The Canadian Rangers are using this region as an outdoor training site this week, with a U.S. military contingent joining them.
"Our guys are wilderness guys," said 2nd Lt. Ian Carter from the group's headquarters in Victoria. "We work in all extreme outdoor conditions."
Preparing for these conditions is the reason they are here, along with four soldiers from the U.S. National Guard based in Washington State. They will be here starting Wednesday for an undisclosed length of time.
The 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will be deployed in an area north of Prince George and south of Mackenzie (in the general vicinity of Whiskers Point) for winter wilderness training.
The group is a division of the Canadian Army and made up of paid community members who wear the nation's uniform on a part-time basis.
With an emphasis on search and rescue, the Canadian Rangers are armed with rifles, have use of Canadian Forces vehicles, equipment and have a national defence mandate.
They often work in conjunction with the RCMP, local search and rescue groups, the Rocky Mountain Rangers militia companies and other community agencies.
The other nearest towns with an affiliated Canadian Rangers patrol team are Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Valemount, Tumbler Ridge and 100 Mile House - a total of 24 in B.C. plus 18 more spread across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The army refers to this region as Land Forces Western Area for the purposes of the Canadian Rangers. More than 1,000 residents (plus 674 up-and-coming youth) of these provinces are members of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group based within those provinces.
There are four other Canadian Rangers regions, with patrol groups in seven provinces and all three territories. Approximately 4,200 citizens from coast to coast to coast wear the Canadian Rangers red uniform (augmented by some gear of the regular army, plus personal clothing items).
