Headed for Bella Coola

Don't miss side trip into Farwell Canyon about 20 mi west of Williams Lake off Hwy# 20 just before Riske Creek

Thanks, Zpeller. Farwell is on my list and that shot of the Hill is a bit intimidating, but I'm driving my SUV, so it should be OK. Love the glacial blue of the river. Thanks again.

I didn't mean to put anyone off from going, eh. The drive from Williams Lake to Bella Coola is a historic one. Now that it's paved you can do it in one day..but why do that. Riske Creek, and Anahiem and all the ranches and lake in between are to be seen and enjoyed. If you are alone? And should you see an older looking FN guy hitching? maybe offer him a ride. I would, but that's me..not a younger...the young ones have too many gang associations. A person does need to know not to leave your vehicle for an extended length of time, unattended. There have been more than enough reports..and not hearsay..of vehicles being vandalized. The younger FN crowd...some don't play nice. That is just a sad fact of life up there.

Yeah...mosquitoes and black flies. Living up north until just recently, I did find and use a great homemade bug repellent. A sealer filled with Apple Cider vinegar and a nice fat handful of fresh spinach. Crush the spinach in your hands to get all bruised and such...let it sit in the fridge overnight. Buy a plastic garden spray bottle? and liberally spray it about yourself. Yes, you can smell the cider vinegar for a few minutes till it dries...then no smell and it sure worked for me. Mind you...always carry some of the heavy duty OFF, just in case...but that stuff is pretty harsh.



Gary Haupt

I'm considering adding Bella Coola to our return turn to Alaska via Canada. Would like to know when the best time to see bears there.

garyhaupt wrote:
Yeah...mosquitoes and black flies. Living up north until just recently, I did find and use a great homemade bug repellent. A sealer filled with Apple Cider vinegar and a nice fat handful of fresh spinach. Crush the spinach in your hands to get all bruised and such...let it sit in the fridge overnight. Buy a plastic garden spray bottle? and liberally spray it about yourself. Yes, you can smell the cider vinegar for a few minutes till it dries...then no smell and it sure worked for me. Mind you...always carry some of the heavy duty OFF, just in case...but that stuff is pretty harsh

Thanks for your mixture for mosquito and fly repellent. Mosquitoes ate me alive in Alaska

I drove my Class A and toad into Bella Coola in April, and posted a detailed road log of The Hill, with a lot of photos, in both directions. I shot and recorded the details for the log when I was just driving the toad :)

I learned an important thing on that hill. We were descending in a 3/4 ton van pulling a popup tent trailer on a hot day. Second gear, using the brakes only on switchbacks. Daughter in the back had her window open and she noticed a hot smell. I stopped immediately and found the smell was from the wheels, the rear drum brakes I think. Waited a few minutes for them to cool, then proceeded in first gear to the rest stop half way down where there was the remains of a melted vehicle. The thing is it is a LONG hill with many switchbacks and you can't be using the brakes very much at all on a hot day with poor cooling due to low speed.