Today I got an email from Jakub Amler in British Columbia, describing a 75-year-old man named Chendi, who has been living on the shores of the high altitude (4200 feet) 50-mile-long glacier-fed Chilco Lake in west central British Columbia for over 50 years. This is on the land of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations tribe. From Jakub (edited):
“It’s hard to believe he has been here for such long period of time since he hasn’t cut down a single tree — for firewood or structures. He collects all his wood, mostly with his rowboat on the wild and windy Chilco lake.
It is totally off grid, no road access. His “truck” is a rowboat which he uses to carry all the logs from the lake. He doesn’t use any power tools (lover of japanese tools, of course), the craftsmanship is unique, his buildings are charming like most of the buildings in your publications.”
Chendi allows people to come stay there (one month minimum), and says:
“Volunteers sleep in simple and old log cabins, carry water, use an outhouse and rustic bath or sweat house. This is a very difficult and isolated lifestyle, requiring volunteers to be physically fit. You cannot function here if you are not up for the challenge. The wind is quite intense for much of the year. It is also as majestic a place as you ever will see.
Kayaks are available with access to pristine wilderness, hiking, rowboat, fishing from a kayak, gathering wild roots and hunting or snaring.
I also only want people who are serious about going forward from this experience to lead a different life. This is not just a place to have an adventure, but a place to learn a meditative lifestyle (yoga). I want people to come here with intention and mindfulness.”
Yup, very nice (adorable) building..
I would not fit his “physical ability” terms, but still would love to hear more about this. I wonder,
if he has some folks who have participated/partaken of this program, if you might ask them to write a post or two for your
blog on the experience/what they accomplished/what they learned/etc?
It would be interesting read.
Lloyd, I would recommend checking out a show called “Alone”, it is streaming on Netflix. Essentially they drop off ten contestants in the wild and they compete to see who can survive the longest. Season 8 was held at Chilko Lake, needless to say Chendi would have won!