The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
July 31, 2007
WE ARE SO LUCKY HERE!
A short trip to the Thompson Valley a couple weeks ago made us realize a couple things.
First, we are so lucky to live in the Similkameen Valley.
Second, we are so lucky to live in the Similkameen Valley. Let us explain. Our first realization came on the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops. The forest on both sides of the highway was a sea of red. Dead trees standing. Killed by armies of those pesky little rotten sap-sucking, tree killing monsters we know as Mountain Pine Beetles.
It was quite a sight. One we gasped at for kilometres and kilometres and kilometres.
We imagined what the view would be like if seen from above in a helicopter and we had to quickly wipe the vision from our minds to prevent future sleepless nights thanks to the 'Mountain Pine Beetle Nightmare.'
Not only were the pine tree forests basically decimated, the patches of reforested land were also showing signs of attack. Dead trees standing in a massive crowd of other dead trees standing.
The only army advancing troops were the bad guys. The ones with the secret weapons only known to the inside of the average pine tree. A weapon that basically sucks the life out of the tree but leaves it standing, like a zombie. Another dead tree, another launching pad. And it goes on and on and on until there are no more trees to kill.
We did note though that the many stands of Aspen were left alone, as if ignored by the Pine Beetle. We discussed the possibility of the forestry industry taking that much-needed shot in the arm when the Asian market starts to demand Aspen wood for home construction.
It could be a trend that kicks into gear around the start of the Olympics, when there are no more trees to harvest.
It made us look forward to the Aspen Grove turnoff on the way home where there seemed to be a lot more green trees than dead trees all along Highway 5A.
We also got to drive on Kevin Falcon's Olympic Freeway the new section of the Coquihalla Highway at Courtney Lake. We remember the days when you could travel that route and actually see the lake.
It used to be blue, didn't it?
That was before the privacy fence went up so only people on the lake could enjoy the view. Lucky them.
Our second realization on how lucky we are to live in the Similkameen came from an afternoon of driving in Kamloops.
We were sure our license plate did not read 'DUM ASS' but it sure felt that way for part of the day. Maybe the huge words 'NEWS LEADER' on the sides didn't help any, but the car even started to respond differently once pointed back in the direction of home.
As sad as the forest situation looks at times, we really needed that trip to remind us how lucky we really are to be in the Similkameen.
All we need now is a really cold winter to get those little critters packing.
