere sighting of one is said to bring good luck forever.

The size, weight and diet is the same as the black bear. The cubs are born in their mother’s den in January and February. They stay with their mom learning the ways of being a bear for a year and a half. When fully grown they weigh between 200 & 300 lbs.

Premier Gordon Campbell said in his 2006 throne speech, “The Spirit Bear is a significant symbol for our province, embodying the unique character of British Columbia’s national environment and the rich culture and heritage of our Aboriginal people.” Thus, the Spirit Bear was named the official provincial mammal emblem of British Columbia. In recognizing this remarkable animal for the history and environment it symbolizes, the Province also joined with First Nations, industry, conservationists, communities to protect forever critical habitat for the Spirit Bear on B. C.’s Central and North Coast. This protected area includes more than 200,000 hectares, including the more the 130,00 hectare Kitasoo Bear Conservancy on Princess Royal Island which is home to the greatest concentration of Spirits Bears in B. C.

Checking out the old buildings, we were instructed,
"Only one person on the bridge at a time."
We took that rather serious!

The bridge takes you over to the power generation house.

The old generators are still in place.

A new owner we met has approval and permits to start the restoration project.

Interesting to see a tree growing on a roof, eh?

The housing complex for the staff of the old cannery.

Waterfall at Butdale