KTM ing in the Kootenays

[Holaday]

Left North Vancouver early tuesday morning for Nelson. First stop was Hope for gas. Next stop Princeton for an Americano at Cowboy Coffee. We made it to Osoyoos for lunch and a swim. Next stop Greenwood for an Espresso shake at the Copper Eagle Bakery. I always try and stop here but usually find it closed. Being in Greenwood for me marks the start of the Kootenays eventhough technically its still Boundary country.




Greenwood is Canada's smallest incorporated city. The chick flick Snow Falling on Cedars was filmed here.



Greenwood is a really cool little town a great place to stretch your legs.









Next stop Christina Lake for another swim. Canada's warmest tree lined lake, the 20 km long lake reaches surface temps of 23 degrees Celsius [thats 75 degrees in American] in July and August. Great swimming.




Next stop Nelson. We are now officially in da Kootenays.
Dinner at Leo's. Awesome pizza and icy cold beer.




After dinner we headed out of Nelson to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. We had to camp in the overflow area because the regular campsite is full of people that are so organized they make reservations when they go camping.
The overflow area was very full of less organized people. The tents were so jammed in there that I could here the old ladys beside us farting and talking in there sleep.



The blue tent is our neighbours, the first night they were there his alarm clock went off in his car at 4 am for 10 minutes till I got up and asked him to kindly shut it off


Look who we met at Kokanee Creek. Well travelled Australian motorcyclist Ben Holland. Aus Ben I believe on ADVrider you may recognize him from other ride reports. Ben and his trusty KLR have been from Alaska all the way down to TDF. Had some beers and dinner with Ben, great guy.




Tomorrow we check out Toad Rock Campground.

[Kodanja]

Looking good! Heading up to Kaslo? Get a day pass for the Moyie Sternwheeler.

[Holaday]

This is Mary giving a tour in her custom Volvo work truck. Mary owns and runs Toad Rock. Super nice lady. Brand new sparkling clean bath and shower house in the background, laundry as well.





Toad Rock is set up to cater to motorcyclists who are traveling light. Mary has a couple of tents already set up so if you arrive late or its pouring rain you don't have to set a tent up. She also has a few cabins and old trailers or this bus you could stay in if you don't have a tent all have clean bedding and are only a couple of bucks more than tenting.





Kitchen facilities





Cabin





Gotta service your bike. No problem put it on the lift.





We were at Toad Rock in the morning and Mary said to help our selves to coffee. No coffee Mate here this is what I like in my coffee when on holidays.









Mary's Casa





Next stop just up the road a few kms Kaslo.

[GB]

Keep the Beautiful BC RR comin'

[Holaday]

Kaslo is an awesome little town, there is a good grocery store there and we ended up stopping in there most days to pick up supplies. We didn't check out the paddle wheeler in Kaslo but if you have time check it out. Very well restored.




Nicely restored hotel








After walking around Kaslo and picking up lunch we headed for the old Forestry Lookout on Mt. Buchanan high above Kaslo.





11 kilometers of very sweet logging road gets you to the Lookout at 6272 ft elevation. The Lookout is being rebuilt right now but should be finished this september by the looks of things.





Looking down on Kaslo





990S Shots










Heading back down






Tomorrow we head up into Kokanee Glacier Park and hike into the Canadian Alpine Club hut.

[Holaday]

Pretty much right across the highway from the Kokanee Creek campground the road goes into the Kokanee Glacier Park. 16 kms of nice logging road gets you to the trailhead.







Accessing these trailheads is always a good time on the 990






Big avalanche path











Trailhead parking lot







The resident Porcupine population of British Columbia has developed a taste for rubber tires, rad hoses and other vital components of automobiles this is the way you protect your vehicle if your going to be leaving it over night.







The trail climbs steeply to start with and in about a hour you reach Kokanee Lake












After about another hour of nice alpine hiking you reach the Alpine Club hut on the shores of Kaslo lake.











This is the Slocan Chief cabin built in 1896 originally used for the mining activity in the area. Today the cabin is a museum of local mountaineering history.





Well thats it for the day we'd better get back to the 990 before the porcupines start chewing on my Dunlop 908. Tomorrow we will head up Idaho Peak.

[kootenay kid]

Good on you for getting out and exploring the back country. I live 1 hour from Kokanee Glacier but despite my wifes attempts to get me up there, I've never been. Glad you enjoyed the great Kootenays.

[johnnyadventurepants]

Hey Blair! Looking good so far!

[kwisn]

Nice! Great pics and not very far for me to 'splore. I'll have to give it a go.

[gtcoop]

i was just up there too just a few weeks ago

[The Toecutter]

Love it!

[Holaday]

Originally Posted by kwisn

Nice! Great pics and not very far for me to 'splore. I'll have to give it a go.

Originally Posted by kootenay kid

Good on you for getting out and exploring the back country. I live 1 hour from Kokanee Glacier but despite my wifes attempts to get me up there, I've never been. Glad you enjoyed the great Kootenays.

Thanks for your comments guys. Get out and explore one of these areas they are fabulous and right in your backyard.

Blair

[Holaday]

Todays destination Idaho Peak high above New Denver and Slocan Lake. We headed north again to Kaslo for lunch supplies and then west on highway 31A to the turnoff for the old mining town of Sandon.





Museum in Sandon


From Sandon we are treated to more sweet steep winding dirt roads.







Looking down on Sandon








Getting close to the top.







From the parking lot its about a half hour walk to the old lookout on Idaho Peak







Idaho Peak wildlife







This guy had no fear. We could of had Grouse for dinner but we had other plans.






Looking down on New Denver. There is a great municipal campground right on the lake where the creek enters the lake.







Looking south down Slocan Lake Valhalla mountains and Provincial Park in the background








Alpine Wild Flowers







From Idaho Peak we headed down to New Denver and Silverton.

Coffee in Silverton










From Silverton we head south on HWY 6 along Slocan Lake







Back to the campground at Kokanee creek for a cocktail. Cheers.

[ekms377]

Another great report and ride! Thx!

[MR4WD]

Looking for updates? Completed ride report?