Important acknowledgment:
The Whistle Stop Gallery would like to acknowledge that we are honored to work, explore, and create on the unceded lands of the Lheidli T’Enneh and Simpcw First Nations. It is our responsibility to acknowledge the Indigenous land we reside on and provide an inclusive safe space that does not tolerate discrimination in any form. It is our mission to honor diversity and freedom of expression.
Whistlestop Gallery
Artists and artisans of the Robson Valley
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Goat River
Goat River by Darwin Paton
A long term resident of the central interior I was first educated in Forestry. A career change in the 1990’s took me into the Environmental Systems field, where my interests in environmental protection are put into practice.
I am a devout conservationist with strong beliefs in our responsibility to sustainability and to future generations. Even if that means changing the way we do things. Change is good. I find it encouraging that people are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that our activities are having on our environment and that they are more willing to undertake informed choices in order to mitigate that impact.
I pursue the art of photography as a way to record the beauty of our Province’s varied landscapes and the animals which inhabit them. My goal is to capture the essence of fragility in our environment without impacting the subject matter that I am presenting. Using this approach I present moments as they transpired; for that is all they are, moments of experience we are lucky enough to bear witness to.
My works are, and have been, displayed in many towns throughout the interior of BC, as well as Jasper, Alberta. I have participated in numerous group exhibits and twenty six solo exhibitions to date.
Photos of the Goat River Trail by Darwin Paton
The Historic Goat River Trail is located in the Cariboo Mountains and extends from the Fraser River north of McBride to the world-renowned Bowron Lake Provincial Park. The 64 km Historic Goat River Trail follows the much longer original 1886 route for most of its length.
Passing through majestic old-growth inland rainforest, the trail has a colourful history dating back to the late days of the Cariboo Gold Rush when prospectors used it as a supply route. The trail has a cable car at 4 km from the trailhead for hikers to use to cross the Goat River safely even in high water. Fraser Headwaters Alliance (FHA) has also established six campsites on the entire trail. They are rustic, consisting of a pit toilet, a cable bear cache, and space to pitch tents.​​​​​​
​​​​Because it passes through lush heavily forested old-growth, the trail acquires large fallen trees and constant brush growth that must be regularly cut back to provide a safe hike. For the most remote portions of the trail FHA uses a helicopter to fly in a crew, camp and equipment to perform the work. In order to keep the trail open, the Fraser Headwaters Alliance has taken on the responsibility to work on it every year since 1998 and with a tremendous amount of volunteer help has:
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cut out deadfall
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fixed wash outs and damage caused by avalanches and/or stream course alterations
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brushed and rerouted where necessary to prevent erosion and provide safe passage
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provided signage and trail markers
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built boardwalks and bridges
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maintained campsite​​​​​​​​.
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FHA has also published a Goat River Trail informational brochure and has a kiosk at each of the two trailheads that provides information about the trail, its history and unique habitat and ecosystems.
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This trail is a popular hiking trail in the Robson Valley and is important as a recreational trail that community members and visitors alike can use to get out into the wilderness for a healthy lifestyle as it:​​​​​​​​​​​​
Encourages a healthy lifestyle. Though the trail has been improved, hints of its history are still evident in the old blazes and decaying cabins that remain along its length. This trail is an integral section of the National Hiking Trail endorsed by the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC and Hike BC. By keeping the trail open and safe, individuals can continue to hike the Goat River Trail on a regular basis, enabling them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.​​
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Encourages individuals to reconnect with nature. From a recreation point of view, it is one of the few locations where outdoor enthusiasts may obtain a true “wilderness experience” and allows them to reconnect with nature. With hikes ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips, the Goat River Trail has something for every hiker. Day-hikers can experience magnificent old growth rainforest a short walk from the car, while those who venture onto the more remote wilderness sections of the trail can anticipate exciting river fords and stunning mountain vistas.
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Local ecosystems education. The Upper Goat River Valley is one of the last large unprotected intact tributaries of the Fraser River Headwaters and is critical wildlife habitat for many species, including endangered Mountain Caribou and threatened grizzly bear and wolverine. The Goat River has blue-listed bull trout and provides spawning grounds for Chinook salmon that make a 1300 kilometer run to the Goat River from the Pacific. The Upper Fraser Chinook salmon are now classified by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada as endangered. From the Fraser River north of McBride to the world renowned Bowron Lake Provincial Park, the historic Goat River Trail traverses through majestic old-growth inland rainforest and hikers may see moose, deer, bears and even spawning Chinook salmon in late summer. Signage established and updated by FHA helps to educate the hiker of the unique habitat and local ecosystems that the Goat River Trail passes through.
