Riding the Divide - March 4th in Cranbrook

Bruce Kirkby photo

by Helen Sander

Come hunters, horse lovers, nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Wildsight presents the awe-inspiring Wayne Sawchuck, well known photographer, ardent conservationist and wilderness guide. Wayne will present Riding the Divide: packhorses and predictions in BC's Northern Rockies in Golden at on March 2nd, in Kimberley on March 3rd and in Cranbrook on March 4th.All are public events with admission by donation.

Sawchuck, from the north of British Columbia, grew up working in his family's logging business. On the off season, he would explore the Rockies and the Boreal forests with his buddies and his horses, and document his experiences.

Wayne Sawchuk
photo Bruce Kirkby

These days he leads wilderness expeditions on horseback, into the Muskwa-Kechika. He has, in fact, written a book about the area, Muskwa-Kechika: The Wild Heart of Canada’s Northern Rockies. He has been recognized for his conservation work by the provincial and federal Canadian government, in particular for the establishment of the 6.4 million hectares of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.       

“The Muskwa-Kechika is North America's most important area for large animals, both for numbers, and for species,” said Sawchuck. “This place of spectacular beauty faces threats from natural gas development, wind power, forestry and mining, yet it remains almost unknown outside of northern BC.”

Sawchuck said that 30 years of horse travel in the Muskwa Kechika convinced him that if it is to be protected in the long term, people need to see its wonders. Sawchuck's expeditions provide an opportunity for people to do just that. Kootenay local and well-known author and adventurer, Bruce Kirkby, has joined Wayne on one of what he calls his “participatory” trips.

“To see Wayne Sawchuck swing a leg over his horse, sitting askew upon the saddle as his keen eyes scan the towering Muskwa Kechika mountainsides, to see him clear trails with a hand-polished axe or decipher a maze of animal tracks upon the forest's mossy floor, to see him shoe a horse on the banks of a gin-clear creek or casually toss a pack cinch and secure a diamond hitch...this is to see a man entirely in his element, at one with his environment – a rare and moving privilege indeed,” said Kirkby.

View Bruce Kirkby's travelogue photos "Explore the Muskwa-Kechika" here and read his article "Ride through the Serengeti of the North" here

Wayne Sawchuk will present Riding the Divide: packhorses and predictions in BC's Northern Rockies, in Golden at St. Andrew's United Church and Centre for Peace on March 2nd at seven thirty pm, in Kimberley at Centre 64 on March 3rd at seven pm, and in Cranbrook on March 4th at the College of the Rockies at seven pm.

For more information email office@wildsight.ca or call Helen Sander at 250 427-2535 ext 222 for information on the Cranbrook and Kimberley events and Joan Dolinsky at 250 348-2578 for information on the Golden event.