Gray Creek Pass finally opens, repair bill at $80,000

Tom Lymbery, owner of the Gray Creek Store.

Why is this man smiling?  It's Tom Lymbery, owner of the Gray Creek Store on Kootenay Lake and advocate for the re-opening of the Gray Creek Pass who is very happy to see the unpaved forest service road, connecting the East and West Kootenay, finally open. It's better late than never as the pass re-opened late last week after being closed since it was damaged by heavy water erosion, mudslides and debris from this year's unusually wet spring.

Major repairs were required with the BC Forest Service hiring a contractor over the summer to repair the damaged road which connects the St. Mary valley near Kimberley to Gray Creek on the west side of the pass on Kootenay Lake.

The well-travelled pass is a popular shortcut for outdoors enthusiasts and visiting travellers during the summer.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Forest, Brennan Clarke said, "The ministry hired a contractor to repair six slump areas on Gray Creek Pass. This work was supervised by ministry staff and cost about $80,000."

When asked if continuing improvement will be made, Brennan Clarke added, "There will be a need for ongoing maintenance on this road."

According to Russell Musio, publisher of the Back Road Map books, the Gray Creek Pass is rated as "the most important back road in B.C., if not in Canada."

Though too late to help much this season, it is hoped that the 85-kilometre Gray Creek Pass will regain its popularity come next spring and summer.