May there be spring!

On a recent helicopter flight for work, our pilot commented that the Peace is two weeks behind his hometown Vernon.  The rivers here are filled with silt and not yet at their high water level for the year, snow still lingers in the bush and makes roads inaccessible, vegetation here is in various stages of leafing out while Vernon has had leaf out, flowers and is snow free!

We northerners cherish our summers.

It's rare for gardeners to plant before June due to lingering frost risk yet we're out on riverboats enjoying the snowcapped peaks and high water that makes areas inaccessible in warmer months.  Music festivals run into the never-dark night.  Black out shades sell out from the local hardware store a month before summer solstice as we attempt to adequately rest before launching ourselves into another high activity day of weeding, hiking, fishing, BBQs.  Even with our long days, it seems there's never enough time to fit it all in.

Herbicide scenic flight

One major perk and massive downside of silviculture is the occasional helicopter flying. Two weeks ago, torrential rains washed out a handful of our roads as rising waters swept through Chetwynd, British Columbia flooding basements and making rivers out of roads. Lack of truck access takes us to the sky as trees, planters and gear are flown in all in the name of reforestation.

In addition to a planting heli-show, it's quicker and infinitely more efficient to hire a machine and check on blocks either herbicided last year or slated to be nuked this year. After a buggy and muggy morning with one of Nata's checkers, my boss picked me up for a scenic, if churning stomach afternoon flight.

Setting down to give our tummies a break, this was our view

Lifting off again

Sukunka area

Andy, a true, rare and unfortunately soon retiring gem

Between Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd