Over the past week or so we have had two visits from two different Search and Rescue crews landing on our runway sporting the great Buffalo!
Canada has six Buffalos with four ready for service at any one time, the other two being in for repair. The Buffalo will be replaced with the Hercules which has advantages but will not be able to function in the mountains like the Buffalo. The Buffalo burns one ton of fuel/hour when at cruise speed!! – it can fly for 6.5 hours. The EVR runway is 60 ft wide, the Buffalo wing span is 90 ft and can take off within 1000ft!
The Buffalo that visit with EVR are stationed at Comox on Vancouver Island and have used EVR as a practice area on many occasions – this last practice was quite different in as far that it was for more advanced crew members who are capable of dropping men and gear by parachute into small areas surrounded by trees – unlike the other drops which used the hayfield - the tight spot drop is probably applicable to 99% of the cases in the mountains!
After an hour or so of circling the ranch, dropping test ribbons, supplies and some men with parachutes, the crew joined us at the Dove Lodge for an extensive buffet lunch before heading back up in the air.
Norm's sessna pales in size comparison to the Buffalo!
Parachuters loading their gear back onto the plane.
A shot of the first visit as one of the paracuters landed in the horse pasture. They expressed to me that this was the first time that they were concerned about animal "droppings" whilst landing! On their second visit they landed in the dense forest so these "droppings" were not so much a concern. Mt. Bowman sits boldly in the background.
Some of our guests ventured on a guided day hike up to the summit of Mount Bowman. It is part of the Marble Range mountains, named after the high grade limestone that forms its body – it was pushed up from the ocean floor by the tectonic collision that took place way back when. Mount Bowman forms the backdrop for EVR when looking towards the east and is 7,280 ft high. It contains caves which spelunkers visit. This time of the year the wildflowers are everywhere, making for an especially picturesque trek. A photographer’s paradise! The hike to the top and back, from the starting point on the west side of the mountain, takes about 5.5 hours. But of course there is always time to rest and take in the sites and sit down for lunch while checking out the incredible view that extends for many miles. It is a very popular climb for avid mountain hikers.
More than half way up Mount Bowman
Approaching the peak
What an incredible view!
Rest stop ... but almost there!
Time to take it all in...
Time for lunch!
Bessie leading the way down
We were delighted to have riders from such places as the UK, France, USA, namely California, Seattle and New York and some travel writers from various locales, all of whom honed their skills on horseback!
Some guests rode every day in order to check out the variety of trails and horses available.
A family of riders
... the view is probably a tad bit different than England 
As the weather continues to be fabulous we anticipate the long weekend approaching with many more fun times to be had by all!
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