Subscribe to Harry's bike blog, from Alaska to UshuaiaNews FeedSubscribe to Harry's bike blog, from Alaska to UshuaiaComments

1000 Americans: Willy Williams, Stikine River ranch

_MG_0735-Willy-williams

Holly Eden from Dease Lake had told us to visit Willie if we had the opportunity.

Willie is one of those persons that can fill a documentary all by himself. We arrived late, uninvited but were welcome and spend hours talking about his history, present and future. We talk about the history of the Tahltan people and the fights with the other first nations.

We verbally travel from the horror stories of the missionaries taking the First Nation children away to religious experiences of his friends, fights about lands and property to sharing very personal stories and advice about love & life. He lets us sleep in the first house he built, filled with more memories.

Besides being the host for a yearly 3-day gospel music festival at his ranch, Willie organises horseback riding trips through the wilderness of the nearby provincial parks: Stikine River, Spatsizi Plateau & Mount Edizia. Every trip is different and some clients come back regularly.

Willie showed us a book from a german photographer, about the area, almost completely shot during the trips he guided. No website, no email. “How do you get your clients?” I asked him. “I don’t know, somehow people seem to find me”, he replied.

More than a week later we would meet Willie again, in Smithers where we also met his wonderful wife Grace. Thanks for letting us into your life for a short moment Willie, it will last much longer than just the few hours we spent together.

ps: To make it a bit easier to get a special adventure that might just change your outlook on life, call Willie or Grace Williams in BC: 250-771-4301. Trips can take anything from a few hours to a few weeks.

You might also like

1000 Americans: Holly Eden, Dease Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Holly passed us when we were having lunch at Dease Lake, outside the library. She told us that we...
Day 53-62: 2-11 Sep 2008: The Cassiar Highway: a wonderful wilderness with hills, gravel, jade, wildlife… and people
Of course we took the road less travelled :) Highway 37, The Stewart Cassiar Highway, or simply The...
1000 Americans: Rita Hofsink, Smithers, BC
Rita and Willie Hofsink live outside of busy Smithers, in a great house in the fields, overlooking...
1000 Americans: Jackie King & family, McCleese Lake, Canada
‘Where are you going?’ she asked and I replied that we were going to pitch our tent soon as it...

Tell us what you're thinking

we really love your feedback. If you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!