Years ago when travelling through the Slocan Valley in British Columbia, we came across the most beautiful sandy beach on the Kootney River, a place we ended up living very near to (see the story Miracles Do Happen – chapter IV ). During the summer months, this river became “the place” to go, kids of all ages riding its gentle rapids on inner tubes, or enjoying the beach as we did. The water was clear and beautiful, the beach catching the sun for most of the day. Cars would be parked along the highway for miles on either side. We spent many a happy afternoon on this beach, the kids and Patrick snorkelling while I read, did bead work or drew.
As the century turned over and we entered the year 2000, we suffered a huge power outage in the Slocan Valley, not because of Y2K, the great prediction of course not coming true, but due to a huge landslide. In many places throughout British Columbia, clear cutting has been a problem, causing issues such as this where the road becomes impassable as it is covered in mud and fallen branches and trees. The domino effect – our precious beach was no more, the landscape permanently changed. The unsightly clear cut was located higher on the mountain out of sight from passing tourists, but most locals were aware. This was determined to have caused this disaster, leaving us without power for 4 days during the cold winter.
We were able to cook because we had a good camp stove, and we had plenty of water put up, the only precaution we made for the Y2K scare. However there was no heat, the house we were renting used forced air plus a pellet stove located in the one room without air ducts. But this was run on electricity, so of no use. I think this was probably the longest period of time I experienced having no power while living in a home. It does make one think, dependant as we are on electricity, an issue becoming more prominent even since then. Many of us would have difficulty dealing a prolonged power outage, especially during winter.
When I arrived for my meal today, grandma was here, I caught her as she was just preparing to leave. She pointed saying to me”mira” look at what is happening on the mountain. I had heard the heavy equipment operating, but could not tell where it was from my room. Only now did I have a clear view of the operation. In fact though, I passed the backhoe on the road as I walked to town yesterday, it was as wide as the road itself, but never imagined it would be working where I was seeing it today. I thought perhaps it was doing some repairs on the road itself as they had done recently on the other side of the river.
Grandma was not impressed because she understood this potential hazard in the making, as did I. Thoughts of our perfect beach being destroyed came to my mind right away as I watched this man clearing the vegetation. Right now we don’t get much rain here, but during the rainy season you just know this is cause for concern. The many trips through the mountains by bus have shown me how much damage is caused by landslides, so it was not difficult to envision the possibility of what could be. She agreed when I said the trees not plowed might end up on our doorstep, the river and the landscape forever changed. This huge piece of equipment seemed to be hanging almost vertical, an impossible idea, one I would not have believed someone would try had I not been watching it myself. One can only hope the brakes don’t fail…..cause my room could need redecorating, being pretty much right underneath this activity, if those brakes don’t hold!!
I have seen many homes on rather precarious landscapes as I travel in this country, the idea of building on such locations amazing me every time. Great view though. Earthquakes are common here, although they are not usually as bad as what happens on the coast, they still give you a good shake. It’s something you think about when you see the size of the boulders in the river or beside the road, or on occasion in the middle of the highway, as well as when you are on top of the mountain and it begins to shake. I guess we all have the same idea in our minds – “that won’t happen to me”, and hopefully it won’t.
I just know I would not sleep with any comfort living on the edge or side of a mountain as some of these people do, their often small adobe homes seeming to come out of the rocks themselves.
0 Comments