Mountain Footsteps: Selected Hikes in the East Kootenay of Southeastern British Columbia

Maryon L. McClary is the periodicals and microform librarian at the
University of Alberta.

This guide features 64 hiking routes in B.C.’s East Kootenay region,
from easy daytrips on established trails to more difficult backpack
trips requiring topographical maps and route-finding skills. The trails
are found in the Rockies east of Highway 93/95, in the Elk Valley and
the Purcell Mountains, and in the national and provincial parks (such as
Top of the World, Elk Lakes, St. Mary’s Alpine, Bugaboo Glacier, and
Akamina Kishinena Recreational Area). Since many of the trails are on
land controlled by the B.C. Forest Service, hikers are advised to
contact that service for the access-road and area conditions. Each route
description includes level of difficulty, duration, map coordinates,
elevation gain, and directions on how to find the trailhead. The
descriptions are clearly written, abundantly illustrated with
photographs, and enhanced with anecdotal accounts of the author’s own
hiking adventures in the region (in italics). The guide’s introductory
chapters cover the geography, ecosystems, water quality, wildlife, and
hazards (e.g., weather, hunting, ticks) in the region, and a “Useful
Information” section includes park and service phone numbers and basic
data about nearby towns and facilities. Mountain Footsteps will provide
prospective hikers of this regional with all they need to know.