A wonderful trail with a very cool discovery at the end. The nice thing about rail trails is that they are often quite flat so as to ensure the trains don't run away in such a manner that they can't be stopped. It is also nice that you took the time to acknowledge the Lemon Creek camps where Canadians of Japanese ancestry were interned during WWII. I do remember the government of Canada issuing a public apology for this in 1988.
@@PiquePictures It was your capture of the plaque (6:48) that piqued my interest. It made me recall a CBC documentary about David Suzuki's life in which he showed photos of his childhood and described the paper thin walls and communal kitchens of the internment camps. The camps were created on farmers' land, leased by the government. It could explain why the rail bed you found was paved over. After the war, the camps were dismantled but there was still a community there and the farmer's could have found it useful to have that railbed converted to a road.
That tunnel and rock slide area is the old highway. It continues up a few kms and comes out at the new highway farther up on the cliffs above the lake.
A pleasure to see this. I live in Slocan Park and during the warmer months, I get out on the trail or river most days, if only for an hour or two. The trail is a gem and the area full of beautiful trails, landmarks and locations not identified on any map. Part of the charm of this area. Still places to explore. Your video portrays that well. The rail trail stops in Slocan as that is where rail cars were put on barges for their journey around "Cape Horn" to New Denver where the rail line starts again. The difference in trail quality between the northern section and southern section is largely due to hard work by board members and a hard won understanding about mechanized use of the trail. You can ban mechanized use but that only works if the community complies. There is no money for enforcement. The worst trail damage we see in the south from users is horses galloping on the trail. If they're just walking, they have no impact beyond pooping on the trail. Which curiously, dog owners are encouraged to clean up, but horse riders are not. I love that you stopped to observe that pole. It dates back to the days of the telegraph but also carried phone lines as technology progressed. From a time when it was near impossible to get a vehicle up the valley and any road that existed ran through properties and homesteads with each landowner building the piece on their property. A piece of that road is clearly visible on my property. More a single lane track than a road. The Slocan Valley Rail Trail Society sells memberships. Twenty bucks a year or a hundred bucks for a lifetime membership. Membership is about showing support for the trail and gives the society leverage when they apply for funding to maintain and upgrade the trail. So membership is important. A lifetime membership is a great way to do that. Donations are always accepted by etransfer (donate@slocanvalleyrailtrail.ca) or by depositing cheques or cash in boxes at trailheads and parking areas. Membership forms and fees can be sent to the same email address. Glad you enjoyed our little piece of heaven.
I am a backpacker and practice the leave no trace principles - would one be allowed to stealth camp off the side of the trail to do this section as an out and back hiker over a few days and nights?
Just watching your video. As a member of the Board, thank you for recognizing the work that our volunteers have been doing. You are showing our Trail at its best. We need better signage by Frog Peak Cafe, as the Trail passes right in front of there and continues for another 4km. It's a paved segment which passes two schools and ends at the West Arm of Kootenay Lake after going through a brightly muraled tunnel. Last year, our Trail counters showed over 110,000 users!
That gradual change in elevation is the result of the rail traffic with steel wheels on steel rails being unable to find traction on any steeper grades.
Great video. I've followed you guys on many of your adventures throughout the province. Now your in my backyard. This is the valley I live in and the trails I ride throughout the year.. nice to see a good video of the trail. Cu on your next adventure.
Thank you for your videos. They have kept me sane this summer. Broken collarbone with surgery required. Just an unfortunate accident while remarking an adapted mountain bike course for the hand-cycling club of Canada.
Love cycling first and foremost. Thanks for the video. It’s great that there’s trails with unmotorized vehicles as I agree it’s the best and safest way to ride. The concerning part is that we aren’t building cycling paths we are taking up roads. I strongly disagree with shared roads, it’s insanely unsafe and contributes to pollution the opposite of two key factors in having bike trails and lanes. Proper, purpose built trails is the way forward, the other will only create conflict. Finally, the Japanese camp is not something I am ashamed of as a Canadian, it happened all over the world, the Japanese attacked and such is humanity. I am embarrassed as a human that we are so selfish, greedy and violent and most of us are completely unaccountable and ignorant that it includes each and every one of us. We like to point fingers. Every race in history has suffered in some way no more, no less its history and human nature. We have the potential to be this worlds protectors but we continually chose destroyers as a species.
You got me really excited about that extension of the trail north of Slocan. I live in the W.Kootenays and never heard of it. Apparently though, it is well known to Strava, but it's only about 3 km long before it merges with the current Slocan - N.Denver highway. There go my hopes for a fun ride or run LOL.
They found the old highway. If you stay on it climbs and meets the new highway just north of Slocan. Highway 6. I cycled it all before the tunnel collapsed. When you get to the top you have to hike up the last part to get to the new highway.
You found the old highway. it was a single lane highway, and was replaced.The rockfall was only about 10 years ago. The road does not go to New Denver it hooks up with the new highway a few klicks past the tunnel
