Mel DeAnna Trail - Castlegar, British Columbia
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T0SHEA
N 49° 14.907 W 117° 38.274
11U E 453575 N 5455271
The Mel DeAnna Trail is 5 km. loop trail which begins at the rest area on Highway 3 about 6 km. south of Castlegar.
Waymark Code: WMTEQZ
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 11/13/2016
Views: 0
Mel DeAnna
Difficulty Level: Easy/Intermediate
Distance: 5km loop
Gain: O meters
Season: Year-round
A level shaded walk that loops around Champion Ponds. This is a great trail for birdwatchers with many opportunities to stop and enjoy the view of the Columbia River valley. The Poplar and Larch trees make this a spectacular hike in the fall. Thanksgiving meals can enjoyably be walked off by the whole family on this beautiful loop trail! Once the snow arrives this trail is a popular snowshoe loop. At the 1.5 km mark on the trail, there is a junction. This is a 2 km loop so it doesn't matter which way you go.
Who was Mel DeAnna?
The Champion Ponds and associated trail were developed as a study area for local school students to research pond life. The West Kootenay Naturalist Club sponsored the project, which was led by Mel DeAnna, and completed in partnership with the Castlegar and District Wildlife Association, Selkirk College, and the province. The trail was named in honour of Mel DeAnna's vision and leadership on this project.
Mel DeAnna was a Sergeant in WW II. He moved to Nelson in 1965 from the East Kootenays to take a welding course and then worked for Celgar. Mel was an avid hunter and later spent his time filming wildlife. He located this trail around the Champion ponds and successfully advocated the area be designated an environmental study area for students. He built and maintained bird houses around the water body to enhance wildlife habitat and spent time observing and filming wildlife. Thanks to Mel's vision and energy we can enjoy this special place today.
The Mel Deanna Trail was created through a joint project of the West Kootenay Naturalists, Castlegar and District Wildlife Association, Selkirk College, and the Ministry of Forests. Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails Society assists with trail maintenance and promotion. Please exercise caution above the numerous cliffs along this trail.
Construction and Development of this trail map was made possible by our sponsors: Action Plan D'Action, NTC National Trails Collision and Columbia Basin Trust.
Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails is a volunteer organization committed to building and maintaining environmentally-sensitive trails for non-motorized use. Our trails are primarily constructed on the ground with a minimum amount of disturbance. Trails are maintained for ease of use and essential safety; many natural hazards (for example, wildlife trees and poison ivy) remain along our trails. Wildlife encounters are also a possibility on all trails in all months. Trails are mixed use with pedestrians and cyclists sometimes sharing the same path; practice good trail etiquette. There are no trail patrols and signing in at the trailhead will NOT alert anyone should you twist an ankle and get stuck out on a trail. Always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
This map was created by Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails. To learn more about trails in the Castlegar area, please visit our website at, www.friendsoftrails.org
Location Name: Mel DeAnna Trail Rest Area
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A photo of either you or your GPS at the site is welcomed but not required.
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