Anyone in central British Columbia?

[cath]

We're starting to look at large acreage properties in the Cariboo and surrounding areas. We love the Okanagan but the prices there have gone through the roof in the past few years!

We've taken a couple of road trips up there and are awed by the natural beauty of this part of the world.

Can anyone here give me some info regarding what it's like to live there, what the weather is really like, and how the locals feel about 'mericans coming up to purchase land there?

[Xandras_Zoo]

We go up to 100 mile house (Canim Lake) every summer for vacation.

The snow gets deep enough you can't go down your driveway. It can get to 102 degrees fahrenheit in the summer.

You get some awesome thunderstorms.

Doesn't rain very often in the summer, so there's lots of wildfires. A couple of summers ago it was epidemic.

Gorgeous Northern lights. Last summer (or the summer before?) we were having a campfire by the lake and it was like a green string going through the sky. Made patterns all over the place. First time I've ever seen them, so I don't know if that's anything spectacular.

Cougars, black bears, grizzly bears, lynx, bobcats, foxes, wolves, MORONIC DEER, GIANT HORSEFLIES, moose, beavers, otters, and a whole bunch of birds. Osprey and eagles and hawks. And loons! And as far as I know there are only garter snakes up there, no rattlers. Mostly Kokanee and rainbow trout in freshwater. And you get these really awesome insects. Giant moths, beetles with super long antenea, and these things called hummingbird moths. They're like hummingbirds, only they're bugs.

Some areas are so rural that it'll cost a fortune to get electricity.

If you live near 100 mile house, you get to go to the Garlic Festival.

As far as I know, it is pretty much irrelevant whether you're American or not. Just as long as you are easy to get along with.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

We have to drive up there in July. My daughter is going to camp near Vernon. Where is 100 Mile House in relation?

[cath]

Thanks for the info Xandras, your info is about what we thought! Hubby's response to your message was "so what are the downsides?". I figured that horseflies were a problem when I saw a town up there named "Horsefly"! Have you ever had encounters with the megafauna up there? Have you ever caught one of those big Char they show in all of the fishing guide service brochures?

Lisa: Vernon is in Okanagan at the northern end of Okanagan Lake. A really beautiful spot, and only 12 miles to Silver Star ski area. I would love to settle there but ka-ching! 100 mile house is about 4 hours northwest of there.

[mom2girls]

I grew up in Vernon, heaven on earth!! The Cariboo is beautiful to, but yes flys and mossies are a big down side. I am all about the Okanogan myself.

[Xandras_Zoo]

Downsides? I haven't really had any bad experiences except for things that just come with a rural/remote place.

Haven't caught any lake char. I'm not a hardcore fisher (I don't even kill the fish), I mostly just fish with my crappy rod and tackle off the dock.

We've seen deer, 'yotes, foxes, black bears, cougars (mom & kittens), lynx and either a wolf or a very wolfy looking dog.

The only thing that would hold me back from moving to 100 mile house is that I would miss the humidity that you get in forests the lower mainland/washington. Hope is a nice area.

[jnap31]

Alex is in BC.

Alex Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Vancouver, and Moberly Lake, BC, Canada
Posts: 738

Forget WV, move to BC

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In northern BC (that's in Canada) you can get the most beautiful land for $350 an acre, fenced, barns, corrals, house of sorts (tear down), quite a bit in hay, trees. Minimum building lot is 160 acres -- forget the 10 acre bit, unless you just love WV, then have a good time.

I need more room, and a LOT less people than 460 families, on only 30 quarters (how many people ? gonna need a Wart Mart and MadDonalds, right on site -- nope, not for me -- thanks though.)

I am not some type of land snob, but I do know what is the correct density, it's not 10 acre tract houses -- with poluted horsey land, or condominimum councils and rules -- no sireee Bob.

I am a little sorry about being so strong about this. And before you write me asking where you can get $350 an acre excellent bottom land: check the archives. My gosh, just think about it: $350 an acre, for good land?

Alex
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[wr]

jnap31, there's a very good reason that land in northern BC is so inexpensive and it's the very same reason that it's inexpensive in northern Alberta. The climate is cold and very harsh in the winter and the growing season is very short and succesful harvests are uncommon. In the northern part of BC, employment is also a problem and right now, in a few areas there are huge land disputes going on with the native bands that are seriously impacting the econmomy. This is very much a case of getting what you pay for.

[jnap31]

I knew there was a catch LOL

[Tracy Rimmer]

Where Alex is (in Moberly Lake) is WAAAAY north of where Cath is talking. The area of the north Okanagan/Thompson is BEAUTIFUL, but can be very, very dry. It's also very rocky.

The land in BC is steadily rising in price. We've looked at the north coast, but now -- after losing out the bidding on TWO different properties -- are casting our net a little further. We are starting to look in the same area you are, Cath.

Good luck -- it's beautiful country.

Tracy

[cath]

I had to look up Moberly Lake--man, that is way up there! I'll bet that is major Griz country!

I'm surprised to hear that the Cariboos are so dry. The Environment Canada historical weather pages show moisture in every month. Even July shows 43mm of rain for the month! But it sure can get cold there! The record low temp for 2005 was -48C in December (-54F). Burr!

I have heard something about the conflicts between the First Nations and Canadian landowners. Does anyone know if any of these conflicts are in the Okanagan or Cariboo regions? I was under the impression that it was an issue in the more northern areas.

Thanks for all of the good info, folks!

[wr]

The conflicts seem to be more up in the north part of the province but we are seeing land claim issues throughout Alberta and BC. Realistically, it would be very unlikely so see anyone simply loose their land but they are affecting the economies of certain areas.

[Mountaineer]

I hadn't heard the native claims were affecting economics. I was under the impression it was more about government payouts. I could be wrong, but it's worth researching. Most of the towns WAY up north are centred around a mill, mine or forestry. Generally good paying jobs, but hard work. Yes lots of Grizz's, not so much in the Cariboo as far as I know.
Cold in the interior is different than cold on the damp coast. So a nice woodstove and you're not complaining about much.
There may/may not be issues with Americans moving in. Only way to find out is hanging out around the nearest towns and seeing it.
Around here a few Americans have bought, but they aren't full time, haven't become part of the community, nobody seems to know them, they keep to themselves.

[wr]

Farmer Joe, my info may be a bit outdated but as of last year, there were blockades circumventing people from getting to their jobs and on several occasions, mills and such were shut right down till the blockades were taken down and inane little court cases were heard. It is generally land claim issues but most of the land claim issues in Alberta and BC center around prime logging land and when you shut down logging and mills for bits of time at a stretch, it still has an economic impact. If I were shopping in the area, I don't know that I'd let it deter me from making a purchase but I would do research on the specifics.

[Mountaineer]

WR, you're probably right on that. I haven't heard anything for a long time, but I'm not up on the news either. For any prospectice purchaser- it's something to look into. The Rez here has nothing like this going on, but that's apples and oranges.