“A hundred vears ago vou conid have suiled into any cotstal rover mous betveen Mexico and Alaska and Jownd Jrisclies foraaina for find at the water's edge. Now Rasiht inlet represents the southern frontier of the coastal qrizcly bear population uf western North: Amevien, The friscly bas been displaced from 99% uf its onanal habitat in the hover 48 states, and more than os of tts oruqinal range ta Canada.” — The Great Bear Rainforest: Canada’s Forgorten Coast, Lan and Karen McAllister, with Cameron Young, Harbour Publishing 1997. VERY spring for the past seven years Ian and Karen McAllister have set out to explore the lush river valleys of B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest. By John Goodman Contributing Writer Ar one time ancient temperate rain forests covered much of the coastline of northern Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, western North Amenea and South America. Today only Chile. Alaska and British Columbia have sig- nificant intact torests Of this type. The Great Bear Ruintorest reters to acondnuous area ot 3.2 millon hectares (approximately, the size of Vancouver Island on dhe nearthern B.C. coastline that is the List vestige ot rainforest wilderness in, North America The McAllister: leave their wanter port in Victoria at about the same tie asthe grizzlies are waking from hiber- nation. ~The nming comceides almost exactly wath the bears’ schedule” says Karen. ‘The couple began making annual tips ro the area in 1991 in their 36¢- toot tamaran The Companion. With several other people, inctuding fan's father Peter, they formed the Raincoast Conservation Society in order to initi- ate a systematic exploration of the river valleys alony the coast. Although large logging, companies had rights to fog the forests no Inven- tory of the coastline had been under- taken previously. According to an Farthhife Canada report released in 1990 there were almost one hundred intact river valleys undeveloped and unprotected oa the marth coast. Originally the McAllisters seta goal of studying every river valley im the Great Bear Raintorest aud they achies ed thar in the spring of 1996 walla visit te Smokehouse Creek oft Stith inet. Phe spectacular calnenation of the first stage oftheir work. [ie Great Kear Rainforest. Canada's Borietten Care, has just been released i book tort ts Harbour Pablishing The narrnansve tikes reader on an epic journey Irom Rangint vet thre tothe Kahwasi ry vote the Alaskan border. The hire sake cofice table book bas been eaperth designed See Witrersbeds pater 44 Friday, October 31, 1997 — North Shore News — 15 NEWS photo Terry Peters The forgotten coast lan and Karen Mcaltister’s new book on British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest is the first in-depth Study of this vast wilderness area Tnree Olivas set for performance 22 LITERATURE Capilano Reviews’ 40 THEATRE Worldclass Playhouse é TELEVISION This Week's highlights 4] MUSIC Copyright release new OD