Paddling News

A new provincial wilderness park could be in store for Saskatchewan, one where backpack-toting adventure seekers could go "extreme" camping, the government says. REGINA -- A new provincial wilderness park could be in store for Saskatchewan, one where backpack-toting adventure seekers could go "extreme" camping, the government says.

The project won't be happening in the immediate future, said Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell, but designating a wilderness park that would be a destination for backcountry campers is something the ministry plans to consider during the next few years.

The Saskatchewan Party first outlined the goal of a new wilderness park "to accommodate extreme camping" during the fall election campaign.

"That's the best-kept secret in Saskatchewan, is our wilderness," Tell said.

There are four wilderness parks in the province, described on a government website as protecting large tracts of land with "a high potential for human-powered wilderness recreation activities."

Yukon has promoted its wilderness adventures to tourists from as far away as Europe, and there is potential for Saskatchewan to market itself in a similar fashion, said Tell.

The minister is directing ministry officials to support more eco-tourism and First Nations tourism initiatives during the next four years.

There's no idea yet on where a wilderness park ideal for camping would be located, but there has been some preliminary discussion about the idea, said the minister, the Sask. Party MLA for Regina Wascana Plains.

"The important part of all of it is to make sure that we have consultation with interested parties and aboriginal and Metis because they will likely be involved in whatever area that we would think would be good (for a wilderness park)," Tell said in an interview this week.

The idea got a warm reception from some adventurers in the province. Joe Milligan of Regina said there are many opportunities for outdoor activities in Saskatchewan, including winter camping and canoeing, but designated wilderness backcountry sites are hard to come by.

"I think it's great that the province is looking at this," he said.

"A lot of times you have to (visit the backcountry) on unused Crown land where they don't have the designated trails or you have to go to private landowners and negotiate with them."

Travelling on your own power into the outdoors and camping is a chance to appreciate and explore the province as people might have many years ago, Milligan added.

"I get into the outdoors to escape," he said. "I don't want to have the blares of TVs, I don't want the smell of exhaust or the sound of motors running."

James Briens, co-owner of Eb's Source for Adventure store in Saskatoon, said he hopes the province also works on making people aware of the outdoor activities in the province that are already available, such as canoe routes.

"We have so many people come to Saskatchewan to paddle," he said. "That would be something to really promote."

Article Source: The Star Phoenix