SKY CAMP - BRITISH COLUMBIA
At Sky Camp, connecting with the wilds of B.C. has never been so cushy
by Anne Dimon
Think of a Somewhere in the middle of Nowhere, and Sky Camp, located in the pristine mountain wilds of B.C., is it. Nature exposed. Raw and real, but with a welcome handful of creature comforts.
It took developer Dale Douglas, owner of Whistler-based Tyac Air, four years to find this tiny slice of heaven snuggled on the shores of Crystal Lake, a private, two-mile lake about 75 miles north east of Whistler. Embraced protectively by the snow-capped Coastal Mountains, the camp site is located at 4,500 feet on a clearing. Douglas says he selectively hand-logged the land and developed the self-sustaining camp with guest comfort in mind.
From Whistler, the 45-minute flight aboard Douglas’ six-seat DeHaviland Beaver float plane takes us over the fertile Pemberton Valley, the Pemberton Ice Fields, over alpine meadows, swatches of evergreen, vibrant turquoise-hued glacial ponds and milky, jade-coloured streams. The scenery is so dramatic one cannot help being in-the-moment.
As the plane pulls up to the Sky Camp dock to unload passengers and supplies (everything is flown in and out) we’re met by camp custodian and resident chef Claude Bourbonnière.
Skilled, knowledgeable and all-round “super guides” Ryan Hamm and Brian Jump, who have flown in with our little group, help us unload and get settled in our roomy tents. But first the grand tour.
A small group of buildings set out like a tiny village includes the main cabin which houses the kitchen and dining room and where you can expect to sup on meals far superior than what you’d expect from a wilderness camp. A collection of upscale safari-style tents are set up on raised platforms and furnished with wood frame beds and linens. Other buildings have hot showers with water heated by propane and toilet facilities. Fresh water from a nearby creek is pure, clean and potable. Lights are powered by solar heating
Our welcoming meal is home-made gourmet pizza topped with goat cheese, artichoke hearts, black olives and roasted peppers, grilled on the BBQ and served with a green salad. The camp doesn’t offer alcohol and while inspirational views alone are intoxicating, a glass of wine with dinner adds a civilized touch to “roughing it” in the bush, so it’s BYOB. If you can’t find Bourbonnière whipping up a gourmet meal in the kitchen or stoking the wood-burning stove that takes the early morning chill, you’ll find him guiding guests to his secret fishing spots.
One morning we pack a picnic and set out on the 90-minute trek up to Heavenly Knoll for a bird’s eye view of camp. Another day we head for No Moose Falls, a dramatic natural water feature that thunders over a rocky precipice and down into a deep canyon. We stop to partake of a picnic lunch, gorge ourselves on the view and relish the water therapy. Our guides point out major geographical features and local vegetation like Common Bearberry a prevailing ground cover dotted with bright red berries that local bears love to snack on. Then there’s the abundant Soap Berry – used to make Indian “ice-cream” we’re told. Hamm and Jump are not only knowledgeable, but exceptionally skilled at making the experience pleasant for every guest,
In between daily hikes and meals, outdoor activities such as canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and fly-fishing fill the days.
As the stresses of urban life dissipate, the inner-kid emerges. Then there’s testosterone. The combo of the two leads to friendly challenges and competitions that involve things such as push-ups, skipping stones, wood chopping and swimming races in Crystal Lake’s chilly waters.
As to the spa-life side of Sky Camp - connecting with nature is a big component of wellness travel and a week at Sky Camp is therapy onto itself. Of course, when it comes to actual treatments the only thing you may get is a wet and sloppy facial from Bella, the camp’s loveable, four-year-old Border Collie/ German Shephard who, with all the space in the world to roam and all the attention she gets from guests, must surely be the happiest dog in the world.
Following the evening meal – think something equivalent to shrimp and chicken kabobs or grilled salmon - guides help with clean-up. Guests pitch in too if the mood strikes, but mostly they sit and reflect on the day, play cards or board games, sooth tired muscles in the sauna, or simply head for their tents to crawl in between fresh-smelling linens and slip into peaceful slumber. I sleep like a baby until the stillness wakes me. In the pitch of night it seems as if one could hear a pine needle drop. For a downtown Toronto girl who often stirs to the sounds of screaming sirens, the quiet is almost eerie.
The lack of cell phone or Blackberry service underscores the ultimate time-out.
Even political philosopher Thomas Hobbes might agree that here at Sky Camp, the State-of-Nature is the definitive State-of-Calm. For a wilderness camp, it’s mighty cushy too.
Sky Camp offers six-night packages including float plane transportation, camp accommodations, all meals, activities and guided hikes. Dates for 2008 are July 16-21 and August 14 – 19. For pricing and more info…