Tips from Travellers

Smithers Fall Fair and Demolition Derby.

August 30, 2012 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

The last week in August and first weekend in September means major events for Smithers.  Our town turns busier then ever and the community comes together.  First was the Fall Fair Parade with fire trucks, horses, and floats.  The community came together to view the creativity of our valley's residents.  People from all over come to enjoy these end of summer/begining of fall events.  Alpine Al and I were in the parade together, we had so much fun waving at the kids and I threw lots of candy to everyone watching the parade.  I went to the BV Exhibition (Fall Fair) and saw so many new and familiar faces. This fair has something for everyone; with the rides all day long, live entertainment, concerts, rodeo, extreme bull riding, horse competition, great food, and much more! A person never gets bored at an event like this.  This up coming weekend is the 100th annual Telkwa BBQ (Demolition Derby), this is very exciting as I am a backup driver for the demolition derby heats.  There is so much happening again with this event, such as, demolition heats, softball tournament, kids games, rock concert, country concert, famous beef out of the pit and onto a bun, and beer gardens, just to name a few.  Trooper is playing on Saturday night and Aaron Pritchett and George Canyon are playing on Sunday night.  So as many of the Smithers/Telkwa residents are saying......I must go now, I have a derby car to work on. 

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Posted by Alpine Alice 1, Smithers at 02:04 PM

Alpine Alice visits Alpine Al

August 12, 2012 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

I always enjoy my walks down Main Street in Smithers and, being in a small town, I always run into someone I know.  Because of the mountainous backdrop this community has embraced an Alpine theme, which suits Smithers quite well. Smithers has been given the nickname of "BC's little Switzerland," and, if you walk down Main Street, you'll see why.  There are many murals and statues within the town that tell stories of pioneer settlement, record-breaking hunting, local wildlife and solemn remembrance.  One of our oldest statues is Alpine Al; he is located on Main Street and adds a lot of character to the area.  Whether you are driving down Main Street or walking, this seven foot high statue with a ten foot long horn will grab your attention, so stop and take a picture or just admire him from a distance.     

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Posted by Alpine Alice 1, Smithers at 11:42 AM

The Scoop on the Glacier View Loop

July 20, 2012 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

One of my favorite ways to tour the Bulkley Valley is via the Glacier View Circle route, this loop takes about an hour to drive and has both paved and gravel sections as it runs along the scenic Telkwa High Road and a portion of Highway 16. As I did the drive today I enjoyed picturesque views of Kathlyn Glacier, rolling farms and points of interest. One of the best stops on the trip is Driftwood Provincial Park. Here I found a bridge and a nice easy walking trail to the fossil beds, and although visitors to the park may not remove fossils, I learned lots about the area’s cultural and geological history. The entire tour includes 9 sites of interest and a brochure that I picked up at the Smithers Visitor Center conveniently laid out each of these locations. I would definitely recommend doing the tour either early in the morning or late in the evening if you hope to see wildlife, especially late in July and into August when black bears frequent the berry bushes along the road.

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Posted by Alpine Alice, Smithers at 05:32 PM

Alpine Sights and Sites

June 20, 2012 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

It's a beautiful sunny morning in Smithers, BC and a perfect day for a stroll down the redbrick sidewalks of Main Street.  My name is Alpine Alice, and I am right at home here in the beautiful Bulkley Valley, surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers.  As I walk down Main Street, making my way past outdoor eating areas, the smell of cinnamon buns tempts me to stop at a local café.  I greet both new and familiar faces who are out enjoying this sunny first day of summer.  Glancing up, I notice that that Smithers’ Ski runs are visible from town, as they are only a 20 minute drive up Hudson Bay Mountain Road.  Although it is summer now, I can’t wait to hit the slopes and enjoy the beautiful northern BC powder.  My walk brings me to the “Old Church.”  It’s a favorite venue for local events, and if I shut my eyes I can almost hear the upbeat melodies of fiddle music or the catchy lyrics of local song writers.  The “Old Church” is also a perfect place for visitors to enjoy a picnic or stretch their legs, as it is located just off Main Street on the corner of King and 1^st Ave.  As you’re travelling through make sure to take time to stop and smell the flowers! 

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Posted by Alpine Alice 1, Smithers at 11:23 AM

There was an old man who lived in a shoe

June 08, 2012 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

On Kitseguekla Lake Road in Smithers I stepped into a fairy tale when at kilometre nine  I found an architectural dream... a shoe house. Toby Walsh built this magnificent structure several years ago and each year welcomes around 600 people who pop by to take their picture next to his home. I was amazed when I looked up on the roof and found gigantic shoelace that tied it all together. I googled shoehouses when I got home and I only found two more out there in cyberspace so this is a pretty unique experience. Everyone on the fam tour on June 6 was pretty impressed.

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Posted by Alpine Alice 1, Smithers at 03:43 PM

The Twins are Falling

August 12, 2011 | Tips from Travellers > Smithers, Attractions

When you find yourself in Smithers next, I recommend that you make the stop to visit the beautiful Twin Falls located just outside of downtown Smithers. It is a nice easy hike into the park where the falls are located and then from there you must prepare to be amazed! The two falls, thus the name of them, are both magnificent in their own right but yet totally different from the other. They are both really tall waterfalls but one of them (pictured) has a much higher flow of water coming from it. You can hike up and stand right below the falls and get completely soaked from the spray from them. We were absolutely soaked from all the spray, but since it was a beautiful warm day it was easy to get dry again by just stepping away from the falls and back into the sun. It’s a really nice hike up towards the falls across many rocks and the slow areas of the river from the waterfall, or you can stick to the path that they have there. Any level of experienced hikers can do the trail and probably enjoy it just as much as I did. Get out there and experience the magnificence that is Twin Falls!