Passion
-Conservation
Protecting Mountain Wilderness
Video Transcript
Background Description: A colour photograph appears with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop and a tent and mountaineering gear in the foreground. The title is “Protecting Mountain Wilderness”. A series of images appear: a group of three fat brown and white birds called ptarmigans, a small bird called a whisky jack standing on the tip of a shoe, a sleek golden rodent called a marten, a black wolverine in snow facing the camera, a white, long-haired mountain goat looking questioningly down at a person just a couple of feet away, and another shot of three mountain goats on rocky ledges.
Feller speaks: One time when I was camping, a mother ptarmigan led her family through my open tent only centimetres from where I was lying. Whisky jacks have landed all over my body. Another time, a marten wandered right into our hut at night as I watched from my sleeping bag. A wolverine has followed right behind me on a ski trail. I’ve met many inquisitive mountain goats. Seeing them high up on vertical cliffs makes me feel quite humble.
Background Description: A lush green rainforest appears with sunlight peaking through the trees. We then see a couple of close up shots of a watchful black bear.
Feller speaks: Once, in a forest, a large black bear lay down in front of me, front legs tucked under his chest like a cat, watching me as I walked right past.
Background Description: A small brown bird is standing on a hiking boot. Another image shows a brown and white badger in the grass. A close-up of a white mountain goat shows it licking its hind leg with a contented look on its face. We are finally shown a rocky mountain peak with a little green tent in the foreground.
Feller speaks: These and many other animal encounters in the mountains have greatly enriched my life. They’ve actually given me more vivid memories than the mountains I’ve climbed.
Background Description: A man is standing overlooking a snowy mountainous terrain. The man with backpack is seen hiking through the snow. A couple of shots show mountain slopes with deep snow and rocky peaks and another shot shows creek bed in the foreground and mountain forest in the background.
Feller speaks: I was on a trip with the BC Mountaineering Club during the 1980s when I discovered the Pinecone Burke Area. Here was an area at Vancouver’s doorstep where I found pristine wilderness, unclimbed routes on mountains, glaciers close to Vancouver and an abundance of wildlife. I was convinced that this was an area which had to be protected.
Background Description: A group shot shows twenty-four people with a mountain in the background. We then pan across a mountain range with interesting peaks and valleys.
Feller speaks: I became an enthusiastic member of the Pinecone Burke Study Team, a group established by the BC Government to determine if the area should become a provincial park. We met frequently over two years, produced reports, had public meetings before recommending protection.
Background Description: A map shows Vancouver to the lower left and a green section above and centre with parkland. Pine Burke Park is pointed out in the centre
Feller speaks: After a tense seven month waiting period, the park was finally established in 1995.
Background Description: A new photo shows a lake reflecting the trees nearby. Misty mountains line the backdrop. Next, an aerial photograph is centred on a lake contained by a mountain area. A map shows a red line from this lake cutting through parkland.
Feller speaks: Today, Pinecone Burke Park is little changed from the 1980s. Just a few years ago, public outcry stopped the construction of a hydro project that would have cut a swath right through the centre of the park to make way for power lines.
Background Description: A black and white photograph from the early 1900s shows a group of sixteen men and woman in snow. An old letter signed by mountaineer, Charles Chapman appears.
Feller speaks: My memorable wildlife encounters were made possible by my predecessors in the BC Mountaineering Club who had successfully lobbied in the 1910s to establish Garibaldi Park.
Background Description: Two outdoor photographs of men appear side by side: On the left is a black and white of Charles Chapman looking towards your right and on the right is Michael in snow facing the Chapman photo.
Feller speaks: The cycle continues.
Acknowledgements: “Protecting Mountain Wilderness” was written by mountaineer Michael Feller as part of a Centre for Digital Storytelling workshop that was organized with the North Vancouver Museum and Archives in February 2009. Historic photographs by C. Chapman, P.L. Tait and J. Brown provided by the BC Mountaineering Club archives. David Jack contributed to the production. Other photographs by Laureen LaBar, Catriona Walker, Andrew Gainer and Amanda Wasiewicz. Music: “Blue Paint”, “Corn Cob”, by Kevin MacLeod, www.incompetech.com. The vignette was organized in support of the Virtual Museum of Canada’s project, ‘Climbing to the Clouds: A People’s History of BC Mountaineering
