Eric and I toured the
west of Canada in august/september
of 2001. We spent about two weeks camping and
hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks of
Banff,
Jasper,
Yoho, and
Kootenay. We did not
visit Mount Revelstoke & Glacier.
Apart from
the Rockies, we also spent time on
Vancouver Island,
and in Calgary,
Vancouver, and the
Kootenays and Okanagan regions.
Kootenays
& Okanagan
Kaslo
Sandon
Okanagan
.
On our way from the Rocky Mountains to
Vancouver Island, we spent two days in the
Kootenays region. The Kootenays is a region
of long and narrow lakes that all run roughly
north-south in between mountain ranges; these
lakes are formed by dammed rivers running through
the valleys.
We drove along the shore of Kootenay Lake and
enjoyed the beautiful views. Apparently, this
region is a popular vacationing spot for "locals":
many Canadians come to the
Kootenays for fishing. We adapted a little, and
rented a small boat for a few hours, but we didn't
fish - for us, the purpose was only to view the
scenery from the water! It was fun for us to be
in a region with virtually no European tourists
for a bit.
Top
Kaslo (on Kootenay Lake) and Nelson are
supposed to be two of the most attractive towns
in the Kootenays, and we decided to spend a few
nights in Kaslo. Due to the Labor Day weekend,
however, the cheaper
guesthouses in Kaslo were all booked, and we ended
up in a guesthouse called Woodbury on the Lake, a
little to the south. The owners, Phil and Monique,
were very friendly and provided us with wonderful
breakfasts. However, you may prefer to stay in the
cabin in their yard, rather than in their basement
suite, as the latter is separated from the rest
of the owners' house by a curtained-off staircase
only. I felt a little like I was intruding in
their private lives, as I could follow
their conversations.
Kaslo has a walking route which takes you
along a series of "old" and very pretty buildings.
The town has existed since 1850, so calling the
buildings "old" seems a little ridiculous for
Europeans. They do look very nice, though, and
the restored riverboat, which houses the
Information Center, fits in very nicely.
.
Top
Near Kaslo lies the ghost town of Sandon.
This town, like Kaslo, was first built around
1850, and apparently it was a booming
town, attracting rowdy gold diggers with its
saloons and brothels. Then, when
the gold dried up, the diggers left, and the
town was left behind in the woods. Some of
the buildings are now being restored,
including the Generating Station and Molly
Brown's Brothel.
.
Top
On the road from the Kootenays to Vancouver,
we passed through the Okanagan, just a few miles
from the US border. The road is small and winding
and jammed with RVs, so the driving is not too fast,
but the views are beautiful. The photograph above
shows the town of Osoyoos, from the pass to
the east.
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