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Arrow Lakes News
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Vol. 90 Issue 35 • Wednesday, August 28, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
PM40036531
Kayakers take on Incommapleux waters for awareness ALEX COOPER Black Press
The last time a group attempted to descend the upper Incomappleux River, the trip ended in tragedy. In July 2003, Yves Laforest, Aurelie Chabaud, Michel Bastien and Martin Champagneur set out to climb Mount Hope in the southwest corner of Glacier National Park, then paddle the Incomappleux River to the Upper Arrow Lake. They were aiming to raise money to support children with leukemia. They were successful in summiting, but their trip down the river ended quickly in tragedy when they were all swept up in a rapid. Only Champagneur survived. Ten years later, a group of nine Kootenay kayakers – including Revelstokians Sean Bozkewycz, Sam Ewing and Christian Foster – is heading back to the Incomappleux River in an attempt to complete a first descent of the river and raise awareness about the unique rainforest that exists in its upper reaches. Carl Jacks, a 36-year-old nurse who lives in New Denver, B.C., is leading the expedition. He is a co-founder of the West Kootenay-based Endangered Creeks Expedition, a team of paddlers that dedicate their time to exploring and reporting on waterways threat-
ened by run-of-river power projects. As a kayaker, he’s regarded as fearless, a bit reckless, adventurous and a very skilled paddler. The idea of paddling the Incomappleux has been with him since he first explored its middle and lower sections in 2006, when ventured as far as he could upriver by road. “Being a paddler, I couldn’t help think what’s above, what keeps going,” he said. “The features we were seeing in the lower sections were quite unbelievable.” Jacks has undertaken a number of first descents of rivers and creeks throughout B.C., but the Incomappleux is the one he’s felt would be the biggest challenge. He’s not wrong, that’s for sure. Just to access the river, Jacks and his team will have to trek 13-kilometres overland through the Flat Creek Valley in Glacier National Park. Once on the river, they will be faced with 55-kilometres of paddling, some of which has never been run before. All they have is aerial photos to go on. “It’s going to be what looks to really intense class four, five whitewater,” he said. “It cuts through a lot of slide paths so the terrain on the side of the river will be extremely hard to navigate if we choose to get out of the boat, which is usually the case if we need to scout a section of water.”
Paddler and river watchdog Carl Jacks will be navigating the Incommapleux with a team of kayakers. Photo courtesy Carl Jacks The purpose of the trip isn’t just to accomplish a first descent. The team also aims to document the wilderness found in the upper Incomappleux valley – a largely untouched wilderness filled with massive old growth cedars and that is also prime mountain caribou habitat. They are partnering with the Valhalla Wilderness Society, an environmental organizational that is lobbying to have the area preserved as a park. They have also
received funding from Mountain Equipment Coop. What are the challenges in an expedition like this? First, there’s the overland approach through the Flat Creek valley. Jacks expects it to be two to three days of bushwhacking. Then there’s the river itself. The rapid that
See Kayak page 8
Burton residents told to boil water CLAIRE PARADIS Arrow Lakes News
Residents of Burton, B.C. are being told to boil their water before using it. The Regional District Central Kootenay issued a boil water notice on Aug. 22 for users of the Burton Water System because recent testing showed that the current water quality poses a health risk. Water testing results indicate that there are low levels of coliform bacteria and very low levels of e. coli,
Jason McDiarmid, Manager of Utility Services for the RDCK told the Arrow Lakes News. Where it came from is unknown, but anything minor could cause it because Burton is a no-chlorination system. McDiarmid noted that in another similar system, grass clippings were believed to be the contamination culprit. McDiarmid said it could also be a sampling error, and another sample was being done Fri. Aug. 23 then
taken to a lab in Kelowna that day. Because there are some very dangerous strains of e. coli, the RDCK has taken the precaution of issuing the Boil Water Notice. Under such a notice, the RDCK and Interior Health recommend that all water system users drink boiled water or a safe alternative until further notice. “Water intended for drinking, washing fruits and vegetables, making beverages or ice, or brushing
teeth should be boiled for one minute,” a press release from the RDCK stated. “Boiled water should then be refrigerated in a clean, covered container. Customers could also choose to use bottled or distilled water, or water that has been filtered through a well-maintained treatment device.” In accordance with the notice, owners of all public facilities must post a BOIL WATER NOTICE at all sinks or drinking water fountains accessible to the public, or turn the
taps or fountains off. They must also advise their clientele verbally of the Boil Water Notice. “The RDCK is taking additional measures to reduce risk including: flushing and draining the reservoir and adding temporary consumption level of chlorine to the water,” the press release also stated. “Interior Health has been notified. The RDCK will advise public when conditions change or water quality has improved.”
Body of eldery man recovered at Mirror Lake Black Press At approximately 12:15 p.m. Monday, August 19, the body of 73-year-old Randolph Peter (Randy) Lundblad who was reported missing in Mirror Lake was located by the
RCMP Dive Team. Randy Lundblad had ridden his bicycle to the lake near Kaslo in the early afternoon on Aug. 18. He was seen diving into the lake and swam around for a short period of time
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(approximately 3-5 minutes). Witnesses reported that a faint call for help was heard and the elderly male was observed to be in distress. Two people tried to help, but weren’t able to reach him before he had gone
under the water. He did not come back to the surface. Mr. Lundblad’s body was found in approximately 45 feet of water, close to where he was last seen. The recovery proved more difficult than
expected as the bottom of the lake is covered in a significant layer of mud, making visibility an issue. Foul play is not suspected and the case will be turned over to the BC Coroners Service.
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