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60-494: The park's standout attraction is the 116 km (72 mi) recreational paddling circuit through the Cariboo Mountains , which connects a majority of the park's lakes via waterways and short portages , and has been named by Outside magazine as one of the top ten canoe trips in the world. The park is open to a limited number of canoes and kayaks each year from May 15 to September 30. Many First Nations frequented

120-553: A raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid-1970s. Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), are steered with a singled bladed paddle. Originating in Hawaii to help navigate the waves, the sport has grown to include flat water lakes, easy rivers, and spring runs. Traditional paddleboarding

180-614: A border with Wells Gray Provincial Park . Together, the three parks protect over 1,007,000 hectares (2,490,000 acres) of wilderness. Bowron Lake Park contains three main groups of rock. The oldest is known as the Kaza Group, which is made up of mud and sand deposits that formed during the Precambrian period 600 million years ago, in a sea at the continental margin of what is now the Canadian Shield . The second group of rock, known today as

240-665: A distinctive uniform comprising a plumed busby , green dolman braided in yellow, and crimson breeches. Mechanised in October 1937, both regiments formed armored battalions in the post World War II Belgian Army. Following a series of amalgamations the Belgian guides ceased to exist in 2011. In the Swiss army prior to 1914, the squadrons of guides acted as divisional cavalry. In this role these light cavalry units were called upon, on occasion, to lead columns and provide scouts. The Corps of Guides of

300-465: A habitat and food source for animals such as mountain caribou, which feed off arboreal lichens that grow in the park's old-growth forests. While Caribou are migratory animals, several herds pass through the park regularly. The park is also home to an estimated three packs of wolves, who tend to feed off the park's numerous and stable population of moose. Populations of these and several other species are monitored to ensure stable populations and to maintain

360-434: A healthy biodiversity in the park. The high number of watersheds in the park make it a suitable environment for fish, and many species are widely distributed throughout its waterways. The park acts as a spawning ground for several species of trout, salmon, and others. Special regulations and limitations are applied to fishing within the park to maintain a healthy population of fish. The most popular recreational activity in

420-402: A home on Indian Point Lake, and Allan Brooks, as well as wilderness guides like the aforementioned Frank Kibbee and Joe Wendle. Despite some initial resistance from residents of Barkerville, the case was made that the establishment of the reserve would have lasting economic benefits, through the management of the game to sustain the hunting industry. The Bowron Lakes Game Reserve was established by

480-512: A large number of indigenous artifacts have been seen in the park, including clam middens , old campfires, arrowheads , and cache pits. As a lingering reminder of the First Nation presence in the area, many of the landmarks and features in and around the park have indigenous names, particularly in the Carrier language . Some examples are Mount Ishpa (Carrier for "my father"), Kaza ("arrow") Mountain,

540-730: A long history. Their work spans from aiding fly fishing in small brooks or lakes to deep saltwater big game fishing . Some areas where fishing guides are popular include the Norwegian coast , Swedish archipelago , the Florida coast, and various parts of Canada . The vernacular terms "fishing charter" or "charter boat" imply the services of a guide, whether the vessel's captain, a qualified hand, or experienced sportsman. Historically in areas where detailed maps were unavailable, guides with local knowledge were employed for scouting and advance leadership during military operations. In 18th century Europe ,

600-414: A portage to Kibee Lake, and ending at the northeast shore of Bowron Lake. Paddlers camp at designated campsites along the circuit, typically in tents - some campsites have cabins, but they are intended for drying wet gear or for sleeping in emergencies. Regulations are in place to limit party size, as well as the number of daily entries into the circuit. Since human visitation has a significant impact on

660-458: A professional association. These are typically linked to specific countries and are governed by their laws and policies. Associations such as The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and Uganda Safari Guides Association (USAGA) play an important role in training and educating safari guides to improve their knowledge and group safety. Many famed safari guides are found on the list of famous big-game hunters . Fishing guides have

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720-597: A result, in 1961 the Bowron Lakes Game Reserve was changed to Bowron Lake Provincial Park, and the park received its largest land increases with the addition of the Betty Wendle and Wolverine drainage systems and parts of the upper Cariboo River . The enthusiasm for the Bowron Region to be purely a wilderness area was so strong that most signs of human habitation were destroyed shortly after the provincial park

780-432: A shaft, is also used to steer the vessel via generating a difference in propulsion between the two sides of the watercraft. The paddle is not connected to the boat, unlike in rowing where the oar is attached to the boat. In paddling sports such as canoeing and kayaking, the characteristics that are most important include "dynamic balance, core stability, pulling power, speed, endurance, stature, and rhythm". Canoeing

840-457: A whitewater raft can involve using either paddles, or a pair of oars, or both. Outrigger canoe racing is a team paddling sport which uses the outrigger canoe . Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated from canoeing by the fact kayakers use a double bladed paddle and sit in a seat with their legs extended out in front of them. Kayakers will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel directly on

900-514: Is also host to a very wide array of flowers. Having started as a game reserve, the park is frequented by a diverse selection of animals. Moose are very common in the aquatic environments around the lakes, and mule deer are often seen in the area around Unna Lake in particular. Other large mammals such as mountain goats and caribou inhabit the park's alpine regions. The park's population of smaller mammals include semiaquatic mammals like beaver , muskrat , and river otter , as well as members of

960-405: Is done kneeling on a board and paddling with the hands. Surfing begins when the surfer paddles from the shore in an attempt to catch a wave. Guide A guide is a person who leads travelers , sportspeople , or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom . Explorers in

1020-479: Is home to predators like cougars , wolves , wolverines , and lynx . Due to its size, the park covers several habitats and therefore contains an immense variety of birds. Notable examples include Canada jays and ravens , which have adapted to human presence and often approach campsites in search of food, and waterfowl such as the loon , whose calls are commonly heard throughout the park. Swans winter on Sandy Lake, and both Canada geese and snow geese stop in

1080-414: Is much less prominent than paddling, there are three dedicated hiking trails in the park: There are also several portage trails connecting various lakes and waterways, but they are primarily intended for transporting canoes and kayaks. Fishing is allowed in the park as long as it is done by BC fishing regulations. Bull trout , kokanee , rainbow trout , and lake trout can be caught at various points in

1140-414: Is roughly 120 km (75 mi) east of the city of Quesnel , and just under 30 km (18 mi) east of the town of Wells . The park is composed of 149,207 hectares (368,699 acres) of protected wilderness, featuring many lakes and rivers nestled in mountains. This protected area is further expanded to the south, as the park shares a border with Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park , which itself shares

1200-627: Is the activity of paddling a canoe for leisure, navigation or exploration. In America the term refers exclusively to using one or more single blades or paddles to propel a canoe. In the United Kingdom and some other countries in Europe however, canoeing is also used to refer to kayaking , and canoeing is then often called Canadian canoeing to distinguish canoeing from kayaking. There are sub-varieties of canoeing, such as touring and whitewater or wildwater canoeing, and outrigger canoeing. Traveling in

1260-917: The Adirondack Mountains of New York State , where they first established the application of their skills as a broadly accepted and financially compensated trade. Wilderness guides are expected to have a command of survival skills (such as making shelters, fire-making , navigation , and first aid ) and an understanding of the ecology and history of the location where they guide. Other common skills among guides include traditional handicrafts and cooking methods, fishing , hunting , bird watching , and nature conservation . Wilderness tours usually take place on foot, though aids such as skis and snowshoes , and conveyances such as canoes , kayaks , sledges , pack animals , and snowmobiles are utilized as appropriate. Hunting guides are employed by those seeking to hunt wildlife, especially big game animals in

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1320-484: The Bernese Oberland , and for central and eastern Switzerland. In Chamonix ( France ) a statue has been raised to Jacques Balmat , who was the first to climb Mont Blanc in 1786. Other notable European guides are Christian Almer , Jakob and Melchior Anderegg , Klemens Bachleda , Auguste Balmat, Alexander Burgener , Armand Charlet , Michel Croz , François Devouassoud , Angelo Dibona , Andreas Heckmair ,

1380-596: The British Indian Army consisted of a unique combination of infantry companies and cavalry squadrons. After World War I the infantry element was incorporated in the 12th Frontier Force Regiment and the Guides Cavalry formed a separate regiment - the 10th Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force) . This unit still exists as the 2nd (Guides) Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment of

1440-703: The Eocene , until roughly 25,000 years ago when the area was covered in a 2,000-metre ice sheet. The sheet was largely static at its center over the Cariboo Mountains, resulting in the sharp features and rugged peaks that characterize the Cariboo Range. The ice covering the Quesnel Highlands, however, was much more mobile, grinding the rock down and forming broad and rounded mountains with summits between 1,600 and 2,100 metres (5,200 and 6,900 ft) – more subdued than

1500-519: The Innerkofler family, Conrad Kain , Christian Klucker , and Matthias Zurbriggen . A wilderness guide leads paid parties through back country areas that may variously include land, water bodies, and high country — but not so high and technical as to require the skills of a mountain guide . Wilderness guides in the United States are historically and romantically particularly associated with

1560-635: The Tête Jaune Cache in the Robson Valley, and was well-established enough to allow for dog sleds in the winter. This trail was eventually made obsolete when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was finalized in 1914. On 31 March 1917, Bowron Lake was adopted as the official name of the lake previously known as Bear Lake, to honour John Bowron – though some maps had started using this name as early as 1914, eight years after his death. John Bowron

1620-409: The quadrangle of lakes that now make up the park. The most prominent of these guides, Frank Kibbee , started setting up trap lines in the area in 1900 and built a home on the shores of Bowron Lake in 1907. He was the longest-operating and most renowned guide in the region, and one of the lakes in the chain – Kibbee Lake – is today named after him. In the 1920s, as concerns were raised about stress on

1680-450: The weasel family including mink , fisher , marten , stoat , least weasel , and long-tailed weasel . Small land-dwelling mammals in the park include various voles and mice , foxes , hares , coyotes , porcupines , skunks , and squirrels . Bears are quite common in the park – black bears are numerous in the lower altitudes around the lake, and grizzly bears frequent the alpine areas. In addition to its bears, Bowron Lake Park

1740-581: The Cariboo Group, was formed 440 to 600 million years ago in the Cambrian period, when materials from the continental landmass were eroded by changing conditions in the sea. The third and youngest group, formed about 250 million years ago, is made up of sedimentary volcanic rocks, parts of which today are exposed in various parts of the park. This third group is known as the Slide Mountain Group. Most of

1800-575: The Cariboo river was diverted by a blockage into the Indianpoint Valley, Unna Lake, which was formed from a melting kettle , and Sandy Lake and Spectacle lake, which were formed partially by meltwater streams. The park spans sub-alpine and alpine ecosystems , and therefore contains the characteristic plants of those zones. The predominant trees are spruce and fir (both subalpine and Douglas ), cedar , and hemlock also present in various areas. For

1860-607: The Itzul ("forest") Range, the Tediko ("girls") Range, and Lanezi ("long") Lake. The first major arrival of European settlers in the area around Bowron Lake Park came with the Cariboo Gold Rush in the 1860s, which was centered in the nearby town of Barkerville . While little gold mining happened within the modern boundaries of the park, miners and prospectors were the first Europeans to regularly visit Bowron Lake (then called Bear Lake) and

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1920-512: The amateur, at the same time assuring the safety of the climbing party. This professional class of guides arose in the middle of the 19th century when Alpine climbing became recognized as a sport . In Switzerland, the central committee of the Swiss Alpine Club issues a guides’ tariff which fixes the charges for guides and porters; there are three sections, for the Valais and Vaudois Alps, for

1980-460: The area that is now Bowron Lake Provincial Park before European settlement. Early settlers reported encounters with natives, who were seen hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging in the area. Accounts vary in terms of which specific groups these natives belonged to: some settlers speculated these were the Carrier people , while others suggested they were Shuswap or Iroquois . A 100-person village existed on Bear Lake (now known as Bowron Lake), but

2040-499: The attractions' natural and cultural significance. Often, they also act as interpreters for travelers who do not speak the local language. Automated systems like audio tours are sometimes substituted for human tour guides. Tour operators often hire guides to lead tourist groups. Mountain guides are those employed in mountaineering ; these are not merely to show the way but stand in the position of professional climbers with an expert knowledge of rock and snowcraft, which they impart to

2100-435: The bottom of the boat with two knees or one knee in the "high kneel" posture. The kayak may be either "sit-in" (have a closed cockpit) or "sit-on-top" (sitting on top of the boat deck). Sit-in kayaks provide more protection from water and the elements, and are popular for day trips and touring. Sit-on-top kayaks are growing in popularity for fishing and surfing. A dragon boat is a long and narrow human powered boat used in

2160-459: The country. Following the unification of Italy in 1870–71, the new national army included a regiment designated as guides: the 19th Cavalleggieri (Light Horse). In the Belgian Army the two guides regiments , created respectively in 1833 and 1874, constituted part of the light cavalry and came to correspond to the guard cavalry of other nations. Until the outbreak of World War I, they wore

2220-415: The end of the gold rush, trapping and hunting came to the forefront of the region's economy. While fish and game had fed miners for years, as the turn of the century arrived, the focus shifted from hunting for sustenance to sport hunting . Wilderness guides arrived in the area and attracted an ever-increasing influx of big game hunters looking to take advantage of what was called a "hunter's paradise" in

2280-477: The lakes, with the best fishing occurring in the months of June and September. The lakes can be crossed when frozen during the winter months. There are no set tracks, but the portage trails can be used to complete the whole circuit in skis or snowshoes. Paddling Paddling , in regard to waterborne transport , is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using at least one hand-held paddle . The paddle, which consists of one or two blades joined to

2340-489: The modern Army of Pakistan. In drill, a guide is an officer or non-commissioned officer who regulates the direction and pace of movements. A psychedelic guide is someone who guides a drug user's experiences as opposed to a sitter who merely remains present, ready to discourage bad trips and handle emergencies but not otherwise getting involved. Guides are more common amongst spiritual users of entheogens . Psychedelic guides were strongly encouraged by Timothy Leary and

2400-461: The most part, the park consists of old-growth forests , with the exception of a few areas that were burned by wildfires in the recent past. Below the tree canopy, the park is home to numerous shrubs and berry plants, which include but are not limited to twinberry , false box , bearberry , Labrador tea , cranberry , huckleberry , mountain ash , red-osier dogwood , soopolallie , white rhododendron , and sticky currant , among others. The park

2460-449: The natural processes involving the beetles are allowed to continue unimpeded. Bowron Lake Park, in conjunction with Wells Gray, Cariboo Mountain, and Cariboo River parks, forms a large contiguous protected area, which acts as a haven for a wide variety of animals and wildlife. This is particularly beneficial for creatures that require large areas of undisturbed habitats, such as the grizzly bear. The park's undeveloped wilderness provides

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2520-594: The park can vary significantly throughout its various biogeoclimatic zones, and some areas can be significantly warmer and drier than others (for example, the Northwest portions of the park). Since they are more difficult to control, fires that start in those areas are typically not allowed to burn. The central plateau of British Columbia, where Bowron Lake Park resides, has historically been victim to infestations of mountain pine beetle , which can kill large areas of tree forest if not controlled. Steps are being taken to control

2580-475: The park during their migrations. Various predatory birds, such as osprey , can often be seen fishing in the lake's waters. Many species of fish swim in the lakes themselves. Rainbow trout , dolly varden , kokanee , and rocky mountain whitefish inhabit most of the lakes year-round. Sockeye and chinook migrate through the Bowron Lake and River during their spawning runs. Sockeye typically arrive to spawn in

2640-421: The park is paddling in a canoe or kayak, due to the world-renowned paddling circuit formed by its uniquely linked chain of lakes. The Bowron Lake canoe circuit has been highly rated by Outside magazine , Popular Science , Field & Stream , and others. The circuit spans a total of 116 km and connects almost all of the park's lakes via waterways or short portages on man-made trails. In addition to views of

2700-491: The park, several other rules and restrictions have been established, all of which contribute to conservation efforts and/or help maintain the isolated wilderness experience in the circuit. These include: Additionally, anyone entering the circuit must take part in a mandatory orientation session to familiarize themselves with the rules and to prepare themselves for the circuit's challenges. While hiking in Bowron Lake Park

2760-685: The past venturing into territory unknown by their own people invariably hired guides. Military explorers Lewis and Clark were hired by the United States Congress to explore the Pacific Northwest . They in turn hired the better qualified Native American Sacagawea to help them. Wilfred Thesiger hired guides in the deserts that he ventured into, such as Kuri on his journey to the Tibesti Mountains in 1938. Tour guides lead visitors through tourist attractions and give information about

2820-409: The provincial government in 1925 and Frank Kibbee was named the reserve's first game warden shortly afterward. The reserve was originally 620 km (240 sq mi) in size, although many additions have been made to the reserve (and later, park) in the years since. In the 1950s and 1960s, the cultural focus of British Columbia's protected areas shifted from game management to conservation . As

2880-424: The spread of the beetle in Bowron Lake Park, using strategies such as the burning of affected trees, using trap trees (which are later felled and burned) to attract beetles, pheromone baiting (attractant pheromones for trap trees, or anti-aggregation pheromones for healthy trees), and biocontrol sprays. These control strategies are only used in zones of the park where beetle impact is expected to be severe; otherwise,

2940-466: The stricter organization of military resources led in various countries to the special training of guide officers who had the primary duty of finding, and if necessary establishing, routes for military units. The genesis of the guides regiments may be found in a short-lived Corps of Guides formed by Napoleon in Italy in 1796, which appears to have been a personal escort or bodyguard composed of men who knew

3000-482: The summits of the Cariboo Mountains, most of which are over 2,100 meters. 12,000 years ago, the glaciers in the area retreated, forming the park as it exists today. Glacial till remains visible in many areas of the park, and some small glaciers still exist on its higher slopes. The retreat of the glaciers formed the park's main sequence of lakes in a roughly quadrilateral arrangement, as viewed from space. Some examples include Indianpoint lake, formed when water from

3060-647: The surrounding area. The Bowron and Cariboo mountains were continuously explored through the mid-to-late-1800s. While the Canadian Pacific Survey searched for links through the mountain passes, John Bowron , the Gold Commissioner , sent exploration parties into the hills to establish mining routes into the gold-bearing ground. One of these routes followed the Goat River pass, connecting the Cariboo region to

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3120-476: The surrounding mountains and lakes, the circuit provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities: moose, deer, bear, coyote, fox, beaver, songbirds, waterfowl, and small mammals are all commonly seen by paddlers. Typical paddling time for the full circuit ranges from 6 to 10 days. Alternatively, the west side of the circuit, between Bowron Lake and Unna Lake, can be paddled on its own in 2 to 4 days. The full circuit can only be paddled in one direction, starting with

3180-498: The team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China . For racing events, dragon boats are not rigged with full decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are not required to carry a large drum aboard. The decorative boats are used in ceremonial events. They do however use smaller and lighter dragon heads and tails and drum for racing. They are not normally used during practice. Rafting or whitewater rafting uses

3240-446: The upper Bowron River around August, peaking during the start of September, while chinook spawn outside the park's grounds, in the lower Bowron River. As in many BC parks, forest fires in Bowron Lake Park are treated as a natural process of forest rejuvenation. As such, natural fires that start in the park are generally allowed to burn, provided that they do not pose a risk to the safety of the park's users and facilities. The climate of

3300-577: The village site sloughed into the lake in 1964, due to naturally occurring mudslides and possibly from seismic shock resulting from the 1964 Anchorage earthquake . By that time the village was uninhabited. It is likely that its prior inhabitants had been wiped out by disease, as the First Nations of the area were deeply impacted by the smallpox epidemics of the 1860s. The loss of the site prevented any form of carbon-dating to determine its true age. While very little formal archaeological work has been done,

3360-581: The visible geological features of the park were formed during mountain-building processes that started about 100 million years after the sedimentary and volcanic material was deposited. This process formed the Quesnel highlands, to the northwest of the park, and the more rugged Cariboo Mountains to the southeast of the park. Both mountain groups were largely shaped in the Cretaceous period, alongside most of British Columbia's modern drainage channels. This continued into

3420-582: The wild. European hunting guides working in Africa are sometimes called white hunters , although the term is most commonly used in the context of the early 20th century . Guides are employed on safari , today usually just to observe and photograph wildlife , historically for big-game hunting . Safari guides are either self-employed or work for or through a guide service. There are no set qualifications or universal licensing procedures; customs and requirements vary by location. In lieu, many guides choose to belong to

3480-508: The wildlife population in the Cariboo Mountains, the idea was proposed to turn the area within the Bowron lake quadrangle into a game reserve , citing the success of Yellowstone in the United States. The proposed reserve would be a hunting-free sanctuary where animals could breed without human interference, allowing the population to stabilize. This was widely supported by naturalists such as Thomas and Elinor McCabe, who had arrived in 1922 and built

3540-423: Was declared, including rail portages, trappers' cabins, and many other signs of human development. Even the home of Thomas and Elinor McCabe, at Indian Point Lake, was burned down, in what was described by author and guide Richard Thomas Wright as "a moment of pyromaniac enthusiasm to return the land to the wilderness". Bowron Lake Provincial park is located in the Cariboo Mountains , in central British Columbia. It

3600-581: Was involved with the mining industry in Barkerville throughout his life. The park later took his name the same name as the lake. While the bulk of the initial non-native population arrived with the gold rush, the area enjoyed a modest but steady influx of settlers throughout the late 19th to early 20th centuries, even as the gold rush ended. Land grants were given to soldiers returning from the First World War , and many families arrived to start farms. With

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