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Family visits make Kaslo's summer even better! |
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Written by Charlotte Morse
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Sunday, 24 August 2008 03:21 |
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We just had a great visit with our daughter, Sue, and husband, Merle, from Portland, Oregon, wait a minute, also their three dogs! Now some of you may have heard of our dog, Sophie, a "bit" of a barker, but getting better in her mature years. Our Sophie had a very hard time taking care of all of her "cousins", and yes, she had to bark to take care of her job as hostess of Upper Kaslo! Sorry neighbors and Friends, but it was all worth it for Garf and I to have Sue, Merle, Randy, Janet, Annie, Michael and OF COURSE Naya, our Great Granddaughter, all together in our "Shangri-la" of Kaslo!! |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 31 August 2008 00:36 |
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Meadow Mountain the easy way! |
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Written by Randy Morse
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Sunday, 10 August 2008 13:20 |
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The West Kootenay ranks as one of North America's premier alpine areas. Our backyard is blessed with hundreds of trails, taking hikers and climbers into spectacular mountain settings. But what if someone can't manage a tough hike? That's the dilemma that faced us recently when my sister Sue and her husband, Merle arrived in Kaslo for a visit from their home in Portland, Oregon. With a broken foot, Sue's determination to get into the mountains seemed in peril. At least until we turned to one of Canada's best hiking guides, Kathy and Craig Copeland's delightful Where locals hike in the West Kootenay, and discovered a way to get well above timberline using four wheels instead of two feet. Destination: Meadow Mountain. Here's what the guide has to say about the route: "If you've got a vehicle that can endure a beating, what you'll see through your windshield here is astonishing. At 2195 m (7200 ft), where meadows supersede trees, the road parallels an abyss. McKian Creek canyon plunges 1150 m (3772 ft). Across it, in plain view, is is glacier-laden, 3090 m (10,135 ft) Mt. Cooper - the most impressive mountain in the West Kootenay, a professional wrestler among pencil-necked geeks. The Purcells on the eastern horizon complete the panorama. This is one of those rare vantage points where even the most jaded trekker might feel overawed." How could we resist?! We had a tough 4-wheel drive vehicle, so off we headed, north from Kaslo for the tiny community of Meadow Creek. From there the route took us up some spine-tingling (literally, thanks to the spartan shocks in Tenzing, our '88 BJ74 Toyota Landcruiser), narrow roads
(thankfully, we encountered not another vehicle on the whole trip) to a magnificent alpine area with numerous areas for picnics with views that make the von Trapp's meadow above Innsbruck look like an urban parking lot. The area is dotted with small alpine tarns, and this time of year the wildflowers are out in force - please tramp around with care, as it takes a long time for delicate high altitude flora to bounce back from a careless boot sole. For detailed directions on the trip to Meadow Mountain, march right into any shop in the region that sells outdoor books, and buy a copy of Where locals hike in the West Kootenay - you'll find it a hoot to read, as well as an invaluable guide to some of the most wonderful back country on the continent.
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Last Updated on Monday, 01 September 2008 12:09 |
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Written by Randy Morse
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Saturday, 19 July 2008 09:26 |
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OK, there are no longer any excuses (just ask Bob, Andrea and Sue Garbula, visitors from Windsor, ON who recently marched up to Kokanee Lake)! The snow is retreating rapidly in the high country surrounding Kaslo. It's time to break out those old hiking shoes, grab a pair of walking poles and some bear spray and head into the alpine! If you're new to the area, or simply like the idea of hiking in a group, there's usually a collective outing every Sunday during the summer to some of the choicest hiking destinations in our neck of the woods. For more info, drop by Kaslo Automotive and speak with Steve. A perfect, and relatively easy intro to our mountains is the access road to Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park down towards Nelson. It's 16 kms up a sometimes bumpy but quite passable access road from the highway (a vehicle with relatively high clearance is a good idea; depending on the weather, 4-wheel drive wouldn't hurt. Having said that, I've seen the road successfully navigated by a very rattled family of British tourists driving a rental RV!). Just over halfway to the trailhead parking area there's a sign marking the trail down to some amazing old growth cedars - a side trip well worth the extra hour it takes to hike down, take a look, and scramble back to your vehicle. 
At the trailhead signs warn about the dangers of leaving your car tires unprotected against the ravages of ravenous porcupines - they aren't kidding - use some of the chicken wire you'll find in the parking area to protect your precious rubber against these prickly, voracious critters! From your car you can amble around the small lake at your feet (perfect for parents with tiny babies in strollers or folks who are mobility impaired), or choose to head up the trail towards Kokanee Lake (4.5 kms), or Kaslo Lake (another 4 kms beyond that). The hiking is fairly easy, there are waterfalls and streams along the way, and soon after leaving the trailhead, great views of the imposing flanks of some of the surrounding peaks provide welcome distraction. Just remember: easy access doesn't mean you can treat being up there too lightly. The weather can change on a dime - a bright sunny day perfect for shorts and a t-shirt can very quickly change into a storm (we experienced high winds and hail at Kokanee Lake on July 14th) that can lead to hypothermia and BIG trouble for the unprepared. So no matter the weather in Kaslo, throw some extra clothing and a flashlight into your pack, just in case! This is an ideal outing for guests who have little time while they're here, but want to get a taste of what those of us who live here year-round get to enjoy on a regular basis. Be safe and have fun! |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 31 August 2008 00:38 |
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Tourism
