W H Y C H I L K O ?

“It was so quiet that I could hear flesh tearing from bone as one of nature’s predominant predators, standing
upright in the water less than 50 feet from the nose of my kayak, gorged on sockeye salmon. At that moment,
grizzly bears outnumbered humans as I watched, my mouth agape, as a mother bear roared in protest as one of
her cubs snatched a freshly snagged salmon from her mouth and triumphantly tromped back to shore. Engrossed
in a moment of motherly camaraderie with this mighty creature, I was brought back to reality by a firm warning
from my guide, reminding me that bears are capable swimmers and to maintain a respectable distance. After
watching the family dynamic play out for some time, we paddled on in the misty morning, observing bald eagles
soaring overhead, spying additional grizzlies on the opposite shore of Chilko Lake, and enjoying the solitude
afforded by this pristine parcel of Canadian wilderness.

For decades, I have regarded the area in and around Yellowstone National Park as the bellwether for all that I
love about the great outdoors. I mention this only after having had some time to reflect on my five days at the
Eye of the Grizzly Luxury Retreat this past September, which was followed by a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming,
a few weeks later. Comparing the two, I can state with absolute certainty (and with my apologies to Wyoming
and Montana) that this was the most soul-satisfying wilderness adventure that I have ever been privy to.”

Sophisticated Magazine - 2019

Bridget Williams, Editor-in-Chief, Owner