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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 1

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PLAYSTAY

July 29, 2011

in the beautiful columbia valley

Entertainment and activity guide for the whole family!

The Columbia Valley is an excellent place to explore with hiking boots and a backpack at this time of year. During a hike last summer, Invermere photographer Joe Lucas captured a magical glow on the mountains near Mt. Brewer, which are perfectly reflected in the tarn below.

Photo by Joe Lucas

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2 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer BRING THIS IN TO RECEIVE

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July 29, 2011

Getting the most from your steak this summer

By Kate Irwin Pioneer Staff Whether you like you steak well done, medium or practically mooing, cooking a slab of beef to perfection can seem a daunting task. Even the most expensive cut of meat can be turned to leather with just a few too many minutes on the grill or in the pan.

Never fear — the carnivores here at The Pioneer sank their teeth into some steak-related research to bring you a guide to the best way to get that tender morsel from fridge to plate.

The journey begins with the grade and cut of meat.

Your tastes and your budget will dictate what works best for you. Some people swear by sirloin, others love a good T-bone, while chefs tend to favour the flavourful strip loin steak or the slightly knife-through-butter texture of tenderloin.

“You want minimal fat on the outside — that fat cap which sits on top,” said Kyle Campbell, Executive Sous Chef at Copper Point Resort’s Elements Grill. “Fat marbling is a sign of quality. Look for good marbling, texture and colour — bright red rather than dull or dark.”

Beef is graded according to its age and fat marbling. A top steak will have pearly ribbons of fat running throughout, which help keep the meat moist and filled with flavour while cooking.

If you buy high-quality steak, simple preparation will yield tasty results. A straightforward rub with olive oil, plus a pinch of high quality sea salt and some freshlyground black pepper and you’re ready to go.

Less expensive cuts can be tough, often requiring a marinade containing acidic ingredients like wine, vinegar or soy sauce, to break down meat fibres and create a more tender result.

“I like using a cast iron pan to cook,” added Chef Campbell. “It holds heat longer and you can sear the meat on both sides before putting it into the oven in the same pan, which holds the flavour.”

For pan roasting, a heavy, cast iron pan is ideal.

Turn your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius) and once your steaks are prepared and at roughly room

temperature, heat your pan with a dash of olive oil. Once the oil is heated to just below smoking, place your steak gently into the pan with tongs to avoid splashing oil and sear for one to two minutes on each side.

Whether you want your meat rare, medium or well done, the cooking time outside the oven should remain at one to two minutes each side. The time spent inside the oven will determine doneness. A two-inch thick, seared steak should be rare after one to two minutes in a 400 degree oven; three to four minutes will produce a medium steak; while a well done steak can take up to 10 minutes.

The other option, particularly popular in the summer, is a barbecue grill. With no searing, steaks can go from preparation straight onto the grill. Up to four minutes on each side should produce a rare steak, five to six minutes will be medium and eight minutes each side will be well done.

“All cooking times vary depending on thickness of the steak so firmness is a good way to tell how well cooked they are,” explained Chef Campbell.

Gently touch your index finger and thumb together at the tip and then feel the fleshy pad at the base of your thumb -— this is the firmness of a rare steak. Thumb and middle finger approximates medium; thumb to ring finger, medium well; and thumb and pinkie finger, well done.

A very important step that is often skipped is to rest your steak before digging in. An extra five minutes in a warm place will allow the meat to relax and the juice to distribute back through the meat, ensuring juiciness with every bite. Pair with earthy mushrooms or caramelized onions and dig in.

If you are following the hundred mile diet, or just want to support a local producer, then check out Zehnder Beef — sold at the Invermere Farmers Market or Grant’s Foods in downtown Invermere.

Pair that steak with a perfectly poured pint (see opposite page), and you’ve got a lip-smacking feast ahead of you. Bon appetit!

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 3

July 29, 2011

How to pour a perfect pint

What a gas: the role of carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide, commonly known as C02, plays a crucial role in the production of a perfect pour. C02 is a gaseous by-product of the fermentation process in the brewing stages of beer. Because the amount of carbon dioxide fluctuates depending on the beer’s variety, each style of beer requires a different fermentation process, which results in varying levels of C02.

When beer is poured into a glass, the sudden change in pressure releases C02, which produces bubbles and a foamy head on the beer. Carbonation traveling up through a glass of beer helps bring out the essence and accentuate the aroma of the beer. Without the gassy release of carbon dioxide, the flavour of a beer is more difficult to decipher.

Some glasses get all the curves The type of glass you pour your beer into will affect the way C02 behaves inside the glass, which will ultimately influence how effectively the beer’s aroma is released.

Squeaky clean Just as you wouldn’t leave the plastic wrap on your plasma TV while you watch it, you don’t want to pour a pristine pint into a dirty vessel. Rinse the inside of the glass with cool water before you pour to eliminate any residual dishwasher detergent or oil from your skin. A dirty glass can negatively affect the taste and head retention of a beer.

Not too cold A common misconception is that serving beer in a chilled glass is better. For craft-brewed beer, you don’t

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Summer is the perfect time to kick back and break the heat with a cold beer from your own fridge. Too often, beer sippers’ fridges are stocked with good-quality beer, but when they tip the luscious liquid into a glass to enjoy, they find themselves committing the ultimate beer crime: more head than a triple-froth, extra-foam macchiato.

Such beer blunders can be avoided by learning how to pour a prize pint at home. A few simple tricks from behind the bar counter can translate to your own kitchen and have you pouring prime pilsners and awe-inspiring ales in record time.

Tall, slim glasses channel the aroma of a beer more quickly to the nose of its drinker, while wider-mouthed vessels encourage full-bodied beers to flaunt their flavour by spreading out in the glass. The more suited the glass is to the beer you are serving, the better it will taste.

With an overwhelming selection to choose from, it can be difficult to decide on the right glassware. A few simple guidelines will help you get started: • Pilsner glass: Tall, slender and tapered, this is the supermodel of beer glassware. This style of glass showcases the colour and sparkle of pilsner-style beer while maintaining a solid head.

• Flute glass: Tall, with a narrower mouth than the pilsner glass, the fluted shape slows the escape of carbonation and quickly funnels the beer’s aroma upwards to the nose of the drinker. Beers with fruity flavours do well in this type of glass.

• Pint glass: A wider-mouthed glass that suits more robust beers.

• Wheat beer glass: Taller than a pint glass, but narrower at the bottom and wider at the top. This glass makes room for the fluffy, robust head typically associated with wheat beer.

Spur Valley

By Kelsey Verboom Pioneer Staff

actually want to have a cold glass. Its chilled sides will inhibit the release of C02, which brings out the flavour that makes a beer.

Instead, try serving most beers at cellar temperature: about 10 degrees Celsius.

Pour away Your glass is prepped and you are ready to pour.

Remember to do so at a steady rate.

Draught beer at a pub pours in about eight to ten seconds, so aim for around the same speed. For most beers, the post-pour result should be about half an inch of head sitting on top of the liquid.

Try starting with the glass completely upright and pouring straight down for the first few seconds before angling the glass for the rest of the pour. The slight splashing at the bottom of the glass will agitate the beer and create a nice head. Leave some beer in the bottle and top off the pint once the head settles a little.

Bottoms up There are many suggestions for pouring the perfect pint, but don’t get so caught up in beer technicalities that you forget to have fun.

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4 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

July 29, 2011

How to avoid cabin fever if it rains

By Joshua Estabrooks Pioneer Staff This summer’s occasionally rainy weather hasn’t kept the crowds away from the Columbia Valley, but it has left some wondering just what to do with the family when heading to the beach just isn’t an option.

Some visitors don’t seem to mind getting caught in the many rainstorms that have enveloped the area this year, but for many families with small children, being wet and cold is no fun for the little ones. So what do you do when the clouds roll in and you find yourself trapped

indoors? Break out the board games, and dust off the craft table, because anyone can still have a blast on vacation with a little imagination and the right advice.

There are many activities one can enjoy if the weather doesn’t encourage exploring the great outdoors, and a number of businesses and organizations in the Columbia Valley have just the thing to assist in exploring the great indoors. The Monkey’s Uncle in downtown Invermere is a great place to start, and assistant manager Hope Landry, or any of the staff, will be happy to walk you through their impressive array of board games, crafts, science kits, puzzles and educational toys. The selection is

vast, and the store boasts one of the largest inventories of classic, wholesome toys like Playmobil or Klutz craft kits.

The store has tables set up so you can try before you buy, and the games are organized in easy to decipher categories, ranging from fantasy/strategy games, group party games, two-person games and family-friendly games. Check the “Monkey’s Picks” for informed recommendations from a staff that truly appreciates the value of a well-made board game, or grab an old standby that helped you pass the time when you were a stir crazy kid.

Regardless of if you’re just looking or have a specific game in mind, Ms. Landry said that all are welcome to escape the rain inside, try out their games and crafts, and create a memory.

“We have excellent price points for any budget, and people can try many of the toys before they buy them.

Whenever we get a new craft or activity in we will set it up and let people try it out so you they to see how their child reacts before they take it home. We really want our store to be open to people whether they’re shopping or not. If they’re having a memorable time that’s enough for us.”

If scrapbooking appeals to you or your little ones, then walk across the street and check out Scrappy-Do’s, which is the valley’s only scrapbooking store. The store is an official retailer for Quickutz Story continued on Page 5 . . .

PERPLEXING PUZZLE — Peterborough, Ontario, resident, Benjamin Whitney, is perplexed by the hottest selling puzzle in Invermere, Perplexus.

Photo by Joshua Estabrooks

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 5

July 29, 2011 . . . continued from Page 4 in-store, or online at www.scrappydos.ca, you’re sure to find everything needed to spend a gloomy day creating a memorable project with the whole family.

Another wholesome refuge from the blustering thunderstorms is one of the valley’s libraries, located in both Radium Hot Springs and Invermere. Not only do they have hundreds of options for any level of reader, but they also host reading groups and story times for a variety of ages. You can check out their times and schedules at www.invermere.bclibrary.ca and www.radium.bclibrary.ca.

So use your imagination, get creative, and turn off the television. Video games may be the easy option, but with a little effort there are an infinite number of ways to have fun as a family without leaving the shelter of your very own home.

Some suggestions to get you started could include: • An indoor scavenger hunt: hide treats around the house and spend the day finding all the goodies. An advanced version could include homemade clues and maps.

• A Family talent show: everyone is

good at something, so show off your talents in a fun, family talent showcase. Invite the neighbours over and really go for it by making programs and costumes too.

• Make a home movie: brainstorm a storyline, film the clips and edit them on your computer for a memory that will stand the test of time. Amateur actors please apply!

• Build the ultimate fort: this old standby can be as simple or as complicated as your furniture and house layout allows.

• Balloon volleyball tournament: this is a fun, low impact way to get some physical exercise without having to brave the inclement weather. Before you begin, make sure you have enough room to jump around.

TRYING OUT TOYS — Rebecca MacDougall and Irelynd Spelt spend a gloomy afternoon at Monkey’s Uncle in Invermere, trying out some of the building toys.

Photo by Joshua Estabrooks

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6 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

July 29, 2011

Epic Bugaboos adventure for local teens

By Kate Irwin Pioneer Staff The arresting beauty of the Bugaboo Provincial Park has captured the imagination of climbers, hikers and amateur explorers for a hundred years, since the days of legendary mountaineer Conrad Kain.

It was 1910 when the alpine guide took his first steps through the Bugaboo region of the Purcell Range and by May of 1911 he had made his first solo trip through the Bugaboos, completing an ascent of Mount Cornice.

On the 100th Anniversary of B.C. Parks, 11 intrepid teens from Invermere and Kimberley set out to follow in the Austrian guide’s hallowed foosteps and found themselves on a once-in-a-lifetime, six-day adventure packed with heli-hiking, climbing, tumultuous weather and breathless scrambles to the top of majestic peaks.

“The trip came about through partnership between B.C. Parks, Canadian Mountain Holidays and a number of other agencies,” said Jeff Volp, B.C. Parks Supervisor. “We really wanted to get kids out there. They gain an appreciation for parks and the wilderness, get exposure to different career paths and we’re creating stewards for our parks in years to come.”

After a creative contest to select participants, the morning of Sunday, July 10th, dawned with five teens from Kimberley and six from Invermere bumping their way along the logging road from Brisco towards Bugaboo Provincial Park.

For many it was their first venture into the Bugaboos, an area which draws visitors from across the globe to its pristine glaciers, towering granite spires and tranquil sub-alpine meadows. With a touch of trepidation and a healthy dose of excitement, the group was thrown straight into orientation. Within hours the teens and their guides were clambering aboard a helicopter for their first ascent.

Starting out in the Groovy hiking zone the Grade 10 and 11 students began picking their way along the secluded Chalice Ridge, marvelling at the view of the Septet Range and the granite spires of the Bugaboos.

“When we made it to the top of the summit we had the most amazing 360-degree views of the mountains,” said Thomas Clare, a Grade 11 student from Invermere.

For one of Thomas’ fellow David Thompson Secondary School students, Kate Gibbs, the moment was particularly special.

HAPPY HIKERS — The Bugaboo explorers atop a summit during the first two days of their six-day excursion to the stunning provincial park.

Photo by Pat Morrow Kate has cerebral palsy and can walk and climb shorter distances, but also uses a wheelchair to help her get around. Through the determination of Kate, her friend and aide, Paige Ukass, and the CMH guides, with the help of a Trailrider off-road wheelchair, she was able to make her first ever ascent to the summit of a mountain.

“It was something we hadn’t done before, but I knew she could do it” explained CMH Guide, Roko Koell. “Kate is an incredible person, so full of life and she made it her own mission to function by herself and do as much of the climbing and walking as she could.”

Kate remained part of the group for the first two nights at CMH’s Bugaboo Lodge. Her most intrepid trip was on the second day, when she walked for stretches along the Black Forest Ridge and then made the final climb to the summit of Black Forest Peak.

“It was the hardest part for the guys to push,” Kate recalled. “Paige was amazed that we got up there — I was so happy — it was gorgeous. It was my first chance to go up somewhere so high, I’ve never got

to experience anything like that before.”

Kate’s climbing companions were also reaching new heights during their second day, getting accustomed to climbing using the via ferrata just outside the park boundaries.

The via ferrata — iron road in Italian ­— is a series of metal staples attached to the rocks with a rope to clip onto safety harnesses. There the teens got to grips with their unfamiliar climbing equipment and had their first taste of clambering across a cliffside with breathtaking drops below.

“It’s basically a cliff around 100 metres in elevation with a rope allowing you to move at your own speed,” said Pat Morrow, a photographer and mountain climber who was there to document the trip. “You get the thrill of being on a mountainside without needing hands on care... it’s great for skill development.”

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 7

July 29, 2011 After honing their skills on the lower areas of the mountains on day two, as the third morning dawned the group bid farewell to Kate, who was unable to make it up to the Conrad Kain hut in the heart of the park.

After an exhausting two days, with the ascent of three peaks under her belt, saying goodbye was hard to do.

“I burst into tears on the way home,” she said, her voice catching in her throat. “It was a really emotional trip home. I can’t even express how lucky I am, I’m so grateful. Getting things going for disabled people is what I was there for. Now I have done this I think it shows that anything is possible.”

After waving goodbye, the expedition set off for the climb up to the Kain Hut, passing through deep forests and flower-filled meadows before winding their way up through the rocky slopes. The exhausting threehour trip took them high among the peaks, where they would spend the rest of the day on mountain skills training with their guides. The 10 students, who were now becoming fast friends, learned rope work, the skills needed to travel on snow and ice and how to self arrest — using an ice axe to stop yourself when sliding.

“They learned to roll onto their stomachs and use the pick of the axe to dig in to stop their descent,” Mr. Volp explained. “There was also a little bit of rock climbing on some of the short cliffs near the hut.”

After a further day spent within a couple of hours of the hut, the second-to-last day was devoted to attempts on two formidable peaks — one half of the group set out for Pigeon Spire, while the others travelled towards the Hounds Tooth Spire.

As a blizzard blew in, Thomas’ group was forced to abandon their attempt on Pigeon Spire and instead set out up Mount Crescent, but the mountains would give them a harsh reminder of the formidable weather which can surround you in seconds.

Standing breathlessly on the peak, Thomas and his fellow climbers were greeted with an astounding view, which was quickly shrouded in clouds as a thunderstorm rolled in.

“We found ourselves in the middle of an electrical storm,” Thomas said. “It was an adrenaline rush and a little scary. The rocks started giving us shocks and the air was filled with this electrical buzzing, making people’s hair stand on end.

“The rocks became really slippery and you could just hear everything buzzing with electricity as we made our way down.”

The group beat a hasty retreat out of the clouds to avoid the lightning, breathing a sigh of relief as the buzzing lessened and then halted completely as they worked their way back to basecamp. They were reunited with their newfound friends, who had also been forced to abandon two peak attempts due to sudden weather changes.

With a final group meal and an early night, the exhausted team headed home the following day, still buzzing with excitement over their adventures in the mountains.

“The kids were blown off their feet by the whole trip and they were all very grateful for the experience,” said Tay Hanson of B.C. Parks. “Each one was positive, brave, and enthusiastic. It was a real treat to see them gain confidence, practise their new skills and get super psyched to continue to explore their local mountains.

“Thanks to Canadian Mountain Holidays for their huge contribution of two nights at the lodge, guides, meals, and heli time, the Friends of Bugaboo Park for pulling through on the hut meals, the Alpine Club of Canada for flying food and gear and donating hut beds, and the Conrad Kain Centennial Society for a week’s worth of filming and climbing stories.”

For more about Bugaboo Provincial Park and all the other provincial parks in the local area, visit www. e n v. g o v. b c . c a / bcparks.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS — Pictured, top to bottom: Tiara Livingstone from Invermere gets to grips with the CMH via ferrata climbing route on Mt. Trundle; the teens work their way up the East Post spire in a sleet storm, with ACMG guide Bob Sawyer in the lead; Kate Gibbs travels in style up Chalice Creek in the Trailrider off-road wheelchair, with the assistance of CMH’s Jeff Bodnarchuk, and B.C. Parks’ Tay Hanson.

Photos courtesy of Pat Morrow

8 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

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July 29, 2011

Head out on the ultimate treasure hunt: geocaching

By Kelsey Verboom Pioneer Staff

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Inside the mouth of the cave it was cool and damp. The bright afternoon light seeped around the slight bend in the tunnel, and abruptly disappeared. A set of decrepit rail car tracks melted away into the darkness.

This was my view a few weekends ago as I stood at the entrance to an old copper mine shaft on Mt. Swansea. I was with a friend and had no flashlight, and when we tentatively ventured down the tunnel, our courage abandoned us along with the daylight. We turned around and were about to leave when a group of four people came down the trail.

They asked us how it was down the tunnel, and we admitted our decision to not go.

They excitedly explained that they were searching for a geocache that was buried within the depths of the mine shaft.

I’d heard of and written about geocaching before, but had never tried it myself. Geocaching is an increasingly popular activity where adventurous souls use Global Positing System (GPS) coordinates found on geocaching websites to lead them to a medium-sized buried container. The caches have sprung up in cities and towns, on popular hiking trails, and in hideaways off the beaten path. Each cache contains a collection of knickknacks and tiny souvenirs. The only rules of geocaching are to leave a treasure in the box and take one in return if you like, and don’t move the cache from where you find it.

Curious about geocaching and intrigued by the adventure, my friend and I accepted an invitation from the group of four people to venture into the tunnel with them. One of the men had been before, so we felt safe enough tag along.

Armed with two flashlights, the six of us walked slowly down the tunnel. I briefly re-

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gretted our decision when the last traces of natural light vanished and I realized I was bringing up the rear. TV episodes of murder mystery shows suddenly flashed through my mind and I silently panicked, imagining being snatched from behind. Then I thought of National Geographic shows about swarms of bats, and pictured thousands of the slimy, leather-winged creatures hanging millimetres above my head. I dared to shine the flashlight upwards, and thankfully saw only a smooth damp roof dripping slightly.

I calmed myself down and focused on our route. The tunnel split twice, and at each fork we left a bright white tissue on the ground to mark our path, like Hansel and Gretel laying breadcrumbs. The darkness was disorienting and I was glad for our markers when we took the wrong split and had to turn around and

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COORDINATED — A basic hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) is all you need to start geocaching — well, almost. A sense of adventure is important, too.

retrace our steps to choose another route.

Suddenly the front flashlight revealed a solid wall of rock; we had reached the end of the mine shaft. We searched the cool darkness with our two beams of light and finally found what we were looking for. It was not quite as I expected, as the cache lay open on its side, its contents strewn across the cave floor.

A closer inspection revealed teeth marks on the notepad meant to record the names of all the cache’s seekers; a critter had been geocaching! Based on the lingering odour, we guessed skunk.

We picked up the cache’s contents, which were curious and varied: an eraser shaped like a butterfly, a flashing keychain, a loonie, and a West Jet luggage tag, among other things.

Standing near the cache, we decided to up the adventure ante and turn off the lights. The level of darkness that followed was astounding. Truly pitch black.

Satisfied, we turned back and picked our way down the tunnel, retrieving our markers as we went. As we exited the tunnel, the daylight was blinding in comparison to the cool depths of the rock cavern.

My friend and I thanked our geocaching buddies (whose names, despite the encounter we shared, I regret I didn’t even ask for), returned their flashlight, and headed home.

Incredibly refreshed from our spontaneous adventure, I might just start geocaching myself. I encourage anyone young or old to do the same. You don’t have to venture down mineshafts to find a cache; there are GPS coordinates for all abilities. In fact, there are dozens right here in the Columbia Valley (see next page for more information).

In addition to the token you plan to leave in the cache, don’t forget to pack the same safety equipment you would on any hike and let someone know where you’re going, as you never know where your adventure will lead.

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 9

July 29, 2011

Geocache stashes in the Columbia Valley

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There are a surprising number of geocache sites in our area. The Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce hosts a very helpful website, www. bcrockiestreasuretrails.com, which explains a number of dedicated geocache trails throughout the valley. Another good resource is www.geocaching.com, where you can enter your postal code and seek nearby caches.

Here are but a very small handful of valley caches: • Eddie Mountain — N 50° 30.251 W 116° 01.444 • Dragonfly Marsh — N 50° 30.569 W 116° 01.470 • The Columbia Wetlands — N 50° 30.961 W 116° 01.203 • Toby Trek — N 50° 31.409 W 116° 02.514 • Among the Dead — N 50° 27.994 W 115° 59.640 • Swansea’s Secret — N 50° 30.543 W 115° 57.003 • Windermere Creek — N 50° 27.937 W 115° 58.597 • Park Along the Rail — N 50° 30.778 W 116° 01.664 • Karo’s Invermere DVD Exchange — N 50° 30.283 W 116° 01.645 • Hoo D’ere? — N 50° 26.805 W 116° 00.035 • Indian Beach Safari — N 50° 27.012 W 115° 58.483 • Radical Radium — N 50° 37.316 W 116° 04.826 • Recycle, Refuse at Pano — N 50° 27.752 W 116° 14.101 • Lynxridge — N 50° 38.213 W 116° 05.273

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10 ~ Play ’n’ Stay • The Columbia Valley Pioneer

July 29, 2011

How to give your dog a great vacation too

By Kate Irwin Pioneer Staff The Columbia Valley’s residents and visitors certainly love their canines. Go out onto the trails or up into the mountains and you find dogs and owners alike enjoying the fresh air and the chance to stretch their legs.

While you’re out and about in the valley, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to ensure your dog has just as good a vacation as you do.

Although dogs on a leash are welcome at most outdoor locations across the valley, they are banned from public beaches and some public parks. It’s best to do a little research into the area you’re planning to visit before you head out the door.

“If it’s private property contact the owner,” advised Sam Fiddler, a local dog control officer and the owner of A Happy Dog Farm, a doggy daycare and boarding facility. “Even designated riding and hiking trails don’t necessarily mean you can take your dog off-leash.”

With water levels currently very high in the local rivers, even the strongest swimmers may find the waters a challenge. Be careful when letting your dog take a dip.

If you are planning a long trip outdoors, be sure to carry water for your dog and a container for them to drink from. Insect repellents and sunscreen are also

available for your pets and are particularly beneficial for short-haired dogs, who can suffer from sunburn and be plagued by mosquitoes or ticks.

Having your pet micro-chipped ensures a good chance that if it gets lost in an unfamiliar area, it will be returned to you. If you find a dog without its owner you can call local dog control to help catch the animal, who will then take it to be scanned for a chip.

If you are planning a true backcountry adventure, consider leaving your dog in daycare. An off-leash dog can attract predators to your position.

“If you’re on a trail and your dog is off-leash, the best-case scenario is that a predator runs away,” Ms. Fiddler explained. “The worst-case scenario is that the dog will lead it back to you.”

Whether you’re popping into the grocery store or soaking in the hot pools, a hot car is the worst place to leave your dog. Leaving a crack of your window open is not enough to help a dog cool down once the sun is high in the sky.

Remember that patches of shade move, so even if you are parked in a shady spot, in just a few minutes the temperature in your vehicle can rise to a deadly level.

To contact local dog control officers call Sam FidDOG DAYS — Sloan, a Norwegian Elkhound who is a famildler at 250-347-9793, or in Invermere, Carol Dobson iar face to visitors at The Pioneer office, enjoys a rest during a at 250-342-1707. hike along Invermere’s Toby Creek.

Photo by Kate Irwin

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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • Play ’n’ Stay ~ 11

A hiker’s Shangri-La The bright petals of the Indian Paintbrush flower stand in contrast to the rich blue waters of Upper Dunbar Lakes in the ShangriLa area. This photo, captured by avid hiker and expert photographer Dani Tschudin, looks back towards Tiger Pass during an excursion last summer. High winter snowfall and a late spring have caused a slower melt this year, leaving the area more snowed-in than last year.

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