The ‘Hike Our Story’ Challenge returns to the Boundary
By RDKB
A hiking challenge, which launched in the Boundary last year to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Grand Forks, is back with a bang this summer.
“Last year’s event was a huge success! We had 124 hikers explore 372 trails in the Boundary,” says Melina Van Hoogevest, RDKB’s Recreation Supervisor at Grand Forks District Recreation.
“The feedback from everyone who took part was phenomenal and it really seemed to motivate local residents to get outside, have fun and explore the area. We also had visitors from the Okanagan, Vancouver, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Colorado and even France take part.”
“This year the scavenger hunt challenge will run over four months from May to September, and will feature four hikes and four monthly prizes. We can’t wait.” she adds.
Beverley Newbould, one of the draw winners from last year’s event said: “I feel like I have won on each of the 8 hikes I have done so far. I have not only got to see so much of the area but I have also met so many wonderful people in the hiking community. Being new to the area, this has been a great gift that I am extremely grateful for.”
“I love this scavenger hunt because it’s bringing me to places I’ve never been before!” shared Erika Couling who participated during 2022.
Echoing the sentiment of many who remarked on the conditions and natural beauty surrounding each trail during the launch event, Susan Routley said:
“I am so proud and happy to live in this beautiful area. I have lived in Grand Forks for over 30 years and have just now started to explore the trails. Retirement is a wonderful thing! Thank you to the Trails Society for working so hard with the RDKB on this particular project and thank you to the Trails Society for making Grand Forks a walker’s paradise.”
The ‘Hike our Story’ Challenge is a collaboration between outdoor enthusiasts from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary’s Grand Forks & District Recreation department and the Grand Forks Community Trails Society. Their collective aim is to empower people through connectivity to nature and build an appreciation of the area’s history and heritage.
“This year we have handpicked three brand new hikes and included one of our favourites from last year. Each hike will be individually highlighted for an entire month with additional options to explore more within those highlighted areas. Our first hike, starting on May 1, is typically a dry trail,” explains Michelle Mallette, Grand Forks Community Trails Society Vice-President.
By September 4th, when the Challenge has run its course, the hope is that all participants will have discovered new routes as well as the heritage behind them by walking in the footsteps of others who have come before.
The four hiking adventures can be found on www.rdkb.com, as well as the nine trails from last year’s challenge for those who didn’t participate or who want to revisit them.
Giving an additional reason to participate, QR codes on each trail are waiting to be discovered and will unlock the possibility to win monthly gift cards courtesy of Work n’ Play Clothing, Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, Grand Forks Beer Co., and Wildways Adventure Sports & Rentals.
For more information on the epic ‘Hike Our Story’ Challenge visit RDKB – Regional District of Kootenay Boundary > Recreation & Culture > Grand Forks & District > Trails, and follow @Grandforksrec (Insta), Grand Forks & District Recreation or RDKBdotcom (FB).
