1 campground in West Harrison to reopen Friday, but others remain closed

WEST HARRISON – One of the five recreational sites in West Harrison that was recently closed due to dangerous trees is slated to reopen as early as Friday afternoon.

According to an email from Morgan Ritchie, who works as a heritage and environment manager for Xwilexmet/Sts’ailes, West Harrison Camping & Reservations Group plans to start reopening campgrounds in West Harrison as soon as Friday, May 8 at 2 p.m. Ritchie’s email was posted to a popular B.C. Facebook camping group.

The first campground to reopen will be the Chehalis River campground, located approximately six kilometres from the Sasquatch Inn.

Ritchie says this site required the felling and removal of more than 150 danger trees at the band’s own expense this past week.

“We are confident that it safe again,” Ritchie’s email stated. “RSTBC (Recreation Sites and Trails BC) is in the process of contracting a company to have danger trees removed from one or more of the remaining campgrounds. At this point, it remains unclear when these might reopen.”

Ritchie says ongoing support from the public to encourage the province to place “adequate value” on recreation sites in this region is appreciated.

“Sts’ailes and our contractors are expecting a significant financial deficit this year unless the Province and RSTBC contribute financial aid or operational services,” Ritchie wrote in his email.

Back on Monday, April 27, the West Harrison Camping & Reservations Group informed the public that five of the rec sites it oversees on West Harrison would be temporarily closed for safety reasons, effective immediately. The five affected campgrounds/rec sites included Chehalis River, Grace Lake, Twenty Mile Bay, Weaver Lake and Wood Lake.

They were advised by Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) that Sts’ailes had to close the campgrounds until they arranged to have dangerous trees felled and removed.

“We are complying because safety is our priority, but Sts’ailes recognizes the importance of these recreation sites to residents and visitors, particularly at the start of the camping season, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience this may cause,” the statement read.