Lately, there has been plenty to distract us from what makes this area such a wonderful place to live.
We’ve had summer weather that we always seem to find fault with despite how pleasant it might be. We’ve had the threat of fires that have devastated other places, but have somehow left us safe.
We sometimes fail to remember that we live in such a beautiful area that keeps us coming back and attracts visitors.
One group that continually shows its passion for the area is the Bulkley Valley Backpackers Society. They are an enthusiastic club that does its best to promote the use of local trails throughout the year with well-organized hikes and activities that hope to raise use and awareness of the natural beauty that surrounds us.
During a recent conversation with society president Jay Gilden and board member Karen Bancroft, it was not hard to feel their passion for getting out on the trails whenever they could. Some of these trails are within Smithers itself but it is not difficult to access a great variety of tracks for various skill levels nearby.
Gilden said there are around 50 trails that range from moderate to high alpine experience in difficulty. The club does a lot of work in maintaining the trails and many are in use year-round.
To increase publicity and awareness of the trails, the society is once again holding a photo contest. Bancroft said that while society members had been notified and a few entries have been received, they would like to see a greater range from the wider community that highlight the natural magnificence of the area.
The contest runs from the beginning of July to the end of August. Bancroft indicated she was amazed how talented many photographers are who have submitted so far.
“The calibre of the entries is very high,” she said.
While the prizes for a previous contest were awarded based on a draw, this year’s contest will be decided by a panel of individuals. The society is hoping to draw submissions from all seasons.
Gilden said he went camping with his parents and did some bird-watching with them. He moved on to organized backpack trips during college and added back-country skiing. He feels winter access is generally good in the area but snowshoeing is probably better due to the recent snow quality.
The BV Backpackers Society is around 35 years old. Some of the trails were used by First Nations groups to improve their access.
He explained that the number of people on the trails has exploded in the last five years.
“Fifteen years ago, they weren’t well-used. Now, you can always see cars in the parking lots. It makes upkeep a lot easier,” he said.
The club hosts outings every Sunday with the exception of holiday weekends. They are posted on the club website and are usually well attended according to Gilden.
“We’ve had good support for the contest from local groups. The prizes are better this time and you don’t have to be a club member in order to participate,” he said.
Additional information for the contest can be found on the society website.