Resources

The Winter Wildland's Alliance is the first and only national organization of its kind for human-powered snow sport enthusiasts and winter wildland conservationists.  WWA's aim is to "ensure a safe, quiet, tranquil experience for every winter wildlands adventurer, now and always."  FORR is proud to be the first organization from British Columbia to become a member and associate with this unique organization.

The Land Conservancy  is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia.  TLC protects important habitat for plants, animals and natural communities as well as properties with historical, cultural, scientific, scenic or compatible recreational value.  FORR is pleased to have produced the "Invasive Plants:  One of the Largest Threats to Biodiversity" event in partnership with TLC. 

WildSafeBC is a program designed to reduce human-wildlife conflict through education, innovation and cooperation. The website offers a variety of resources, local contacts, and information, including a provincial Wildlife Alert Reporting Program (WARP).

The Kootenay Columbia Trails Society  (Formerly the Trails for Rossland Society) was founded in 1996 to:

 “…. establish a quality trail network for the community. These trails will be easily accessed and well maintained by trail users for trail users and will be managed in a spirit of cooperation with private property, industry and other interest groups.”

The Kootenay Mountaineering Club  is a non-profit society based in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The Club promotes an interest in, and development of, mountaineering skills, fellowship, and conservation of the natural values in the mountains.

The West Kootenay Naturalists  are a group of dedicated and energetic folk who met regularly to learn about our natural world, preserve the environment, share interests and experiences, make a positive contribution to our fragile planet.

Ridge Records produces CD's full of music and tales  of Rossland of long ago, as told by legendary characters of Rossland.  Many stories involve the Old Glory backcountry, but all the tales are entertaining in their own special way.

Friends of Bonanza Pass Recreation Area is managed by the Friends of Bonanza Pass, a group of volunteers from various clubs and organizations that over the past 20 years have developed a trail system at Bonanza Pass for the purpose of cross country skiing, back country skiing and snow shoeing. FORR has supported this group in their efforts, check out their blog with much more information.

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) works on behalf of 50 provincial and regional member organizations that together cover practically all types of outdoor recreational activities as well as nature protection interests, representing more than 100,000 individuals, as well as the general public, to protect the outdoor recreation way of life in BC. Through its programs and activities, ORC encourages British Columbians to actively participate in outdoor recreational activities that will enhance their physical, social and mental well-being; advocate for and facilitate access to public lands and waters for outdoor recreation; build bridges between outdoor recreation groups; and encourage the safe and responsible use of the outdoors through education programs promoting safety and outdoor ethics.

"Up the Mountain and Back Again" by Wilfred and Ruth Gibbard, an autobiography of Wilf and Ruth Gibbard describing their adventurous life packing supplies up Old Glory mountain. . Wilf was a Rossland pioneer who passed away in 2011 after his wife passed in 1996. Wilf was a fire lookout and horse packer on Old Glory, transporting all the Old Glory supplies in by horses -- everything from 90-gallon gas tanks, bed frames and spring mattresses, tables, chairs, desks, washing machines, chesterfields, and lumber in addition to radio transmitters and large glass-jar batteries. He loved a good joke and telling a humorous tale. Sold online, click HERE.

"Old Glory"  by Ron Walker, who worked at the weather station on top of Old Glory mountain in the Rossland Range. The station was operational from 1944 until 1968 and Ron Walker worked there from 1948 to 1952.  He has captured memories in a colorful collection of stories. Highlighted are intense lightning storms, and the long and risky hikes in winter to and from Rossland itself or the ski area base lodge, through Squaw Basin (Yodel Inn), past the Halfway Hut on Unnecessary Ridge, across avalanche terrain and finally up exposed slopes to the station on the summit.  Also, there are stories about the emergency backup using a telephone wire through the bush and search teams raised in town. Ron Walker died in September 2011, just days after completing the manuscript.  The book was recently published by his daughter Susan Walker. Anyone who has been to the top of Old Glory will be able to fully appreciate the adventures related in the book.   Sold through Amazon.

"CBC's weatherman Percy Saltzman's Weather Report and Interview of Meteorologist Otto Schwentke", mid-50's, 13 minutes, on DVD at the Rossland Public Library.  A very entertaining clip of Percy Saltzman's many unique weather reports and an interview of Otto Schwentke who lived on top of Old Glory mountain.

"Professional Hermits Operate Canada's Highest Weather Station",  1954, 6 minutes, on DVD at the Rossland Public Library, and digitized by the National Film Board of Canada, click HERE to view it.  An interesting National Film Board of Canada film about the men who lived on top of Old Glory mountain.