Tracks, Trails and Forgotten Tales

This Episode better if watched!Sharon Kinne...

For more than 50 years, she lived quietly in Alberta under a different name. To her community, she was Diedra "Dee" Glabus. But before that, she was known as Sharon Kinne—a woman whose past included murder investigations in Missouri, a conviction in Mexico, and a daring prison escape that made international headlines.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore one of North America's most remarkable true crime stories and the hidden life that followed. Along the way, Dan discovers an unexpected connection that brings this story much closer to home than either of us ever imagined.

From Missouri to Mexico, and ultimately to a quiet community in Alberta, this is a story of hidden identities, unanswered questions, and a past that remained buried for decades.

Lost Places. Hidden Trails. Real Stories.

Hidden deep in the mountains above Coalmont, British Columbia, the ghost town of Blakeburn still tells the story of a once-thriving coal mining community.

In this unscripted episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we take you along as we explore the abandoned remains of Blakeburn, uncover forgotten relics, compare historic photographs with what remains today, and share the stories that continue to echo through this remarkable place.

This episode is just the beginning. In a future episode, we'll return to tell the full story of Blakeburn—including the devastating 1930 Blakeburn Mine Disaster, the lives of the miners and their families, and the rise and fall of one of British Columbia's most significant coal mining towns.

Join us as we preserve the stories of the places history almost forgot.

Lost Places. Hidden Trails. Real Stories.

On April 26, 1912, the Coalmont Hotel welcomed more than 200 guests to its grand opening gala. With music from the Princeton Orchestra filling the dining room, the hotel stood as a symbol of hope for a booming coal town that believed it was destined for greatness.

Coalmont proudly called itself the "City of Destiny," but that dream never became reality.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the remarkable 114-year history of the Coalmont Hotel—from its construction during British Columbia's coal boom, the lives of Louis Marcotte and Jerry Brown, prohibition, tragedy, changing ownership, and the decline of the mining industry that shaped the town.

Today, the hotel still stands, one of only four original buildings remaining in Coalmont. Though its doors have been closed since 2015, the stories inside continue to captivate visitors. Some even say the hotel isn't entirely empty...

Join us as we uncover the history, the people, and the legends behind one of British Columbia's most iconic historic hotels.

Lost Places. Hidden Trails. Real Stories

Before British Columbia had roads, courthouses, or an established legal system, one man was sent by Britain to bring law and order to a rapidly changing frontier.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the life and legacy of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie—the first judge of mainland British Columbia. From his upbringing in Britain and his journey across the world to his years riding on horseback between isolated mining camps, Begbie became the face of British justice in one of the wildest and most remote regions of North America.

Known to many as the "Hanging Judge," his reputation has endured for more than a century. But was he truly the ruthless figure history often portrays? Or was he simply a man carrying out the duties he had been sent to perform under British law?

We'll look at Begbie's remarkable career, his respect for Indigenous peoples and his efforts to learn their languages, the challenges of holding court on the frontier, and the myths that have grown around his name. We also briefly touch on the Chilcotin War—one of the most debated chapters of his career—which will be explored in greater depth in a future episode.

Whether admired or criticized, there is no question that Matthew Baillie Begbie helped shape the legal foundations of British Columbia.

Join us as we separate fact from legend and tell the story of the man who was the law.

Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales explores the hidden history of Western Canada and beyond—one story, one trail, and one forgotten tale at a time.

Granite Creek was once one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing boomtowns.

After gold was discovered in 1885 by John Chance, thousands of hopeful miners, merchants, and fortune seekers rushed into the Similkameen Valley. Almost overnight, Granite Creek transformed from a quiet wilderness into a bustling gold rush town. By 1886, it had become one of the largest population centers in British Columbia.

But the promise of gold was never guaranteed.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the rise and fall of Granite Creek, BC — from its dramatic gold rush beginnings to the people who built their lives around the dream of striking it rich, and the quiet remains left behind today.

Through historical newspaper accounts, early photographs, and present-day exploration, we uncover the story of a town built on hope, hardship, and the fleeting promise of fortune.

Today, only scattered foundations, rusted metal, cemetery markers, and faint traces remain in the hills near Coalmont and Princeton — but Granite Creek’s story still echoes through the Similkameen.

Topics in this episode include:

Granite Creek, BC history
Similkameen Valley gold rush
John Chance and the 1885 discovery
British Columbia ghost towns
Gold rush boomtowns
Historic newspapers and early photographs
Exploring what remains today

Boundary Falls near Greenwood, British Columbia may look like a quiet roadside waterfall, but it holds a rich and forgotten past.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the history of Boundary Creek, where gold was first discovered in 1860, the growth of a small frontier town in the 1890s, and the rise of the Sunset Smelter and early hydroelectric power in the early 1900s.

From gold rush beginnings to industrial boom and eventual decline, this is the story of a place most people drive right past—without ever knowing what once stood here.

Boundary Falls near Greenwood, British Columbia may look like a quiet roadside waterfall, but it holds a rich and forgotten past.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the history of Boundary Creek, where gold was first discovered in 1860, the growth of a small frontier town in the 1890s, and the rise of the Sunset Smelter and early hydroelectric power in the early 1900s.

From gold rush beginnings to industrial boom and eventual decline, this is the story of a place most people drive right past—without ever knowing what once stood here.

Sometimes the past hides in plain sight.

When we first started exploring old trails, forgotten rail grades, and abandoned places across British Columbia, there were many times we had no idea we were standing in the middle of a ghost town… until we went home and started researching what we had found.

A few old timbers in the forest.
A strange clearing.
A cluster of lilac bushes blooming where no house stands anymore.

These small clues are often the only things left behind when a once thriving community disappears.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we share 10 signs that you might be standing in a ghost town — from hidden foundations and rusted relics to the plants and patterns in the landscape that quietly mark where people once lived, worked, and built their lives.

If you love exploring forgotten places, old mining camps, railway towns, and historic trails, these signs may help you see the landscape a little differently on your next adventure.

Because sometimes… history isn’t in a museum.

Sometimes it’s right beneath your feet.

Stay curious. Stay adventurous.

🎙️ The Rise & Fall of the B.C. Copper Company Smelter | Greenwood BC History

The history of Greenwood, British Columbia is deeply rooted in mining — and few places represent that historic legacy more than the B.C. Copper Company Smelter.

In this episode of Tracks, Trails & Forgotten Tales, we explore the historic remains of the B.C. Copper Company Smelter in Anaconda, just south of Greenwood, BC. Built in 1901 to process ore from the nearby Mother Lode Mine — one of the richest copper mines in Boundary Country — this massive industrial site became the heart of Greenwood’s mining boom.

At its peak, the smelter operated 24 hours a day and processed more than 210,000 tonnes of ore annually. Its towering 36-metre brick smokestack, constructed from nearly 250,000 bricks, was the tallest in the province at the time and remains one of the most recognizable historic landmarks in Greenwood today.

We share drone footage over the historic slag pile, explore the massive bell-shaped slag pots known as “Hell’s Bells,” walk the foundations of the original smelter and mill site, and examine the rusted remains of mining and milling equipment, including a ball mill. Historic photographs bring the site back to life, showing Greenwood’s copper mining industry during its most prosperous years.

Walking the slag pile today feels like stepping onto another world — a hardened reminder of the copper mine operations and industrial ambition that helped shape this region of British Columbia.

This episode is part of our ongoing exploration of Boundary Country history, including previous episodes on the ghost town of Phoenix and historic Greenwood — Canada’s smallest incorporated city with a rich mining past.

The fire may be gone.
But the history remains.

We gratefully acknowledge BC Archives, Boundary Heritage, Greenwood Museum, Canadian West Magazine (Issue #1, “Historic Greenwood” by T.W. Paterson), and Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of the Boundary Country by Garnet Basque.

A heartfelt thank you as well to our community on Facebook, Instagram, and our YouTube subscribers who continue to share memories, historic photographs, and local mining history with us.

Research & Archival Credits

Join us Friday Feb 20 to hear about the historic BC Copper Company Smelter. Here is a short promo