In 1966, Willis and Irene were married, joining two Valemount pioneer families together, the Frye and the Blackman families. The Frye family arrived in the Robson Valley in 1911, with 9 children, while the Blackmans arrived in 1915 with ten children. Both families, parents and children made a living making poles, cutting and loading railway ties, falling trees in the bush, doing laundry and cooking for sawmill camps, trapping and hunting. Life was difficult for these pioneers, both fathers died while some of the children were not yet grown, leaving the mothers to find a way to feed their families. These women left behind a legacy of courage, self reliance and stubborn faith. Every once in a while Irene sees some of that flare up in the great grandchildren.
Bill Blackman was a skilled ax man, good horseman and all around excellent in the bush. He was recommended because of his outdoor skills to work for Ernest Lamarque, a Land Surveyor and ended up going on the Bedaux expedition in 1934. Bill was also involved in topographical surveys on the Canoe River, now known as Kimbasket Lake, in 1935. It was during this time that the Blackman Mountain that you see on the Camp Blackman RV Park Campground logo was named, one peak for each Blackman brother that served work on that survey. Bill, Ted and Charlie peak!
Bill was a licensed Big Game Guide, guiding many hunters from around the world. He hunted sheep, goat, grizzly and moose. Bill often hired out to the Hargreaves during hunting season. At times, Willis was called on to help with his considerable hunting skills to help with guiding, to give his father a hand during trapping season. He still hunts to this day, trapping not so much.
Bill bought his trapline which is centered in the Robson/Canoe Valley. The trapline includes all the mountain sides up to the peaks of the mountains, from Canoe Mountains to the Fraser River. It’s a huge responsibility to steward that much land. Owning a trapline is a privilege not a right! Its not a wholesale slaughter of animals, it taking care of the land so the habitat remains healthy. It involves making sure all the water sheds are kept clean, that loggers don’t pollute the land, that they don’t fall timber close to unstable ground, or water ways, that fur bearing animals are not killed needlessly. Its like being responsible for a huge farm, all its animals and the habitat.
Trapping was also a way of life for the Frye family, with one of the daughters, Ella Frye becoming the first licensed woman trapper in British Columbia. She ran the Thompson River Trapline most of her adult life. She was a tough rough woman with more stories to tell than Irene can remember. She could carry a 50 lb pack through deep snow all day to get to her cabins. One time, as she was leaving her trappers cabin, a black bear on her veranda attacked her. She took a club she had and hit it over the head a number of times, stunning it enough so that she could cut its throat with her skinning knife. She was a woman to be reckoned with!
When the owners decided to build the Blackman RV Park Campground, they realized that we were building on the labour and dreams of great grandparents, grandparents and parents. They all wanted a better life for their children, it cost them to leave this land behind for us to put our layer on for the next generation. Our next generations consists of Willis and Irene's two daughters, Penny Courtoreille, Kathy Blackman, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson. Bill and Irene's hopes and prayers are that they will layer with kindness, integrity, and justice.