Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

After a three-year layoff, the old Canadian Pacific (CP) rail line between Kimberley and Cranbrook will be back in service.

The City of Cranbrook, along with the City of Kimberley and CP, announced that the environmental assessment has been completed and work to transform the rail line into a recreational trail will begin shortly.

“This trail will be a showcase for the entire area and I am proud of the collaboration between CP, Kimberley and Cranbrook,” said Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak in a press release. “The trail will be more than simply a green transportation alternative between our two communities. It will be a legacy for residents and visitors alike, enabling people to enjoy the splendour of this land while at the same time supporting more active lifestyles and healthy communities.”

In 2007, CP committed to removing the tracks, ties and all associated soils through a memorandum of understanding. CP will collect and recycle tracks and ties, before the rail bed and soils are transfered to an approved landfill at Teck Cominco’s former Sullivan Mine under a BC Ministry of Environment permit. CP will then donate the trail-ready- right-of-way to both communities for the development of an accessible recreation and commuter trail.

“I am pleased that this project is proceeding and that we can have a completed trail by as early as the fall,” said Kimberley Mayor Jim Ogilvie. “I look forward to working with Mayor Manjak and his council on an initiative that supports the reduction of Green House Gas emissions by connecting our communities.”

CP has tendered the project and hopes to have a contractor on-site by the beginning of June. In preparation of the material removal, CP project consultants are expected to begin surveying the area as early as this week. Local residents can expect to see crews working on various sections throughout the summer and excavation of the area is expected to be completed by the end of Fall.

By Pieter Uni – Kootenay News Advertiser

Published: May 26, 2009 10:00 AM

This is great news. The spirit already bikes along part of this network, the Volksmarch trail just outside Marysville and Kimberley. The trail to Cranbrook will be great for bikers to enjoy the natural beauty without the road fumes as they cycle between Kimberley and Cranbrook.

If you too enjoy hiking, there is an abundance of trails to choose from in and around Kimberley. Click on the links below to check out some of the great parks and trails yourself in advance of your next visit to Kimberley:

St Mary’s Provincial Park – over 9000 hectares – this park Park is a wilderness paradise for the experienced backcountry traveller. Numerous lakes and tarns are tucked against rugged granite cliffs and surrounded by tundra and lingering snowfields.

The Kimberley Nature Park – an 1800 acre park - your “gateway to nature” and just a few minutes from Mountain Spirit’s door.

Purcell Wilderness and Conservancy Provincial Park

Other popular hikes include:

• From Wasa Lake to Lazy Lake
• Lakit Lookout
• Mount Mason
• Mount Evans

So come to Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Kimberley, and enjoy our beautiful mountain playground!

What’s your favourite non-ski activity? That’s what Ski Canada magazine is currently asking their online visitors. Unsurprisingly, golf is number one!

golfing		40%
mountain biking		20%
canoeing		20%
adventure travel		20%
hiking		0%
surfing		0%
water skiing		0%
camping		0%
climbing		0%
kayaking		0%

Looking at the list, almost all these activities are on offer if you come to Kimberley! As even more courses open in the area, Kimberley is becoming a real golf mecca! You can also mountain bike and hike the 1800 acre Kimberley Nature park, just a few minutes from Mountain Spirit. For waterskiers, Kookanusa is a short drive away and there are some great spots for both climbing and kayaking at St Mary’s Lake.

The spirit likes to golf but prefers to get out “on the water” and is planning the first canoe outing of the year at Lazy Lake aka Rock Lake this week. Here’s a photo from one of last year’s canoe trips.

Turtles sunning themselves at Lazy Lake, 45 minutes from Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

What’s your favourite non-ski activity?

Let us know by replying to this blog, or vote on Ski Canada’s website by clicking here.

Trickle Creek - photo credit Don Weixl

The award winning courses at Trickle Creek are now open for the season – just a short walk from Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. If you haven’t already golfed Kimberley there are three great courses to choose from in Kimberley and many more within a short drive if you need even more variety!

Trickle Creek is definitely one of the spirit’s most loved and hated courses (don’t ask my score!). It’s not just the spirit that rates it…

• Top 10 for value and quality – Golf Digest

• 4.5 Stars out of 5 for Places to Play – Golf Digest

• #1 Daily Fee course in BC – Acura World of Golf

So why not combine a visit to Mountain Spirit with a round of golf this spring?

Great news – the Kimberley Village Market is coming to the platzl this summer! The market will focus on locally made, artisan and locally grown products. All vendors will be selected to provide a great mix that will enhance both local and visitor traffic.

Come along, Sunday mornings from 9am – 1pm, from June 21st – September 6th, 2009!

Open to people who can navigate with a map – of any age – orienteering is a sport that requires both physical fitness and thought.

The North American Orienteering Championships (NAOC) is coming to Kimberley, thanks to the Kootenay Orienteering Club, which is hosting this event from July 1st – 4th, 2010. The range of orienteering events will be held in both forest and urban areas in Kimberley and Cranbrook. This is another great opportunity for our region to be showcased to visitors from across the globe and no doubt the new Delta connection should also benefit from this influx of visitors.

The spirit has partaken in orienteering in a past life and it is a really fun way to be out enjoying our landscape, with a competitive edge thrown in. Have you ever tried? If not, in the year build up, the Kootenay Orienteering Club will be offering a series of workshops and local orienteering events to introduce the sport to new participants. Why not give it a go!

If you would like more information on the event or would like to volunteer your assistance, please e-mail Jim at: jim@naoc.com