We were up and ready to go by 8:15 this morning. It was going to be another cloudy day with bits of sun breaking through here and there. Don was outside waiting for us when we pulled up to his place. We were going to be heading east on highway 3B through Fruitvale where he said he was going to stop at the Subway and pick up a sandwich. He told us to just carry on and he will catch up to us. He described the mountain summit where we were going but told us not to worry; he would catch up to us before we got there.
Well, there was one small piece of information that he neglected to tell us...we were to turn left where highway 3B met highway 3 and head northwest towards Castlegar...so we just continued driving east past the Salmo turnoff. We had the feeling that something wasn’t right but when we hit a sign saying that we were at the base of the Kootenay Summit, we knew we were in the wrong spot! So we turned around and headed back. We stopped at a gas station at the turnoff to Salmo and asked where “the Bombi” pass was...continue back west to the next flashing lights and turn right...well okay then. As we turned onto the “right” highway, Don was coming down towards us and turned around as soon as he saw us. We finally arrived at our destination...a little behind schedule!
Don’s friend, Donny, was there waiting for us. So after we all got out quads unloaded, we were ready to head off. It was much cooler up in these mountains. I was wearing my rain jacket as a wind-break but soon put on my rain pants as well. Later on, I had to put on an extra pair of gloves...because my handle-grip heaters were not working!
Our first stop was at this makeshift "cabin" that someone had put together in the wilderness...
We had a great ride through a beautiful area. We stopped often so Don could show Steve some signs of elk and their traits to watch for. We were back at the trucks after about 3 hours. Steve took a look around the parking area...it’s a huge area off the highway...trying to figure out where the best place would be to bring in the 5th wheel and set up camp. Not exactly an ideal camping location...but convenient to the hunting area.I believe this is known as Grassy Mountain...
Beautiful scenery...unfortunately, the pictures just don't do it justice...
We made it through quite a bit of snow before it just got too deep and we had to turn around...
After we got the quads loaded back into the trucks, we headed to Don’s place. I had brought my laptop along today so that I could access the internet. We sat at the picnic table on Don’s patio...I was checking out camping options in the area we had decided would be our next destination. On Monday, we were going to leave the Trail area and head back north to Castlegar where we would have the trailer tire fixed and then take highway 6 into the Slocan Valley. Don had suggested Summit Lake which is just before Nakusp...he has heard there is good fishing there.
While I was busy on the internet...and keeping in touch with Chris...via texting on my phone...on his job search status...Steve was busy with Don talking about hunting and looking at pictures taken during his guiding days. After about an hour or so, Steve and I headed off. Don would be by later to pick us up and take us to the fundraising event/dinner at his friend, Jay’s place.
We filled up with diesel on the way home and also stopped at the Seven Mile Dam to take pictures. This is where the Pend d'Oreille River meets the Columbia...
Pictures of the dam...
The water is just blasting through...
Steve had just finished getting cleaned up and changed when Don arrived. They sat outside visiting and having a beer while I got cleaned up and did the mountain of dishes that had stacked up over the last couple of days. I had joined them outside when a couple on a side-by-side ATV stopped by. Don introduced them...Terry and Diane had a place back down the road. We showed them the truck and trailer and after chatting for a bit, they continued on with their ride. At this point, it was also time for us to head off.
We drove down into Trail and then headed up a Forest Service road to acreage owned by Jay and his wife. They were holding a big fundraiser (BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund) this weekend. It was a cross-bow tournament with a big dinner tonight (steak, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob and salad)...we were attending only the dinner. These are the targets...
We paid our $25 each, bought a raffle ticket and then found a table that happened to be in the late afternoon sunshine. What a beautiful spot with gorgeous views of the valley and mountains. Don introduced us to a few people (unfortunately, we can't remember any of their names) and we sat chatting with a pre-dinner drink (it was BYOB) until it was time to get in line for dinner. 
We were served huge (although fairly thin) steaks that were absolutely delicious...so tender, they cut easily with a plastic knife. The potatoes were cut up and cooked with onions and peppers in huge trays over coals...and they had to stir them with a shovel (well, it looked like a shovel...). They had a big vat full of fresh boiled corn and then a table set up with salad and all the fixings. We feasted well...it was all very good!Just as we were finishing dinner, the big dark clouds above us decided to let loose and we had a bit of a down pour...so we all had to move to a table under the tent. But the rain didn’t last long...just enough to get everyone scrambling for cover! And produce a beautiful rainbow...
Steve and Don...after the rain had stopped...
Before dinner, they had a fellow playing the accordion and after dinner, there were bagpipes and Highland Dancers...
Don had gotten permission from Jay to take us inside their house for a tour. Wow....the interior is a museum of successful hunts and must have cost a fortune for the taxidermy! Steve was very impressed and said that he didn’t think many wives would allow that type of interior decor. That’s when Don commented that this is Jay’s second wife and he had the house before her. In his basement he has a side business selling archery and hunting supplies.
I think it was around 9:00 when Don dropped us off. We’d had a great day! We made arrangements for another ride tomorrow...Don would be back out at around 10:00. He had a very short window to get as much ATV riding in as possible...he had recently been able to start riding again after knee replacement surgery 5 months ago...and he was going into the hospital this Tuesday to have his other knee done. He wasn’t looking forward to it at all!
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