THANKSGIVING MOUNTAIN 2365m 7760′
This is the mountain on the north side of Grey Creek Pass. Named by the locals who like to hike it on the holiday, the summit has a wide panorama of Kootenay Lake and the Purcells. Larches in the fall.
Grey Creek Pass is the only mountain pass between the East and West Kootenay and the Trans Canada and Highway #3. It connects the east side of Kootenay Lake and Kimberley.
Rating: ♦♦◊◊◊
Location: Between the east shore of Kootenay Lake and Kimberley in the East Kootenay.
Difficulty: B2 moderate
Elevation Gain: +303m
Key Elevations:
Distance: 3.4kms round trip
Time: 2-3 hours
Season: late June to mid-October
Access: Good in summer over Grey Creek FSR. 2WD low clearance. One hour drive from Kootenay Lake Ferry.
Map: 82F/10 Crawford Bay
Drive: From Crawford Bay, drive south on Highway 3A until the Grey Creek Store. Turn either into Oliver Road or Anderson Road (both connect to Grey Creek Pass). Zero odometer.
1.3kms. Turn left for signed Grey Creek FSR and ascend the valley. Switchbacks start at 6kms and stay on the main road at all intersections. At 17kms, pass the Oliver Lake Rec. Site. At 18kms, reach top of Grey Creek Pass. Park at the pullout on the left.
Route/Trail: Several trails on the north side of the pass merge to follow a gentle ridge. At 1km, the trail steepens in the forest and within 3-400m starts to fade at the base of a rockslide. Follow orange flagging tape. Pick your own route through meadow or grassy ramps to the ridge line.
1.7kms. The summit with a large cairn.
South is Oliver Lake and Haystack Mt; west are Kootenay Lake and Kokanee, north is Sphinx Mt.
Return the same way.
References:
https://westkootenayhiking.ca/thanksgiving-mountain/
