BOU AVENUE
Westside Legacy Trail
With snow still clinging to mountain tops on 19 May 2024, Zosia Zgolak and I opted to go for a bicycle ride along the Westside Legacy Trail (WLT) between the communities of Fairmont Hot Springs and Invermere in British Columbia.  An initiative from the Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance, the paved pathway was completed in 2022 and runs more or less parallel to the Westside Road which some cyclists still prefer to ride on despite having to brave occasional motorized traffic.  Signage is excellent all along the WLT with distance markers at every kilometre and speed-reducing gates at the odd road crossing.  There are plenty of convenient benches and picnic tables spread along the entire route, and vault toilets are available at the two terminal trailheads and also at Greywolf Pond about 7.4 kilometres south of the north trailhead (50.47319, -116.02984).  Since the most difficult hills are at the north end of the WLT and we were doing the trip as an out-and-back ride, we opted to start from the south trailhead (50.31609, -115.88238) in order to have a more relaxing finish.  It would be boring to describe our entire ride in detail here, but I think it suffices to say that, overall, the cycling was technically easy.  This is not surprising given that the WLT is paved in its entirety and is seemingly well-maintained.  There are no route-finding issues, and although a few of the uphill climbs at the north end are indeed strenuous, the grade is never too steep to be impossible to pedal.
There are even bike tools and a pump here if needed! Sonny and Zosia start their ride from a sign board at the south trailhead.
A cute birdie! Zosia is ready to take flight!

Near-perfect conditons for cycling, actually!

On this morning, the air is a bit nippy despite the bright sunshine.  Fortunately, there is very little wind.

 

Thank you, Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance! Modeled after "The Last Spike", "The Last Spoke" commemorates the completion of the Westside Legacy Trail.
Hidden cameras, maybe?

Some of the trees along the Westside Legacy Trail are apparently very watchful!
Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry! Zosia stops to check out the waterfowl at Greywolf Pond.
They should cut down a few of these trees! Here is a first glimpse of Windermere Lake through the trees behind Zosia.
Good place for a nap in the sun! Sonny and Zosia stand at a scenic viewpoint a few hundred metres beyond the north trailhead.
About 1:36 to get back...with a couple of killer hills to climb over! Passing the information kiosk at the north trailhead, Zosia begins the long ride back to the south trailhead.

And it's all downhill from here too!

The mountains surrounding Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (right) make a nice backdrop for the tail end of the ride.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

 

Good eats here apparently! A couple of mule deer forage on an embankment beside the pathway.
More interesting and strenuous than it appears...now they need to build a loop around Windermere Lake! Total Distance:  48.8 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  5 hours 31 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  365 metres

GPX Data
At the conclusion of our out-and-back ride, Zosia and I drove to the resort at Fairmont Hot Springs to check out some not-so-secret free hot pools.  Located in a ravine--Fairmont Creek--tucked between the resort and the nearby RV campground, the pools were created by the outflow spilling from the resort's main pool.  The resort has erected lots of barriers and warning signs to discourage people from visiting the free hot pools, but apparently few pay heed to them.  Although Zosia had brought along her swimsuit, the pools were so busy that we simply waded a little near the margins in our bare feet before exiting.  I do not quite understand the appeal of sitting in a hot pool, free or otherwise, when large crowds are nearby staring and waiting their turn to get in.  Perhaps a better time for a soak would be very early in the morning or even in the middle of the night though I suspect that the pools are frequented 24-7.
ie. They want you to spend money at the resort! At Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, these warning signs try to dissuade people from visiting the free hot pools, but they do not explicitly prohibit access.
Kinda like getting sloppy seconds! An outflow pipe from the resort's hot springs dumps warm water into some makeshift pools.
I guess the plants prefer the cold water! Zosia sits beside an undisturbed pool of cold water.  The hot springs outflow probably spilled down here in the past before being re-routed by the resort.
Feels good! Sonny soaks his tired feet in the free hot pool.  Note the speleothems on the wall beside the waterfall.
Just yell, "SHARK!!!" Zosia wonders if she should warn all the people behind the sign.