The Trails for Creston Valley Society has received final approvals from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources on the designation to create an interpretive trail through a stand of giant cedars along Summit Creek.
This site was a favorite of the late local outdoorsman Ralph Moore, who loved to take his winter snowshoers trekking through this impressive ancestral forest and was a project he envisioned for decades.
“Only a year ago, Ralph helped us fill out the application forms,” said president Mary Jayne Blackmore. “He had it all mapped there in his head. He talked about using the highways snowplow turn around as parking area, a graded trail down the hillside and a suspension bridge going over Summit Creek.”
A planner from Nelson came out to map the area and make up a site plan.
“It was a glorious fall day,” said Blackmore. “We tromped through bogs and dying devil’s club crossing the moss covered creek bed and emerged into the spectacular ancient cedars. I began to see the trail as Ralph had described it and why this place was so special to him.”
“Our work as environmentalists is easy,” he used to say. “All we have to do is take people into the mountains, and that’s the fun part.”
The trails society has notes, GPS co-ordinates and a lot of recommendations for this project, and the trail is ready for champions. Anyone interested in being on a committee to get this project moving is welcome.
“Ralph left an incredible legacy in our valley,” said Blackmore. “This will just be one more, but this time he won’t be carrying the saw.”
—TRAILS FOR CRESTON VALLEY SOCIETY