Long Beach - another
world at our fingertips

The term ‘‘hollow bark’’ had
always been a puzzle until 6 a.m.
last week when we were awaken-
ed by the sounds of seals cavor-
ting off the shore at Qualicum
Beach on Vancouver Island.

It was an early hour to be
awakened but it was a beautiful
day and time to be on our way
for the long, three hour drive to
the west coast of the Islands (to
Long Beach in the Pacific Rim
Park).

The early start gave us time
for a leisurely drive through the
sleepy countryside, with glimp-
ses of Mount Arrowsmith;
through the magnificent timber.
of MacMillan Park; along the
shores of Cameron Lake and
down the winding road to Port
Alberni for the take-off point of
the road to the west coast.

This last section of road is a
long, tortuous twisting drive
through the whole kaleidiscope
of forestry practices. From the
rugged stands of old forest to
the new brown vastness of
freshly logged areas reaching
over the mountain tops; through
the sections of bright, 20-to
30-year-old stands; through the
experimental spacing and limb-
ing of the Christmas trees — it is
all there, every stage of tree
harvesting, up and down hills
and.valleys. =. 80) 6. eS

Two hours later, we arrived.
There it was — Long Beach.

How do you describe the

LONG BEACH IN PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK on Vancotiver Island's wast coast attracts

sound and sight of those magnif-
icent breakers crashing on the
beach, the marvellous sand
stretching for miles; the feel of
the wind on your face? Of a
flock of sandpipers tripping
along the water’s edge, the
waves playfully running up to
their toes, and in the distance, a
rocky island with waves break-
ing and foam cascading sky-
ward? We walked for miles in
another world, -all cares forgot-
ten.

How do you describe the sound

and mehogany gleaming, shared
with a bus load of tourists eager
to be out on the sea.

On the return, we climbed
Radar Hill for a look in every
direction, full circle of the whoie
Island and far out to sea, with a
freighter just a tiny line on the
horizon; a miniature seiner
plunging through the waves, the
breaking line of white waves
crashing on the rocky outcrops,
the myriad islands of every
shape and size.

and sight of those magnificent

breakers crashing on the beach, the marvelous sand stretching for

face?

miles, the feel of the wind in your

Later, we visited the village of
Tofino, every home with an un-
rivalled view, every cove with a
landing and boats. Cafes, res-
taurants, boats, — everywhere
the business of the sea was evi-
dent and if you believed the
advertising, whale watching pre-
dominated. We were lucky, too,
asit was rhododendron time, On
one hillside leading up to a home
was the most spectacular display
of every kind of blooms, huge
clusters of magnificent flowers
in every color of the rainbow.
Across the harbor was Meares
Island, the home of controversy

. ‘petween -environmentalists sand

loggers.
We had lunch on the ‘*Cana-
dian Pacific’’, brass polished

all over the world to experience its magnificance.

Mikaninnish Lodge was our

‘next stop, An informed and in-

teresting guide -2xplained the
visual displays, with commen-
taries. Again we experienced the

wonderful sandy beach, stretch-

ing as far as could be seen. |
Our last stop was Ucluelet,
literally the end of the road.
Here was another unique village
with its life wrapped around a
long arm and harbor, and en-
twined with fishing and the sea.
From the lighthouse on the

‘point, we gazed’ out on the

Pacific stretching uninterrupted
to Japan. «-

We had, arrived at the begin-
ning of ‘Trans Canada #l
Highway.

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JESSIE BUNCH is one of many Wrangell, Alaska children who
mine gamets for sale to tourists and other travellers.

Garnets mined
by children

by Betty Barton

What do Wrangell, Alaska and faceted. The ledge/is accessible
tourist resorts in Mexico have in only by boat or floatplane. All
common? They both have children children visiting the ledge must be

flocking to the cruise ships to sell accompanied by adults. Only hand
their wares. In Mexico, they sell a tools may be used to chip gamets.
variety of goods. In Wrangell, they Blasting or using power tools is
sell garnets that they've mined strictly prohibited.
themselves. The children display their garnets
Only the children of Wrangell or in wooden trays hung from their
southeast Alaska Scouts may col- necks with string or ribbon. They
lect the garnets without charge. arrange ihe garnets by colour and
Anyone else chipping gamets from size and sell them from 25 cents to
the ledge (located on the mainland $10 each. Visitors may also pur-
about five miles northeast of Wra- chase gamets at the museum.
ngell, near the mouth of the Sil- The residents of Wrangell
kine River) must have written demand that their children conduct
authorization, pay an advance fee themselves in a business-like man-
and give to the Scouts ten percent ner when selling the gamets. They
(by weight) of the gatnets coll- are not to pester or bother their
ected. visitors. Some of the children are
The garnet ledge is a 38-area so reticent that they don’t even
landmark that legally belongs to approach the tourists or say any-
the Boy Scouts of America. A thing until they are spoken to.
mining and manufacturing com-
pany, with its head office in Minn- © Wrangell, one of the most his-
eapolis, Minnisota, reportedly toric communities in Alaska, is
mined garnets fromthe ledge from located along the Inside Passage in
about 1907 to 1923 and then southeast Alaska. Its history is still
deeded the ledge to the Boy evident in the remnants of the
Scouts. A 1907 issue of the Alaska goldrush and native pctroglyphs
Sentinel, Wrangell, reported the and longhouses. The community is
company was the first corporation situated on thirty-mile-long Wran-
in the world composed entirely of ell Island 85 miles northwest of
women. Ketchikan and south of Juneau,
The company sold garnets as Incorporated in 1903, Wrangell
semi-precious gems, for jewellery. still supports the logging and fish-
Also from the waste, the company ing industries. Adding to Wran-
developed a separating powder, or gell’s local economy has been
parting compound, for use in foun- development of gold-mining acliv-
dries. This took the place of an {lies up the Stikine River inside
expensive product imported from Canada. ;
Russia. st a,
Garnets found embedded in the — Information. for this article was
ledge are fractured and. very few gained. from: the Wrangell Guide,
are gem quality, However, the Wrangell Publishing and from
stones will polish and some can be interviews with Wrangell residents,

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