Kimberley
Nature Park
History of Place
Names
The
following document was put together by Marty Musser with the help of a number of
local residents. It very briefly explains why sites and trails in the Nature
Park are called what they are.
Apache Trail - so
named by those who cleared it, for its drier climate and location relative to
the rest of the park.
Army Road - named
after the cadets who traveled along it to practice shooting and sighting in
their rifles on the range they set up near the site of the old ski cabin at the
base of Myrtle Mtn..
Bear Trail -
originally a logging trail, it was cleared out as a hiking path and named when
one of the people who was working on it had a minor run in with a Black Bear.
Bullfrog Hill -
actually a section of the Bear Trail, it was given its name when a couple of the
"old timers" who were clearing the overgrowth scared up a toad and
mistook it for another species.
Bump Mtn. - named by
someone on the crew of summer students which was under the supervision of Mr.
James Patterson; presumably for its shape.
Creek Trail - named
for its proximity to the creek along which it travels, the lower portion of this
trail, which has been bypassed for a shorter route, was one of the first trails
that was actually cleared and named by the group of pensioners that was
responsible for so many of the trails we enjoy today in the Kimberley Nature
Park
Dead Dog Hill - named
when someone disposed of their "pet" in this location.
Dipper/Silver Lake -
some say it was called "Dipper" lake because of the way the water runs
out of the lake during dry periods - there are at least two explanations for the
name "Silver" lake - 1. it may have been named after an Electrical
boss who worked for Cominco and probably helped out with the construction of the
ski cabin at the west end of the lake. His name was actually Silverwood. - 2. at
certain times of the year, from the top of Bullfrog hill or the Shannon trail it
actually does shimmer!
Duck Pond - in certain
years there is a good deal of runoff and seepage in the spring and the pond
fills up with water. Often during these times one can see ducks paddling around
or dabbling in the cattails and reeds.
Eimer's Lake - named
after a gentleman who had a small farm at the extreme west end of what is now
Ritchie street.
Elbow Road - the
"old timers" named this road after the resemblance one of its long
corners bore to an elbow ( down near the power line)
The Flume - my
grandfather tagged this one because he was reminded by the grade and shape of
the path of a logging technique that was used in this area when he was a young
man, before the advent of skidders and helicopters.
Front Road Boulevard -
before this area was logged, the road had an entirely different feel when one
walked along it. After coming through Horsebarn valley or along the Army road
from the old Ski cabin out into the sunshine and open side hill of the
"front road", it did feel at certain times that you were actually
strolling up or down a boulevard. Quite aptly named, I always thought.
Higgins Hill - named
after Stan Higgins, a logging contractor and friend to many of those who used
the area for hiking, the trail was used during the last logging operation in
that specific area of the park more than forty years ago.
Horsebarn Valley - at
the west end of the valley, a small barn was built to provide temporary shelter
for a couple of pack horses that were used to bring supplies to some of the
logging crew that was working in the Matthew Creek valley at the time. It was
burned down by a misguided youth in the late 60"s.
Keiver Way - a fine
connector trail between the aforementioned Apache trail and the Duck Pond, it
was recently named in honour of one of the friends and trailmakers of the
Kimberley Nature Park, Mr. Dick Keiver.
Mary's Lunchroom -
named after Mary Skribe, this little site was set up by a wonderful lady as a
station for feeding birds, squirrels and whatever other of her friends happened
along. She would carry food in two or three times a week right up until the time
she grew too old and had to stop. She died shortly there after; over 80 years
old!
Moe's Canyon - over
the years Roy Moe has been a steady contributor and supporter of the community.
One of his specific interests has been the lands and activities around the area
know as North Star Mtn.. It is fitting that such a beautiful spot carry his
name.
Pat Morrow Trail -
obviously named after one of Kimberley's great adventurers!
Mountain Mine Road -
named quite simply because it leads to the abandoned workings at the top of
Myrtle Mtn.
Mountain Trail - so
named because it parallels the Horsebarn Valley from the top of the ridge that
forms part of that valley.
Musser's Plateau -
named after one of the oldtimers that made the trail that leads from the south
end of Moe's Canyon to the plateau itself. It was widely accepted that it should
be so named because no one else was crazy enough to even attempt to construct so
steep and difficult a path.
Myrtle Mountain - the
prospector who was one of the first white men to search for minerals in this
area of the park gave the small mountain his wife's name. It was later to become
one of the first ski hills in the South East Kootenay region.
Ponderosa Trail - it
ran under a large Ponderosa pine tree that used to stand about half way along
the path. It has since died and fallen over but when it was still alive and
well, it was used by many a young man to prove his strength and courage by
swinging out over the bank on the rope that someone bravely attached to one of
its large overhanging branches.
Romantic Ridge - a few
of the more committed hikers would leave so early in the morning that during the
winter months it was barely light enough to see. When conditions were right, the
moon would not only be visible from this ridge but it would also provide a bit
of early morning light. Does it get any more romantic than this?
Jimmy Russell Road -
his favorite hike was along this old logging road into the park or occasionally
the reverse. He was one of the people who kept it clear and in prime hiking
shape.
Shannon Trail - named
after one of the retired miners who used this area for hiking and keeping in
shape after a lifetime of physical labour. It takes a stubborn character, a
storehouse of stamina and a strong back to build a trail in a spot like this.
Dick Shannon had no shortage of any of these.
Skid Road - there was
some logging that took place shortly before this trail was completed. I believe
that the lower portion of it may actually been used by a skidder for a brief
period. I also remember the name being a take off one the term "skid
row" and was an inside joke among the few who built the trail.
Southwest Passage -
another one of my grandfather's creations, it was and example of his humour and
imagination in an inside sort of way. He loved to read of the explorers of the
Arctic, especially those in search of the "Northwest Passage".
Whitetail Valley - the
name given by one of the Biologists who was hired by the Nature Park Society to
do a study of the flora and fauna of the various "zones" in the area.
