 Kootenay Country Classic NEW |
Dates: (10 days, 9 nights; Fri-Sun) |
Assembly Point: Spokane/Coeur D'Alene |
Tour Cost: $2,895 |
ItinerarySteep snowclad mountains in every direction; serene glacial blue lakes, forested hillsides and emerald valleys; rollicking rivers and steaming hot springs; ghost towns and historic mining towns—this is the Kootenay Country that will be the focus of our new Kootenay Country Classic.
Situated in southeastern British Columbia and extending southward beyond the U.S./Canadian border into northern Washington and Idaho, the Kootenays somewhat amorphously embrace the vast area drained by the Columbia and Kootenay river system, including Kootenay and the Arrow Lakes. The Monashee Range marks the western reaches of the Kootenays, which extend eastward beyond the Selkirks and Columbia Mountains to the Purcell Range. These are the legendary ranges to the west of the Rocky Mountain Trench that inspires the term “supernatural” so often applied to express the incredible natural beauty of British Columbia.
Timberline long has nurtured a love affair with the Kootenays—initially as part of its Icefields programs that cross the Great Divide and descend to the Columbia River Valley, and then subsequently as integral components of both Classic Canada, which includes a major portion of the East Kootenays, and Columbia River Classic that embraces the Monashees of the West Kootenays. In 2008, our new Kootenay Country Classic is all about the Kootenays—the Purcells, Selkirks and Monashees; the challenge of Kootenay, Monashee and Sherman Passes; the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers; the fertile farmlands near Creston and in the Okanagan; the magnificent lakes—Kootenay, the Arrows, Slocan as well as the glacially carved lakes of the Okanagan; historic mining towns of Salmo and New Denver, and the vibrant resort community of Nelson and Kelowna.
Kootenay Country Classic assembles in Spokane, WA, and we’ll immediately van shuttle the short distance to Coeur D’Alene mid-afternoon on Assembly Day (the day prior to tour departure—July 24). We’ll head north from Lake Coeur D’Alene on Day 1 through the beautiful lake country of Idaho’s Panhandle, including an amazing ride along the expansive shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille. We’ll visit Sandpoint along the way to Bonners Ferry, where we’ll spend the evening on the Kootenay River.
Day 2, we’ll cross the border into Canada, overnight in Creston and then challenge mighty Kootenay Pass (5,686') the following morning. From Kootenay’s summit, we’ll descend to the Salmo River and then trace that river’s course northward through Salmo to Nelson. We’ll spend the evening in this elegant, historic town situated on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Known as the Heritage Capital of the Kootenays, Nelson’s tree-lined streets abound with decorative turn-of-the-century treasures, of which over 350 have been designated as Heritage Buildings.
Day 4, we’ll ride the shoreline of the West Arm to Balfour and then head north along Kootenay’s western shore beyond Ainsworth to Kaslo. We’ll leave Kootenay Lake and begin a beautiful, moderate climb into and over the Selkirks followed by a rapid descent into the Slocan Valley to New Denver on the shores of Slocan Lake. It’s then on to Nakusp on Upper Arrow Lake and an overnight at the Kuskanax Lodge.
Magnificent mountains and shimmering lakes are everywhere as we ride south from Nakusp early morning of Day 5. We’ll ferry across Lower Arrow Lake to the Needles and immediately begin our climb into the Monashees. From the crest of Monashee Pass, it’s downhill, and we do mean downhill, as we approach the Okanagan. Following an overnight in Cherryville, we’ll ride into the heart of the Okanagan on Day 6 to Kelowna, the resort capital of Canada’s “banana belt.”
A well-earned layover day is planned for Day 7, with several optional activities from which to choose, including a morning hike along the restored trestles of beautiful Myra Canyon. Another viable option, of course, would be to do nothing other than vegetate poolside at our Lakeshore Lodge, overlooking Okanagan Lake.
Rested—we’re ready for Day 8. We’ll climb from Kelowna to McCulloch Lake and follow the Kettle River south to Midway, named for its geographic position midway between the Rockies and the Pacific. We’ll overnight in Midway and then ride east into Doukhabor Country to Grand Forks at the confluence of the Granby and Kettle Rivers. The Doukhabors were a religious sect that fled persecution in Russia in the late-1800’s, settling initially in Saskatchewan and subsequently migrating to southeastern British Columbia.
We’re into our final day and we’ll follow the Kettle River south across the border to Republic. And, to dispel any thoughts that this final day is just a downhill cruiser to the finish line, we’ll launch into one last heroic climb as we leave Republic. After, all, the Kettle Range stands between Republic and that finish line, and Sherman Pass (5,587') is our portal over the Kettles. From Sherman’s summit, we then can say that it’s almost all downhill to Kettle Falls on the Columbia. We’ll call it a tour at Kettle Falls and van shuttle back to Spokane.
Total Mileage–665
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