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Rail trail coming closer to Jaffray area
By Dave Savage
Have you enjoyed the NorthStar Trail between Cranbrook and Kimberley yet? This former railway track is now enjoyed by thousands and is an attraction to our area. Open to non-motorized vehicles, walkers and bikers, that trail is now considered one of the best in Canada.
Through the dedication, for over a decade, of Al Skucas, Bob Whetham, the cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook, TrailsBC and the TransCanada Trail and many others, the NorthStar (Cranbrook- Kimberley Rail-to-Trails) Trail is a success.
About the year 2000, Al and Bob also envisioned the development of the rail trail south of Cranbrook.
Six years ago, Al and Marlene Skucas led a number of us on a mountain bike ride from Grey Creek on Kootenay Lake across the pass to Kimberley to Cranbrook to Wardner to Kikomun Creek to Elko and finally to Fernie. It was a fantastic ride through the Kootenays over five days. While much of the ride was on forestry roads, none of it was on a highway. Who likes riding or walking on the shoulder of a highway?
I am delighted to share the news that Al’s dream and dedication is succeeding again. A dedicated group of volunteers has been working together to obtain approvals, funding and now community engagement to develop the section from Cranbrook to Wardner over the next few years.
Thanks to many so far, including; Al Skucas, Neil Shuttleworth, Oliver Thomae, Lisa Cox, Morgan and Barb Bridger, Glen Campbell, Herb Janzen and Dave Savage.
With funding from the TransCanada Trail, the Columbia Basin Trust, the Regional District of East Kootenay and others, we have the opportunity to build this trail starting this summer. The trail bed will be gravel suitable for hiking, riding mountain bikes and cross country skiing.
We will be providing much more information in the coming weeks. Ultimately, our dream is to have a proper TransCanada Trail connecting Kimberley, Cranbrook, Wardner, Elko, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Elk Pass, Kananaskis, Banff and Calgary.
Imagine! We can now look forward to completing the Cranbrook to Wardner section by 2017. Trail clearing, land approvals, funding announcements are happening now. We need our area to work with us
What we need most is for you to contact me to say; “Dave, I want to help make this a reality.”
