March 24, 2004 – Trails B.C. announced today a cycling event that will take place in September, 2004 that will have participants cycling 650 kms of the Trans Canada Trail through southern British Columbia. The tragic fire that destroyed 14 of the 18 trestles in the Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Trail in September 2003 prompted an outpouring of support for the trestles. Great Explorations, a Vancouver based travel company, approached Trails BC to create an event to raise awareness and funding to contribute to the trestle rebuilding project and the continuing Trans Canada Trail development.

Murphy Shewchuk, president of Trails BC, believes this will be an ideal way to promote the trail. “It provides an opportunity for people to see first-hand the trail's progress, and learn about the history of this remarkable rail corridor, now some of the most magnificent parts of the Trans Canada Trail.” This tour will retrace the century-old route of the Columbia and Western Railway and the Kettle Valley Railway, from the heart of BC's mining country to the banks of the Fraser River. Participants will have a first-hand opportunity to visit the places that have become part of the legend of western railway life. This is an opportunity to join up to 100 like-minded enthusiasts in a mid-September fund-raising tour that will be both challenging and extremely rewarding.

The challenge is made manageable by spreading the cycling part of the trip over a total of 13 days for those who participate in the full adventure. Those who aren't sure they can manage that much adventure or who don't have the available time can participate in one or more stages of the two-week trip. Stage One, from Castlegar to Beaverdell, is six days including travel time. Stage Two, from Beaverdell to Coalmont, is also six days. Stage Three, from Coalmont to Hope, via the spectacular Coquihalla Canyon, is only four days, including travel time.

The rewarding part of this special trip is both experiential and financial. Great Explorations has agreed to donate a significant portion of their normal fee to Trails BC to help fund Trans Canada Trail work across the province.

Costs for each of the stages are as follows: Stage One: CAD$695; Stage Two: CAD$695 Stage Three: CAD$345. Transportation to and from the start/finish of each stage is additional. Further information on the tour can be found at http://www.trailsbc.ca/KVR_Tour_Overview.html.