Northern BC Adventure Tours – Page 2 – Experience Northern BC Tours

November 24, 2017November 28, 2017

NEW! Kitsault & Alice Arm: The Ultimate Ghost Town Adventure!

Wow! For those looking to tour two of the most inaccessible ghost towns in British Columbia; now is your chance! We have permission to visit the modern day ghost town of Kitsault that has sat vacant since 1983! This town has everything a town would need! Hospital, Pub, Curling Rink, Movie Theatre, Swimming Pool, Library, Day care, Gymnasium, Squash Courts, Grocery Store, Bank, Sporting Goods Store, Post Office, Hot Tub, Apartments and Houses! The only thing missing is the people! BE one of the few people to tour this town and STAY overnight in one of the apartment buildings. This is a truly a trip of a lifetime.

As an added bonus we will be visiting the historic Silver mining town and home to the Dolly Varden Mine – Alice Arm. We will tour the town and be treated to magnificent seafood feast on the banks above massive Alice Arm Estuary.

2016 Ghost Town Guests posing in front of Kitsault sign

All this in in a one night two day trip from Terrace, BC to Kitsault and Alice Arm and return to Terrace. All meals, accommodations, transportation ( return from Terrace, BC to Kitsault and Ocean transportation to Alice Arm.)

This trip will fill up fast and is limited to 12 guests!

August 18-19, 2017

$795.00

Guests getting ready for a showing a the Kitsault Theatre

The Alice Arm schoolhouse still remains from the early 1900’s

November 22, 2017November 22, 2017

2018 Adventure Tour Schedule Now Released!

We are very excited to have the schedule for the 2018 UNBC Continuing Studies Adventure Tours released! We have some of the very popular tours that have been delivered every year and a few new ones for 2018. See the blog posts below for more details on each of the tours.

Upper Fraser White Sturgeon Biology Experience
May 3-4, 2018, Prince George, BC

A large sturgeon getting ready to measure and tag

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Canneries of the Northcoast
May 14-18, 2018, Cassiar Cannery, Port Edward, BC

Pilings from one of the Port Essington Canneries Photo courtesy of Andrew Pugh

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Historic Fort George River Journey
May 11, 2018, Prince George, BC

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Ghost Towns of the East Line: History of the Upper Fraser
May 12, 2018, Prince George, BC

Old Beehive Burner at eh Eastline Ghost Town of Penny

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“The Town That Got Lost” Anyox Exploration
June 2-3, 2018, Terrace, BC

Anyox Ghost Town — The Anyox Powerhouse “The Town That Got Lost” Anyox Exploration Tour

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Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour
June 6-11, 2018, Terrace, BC

Grizzly Bear and Cub posing for the Camera

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Northwest Wonders -Jet Boat Photography Tour
June 12-16, 2018, Terrace, BC

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Skeena River Historical Jet Boat Journey
August 5-10, 2018, Hazelton – Port Edward, BC

Navigating the 200 km trip down the Skeena River

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Kitsault & Alice Arm: The Ultimate Ghost Town Adventure
August 18-19, 2018, Terrace, BC

The Ghostly and Abandoned Kitsault Shopping Centre Ghost Towns of Northwest BC Tour

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Ghost Towns of Northwest BC
August 21-27, 2018, Terrace, BC

April 9, 2017October 23, 2017

How Simon Sees the Canneries of the North Coast

Last summer were fortunate to tour a few Social Media Influencers around the Northwest Coast and one of the days was spent in the heart of the historic salmon canneries of the early 1900’s. We were also blessed to have Northern BC Tourism content creator Simon Ratcliffe along to assist and take some amazing photos of the area. Check out Simon’s website for some other spectacular photos from some of his other journeys. Below are a few of the photos as “Simon Sees” through the lense!

How SimonSees the Canneries of the North Coast!

Capturing the imagery and stories of people I meet on my travels.

Simon Sees Website

Haunted Doctors house on Digby Island — Social Media Influencer Matt Mosteller is afraid to take another step towards the haunted Dr’s house of Digby Island. Courtesy @simonsees

Canneries of the North Coast — A beautiful boat house on stilts! courtesy @simonsees

Heron on Canneries of north Coast — A Heron waiting for its next meal on the lower Skeena River. Courtesy @simonsees

abandoned boat on UNBC Canneries Tour — One of the many abandoned boats lying on the shores of the lower Skeena River. photo courtesy of @Simonsees

North Pacific Cannery UNBCTour — Trees growing off a stilted platform at North Pacific Cannery. Photo Courtesy of @simonsees

canneries of the north coast north Pacific — Classic Cannery Building on pilings. Photo courstesy of @simonsees

North Pacific Cannery! Photo courtesy of @simonsees

Port Essington Boneyard — George Frizzell Boneyard! Remnants from the imported cows of the butcher shop! Photo courtesy @simonsees

Carlisle Cannery UNBC Canneries tour — Ringbolts from a rock island at Carlisle Cannery! Can you see them? Simon Can! Photo courtesy @simonsees

Double rainbow from the deck of the Manager houses at Cassiar Cannery! Photo Courtesy @simonsees

Osland Icelandic community — Old abandoned boat from the Icelandic community of Osland! photo courtesy of @simonsees

Osland Icelandic fishing community — The long boardwalk at the Icelandic fishing community of Osland! Photo courtesy of @Simonsees

For more information on the UNBC Canneries of the North Coast Tour:

Canneries of the North Coast Tour

April 8, 2017October 23, 2017

Westworld Magazine Skeena River Tour Article

Northern BC Adventure Tours Article

The Skeena River and Northwest BC are one of the most beautiful places in the world. We were fortunate enough to share this region with writer Janet Gyenes who gave a very stunning account of her visit to the area. We incorporated a touch of many of our Northern BC Adventure Tours during the few days. Read the online article or the screenshots below.

Online link to the issue Page 11 for the article

UNBC Adventure Tour — Northern BC Adventure Tour Article

BCAA Westworld article on the Skeena River Historical Journey

Skeena River Historic Tour — Page three of the BCAA Westworld article on the UNBC Continuing Studies Northern BC Adventures

April 7, 2017October 23, 2017

The Canneries of the Lower Skeena River

A Truly Amazing North Coast BC Tour!

The lower Skeena River on British Columbia’s North Coast was line with over 26 canneries starting in 1877 with the Inverness Cannery. Inverness was situated in the Skeena Slough or one arm of the delta of the Skeena River before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. This slough is also Known as “Cannery Row” due to the numerous canneries which lined it’s shores. North Pacific Cannery and Cassiar Cannery still have substantial remains with North Pacific now a national historic site. Other than these two relatively easily accessible canneries, many of the other ones are boat access only and at different stages of decay and remaining remnants. The hidden treasures that remain and the stories they tell are truly amazing. One of the best sources of information on the canneries is Gladys Blyth’s book “Salmon Canneries British Columbia North Coast”. We are fortunate to be able to deliver a 3 day tour to these sites plus many other fishing villages and historic sites in our “Canneries of the North Coast Tour”. Through the UNBC “Northern BC Adventures Program”

canneries north coast unbc — Information of the Canneries of the North Coast

April 6, 2017October 23, 2017

Ghost Town of Alice Arm in the News

Global TV Spotlight on the Ghost Town of Alice Arm

This once thriving Silver Mining town Alice Arm of the early 1900’s is home to the Dolly Varden Silver Mine and a dozen or so cabins and homesteads. It is also one of our stops on the UNBC Continuing Studies “Ghost Towns of Northwest BC” Tour. Some of the highlights include the 1920 schoolhouse, bakery, haunted houses, old derelict vehicles, polish prison, seafood BBQ, waterfalls, salmon and bears. Below the video are a few more photos of the town. For a good read on the history of the town Darryl Muralt’s book “Steel Rails & Silver Dreams” provided an insightful look into the boom and bust times of this silver mining town and the tribulations of building a small railway in some of the most inhospitable conditions. The town really is a unique pace to visit!

Northern BC Adventure Tours Ghost Towns

Alice Arm Main Street Ghost towns of Northwest BC

Alice Arm Bakery Window Ghost Towns of Northwest BC

Alice Arm Lodge Ghost Townd of Northwest BC — The Alice Arm Lodge

Alice arm Ghsot Towns of Northwest BC — More coat rack names at the Alice Arm School

March 31, 2017October 23, 2017

Historic Canyons, Railways and Reaction Ferries

Many Prince George residents have lived in this area for a long time but have never explored in their own backyard. Here is a perfect opportunity to learn about our history and view some of the most iconic historical sites in the region. Reaction ferries, Canyons, Railways, Goat Island, Bollards, Rapids, and hopefully some local wildlife will make this a memorable trip! May 15 or June 17, 2017

Reaction Ferry
The tour will commence with a 30 minute jet boat ride up the Nechako River to the site of the Miworth Reaction Ferry. In Miworth two hulls of the ferry still remain, plus a wooden derrick tower. This ferry operated from 1922 to the mid 1940’s. Reaction ferries were common in the interior for crossing many of our river systems. The ferries consist of two pontoon hulls and a cable across the river. The energy of the river current is used to angle the pontoons across the river. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit this historic site.

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Bridge
From the Miworth Reaction Ferry site, we will journey to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Bridge. This iconic Prince George feature is over 100-years old and is still the longest railway bridge in B.C. While viewing the Bridge from below, Jeff will provide a historic perspective of the bridge. On this stretch of our journey a stop will also be made at Goat Island, where this island’s contribution to the building of the GTP Railway Bridge and the stories of Jim Johnson’s goat farm will be told.

Fort George Canyon
The last destination on our tour is Fort George Canyon where the sternwheelers of the early 1900’s attempted to navigate and winch themselves through the rock outcropped islands and fast flowing rapids and whirlpools of this narrow pass in the Fraser River. We will learn and experience why it was so difficult to bring these boats through this extremely treacherous section of the river. Don’t miss this chance to experience the rich history of our local rivers!

March 28, 2017October 23, 2017

Webb Bennett – Kitselas Canyon Historic Site on the Skeena River

The Kitselas Canyon Historic site and home of the Kitselas First Nation is 15 minutes east of Terrace on the banks of the Skeena River. The highlights include the longhouses, petroglyphs, totem poles, lookout, dugout canoe, interpretive signs and the flora and fauna. None of these highlights would be complete without the interpretive knowledge and background provided by the curator Webb Bennett.

Webb is a wealth of knowledge and can tell you anything about the history of the area. He shares his knowledge and shows us the sites as we wind along a path through the beautiful hemlock forest. He talks about the totem poles and longhouses and how totems are a way for the Kitselas and other first nations to tell their stories as their history isn’t written down anywhere. The experience at the site is hands on as Webb mentions “It’s a living cultural centre”. The tour of the longhouses greatly benefits from this belief as the participants can hold and touch the various items on display to get a better feel of the work that went into making them.

We visit the Kitselas Canyon Historic site on a few of our tours.

Skeena River Historic Journey August 1-6, 2017

Ghost Towns of Northwest BC August 20-26, 2017

For more information

For tour information

Kitselas Canyon Historic site UNBC tour — Our transportation to the Canyon

Kitselas Canyon Historic site UNBC tour at the longhouse — Webb explaining the crest to our group

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March 16, 2017October 23, 2017

Top 10 Derelict Boats on the Northwest Coast

The lower Skeena River and the north coast is home to many weathered derelict fishing boats that have been abandoned or washed up on shore. They are truly a photographers paradise to capture that amazing photo unlike any other. Each boat has a one of kind story and history behind them from salmon fishing, gillnetting, crabbing or transportation. This seldom visited area has many boats lining the shores and just takes a keen eye and some tips on where to look. Here is our top 10 list with a couple of honorable mentions. If you know any specific history on any of these boats we would love to hear about them.

To see these boats and to have a chance to get up close and personal with them check out our “Canneries of the North Coast” tour where we visit these boats and many more.

https://blogs.unbc.ca/unbcexptour/canneries-of-the-northcoast/

Oona River boat on top ten abandoned boats list — This Oona Boat river boat is a true classic with its bright yellow paint.

The Hilo crabbing boat of Port Essington — The Hi -Lo of Port Essington, What a resting place! The Lyngby Sedge provides a beautiful backdrop for this inner coastal crabbing boat.

Old abandoned boat on the shores of the Skeena River Cannery Row — This old boat lies on the banks of the Skeena River’s historic Cannery Row

Oona River baot as seen on the Canneries of the North Coast Tour — This boat has seen better days but is still able to cast a beautiful shadow.

Osland classic wooden boat on Canneries of the North Coast Tour — This Osland “Classic” is beautiful wooden boat just waiting for someone to take its picture!

This abandoned boat lies on the shores of Lelu Island as a part of the Canneries of the North Coast Tour — When I think of “Derelict” boat this is what comes to mind!

Porcher Island derelict boat — This Porcher Island floating hulk is one of the most utilitarian of them all!

Another Oona River Boat — A beautiful reflection of a beautiful Oona River Boat

A classic derelict boat — Nothing like a closeup of a classic fishing boat! this one probably has alot of epic stories

#10

If only the Duke could speak — The Duke! With a name like that it must have cruised the open water with pride!

Honorable Mention!

If it only had the other half it might have made the top 10

Hard to tell exactly how old this on is but well on it sway to being a Skeena River Relic!

March 14, 2017October 23, 2017

Grizzly Bear Stalking

On our Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery tour we use jet boat son a few of the days to travel on the ocean to remote coastal estuaries that are filled with thick carpets of Lyngby Sedge. We use jet boats so that we can maneuver through all the side channels and that intertwine amongst the estuary. The shallow draft of the jet boat allows us to pole or use electric motors to slowly stalk and maneuver the boat into position to see the bears without scaring them. We know the bears come out every day to feed so sometimes its just a matter of time before they decide to show themselves. At the end of the bear viewing day we then use the louder jet boat engines to cruise of the river on a sightseeing tour. This year’s tour is June 6-10, 2017 starting in Terrace, BC.

A mom and cub feeding on the sedge grass

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