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British Columbia's Wilderness Touring Specialists Comfortable, Personalized Backcountry Touring into the most remote reaches of British Columbia. Experts in Multiday Safaris throughout the Province. Press Release 17 July 2002 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada - What happens when you take four nice folks from Manitoba to the top of the Thompson Plateau? Or Japanese visitors to the top of Blue Grouse Mountain? Or how about the Mom from England touring through the lakes district of Okanagan Highlands? Or the visitor from California who is more used to concrete and people than Douglas Fir and Whitetail deer? Or travel writers with a global perspective on tourism? Rave reviews on GeoQwest's first month of British Columbia backroads touring! Since our final licencing at the end of March, we have been spreading the word that GeoQwest is now "Up and Rolling"! What have we been up to?
* touring writers and photographers from the Society of American Travel Writers, We had a fabulous time touring delegates from the Society of American Travel Writers Conference into the backroads of the Thompson Plateau and the Okanagan Highlands. We had the distinct pleasure of guiding writer/photographer and incoming President of the S.A.T.W., Steve Giordano and his wife Lynn on the photo competition. His photo of a black bear we found on the Westside was a hit of the meeting. He was so taken by the concept of our company and the fun we had that we teamed up again for a Monday trip. The moose we found on the lower slopes of Little White was a delight to Steve and the other journalists on board. Steve also felt that GeoQwest and our Ford Excursion was worthy of the automotive column in the June edition of RV Life magazine. Joe Rosendo of Travel Scope, aired on four California and one Tampa Bay radio stations, our Monday trip and interviews along the way. As the potential of the GeoQwest concept and it's vision sank in while he gazed at the view from high above the lake, Joe stated that in a year from now, we will forget all about him while we provide outstanding touring to international visitors with a fleet of vehicles driven by backcountry professionals! Thanks Joe. But lets keep our feet...or wheels, on the ground for now. A group of Japanese Performers from Kelowna's Sister City in Japan, Kasugai, enjoyed a trip to the top of Blue Grouse Mountain. The view of the city, lake, blue sky and Monashee mountains were breathtaking. Although we didn't manage to spot a bear, they were rewarded by surprisingly tame mule deer that stood and posed for us alongside the trail. They were thrilled at the green canopies, fresh air and stunning vistas. The four wheel drive road was also a thrill they had never before experienced. Plans are afoot for a tour inspired by the International Sculpture Symposium. GeoQwest is a supporter of the symposium. Our tent is sheltering the work of British carverPhilip Bews beside the Okanagan Grand Resort. Our "Marble an' Granite an' Jade an' Other Cool Rox of the Okanagan Tour" will showcase the local rock types sculptors commonly use for their work. Of course, our routes will be through some of the best scenery our province can deliver. Our innovative business concept has gained GeoQwest input in a provincial study on commercial uses of crown land. Our low impact, sustainable use of the backcountry and our information and exposure of our clients directly to the science of the backcountry working culture has tremendous potential to increase British Columbia's profile on the international tourism radar. Our vehicle may also be used later in the season to access the backcountry for visiting principles in the study. The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce/Kelowna Tourism have shown much appreciated faith in our business concept and introduction by including us in events in Kelowna. Most recently, GeoQwest was invited to address a group of 20 traveling delegates from various provincial tourism associations including Tourism Vancouver and hellobc.com. Our Mining Heritage Tours fit beautifully with their recent trip through the West Kootenay mining districts of Rossland, Kaslo, Sandon and the Slocan Valley. Their tour of the Rossland Le Roi Mining Museum and the Grand Forks Rock Candy barite/fluorite mine has made them aware of the touring potential of our province's extensive mining heritage. We are continuing to make contacts in Kelowna with event coordinators as a number of our clients from conferences held in town were disappointed that GeoQwest had not made the conference list of available activities. Jim, a veterinarian attending a conference at the Okanagan Grand Resort, had a great time including filling in a washout on Terrace Mountain to help get the truck through. He and his friends and spouses where so happy to get away from the "conventional convention stuff" for a day that he was going to mention to the Quebec based event organizers that they need to add us to their list of activities for visitors to British Columbia. So much convention activity is town centered where many visitors enjoy personalized, local, informative and flexible touring into the mountains they see from their hotel rooms and patios. Happy travels!
Steve Noakes |
