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News Release
August 23, 2014 

Raising a toast at the new Mount Baldy trail opening 

The Shuswap, British Columbia – Partners gathered from around the Shuswap Thursday to celebrate the official opening of the new Mount Baldy hiking trail just west of Sorrento. And they did it in style! 

Crannog Ales, whose award winning organic farm brewery is just next door to the new trail, hosted a reception following the official ribbon cutting. “Trails like this help people learn about the natural places they live and why it’s important to take care of it,” said Rebecca Kneen, co-owner of the brewery. 

The Mt Baldy trail is the latest addition to the South Shuswap’s impressive parks and trails system, built in partnership with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Parks and Recreation program, the Shuswap Trail Alliance, and the Sorrento and Area Community Association. The 4.5 kilometers of trail include an impressive lookout over the South Shuswap and a beautiful upper loop alongside pockets of trembling aspen forest. 

Jay Scholton, with the Sorrento and Area Community Association, was honoured during the ribbon cutting ceremony for his leadership championing the trail project. “It just exceeds my expectation,” said Jay, who acknowledged not being sure it would be possible when they were first proposing the idea. “The real thanks needs to go to the Shuswap Trail Alliance crew and volunteers who did all the work,” said Jay. 

CSRD Parks team leader, Marcin Pachcinski, acknowledged the leadership of the Area C Parks Commission, as well as the partnership with the Shuswap Trail Alliance and local volunteers which is making the regional trail system possible. 

The trails place within Secwepemc territory was also acknowledged. CSRD Parks worked with Secwepemc leadership and an archeologist to ensure the path avoids impacting areas of cultural importance. 

Following the ribbon cutting at the trailhead, the celebrations moved over to the nearby Crannog Ales farm. The Mount Baldy lookout is visible from the Brewery’s lawns, so together everyone raised a toast in thanks to Crannog Ales hospitality and to the new trail and all the partners who worked so hard together. 

To find out more about trails throughout the Shuswap, check out www.shuswaptrails.com. And be sure to share trail maintenance needs through the trail report hotline email at trailreport@shuswaptrails.com 

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Photo: Jay Scholton with the Sorrento and Area Community Association (Middle left) and Jack MacInally with the CSRD Area C Parks Commission (Middle right) hold pruning shears ready to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new Mount Baldy trail west of Sorrento. The new hiking trail is a project of CSRD Parks built in partnership with the Sorrento and Area Community Association and the Shuswap Trail Alliance. Check out the description at www.shuswaptrails.com. 

For further background on this release, please contact:

Phil McIntyre-Paul (Executive Director)
for the Shuswap Trail Alliance  
250-804-1964   
phil@shuswaptrails.com 
www.shuswaptrails.com 

Marcin Pachcinski (Team Leader)
Columbia Shuswap Regional District
Parks and Recreation
250-833-5923
mpachcinski@csrd.bc.ca