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Roy Henry Vickers

Life & Stories in Northern BC

Locals in The Great Wilderness

You know that feeling when the crowds disappear and it’s just you and big nature?

At first glance, that’s The Great Wilderness in northern British Columbia. Landscapes that make you feel small, truly remote places, and hardly another soul in sight. But there’s more to this place than just wide-open spaces–it’s the people that make the trip worth it.

We spent some time travelling across the north and found the locals here are the real deal: down-to-earth, resilient, and brimming with fascinating stories about their home. Watch the docu-style videos below to learn about their life on the land and what it’s really like to be in The Great Wilderness.

Roy Henry Vickers

First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers has a worldwide reputation for unique print-making, carvings, and standout sculptures. He’s travelled the globe, sharing his culture and inspiring young Indigenous creatives along the way. But no matter how far he goes, his journey always brings him home to Gitxsan Territory, a place that pulses through his veins. Sitting on the banks of the Skeena River, Roy reflects on how the land feeds his creativity.

Kaleigh Allen

What inspired a big city brain surgeon to return to her family home in the Kispiox Valley? Simply put: there’s no place like home (especially when it’s heaven on Earth). From running rodeos to managing Bear Claw Lodge, Kaleigh Allen shares her love for family, horses, and the place that has supported her family for five generations.

Meet Other Locals

Living in a remote place takes grit and heart. Meet the people who call The Great Wilderness home.

Follow the rivers and you’ll find Randy Gulick—jet-boat operator, backcountry guide, and lifelong explorer.

From his home base in Tumbler Ridge, Gulick navigates one of British Columbia’s most remote landscapes in the north. His daily commute? Ferrying visitors upriver to the magnificent Kinuseo Falls which cascades 70 meters into the valley below.

Bush pilot Wendel Imhoff spends his days flying people into landscapes where roads simply do not exist.

Through his wilderness aviation company, Wendel Imhoff and has flown over remote valleys untouched by road, landed on silent lakes, and watched caribou scatter beneath his wings. “Beyond a hundred miles from town, it’s still pristine,” he says. “That’s what’s special.”

© 2019 Andrew Strain
Little Ball Lake in Mount Edziza Provincial Park.
Wendel Imhof of Alpine Lakes Air at Tattoga Lake.

Jocelyn McDonald is redefining who belongs in the backcountry.

As an Indigenous guide, off-grid business owner, and founder of a women-focused outdoor guiding company Peak Wyld, Jocelyn blends tradition, responsible tourism, and a deeply northern sense of practicality. She’s part of a new generation leading the way into the wilderness and inviting others—especially women—to step confidently into it.

Hoodoos line the gorge of Wokkpash Creek, in Stone Mountain Provincial Park, BC.

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