Kootenay author Keith G. Powell to release third book — Fisher Peak Chronicles

Fisher Peak Chronicles – real stories from a tall mountain – the legacy of Mount Fisher

Standing at 9,336 feet, Mount Fisher towers head-and-shoulders above its neighbouring peaks in the southern reaches of the Canadian Rockies. In the evening it glistens golden as the sunsets, and in the early morning it casts a long shadow across the Kootenay Valley.

One of the most photographed landmarks in the Kootenay region, Mount Fisher holds the fascination of locals and visitors with its majestic vista and relatively easy access. It is our own little Mt. Everest, and scaling it has become a rite-of-passage for many outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. Fisher Peak Chronicles endeavors to capture the heritage, culture and legacy of Mount Fisher through a series of real adventure stories from contributors and historical sources.

Mount Fisher attracts hundreds, if not thousands, of climbers every year. This book gives readers a glimpse into their passion and adventures. So whether you are an armchair admirer of the lofty mountain, or an avid trekker of its slopes, you are sure to enjoy the stories behind the mountain we affectionately call Fisher Peak.

Available at local Kootenay bookstore in early September.

Paperback, 6 x 9, 232 pgs.
Plus 8 page full colour photo insert
ISBN 978-0-9812146-3-4 | $24.95
Release Date September 2014 Wild Horse Creek Press
Distributed by Sandhill Book Marketing Ltd

About the Author:

Keith G. Powell is a life-long resident of the Kootenays and is the publisher at Koocanusa Publications Inc., in Cranbrook. He has a keen interest in local history and the lives of the many colorful characters who at one time or another called the Canadian Rockies home. He is publisher of Kootenay Business magazine and president at one of the largest independent publishing companies in western Canada. Published through his own publishing company, Wild Horse Creek Press, this is his third book. He is also the author of the book Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak and Raising Kain, the adventurous life of Conrad Kain.

Handcrafted Leather Journals Introduced by Wild Horse Creek Press

 

Wild Horse Creek Press is pleased to introduce a new line of handcrafted leather writing journals — called Rocky Mountain Leather Journals. Made locally out of 100% Bison leather, elk horn buttons and a variety of quality writing paper each journal is of the highest quality and totally unique.

"I debuted the new line of handcrafted leather writing journals at a recent Cranbrook Farmer's Market and people thought they were really cool,"  said Keith Powell, producer of the new line. "I wanted to make a leather journal for myself and decided to produce a few extra for others.  They sold very well at the market."

Each journal is one-of-a-kind and is handcrafted out of 100% soft bison leather, with some journals covers made entirely of smooth leather and others displaying a more textured leather. Most of the journals have an elk horn button with an elastic clasp (some have cedar buttons while others have precious stones). The high quality writing paper is carefully hand-stitched together with a strong, durable leather cord which accents the journals. A traditional cross-stitching method is used to enhance the durability and beauty of each journal.

Each journal is both rustic and beautifully handcrafted using the natural contours of the bison leather to a truly unique journal.

The journals are great as personal writing journals, sketchbooks, photo albums or life organizers. Designed especially for writers, adventure travellers, backpackers, outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds and personal journal keepers.

Rocky Mountain Leather Journals come in three different sizes, Large format (9 x 11); Medium format (5 x 7) and Mini-Format (3 x 5).

Large Format Leather Journals $65 — 200 pages
Medium Format Leather Journals $45 — 160 pages
Small - Format Leather Journals $20 — 120 pages

Mini - Format Leather Journals $10 to $15 -- 120 pages

Interested in obtaining a Rocky Mountain Leather Journal. They can be ordered directly from Wild Horse Creek Press by contacting keithp57@gmail.com

Shipping and handling fees apply.

Rekindling historic connections — Walla Walla Washington

The Boyer-Baker National Bank of Walla Walla was initially funded by the gold rush of the Kootenays in Canada. 

Where is the historic connection?  My wife and I recently had the opportunity to visit the fine city of Walla Walla and were pleasantly surprised by the vibrant nature of the town.  Live music, great food, a wonderful museum and a thriving wine industry all caught our attention.

This all left me wondering whatever happened to the historic connection between Walla Walla and the Kootenay region in the south east corner of British Columbia, Canada.  Several years ago I authored a book called Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak, which chronicled the gold rush fever that consumed the west in the 1860’s and saw Walla Walla become the commercial hub of the northwest.

On cold winter’s day in 1864 California 49’er Jack Fisher and contingent of men rode out of Walla Walla and headed 400 miles due north to the Wild Horse gold fields near present day heritage town Fort Steele just outside of Cranbrook.

It is said that the subsequent gold strike, which produced an estimated $15 to $30 million in gold, funded the startup of the Boyer-Baker National Bank now a fixture of downtown Walla Walla.

As I wrote in my book, “Evidently there was so much gold making its way to Walla Wlla, the Dorsey S. Baker Company quickly filled their one safe to capacity.  The company then took to filling empty nail kegs with gold dust.  It is unlikely that the miners, who were depositing their valuable gold there, were ever told about this stop-gap method of banking.  From these humble beginnings, the Boyd-Baker National Bank of Walla Walla sprang forth.”

So my question is where is the Cranbrook – Walla Walla connection today?  How about a sister city agreement between the two cities to promote modern day tourism trade and commerce?  How about a Chamber of Commerce exchange that would build on our common historical heritage?

If you would like to read more about the historical connection between Walla Walla and Cranbrook and the Kootenay region to the north visit the gift shop at the Fort Walla Walla Museum and pick up a copy of my book, Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak.

Next year, 2014 is the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold on Wild Horse Creek and the development of Walla Walla as the commercial hub of the early Pacific Northwest interior.

I personally think its time to re-establish this important historic link to the benefit of both our communities.

Mount Robson Provincial Park

New Kootenay Historical Novel Featured in I Love Creston Magazine

The new historical novel by Keith G. Powell called Raiising Kain, the adventurous life of Conrad Kain was profiled in the June edition of I Love Creston Magazine. The feature article included a photo of the author taken near the Conrad Kain hut in the Bugaboos.

"I was very pleased to see I Love Creston Magazine feature my new book Raising Kain," said Kootenay author, Keith G. Powell. "This kind of exposure is very important to local Kootenay authors like myself because there are so many people who enjoy reading about the colourful characters who once called the Kootenays home -- like former Columbia Valley resident Conrad Kain."

I Love Creston Magazine is a popular monthly lifestyle publication that has captured the imagination of the many Creston readers over the last few ears. It is printed in four colour process on electrobrite newsprint and is recognized for it's strong local connection with the Creston community. The magazine does a great job of capturing the Creston Valley lifestyle with a series informative articles, columns and photo essays.

This is the author's second book, his first book Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak tells the story of the 1864 gold rush into the Rocky Mountain near Fort Steele.

Raiising Kain, the adventurous life of Conrad Kain, and Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak are available can be both purchased at Kingfisher Books and Black Bear Books in Creston.

See the ILove Creston magazine write up on Raising Kain