Clayoquot’s Clean-up Quartet

June 21, 2022

Clayoquot adventure guides Mark Brophy, Bea Defayette, Arturo Suarez and Viliam Marusinec recently embarked on a journey that saw them e-bike, paddle-board and hike their way to an abandoned camp on an adventure-laden clean up reconnaissance.

The year was 1993 and Clayoquot Sound was the target of highly unregulated, industrial-scale deforestation. Thankfully, conscious civilians and First Nations stood together to protect the old-growth rainforests and preserve the pristine landscape. They took action by setting up camps in the wilderness and searching for culturally modified trees, or CMT’s, that exhibit historic modification by First Nations tribes as a part of their tradition. For the local Ahousaht First Nation, this usually came in the form of stripping the bark of cedar trees as a symbolic gesture, or the tree itself being cut and carved into a timber canoe.

A camp was set up deep in the Ursus Valley and it was a success. Researchers, First Nations and other groups supporting the endeavour found many CMT’s which aided a historic victory for the preservation of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Ahousaht territories’ Clayoquot Sound. However, once victory was realised, the Ursus Valley camp was abandoned suddenly and a lack of communication from supporting groups meant remnants of the camp were left behind.

“This was the first garbage clean-up to that camp. We removed two sleeping cots, tent poles, tent fittings, and further bags full of assorted garbage.”

Mark Brophy, Clayoquot Adventure Guide

The garbage had been there since 1995, and the remote location made it difficult to remove. Thanks to the environmentally conscious quartet who spent their day off ferrying waste back to the lodge, it can be transported out of Clayoquot Sound and disposed of properly. It is estimated that one more trip will be enough to remove the mass entirely.

“For the second and hopefully final clean-up, we will bring back the ruined canvas tent and stove piping.”

Mark Brophy, Clayoquot Adventure Guide

Customary in more than one way, a once-forgotten antique kettle will be left on the stump of a cedar CMT by the camp. It serves as a talking point for future conversations, a way-point for hikers passing through, and a tribute to those who sacrificed years of their life to live in the Ursus until the Valley was awarded its rightful protection.

Thank you to Mark, Bea, Arturo and Viliam for your incredible work.

Update: Mission Success!

On July 29th, Mark and the team returned to the scene to complete the last of the rubbish removal, and easily the most arduous piece to transport. In order to remove an incredibly large and heavy piece of canvas, as well as some other bits and pieces, the team had to strap their paddleboards together to form a raft buoyant enough to handle the load.

It is a pleasure to report the raft floated, and the flowing river carried them gently downriver to the Outpost marking the successful return of an incredible initiative. Toby the dog also joined the team for the final leg of the journey, a staff-favourite for obvious reasons. Congratulations team!