How to get introduced to the Rossland Range Rec Site, with a Snow Host
For those who don’t already know about it … the Rossland Range Recreation Site is a large area used (for free!) by skiers, boarders, snowshoers and some fat bikers in the wintertime, and by hikers and cyclists in the snow-free season. The several day-use shelters there are usually occupied by people resting, warming up and...
Grand Forks Gas leak forces evacuations of several Grand Forks buildings
On Wednesday, January 9, 2019 the Grand Forks RCMP were advised of an above ground propane leak at the Canco gas station situated along Highway 3 within the community of Grand Forks, BC. Highway 3 was closed and as a precautionary measure neighboring buildings that included Grand Forks Secondary and Dr. D.A. Perley Elementary...
Some memories from our hills
Tales of the Trails: up in the new Lepsoe Basin cabin, there was – and should still be – a copy of a slim volume of ditties penned by “The Convert,” real name John Forrest, who described himself as “an old retired Red Mountain ski patroller and downhill fanatic now addicted to tall tales and the...
Column: Forestry issues
We’ve heard a lot in the news lately about the challenges facing the oil sector, but much less about the serious problems confronting another natural resource industry—forestry. Two years ago, the United States placed significant import tariffs on softwood lumber. Those illegal tariffs are still in place, yet we hear almost...
Column: From the Hill -- Homelessness
In this coldest time of the year, we often think of the people in our area who are homeless. Some have ended up on the streets and in rough camps because of mental health issues, addictions, or a combination of the two. Some are children fleeing abusive parents or women fleeing abusive spouses; others have become disabled. ...
Smokies welcome Terness, Cromar
The Trail Smoke Eaters Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce the club has committed to goaltender Logan Terness (’02) for the 2019/20 season along with signing goaltender Chad Cromar (’99) for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. Terness, 16, recently spent the last month with the Smoke Eaters, getting into his first...
Fire at Trail Legion draws 19 firefighters and speedy knock-down
A fire Wednesday evening did thousands of dollars of damage to the building but no one was injured in the blaze, according to Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue Cpt. Glen Gallamore. A press release issued by Cpt. Grant Tyson indicated the call came in at 8:58 p.m. Wednesday, and crews were on scene by 9:02 p.m. "Firefighters...
Responsible motorists make for blessedly quiet Christmas season
Local motorists really towed the line this holiday season, according to Trail top cop RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowish. "The Trail and Greater District Detachment conducted a Christmas Counter Attack 2018 program in the month of December which ran concurrently with province-wide traffic program safety initiatives," Wicentowich said....
Booty's Cabin at Strawberry Pass nearly destroyed
It may have been someone careless with a candle on Christmas Eve. When a small group of skiers passing Booty’s Cabin early on Christmas morning noticed flames through the window, the flames were already a foot high and spreading. A Friends of the Rossland Range Society (FORRS) director says that, according to a firefighter...
Darkwoods Conservation Area to grow
A large tract of protected lands stretches between Nelson and Creston, including areas managed by the Province of British Columbia and the Darkwoods Conservation Area, owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Yet one area within Darkwoods — the Next Creek watershed — remains unprotected. This is about to...