More than 100 people have been ferried out of an eastern Manitoba provincial park, two days after a road washout left them with no way to drive out.
On Sunday, Manitoba Conservation began ferrying campers, cottagers and canoeists out of Tulabi Falls, a campground in Nopiming Provincial Park, about 150 kilometres east of Winnipeg.
The previous day, Booster Creek spilled over its banks, washing out a large section of Highway 315, which connects the campground to Manitoba's road system. The creek was unusually high due to recent heavy rains.
"It looked like a canyon, with great torrents of water rushing through it," said Geoff Nuytten, who was stranded at his family's cottage with five friends. "Normally this is a trickle of water."
Stranded campers, along with area cottagers, are being taken by boat across Bird Lake, to another campground. They must leave their vehicles behind and arrange for friends or family to pick them up across the lake.
"The staff out there are doing a good job," said Ken Ulrich, district supervisor for Manitoba Conservation in the Lac du Bonnet district, near the park.
Some people have decided to stay at Tulabi Falls, Ulrich said.
"I think they're kind of hoping that if they can stay a couple days that they can drive out," he said.
"We've had some requests for people to go up and bring some groceries back. We'll accommodate those, as well."
Ferrying continued Sunday until dark, and was to resume Monday. Manitoba Conservation will continue to ferry people out as long as the road is unusable.
Officials with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation said they must wait until the water drops before repairs can begin.
Erosion has long been a problem on Highway 315, Nuytten said, adding that construction crews have patched the road several times over the years. He hopes the road will now be fixed properly.
