Winter Adventures in BC's Cariboo: A Woman's Guide to Ice Fishing, Dog Sledding, and Whisky Tasting

Think winter travel in British Columbia is just for the young and adventurous? Think again! Join host Heide Brandes as she discovers why British Columbia's Cariboo region is becoming the ultimate winter destination for women travelers over 45. From ice fishing for mysterious burbot to following lynx tracks through pristine wilderness, this episode breaks down the barriers of cold-weather adventure travel.

Discover how to:

• Experience ice fishing in a heated tent on BC's famous Fishing Highway
• Track wildlife in -25°C weather (and stay comfortable!)
• Experience authentic Western culture through team roping and curling
• Sample from Western Canada's largest collection of single-malt Scotch
• Navigate winter travel safely as a solo female traveler
• Plan your own Cariboo winter adventure

Heide shares practical tips for cold-weather travel, breaks down costs, and reveals why winter might be the perfect time to explore this hidden gem of British Columbia. Whether you're a seasoned solo traveler or considering your first winter adventure, this episode proves that age is just a number when it comes to embracing new experiences.

Featured destinations include EcoTours BC, Lone Butte Fishing Adventures, the historic Wells Hotel, and Barkerville's famous Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run. Learn why the Cariboo's unique blend of wilderness adventure and small-town hospitality makes it an ideal destination for women seeking authentic Canadian experiences.

Listen now to discover how to transform winter from a season to endure into a season to embrace.

@helloBC or www.hellobc.com

Cariboo/Chilcotin Region: https://landwithoutlimits.com

Transcript

   Hello again and welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise with Heide Brandes and Nicky Omohundro, where we explore destinations that empower women travelers over the age of 45.

Today we're heading to British Columbia's Cariboo region, where I recently discovered that winter might just be the most magical time to visit. Stay with me as we talk about ice fishing. wildlife snowshoe hikes, cowboy culture, dog sledding, and why this lesser known region of Canada should be on every woman traveler's radar.

 Welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise, where adventure has no age limit. We're your co host Heide Brandes and Nicky Omohundro and we're here to inspire and celebrate women over 45 who are embracing their independence and want to explore the world on their own terms.   

Well, welcome back to the podcast and this week it's just me. Nikki is out having a winter adventure of her own in the wilds of Michigan. So  in the next coming weeks, I'm sure we're gonna have a podcast about all the fun places in Michigan you can visit during winter. But this week we're talking about the Caribou region of British Columbia. 

 You know that moment when you're trying something really completely new and you think to yourself, what in the world am I doing? That was me sitting in a heated tent on a frozen lake in British Columbia, fishing for something called a burbot.  I've never heard of this fish before, but my guide Mark from Lone Butte Fishing Adventures assured me it would be worth the time.

It was extreme cold.  And spoiler alert, he was right.  But let me back up a bit. The Cariboo region isn't your typical tourist destination and that's exactly why you should visit.  Stretching from the Fraser River to the Cariboo Mountains is a vast area where gold rush history meets modern adventure and where I found some of the most welcoming communities I've encountered in my travels. 

For solo women travelers, especially those of us over 45, or even girlfriends traveling together, safety and comfort are often top concerns.  What I discovered in the Cariboo was a perfect balance of adventure and security. The locals are incredibly welcoming and the tourism infrastructure is well developed while still maintaining that authentic small town feel. 

So let me share some of my favorite experiences and then we'll get into the practical details of planning your own winter adventure.  First, that ice fishing experience I mentioned?  Now I know what you're thinking, sitting on a frozen lake in the middle of winter, but here's the thing, modern ice fishing is nothing like what you might imagine.

The heated shelters are cozy, the guides are knowledgeable and patient, and there's really something magical about being out on a frozen lake as the sun sets. And did we catch some burbot?  Well,  of the group, there was, I believe, eight of us. Three people caught a burbot.  I was not one of them, however, but I had great fun trying.

And burbots are a strange little fish. They look kind of like a small lingcod, and they are the, Only  winter species of the Cobb family. And I learned a lot about their behavior, and we drank a little bit of whiskey while we were fishing, and it was a great adventure. And if you've never tried ice fishing, or never tried fishing at all,  I would highly recommend it.

So then there was this wildlife tour with Eco Tours BC.  Imagine snowshoeing through pristine wilderness, following lynx tracks in the snow, and learning about winter survival from expert guides. As a solo traveler,  I felt completely safe and supported, even in temperatures that dropped to minus 25 degrees celsius.

We spent all day tracking in the snow, but these tours are usually a three day excursion, so you can up your chances of seeing moose. Links wolves and tons of other animals, but don't worry. You're not camping out there Miss Peggy starts each day with a home cooked breakfast and you'll be in lodges at night So just bundle up and go find the animals  and our guide was so knowledgeable about the tracks about animal behaviors  and, snowshoeing  up snowy hills can be a little challenging, but it gets the heart rate pumping, keeps you warm, and the whole day was just beautiful.

We didn't see too many animals. They were hiding out, but that's why it's usually three days.  So after our day of wildlife tracking, We visited the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club, which partnered with Recreation Sites and Trails B. C., which is the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.

So they maintain and operate the Bull Mountain Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Area. It's located about 16 kilometers north of Williams Lake in the Central Caribou Region. And I did a 90 minute lesson as I'm still a beginner level when it comes to cross country skiing. But if you're an experienced cross country skiing enthusiast, you are welcome to enjoy the trails at leisure and what trails they are.

My first Cross country skiing lesson. I found a little intimidating because there were much higher hills and much thicker snow, but the trails out at Bull Mountain were one just expertly graded and clean and the views were amazing and it was so quiet and peaceful out there. So if you like cross country skiing, highly recommend. 

And just when I thought I tried everything, I found myself at the Quesnel Team Roping Association learning to throw a lasso.  Yeah, now I admit I was intimidated at first.  There I was in this unheated arena surrounded by experienced cowboys and cowgirls. But they could not have been more welcoming. They fitted me with proper roping gloves.

Taught me the basics and before we knew it, I was throwing loops at a practice dummy. Did I look graceful? Absolutely not. Was I successful?  Eh, not as much as I wanted to be. Did I have an absolute blast?  Absolutely.  And from there, we headed to the Quesnel Curling Club for my first ever curling lesson. If you've never tried curling, imagine shuffleboard on ice.

but with more strategy and a lot more sweeping. It's surprisingly social and I loved how the local club members took us under their wing, teaching us everything from how to deliver the stone to proper sweeping techniques. There's something wonderfully Canadian about learning to curl in a small town rink.

And it was so much fun. I was a little hesitant at first because you get this  plastic thing for one foot, it's called the banana. And then you have a, your regular shoe, that's called the sticky foot, and you're supposed to slide out on your banana foot while you're pushing the 40 pound granite stone across the eyes, and I thought for sure I'd fall down, and I did once or twice, but I got the hang of it, and  I've decided to take up curling back here at my hometown of Oklahoma City, which I was very surprised had curling rinks. 

So one of the other special highlights of this trip to the Cariboo was the dog sled mail run in Barkersville. So Barkerville is a historic Gold Rush town, and there was something wild about watching these incredible animals work. And the mushers, many of them women, were inspiring in their skill and dedication. 

So the dog sled run is held every year, and it kind of honors the tradition of when mail was delivered. By a dog sled  and all the people participating in this annual run Have to be sworn in and swear the same oath as regular mail carriers do because they're actually carrying mail And you can sign up to have mail Sent to you that was delivered by these,  dog sledding Postmen so to speak  and while barkerville is Usually open in spring, summer, fall, it opened that one day for this historic mail run, and we got a guided tour of the history of the town, which is where the Caribou region's gold rush actually started with the Barker Mine.

So if you would love reenactments, if you love watching dogs work, and curious about history, you do not want to miss this. Barkerville when you visit the caribou region.  Also, if you really want to get the cultural feel of the area you must absolutely must Stop and tour the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in williams lake the museum is a tribute to Williams Lake and The entire region. 

So it provides the history and displays on the region about local ranching and rodeo heritage, and it's also home to the British Columbia Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as exhibits on indigenous peoples. Railways, mining, medical, forestry, just to name a few.  What I didn't realize was the Cariboo Chilcotin region is sort of like the cowboy region of British Columbia. 

There are more than a hundred pioneer farms and ranches, which are ranches that are over a hundred years old that still remain within the same family. So cattle, horses, All of that and these ranches, because it's hard business. So we learned ranching is tough, especially when it's done in 25 degree below zero weather.

So a lot of them are turning the tourism. They're offering  trail rides and ranch stays and that cowboy core tourism that's really hot right now.  And I'm here for it. I want to learn about this region. I want to ride horses and all this helps these pioneer farms and family farms that are struggling to survive in today's, hard economic times. 

So during this tour, you'll learn about the history of the gold rush trail,  indigenous history in the area, which is incredibly important. Um, and the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame.  If you really want to get a deep look in and ask for Patty or Gordon at the museum, they are a wealth of knowledge and they're real life ranchers whose knowledge about the history and ranching culture brings the entire area alive. 

Now let's talk about something that might be holding you back. The cold. Winter travel in the Cariboo requires preparation, but it's absolutely manageable. Here are my top tips for staying comfortable.  extreme cold. One  layer, start with a thermal base Both of those are your fri  base layers. And there's a reason for that.

They keep you warm,  uh, they keep you dry and they don't smell if you start sweating them.  Then you want to add an insulating middle layer. In this case, I had  a synthetic base layer and  a merino wool sweater  plus a light windbreaker jacket and then I finished with my big massive puffy jacket that's Rated for the extreme cold and trust me.

I stay pretty warm  now My fingers and toes were a different story. Good boots rated for extreme cold or essential.  I recommend boots rated to at least minus 30 degrees Celsius and you want to wear multiple pairs of warm socks. preferably wool socks, and layer your gloves.

So get those thin liner gloves and put those under warmer mittens. I found that mittens worked better than regular ski gloves, especially when I was snowshoeing, because I want to take them off, take them off. photos and I had to, you know, use the poles and my fingers got really, really cold and it was just unwieldy.

So I think mittens is the way to go.  Hand and toe warmers are lifesavers. Pack plenty of them. In fact, that's the only thing that really saved my little fingers were having those hand warmers inside my gloves.   You also want to invest in a good neck gaiter or a buff. It's amazing how much warmth you retain when your neck is covered.

And if you don't have any of these things, consider renting gear for specialized activities. Most outfitters provide appropriate gear for their adventures.  Eco Tours BC, for instance, had extra boots in case people didn't have boots that were appropriate for hiking and wildlife viewing all day long.  One of the things I loved most about visiting in winter was how the season transforms for the region.

The crowds are smaller.  But the scenery is stunning and you get to experience activities that simply aren't possible in the summer. Plus there's something empowering about mastering winter travel skills.  For accommodations, we stayed at several places along the way. Um, a couple of my favorite were the historic Wells Hotel in Wells, and we'll get to that one,  and the , very modern, Best Western in Williams Lake.

Each offered different experiences, but all were comfortable and very welcoming to female travelers.  Well next, let's talk about planning your trip. The caribou is accessible via several regional airports, but I recommend flying into Williams Lake and renting a car.

The roads are well maintained even in the winter, but you must get winter tires and keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. If you don't feel comfortable driving in ice and snow, which I don't, so luckily I had a driver, you can hire drivers or use Uber. , please don't try to master  deep winter driving if you've never done it.

So really look into what kind of shuttles or private drivers are available.  The best time for a winter visit is between December and March. I went in February, which was perfect for ice fishing and wildlife viewing. 

 British Columbia's Highway 24 is nicknamed the Fishing Highway. And that's because they've got  tons of lakes, natural lakes, all of them so beautiful along this one highway,  but it makes it. Really popular for ice fishing. Here's the thing, ice needs some time to get solid, so February was perfect. The ice was about a foot or so thick, so we didn't have any worries about falling through the ice or being unsafe.  Book your accommodations and activities in advance if you go in the winter. While the region isn't overcrowded when it's that cold, the best guides and hotels do fill up pretty quick.  Budget wise, expect to spend about two to three hundred dollars per day.

That includes accommodations, activities, and meals. Many activities include gear rental and their prices, which Kind of helps keep the costs down.  So before we wrap up, I want to address something I often hear from women at our age. That adventure travel is for younger people.  My experience in the caribou proved exactly the opposite.

The guides are accustomed to working with travelers of all ages and abilities and activities can be adapted to your comfort level.  What makes the caribou special for women travelers is the combination of authentic adventure and genuine hospitality. You can push your boundaries while knowing you're in good hands. 

The local communities are supportive, the guides are all very professional, and the experiences are unforgettable.  As I sat in my fishing shelter on that first day, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of pink and gold, I realized sometimes the best adventures are the ones that take us completely out of our comfort zone.

The caribou in winter did that for me. And I think it might do the same for you.  I should mention one last magical experience, the scotch tasting at the Wells Hotel. Picture this, you're in a historic hotel that dates back to 1934,  sitting in a cozy pub with original fur flooring , and before you is one of Western Canada's largest collections of single malt scotch.

Over 300 varieties. The owner guided us through the tasting that felt like a journey through Scotland's different regions, each whiskey telling its own story. And yes, ladies, if you ever felt intimidated in a whiskey bar, this is the perfect place to explore and learn in a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere. 

So for more information about planning your caribou winter adventure,  You can visit Hello BC's website, which we'll have in the show notes. And there you'll find all the links to all the places and activities I mentioned, plus additional tips for winter travel in Canada.  So guys, again, this is Heidi Brandes for Untethered and Wanderwise,  reminding you that adventure has no age limit. 

Thanks for listening and happy travels.

 Be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast fix. Check us out on Instagram at untetheredwonderwise,  that's no and, for even more travel inspiration and tips. Until next time, happy travels.