I never know what's around the next corner in the Bella Coola Valley. I have been working at the Coast Mountain Lodge for two months now, and am continually surprised, delighted and sometimes frightened by my daily adventures. Upon my arrival I was excited to find that I could ride my bicycle to the local organic market, fish store, and secluded picnic areas. I then ventured out a little further, to some of the surrounding forest access roads. These old logging roads offer access deep into the forest, stunning vistas, and many opportunities to run into bears. Literally. If you plan on riding in the Bella Coola Valley get a group together or go with a local guide. It is advisable to ride during the mid day when bears are less likely to be feeding along the road, and make noise when approaching blind corners!

Finally, a refreshing summer rain shower

Although Bella Coola Valley is well situated within the Northern Hemisphere`s Coastal Temperate Rain Forest, (in fact, comprising the largest tract of remaining in-tact temperate rain forest on our beloved planet Earth!!!), we have been woefully short of actual RAIN this summer. That ended tonight with a short shower to dampen the earth and raise our spirits here in this coastal valley.

While temperatures have been cool most of the spring, recent weeks have seen normal summer highs with the mercury hovering around a comfortable 22-26 Degrees C. Salmon streams are a little low, but not at a level that would be of concern for fish migration, and the mainstem of the Bella Coola River is moderately low, as the glaciers of the Taltchako icefield in the Coast Mountains have been spared from much of the solar radiation in early spring-summer, preventing massive melts of the largest non-polar icefield in the world! Yay Icefields!!!

Until later, Coast Mountain Lodge ...

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables... & Bears

Ya the Tittle may echo Old Punk, but the message is clearly New Age.... lets help get our fruit off of the residential trees and bushes of Bella Coola Vallay before the bears are attracted to it and become food conditioned, which is ultimately a bad thing.

Bella Coola Valley is striving to become a Bear Smart Community, limiting negative interactions between bears and humans, and protecting bears and humans from uncomfortable interactions.

There are six criteria that need to be satisfied for a district or municipality to achieve "Bear Smart" status:

1/ Prepare a Bear Hazard Assessment using the criteria outlined.

2/ Prepare a bear-human conflict management plan designed to

address the bear hazards and land-use conflicts identified in the

hazard assessment.

3/ Revise planning and decision-making documents to be

consistent with the bear-human conflict management plan.

4/ Implement a continuing education program directed at all sectors

of the community.

5/ Develop and maintain a bear-proof municipal solid waste

management system.

6/ Implement "Bear Smart" bylaws prohibiting the provision of

food to bears as a result of intent, neglect, or irresponsible

management of attractants.

While it is a challenge to incorporate these types of ecological and sustainable ideas into a newly flourishing tourism-based community, several locals are trying their best and we hope to see a swing towards bear-human sustainability in our small yet pristine ecosystem in the near future.

Bella Coola's Coast Mountain lodge and Kynoch Adventures does its part by ridding trees of excess fruit, keeping a clean lodge grounds and exposing visitors to natural wonders of the rain forest ecosystem that will hopefully inspire them to maintain proper bear-etiquette..

Atnarko River Bear and Wilderness Tours

With ever increasing interest in the Bella Coola Valley and the incredible wilderness experiences of the Great Bear Rainforest and Tweedsmuir Park, which flank our lodge to the west and east... it seemed logical that we incorporate interpretive hikes in Tweedsmuir Park as part of our holiday and adventure tourism packages in Bella Coola Valley.

With a local naturalist as a guide and the westcoast wilderness as a backdrop, let your imagination run wild in pristine grizzly bear habitat and endulge yourself on an unforgetable experience and chance to see wildlife, untouched forests, soaring mountain peeks and swooping eagles of the Bella Coola Valley!

These guided hiking tours are available for private (2 guest) or group tours (max 4 guests) by reservation. Please contact Coast Mountain Lodge to reserve a spot for your land-based Bella Coola ecological-wildlife excursion!