By Jensen Shields I find it easy to assume that the vast Kootenay backcountry is a portal to another time. Not even all that long ago, the Ktunaxa peoples roamed the forests, using connecting water ways to fish, hunt and trade. As you walk through the outdoors you think to yourself, "This is what they saw. This is what they smelled and felt." But that's not entirely true. British Columbia has seen massive deforestation for the sake of industry and growth. Entire habitats were lost including wetland and old growth forest. Though its footprint is relatively small, Ka Papa Cedars Trail gives the Creston Valley a taste of what our ancient forests once used to look like. Budget: Free Difficulty: Spring / Summertime? Easy. Fall / Winter? Hard Time: 3 hours including travel time from the Creston Visitors Centre. Highlights: Circle trail around Old growth Cedar Stand, Walking bridge over Char Creek Where: Location made easy thank to Trails For Creston Valley Society. Just follow this link. The Trailhead can be easy to miss. Small signs live high up in the trees. There's plenty of space to park. The location is near the Char Creek Forest Service road. Portal Activated! Just a hop skip and a jump away from the Town of Creston, my friend Jesse and I found ourselves parked off the shoulder of Highway 3 near the top the Kootenay Pass. After giving a quick glance at the Trailhead information board we set off on this circular loop of a path that only takes about an hour to wander, even at the laziest of paces. One of the first features we saw was a steel bridge. This structure looks like it will last a few lifetimes. Thanks to organizations like the Columbia Basin Trust, RDCK Areas B & C, J.H. Huscroft Ltd, Dave Jackson Construction, Home Hardware Creston, Pyramid Building Supplies... the trail is bridged and secured through this choke point. The newly install bridge over Summit Creek allows visitors to easily access this trail from Highway 3 Now that we've passed over Summit Creek and through the threshold, Jesse and I had to make a choice. Do we go left over to Ralph's Grove? Or do we... "Ralph's Grove!" It's easy hiking with people who know what they want. Signs are at every single fork in the path so you wont feel lost. The backdrop of each sign is actually an image from the works of local Creston artists like Sandy Kunze, adding a nice uniquely local touch to the trail. Rather than dealing with steep slopes there are steps. Fallen trees have also been cut to clear the way. The paths themselves are almost a metre wide at all times and there are a few benches here and there so that you can take the time to sit and enjoy the mountain silence. Needle Ice As Jesse and I continued our leisurely stroll in the woods we couldn't help but notice something going on below our feet. Every single step had a satisfying crunch. It was only after lifting the ground up that we saw one of nature's curious phenomena. The Needle Ice stays affixed to its forest floor bed when lifted off the ground and flopped over. The crystalline product of moisture freezing and escaping the porous ground conjures up images of Kal-El's Fortress of Solitude. 80% of the path was covered in needle ice but hidden under a layer of pines, sticks and moss. Is this a safety hazard? Well duh, of course it is! Pack your boots and be careful when going down slopes as the ground will break, creating a magic carpet ride of ice and dirt. If you enjoy hiking in the winter and come across terrain like this or perhaps some straight up ice and snow, pack some microspikes with you. These puppies are great for keeping a sure foot on icy terrain and easy to remove when you get back to solid ground. Ancient Cedars Once the big cedars come into view, you are reminded of another era. These larger than life trees look like they belong in the Lord of the Rings or the forest moon of Endor. Luckily there are no Ring Wraiths or Ewoks, only the faint memories of what you imagined the forest looking like as a child. Ralph's Grove is also home to many mushrooms, all frozen solid and enormous. The Mycelium below connect the mushrooms, thus forming large ring patterns that Jesse was able to find. My eyes were transfixed above, gazing at the ponderous canopy of these ancient and dying trees. No scientific photo is complete without a person for scale. Okay maybe I'm being a little over dramatic here but I did feel a sense of sadness in Ralph's grove. B.C. is a fire-based ecosystem where it's not a matter of if, but when the forest floor will burn and purge. It was strong cedars like these that would stand tall and survive such purges. If you were to count the rings in a cut section, you can see with your own naked eye when a forest fire licked the sides of these behemoths. I'm not saying there weren't ever any crown fires, but usually that happens when a burn doesn't happen in a long long time. Unfortunately it would be man, not fire, that would spell the end of the old growth forests. These thoughts grew to a conversation with Jesse about the importance of nature conservation. We understand that forestry plays an important role in the Kootenays. But it's sites like these as well as important watersheds that need to protected. Not just for the survival of bears, birds and ungulates. But for us too! B.C is a big place. There's room for Provincial and National Parks and industry. There's room for sustainability and the sharing of ideas. We shared our thoughts while situation on one of the many benches that look like they were built out of one massive logs, keeping its natural look. Snacking on spicy asian rice crackers and sharing a beer, we also made sure to leave no trace of waste. Pack in. Pack out. Also remember that this is bear territory. Don't be afraid to make some loud mountain calls while beating your chest like a Sasquatch! Stay on the path, not only so that you don't get lost, but to preserve the forest floor. Let it grow. This is one of Creston Valley's newest trails and I hope to see it grow. So much work went into it thanks to Trails for Creston Valley Society. Hey I want more! Thanks to our ever-evolving website, we've categorized our posts, blogs and informative links. If this post piqued your interest in hiking, be sure to check out our hiking section to learn more about what our bucolic valley has to offer. Location Map

The site of the original Kootenay River cable car ferry, this site is arguably the calmest section of the river. The old road to the river's edge acts as a rustic boat ramp that continues to be the prime launch spot for all sorts of water adventures along the river, including for boats, waterskis, kayaks, SUPs, and canoes. A nearby turnaround spot also provides room to park vehicles and boat and boat trailers and includes picnic tables and a fire pit for recreation users. After launching into the slow moving Kootenay River many paddlers travel down (southwest) with the current towards the channels & wetlands around Nick's Island road bridge to watch for wildlife and birds. Those with boats may choose to go up or down the river towards Duck & Kootenay Lake instead. The Old Ferry Landing can be reached fairly quickly from Creston by car or bicycle along the unpaved Kootenay River Road, which connects with Highway 21 just west of the town.

There is nothing quite compares to the feeling of joy one experiences breaking through the gloomy mid-winter cloud cover into the bluebird skies way up high on Kootenay Pass. Ski touring paradise can be found in the 1133 hectare, Stagleap Park, only 45 km west of Creston, BC on Hwy 3. At an elevation of 1775 metres, known as one of the highest passes in Canada, this equates to excellent early and late season conditions and consistent snowfall throughout the winter months It is important to ski prepared with an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and a backpack and be sure to check the weather conditions at www.avalanche.ca before heading out. ATES ratings are particularly helpful on the Avalanche Canada Site, helping you to choose terrain that matches your skill set and risk tolerance. Cornice Ridge Considered a nice easy ½ day ski tour, the Cornice Ridge route is the perfect introduction to skiing the Kootenay Pass. There is a warm-up shelter at the main staging area that is day use only, and be aware of the Permanent Avalanche Control Closure on the North Side of Cornice Ridge. With an ATES rating of easy, all skill sets can enjoy this route. Stagleap Park Staging area Ripple Ridge/Lightning Strike Cabins The Ripple Ridge cabin and the newer Lightning Strike cabin are cherished destinations for many backcountry ski tourers and snowshoers from around the world. Maintained and managed by the Ripple Ridge Society these cabins can be booked for overnight stays, allowing you to extend your adventure in the beautiful Kootenay Pass. Typically, it takes about a one hour trek to reach the cabins from the staging area along Hwy 3 via Stagleap Park, with very amicable simple terrain to navigate on route to the cabins. Users of the cabins are asked to use the parking area to the east of Bridal Lake when possible. The trail to Ripple Ridge Rec Site is on the south side of Hwy 3 directly across from the public restrooms. Distance to the cabins is approximately 3.2 kms. From the cabins, several ski tours are accessible including Baldy Rocks, Lightning Strike, and Ripple Peak/Twin Lakes. Please plan and dress for all weather conditions as the weather along with the snowpack can change quickly in the Kootenay Pass.

Arrive filled with questions and leave with the gift of knowledge blog post by Ilana Cameron I was anticipating the stories and the beauty of the lake but I didn't expect to come home changed, to feel the very landscape under and around me to have shifted into focus, to come alive with a deep and powerful legends that were just waiting to show themselves. We take history for granted, where only a select few stories seem to stick in our minds. But there are so many stories, so many histories that surround us that we are completely oblivious to. This is just one of the many opportunities you can take to learn about the rich Ktunaxa culture. Lake and Legends Boat Tour Where: Kuskanook Harbour (27.1 km from Creston Visitors Centre). Budget: $125 per person (min 5 / max 7) Ages: 8+ When: (Book a date through Legend Logos, at the Yaqan Nukiy Heritage Centre) What to bring: Snacks, a camera, sunscreen, a light jacket, a hat and your questions for Robert Louie. We arrived at Kuskanook Harbour at 8:30 am for our 9:00 am tour. There, visitors and locals took advantage of the calm conditions, getting ready for their own adventure via kayak. Robert Louie, a Ktunaxa elder, greeted Jensen and I at the Kuskanook Harbour dock. We swatted a few mosquitoes and waited for the other tour guests. Robert gave an introduction, explaining his daily practices, some of the context for the stories he was primed to share with us, and what we'd be seeing on our journey. Dean was our friendly boat captain for the trip, he runs Blacktail Ridge Charters. You can book him to take a group to the other side to spend the day fishing on one of the many beautiful and remote beaches. Once we boarded the boat we headed to see pictographs on our side of the lake. Robert Louie explained what the Ktunaxa use to make the paint and what their paint brushes were made from to paint the pictographs thousands of years ago. He pointed to a mountain across the way and explained it was the chief of the lake. Its protector. This continued throughout the tour, mountains became legendary creatures with stories and adventures that explained how they got there. Tree lines and their shapes lay the foundation of legends. A great deal of shoreline is explored during the tour. Each cliff side or beach, another place Robert has seen by canoe many times before. Stones jutting out of the lake at times have no pictographs, but have the shape of a wolf head. Remnants of a legendary time before the Ktunaxa people roamed the land. The Coyote, Bear, Frog and Sturgeon all have a role, shape and influence on the stories told by Robert. It's important to listen carefully and ask questions during this tour. Robert draws from 10,000 years of history, he does it eloquently and with levity. It's an opportunity of a lifetime to see this landscape through his eyes and the eyes of his people, the Yaqan Nukiy Ktunaxa or Flatbow Kootenay people. For a lighthearted story about some one the first encounters the Lower Kootenay Band had with settlers and explorers, ask about "Ugly Face". Robert not only shared the stories of his people. He told us of his past. Having escaped a residential school and survived on his own as a child, he serves as a reminder of Canada's darker past. Robert, himself is living history that many either choose to ignore or forget. But I want to learn more! The Lower Kootenay Band website offers some deeper insight in the history of the lands that surround Creston. Yaqan Nukiy Heritage Centre includes Custom Embroidery, Cultural Gift Shop, Eco Tours, First Nations crafts, souvenirs, t-shirts, jewellery, moccasins, tipis. Artisans working on-site. The Legend Logos Shop has unique gifts including buckskin products, crystal dream catchers, and original First Nations art embroidered on gift items. A custom embroidery service is also offered. Watch local First Nation artisans working on-site, manufacturing gift thems. Explore the rich heritage of the Yaqan Nukiy peoples who have lived in this area for over 10,000 years.

High in the Rocky Mountains, the Kootenay River begins its journey, carving a route through the Rocky Mountain trench into Montana before making a wide loop through Idaho and then heading north into B.C., flowing into Kootenay Lake before draining its way into the Columbia River near Castlegar. The river basin once formed 70 KMs of wetland habitat, approximately 8-10 KMs wide, from the south end of Kootenay Lake down to Washington State, providing an incredible habitat for many species of fish, birds and other wildlife, in turn sustaining the local Ktunaxa as an important area of their traditional territory. During the early 20th century, settlers to the area eventually established dykes and drained the majority of the valley floor, providing verdant land along the river's snaking banks that still sustain the community's thriving farming community, and allowing us all today to reside on and enjoy the established lands of the Ktunaxa people. Today, the deep winding Kootenay River also offers plenty of recreation opportunities from fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating with access from the Old Ferry Landing Boat Ramp.

The closest boat launch on Kootenay Lake from Creston, the Kuskanook Harbour & Boat Launch provides easy access to the lake for those who want to get out on the lake for boating and fishing as well as for kayaking, canoeing, and SUPing. The launch is maintained by the Kuskanook Harbour Society, which sells annual memberships for the marina as well as annual & one time launch passes, which can be purchased at the office or at Wynndel Foods. The facility is open to public for fishing off the dock and also includes a picnic area, rest area, outhouses, and garbage bins. 9353 Highway 3A, Kuskanook 250-254-9810 www.kuskanookharbour.com

The Yoga Room Studio is located just outside downtown Creston along Northwest Boulevard, providing yoga classes and yoga therapy to the community in a warm, welcoming and professional environment. The Yoga Room teachers are grateful to serve the community with their variety of public yoga classes and more therapeutic offerings, dedicated to treating the individual and specializing in modifying poses to meet your unique needs. For information on classes and schedules, check out the Yoga Room's website. 1204 Northwest Blvd, Creston, BC (250) 428-7997 www.theyogaroomcreston.com

Looking for a bit of fun local entertainment? Footlighters Theatre Society is an award-winning local performing arts group based in Creston that produces a wide range of shows, from melodramas to musicals throughout the year at the Kootenay River High School Auditorium. Visit their Facebook to get news on the latest performance dates, times and ticket information. Footlighters Theatre FB Page

Stop in to visit this charming and quaint artisan gift shop in Yahk along Highway 3, famous for their playful roof-top goats Walter, Toot, and Buttin. Inside the gift shop you'll find a colourful and aromatic collection of local handmade soaps, candles, skin and body care products plus work from other local Kootenay artisans. With friendly staff and a ton of selection, you're guaranteed to find something for yourself or a loved one. Once you've finished shopping, be sure to pop in next door to Two Scoop Steve's & Yahk Mountain Cafe for an ice cream or snack! 8707 Johnson Road, Yahk 250-424-5166 www.yahksoapandcandleco.com

Located along Highway 3/95, Yahk Provincial Park is a great resting place for travellers. Near the Moyie River in a quiet well-spaced forest this 26 site campground and day-use area is a great introduction to BC Park visitor facilities. The adjacent hamlet of Yahk has many services and tourist supplies. Take the kids for a stroll 5 minutes down the road to check out the wonderful Yahk Soap Company gift shop with their charming goats on the roof and ice cream at Two Scoop Steves! 8440 Highway 3 Yahk 250-422-3003 BC Parks Website - Yahk

Located in the small hamlet of Yahk just east of Creston, the community centre hosts everything from regular yoga classes and jam sessions, seasonal Fall and Christmas craft fairs, to the annual Yahk Summerfests and Winterfests respectively. Facilities include the hall, indoor gym, kitchen, outdoor music pavilion, multi-use sport court, bocce and horseshoe pits, and baseball diamond. The hall and park are also available for rent for large gatherings like family renunions and weddings in summer and can be booked through the Yahk-Kingsgate Recreation Society. 8790 Railway Ave, Yahk BC 250-424-5462

Conveniently located ten minutes from the Kingsgate-Eastport boarder crossing in the hamlet of Yahk, next to Yahk Provincial Park and Moyie River, this quaint motel and campground offers 3 fully serviced RV sites, showers, laundry service, and wi-fi, and is welcoming to well-behaved pets. The motel also includes a playground for children and is conveniently located just minutes walk away from Two Scoop Steves ice cream shop and the entertaining goats on the roof at the Yahk Soap Company! 95-8769 Highway 3, Yahk, BC | 250-424-5556 Yahk Motel FB Page