Great Bear Rainforest (15 page)

“We definitely broke a few rules of exploration,” I said.

“It goes to show you,” my dad said, “just knowing the rules isn’t enough. As an explorer, you have to live by them. A single slip up could cost you your life.”

“The important thing is that we all made it back safe and sound,” my mom said. “I think that calls for a celebration, don’t you?”

Everyone agreed.

“Joe,” she continued, “could we trouble you for another pot of that delicious seafood stew you made the other night?”

“Coming right up,” Joe said.

Enjoying my first decent meal in days, there was one nagging question I still needed answered.

“Gannon,” I said, “How did you come up with the idea to smoke out the camp with the fumes of a poisonous tree?”

“It came to me in a dream,” he said, as he stuffed another spoonful of stew into his mouth.

“Come on,” I said. “Tell me the truth.”

“I know it may be hard for you to believe, Wyatt. But that is the truth.”

I looked to Alu. A sly grin crept across her face. She leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“I told you,” she said. “It was the spirits. They spoke to Gannon.”

HARTLEY BAY
MOOD: CELEBRATORY


A totem pole overlooking the harbor

By the time we arrived in port, word of our actions in the Great Bear Rainforest had spread through the village and the docks were lined with locals and everyone was cheering as we came ashore. Alu jumped off the ship and ran down the dock to her parents. She kissed her mom and her father wrapped her up in his arms. After a long, loving embrace, Alu’s father and uncle hoisted her onto their shoulders and carried her through the town, a hero.

As a sign of thanks, Alu’s aunt gave us each a little spirit bear carved from wood and painted white. It’s the perfect gift for my four-year-old cousin, Delilah, who absolutely loves bears.

“Anoogi, Tooyxsut,” I said, which I’m pretty sure means, “I like it, thank you,” in Gitga’tt. Alu’s aunt smiled and said something back I didn’t understand, so I just nodded and smiled too.

Then it was off to the medical clinic for me, where I spent a few hours getting measured for crutches, having proper x-rays run, getting my leg braced up—luckily it wasn’t broken—and having good hard cast put on my arm. Tomorrow morning we’re setting off for the whale research lab on Gill Island. The fact that we’re all bumped, bruised, and battered doesn’t matter at all to my mom. She’s determined to do what she came to do, help the scientists prepare the research station for the upcoming whale migration.

But tonight was all about celebration.

The people of Hartley Bay organized a party in honor of those aboard the Pacific Yellowfin, and what a party it was, with a drum circle and traditional song and dance and a huge feast of King crab, fresh fish, potatoes, corn, boiled carrots, green beans, salad, and for dessert, a local favorite, blueberries soaked in cod oil. To be polite, I ate my entire bowl, smiling the whole time, but struggling like crazy to keep each bite down.

After dinner, Alu’s grandmother spoke to the people of Hartley Bay. She’s ninety-two and a highly respected tribal elder who has seen the battle for the Great Bear Rainforest intensify over her lifetime.

“There are people who want to rid the waters of fish,” she said. “People who want take away the trees that stand right outside our window. People who wish to transport oil through the Great Bear. These people view the land differently. They will never understand that these actions would not only injure the soul of our people, but the soul of nature itself. Keeping the Great Bear Rainforest pristine and undisturbed, the way it was intended, this is our battle.”

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard a more powerful speaker. Now I know where Alu got her determined spirit.

Alu’s grandmother went on.

“In appreciation of their contribution to saving this great rainforest, we would like to extend the honor of adopting Gannon and Wyatt into the Raven Clan.”

Alu’s grandmother gave us each a colorful native cloak decorated with an amazing totem design. In the center of the totem was the face of a spirit bear. The people of Hartley Bay applauded as the cloaks were draped over our backs and the sounds of tribal drums filled the room. We were totally humbled and made our way around the hall shaking hands and hugging everybody.

First Nation celebration in Hartley Bay

When the celebration was over, I hobbled down the path on my crutches to the pebbled shoreline. I’m seated on a rock near the marina, enjoying a moment to myself. The wooden-planked walkways that weave their way through Hartley Bay are all quiet. A red light flashes atop a spit of rocks that protects the marina from the open water. Beyond the light, a heavy fog is coming in, hiding the distant islands.

Staring into the fog on this quiet shoreline, thoughts of our adventure are jumping around in my head. I’m thinking about the incredible crew of the Pacific Yellowfin and how lucky we are to be here with them. I’m thinking about how grateful I am to have seen the spectacular wildlife that lives in this rainforest. I’m also thinking about our new friend, Alu, and the kind, strong-willed people of Hartley Bay, people who provide a voice for nature when there is none. Mostly, I’m thinking about the future of this magnificent place.

SEPTEMBER 24, 9:12 PM
PACIFIC YELLOWFIN, ORCA CABIN
10° CELSIUS, 50° FAHRENHEIT
CLEAR SKIES


The fog has moved away. Only a few clouds hang in the sky. Again, the stars are visible. Lying here in my bed, looking out the porthole window over the water to the wild lands that surround Hartley Bay, I can’t help but think of how I have been changed by this magical experience. I am a practical thinker. Always have been. But the rainforest has reshaped my thinking in many ways.

Environmentally speaking, this rainforest is of tremendous importance to us. It absorbs pollutants from the atmosphere, it gives off a great deal of oxygen and it is home to some of the most majestic and rare creatures on earth. These things are known and can be proven scientifically. But wild places like this have value far beyond the scientific.

The Great Bear Rainforest is a masterpiece of the natural world. I sound a lot like my brother here, but there is no denying, once you have experienced the power of such a place, the inspiration you get from walking into its woods, the revival of spirit you feel mingling with its wildlife, the peace you find in its silence, you will be changed. Nature on such a spectacular scale opens up your mind to endless possibilities. These things are intangible, meaning they cannot be measured physically. Still, they are very real. One thing I know for sure: I am a better person for having explored this wilderness.

For all intents and purposes, the Great Bear Rainforest is safe … for now. The sad truth is that it is only a matter of time before someone else goes after the forest’s resources for profit. The spirit bear still needs our help. All the creatures of the rainforest need our help. The forest itself needs our help. They probably always will. What we must not forget is that we need the forest’s help, too. Some would argue that our future depends on it.

Well, it’s time to get some sleep. We set off for the whale research station at first light where we’ll continue to do our part.

Goodnight, Great Bear, and goodnight old “spirit” of the Great Bear Rainforest.

For tens of thousands of years, human beings existed in relative harmony with nature. It is only recently—the past few centuries—that human consumption has had a significant impact on the environment.

Though estimates vary, some researchers say that approximately 50,000 square miles of forest is lost each year. We are clear-cutting massive tracks of woodlands to make room for more development. We are consuming forests to produce building materials and consumer goods. Because of the high demand for these things, the earth’s forests are at risk.

Forests give us oxygen and regulate the earth’s atmosphere. Forests provide homes to over 70 percent of the world’s animal and plant species. Forests allow for recreation and strengthen our connection with nature. To continue consuming the earth’s forests at this rate would not just be irresponsible, it would put the future of the entire planet at risk.

Of course, we cannot expect human consumption of natural resources to stop completely. The world’s population continues grow. In the year 1900 there were 1.6 billion people on the planet. Today there are seven billion. Given this reality, we need to be conscious of how we live, what we buy, the things we consume, and the impact our habits have on Mother Nature. With this in mind, we must work to reduce and ultimately offset our consumption by replenishing the forests that are so critical to our well-being.

The first and most important step is awareness. If the world’s young people are aware, they will make the right choices. They will ensure that irreplaceable wilderness areas are properly managed—areas such as British Columbia’s pristine Great Bear Rainforest. By considering the future, the tide will turn, and the health of the planet will be changed for the better.

Gannon and Wyatt searching for the spirit bear in the Great Bear Rainforest

H
ave you ever imagined traveling the world over? Fifteen-year-old twin brothers Gannon and Wyatt have done just that. With a flight attendant for a mom and an international businessman for a dad, the spirit of adventure has been nurtured in them since they were very young. When they got older, the globetrotting brothers had an idea—why not share with other kids all of the amazing things they’ve learned during their travels? The result is the book series, Travels with Gannon & Wyatt, a video web series, blog, photographs from all over the world, and much more. Furthering their mission, the brothers also founded the Youth Exploration Society (Y.E.S.), an organization of young people who are passionate about making the world a better place. Each Travels with Gannon & Wyatt book is loosely based on real-life travels. Gannon and Wyatt have actually been to Botswana and tracked rhinos on foot. They have traveled to the Great Bear Rainforest in search of the mythical spirit bear and explored the ancient tombs of Egypt. During these “research missions,” the authors, along with Gannon and Wyatt, often sit around the campfire collaborating on an adventure tale that sets two young explorers on a quest for the kind of knowledge you can’t get from a textbook. We hope you enjoy the novels that were inspired by these fireside chats. As Gannon and Wyatt like to say, “The world is our classroom, and we’re bringing you along.”