How long does it take to ride a horse across  15,000,000 acres of Northern Rocky Mountain wilderness? In this episode, I’m joined by Wayne Sawchuk. Wayne is a conservationist, author, adventurer, cowboy, and wilderness enthusiast.

Wayne led the initiative to protect a vast wilderness area in the Northern Rockies, now protected under the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. I’m excited to talk to him about what wilderness means and what it takes to have an authentic wilderness experience.

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is managed and protected under a unique resource management structure. Wayne tells us how the model was developed and how the model can be applied for future landscape protection efforts.

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) is located in northeastern BC and encompasses 6.4 million hectares (16 million acres) of land with varying conservation, preservation and land use practices. Encompassing large areas of the Northern Rockies and Cassiar mountains, it is named after two great rivers that flow through it: the Muskwa and the Kechika. It has more species in greater abundance than anywhere else on the continent, making it of global importance.

Find In The Land Of Dreamers here: https://gem.cbc.ca/documentaries

Find Wayne’s new book, Crossing the Divide, here:

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places like the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area and the critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure.

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.