August 6, 2024
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce a change in conditions with the Argenta Creek wildfire, and the evacuation order for our property has been downgraded to an evacuation alert.
We are planning to re-open camp on Friday, August 9 after the camp director is ready and repairs to the boat moorage system have been completed.
A special thanks to Robyn Murrell for her time as Camp Director in July, and the evacuation of camp on July 25. Thank you to Alex Startin for resuming camp operations and acting as Camp Director for August.
Please see links below for some helpful resources regarding conditions and updates for the area.
We have much gratitude for all the people who continue to dedicate their time and attention to support the many efforts which allow camp to run.
Thank you from the Board of Directors
BCWS Page for Argenta Creek Fires
August 2, 2024
Dear friends of Wilderness Camp,
On July 17 a storm system brought a substantial amount of lightning strikes to the north end of Kootenay lake, centered around Meadow Creek and Argenta that ignited several fires. These coalesced into a major fire above Argenta. At 12:10, just past midnight, on July 25 an evacuation order was issued for all residents along the east side of Kootenay lake from Meadow Creek down through to Fry Creek. One of our board directors sent notice of the evacuation order via the emergency communications device to our camp director. It was noted by residents of the camp at around 2am on the morning of the 25th that vehicles were leaving Johnston’s Landing. Official concern was centered around the closing of Argenta Road to Johnston’s Landing and how people could be evacuated from this area.
Early in the morning of the 25th a very strong north wind came up that caused the breakage of the boat mooring chain with the result that the camp boat was brought up on the rocks east of the director’s site. The boat was safely secured and after the wind died down it was successfully refloated and made operational. It was during this period that the camp was made fully aware that the area was under evacuation order. The camp director utilized the emergency communication device to notify the board that the boat was not operational for the evacuation, which prompted the board to activate an assisted evacuation response.
One group of campers who had spent the night on the Kaslo side of the lake enlisted a resident of Schroeder Creek to assist with the packing up of their camp. He made two trips and two sites were vacated. This left 8 people in 4 sites still in camp. These groups were packed up and subsequently loaded onto the Kaslo Search and Rescue boat and successfully brought over to Schroeder Creek. A special thanks go to all those who worked diligently to pull things down and keep the area clean during this period
At the moment there is no imminent danger to the camp with the fire located further north towards Meadow Creek and the Duncan Lake area. Currently the camp is closed with the camp boat now safely located at Schroeder Creek. We have obtained permission to re-enter the area to fix the mooring line as well as secure the remaining items at camp. If the order for the area is lifted we would like to try to open camp for the remainder of the summer. We are currently advocating to authorities for our property to be removed from the area restriction. As much as possible we will update members as to the status of our attempts.
August 2, 2024
Dear friends of Wilderness Camp,
On July 17 a storm system brought a substantial amount of lightning strikes to the north end of Kootenay lake, centered around Meadow Creek and Argenta that ignited several fires. These coalesced into a major fire above Argenta. At 12:10, just past midnight, on July 25 an evacuation order was issued for all residents along the east side of Kootenay lake from Meadow Creek down through to Fry Creek. One of our board directors sent notice of the evacuation order via the emergency communications device to our camp director. It was noted by residents of the camp at around 2am on the morning of the 25th that vehicles were leaving Johnston’s Landing. Official concern was centered around the closing of Argenta Road to Johnston’s Landing and how people could be evacuated from this area.
Early in the morning of the 25th a very strong north wind came up that caused the breakage of the boat mooring chain with the result that the camp boat was brought up on the rocks east of the director’s site. The boat was safely secured and after the wind died down it was successfully refloated and made operational. It was during this period that the camp was made fully aware that the area was under evacuation order. The camp director utilized the emergency communication device to notify the board that the boat was not operational for the evacuation, which prompted the board to activate an assisted evacuation response.
One group of campers who had spent the night on the Kaslo side of the lake enlisted a resident of Schroeder Creek to assist with the packing up of their camp. He made two trips and two sites were vacated. This left 8 people in 4 sites still in camp. These groups were packed up and subsequently loaded onto the Kaslo Search and Rescue boat and successfully brought over to Schroeder Creek. A special thanks go to all those who worked diligently to pull things down and keep the area clean during this period
At the moment there is no imminent danger to the camp with the fire located further north towards Meadow Creek and the Duncan Lake area. Currently the camp is closed with the camp boat now safely located at Schroeder Creek. We have obtained permission to re-enter the area to fix the mooring line as well as secure the remaining items at camp. If the order for the area is lifted we would like to try to open camp for the remainder of the summer. We are currently advocating to authorities for our property to be removed from the area restriction. As much as possible we will update members as to the status of our attempts.
August 2, 2024
Dear friends of Wilderness Camp,
On July 17 a storm system brought a substantial amount of lightning strikes to the north end of Kootenay lake, centered around Meadow Creek and Argenta that ignited several fires. These coalesced into a major fire above Argenta. At 12:10, just past midnight, on July 25 an evacuation order was issued for all residents along the east side of Kootenay lake from Meadow Creek down through to Fry Creek. One of our board directors sent notice of the evacuation order via the emergency communications device to our camp director. It was noted by residents of the camp at around 2am on the morning of the 25th that vehicles were leaving Johnston’s Landing. Official concern was centered around the closing of Argenta Road to Johnston’s Landing and how people could be evacuated from this area.
Early in the morning of the 25th a very strong north wind came up that caused the breakage of the boat mooring chain with the result that the camp boat was brought up on the rocks east of the director’s site. The boat was safely secured and after the wind died down it was successfully refloated and made operational. It was during this period that the camp was made fully aware that the area was under evacuation order. The camp director utilized the emergency communication device to notify the board that the boat was not operational for the evacuation, which prompted the board to activate an assisted evacuation response.
One group of campers who had spent the night on the Kaslo side of the lake enlisted a resident of Schroeder Creek to assist with the packing up of their camp. He made two trips and two sites were vacated. This left 8 people in 4 sites still in camp. These groups were packed up and subsequently loaded onto the Kaslo Search and Rescue boat and successfully brought over to Schroeder Creek. A special thanks go to all those who worked diligently to pull things down and keep the area clean during this period
At the moment there is no imminent danger to the camp with the fire located further north towards Meadow Creek and the Duncan Lake area. Currently the camp is closed with the camp boat now safely located at Schroeder Creek. We have obtained permission to re-enter the area to fix the mooring line as well as secure the remaining items at camp. If the order for the area is lifted we would like to try to open camp for the remainder of the summer. We are currently advocating to authorities for our property to be removed from the area restriction. As much as possible we will update members as to the status of our attempts.
A place of community 🏕 loved for generations
CAMPING UPDATES FOR SUMMER 2024
Summer Camping 2024
Wilderness Camp is open each summer in July and August. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and require a 2-night, 3-day minimum stay. Sites cannot be saved, transferred, or reserved, but there are plenty of sites available so come join us this summer.
Activities at Camp
Hiking, swimming, fishing, and paddling the camp canoes are some of the usual activities. There are also frequent fireside sing-alongs, occasional potluck dinners, many kids and families, and NO motor vehicles, motorized watercraft or loud canned music.
How camp community works
Nobody “runs” things. Wilderness Camp has worked well since 1966 with everyone chipping in. All tasks are done by volunteers, including you! Share your skills, talents and passions. When boarding the camp boat, people will be asked about volunteer tasks they can do during their time at Wilderness Camp.
Letter from Board President
Dear Members and Friends,
As a small child I had the great good fortune to be among the very first people of the newly founded Northwest Wilderness Society of the Unitarian Church to camp for a summer at Fry Creek. I was six, and brother was four. Our family slept in a heavy canvas tent made by Sears, and cooked our meals on Coleman gas stoves. We camped on the south side of Fry Creek, just above the highest driftwood of the sandy beach, where the trail into the woods began. My father, Robert, took great joy in building a kitchen from found driftwood and downed tree limbs. We would walk up to the falls below the bridge to watch the Kokanee swim valiantly upstream in the roaring water. Evenings were campfires and bright stars and folksongs, and the Vietnam War and civilization felt far, far away.
It is a pleasure to come full circle some fifty-six years after that first visit, and to be part of the volunteer Board which helps to steward this wonderful place for the long run.
It is wonderful that the NWWS continues to steward the land and to hold camp each summer all these decades after its founding, and to draw Unitarians and others who share our values to the unique and rare experience that Fry Creek provides.
My primary goal during my time on this board will be to devote time and resources to strengthening our board and encouraging more Unitarians to visit with their families to discover the treasure Fry Creek represents. My long-term goal is to develop a strategy to sustain Fry Creek for future generations.
Thank you for your consistent support through your membership dues, participation in our AGM, and most of all, by showing up in the summers and continuing the tradition of being in the wilderness with loved ones and friends.
Sincerely, Christian
Our Vision
We are stewards of the land. We facilitate enjoyment of this land and are committed to preserving the peace, beauty and essential wildness while protecting it from development so that future generations may continue to draw nourishment from it.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote the principles and values of Unitarianism, and to strengthen the bonds among Unitarians, their families and friends, by experiencing community in a wilderness setting.