International Year of Forests 2011
August 31, 2011 § Leave a Comment
McLean Sawmill
August 29, 2011 § Leave a Comment
The R. B. McLean Sawmill was a family-run sawmill near Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island. Built in 1925, the steam-powered mill “is typical of the remote coastal lumber camp and sawmill complex from the middle of the last century.” A restoration project at this National Historic Site is ongoing, the impressive magnitude of which can be found here.
Stan Harder, my uncle, recently visited the mill – and captured these wonderful images – offering a glimpse of the way it once was, in BC coastal lumbering.
Friday Humour
August 26, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“Soon after we settled in our campsite, we realized the tranquility we were seeking was going to be rather elusive.” Full Story
Log Exports
August 25, 2011 § Leave a Comment
In the first three months of 2011, B.C.’s coast exported 40% or 1.3 million cubic metres of logs harvested – a 300% jump from the same period in 2009.
“Slowest Fire Season in a Decade”
August 24, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“B.C. officials say the province is experiencing its slowest fire season in a decade and as a result, firefighters are being sent to out of province fires, while others are building trails and clearing brush. A rainy July has made this the slowest fire season in B.C. in ten years, and that status is not forecast to change for the remainder of this fire season.”
Mellin Magic
August 22, 2011 § 1 Comment
While there are many picturesque lakes in the world, I’m not sure any can match Mellin when it comes to both beauty and privacy. Situated on the Douglas Lake Ranch property 50 kilometers east of Merritt, BC, my dad and brother and I used to visit this high altitude lake for a fly fishing trip on an annual basis – until the lone cabin burned down five years ago. After learning this spring that construction of a lakeside yurt would be ready for summer, the three of us couldn’t wait to return this past weekend. When we reached the ranch Friday morning, we then headed up the familiar dusty old logging road for another 90 minutes, dodging numerous cattle along the way. Upon arriving at the lake, I was in awe all over again. And the only sounds all weekend (between the lively reels, laughter, and sing-a-longs) were of rainbow trout jumping in the distance. A memorable time!
Ernie, Matt, Paul
Our first rainbow
We caught images of early round-up time, just underway in the high country
Lumber Poetry
August 18, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Plywood, Plywood on the wall
Who’s the fairest of them all?
OK, so it won’t make the weekend literary section. But when I came across this link connecting me to politics and poetry, it got me searching for lumber poets. So far I haven’t found’em. Meantime, maybe some new lines will reveal themselves. For a few days though – ’til Monday at least – the only lines this corner will be concentrating on will be the ones aimed at getting the attention of Mellin Lake trout.
Jet-Fuel?
August 17, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“Some foresters are viewing trees as giant versions of corn plants and sugar cane, the traditional sources of biomass-derived energy that are in hot demand due to oil prices and environmental concerns over fossil fuels.”
Lumber Markets ‘n Flea Markets
August 16, 2011 § Leave a Comment
It’s been said that lumbermen have always demonstrated an ability to adapt to changing times and circumstances – even all kinds of markets. This former lumber dealer in North Carolina now hosts flea market dealers.
Summer Run
August 15, 2011 § Leave a Comment
While it’s unclear where lumber markets go from here, the sockeye salmon are off and running. Fishing opened Thursday on the Fraser River as the sockeye return to spawn in the annual “early summer” run. After barely one million sockeye returned in 2009, a whopping 34 million returned in 2010, a number not seen since 1913! What will happen this year? Most recent estimates are at four million, though that number may climb to seven million. After BC’s commercial sockeye salmon fishery closed on the Fraser from 2006 through 2009 due to depleted stocks, it appears the numbers are normalizing. Good news!
