Kootenay Road Trip - New Denver Aug 22-23 2008

After a heavy rainfall warning washed out a Mt Cartier Revelstoke ride and reduced us to dashing around Mt MacPherson trails in Revelstoke we fled south hoping to find better weather. We got to Nakusp, headed to the Hot Springs campground and were horrified by the prospect of camping in open fields and paying for that "privilege".

Thank god for the Backroads Mapbook as we found an alternative - Box Lake campground is 10km south of Nakusp on Hwy 6 and is 35km North of New Denver. it's a really nice Forest Service campground on a fishing lake with an easy trail around it, about 7 sites that are pretty quiet; has lots of firewood and has lots of trees to set up tarps. Pretty much paradise.

Sunset on Box lake, two loons were courting all night on this lake!

We headed to New Denver; found an old friend who had moved there and got driven up to the top of Idaho Peak. We decided to ride down the Wakefield Trail - repeating a ride we had done two years ago. The photo below shows a view of Slocan Lake from the Wakefield trail.

Trevor and Sharon.

More Wakefield trail.

Sharon and Trevor

This trail loses its elevation FAST, thankfully with some steep switchbacks.

Mark.

Wakefield trail.

Mark

Wakefield trail

Trevor

Once you are off the Wakefield trail itself you have to ride down old mining roads. At the bottom of the access road you get to Silverton Creek Forest Servie road which takes you to Silverton; a small town 5km south of New Denver. This area had a lot of old mining sites, the bottom of this road near Silverton Creek was no exception! Trevor built a little booter off this pile of debris to jump from. There are LOTS of heritage relics of the past along this trail and in this area.

We did another ride that day with some locals. Riding with locals is a privilege and we had to work to keep up. So - no pictures!

Trevor booting into Silvertons past.

The next day we went back to the Wilds of Canada bike shop to see if Rob wanted to go riding again. Due to a crash the previous day he opted out but drove the Volvo to the top of Choices for us! Choices is off the Queen Bess road halfway up the Idaho Peak access road and cuts all the switchbacks of another access road on Idaho Peak. It is STEEP, still loamy and did I mention steep?

Trevor in his natural habitat.

Oh look, a steep loam line!

Mark.

Sharon

Lee.

The trail also uses old mining roads to get around.

Sharon.

We then get onto the Alamo trail which is a fun descent in itself or a steepish climb. On this trail is an old mining structure that is falling apart. It's poor shape is faciliated by probably many guys who feel the need to throw big objects down scree slopes.

Sharon and Trevor

Lee aiding to the destruction.

At the bottom of the Alamo trail you can return to New Denver via the Old Sandon road on the South side of the creek, or cross Carpenter creek on the old cable car crossing and head back on the Galena trail.

Mark making the crossing.

Rob from Wilds of Canada Cycles! 422 – 7th Avenue, New Denver Call: 250.358.7941 E-mail: wildsofcanada@yahoo.ca. He can hook you up with a very good map, directions and maybe even a shuttle if you ask nicely enough.

Wilds of Canada.

After getting a second shuttle and riding some other steep loam lines including H-road, we head back to our campsite for our last relaxing night.

Box Lake Forest service site.

The last night can't go without burning all the wood you harvested!

Mark doing the burning man!