Hello prospective Nuk Tessli wwoofers,

The season is usually mid June to late September. There may be a gap in mid summer where I am too busy with tourists (unless you like to cook!)

Otherwise, the work is mainly two things: (1) hauling firewood in your arms and by canoe (there are no roads or motorized vehicles at Nuk Tessli and the ground is too rough for a wheelbarrow) and (2) brushing out trails and building cairns (stone rock piles) as markers. All of this work is very heavy physical work so you must be strong. When building trails, it sometimes takes half a day to reach the work site. This means I cannot give you a half day of work. Instead I ask you to work a full day then have a full day off - or work three full days and have three full days off. There are many good hikes in the area, some take two or three days. Your plans will depend on what paying guests I have, and the weather, but once you know what is going on and learn how to be safe in the wilderness you can choose your own times for working.

To reach Nuk Tessli it is first necessary to get to Nimpo Lake which is a tiny place on Highway 20, between Williams Lake and Bella Coola (see map at the bottom of the website pages). If you have no car, this is difficult as there is no public transport along that road so you have to hitch-hike. You can reach Williams Lake by bus, or Bella Coola by ferry (go to The Discovery Coast Passage on the BC Ferries website: it is expensive but a fantastic trip - it leaves from the north of Vancouver Island.) Nimpo Lake is four hours drive from Williams Lake and two and a half hours drive from Bella Coola. Unfortunately, hitch-hiking is not good on that road. Sometimes it might be possible to arrange a ride with my friends but this doesn't often work out.

At Nimpo Lake you must go to Stewarts Lodge (a few minutes walk from the store and motel). That is where Tweedsmuir Air is based and where the float plane will leave to fly to Nuk Tessli. The flight takes 20 minutes. Unless you wish to pay for your own flight (the smaller plane, which holds three people, costs $250 one way) you will have to arrange your visit to coincide with tourist flights. That way it will be cheaper and I will pay for your flight. I will let you know which dates are available if you contact me. If you have to wait at the float plane base and don't want to pay for accommodation, you can camp at the back of the lodge. I will leave a four-man tent in my vehicle. You can buy showers and food close by.

I like wwoofers to stay at least two weeks, and if we like each other, I hope that you will stay longer. If you decide to leave earlier (give or take a day or two), you will have to pay for your own flight back to Nimpo Lake.

Nuk Tessli is a long way from stores that sell good fresh food and I cannot grow much so it is difficult for me to have a lot of vegetables and fruit that don't keep well. I eat lots of whole grains, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, lentils, root vegetables, and grow sprouts - and I make the best bread in the world in an outdoor stone oven. Home-canned, good quality meat is also available. I can feed a vegetarian, but it is too difficult to get the right supplies to feed a Vegan.

There are two rental cabins at Nuk Tessli. If they are vacant, wwoofers can stay in them. If they are booked, wwoofer accomodation is in tents. There is no plumbing on the property - the only showers are ones you make yourself with a black solar bag.

I now own a property 3 kms off Highway 20 (the road that runs west from Williams Lake). It is a derelict farm with old fences and junk to clear, and some building to do. The wwoofer season there starts mid April and quits when the ice goes out of my lake in the mountains (early June) and starts late September for another month. This is a different experience but still very beautiful one with a wild river to explore and views of the Coast Range.

I hope that is helpful. Please don't hesitate to email for more information.

Here are some pictures of Wwoofers at Nuk Tessli in 2008: Spring, Fall.

Chris

Chris Czajkowski
Nuk Tessli Alpine Experience,
Nimpo Lake, BC
VOL IRO

Phone: Summer - 250 742 3222. Winter - 250 476 1171.
Web site: www.nuktessli.ca

If I don't reply soon it may be because my remote satellite Internet has failed and I am unable to get it repaired quickly, but have patience: someone will check my email soon.