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ROTARY TRAIL CLOSED: The highlighted section (see attached map) of the Rotary Trail will be closed until further notice due to safety concerns while contractors complete our wildfire risk reduction project along the trail. The Trail will be closed to all users during work hours 5AM-1PM Monday to Friday. Please respect this closure and remain off the trail from the junction of the Pack Trail to the Rotary Trailhead.

ATTENTION: Creston Community Forest contractors began harvesting our wildfire risk reduction project on between 2.5 and 4.5 KM. Safety is essential: Please be very cautious and aware of active operations while using the road. Follow all posted signage and use a radio, if possible. Expect disruptions and delays along the section of road with active operations during work hours Monday to Friday from August to October, 2024. Access to the Rotary Trail will be disrupted and trail closures will be in effect while work is happening in the vicinity of the trail. See the map for the yellow highlighted trail location that is impacted (Photo Above). For more information please contact infoshare@crestoncf.com or 250-402-0070.

This past Friday, Erich Endersby and Eva Sommerfeld spent part of the morning attending to the trailhead of the Pack Trail that starts at the end of Vance Road. Another popular hike maintained by the community forest that's close to town is the Billy Goat Bluffs trail. Once again, we ask that the trails be for non-motorized use only. Thanks and happy hiking!

Hear Fire Ecologist Kira Hoffman share what to have ready in your home if you need to quickly evacuate. These tips will help you and your family if required to leave your home during this wildfire season. Kira also shares current fuel load conditions of our forests as well as how this rainy spring contributed to some of what B.C. is experiencing this wildfire year. Click on the link below to watch the helpful and informative video clip: https://globalnews.ca/video/10632618/bc-wildfires-season-escalates-rapidly/

Congratulations to Ashlyn Yanciw as the 2024 Ralph Moore Memorial Bursary Award recipient. On behalf of the Creston Community Forest, John Chisamore (Board Secretary for the Creston Community Forest and Shareholder Director representing the Regional District of Central Kootenay) presented Ashlyn the $5,000 bursary toward her Bachelors of Ecosystem Management. Education is one of three pillars the Creston Community Forest uses as our ongoing goal to continue 'Managing Our Community Forest for Future Generations'. Once again, congratulations to Ashlyn!

This past Friday, Creston Community Forest staff spent the day learning about chainsaw use and safety. Instruction was provided by Macaulay Forestry and was an incredible day. In photo, left to right: Daniel Gratton, Erich Endersby, Ashlyn Yanciw, Eva Sommerfeld, Jim Macaulay and Angela French with Milo.

Father's Day Trail Feature: Billy Goats Bluff. This 2.7 km (one-way) trail takes you up to a rocky outcrop overlooking the Creston Valley.  This trail provides hikers with easy-access hiking right outside of town. On the way up the trail passes through an old apple orchard, a fuel mitigation area completed by the Town of Creston in 2012, several rocky viewpoints and several large, old Ponderosa pine trees, some with bear claw marks. At the top of the bluffs, hikers can enjoy the scenery by sitting at the beautiful picnic table crafted by woodshop students from Prince Charles Secondary School. A short trail to the north from the picnic tables leads to a bench with a great view of Duck Lake and the lower end of Kootenay Lake. For access points: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/billy-goat-bluffs

At the beginning of each wildfire season, the Creston Community Forest and partners host an Open House for the community. The Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee attended the Open House hosted by the Creston Community Forest and the Creston Valley Farmers Market. Each year the goal of the Open House is to bring together wildfire and wildlife practitioners and educators, government representatives, local forestry licensees and community members to discuss, learn, share and explore what work is happening in the Creston Valley and how you can play a part in making your home, community, and forest more resilient to wildfire. We are proud to share this video highlighting conversations from our Open House. We, along with the Creston Valley FireSmart Committee members, had fascinating conversations with the community. It is our way of creating community in our community forest. For more information on the Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/crestonvalleyfiresmartresiliencycommittee

A rainy Sunday morning gives us a chance to grab a coffee and listen to a favorite podcast. Here is what we are listening to, Episode Description - This week the podcast returns to a wildfire conversation with fire ecologist, Jen Baron from the University of British Columbia. In the last episode the causes of severe wildfires was explored. Now, this podcast episode turns the focus to the strategies for managing the severe wildfire factors within our control. (Link below.) "The Clear Cut steps into Canada’s forests and unpacks expert viewpoints on Canada’s forest management systems and what needs to change. Together, we’ll go on a journey to better understand how forestry in Canada works, and how we got to this point in the first place." Podcast available on TuneIn, Alexa, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, I Heart Radio, and many other options. For Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5z4QWNSB9HmOwaJaZK926c?si=kZmBx-vLRdGI_s69IAEQPg&fbclid=IwY2xjawFG5OhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbxpuy9LFjlqmqc_jx180JtY2YynZyLxpIPWqHx6nbvpkrCxFP6fvf4gYg_aem_H6O8JOCqNvpcZC7D8Vca4Q&nd=1&dlsi=ef686fe4ce814d9d

With rain in the forecast and low fire danger class rating we are planning to burn small debris piles created by our wildfire risk reduction projects. This will depend on the area experiencing good or fair ventilation for smoke to disperse well. Please expect to see smoke in the areas of Arrow Creek and Goat Mountain in the coming days. We are working to reduce the fuel load near communities prior to high fire danger season. Thank you.

Open House Invitation We invite you to join us at our Open House and meet the ten partnering Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee members (CVFRC), ask questions, and discover how you can reduce wildfire risk at home.     Date: TODAY - Saturday, May 25th, 2024     Time: 9am - 1pm     Location: “Market Park” at the Creston Valley Farmers' Market.     What to expect: Interactive booths with each committee member, bring the kids to take a photo with a fire truck, and more importantly, learn what’s going on in your community about how you can create a plan to become FireSmart.     For full details about the committee and open house, view our NEW webpage here: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/crestonvalleyfiresmartresiliencycommittee

Returning to the community forest is our seasonal Forest Technician, Ashlyn Yanciw. Ashlyn just completed a Diploma in Environmental Assessment and Restoration from Lethbridge College. Also returning is Erich Endersby who just completed his Diploma in Forest Technology from Selkirk College. Erich accepted a permanent full time position with the community forest and will now be registering with the Forest Professionals of BC to obtain his designation as a Registered Forest Technologist. The community forest has also hired Eva Sommerfeld who will be working as our newest forestry summer student. * We will share more about these three Creston Community Forest team members throughout the summer.