On the north side of Carpenter Creek, members of S.V.E.A.P.R.S. (Slocan Valley Equal Access to Public Resources Society), joined by members of the I.W.A. Local from Slocan, gathered to form a counter-protest. As the time neared 8 A.M., the group crossed the Carpenter Creek bridge. RCMP officers kept the counter-protestors behind the marker ribbon along the west side of Highway 6, opposite to the entrance of the Old Sandon road.