April 15, Pennywise – Castlegar, Slocan Valley

Captain Kangaroo Trail
Selkirk College alumna Sarah Meunier’s passion for outdoor
recreation and leadership in creating quality rides for the
region’s mountain biking community has landed Castlegar at
the top of a prestigious global list.
At the end of 2023, Trailforks released its top-10 rated
mountain bike trails from across the planet. A high quality
trail management system for outdoor enthusiasts in a
variety of sports, the Trailforks app collected input from its
users and the 4.4 kilometre mountain bike trail in the Merry
Creek recreation area dubbed “Captain Kangaroo” was rated
number-one.
“At first I was shocked because I didn’t know it was going
to happen,” says Meunier, who is the executive director of
the non-profit Castlegar Parks & Trails Society (CPTS). “But,
it’s based on user ratings, so out of 600,000-plus trails in the
world on Trailforks, Captain Kangaroo was chosen as the best.
It is a substantial accomplishment, it’s legitimate and we are
very proud.”
A graduate of the Recreation, Fish & Wildlife Program,
Meunier began volunteering with CPTS while still a student
on the Castlegar Campus. After graduation in 2013, she
started working seasonally as a maintenance crew lead and
trail builder. Meunier has been the executive director of CPTS
since 2020 in a part-time, year-round role.
The society is a charitable non-profit organization that
builds and maintains environmentally sensitive, non-motorized,
mountain biking and on-foot traversable trails. Working
on projects like the Trans Canada Trail through the greater
Castlegar area and the bike park in Millennium Park, CPTS
has been actively building new mountain biking trails in the
Merry Creek area.
The genesis of Captain Kangaroo started in 2018 when
Meunier and legendary local trail builder Dave Sutton began
scouting missions in the Merry Creek area. Once a line was
chosen and volunteer David J. Hall helped secure funding to
hire a crew specifically for trail construction, work started
on what would become the 4.4 kilometre downhill trail and
accompanying upward traverse. The intensive project was led
by Meunier with trail crew members Evan Dux, Jason Carmichael,
Jack Allen and Clarke Morris.
The effort has paid off with the Trailforks recognition that
also includes top trails in locations from Whistler to Vermont
and New Zealand to Czech Republic.
“Captain Kangaroo isn’t just a trail—it’s a rite of passage,”
states the Trailforks website. “Its flawless flow and ridiculously
smooth sections make it a trail masterpiece that showcases
jaw-dropping alpine views along the way—that is, if you can
even tear your eyes away from the trail.”
Quick to give credit to all the paid crew and volunteer team
that helped make Captain Kangaroo a reality, Meunier says
there was literally a labour of love element to the creation
of the trail. Meunier and Sutton began a romantic relationship
seven years ago, spending “date outings” in area forests
colville
509-684-2584
colvillemonument.com
working on trails and enjoying the outdoors.
“It’s been pretty cool to work with Dave,” says Meunier, who
is a heli-ski guide and volunteer ski patrol during the winter
months. “He is a very talented mountain biker who started
building trails at a very young age. He saw that Nelson and
Rossland had all these trails, so he took it upon himself to
start building more trails in Castlegar. His vision and initial
leadership really helped build the mountain biking scene in
Castlegar. It took us a long time to just have enough quality to
be even be considered a mountain biking destination.”
Building and maintaining trail systems requires a massive
amount of work behind the scenes. In her role as executive
director, Meunier carries out a variety of tasks from GPS mapping
and grant writing to negotiations with private land owners
and government to ecosystem knowledge and surveying.
For this, Meunier is grateful for the education she received in
the two-year Recreation, Fish & Wildlife Program.
“I have always enjoyed school, as long as I am interested in
the topic,” says Meunier, who is originally from Quebec and
first came west for snowboarding in the Rockies. “The program
was amazing with great instructors and practical skills
in the field. It was more than absorbing information, getting
to practice the skills was very valuable and the way I prefer to
learn.”
Now that Meunier has helped land Captain Kangaroo atop
the world, she is both excited and cautious about the future.
With responsible land stewardship serving as a foundation,
she will guide CPTS enthusiastically into its next chapter.
“What we lack
in quantity compared
to some
Courses Coming up in Nelson
other locations
in our region, we
definitely have in
quality,” she says.
“We have some
very passionate
and talented
people in our
community that
consistently show
up to help develop
and maintain
these trails. I’m
pleased that more
people will get to
discover Castlegar
and all the amazing
recreation that
is available here.”
Selkirk College
TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSON
CERTIFICATION ....................July 17 & 18
Canadian Firearms Safety:
Non Restricted.............. ...................... Apr 20
Restricted.............. ..................................May 4
Jewellery: Casting Exploration ...Apr 27
Air Brakes Endorsement ................Apr 27
Spanish: Conversation Class .........May 3
Emergency First Aid with CPR C
(OFA 1 equivalent) ............................May 4
Occupational First Aid Level 1...May 18
Jewellery: Open Studio................ May 21
Forklift Operator: Driver Training &
Certification ...................................... May 24
Creative Copper Smithing .......... May 25
Electronic Music Production ..... May 25
OFA 3 ................................................... May 27
Standard First Aid with CPR C
(OFA 1 equivalent) ...........................Jun 20
selkirk.ca/cewt 250-354-3220 for more info
www.facebook.com/SelkirkCommunityEducation
Community Education & Workplace Training
DESIGNING & CREATING CUSTOM MEMORIAL STONES
Come see our showroom display with 17 colours of granite and over
100 stones to choose from. See our website for other product options.
163 East 2nd Ave, Colville, WA 99114
Saturday & evening appointments available. Please call Camille to arrange a consultation.
Camille
CMW Manager
BC Timber Sales 2024 Operating Plan
Arrow Operating Areas
The public is invited to review and comment on
the 2024 Operating Plan being prepared by the BC
Timber Sales Planning Forester under its approved
Forest Stewardship Plan.
Comments will be accepted until June 28, 2024.
The Operating Plan includes forest development in
the following areas:
• Whatshan Lake
• Barnes
• Eagle
Slocan Valley
HOME HARDWARE
Check out our lower
fencing prices
Wheelbarrows
Rakes • Shovels
Hoses • Watering Cans
For Home & Yard
• Drywall & Mud
• Insulation
• Bird Food & Feeders
• Mumm’s sprouting seeds
• Slogger Rubber Boots
and Garden Shoes
Kootenays largest supplier of
fence posts, fencing, gates,
corral panels and more.
• Ymir
• Mud Lake
• Stagleap
• Robson Ridge
Maps can be viewed online at:
Bit.ly/3IpmeXT
Comments must be submitted in writing to:
BCTS Planning Forester, BC Timber Sales,
Nelson Office, 1907 Ridgewood Road,
Nelson, BC, V1L 6K1
Email: tko.ref@gov.bc.ca
Ph. 250-825-1100, Fax 250-825-3411
Spring is Here!
We have all your
gardening supplies.
Paints and Stains
Seedling Starter
Trays, Domes, Inserts,
Soils & Seeds
Start your own micro-greens!
Animal Feed & Pet Food
Games, Puzzles & Educational
Activities for Kids & Adults
STRAW BALES $14 00 ~ ALFALFA BALES $23 99
5763 Hwy 6, Winlaw | 250-226-7771
Open 9-5 Monday-Friday, 10-4 Saturday
Closed Sundays
Merchandise Merchandise Merchandise Merchandise Merchandise
Building Supplies
THE COOPERATIVE’S MILLING
DIVISION - Harrop Procter Forest
Products has a wide variety of
high-quality products made from
locally harvested Western Red Cedar
and Douglas Fir. All our products
can be viewed at hpcommunityforest.org.
Use the quote form to
get any pricing you need for your
projects. Follow us on Facebook
(Harrop Procter Forest Products)
and Instagram (@hpsawmill). Call
our office at 250-551-5452 or email
sales@hpcommunityforest.org for
a quote. The mill is now a member
of COFI (Council of Forest Industries
BC) and has graded and stamped
lumber and timbers. Mill hours are
Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm, Sat 9am-3pm.
Building Supplies
24 HR EMERGENCY SERVICE,-
BOB’S DOOR SERVICE: Offering
commercial, industrial and residential
garage door sales, service, repair
and installation. 236-972-2627.
ACE BUILDING CENTRE, KASLO:
Check us out for all your building
needs and more! 250-353-7628,
www.kaslobuilding.com
COME IN AND EXPERIENCE
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU! Nelson
Home Hardware Building Centre,
101 McDonald Dr. 250-352-1919.
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND
RESIDENTIAL garage door sales,
service, repair and installation. Bob’s
Door Service, 236-972-2627.
Computers/Electronics
WINLAW FINE COMPUTING.....
www.winlawtech.com, Windows,
Apple, Linux. Pat, 250-226-7215.
Serving Slocan Valley & Area.
Firewood
FIR LARCH FIREWOOD Split/delivered.
Castlegar area $330/cord.
Pine rounds, half seasoned, you
pick-up $200/cord 250-304-9435.
FIR/LARCH FIREWOOD. Other
services; tree removal, brush work,
bobcat, concrete, residential construction,
no job too small. Call 250-
505-9360.
FIREWOOD CUT TO 15” available
all season. $350 per 1 cord +trailer
load, split and delivered. Call 250-
505-0712.
Furniture & Appliances
HARDWOOD DOUBLE PEDES-
TAL DESK. Pair upholstered Queen
Anne chairs, pine roll-top pedestal
desk. Priced to sell, 250-354-3109.
HERITAGE AIR FRYER CONVEC-
TION OVEN, 1700w Never been
used, still in original box. Asking
$160. New $329.00. 250-368-9928.
HOME GOODS FURNITURE: A family
business serving Kootenay families
since 1950. 1790 Homegoods Rd,
Genelle, BC. www.homegoodsfurniture.com
WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF
APPLIANCES, FURNITURE &
MATTRESSES: Bears Furniture &
Appliances, 612 Lakeside Dr, Nelson,
BC. www.bearsbrandsource.ca
Sporting Goods
FIREARMS: Call John Urquhart in
confidence anytime. I will come to
your home. 250-367-7540.
Misc Merch
$$$ COIN COLLECTOR & GOLD/
SILVER BUYER: Buying coins, coin
collections, bullion, jewelry, nuggets,
sterling, old money, gold, silver, platinum,
etc. TODD, 250-864-3521.
HANDMADE HUTTERITE EIDER-
DOWN DUVETS: Exceptional quality,
King, Queen, Single. Delivered to
Nelson area. 250-229-6808.
MOVING SALE, EVERYTHING
MUST GO! Honda weed-eater and
snowblower, cutting torch, table
saw, cement mixer, compressor,
wood-splitter, various tools, BBQ, a
safe, garden tools, kitchen equipment,
bike rack, mat cutter, etc.
250-367-7817.
N picture online: www.pennywiseads.com Where locals shop. C April 15, 2024 5
Tools
CHAINSAW, STIHL MSA 200C-BQ,
12” bar, AP 300 Battery, AL 300/500
Charger, Chain guard, Manual. Used
two seasons, good condition, $885
new, Asking $450 firm. Bob 250-608-
0885 Castlegar