Last week we went north to check out the abandoned Swannell River airstrip, at the confluence of the Ingenika and Swannell Rivers and to do a little fishing in the Ingenika. I couldn't have asked for a better day, though my GPS was being a PITA, I think it's time for a new antenna. The Swannell River strip is in really good shape and it's about 5000' long. It's quite remote and a really nice place to spend the day. The fishing was fairly slow, but I hooked in to one really nice Dolly Varden, and a couple little (but tenacious!) guys.

This is my carry on, try that on Air Canada!


Cherokee on the strip, I think she looks good on gravel.


The view of the Ingenika River from the strip facing west.


Beautiful spot to spend the day.


Lovely beach, looks inviting, but IT'S A TRAP!


I thought quicksand was only a plot device in bad old movies. I was wrong. I'm quite impressed with my crappy $15 Wal-Mart sandals though. I've had them on many adventures and they still hold together, I figured for sure I was going to tear the straps out of them getting them out of the quicksand buy they're still there. Also shown here are 3 mosquitoes. This is a gross under-representation of the number of mosquitoes on and around me. Bring your bug dope if you go here!


On somewhat more solid sand. The coating of mud is good protection against the bugs.


All cleaned up, time to get a lure in the water.


Working the far pool.


I also made a video for the BC Pilots' Association. No music, no fancy editing, just an overflight, low pass, landing, and take off to show the condition and area around the strip.

Is the NT Air Fuel Cache tank still there? Man...I pumped a lot of gas out of that thing into the 185 over the years!

Great photos BTW!

BCPilotguy wrote:This is my carry on, try that on Air Canada!



On somewhat more solid sand. The coating of mud is good protection against the bugs.


All cleaned up, time to get a lure in the water.

Damn, you guys "can't" have pistols but you can have short barreled shotguns? Need a stamp in the U.S. for a SBS.

Oh, and- nice shirt!!!

northernguy wrote:Is the NT Air Fuel Cache tank still there? Man...I pumped a lot of gas out of that thing into the 185 over the years!

Great photos BTW!

I didn't see anything there. I'd imagine if they had anything it would be at the Ingenika Reserve strip at the mouth of the river or at one of their regular strips on Williston Lake. My uncle used to log up there and he said that there used to be a pretty big camp at Swannell River back in the day.

Crzyivan13 wrote:
Damn, you guys "can't" have pistols but you can have short barreled shotguns? Need a stamp in the U.S. for a SBS.

It's made in China too, so it couldn't even be imported to the US even with a stamp. The 12.5" barrel is sure handy, long enough to shoot well (and not lose any velocity), but short enough that it's not too inconvenient. My shoulder and lower back were definitely telling me that a pistol would be really nice by the end of the day though! I have a few pistols, I'm just not allowed to pack them around. If you are a timber cruiser, prospector, surveyor, geologist, etc. it's possible, but not easy, to get a wilderness permit to carry. The rest of us weekend warriors have to make do with long guns.

Crzyivan13 wrote:Oh, and- nice shirt!!!

Pretty slick! Needs a low wing on it though I really like the look of the new Destination Found shirt you have, it will definitely be on my next order!

Very nicely done. You have pics of airplanes, guns, gravel runways and muddy feet but I did not see a picture of said fish.

175 magnum wrote:Very nicely done. You have pics of airplanes, guns, gravel runways and muddy feet but I did not see a picture of said fish.

He raises a good point....photos or it didnt happen!

In the wise words of the late slim dusty....."the only time a fishermen tells the truth is when he calls another a liar"

175 magnum wrote:Very nicely done. You have pics of airplanes, guns, gravel runways and muddy feet but I did not see a picture of said fish.

No pics, I'm afraid. The only one worth taking a picture of spat the hook just as he got to my feet. Good thing too. I didn't realize until I got home that night and was reading the fishing regs that I'm not allowed to keep dolly varden from streams. If I had landed him I would have unwittingly made a poacher out of myself (I would have eaten good though!).

You need a mares leg to pack around instead if that 12 Guage. I love mine! 44 mag mon restricted, 24" overall length.

Non-poachable self release Dolly Varden in the northern rivers. I don't believe I have heard that one before.https://www.backcountrypilot.org/commun ... 4&t=17585#

A1Skinner wrote:You need a mares leg to pack around instead if that 12 Guage. I love mine! 44 mag mon restricted, 24" overall length.

I want one.

I've got a Marlin 45-70 that's a blast to shoot. That thing looks even more fun

I have the little Ruger 44 mag semi-auto carbine it is also really small and light. Interesting thing is if you have the carbine you can buy hollow point but if you have the pistol they can only sell you solid nose bullets. I do not know how the bullets tell the difference.

CamTom12 wrote:

A1Skinner wrote:You need a mares leg to pack around instead if that 12 Guage. I love mine! 44 mag mon restricted, 24" overall length.

I want one.

I've got a Marlin 45-70 that's a blast to shoot. That thing looks even more fun

I've got a 45-70 in the 18" barrel. It is a blast bit the mares leg is way shorter and more packable. Can't shoulder it to shoot it which makes it fun to shoot. Packs a punch for sure.

A1Skinner wrote:You need a mares leg to pack around instead if that 12 Guage. I love mine! 44 mag mon restricted, 24" overall length.

How is it to shoot? I've seen them around, but they look sort of awkward with that short stock. Now with a full stock and that short barrel then we'd be talking!

175 magnum wrote:Interesting thing is if you have the carbine you can buy hollow point but if you have the pistol they can only sell you solid nose bullets. I do not know how the bullets tell the difference.

Now whoever told you that is telling you a fish story (or worse, a gun shop story!). In Canada, as long as you have any sort of firearms licence you can buy any kind of ammunition you want, short of incendiary or explosive ammo. The ammunition seller doesn't know or care what you own. Just a couple months ago I ordered some .32 S&W for my great uncle who isn't internet savvy. I don't have, and can never have a .32 because I'm too young to have been grandfathered for prohibited firearms. There is also no regulation in Canada governing the type of slug (hollowpoint vs. slug etc.), as long as it isn't explosive, incendiary, or armour piercing (specifically handgun ammo, there isn't much rifle ammo that isn't armour piercing!).

Importing hollowpoint handgun ammo to Canada is a bit silly though. Some doughhead at the Explosives Branch classified hollowpoint handgun ammo as a "prohibited explosive" due to its being banned by the Hague Convention. This only affects import though, and is easily circumvented by placing cunning and devious sticker on the box that says "For use in rifles only". Hollowpoint ammo can be manufactured in Canada, and most shops will remove the stupid sticker once the import is complete so you'll likely never see it.

You are bang on about the ammo BCPILOT. As for shooting the mares leg, I don't mind it at all. The 300 grain hollow points kick the muzzle up, but it's not anything I can't handle. And I have been able to shoot it fairly accurately without shouldering it. The problem with a fill stock is it adds to the size and weight. Love packing this thing in the plane, ranger, and horse. I need to get a long holster made to strap to my thigh for on the horse though.

A1Skinner wrote:I need to get a long holster made to strap to my thigh for on the horse though.

If you do this, I'll need a photo.

Love it!

Stop in and you can take it for a few rounds Cameron. I'll let you blast the 338 lapua if you want.

Once again I was easily duped by the cunning and devious sticker on the box that says "For use in rifles only". and the fast talking counter man.

A1Skinner wrote:Stop in and you can take it for a few rounds Cameron. I'll let you blast the 338 lapua if you want.

I want! That'll be the end of a long day though. Potentially the evening of the 25th of next month.

I'll keep in touch, but your airstrip is in the final route plan (until weather gets a vote )

CamTom12 wrote:

A1Skinner wrote:Stop in and you can take it for a few rounds Cameron. I'll let you blast the 338 lapua if you want.

I want! That'll be the end of a long day though. Potentially the evening of the 25th of next month.

I'll keep in touch, but your airstrip is in the final route plan (until weather gets a vote )

Awesome! My local hunting shop just got 528lbs of Griffin binary targets. Rumor has it I may come into possession of a fair amount of it. So we may have to put a show on for you...

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