{"id":15200,"date":"2016-09-06T13:30:37","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mixhart.ca\/blog\/?p=15200"},"modified":"2023-01-31T08:42:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T16:42:46","slug":"in-search-of-incomappleux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mixhart.ca\/index.php\/in-search-of-incomappleux\/","title":{"rendered":"In Search of Incomappleux"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Search of Incomappleaux<\/h2>\n

by Mix Hart<\/h4>\n

January 27, 2023 Important Incomappleux Update:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
The Incomappleux River Valley,\u00a0British Columbia’s ancient, globally unique, Inland Temperate Rainforest<\/strong>\u2014 and the critically endangered mountain caribou it supports\u2014<\/strong>has just been protected!<\/strong><\/h5>\n
***Incomappleux Valley’s\u00a0protected<\/span>\u00a0status<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is due to the decades-long work of the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS)***<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Thank you Valhalla Wilderness Society!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/p>\n

As we celebrate the newly protected Rainforest Valley, it is important to note that\u2014aside from the recent protected status of the Incomappleux River Valley\u2014British Columbia\u2019s (BC) rare Inland Temperate Rainforest biodiversity remains unprotected. BC’s extremely rare, Interior Temperate Rainforest is currently being clear cut at an ecologically devastating rate. As the ancient trees are felled, we are losing Earth’s oxygen-producing giants (and carbon stores); additionally, BC’s Mountain Caribou, as well as many other rare species, are at risk of extinction.<\/p>\n

The BC Park Act<\/em> and the BC Protected Areas Act<\/em>\u00a0is the only way to secure protection to preserve the forest for future generations. For this reason, protecting the Incomappleux River Valley is just the beginning of the Valhalla Wilderness Society’s well-researched plan to form three new provincial parks (that include the Incomappleux Valley): The Quesnel Lake Wilderness proposal, <\/a>Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness <\/a>and Selkirk Mountain Caribou Park\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The three proposed parks contain old growth connectivity corridors. The corridors are vital for the survival of the critically endangered\u00a0Deep Snow Mountain Caribou, and at least sixty three at risk species in BC\u2019s Inland Rainforest.<\/p>\n

For a chance to get involved in protecting the wildlife corridors of BC’s rare Interior Temperate Rainforest \u00a0(the lungs of our planet), check out\u00a0the Valhalla Wilderness Society’s park proposals here: <\/span><\/span>www.vws.org\/action<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information on the endangered Inland Temperate Rainforests of BC and the work of the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS), check out The Narwhal<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0January 25, 2023 article:<\/p>\n

\u2018Rarest of the rare\u2019: B.C\u2019s newest conservancy protects globally imperilled rainforest’\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n

I’ve included maps of the Valhalla Wilderness Society’s proposed Selkirk Mtn Park below. The proposed Selkirk Mat. Caribou Park will help protect both primeval rainforest and vital mountain caribou habitat:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Below is the original lncomappleux Valley post as it appeared on September 6,<\/span>\u00a02016:<\/h5>\n
\n

Trees love to toss and sway; they make such happy noises<\/strong><\/em><\/span> – Emily Carr<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This the second instalment in a series documenting my quest to find a hidden interior, temperate rainforest with ancient trees–over 1000 years old!\u00a0The valley I search for is called \u201cIncomappleaux<\/a>.\u201d The Incomappleux Valley is the southern tip of the inland temperate rainforest and home to fabled old growth forests.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS
In Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once we arrive across the ferry <\/strong><\/em>(Upper Arrow Lake),<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0we immediately realize how\u00a0useless our directions to the abandoned mountain hostel are. The road we are supposed to access doesn\u2019t exist.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We track down a few campers along the lake shore who are able to direct us to a cabin in the woods, where we might find \u201cPatrick.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Patrick: a long-time resident of the area and the best person to direct us on our quest\u2026.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This is where our journey last left off. I continue with further notes from the field:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

We find Patrick down a gravel road, busily building a cabin in the woods. He proves to be very informative about our quest to reach the Incomappleaux Valley.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

He tells us that a mining company has removed a bridge and thus, one can no longer bike to the walking trail because the trail is completely overgrown with moss and branches from trees and ground bushes. Also, because the bridge is gone, if we survive the slippery, obstacle-laden, rough bike in to the walking trail, we then have to cross the mountain river on foot, carrying our bikes over our heads. To get to the heart of the valley, it’s another nearly 30+ km\u2014by bike and then a hike.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

“How deep is the Incomappleux River this time of year?” I ask, thinking of our ten-year-old daughter. Patrick informs us that it is a\u00a0glacier fed river and summer is high volume time, not spring;<\/strong>\u00a0thus, on a warm day, the river might run tremendously deep and swift–it’s unpredictable.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the Incomappleux River is not something we are prepared to portage today, as it was already past noon and with our youngest daughter in tow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

However, the good news is that that If we follow a mining road for as far as possible in our 4wd, we will then be able to bike along a decent trail and pass the oldest Cedar tree in the entire valley\u2014Patrick estimates that the tree is 1500 years old.<\/strong> He describes her as gnarly and situated on the right hand side of the trail. He instructs us to keep going, over at least 4 bridges, until we find her!<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS
In Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our journey requires us to access a mining road, a few kilometres from Patrick’s cabin, and there we’ll find an old man sitting in a lawn chair. He is the gatekeeper of the mining road and we’ll be required to sign a sheet, releasing the mining company from any responsibility should we meet an untimely death<\/strong>\u00a0on the rough road that leads towards the valley.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

We indeed find the old man, sitting on a lawn chair, in the middle of no where, with his dog, guarding a dirt road–just like Patrick said we would. We sign the waver that he passes to us through our open car window and then we forge ahead, our\u00a0destination\u00a0unknown except for the determination to find the oldest tree\u00a0in the valley.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

The mining road is very narrow with a wooden\u00a0trestle\u00a0style bridge that crosses above a raging glacial river.<\/strong>\u00a0Patrick told us to keep a look out for Dolly Varden trout in the river below. The canyon views are a little terrifying but mostly unbelievably energizing! We slowly traverse the narrow bridge and then find a spot to pull over and walk back to view the canyon properly.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

We drive until we start to spot giant cedars at the side of the trail. We are all starving and decide to have our picnic lunch and then try the rest of the trail on our bikes.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS
In Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Below:\u00a0We find her, the oldest tree in the valley! She is a beauty and standing under her, I sense her strength, wisdom, and history. Patrick estimates she is near 1500 years old; judging her size and form, I believe she is the oldest living cedar tree I have ever seen in BC.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

We dine amongst majesties: towering, giant cedars, all over 1000 yeas old, commanding our presence.<\/strong> We have never before dined in such grandeur and among such majestic company. I refer to each these great old beauties as “your majesty.”<\/p>\n

Every day it seems, I slip deeper into my love of the wilderness. My wild self is in the constant process of being stripped, layer by layer, of the paint that society has dressed me in. I feel at home\u00a0in the forest. I find comfort in the trees’ presence, as though they are companions. It is true, that in my darkest hours, I seek the safety of the forest to\u00a0breathe again. In these times, trees have\u00a0supported me. I’ve leaned on them and\u00a0they’ve helped hold me up. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Trees are amazing life forms; sadly, they are undervalued by most humans–so many see them as nothing more than lumber. Aside from being the “lungs” of Earth, they are fascinating life forms with abilities we are only beginning to grasp<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

We feel as though we could bike forever on the trails–the scenery so raw, wild and the air, mountain fresh!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once the sun begins to lower, we decide it is time to move on, to a spot Patrick told us that me must visit (about another 1\/2 drive East): the ancient cedars near Trout Lake (check back soon for my final secret rainforest instalment).<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUSIn Search of Incomappleux, Mix Hart<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.<\/strong>\u201d<\/h4>\n

\u2015 Chris Maser, Forest Primeval: The Natural History of an Ancient Forest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Search of Incomappleaux by Mix Hart January 27, 2023 Important Incomappleux Update: The Incomappleux River Valley,\u00a0British Columbia’s ancient, globally unique, Inland Temperate Rainforest\u2014 and the critically endangered mountain caribou it supports\u2014has just been protected! ***Incomappleux Valley’s\u00a0protected\u00a0status\u00a0is due to the … Read 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