Jim Cooperman’s column on ‘Exploring Shuswap places’ (Shuswap Market News, Nov. 13) was compelling and informative for residents and visitors alike.
However, his description of Mt. Ida’s nature trail incorrectly attributes the construction of this trail to “Shuswap Outdoors” in the 1970s.
The following is an excerpt from a guide-book of that ‘era’ –Trails to the Shuswap 2nd ed., 1976, p. 21, Barz, Crowley, Crowley, Wharton. It reads in part:
“Local college students, (including Don Barz, Brian MacDonald, Nora Butler, and others), using funds provided by an Opportunities for Youth grant, completed location and construction of the trail traversing the East and West Summits of Mt. Ida in 1972 and 1973.
“The trail is an interesting nature walk, since the east side of the mountain receives more precipitation than the west side, and thus is thickly wooded with cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir.
“The mountain’s top has many grassy areas and the lower elevations on the western side are open stands of western yellow pine (Ponderosa Pine), indicating the more arid nature of this side.”
Ecologically significant ‘hanging bogs’ are also present on the mountain’s northwest side.
(An exciting incident occurred in 1972 while Brian MacDonald and I were traversing the summit ridge to find the best trail route. Brian was a little ahead, and shouted when he plunged through shallow, early spring snow into an occupied black-bear’s winter den! Fortunately, his loud shouts did not awaken the sleeping bear, and we continued – rather speedily – along the summit ridge!)
Tom Crowley
