Special care must be taken in alpine and sub-alpine areas. These are among the most fragile because of severe conditions and a short growing season. To preserve this pristine wilderness, it is important to hike on designated trails, put up your tent on tent pads where provided and use a backpacking stove for cooking rather than an open fire.

Taking pets into the backcountry, especially dogs, is not recommended. Pets can disturb other campers, foul trails and aggravate wildlife.

Everyone who uses the backcountry must strive for “no trace camping”. In other words, when camp is broken, there should be no sign of human use. Leave the area in better condition than when you arrived.

“IF YOU PACK IT INPACK IT OUT” – Take along a garbage bag and carry out all trash that you generate including biodegradable scraps such as apple cores, orange peels, etc.

- Use portable gas stoves for cooking.

- Boil or filter and treat water before drinking it.

- If there is no outhouse provided, burying your waste in a shallow hole is the best disposal method. The hole should be located at least 200 feet from any water sources, campsites, and trails.

- Pack out all toilet paper, tampons and disposable diapers or use a natural wiping alternative such as snow, leaves, or tree lichen.

- Avoid urinating on plants because animals are attracted to the salty liquid.

- Any washing activities should take place at least 200 feet from natural water sources and, if you use soap, make sure it is phosphate free and bio-degradable.

- For tooth cleaning, use salt or baking soda instead of toothpaste, which contains detergent.

Take your photos and memories home with you – but please leave the park with no trace of your visit, so that others may also enjoy our protected areas.

Set amongst a Douglas-fir forest that shades campers from the hot summer sun, Lac La Hache Park is located on Highway 97, 12 km north of the community of Lac La Hache. It has 83 campsites, a sani-station and a self-guided nature trail. The day use area is located across Highway 97 on the shore of Lac La Hache and has an adventure playground, picnic shelter, boat launch, developed beach, and change-house.

Lac La Hache, also known as Axe Lake, is one of the most popular recreation lakes in the Cariboo. There are many stories to explain how the lake was named; according to one, it gained its name when a trapper lost his only axe when chopping a hole in the frozen lake.

This area is rich in tales of fur traders, gold seekers and cattle ranchers. By the 1860’s, gold fever was running high, as miners searched for the motherlode first near Likely, and later at Barkerville. With teams of horses, mules and oxen, the fortune-seekers plodded north along the Cariboo Wagon Road skirting the eastern shores of Lac La Hache.

Year round angling for kokanee and lake trout, as well as rainbow trout and burbot during the summer months, make this an excellent fishing lake. However, the lake is also a popular place for power-boating and water-skiing.;

Ten Mile Lake was named for a milepost of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the early 1900’s. Following WW II, the railway engineers discovered a better grade in which to cross the Cottonwood River, and the original line was abandoned. Today there is still evidence of the abandoned railway line in the park.

The large swimming beaches and playground attract campers and locals, and the covered picnic shelter is popular for group events.

The lake offers good rainbow trout fishing in early spring and in the summer evenings, and there are 10 km of trails, including a self-guided nature trail leading to a beaver pond. In winter these trails are transformed into cross-country ski trails.

WLORMA is a non-profit society dedicated to promoting safe and responsible off road riding in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. As a member of the British Columbia Off Road Motorcycle Association, the club is actively involved in working with the provincial government on land use issues and trail mapping and registration. The club encourages working with local ranchers and other outdoor user groups to bring about mutual respect and understanding to avoid conflicts as well as looking at new ways to minimize negative impact to the environment, wildlife and livestock. Awareness and education are key factors in making this happen.

Two major events are hosted by the club each year, the Dirty Knobby Poker Run & Family Weekend in the spring, and the Overlander Cross Country Race in the fall.

This year will be the 7th annual Dirty Knobby (www.thedirtyknobby.com) which includes a motorcycle riding and maintenance clinic for the kids, a poker ride for riders of all ages and experience and of course the popular banquet and prize give-away in the evening. Guided tours of some of the best off road trails in the Williams Lake area are part of the second day’s activities.

The Overlander Cross Country event is part of the Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association’s off road championship series. Each year this popular event attracts over 100 of the best riders from all over B.C. and Washington State as well as many locals.

Membership is strongly encouraged. Strength in numbers is important when the club deals with government and other important groups. We know riders are out there but we need to show that they support our

When the puck drops at the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, the TimberWolves will join seven other teams in the British Columbia Hockey League’s Interior Division including the Prince George Spruce Kings, the Quesnel Millionaires, the Merritt Centennials, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the Vernon Vipers, the Penticton Vees and the Trail Smoke Eaters.

The team has undergone a complete change in ownership, as local businessmen Richard Kohlen, John Wright and David Pocock have purchased and dedicated themselves to the team with hopes of resurrecting a thriving Junior A hockey program in the lakecity.

A new general manager and head coach, Brad Fox – who has worked as an assistant coach for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League and, most recently, was the head coach of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Revelstoke Grizzlies – has been hired and says coaching and managing a Junior A franchise is a dream he’s held since he began coaching hockey 25 years ago.

The BCHL has a total of 17 teams in three divisions – the Interior Division, the Mainland Division and Island Division.

The regular season runs from the beginning of September to the end of February, with playoffs beginning in the second week of March.

The TimberWolves play a 60-game regular season, with 30 games being played at their hometown arena – the Cariboo Memorial Complex – which seats 1,000 fans.

Currently, season tickets and single game tickets are available at the TimberWolves office, located beside the Cariboo Memorial Complex.

For more information on the Williams Lake TimberWolves visit www.wltimberwolves.com, call the TimberWolves office at 250-398-8710 or check out the league website at www.bchl.bc.ca.;

The Complex has two rinks, used from August to June for ice activities and during the summer for indoor rodeos, lacrosse, roller hockey and graduation ceremonies. In the centre of the building, the Gibraltar Room seats 400 people in theatre style seating. It also seats 250 at round or rectangular tables which are perfect for weddings, staff training events and other ceremonies. Sam Ketcham Pool, contains a Fitness Centre equipped with a cardio equipment, individual machines, free weights and a stretching area. The pool is a six lane, 25 metre pool and off the deck there is a hot tub, wading pool, sauna, and steam room.

Recreation programs offered from the complex include aerobics classes in the Gibraltar Room, swimming lessons, aquafit, after school programs, skating lessons, hockey camps, summer day camps, yoga, pilates, belly dancing, ballroom dancing, gardening courses, cooking classes and other seasonal favorites. The department publishes two or three Guides each year to advertise their programs. The Guides and more information about the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex can be found on the Recreation Services website at activewilliamslake.com.

Everyone is invited to stop by and check out this spacious family centered facility. ;

For local area information check our websites at www.barkerville.ca and www.wellsbc.com ;