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ѻýIѻýll have to go back with a chiselѻý: huge mess at abandoned homeless camp near Big White

Kane Blake said that he isnѻýt surprised by anything he finds dumped anymore
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The cleaned up an enormous pile of garbage from the forest near Big White on May 11, and there is still more work to do.

ѻýI will have to go back, probably with a chisel, to get the garbage still frozen to the ground,ѻý said Kane Blake.

It took about 10 people, a dump trailer, a stack of garbage bags and a day of hard work to remove most of the junk from the homeless encampment.

He told Capital News that despite the alarming amount of trash found at the site, he was not surprised.

ѻýIѻým more shocked to go down a road and not find garbage than find it.ѻý

Over the years Blake said he has found two ATMs, about 2,000 square feet of carpet and underlay, and a full-sized double door fridge.

ѻýI donѻýt even know how they got it between some of the trees,ѻý he said about the fridge that was found deep in the forest on single-track trails.

Blake said that the and uses every penny they get to buy rakes, shovels and equipment needed to keep the Okanaganѻýs backcountry clean.

He said that there has been a definite increase in illegal garbage dumping over the last two years.

ѻýItѻýs slowly filling up our backcountry.ѻý

Blake and the other members of the task force are avid outdoorspeople who just want to be in the backcountry.

Unfortunately, to enjoy the pristine wilderness around Kelowna the task force has to dedicate a lot of time to cleaning up the mess others leave behind.

ѻýItѻýs laziness and entitlement,ѻý he said.

The fees at the dump are not expensive, he said. If you can afford to renovate your house or buy a new mattress, Blake said that you should be able to afford the inexpensive fees at the dump, especially since illegal dumping that comes with the risk of hefty fines.

ѻýBeing able to go into the backcountry is a privilege, not a right.ѻý

READ MORE: Battle to be a Spartan at Big White this summer

READ MORE: Snow expected overnight in mountain passes of Fraser Canyon, Southern Interior



Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com

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Jacqueline Gelineau

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