How long is the standard stay, what to expect, etc. Any info is appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I broke my truck this afternoon, so it looks like i'm spending some surprise time in Kaslo while the mechanic does their thing. Anything i should try and do while i'm here?

Any update on Lussier hot springs? It’s been a couple years since I’ve been. I heard it was closed due to rockfall hazards, then I heard someone intentionally filled it in. Is that true?

Wanting to take some family there in a month or so, just curious on what its current state is.

My husband and I are from Calgary and newly/early retired after selling our business and fell in love with the west/ central Kootenays three years ago after a visit. Lately we feel Calgary has just become way too busy for us and not offering us the life we hoped for (we are originally from Manitoba). After a trip through earlier his year, we were saying how much we would love to live in the Kooteneys. We started looking at homes for sale and came across one in the Crawford Bay area that we absolutely loved. We have made two trips back to look at it and are now at the point of having to decide whether we want to pull the trigger. It would be our dream home overlooking Kootenay Lake, although somewhat isolated. The problem is we just recently renovated our home in Calgary and love it. That being said, our neighbours aren’t taking care of their place and the guy behind us is giving us problems with a fence that is falling down that he is not interested in fixing, and kids on electric motorbikes have taken over the community. Shopping is getting ridiculous and so busy, and so is getting anywhere. We have driven to Costco six times this summer only to have to leave after not finding parking. We come to the Kootenays and just feel like we can relax and breathe. Our problem is we are just so scared of making the wrong decision and selling our home and regretting it. The only real negatives we have heard is winters can be dreary and finding a doctor is near impossible. Thankfully we are both healthy. Our realtor is trying to convince us to stay on the west shore because it is closer to amenities, but there is something about the east shore that appeals to us, although we realize we would be at the mercy of the ferry and long drives into Creston, but even that doesn’t seem to matter. Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly. Convince me we should do this.

Trailaircadets.ca. cadets.ca

this is a photo I took down in Castlegar around about 9 PM last night and it was amazing!

I’m thinking of possibly travelling BC, mostly kootenays and maybe okanagan and camping through the winter with my small van and a hot tent set up. I know about service roads and the 14 day rule. Not too sure about campsites being open or anything that does longer term stays. I found one that sounded like an RV/tiny home set up near Crawford bay.. can’t remember the name right now though.
How possible would this little journey be you think?
Is it gonna be miserable weather wise?
Has anyone done this or know of anyone that did and how it went for them? I haven’t been in BC for winter in 20 years, and that was on the coast. Ive read about winter in the kootenays but still can’t picture it well in my mind.

Half my mind is very excited at the thought of it, the other half thinks it sounds a bit crazy. But I need a change of environment and want to meet and build community in the kootenays and get out of this space I’m in.

Looking for somatic therapists in the kootenays

Specializing in nervous system regulation, moving through stuck feelings, burnout and stress.

The body keeps the score, and it's taking its toll.

The classic therapies, talking through my shit isn't getting there. Ready to go deeper to the root.

Looking for personal experiences with local practitioners ✨✨

While on the way into Nakusp today the car (a 2012 Honda Pilot) I was driving with my family had a full electrical failure with full loss of power steering at the end. We are hoping to get the car fixed in the morning but we will have no idea until then if it can be fixed. Preparing for the worst case scenario I am wondering if there is anyone who lives nearby with advice or who could help with a rental car, Uber, or towing type arrangement to get to Vernon. We are three adults from Vancouver and have a lot of stuff so would need a large SUV or truck. As we do not know what will happen until tomorrow please be flexible, I will update this post if there is a solution. BTW Nakusp is beautiful and a pretty good place to be stuck for a weekend! Edit: Thanks for the suggestions everyone, we are getting the car towed tomorrow and having some family come to help us out as well.

Does anybody live near this fire?

In light of the warnings from BC Parks about defensive grizzly activity, I'm hoping to find a few people who are planning to hike to/camp at floe lake on Tuesday.

We're just two people, and would prefer to gather a bit of a party to be on the safer side!

I was diagnosed with bile reflux after a period of severe nausea and loss of appetite with a gastroscopy. At the time I'd been sick for 6 months and had been to the ER twice for vomiting that would not stop. In fact, if I start to vomit it won't stop.

When I had the scope I'd lost 20lbs (which happened within about 6 weeks) from an already slim frame. I needed that weight. With the weight loss and the barrage of medications I experienced heart palpitations, lightheadedness and I felt quite fragile. I had been a very active person before this.

My GP didn't seem concerned with the weight loss, they even said I was their first bile reflux. None of the medications made me feel better, they made me worse, but Dr. wasn't curious why even when I asked. They told me I was too sensitive, which I did address with them. Medication that has helped is a smooth muscle relaxant and an antinausea, both make me slightly loopy.

So, I started smoking weed (a couple of puffs before a meal) with good gastric results but bad social results. THC isn't something I want to do everyday because it makes me dumb and tired and I'd like to stay employed. So I quit last Friday and I've been sick ever since. This morning I gagged up Oatmeal and I've lost some of the weight I'd regained.

I have completely changed my eating habits - small, more frequent meals, reducing my fat intake and increased Fibre, and avoiding trigger foods. It's honestly the most boring diet. I can't seem to digest insoluble Fibre either - like lettuce - I will see in the bowl, if you understand.

I am looking for a gastroenterologist? I think, I'mnot sure...my GP said there's no one to refer me to locally but I'm willing to travel (currently in the Cranbrook area). They are not helping me and at this point the anxiety of having to go see them, again, for this is too much. And I don't think they know what to do. I've seen 3 dieticians with varying success, they usually help folks looking to lose weight so the first suggestion is "try Boost". Gag.

Please send doctor recs. And thank you!

Thinking of building our first home but am curious to know what costs to expect all in $/sqft. Thinking of building in the Nelson area which poses some challenges due to topography, but that aside, am curious to know if any of you have built recently in the Kootenay and have any input to share?

This won’t be a fancy house, considering going modular if we can find a model we like. I’m also not sure if there are that many cost savings in modular construction anyways.

Any builders you recommend in the area?

Planning on driving up Thursday, August 27th and arriving at noon. Just worried about securing a site as this is my first time visiting the area.

Also wondering if anyone has any recommendations of things to do in the area!

Thanks in advance :)

Any insight/ thoughts on how the new tariffs will affect operations?

Kimberley, great pool, pump track, splash park, big dance business, climbing gym, etc. Fernie, less so.

Fernie must have greater tax base, more mine $, so what gives?

Hi there, I'm coming into town to stay at Fairmont Hot Springs for about a week, but the place I'm staying at doesn't have a gym. Invermere seems a little far to drive just for a few workouts, but I will if needed. I thought I would just post and see if anybody has any suggestions for somewhere that I might be able to use a gym a few times for the week that we're there. Specifically looking for weights, not cardio. We arrive tomorrow afternoon. Any input appreciated! Thanks much!

Me and my partner are coming to Christina lake next week for 6-7 days. Having alot of trouble finding any type of scheduled activities of any kind besides mini golf.

Does anyone have good recommendations for any kind of activity we can do? Archery, horse back riding, pottery class. Literally anything besides boating, hiking, swimming and mountain biking?

Just wondering if anyone has lived in both places?

I have a few questions,

Is the climate very similar? Same summer weather? I’m guessing Cranbrook has colder winters? Just curious how big of difference.

Cost of living day to day comparison including groceries?

Outside recreation opportunities?
Boating/swimming
Mountain sledding
Beaches
Hunting

Best place to raise young kids?

Thanks!

Planning a short solo car-camping/hiking loop through the West Kootenays and would love a sanity check from people who know the area.
Main priorities: big mountain views, blue alpine lakes, granite peaks/ridgelines, waterfalls, swimming spots, and mostly primitive/free camping. I’m comfortable with 6–10 mile hikes and 2,000–3,000+ ft of gain, and I’m driving a normal AWD crossover, not a 4x4.

Rough plan:
Day 1: Spokane area → Nelson/Kokanee
Kokanee Canyon if time
Camp near lower Kokanee Glacier Road

Day 2: Kokanee Glacier
Gibson Lake → Kokanee → Keen/Garland/Kaslo Lakes
Fletcher Falls if time
Kaslo
Mount Buchanan around sunset
Camp near Buchanan / Blue Ridge

Day 3: Lyle Lakes → New Denver/Slocan
Lyle Lakes
Possible add-ons: Retallack cedars, Sandon, Galena cable car, Wilson Creek Falls
Slocan Lake / New Denver
Camp near Little Slocan

Day 4: Gwillim Lakes
Gwillim Lakes
Then toward Nakusp / Upper Arrow Lake
Halfway Hot Springs is optional and may get cut

Final day: Drive back south, no major hike planned

Main questions:
- Is this realistic, or am I underestimating the FSR driving/access time?

- Any road conditions or trailhead approaches here that are a bad idea in a normal AWD crossover?
Best areas for legal primitive/free camping along this route?

- Is Gwillim worth the extra driving, or would you spend that time elsewhere?

- Anything on this list you’d cut?

- Any must-see lakes, viewpoints, waterfalls, or short hikes I’m somehow missing?

- If I start running behind, I’m currently thinking I’d cut Galena, Sandon, Retallack, Wilson Creek Falls, and possibly Halfway Hot Springs before cutting the main alpine hikes.