Threatened Ancient Douglas Fir in the Stoltmann Wilderness Photo: John Clarke
Greater Vancouver's proximity to pristine wilderness is one the reasons it is consistently as a rated as one of the best cities on Earth to live. The largest piece of wild country within a day's travel from the city is the 500,000 hectare Stoltmann Wilderness.
Kwa Kwayexwelh-Aynexws: Wild Spirit Places
Located right next to the resort community of Whistler, the Stoltmann straddles BC's Coast Mountain Range and encompasses the most southerly portion of coastal grizzly bears and moose as well as the oldest know living Douglas-fir trees in Canada (1,300 years). This is wilderness that rivals the great Canadian Rocky Mountain parks and High Sierras of California and the great Canadian Rocky Mountain parks for its spectacular peaks, ancient forests and clear glacial-fed streams.
After years of passionate protest by concerned citizens, International Forest Products has stopped logging in the southern portion of the Stoltmann Wilderness including the Upper Elaho Valley. The Squamish Nation has declared these places, which are part of their traditional territory 'wild spirit places', and off-limits to commercial logging.
Unlike the southern Stoltmann, the Upper Bridge River Valley in the northern Stoltmann Wilderness continues to be clearcut by Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. The battle to save the Stoltmann Wilderness, which began in 1995, will not end until the chainsaws finally fall silent.
Read our reports and view our maps on the Stoltmann Wilderness. Links to these publcations and maps can be found in the left column.
Keep checking back for updates.
