A Slice of Canadian Wilderness, Wells Gray Provincial Parkway
We left Blue River for Clearwater today…and, with time on our hands before check-in we able to go ‘off grid’ and visit Wells Gray Provincial Park. What a gem!With over 5000 square km’s of stunning, unspoilt Canadian wilderness! 5000km!! It’s huge! The road in stretches for approximately 40kms and then becomes a gravel track.. passable but most definitely off road only. WG is 477 km from Vancouver and 317km from Jasper … so a good stop point en route… It really is a bit of a gem!
Spahats is the First Nation word for bears.. and Spahats Falls is the first waterfall you come across as you visit Wells Gray Provincial Park from Clearwater… 72m deep it cuts an impressive sight!
The waterfall is fed from snow melt from Raft and Trophy Mountains…and as you look down into its basin you get a real sense of the hundreds of thousands of years of history in her walls. The heritage of Spahats is ‘written by one of three authors’ volcanoes, ice and water. The volcanic era some 400,000 years ago, saw lava pour down the valley and, with each eruption, it would cool in layers, forming the incredible rock formation and canyon floor that can be seen today.
A mere 20,000 years ago the glacial ice carved its mark on Spahats Canyon, depositing huge boulders and rocks among its pathways. The glaciers eventually melted…. and the waters that then continued to surge through, cutting deep channels into the soft volcanic rock… an incredible place!
Dawson’s Falls is completely different the Spahats and is almost unnerving as you stand, unfenced, just on the edge of its precipice.. the power of the water is palpable… at over 100m wide the River Murray rages over volcanic lava as it races through. I couldn’t help but think that one flash flood and you’d be gone! We didn’t hang around!
Helmcken Falls is the highest of them all… and was our final stop for the day! It really is so impressive – appearing to steam as the water cascades down with such force…
There are 39 major, named waterfalls in Wells Gray.. and literally 100rds that remain unnamed! Some only viewable by air! Others only by paddle… You could spend weeks in this park and still have so much to explore!
There is no connectivity and food stops only on the edge of the park … so take in a picnic!
For us, it was Tim Horton’s for lunch and then to Clearwater beach where our 3 boys and 7 other equally crazy kids are now wrestling at the end of a jetty!
I can’t watch! Last time I did, Tom was being hurled through the air by a Canadian boy even taller than Callum! They seem v happy!
Anytime from now we can check in to our lodging for the night ..The Rock and Cellar, our first B and B!
Update: The B and B is one to behold! Oh my goodness!! I think my favourite place yet… perhaps jointly with Cape Mudge! At the end of a long track…in the middle of nowhere… is the Rock and Cellar. A beautiful home .. like a Canadian version of the Big Brother House! We are sharing the house with a young Belgian soldier and his girlfriend and a couple from Guernsey..: both very quiet and probably gutted to have a family with 3 boys as their fellow lodgers! We all arrived within 5 minutes of each other so it was nice to explore the house together. It’s been a slice of heaven to relax and unwind here!
As mum to three sons (and auntie to ten!) Sacha is kept busy trying to keep the kids alive, safe, fed and watered.
Having specialised in Child Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Reading, Sacha went on to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Education before taking up her first teaching post as Head of Boys Sport and Year 6 teacher. After 6 years, Sacha was fortunate enough to awarded a travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, enabling her to undertake an extensive research project overseas. Sacha has worked with some of the world's top professional sports and educational institutions across Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand - researching ways of engaging young people through the medium of sport and in particular how this can help to reduce drug use and gang membership.
After returning to the UK Sacha became Education Director at Ipswich Town Football Club, leading in the government's 'Playing for Success' scheme. She went on to establish three highly respected Study Centres back in the East of England, each of which used sport as a means of motivating children and young people. After successfully completing her National Professional Qualification for Headship in Cambridge, Sacha went on to study for her Masters Degree in Education.
With the arrival of her three sons, Sacha decided it was time to 'go it alone.' She set up her own business consultancy, supporting a range of charities and organisations across the UK. Securing funds in excess of £2 million pounds, Sacha was able to 'give wings' to a wide range of charitable causes close to her heart. She continues this today with work specifically for Child First Trust.
It was her own kids that were the inspiration behind her establishing Learning Academies (www.learningacademies.co.uk) - a tutoring company that has the simple mission to motivate and encourage its students to become confident and assertive learners who are not afraid to 'take risks' and challenge themselves.
As a passionate photographer, Sacha is never more at home than when she's travelling, camera in hand, boys in tow. As a qualified medic with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, she is able to combine her love the outdoors with her passion for wild animals.
View all posts by Sacha Brakenbury
We left Blue River for Clearwater today…and, with time on our hands before check-in we able to go ‘off grid’ and visit Wells Gray Provincial Park. What a gem!With over 5000 square km’s of stunning, unspoilt Canadian wilderness! 5000km!! It’s huge! The road in stretches for approximately 40kms and then becomes a gravel track.. passable but most definitely off road only. WG is 477 km from Vancouver and 317km from Jasper … so a good stop point en route… It really is a bit of a gem!
Spahats is the First Nation word for bears.. and Spahats Falls is the first waterfall you come across as you visit Wells Gray Provincial Park from Clearwater… 72m deep it cuts an impressive sight!
The heritage of Spahats is ‘written by one of three authors’ volcanoes, ice and water. The volcanic era some 400,000 years ago, saw lava pour down the valley and, with each eruption, it would cool in layers, forming the incredible rock formation and canyon floor that can be seen today.
Dawson’s Falls is completely different the Spahats and is almost unnerving as you stand, unfenced, just on the edge of its precipice.. the power of the water is palpable… at over 100m wide the River Murray rages over volcanic lava as it races through. I couldn’t help but think that one flash flood and you’d be gone! We didn’t hang around!
I can’t watch! Last time I did, Tom was being hurled through the air by a Canadian boy even taller than Callum! They seem v happy!
Essex Boys in Canada 🇨🇦 