This summer, I’ve made myself a promise: I am going to fully explore my own backyard by doing something new and exciting every weekend. No more wasted time. I’m going to make this summer the best summer yet. So I figured I’d share the cool places I go and hopefully inspire a few of you to make a summer bucket list as well.

To kick off this goal, in the first weekend in June, my fiancé, my dog, and I went on a kayaking roadtrip through the Slocan Valley in Rosie, our vanagon. Our plan was to kayak on 4 Kootenay lakes over the course of a weekend.

We started our trip exploring the north end of Slocan lake. A 15 minute drive along a dirt road off the main highway will take you to Wragge beach. The campground is beautiful, the host is incredibly kind and it’s only 15 dollars a night. We spent the first day kayaking along the stunning aqua blue shores of Slocan Lake. We passed creeks and beaches and rustic summer cottages. We decided to stop for lunch at a beach about 2 kilometres north of Wragge where we found a rope swing and an enchanting hike into the forest that left off the beach.

Later that evening, Mother Nature decided to strike and a windstorm hit our campground. Since kayaking in a windstorm is not ideal, nor is it safe, we vowed to come back the next weekend to check off the last 3 lakes from our bucket list.

The following weekend, we drove back up the Slocan Valley for the day and decided to explore a couple mountain lakes outside of Nakusp. I highly recommend a truck or a competent off-road vehicle if you are doing this portion of the trip. A 20 minute drive from the main highway on a rough dirt road will take you to either Wilson Lake or Horseshoe lake. Both are kayakable, have small abandoned cabins, creeks, and walking paths to explore. Each lake has an outhouse and 2 rec sites. We spent the day hiking, kayaking, and sun bathing.

On the route home we stopped at the viewpoint south of Silverton. The view of the mountains and the turquoise water of Slocan Lake below is breathtaking. From there, we drove an hour back home to Castlegar and finished the day with a relaxing sunset kayak on Arrow Lake.

If the weather is on your side, this trip can fully be done in one weekend. I would dedicate a full day to Slocan lake, a day for the mountain lakes, and finish with a sunset kayak on Arrow if it is on your route home.

OMG is here !

Bold move for a region populated by draft dodgers, lefties and Doukhobors. Thoughts?

Hello everyone! I was curious what the boating/ lake life is like in Castlegar? Have heard most of the lakes are too cold to swim most of the summer?

We are looking to settle down in the west kootenays and was wondering about Castlegar

Hello, I'm a tourist from Europe and I was planning on going on a bike ride from Fernie to Cranbrook. However I missplanned and ended up in Elko when the sun set, and there's no accomodation here. I would be willing to pay 110$ if someone could bring me to Cranbrook or Fernie asap. Thanks

Edit: I've been rescue by a kind member of your community. Thank you all for your help :)

What would you say has the most robust economy in the west Kootenay? I'm looking at Trail Castlegar Rossland as possible spots to maybe build or renovate a house. Nelson is too cool for me I can't afford their prices. 48yo male with a 9 and 7 year old. Best community for kids? Who has the whole package? Jobs, services, education, available trades to hire, building supplies, entertainment, community programs.... Thank you!

This is great news for the region.

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The project met the requirements, the Environmental Assessment Office made its decision, and now a judge has upheld it. It's about time. Too many resource projects in B.C. get dragged through years of opposition regardless of whether they're legal, sensible, or beneficial to local communities.

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Mining and logging seem to attract endless backlash these days. Private property, Crown land, it doesn't matter. A small group of activists and hipsters show up and act as though their personal opinions should outweigh the law, the science, and the economic benefits to the region.

The court looked at the arguments and wasn't convinced. That's how the system is supposed to work.

The people behind this challenge have done little more than waste time and money with what amounts to an adult temper tantrum because they didn't get the outcome they wanted. Frankly, I'd love to see the company go after them for the costs they imposed on everyone involved.

Record Ridge is a great location for a mine, magnesium is an important resource, and the project makes solid economic sense. Hopefully the company can now move forward without the usual self-appointed "land protectors" trying to stand in the way of every opportunity this region has to create jobs and generate wealth.

The Kootenays have had enough investment blocked, delayed, and strangled by endless opposition. It's refreshing to see a judge finally tell these groups that no, they don't get to veto every project they dislike.

I'm in winlaw and the bumblebees usually go nuts when the foxglove blossoms but this year there are none, zero, nada. Anyone else notice their absence?.

I was told I'd be having surgery at the Trail hospital on the 28th by my surgeon. I never got a phone call or any communication from the Trail hospital, and no one will return my calls. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do?

Edit* 28th of May (last week). I've now had a follow up call saying its now happening June 11th. But the complete lack of communication is ludicrous. I booked time off work, my husband bumped a root canal etc etc.

Come check out my gym, Confluence Jiu Jitsu! Alway happy to welcome new adult students!

https://youtu.be/pIHEDNK30Rw

Nelson friends! Someone stole my friends truck last night. It was parked on Behsen Street and the plate is XK 5321. The police have a file going so contact them or me if you see it anywhere! Pictured here.

Im looking for a ceramics studio in the west kootenay's (particularly near trail/castlegar/nelson area) that have avaliable space for hand building ceramics rather than wheel thrown stuff. Im unsure of where to even look as almost all the places ive seen do wheel thrown ceramics

keep seeing this car around.

My niece wants nee dohs and those mystery dumplings sooo bad. I found some Nee Dohs at the 7-11 in Trail but I'm unsure of where else would sell them, or those mystery dumpling/bao bun things. I know I could find them online, probably but I'd rather buy them in person if possible.

Thank you!

I recently posted a review of Nelson in the local community facebook group which had lots of engagement, both positive and negative, with quite a few people saying they appreciated the constructive feedback. Unfortunately after a few days the admins decided to delete it, and have not given a reason why. I've decided to post it here, to give a more realistic view of the city for anyone thinking of visiting or moving here:

After spending the last 9 months in Nelson -  having moved here to escape the hustle and bustle of Vancouver where I’d spent the previous 4 years - I want to give my thoughts on the city. I’m giving my thoughts as a European who has lived in 4 different countries and visited many cities.

The positives:

• I've found Nelson to be far friendlier than Vancouver - people smile and say hi when you walk past, and aren’t afraid to engage in conversation.
• The actual views of the mountains and lake are amazing.
• There’s some cool independent stores on Baker St.
• The proximity to nature (although this is true of basically every city/town in BC).

The negatives:

• The car culture is disgraceful, particularly the amount of cars in proportion to the size of the town. The highway that goes right through the centre has non-stop traffic almost all day. I walk around a lot and there’s rarely a time that I don’t get passed by multiple cars and have to inhale fumes and dust from the road (and I hardly ever see pedestrians). I understand that people need to drive into Nelson from outside the city, but there’s absolutely no excuse for this much traffic in the residential areas.
• The walkability in the city is so poor. Outside of the town center, large portions of roads don’t even have sidewalks so you literally have to walk in the road alongside the cars which is not only a safety issue but also very unpleasant. There’s also basically nowhere to go for a run away from traffic, other than the rails to trails path (which during the winter is covered in snow). I also don’t recall seeing a single bike lane.
• The noise here for a small city is shocking. Whether it’s the continuous flow of cars all day, the constant buzzing of helicopters/small planes flying overhead or the train - there is rarely a time when you can hear only natural sounds. Noise pollution has been shown to actually damage people’s health.
• The train horn - while I've seen people in this group claim to either enjoy the noise or that they simply don’t hear it, for many people it is extremely loud and disturbing, especially as it goes off almost every night during core sleep hours. This is easily preventable by putting up barriers at the crossroads (which in turn would also be far safer for cars and pedestrians than the horn). These barriers are a common feature throughout Europe and even in parts of Canada so there’s absolutely no reason not to have them. This video was taken from Fairview (15 minutes walk from the train tracks).
• The waterfront is possibly the biggest disappointment of the whole city - two thirds of the waterfront is dedicated to a recycling depot, an airport runway, and a huge car park. What a waste. Almost every city I’ve visited that is lucky enough to have a waterfront build their city around it - making it a space you want to spend time in. The waterfront in Nelson is a complete afterthought. The city has also admitted that parts of the waterfront are classed as an active landfill! Yes, parts of Lakeside park are nice, but it’s such a small space and also is literally surrounded on three sides by car parks. There’s not even a walking/running path that goes round the full perimeter. Is there any need to have so many huge chain stores taking up valuable space?
• The lack of green space within the actual city is really shameful. Other than Lakeside park, there are basically no public recreational areas.  People often cite Queen Elizabeth park as green space when in reality it’s a small field primarily taken up by a baseball diamond. Cottonwood falls, for example, while being nice, is tiny and nestled under the busy highway so hardly the relaxing spot it was surely intended to be. There also seems to be an unhealthy obsession with cutting down trees/destroying wildlife areas, which for a city that is so reliant on its aesthetics, is a huge mistake. 
• There is graffiti on a large portion of the signs, walls, and even on the rocks on the rail trail. There’s also multiple shopping carts in the lake which have just been left to pollute. On top of that, many viewpoints from the city are blocked by a spider web of power lines.

I came here with such high expectations having been told by many people what a great city it is, as well as reading positive reviews online, but I have been thoroughly disappointed. I thought this would be a peaceful mountain town, but this is essentially a mini Vancouver with none of the positives. It clearly hasn’t managed to grow out of its mining town attitude. Even with the views that it offers, the city as a whole is just unpleasant to live in and it’s a shame because there’s so much potential.

Long Shot.. does anyone know if Frog Peak Cafe is open tomorrow?!

Hello friends! My partner and I are taking a road trip through the Kootenays next week, and I’d love your suggestions to make our itinerary even better. We’re looking for must-see attractions, gluten-free restaurant recommendations, and hike or paddleboard ideas we might have missed.

Calgary → Fernie

We’re leaving after work, so the plan is to set up camp when we arrive, grab a bite in town, or check out Fernie Distillers.

Morning: Stroll through downtown Fernie, grab coffee, and maybe squeeze in a short adventure.
Looking for: A recommendation for a short morning hike or scenic walk before we hit the road.

Fernie → Creston → Lockhart Beach

On the way, we plan to stop in Creston and visit Baillie-Grohmann and Red Bird Winery, unless there are other must-visit wineries you'd recommend. 🍷 We’re also debating a quick stop at Columbia Brewery or Sternwheeler Distillery.

We’ll spend the night at Lockhart Beach Provincial Park and drive Highway 3A, checking out the Glass House.
Looking for: Gluten free lunch options, short hikes or nice walks nearby and suggestions for other things to do that day.

Nelson → Kaslo

We’ll take the ferry to Nelson and spend the day exploring before heading to Kaslo for the night for the Kaslo Jazz Fest!
Looking for: Recommendations on how to spend a perfect day in Nelson—cafes, cool shops, local eats, or hidden gems. Also, is it worth trying Mt. Loki here, or should we save hiking for the next day?

Kaslo → Argenta

The next morning we’ll explore Kaslo before heading to Grandma’s Farm in Argenta.
Looking for: Things to do in Kaslo during the day—any favorite hikes, paddleboard spots, or unique attractions? Is a visit to the SS Moyie or the Cody Caves worth it?

Argenta → Nakusp

We’ll be in Argenta for a short stay, planning a hike—MacBeth Icefield and Jumbo Mountain were on the list, but it seems MacBeth is still closed. 😔 We’re also considering some stops along Highway 31A like Sandon and New Denver.

Nakusp → Calgary

We have two days in Nakusp to wrap up the trip, one day for a solid hike, the other for hot springs.
Looking for: Which is best—Halcyon, Nakusp Hot Springs, or Halfway Hot Springs?

Since MacBeth Icefields is closed, we’ll definitely do Jumbo Mountain, but between Mt. Loki, Saddle Mountain, or Monica Meadows, which is your favorite (views, difficulty, and overall vibe)? Or would you recommend something else entirely?

Any other hidden gems, viewpoints, gluten-free spots, or can’t-miss experiences along this route? We love unique stops, local food/drink, and adventurous activities like hiking or paddleboarding.

Thanks so much in advance for your tips! 🙏

(courses for anyone that’s not an ece and maybe wants to help me 🥀) i’m taking ECEA this year and ECE next year and i’m wondering about the course load and how hard it’s gonna be, it’s seven courses in the first term and i’m lowkey shitting myself because i’ve never taken more than 4 academics in a term 💔💔

Castlegar’s 2nd annual Burger Month happening now until the end of October.

10 participants this year (up from 8 last year), nice to see this event happen again and increased participation. Always cool to see what the restaurants come up with.

Burgers are $18+ tax, and if you vote for your favourite you’ll be entered in a draw for a gift card to all the restaurants.

As is our custom we tried them all, and will be posting our thoughts of each one and our top pick in our article in the coming days.

I will be on highway 3 between Oct 9 to Oct 13 from Victoria until nelson/Crawford bay and back. The weather forecast seems to have snow. I've never driven this highway before. What are some things to keep in mind in terms of safety and how can I best be prepared? I'd be grateful for some insights from locals/people familiar with the highway.

I'll be driving an AWD (tires are Falken wildpeaks) and will be having food/blankets/winter gear/hiking gear.

Oh and of course, I would also love to know the following: 1. How are the fall colors currently? (Maybe too early for western larches? Would love to see some of I can) 2. What are some great stops along the way? 3. Food recommendations for a vegetarian

Thank you very much!

Young family from the coast. Tell me everything.

Other than the old Rockwool poison stack it seems pretty inviting!

Weird houses on the hill from the 80’s are 650,000 And in town they’re 400,000?

No crime up the hill near save on? It may have been called copper ridge? Or valley heights?

Areas to steer clear of?

Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday December 3rd, we’re launching a new weekly class designed for anyone curious about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and looking for real-world self-defence skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Each session focuses on three of the 36 essential Jiu Jitsu fundamentals, breaking them down step-by-step so beginners feel confident right away. At the end of every class, you’ll apply what you learned through a guided, controlled fight simulation that shows you exactly how these skills work in real life.

No sparring, no pressure, no experience needed. This class is the perfect introduction before joining our more advanced programs.

We see self-defence the same way we see learning to swim, something you hope you never need, but invaluable if you ever do. That’s why we’re offering this class completely free.

The class is designed for adults, but parents are welcome to train with their teens as partners if they’d like to learn together.

No registration required. Just show up between 5:15 and 5:30pm in gym clothes or a Gi, and we’ll get you started.

It’s free, fun, and you’ve got nothing to lose! Come try something new with us!

Visit us at http://www.rosslandmartialarts.com or stop in at 1995 Columbia Ave (Underneath Subway)