This August, we welcomed participants and support crews from the Fraser River Challenge to Crescent Spur as their 2026 expedition travelled through the Upper Fraser.
Led by Fraser Riverkeeper in partnership with the Indigenous Stewardship Fund, the challenge is a campaign to build support for protecting 30% of the Fraser Rivershed by 2030. Its summer expedition brought swimmers, paddlers and a long-distance walker through the rivershed, connecting communities and drawing attention to the habitats and waterways that sustain them.
With the Fraser flowing beside our lodge, we were grateful to offer a place to camp, share a meal and hear the stories behind the journey.
What is the Fraser River Challenge
The 2026 Fraser River Challenge expedition took place from August 6 to September 4, following the Fraser from the Mount Robson region toward the Salish Sea.
A swim relay team followed the river downstream, while Justin Smith walked more than 1,000 kilometres through the rivershed. Canoe and raft journeys brought communities, organizations and supporters onto different stretches of the river along the way.
The expedition was part of a larger effort to protect the Fraser Rivershed—the river and the surrounding land, streams and tributaries that drain into it. Working alongside the Indigenous Stewardship Fund, Fraser Riverkeeper is building support for habitat protection that reflects the interests, priorities and protocols of Fraser First Nations.
Welcoming the Expedition to the Upper Fraser
During the early days of the expedition, participants travelled through Tête Jaune Cache, Dunster and McBride before reaching Crescent Spur.
Members of the expedition and support teams camped on our property, and we welcomed participants and supporters to the lodge to learn more about their journey.
Our lodge sits beside the Fraser, surrounded by approximately 600 acres of fields and forest. The river is a familiar part of life here, but hosting the expedition gave us a different perspective on the water flowing past our doorstep and the communities it connects downstream.
For our summer guests, the visit was an unexpected addition to their week. After spending their days fishing and hiking in the surrounding mountains, they had the opportunity to meet people exploring the same region in a very different way—and working to protect its future.
Nearly 50 People Gather for Dinner at the Lodge
One of the highlights of the visit was a collaborative dinner that became one of the largest we have ever hosted at Crescent Spur.
Nearly 50 people gathered around our tables, including expedition participants and supporters, summer guests and members of the Crescent Spur team.
Our Head Chef, Greg Fuchs, and Sous Chef John were joined in the kitchen by Vancouver chef Robert Clark, along with Leigh and Paul, who travelled with him for the expedition. With the rest of our lodge team pitching in, they prepared and served a four-course dinner for the entire group.
Over dinner, we heard stories from days spent swimming, paddling and walking through the rivershed. We learned more about the challenge, the work behind it and the people helping carry it forward.
People who had arrived at Crescent Spur for very different reasons were sitting around the same tables, sharing food and stories, with the Fraser flowing just below the lodge. That gathering is what we will remember most about the visit.
Our Connection to the Fraser River
The Fraser has always been part of Crescent Spur. Hosting the challenge reminded us that the stretch beside our lodge belongs to a much larger river system, connecting mountain headwaters with communities, salmon habitat and the coast.
We were grateful to share a little of our riverbank, introduce our guests to the expedition and learn more about the work being done throughout the rivershed.
Thank you to Fraser Riverkeeper, the expedition participants and support crews, and Chef Robert Clark, Leigh and Paul for including Crescent Spur in your journey. A special thank you to Greg, John and our entire lodge team for bringing everyone together around the dinner tables.
The expedition has concluded, but the work to protect the Fraser continues. Learn more about the Fraser River Challenge and how you can support its work.