1997 - The AGM, Manning with Eric, Nuk Tessli Lake

The AGM - Manning Park
Location of the AGM
My Flickr site for more pictures - 

Ryan Shellborn and Keith Akenhead

Keith and Ryan

Keith Akenhead, Ryan Shellborn, and I skied up to Diamond Head for our AGM. We had a good time but missed our comrades.

Eric Rajala

I tried to get Eric out in the hills as much as possible when he was young to introduce him to the pleasures I had experienced. In this picture we had skied a short way up Fat Dog Creek.

Nuk Tessli Lake - A Visit with a Wilderness Dweller - Chilcotin Region of B.C.
Location of Nuk Tessli

Chris Czajkowski

Easter break saw us drive through the Chilcotin to Nimpo Lake where we flew into Nuk Tessli Lake. We wanted to meet Chris Czajkowski, author of "Diary of a Wilderness Dweller", relax in one of her cabins, and do some skiing. We stayed there for most of the week and thoroughly enjoyed her hospitality, cooking, and the solitude.

The way in and out.

We drove from home in Maple Ridge upt to Alexis Creek where we spent the night at the hotel there. It was a Saturday night and the singing in the pub didn't quit until the wee hours of the morning. We drove on the next morning to Nimpo Lake where we flew with Floyd Vaugn of Avnorth.
Chris Cooper, Paul vanPeenen, Alan Lizee, and I flew in from the ice runway on Nimpo Lake in two trips. On the way in, Chris said he could see the mountains of the Waddington range in the distance. We flew over Avalanche mountain on the way in and could plainly see the effects of the wind on the snow.
I remember seeing a solar panel out in the snow. I learned later it was what Chris used to power her Mac Plus so she could word process her books.

Alan enjoying the comforts of the cabin.

It was wonderful coming back to a cabin after a day outside and having a wood burning stove for warmth and cooking.

Great views

Paul leading the way.

Evidently "Nuk Tessli" translates into "west wind". The area soon lived up to its name with snow thrown in for good measure. It never became that cold. It was usually only about minus one or two. One morning it even rained for a short while.

Chris Czajkowski, Chris Cooper, Paul vanPeenen

The day before we were fly out we had some better weather so Paul, Chris, and I skied up to a bluff just west of the cabin where there was a good view. Alan and Chris Cooper skied almost to the summit of Avalanche Peak amidst blizzard condidtions up high. Later that day, Chris made supper for us. It was a great curry dish followed by spotted dick (without the spots) - an English dessert. :-)

A beautiful world

Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
W. H. Davies

A strong west wind that  you cannot see.

The weather had warmed up by the time we were to fly out and the pilot found that taking off was a real problem. Water had seeped up through cracks in the lake and created suction on the skiis on take off. It took a couple of times going back and forth on the lake packing down the snow before we finally were able to get airborne. It wasn't the best place for skiing as it was below tree line by quite a bit, but a wonerful place to relax and Chris Czajkowski was a great hostess.

Paul vanPeenen, Chris Cooper, Keith Rajala, Alan Lizee

It was a very interesting time. The Chilcotin is expansive and impressive. It's a looooong way from William's Lake to Nimpo Lake. The country is beautiful and the road was paved to Tatla. It wasn't a great ski area but it was worthwhile visiting Chris and her cabin, having a relaxing break, and getting some needed exercise. And of course I love flying, even if it sometimes scares me a bit . :-)