Summer fun...			...in Tweedsmuir Park
			by Diana Roberts

When summer comes around, many people think of going camping in the wilderness. For the Rotary Club of Burns Lake, it is an especially exciting time, as plans are being made for their annual trek into Tweedsmuir Park, with exchange students from all over the world. Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in B.C., is situated in the heart of the province, close to Burns Lake.

use BACK button to return Sandcabin hike and a great view

For 10 years now, the Rotary Club has sponsored this trip to give students from other countries a chance to see an unspoiled part of our great north. At the same time, many of the students are getting their first look at Canada. The Rotary Club has received financial help with the trek from Alcan, Hanson's Husky and numerous other people. The group stays in a camp which is rented from Vantine Guiding and Outfitting. These students are usually in Canada for a year, living with Rotary families or others in a community. The Tweedsmuir Trek (or Adventures in Wilderness, as it is now being called) is a great way to either kick off the students stay here, or to give it a grand finale. The students arrive in Burns Lake, usually by bus, where they are picked up by a host family. They stay overnight with the family, then, bright and early the next morning, are whisked away by bus to Little Andrews Bay on Ootsa Lake, which is about 1 1/2 hours from town.

Boats come through the portage

From here they are taken by boat, across Ootsa Lake, then half way down Whitesail Lake to the portage located at Chickamen Bay. With five boats this takes approximately 11/2 hours to go the 28 miles to the portage. The boats are all 20 to 25 feet long. At the portage the boats have to be pulled across the railway tracks, on an aluminum cart. A winch, which is run by a powersaw motor, pulls the boats first, then the students push the boats the rest of the way. Once over the portage the students find themselves on Big Eutsuk Lake. From here, they travel another 14 miles, which takes about 45 minutes, to the camp.