Fact Checking Challenge - West Kootenay Hiking

Can you help fact check the West Kootenay Hiking Guidebook? Fact checking will happen over the spring and summer of 2024 to ensure accuracy before the book is published in 2025.

What you need: a compass and a GPS device or app (free apps like GaiaGPS or Canada Topo are just fine). You should be an experienced hiker and know how to record a GPS track to log distance/elevation.

What you’ll get: a plain text version of the manuscript without maps, photos, or special formatting, plus fact checking guidelines. If you need to see maps or photos of the trail ahead of time, use the West Kootenay Hiking website for more information. If you file your report by the deadline, you’ll get your name in the book’s acknowledgements, plus be entered to win prizes. For fact checkers that collect 10 credits, you’ll also get a complimentary copy of the guidebook when it’s published in 2025!

How to file your report: you can make notes on the manuscript as you hike or just record a GPS track and log waypoints for notes. Either way, you’ll email a copy of your notes and/or your GPS track/points to Abby at hello @ westkootenayhiking.ca. Please note if anyone helped you complete the report that should be acknowledged in the book. Here is a sample report:

Lyons-Bluff – Sample Report Download

Different devices will measure slightly different distances and elevations, so I’ll consider whether the report falls within a reasonable margin of error and whether to make adjustments. In the sample above, the distances are about 0.2 km different at key landmarks on different days, despite being measured with the same device, same app, and the same person.

Key dates

March 1st, 2024 – fact checking registrations open. You’ll receive your manuscript pages and guidelines within 1 week of registering.
June 30th, 2024 – spring trail reports are due
August 31st, 2024 – summer trail reports are due
September 15th, 2024 – prize draws for fact-checkers
Spring 2025 – West Kootenay Hiking guidebook published!

FAQs

Can I fact check while trails are covered in snow?

In order to be accurate with measuring distances, you need to be certain that you’re following the summer trail. Sometimes snowshoe trails move around as different users break trail in slight variations. It’s best to wait until the trail is snow-free.

If I’m hiking with a group, can we all get credit for fact checking?

Yes, you can all get your name in the acknowledgements. Just let me know the names of everyone who contributed when you send in your report. For simplicity, I’ll just be drawing prizes or giving away books based on the “point person” who signs up for a trail. You can chose to share a prize within your group if you’re a winner.

Prizes

I’ll draw 10 prizes for fact-checkers, including hiking bandanas and embroidered patches, hiking log books, and colouring books. You can buy these things anytime over at abbywilson.ca and the funds support my time working on the book and WKH website.