Tributaries to the Columbia.
Among the streams tributary to the Columbia River between Golden and Columbia Lake and having their sources in the Selkirks, counting north and south, are: Canyon Creek, Spillimacheen River, Bugaboo Creek, Salmon River, No. 3 Creek, No. 2 Creek, Horse Thief Creek, Toby Creek, and Dutch Creek. The next creek south is Findlay Creek always associated with the Upper Columbia; the upper part of its valley lies west of Columbia Lake, but its confluence is with the Kootenay River below "Canal Flats."
Notable streams flowing from the Rockies are Vermillion and Sinclair Creeks.
Athalmer is a village on the western side of the Columbia near its confluence with Toby Creek and where it leaves Lake Windermere The population is about 100. There is a livery, a hotel and two stores. On the western shore of the northern extremity of the lake, Captain Armstrong's houseboat, the Isabel, is moored for the summer months and accommodates some twenty guests; rates $2.50 and $3.00 per day. Rowboats, canoes, carriage and saddle horses can be obtained at regular rates. A telephone connects with Mountain Valley Ranch on Dutch Creek.
Carbonate Landing—Name: With reference to mines in the vicinity. Location: A steamboat landing on the Columbia River some 20 miles south-easterly from Golden where considerable ore was once shipped from the mines. Practically no ore is taken out now. This landing is chiefly important as an ingress to a miner's trail leading across the south-east extremity of the Dogtooth Mountains to another trail up the North Branch of the Spillimacheen River giving access to mining properties at the head of the valley and at the head of the tributary valley to McMurdo Creek. It is a thoroughly alpine route and would make a splendid summer outing, with ponies to carry the camp "outfit."
Route: Take the steamer from Golden to Carbonate Landing; follow the trail to the head of the North Branch of the Spillimacheen and descend the West Branch of Grizzly Creek, and follow on to Bear Creek Station at the mouth of Rogers Pass, or else cross Bald Mountain and follow the Beaver Valley trail to the same point.
Columbia Lake is 20 miles south of Lake Windermere. Both were called the Kootenae Lakes by their discoverer. About halfway between them is a small body of water named Mud Lake. Just south of Columbia Lake is the old canal uniting its waters with the Kootenay River, fallen into disuse shortly after its construction. The vicinity is called Canal Flats. Columbia Lake is 9 or 10 miles long. From the high "bench" studded with great firs abutting its northern margin, the appearance of this beautiful water is as of an arm of the sea sweeping around a wooded cape. Herds of cattle graze on the dry though nourishing "bench-grass" on the surrounding benches. Horses can be ridden anywhere through the trees. The (government map shows a road extending around the lake. There is a picturesque bridle-path, probably an old Indian trail, along the eastern shore. The place is of extreme natural and archaeological interest. Here are the aboriginal hieroglyphics indelibly marked on the faces of precipitous rocks awaiting interpretation by the archaeol-
