News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

A snow slide in Bella Coola just past the Snootli stretch on Highway 20 on Saturday night engulfed several homes with heavy rain-soaked snow and mud. “The slide came down a big ‘chute’ in the mountain,” stated Leonard Ellis, owner and operator of Bella Coola Grizzly Tours.

(Photos by Bella Coola Grizzly Tours owner Leonard Ellis)

“We had very heavy rain throughout Saturday and it just loaded up the snow in the mountains.”

He said that the slide stopped right at the road after engulfing the houses. “People said it sounded like a freight train,” he continued. “It was an incredible roar.”  

He added that there was no damage to houses, no injuries to residents and said that the rain tapered off yesterday.

With over 30 years experience as a wildlife guide, Leonard knows first-hand the impact of extreme weather conditions, and noted that Bella Coola seems to have had its ‘fair share’ of weather-related emergencies in the past couple of years.

He said that at Bella Coola Grizzly Tours, weather is often part of the adventure when you’re wildlife viewing. 

“We do marine-based tours on a 42-foot jet boat, where guests get to enjoy a salt-water salmon charter, do some ‘prawning and crabbing’ and visit the hot springs,” he stated. “We also provide land tours for wildlife viewing in the Stillwater Lake and Tweedsmuir areas, with deluxe accommodations on our 20-acre resort with log cabins and large gazebo.”

Guests from around the world enjoy the unique experience of BC Grizzly Tours and Adventure Resorts---viewing wildlife without upsetting the animals and their way of life. Leonard said they’re looking forward to another season in the spring of 2012. For more information visit www.bcgrizzlytours.com

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