Highline Magazine, Autumn 2008

AUTUMN 2008 PREMIER ISSUE

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MAN comes

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BIG BACKYARD

BEAR 71

DONUTS + DIRTBAGS

Luxury Condos - Creekside ViLLas - exCLusiVe penthouse homes - streamside estate Lots

DISCOVER CANMORE’S

LUXURY CREEKSIDE

downtown mountain living

“I bought a home in Spring Creek

because of the neighbourhood – the friendly, relaxed genuine sense of community. Everything we love is close to home. We can walk along forested, streamside pathways to our favourite restaurants, pubs, shops and markets. As for my active mountain lifestyle – that begins right outside our doorstep!

It’s just awesome” ~ Walter Sekon, resident Experience it for yourself. Stunning architecture, unparalleled mountain views.

It’s simply better living here.

Visit the Discovery Centre at 634 Main St., Canmore or our Show Suite at 505 Spring Creek Drive, Canmore Phone (403) 678-7700 sales@springcreekmv.com www.springcreekmv.com

INSIDE...

AUTUMN 2008 FEATURE STORIES Sean Isaac: Home Sweet Canmore Amenity Migration: The High Price of Life in Paradise Sunshine & Good Times at Amiskwi Lodge

18 28

30

ESSENTIALS Nutrition Training Gear Review

38 40 42

EXPOSURE Bear 71 Canmore Coop Harper Sisters

12 14 36

CHATTER Mountain MacGyver When Pine Beetles Attack Grassi Lakes

8 10 35

SCENE + HEARD 44 Weekly Entertainment Guide SNAPSHOT

46

STILL LIFE Photo Spread

23

THE GUIDEBOOK Big Backyard Donuts and Dirtbags

16 22

HIGHLINEONLINE.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

'

'

Ryan Creary

(

Andrew Querner

(

)

A self-taught professional mountain sports photographer, Ryan has called the Bow Valley home for more than seven years. Originally from the Maritimes, he moved out west after attending Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University in search of bigger mountains and deeper snow. "I love Canmore—it has awesome access to kayaking, mountain biking, climbing and splitboarding," said Creary. Ryan works with a mix of editorial and commercial clients including Men's Journal, Powder, The Ski Journal, Bike, Patagonia, MEC, Backcountry, and Tourism Alberta. To view more of his work, check out www.ryancreary.com.

Andrew Querner is a freelance documentary photographer. His work has been recognized by PDN, The Banff Centre, and in 2007 he was accepted to The Eddie Adams Workshop. Some of his clients include TIME, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Alpinist, Climbing, and Explore.

Currently based in Canmore, Alberta, Andrew practices his other passion—climbing—as often as he can.

)

Alyson McAndrews Freelance writer and photographer, Alyson McAndrews has called the Bow Valley her home and playground for the last four years. She developed lasting ties to the community as a reporter for the Canmore Leader and feels strongly about the unique issues that face Bow Valley residents. Since leaving the Leader, she has been writing for magazines and newspapers throughout Alberta. A keen hiker and snowboarder, McAndrews is most at home walking up a mountainside or carving fresh powder turns in the Bow Valley’s backcountry.

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*

*

Craig and Kathy Copeland

+

Rachel Boekel

,

Kelly Schovanek

,

Craig and Kathy Copeland are a writer/photographer team based in Canmore. In 1994 they started their own publishing company: hikingcamping.com. Together, they’ve hiked more than 50,000 kilometres and have devoted their lives to creating uniquely compelling guidebooks. Their 15 titles include Don’t Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies, Where Locals Hike in the Canadian Rockies, Done in a Day: Whistler, and Hiking From Here to WOW: Utah Canyon Country.

Rachel Boekel studied photography at Canmore Collegiate High School before becoming involved in the Banff Whyte Museum’s, 'Through the Lens' program. In 2004, she received her Diploma in Photography & Journalism from the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria, BC. That year she also received a Mayor’s Award for Arts & Culture from the Town of Canmore, was accepted for an internship with the prestigious Magnum Photos Agency in New York City, and attended classes at the International Center for Photography in NYC.

Born in Canmore when Ha Ling was still called Chinaman’s Peak, Kelly spends his winters on Vancouver Island floating in the ocean, shooting endangered wildlife and tourists. He studied photography at the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria, is knowledgeable in the art of WHMIS, and thinks Maynard from Tool is one heck of a guy.

Visit www.schovanekphotography.com for a taste of the goods.

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OUR PEOPLE

+

LETTER

FROM US...

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Highline Magazine is a celebration of the spirit of adventure that courses through the Bow Valley and its inhabitants. Indescribable beauty brought us here—but what is it that keeps us here? Why do so many strong-willed and free-spirited individuals find themselves in the Bow Valley? In the pages of this magazine, we hope you will help us explore the undercurrent that drives us all to dream big and achieve our ambitions.

The making of this magazine has been an idea-in-progress for a few years. In putting the premier issue together, we found inspiration in the talented valley dwellers we were so fortunate to meet

Autumn 2008

Kristy Davison | Creative Director Erin Moroz | Editor

and work alongside. They pushed us to continue towards the goal of creating an intriguing and entertaining magazine that will have a positive impact on the Bow Valley.

We hope this magazine will evolve into a community effort and we welcome your feedback and input. If there’s an important issue you think we should know about, or an inspirational individual we should support or if you have a great photo you think the world should see, please let us know. Our goal is for us to get to know each other.

Thanks to everyone that got excited when we told them about our idea. Thanks to those that jumped on board and did everything they could to help get this magazine off the ground. Thanks to you, the reader, for picking up a copy. It is incredible to think the premier issue of Highline Magazine is now in your hands.

Have a great fall, and pray for snow!

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Furniture Lighting / Accessories Design Studio AUTUMN 2008 Volume 1 | Issue 1

EDITOR

Erin Moroz

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristy Davison

COPY EDITOR Paul Davison

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

Angie Castaldi + David Laxer | www.clichedesign.ca

SALES ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE Jill Juschka

CONTRIBUTORS

Keith Addy, Rachel Boekel, Derek Carman, Craig and Kathy Copeland, Ryan Creary, Adina Currie, Colin Davis, Craig Douce, Steve Holeczi, Alyson McAndrews, Tyler Mills, Tony Mottershead, Evan Peters, Andrew Querner, Jill Roberts, Jim Robertson, Kelly Schovanek, Mike Trehearne.

SPECIAL THANKS

Brenda and Paul Davison, Christine Hicks, Derek Moroz, Krista Turcasso, Ed and Stella Moroz, Joanna Byers (Sustainable Resource Development), Frank Koutis, David de Vlieger, Zenon Pilipowicz, Bob and Pennie Moroz, Heather Ramsay, Heather Bishop, Tom Thompson, Ross Mailloux, Colin Olauson, Melanie Percy (Alberta Parks), Janine Thrale, the owners of Amiskwi Lodge, Adam Robertson, Barb Parker and John Borrowman, Brooke Gosling, Glen Naylor (Alberta Parks), Tracy Berglund.

It’s time to be inspired. Drop in to Canmore’s legendary home decor and furniture company and see what’s in store for you...

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Highline Magazine 317 8th Ave., Canmore, Alberta T1W 2E6 Phone 403.688.5103 Email info@highlineonline.ca Web www.highlineonline.ca Highline Magazine is a free, quarterly publication.

It is printed in Canada on Recycled Paper.

Cover Photo by Ryan Creary Sean Isaac, Hocus Pocus M7, Bear Spirit, Banff, AB.

638 Main St., Canmore Ph (403) 609-4477 info@stonewaters.com www.stonewaters.com

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CHATTER

MOUNTAIN MacGYVER Episode 1: Duct Tape

A Knight in Shining Armour Story by Evan Peters + Tyler Mills Photos by Kristy Davison

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How could we possibly write the first installment of Mountain MacGyver and not talk about duct tape? Made famous by the exploits of a great Canadian comedian, this silver gem is the answer to all of your outdoor needs.

But no matter how hard you try, the reality for most outdoor enthusiasts is at some point along the way, you’re going to need something that you simply don’t have. Maybe that oh so important item slipped your mind while you were getting your pack together, or maybe you purposefully left your significant other’s favorite mug at home because you didn’t think it was essential, and now they’re really angry with you. Well, lucky for you, if you remembered to pack one important tool, you can make pretty much anything (including a gag to silence any complaints).

Use a couple of the following examples in times of need, or build on them to solve your own unique mountain mishaps.

Rope: There are so many reasons why you might need rope.

Maybe you’re in the middle of bear territory and you’ve got nothing to suspend your food with, or maybe you’ve got something special planned for your boyfriend, but you forgot the handcuffs at home, you dirty girl. Regardless, duct tape rope is amongst the easiest things you can make.

1. Using your camping knife, split the tape lengthwise to twice the thickness of rope that you’re going to need, and cut to length.

2. Fold your tape in half so the sticky sides stick together, and you’ve got it—the perfect length of water proof rope, good for all of your tying needs.

Sun Visor: It’s thirty-five degrees, the sun is scorching from all directions, and you’ve forgotten to pack a hat. Well aren’t you lucky you brought along your duct tape, because in a couple of minutes you can make yourself the most stylish and functional sun visor the back country has ever seen. This is a two-piece project. First, we build the visor portion of the hat.

1. Cut or rip a handful of small pieces approximately six inches long and lay them out sticky side up, overlapping them slightly to create a 9- to 10-inch wide “sheet”.

2. Folding the sides of your sheet so that the sticky sides stick together, you start to form the shape of the visor.

3. At this point, fold the end of the visor that will be closest to your head up 90 degrees.

4. Cut out another set of pieces and stick the sticky side to sticky side to finish off the visor, folding the edges over to give it a little more strength and a finished appearance.

5. To complete the hat, you need to make the band, which is essentially just the same as the rope we made in Example 1.

Using the full strip of duct tape, unroll enough to make it fully around your head, plus a couple inches.

6. Fold the tape in half, and then attach it to the tab you folded up on the visor, applying your last piece of tape after you’ve decided on the right fit for your head.

If you happened to remember your glow sticks, the duct tape visor is also excellent for those occasions when you stumble upon a wild rave party in some quiet European mountain town. Trust me, it can happen.

So, remember when you purposefully left that mug at home?

Well, now your significant other is refusing to drink from the bottle, so what are you going to do? Unless you’re planning to be single before long, I highly discourage making the duct tape gag. Although the idea of a duct tape cup may sound ludicrous, it is the ultimate example of duct tape’s outstanding characteristics; strong, light and waterproof.

After you’ve successfully made a cup and knocked back that whole bottle of red wine you packed into the back country, you can sit back and try to come up with your own duct tape creations. Other items we’ve successfully made include a hacky sack to stave off backcountry boredom, a wallet, a simple fanny pack and flip-flops.

Duct tape. Bring it.

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EPISODE 1: DUCT TAPE

We all know the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared.”

CHATTER

WHEN PINE BEETLES ATTACK

B.C. has lost millions of hectares to the beetle. Losing trees on a scale this large has serious ramifications for wildlife, water supplies, and with so many dry, dead trees, a huge potential for wildfires.

How do you fight something that eats trees, can withstand temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius, and is capable of destroying entire ecosystems?

A View from the Trenches

By Jill Roberts

If you’re talking about the Mountain Pine Beetle, the answer is straightforward: You walk into a forest, examine every single tree in it, then burn down all the ones that shows signs of an infestation.

It’s not simple, and if you’re Bart McAnally, Forest Technician for the Southern Rockies, that forest is about 25, 000 km2 – roughly the size of the state of Vermont.

“Right now we’re searching. We’re trying to identify every single mountain pine beetle tree out there,” says McAnally.

McAnally has been protecting the Bow Valley area since 2002. While his team has so far been successful in keeping the infestation in check, his research tells him the beetles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. “[The beetle population] seems to be doubling, so each year it gets harder and harder. The numbers just overwhelm you,” says McAnally.

McAnally’s current mission involves transecting a forest about 4,000 hectares in size. Since the only way to detect the bug is literally to look at every tree, he and his team must cover huge areas of widely varied terrain to find their targets.

“We hit the ground in October, searching from October to November, and then January to February, when the beetles are well established in the trees, that’s when we cut them out and burn them.”

B.C. has lost millions of hectares to the beetle. Losing trees on a scale this large has serious ramifications for wildlife, water supplies, and with so many dry, dead trees, a huge potential for wildfires.

The tragedy has provided Alberta with a grim warning of what could be if action isn’t taken. Luckily for us, the province is listening.

“I think people are surprised when they hear how many resources we have and how committed this government has been to stopping it. But are we going to be successful? I don’t know.”

Fortunately, McAnally finds area residents understand the issues and are supportive.

“Canmore does a fantastic job of communicating with the town about what we’re doing. People are cooperating. I honestly believe that. We have very few people complaining.”

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Whitecourt Willmore Wilderness Park

General Locations of

Edmonton Mountain Pine Beetle Attacks in Alberta, 2007.

Hinton Jasper National

MPB Natural Attacks MPB Locations

Park

Red Deer

Sundre Banff British Columbia

National Park

Canmore

Calgary

Data Source: Points were GPS'ed during aerial surveys in a rotary wing aircraft in September - October, 2007.

British Columbia mountain pine beetle aerial survey data supplied by the BC Ministry of Forests, Forest Health Unit. National Parks aerial survey data supplied by the Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre.

Produced by Forest Health of the Forestry Division, 2007.

Note: Only the eastern portion of the BC data shown.

0

25

50

100 km

Blairmore

Forestry Division January 14, 2008 Produced by AM

Waterton Lakes NP

Project location: F:\forest_health\maps\report_maps\webpage\2007\mxd\mpb_natural_2007.mxd

“And as you can imagine, a lot of these trees are coming down by their million-dollar homes. But they say, ‘I’d rather have one tree come down here than the whole mountainside.’ ” This positive relationship is critical for eradicating a bug with no sense of boundaries.

“It’s like a dandelion problem, the beetle doesn’t care whose property it’s on.”

With beetles increasing in number and possibly extending their range to other areas and other trees, it’s an uphill battle. McAnally and his colleagues hope for a little help from Mother Nature – an early blast of winter.

Cold spells during the shoulder season could help turn the tide.

Several days of below minus 30 early enough in the season could kill many of the beetles, who haven’t had time to build up resistance to the cold.

“It’s like a forest fire, where you hope for that rain. We’re hoping for those cold years to help us out.”

Faced with such an overwhelming challenge year after year, one wonders how McAnally keeps from losing heart in his battle to protect the Bow Valley area.

“One of the things that helps me is that I have a job where I can actually see results. A big part of my job is identifying where the beetles are and what trees are infected. Then I can actually see these trees coming down with the pine beetle not getting a chance to spread out of control.”

It’s also a job that McAnally is clearly passionate about.

“I think it’s a fight worth fighting. I’d like to say when I go to retire in maybe ten years from now, ‘I think we did everything we could possibly think of to stop them.’”

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EXPOSURE

BEAR

Bear #71 with her cubs.

By Kristy Davison Source: Alberta Parks and Parks Canada

Age: Born in 1998, 10 years old Occupation: Mother Grizzly Likes: Eating, sleeping, making babies Dislikes: Surprises, garbage and highways Home Range: Lake Minnewanka/Johnson Lake area and the Fairholme Range as far east as Silvertip.

Education: After being collared in July of 2001, and because of her propensity to forage on berries in local campgrounds, she was chosen by the Banff Park Wardens to attend a prestigious bear school (a program known as “Aversive Conditioning 101”, where, through the use of various proven tactics, bears are taught to avoid human contact). She was receptive to this training and is now considered a relatively well-behaved bear.

Most Memorable Moment: This summer, for the first time, she briefly crossed Cougar Creek for a tour into the lands behind the Alpine Club. This was the furthest east that she had ever been tracked.

Family Tree: In her ten years in the Bow Valley, she has had three separate litters and is currently mothering two cubs that biologists suggest may be the offspring of Bear #102, the collared grizzly that was shot and killed on the Morley Reserve this summer. She also has a pair of two-year-olds who are living in Banff in the area around Tunnel Mountain, the Indian Grounds, Minnewanka Loop, and Norquay.

Bear #71 is unique in that she “kicks her kids out of the house” after only two years (the average for grizzlies is three to five years) so that she can breed again. When she has young cubs, she tends to stay east of the Banff area during breeding season (May and June), likely trying to maintain distance from the male bears in that area that could potentially harm her cubs. Biologists don’t know for sure, but it may also simply be an attempt to avoid her in-laws.

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CHATTER

Look SMART Have you got company visiting from far flung locales? Wow them with your knowledge of neighbourhood wildlife. Clip this page and toss it in your pack so you can tell the difference between your neighbourhood carnivores.

Black Bear vs. Grizzly Bear The most significant distinction in the two bears’ feet is in the length of the claws. Black bears have shorter claws, while the claws of a grizzly can reach up to 10 cm in length. Black bear tracks tend to have the toes slightly separated, whereas grizzly tracks show toes that are usually joined together. Also, the arc of the toes is greater in black bears, as illustrated here.

Black Bear Track

Grizzly Bear Track

Source: mountainnature.com grizzly paw ad

9/17/08

11:38 AM

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EXPOSURE

WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY Canmore Coop Opens its Doors Story + Photos by Rachel Boekel

Sustainability, Diversity and Connectedness. There couldn’t be three better words to express the energy and charge of the Canmore Community Cooperative Workshop. The Coop, which has developed these three values from Canmore’s ‘Mining the Future’ Vision has set itself up to be a leader in bringing together the expanding community under one multi-faceted roof.

Climbing? Music? Pottery? Drawing? Have we peaked your interest yet? Providing a broad range of services to the community, the Coop has a ceramics studio, a tech shop, which includes a bike repair station in the summer and a ski and snowboard repair station in the winter, as well as woodworking tools.

Upstairs a fireplace, chairs, tables and an expansive patio provide room for inspiration, ideas and community building.

No, this is not an exclusive club. Your membership won’t cost you a month’s (or year’s) income; actually it’s only $5/year. The Coop likes to brag, “For less than 10% of the average home rental fee, a monthly Coop Workshop User gains access to 2,200 square feet of space.” Intrigued? All you need to do is drop in to be hooked. Membership reduces the user fees for all events such as movie nights, presentations and workshops.

The Co-op creator and executive director, Geoff Hill, describes it as a place to “leverage anything that tries to shift the cultural norms.” Hill who has taught Systems Theory & Paradigm Change at the University of Alberta is very passionate about the Coop becoming a place for new ideas. With no set mandate, Hill describes the Coop as a place where “each individual can find his or her own pathway.”

Megan Samms performs during the Wednesday Night Jam Session.

Session

When Hill arrived in Canmore, he realized it was a special place.

“This project has great value in this community where the majority of people are challenged to have even a little extra space to do things,” Hill explains. “We needed a community place that provides people with the tools.” That’s ‘tools’ in the literal sense.

Perhaps you are living in Canmore for the winter or summer, maybe you need the space and tools to tinker on your bike, fix your old bookshelf or possibly you need to get away from all your roommates and have some space. It’s all there, the tools, the space, the guidance and the creative growth opportunities.

James Louden, a Coop Member is hooked. When asked what the Coop has on other social spaces in Canmore, he enthusiastically replied, “Diversity, diversity, diversity!” For Louden, it is not just a place to go, but a place where “you can be whatever you want and there is so much opportunity to learn from each other as members. There are so many interests here.”

Dropping in on a Wednesday night Jam session reveals the diversity of the Coop. When Shannon O’Donovan jumped up on stage to present what she thought were going to be her songs, she didn’t know she was in for a more social session. As opposed to the local pub and bar jams, which in effect are for crowd entertainment, the Coop is for the artists. As soon as O’Donovan had wrapped up her first song, the stage was bombarded by a violinist, a banjo player, a base guitar, a bongo and another singer, who all came together and expanded the walls of the Coop.

As with most big projects, there is always a question regarding funding. The Town of Canmore requires that builders of more

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than six-unit complexes pass a Sustainability Screening Report consisting of meeting various standards with respect to economic, social and environmental policies. The Coop perfectly suited the social direction of Canmore builder Alpine Homes. “We have been looking for a while at a way to give back to the community, something that is meaningful,” explains Lawrence Hill, President of Alpine Homes, the major sponsor behind this project.

Alpine Homes could help to reach as many as 3,000-4,000 people in a very unique way through the space created by the Coop. That’s a lot of people, but with Canmore’s growing population it would just be scratching the surface.

Madeleine Greenway preps for her Comic Book workshop she put on while working as a Summer Student for the Coop.

The Coop will be offering pottery and woodworking workshops as well as yoga space and drawing classes. If you’re looking for someone to ski, bike, climb, hike or just play with on Saturdays, head in to the Coop for the Cranker Caffeine Connection, where people meet up, plot, plan and execute their day. Check out their website (www.canmoreCoop.ca) for monthly schedules, or just drop in and be inspired to become part of this great community.

Specializing in

Architecture Advertising &Lifestyle Photography

Ph: 403-678-7703

Email: ind_comm@telus.net On the web: www.indcommphoto.com

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GUIDEBOOK

BIG BACKYARD Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours Round trip: 4 to 7 kilometers

Discovering Grotto Canyon

Elevation gain: 100 to 235 mtr.

Difficulty: easy to moderate

By Craig and Kathy Copeland

The difference between ascending a mountain and probing a canyon is the difference between the ego and the id: mountains talk, canyons listen.

Mountains are the earth’s extroverts. Canyons are their opposite, the introverts. Each elicits a hiking experience that mirrors the topography itself.

Attaining a summit is celebratory. “Wahoo!” you say, “We made it!” Standing in the depths of a canyon is meditative.

“Whoa,” you whisper, “This is cool.”

That’s not to say canyons aren’t fun. They are. The fun is simply less exuberant, more cerebral. Besides, by late fall in the Rockies, mountain trails get too snowy and icy for most hikers to safely enjoy. Canyons, due to their low elevation, remain snow-free much longer, often well into November.

So, in you go, rather than up. An ideal place to do it is Grotto Canyon, southeast of Canmore.

Bring the whole family to investigate this deep, narrow gash in the front range. The canyon is so skinny, it stirs children’s desire to peek around the next bend. They imagine themselves on a journey into the bowels of the earth.

Grotto Creek—usually a mere trickle—provides gentle, soothing water music. Climbers are fond of the canyon’s sheer, solid

walls that will likely divert attention for a few minutes. But if you look closely, you’ll see something more interesting: a pictograph panel created 1,000 years ago by an aboriginal artist.

With little ones in tow, turn around where the canyon forks, about 40 minutes from the trailhead. This steep-sided sanctum is an arresting natural cathedral that compels people to speak in hushed, respectful tones.

The narrows end just past the fork. Hikers who’ve come for exertion and exploration can ramble and rockhop another 4 kilometres up the canyon’s broader, boulder-strewn west fork, where the creek is usually dry.

PREPARING What to Bring You’ll be walking on rocky terrain, so wear sturdy shoes. Hiking boots with good ankle support are best. Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. In your daypack, carry warm gloves, a toque, a fleece pullover, a rain shell, and tights that you can put on under your pants.

Though the canyon is initially narrow and shady, it eventually opens, so bring sunglasses and a hat with a brim. In addition to a hearty lunch, pack a few high-energy snacks. A headlamp and a first-aid kit are always a good idea in case of emergency.

Getting There In Canmore, at the corner of Elk Run Blvd and Highway 1A, drive east on Highway 1A. In 9.8 kilometres, turn left into the Grotto Pond picnic-area parking lot. The trailhead elevation is 1300 metres.

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THE HIKE The signed Grotto Creek trail departs the west side of the parking lot. Follow it generally southwest. Wherever confusion is possible, directional signs keep you on course. Soon pass the Baymag magnesium-oxide plant.

At 1 kilometre, having hiked about 15 minutes, the mouth of Grotto Canyon is visible ahead. There’s a bench on the left here, atop a mound that affords a surprisingly good view of the Bow Valley.

Pigeon Mountain is visible south-southeast. Right of it (south-southwest) is enormous Mt. Lougheed. West Wind Pass is the prominent gap southwest. Right of the pass are the Three Sisters, with Little Sister in front.

Immediately below the bench, curve right (north). Ignore the hiker sign and the trail ascending left (west-northwest) beyond it. Enter the canyon mouth. Simply follow the rocky creekbed north. Noise from the Baymag plant is now inaudible.

HIKE FACTS Location Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, about 10 minutes southeast of Canmore

Hiking Time 2 to 3 hours

Round Trip 4 to 7 kilometres

Elevation Gain 100 to 235 metres

Difficulty Easy to moderate

Where the creekbed curves around a wall jutting out from the left—about 35 minutes from the trailhead—stop. On that wall is a rock-art panel created by Natives about 1,000 years ago.

The pictographs were painted in red ochre. They’re 1.67 meters above the canyon floor. They cover a space of about one meter high by 1.5 meters wide. Close examination will reveal a string of five warriors, a buffalo, a horned figure, and a canoe.

Just three minutes past the rock art, the canyon forks. The elevation here is 1395 metres. You’re now about 40 minutes from the trailhead. The right fork is impassable to hikers due to a cliff graced with a small cascade. But the left (west) fork beckons. Carry on.

The canyon remains narrow for only a short distance. The creekbed, strewn with larger boulders, becomes rougher. Continue at least 10 minutes to where the canyon broadens and the view expands. You can peer into the canyon’s upper reaches and admire the craggy ridges of Grotto Mountain above the left (southwest) wall. You’ll soon pass several hoodoos (pillars formed when the surrounding earth eroded away).

Stretches of discernible route, boot beaten into the rock-andgravel creek banks, occasionally allow comfortably striding.

But up-canyon progress often requires you to boulder-hop back and forth across the deepening creekbed. At least the elevation gain is insignificant.

At three kilometres, 1,535 metres—about 45 minutes from the fork, or 1 1/2 hours from the trailhead—even ambitious hikers might want to turn around. The canyon is forested from here on, so views diminish and bushwhacking is necessary.

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GROTTO CANYON

About 25 minutes from the trailhead, the canyon narrows and the walls steepen. Grotto Canyon is popular with sport climbers. You’ll likely see them. If not, you can see the routes they climb by looking for the bolts they’ve drilled into the rock.

HOMECOMING Sean Isaac. Photo by Andrew Querner.

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EXPOSURE

HOME SWEET CANMORE Story by Erin Moroz Photos by Ryan Creary + Andrew Querner

Sean Isaac is not super human. Sean Isaac is a workhorse. Ask him and he’ll tell you he’s just a guy obsessed with adventure. But ask his climbing partners and they’ll tell you he’s tenacious and that his passion and dedication have made him one of the most prolific mixed climbers in North America.

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EXPOSURE

I always knew I wanted to climb...

“He is in love with climbing,” says friend and climber, Andrew

Querner. “Some climbers possess a certain talent, a raw ability; Sean has that but his greatest strength is understanding his weaknesses and working through them by effort and perseverance…to achieve world class goals.”

Isaac’s addiction to climbing has led him around the world on 16 expeditions to such far flung locales as Kyrgyzstan and Baffin Island. He has made numerous first ascents, establishing more than a hundred new routes worldwide, and is the godfather of mixed climbing here in the Bow Valley. Finally, after more than a decade spent exploring the four corners of the globe, Isaac has come home to Canmore.

In the valley, Isaac’s name has become synonymous with mixed climbing, a sport that, he says, evolved out of necessity. Mixed climbing and dry tooling (using ice tools and crampons on rock) developed as sub-sports of waterfall ice climbing. It has been a natural progression for climbers in the Rockies, said Isaac. “People were climbing thinner and thinner (ice) routes until they were climbing sections of rock. Then the sections of rock became longer…and the sections of ice became shorter.”

said Isaac, “As soon as I got (to Lakehead) I begged someone to take me out climbing.”

On spring break, in his second year of university, Isaac and a carload of college friends headed southwest from Thunder Bay to the Needles in South Dakota and Devils Tower in Wyoming to cut their teeth on their first multi-pitch climbs. One of Isaac’s most momentous climbing experiences was the classic Durrance Route on Devils Tower. “I think we started up the first pitch just after dawn and we pulled the last rappels at dusk,” said Isaac. “It’s only five pitches and it took us all fricken day.”

The Durrance Route set the stage for the next chapter of Isaac’s life—big wall climbing. To Isaac “climbing meant being up high,” and he was motivated by images in magazines of climbers hanging off the side of El Cap on portaledges. “That was climbing,” said Isaac.

After a couple years in Thunder Bay, Isaac headed to Australia and New Zealand for what he calls one of his most memorable trips. In seven and a half months “I climbed my face off,” said Isaac. He progressed from grades of 5.7 to 5.12 on the trip and spent only $3000, something he says with a laugh, seems incomprehensible now. After seeing the mountains of New Zealand, Isaac returned to New Brunswick, saved enough to buy a car and headed west to Canmore with the intention of staying one year—that was 16 years ago.

Although Isaac says he equally enjoys all aspects of climbing, mixed climbing held his attention because it’s new and dynamic with a considerable learning curve.

“He works really hard at his craft, he puts his mind to something and he does it,” said Shawn Huisman, a close friend and climbing partner of Isaac who has joined him on expeditions to Pakistan and Alaska.

Born and raised in St. John, New Brunswick, Isaac made his first move west to Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University when he was 18 to study outdoor recreation and geography. It was there that he learned to climb, planting the seeds of a lifelong infatuation.

“I always knew I wanted to climb,”

Name: Birthday: Born: Hometown: Years climbing: Credentials: Sponsors: Web:

Sean Isaac September 14, 1972 St. John, NB Canmore, AB 18 Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, Assistant Alpine Guide Arc’teryx, Black Diamond, Sterling Rope, Kayland Boots, Clif Bar & Adidas Eyewear www.seanisaac.com

“People still ask me, ‘Do you have any expeditions planned?’ My plan now is to work guiding around here, enjoy my own mountains and…hang out with my family,” said Isaac, the father of two young boys with his partner Hermien Schuttenbeld. “Trying to be a good parent is my main focus right now.”

When asked if he’ll always call Canmore home, Isaac replies, “It’s changed a lot. When I moved here there wasn’t a traffic light in town, and none of these big developments.” He pauses for a moment before continu-

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Isaac is pursuing his ACMG Alpine Guide accreditation.

He says guiding has made climbing new and interesting again, giving him the opportunity to acquire a completely different skill set. Climbing attracts people with adventurous spirits, said Isaac, so “there’s always going to be something harder to do. I love it. It doesn’t matter what level you’re climbing at, there’s always going to be something new or exciting that you can challenge yourself on.”

When pressed, Isaac fesses up that he’s not quite ready to ease into civilian life but will slow down Canmore-style and establish new routes close to home. Although he won’t share the “top secret” details, Isaac has designs on a number of projects around the valley that he’s been casing between international expeditions.

“I pretty much spent 10 years leaving here to travel around the world climbing,” said Isaac. “I moved out here in the first place because I thought this was paradise.

It took going away to realize how lucky we are to have this in the backyard.”

Sean Isaac is the Editor of the Canadian Alpine Journal and the author of two books on mixed climbing. He lives on the sunnyside of Canmore with his partner Hermien Schuttenbeld and their two sons, Noah and Mica.

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Sean Isaac in Canmore. Photo by Andrew Querner.

Sean Isaac, Translucent Moron, WI5 M6, Mt Murchison, Icefields Parkway, AB, Photo by Ryan Creary

ing, “but I live just a 15-minute walk from climbing.

Once in a while I toy with the idea of moving to a small mountain town but…I see myself staying here.”

GUIDEBOOK

D NUTS + DIRTBAGS

Steve Holeczi is an ACMG/UIAGM mountain guide living in Canmore, Alberta. He moved to the valley 10 years ago as a Prince George redneck.

To contact Steve, email him at steve.holeczi@gmail.com.

of whippers on them so the cables were a tad frayed. When I saw the other people’s racks, shining in the hot sun with no scratches or use of any kind, I cringed. Either they were trustafarians or spent everything they had on these items. I had spent some of my money on a new backpack and shoes, but mostly on booze and rent. When I pulled the cams out during an examination day on Yamnuska, I again received the same response.

“Steve, you really need to work on making the transition.”

One Man's Journey to Becoming an ACMG Guide

By Steve Holeczi

What was the point? I was “killing it” on the exam, having great days and getting good feedback, I was pretty sure I was going to pass.

On the day of the final interviews we had time to reflect on a stressful week. Some people reflected on taking a couple of falls.

One examiner, I am sure, was reflecting on unnecessarily freaking out during a thunderstorm. I was reflecting on the “transition,” whatever that was.

When I rolled into the Bow Valley in 1998, I was all set to

As first timers, the interview was one of the most tense experiences we had been part of in our lives. You just sat and waited for one of the examiners to call your name so he could sit you down in his office and ask you how it went.

Climbing was everything, and my housemates and I made sure of this singularity. The gear we shared resided on the floor of our rented basement suite, “the dump,” and we never actually knew who owned what. We did know that the gear was well past its prime. “The dump” was the scene of many debaucherous nights. It was there that drinking skills were honed, cleaning products were strictly verboten, and the opposite sex cringed. I have deduced that maybe the jar with Eamonn Walsh’s big toe soaking in formaldehyde—which sat on the living room table—had something to do with that. Greg Thaczuk actually put some of it in his mouth once as a dare.

How it went?

take my Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) Assistant Rock Guide exam and I was 20 years old. My entrance into a professional, respectable career was looming.

As a dirt bag climber, dumpster diving for donuts with the likes of Eamonn, Greg, and Scott Withers was the norm. The massive vacuum-sealed bags we found held enough chemical jelly and doughy goodness to feed all of us, and Eamonn’s dog Cosban.

So, when I showed up to present to the examiners my skills perfected over the summer months, I was well aware that a few issues might arise.

The first issue was the holes in my pants. I guess you could say they were more like vents, cut at right angles and flopping around like the gills of a beached fish. When asked, I responded that this was the newest in prototype airflow and that if they had read the most recent climbing mags, they would have obviously seen this evolution.

“Steve, you need to make the transition,” was the response I got from one examiner.

What the hell was that supposed to mean!?

The next issue was with a few of my cams. I had bought them at the second-hand store a year before and they looked like they were made by some guy named ‘Igor’ in a welding shop in the U.S.S.R. I bought four of them for $25 and had taken a bunch

Well, I trained my ass off and made no money all summer. I worked at a gear shop for $10 an hour and you guys are complaining about my clothing, my gear, and my “transition!”

How about you buy me some pants?

“I think it went pretty good. I made some mistakes but I don’t think they hindered my overall performance,” was actually what came out.

His comment was, “I think you know how you did.”

Uh, how about no. I was waiting for a speech on professionalism and for one of my dreams to get shattered like a plate at a Greek wedding with a line such as: “How do you think you would train differently if you had one more year?”

My internal dialogue was intense and I sat sweating there in heavy silence thinking about his comment. Tell me, tell me, TELL MEEEEEEEEE!!!

He agreed with me. Everything was going to be okay. At the sound of those words, I slumped over in the chair and drew breath like a cured asthmatic.

“Just do me a favor and buy some new clothes. We want you to practice making the transition from climbing with your friends to being a professional working towards becoming a Mountain Guide. People pay for your services.”

In the years since then I have finished all my exams, had a few pairs of pants and discovered pro-deals. Climbing still means everything, and I still like donuts. I can honestly say that I made “the transition” because of that first exam, but it’s safe to say, it has been very much on my terms.

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PHOTO STORIES

STILL LIFE

DEDICATED Jackie Randell enjoys an early snowfall in Canmore.

Photo by Ryan Creary

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YES. Jonas Guinn in all his glory at Spray Lakes.

Photo by Kelly Schovanek

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STILL LIFE

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STILL LIFE

AUTUMN SLENDOUR Larch trees near Taylor Lake.

Photo by Jim Robertson | IND/COMM Photographics

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STILL LIFE

BUGABOO Sean Isaac and Grant Statham return to their camp in the Pigeon Feathers, Bugaboo Provincial Park, B.C. Photo by Andrew Querner

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natural beauty, as is the case in Canmore and Banff.

MOUNTAIN LIVING

Amenity Migration:

THE HIGH PRICE OF LIFE IN PARADISE

By Alyson McAndrews

On a busy Sunday afternoon Marnie Dansereau and her limited staff bustle around Communitea Café in Canmore serving their lunch hour clientele. On this particular Sunday, as she tries to help out her kitchen staff, she is also training two new staff members.

The operation looks to be running smoothly to those sipping cups of gourmet tea and digging into delicious steaming bowls of curry.

The staff, most of whom are new, are trying their hardest to meet the needs of every customer, but could definitely use more help.

As with almost every other café, clothing store, and restaurant, the typical “now hiring” sign hangs in the window. Dansereau has come to accept staffing shortages as the norm in Canmore, but says some relief would be nice.

“We’ve had a complete turnover in the last week or so,” she says.

“The season changes, and my staff changes. It would be nice to not have to worry about it all the time.”

Dansereau opened the café about two years ago and says staffing is her number one issue.

“I get great people, and really, have had great luck with staff while they are here, but most are here for a season or maybe a year, so it’s constant.”

Her problems are not unique for business owners in the area and she believes, and experts confirm, it is actually an issue of affordable housing.

“It’s so hard to find a reasonable place to rent at a reasonable rate, let alone buy something. We lose people who add so much to the community because they can’t afford to stay.”

This is not news to Gary Buxton, director of planning and development for the Town of Canmore. The issue is a larger a trend of amenity migration, said Buxton. Amenity migration occurs when a rural area experiences a large influx of people due to the amenities provided in the region—usually

A recent census shows an explosion of secondary home owners in Canmore with an increase of about 15 per cent for non-permanent residents and little to no increase at all in the permanent population. The result is that secondary home purchases drive up the price of already limited real estate. And salaries within in the community are unable to keep up at a rate that allows the local population to buy into real estate and the community itself. With an 1,100-square-foot condo going for $550,000, it’s easy to see why affordable housing is high on the Town’s agenda.

“It’s a serious thing because it not only makes it impossible for permanent residents to buy in, but it also provides an incentive for people who have managed to buy, to cash-out and leave the community,” said Buxton.

The problem is not unique—communities like Whistler, Vale, Aspen, Telluride and Jackson Hole have all been dealing with it for decades. The stakeholders in these communities site affordable housing as the number one issue that effects the local population.

“We go to these conferences and listen to experts talk about how to deal with amenity migration, and they start by saying the first three issues a community has to deal with to make the full-time, permanent population able to stay are: 1) affordable housing, 2) affordable housing and 3) affordable housing,” said Buxton.

“The issue is, until you can figure out a way for your permanent population to live comfortably within the means of the salaries they can expect to make in the community, you can’t move forward on any other issue. The people working in most jobs in Canmore couldn’t even consider (buying here).”

So, what can Buxton and the Town do to alleviate these issues?

For about a decade, the Town has been studying affordable housing in communities like Whistler and Telluride. As a result, the Town is now well entrenched in developing Perpetually Affordable Housing (PAH) units with local developers.

“It basically meant the Town had to get into another business and this is where the Canmore Community Housing Corporation came from,” said Buxton. “It took a while to learn how to make it work, but I think we have some policies and projects in place that will help a lot.”

However, getting potential PAH owners to understand the concept has been a challenge.

“The education component of PAH has been enormous,” said Buxton. “When people find out that are not going to be able to cash in on their property like they could if they bought on the open market, it’s a struggle.”

However, for people who are primarily looking for a place to call home and are less concerned with cashing in, PAH means the ability to stay in Canmore.

Longtime Canmorite and developer Frank Kernick has been advocating PAH for more than a decade. His latest project is

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“It is on our radar and we are at the beginning stages of this investigation. What towns like Aspen have seen is their main street became full of expensive boutiques and high end furniture shops because these kinds of businesses could afford to pay the rent in the prime real estates. The question is, where as locals do we buy our clothes, get the tools we need at the hardware store and get our food? No one community we have looked at has approached this issue the same way, so it’s not like affordable housing in terms of tried and true tactics that will work in dealing with it,” said Buxton.

Also a concern is the side effect of increased population density on the natural surroundings such as trails, wildlife corridors and habitat patches.

Spring Creek, which is being constructed on the former grounds of Restwell Trailer Park. About five per cent of Spring Creek’s units are dedicated to PAH. “We did that with Spring Creek to keep people in the community who have been here for years,” said Kernick. “As a resident of Canmore, I want to keep good people here.”

However, that five per cent of units dedicated to PAH translates into about 50 per cent of his costs. In response, the Town developed the Comprehensive Housing Action Plan (CHAP) with other stakeholders in Canmore.

CHAP outlines the Town’s goal of 1,000 PAH units by 2010, with potential for more if needed. A few PAH developments are already complete with more underway including Coyote Ridge and, most recently, the Palliser Lands project at the base of Silvertip. CHAP outlines initiatives to increase staff accommodation and allows for home-owners to build legal secondary suites to help cover mortgage costs and provide more rental accommodation.

Kernick sat on the committee that developed CHAP and applauds the action plan.

“It’s a step in the right direction. We’ve needed something like that for years now,” he says. “I’m especially happy with initiative regarding secondary suites. I have lost good staff because they haven’t been able to put in secondary suites. That difference would mean more people could get mortgages for properties on the open market. It will also mean a mix of accommodation throughout the town…I believe that is good for the health of a town.”

The initiatives are welcome news to Dansereau as well.

“I like the increase in density that would bring, not only because it means it would be easier for my staff to find a place to live, but it’s more sustainable,” she says. “Canmore is in a delicate location and the more build-out there is, the more stresses there are on the environment. It’s a paradox because most people who live, work and own here do so because of its natural beauty.”

However, the negative impact of amenity migration is not limited to affordable housing and staffing. The high cost of shopping locally has also caught the Town’s attention.

“The impact this population increase has had on the environment is not something we are in a position to be able to figure out right now,” said Buxton. “It is a concern and it comes down to increased users overall.”

Buxton is quick to point out that not every aspect of having amenity migrants in a community is a bad thing. With amenity migration comes an overall increase in education levels to the community, a broader awareness of social issues, and opportunities for philanthropy that wouldn’t have otherwise existed.

“These are people who moved to Canmore because they love the community as much as the permanent residents. They also have incredible wealth and often engage in significant philanthropy to improve the community,” said Buxton.

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GUIDEBOOK

Sunshine + Good Times at Amiskwi Lodge

{

The sky is bluebird and the rumour of 40 centimetres of fresh snow is hanging in the air...

Story + Photos by Kristy Davison

Anticipation. We arrive early at the helicopter pad and mill around the hangar, restless, impatient, waiting to board the helicopter that will take us up to Amiskwi Lodge, deep in the Golden backcountry. The sky is bluebird and the rumour of 40 centimetres of fresh snow is hanging in the air like a juicy carrot. More waiting.

With a grin, the pilot signals we’re good to go. The bird fires up, creating a localized blizzard, and the five of us pile into the chopper. With a twinge of reservation, I power down my cell phone in preparation for a week of undisturbed backcountry bliss.

We float over snowy peaks, retreating further and further from what we have come to call civilization. My exhilaration is mirrored on the faces of my friends, strapped in behind me.

Words are lost in the whir of the chopper’s blades, but our eyes meet over a giggle and a belly laugh.

As we crest the final mountain peak, the roof of Amiskwi Lodge appears, red on a field of white. There’s barely time to absorb the view before the pilot brings us down softly, mere steps from our new front door. The serenity of the ride is broken as we open the doors and pile out amidst swirling, biting snow and the commotion of the chopping blades.

chaos of the landing dissipating with the old-timers' departure. The chopper vanishes in a swirl of icy snow, and we are enveloped by the towering silence of our surroundings.

On a day like this, in a place like this, words aren’t necessary—we know we must ski. It’s midday; we have the entire afternoon ahead of us, as untouched runs fan out in all directions.

Beds are claimed in a flurry of flying sleeping bags. Immediately and instinctively, we begin to gear up. The mangled food boxes are the least of our worries with a feast of sugary powder beckoning outside.

We’re an odd team: two on skis, two riding snowboards, and one free heeler, all with different levels of backcountry experience, all united by the fact that today, we feel like kids in a candy store. The snow is thigh deep and made heavy by the sun as the day wears on. We hike and ride terrain called “Crazy Momma,” “Wounded Knee,” and “Blue Eye-Shadow” (according to the colourfully labeled map in the guestbook) until we are completely spent. Utterly exhausted, we now face the long climb up from the valley floor to the plateau on which the lodge rests.

One foot after the other.

“Get down, get down!” shouts a burly stranger as we step out of the helicopter and into this new world. A group of aggressive American army vets are—thankfully—preparing for the return trip with our pilot. We can only watch as our gear and food are hastily removed and thrown haphazardly towards the tail rotor.

We huddle over our equipment as the helicopter lifts off, the

No matter how many pow shots you eat, a person still needs food. We’re functioning only on breakfast as the sunlight fades in the late afternoon. Food, which was an afterthought on arrival, is now foremost in our minds. I’m fading fast just as Amiskwi’s red roof pokes up over the hill ahead, refueling me with the promise of food and fire.

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At the heart of the lodge sits the wood burning stove. It is quickly stoked and soon cranks out dry heat. My bones and spirit are warmed by the smell of wood smoke and low sunlight pouring in through the windows—I feel instantly at home. As I warm my toes by the flames, a primal memory surfaces, reminding me of the connection of all humans to fire.

I’m thankful for those who built this refuge that keeps me warm, and for those before me who communed around the red glow of a fire.

I boil water on the propane stove for tea: water that was gathered from the stream a few hundred yards away, in buckets dragged on a sled made of old skis and milk crates. I begin to prepare our dinner of “Tuna Surprise,” aptly named as each time I make it, I am surprised by its suitability for human consumption. After a long hard day, it is gobbled up quickly by all.

When preparing meals at the lodge, it becomes acutely apparent what can be reused, what can be burned, and what remnants will have to be packed out. You can’t help but gain an appreciation for how much water it actually takes to live when you have to trek out in the cold for more as it runs out.

Nothing is wasted.

Jeff, our resident “sauna-man” gets the small, wooden room fired up, inadvertently earning himself the responsibility of looking after our nightly sauna needs for the remainder of the trip. I discovered at Amiskwi that there’s no better way to get to know your friends than in a steamy, wood fired sauna, set in the middle of nowhere, accompanied by a box of the ‘finest’ red wine. All pretenses are dropped; we are literally and figuratively stripped down to our cores.

The sauna is followed by a shower—an ingenious system consisting of a pulley and a watering can that becomes a luxury at the end of a cold, sweaty day. One watering can is enough CONTINUED ON PG 32 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

GUIDEBOOK

{ to get you clean. Two will get you sparkling.

I’d never had a shower at home that compares to this.

After dinner, we chop wood—a must if you want to stay warm. Instant gratification comes in the form of a swinging axe, the crack of wood, and the contentment of feeling a log split.

The joyful exertion of wood chopping has recharged us. A full moon is rising on “Simes’ Ridge” and we’re eager for a starlight ski. We gear up as the moon is high, flooding our surroundings with shadowy white light. It’s silent, absolutely.

In this ghostly light, my senses are heightened. I’ve never heard snow crunch like this before. I can hear my heart pumping, life force rushing through me.

We reach what will be the top of our run and the silence is golden as we hold our breath in anticipation of the moonlight run.

Then, I watch with amazement as one by one, my friends take flight, rushing over the sparkling crystal snow like birds floating in a cloudless sky. I take a deep breath and dive in after them. Crystals spray up off the front of my board, capturing the moonlight, tickling my face. The moon’s pale shadows are misleading so I ride by feel, every muscle in my body reacting flawlessly to the dips and turns in

Amiskwi Lodge is owned and operated by local Bow Valley contractors. For bookings and info, contact Penny Olauson at info@amiskwi.com or visit them online at www.amiskwi.com

the snow as I spread my wings and let the hill carry me down.

Beaming, we return to the cabin, where we fall, grinning, into our beds. Here at Amiskwi, I feel so far away from the past and the future, so far removed. My mind, free from stress, and contented from a rewarding day, finds nothing to ruminate on—I don’t fight as deep, restorative sleep overtakes me.

Awakening in the morning, knowing there are six more days just like yesterday ahead of us, I feel the overwhelming urge to hug each of my new friends, and I do. Six days seems like an eternity, and we’re all geared up to make the most of it.

I begin to notice that the days we’re spending up here tend to follow the body’s pace, the pace of the land and sun and moon, rather than that of a clock. Laughter punctuates comfortable silences in the late afternoons when we read, write, play guitar or nap in the sunroom after a long day in the hills. I can feel myself getting used to this tempo, my body re-establishing its natural rhythm.

On the final morning, sadness embraces the cabin. Time stood motionless during our stay, so how is it that a week has passed and a helicopter is coming to take us away from here? Annoyingly on schedule, the noise of the blades sounds in the distant hills and we

prepare for the ensuing commotion.

The pilot touches down, and a new group of people spills out. We exchange their baggage for ours and load into the chopper. In an instant, we are looking down on the red roof of the lodge, forced to acknowledge that our trip has come to an end. The flight home is beautiful, drifting over crystalline trees, the cold clear waters of the Amiskwi and Blaeberry Rivers, and eventually, as we approach civilization, the geometric patterns of homesteads appear one plot at a time.

We land, unload and walk to our vehicles.

The hesitation I felt when I turned my cell phone off a week ago is replaced by a pang of disgust for the seemingly essential modern convenience. I decide it can wait another day and stuff it into my pocket.

Ironically, technology enables an increasingly isolated existence. It was cathartic to be trapped at Amiskwi, in close proximity to others and to myself. There were no distractions, no listening with one ear expecting a phone to ring, no emails to check, just a fleeting number of days to spend any way you like.

The world outside Amiskwi is functioning exactly as it did before we left, but I’m not ready to accept that my perspective is the only thing that’s changed.

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Call for special pricing for Christmas calendars and Christmas postcards on orders placed before November 30.

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Pleasing customers for over 25 years with quality printing

Towering above Canmore at 2,936 metres in Kananaskis Park, the Three Sisters mountain range is one of the bestknown landmarks in the Bow Valley. The Sisters were originally named the Three Nuns by explorer Albert Rogers, the nephew of the Major Rogers, discoverer of Roger’s Pass.

Call 403.675.Dave (3283) for a quote on: Business cards Newsletters Letterheads Rack cards Brochures Postcards Booklets Invoices Labels And more...

"There had been quite a heavy snowstorm in the night, and when we got up in the morning and looked out of the tent, I noticed each of the three peaks had a heavy veil of snow on the north side, and I said to the boys, 'Look at the Three Nuns,'” said Rogers.

All Printing done locAlly Email: printingbydave@shawbiz.ca Unit #204, 56 Lincoln Park, Canmore

403.675.Dave (3283)

Geologist and explorer George Dawson renamed the peaks Source: peakfinder.com the Three Sisters in 1886.

Why a Mortgage Consultant?

It can take a lot of time and energy to go from bank to bank looking for the mortgage that suits your needs.

A mortgage associate has all of the information you are looking for at their finger tips. At Invis, we negotiate with lenders to get the mortgage that you want. Our services come at no cost to you– from the initial consultation to funding.* To get your questions answered and get the mortgage you want the first time call:

Christine de Soto, BA/Sc, AMP Mortgage Consultant

403.678.9383 • christinedesoto@invis.ca www.canmoremortgages.com *Subject to approval of credit at time of application.

Some restrictions may apply. OAC, E&OE

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CHATTER

Grassi Lakes Re-opens After a year-long closure, the upper trail at Grassi Lakes, from the top of Spray Hill to north of the pictographs, re-opened August 19th. Water erosion had weakened the gabion baskets supporting the Spray Lakes road structure above the hiking and climbing area, and the baskets then pulled away from the roadbed, said Conservation Officer Glenn Naylor. As a result, rock fall threatened the day-use area below.

Taking matters into their own hands, a number of user groups along with conservation officers manually removed the potential rock fall strewn above the trails and climbing routes in order for

the area to be given the green light to re-open. Ralph Rolston, an operations engineer at Alberta Transport, in charge of monitoring and maintaining the gabion baskets, said he “doesn’t think there’s a risk” from the remaining baskets.

Alberta Transport won’t be replacing the damaged baskets and is currently devising a plan to concentrate the flow of water away from those still in place above Grassi Lakes. To safeguard against further rock fall, a potential solution is to Shotcrete—essentially blow concrete—over the exposed area where the baskets had given away, said Rolston.

Repair work above Grassi Lakes.

PEAKSU P HOLSTERY

The Bow Valley’s only full-service upholstery shop residential reupholstery and frame fixes commercial, hotel/restaurant seating

Call 403-678-0410 patio solutions pick up and delivery available

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KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS EXPOSURE

Meet Sabrina (left) and Kendra Harper. For nearly twenty years, these fine ladies have been gracing the Bow Valley with their own unique brand of laughter and lust for life. Hailing from Red Deer, Alberta, they started out as weekend warriors and have recently made the transition to full-time townies.

The sisters have been around the world and back. Having tested their teaching skills in Ecuador and Korea, they are currently schooling the kids of the Bow Valley in the subjects of Drama and Phys Ed.

Photo by Adina Currie

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Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, these girls embody the spirit of play and sport. From trail running to track and field, from mountain biking to rockin’ the snowblades, they’re always game for an opportunity to challenge themselves and to encourage those around them to succeed. Whether it’s outside in the sun and snow, inside with a classroom full of rowdy students, or on a homemade house party dance floor, the Harper sisters will be there with a smile on, dishing out free hugs.

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CHATTER

Bow Valley Tourism Facts • 4.5 million visitors per year • 74% of trips are for pleasure • Tourism generated $1.05 billion in consumer spending in the region during 2004 - Canadians $376 million - Overseas $400 million - U.S. $272 million • 203 million overnight visits (average stay of 3.5 nights) - 73 million from Alberta (of which 39% were from Calgary and area) - 52 million from overseas - 41 million from the U.S. - 37 million from the rest of Canada

Redstone Custom Window Fashions

Source: 2004 Canadian & International Travel Surveys (Statistics Canada), published January 2006.

drapery

Bedding Packages Roller and Cell Shades Jon Bjorgum

Wood Shutters

Broker

Blinds and More...

For a Free consultation, Please Call:

403-609-1609

(403) 609-0800 # 8 - 713 Main Street Canmore, AB T1W 2B2 Fax: (403) 678-4251 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

“Getting People Moving” view all of my listings online at:

www.rockiesrealty.ca www.coldwellbankerbcr.com • jon-bjorgum@coldwellbanker.ca

or email: redstonewf@hotmail.com

Installation Included Located at #3 113 Bow Meadows Cres.

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HEALTH

AT HIGH ALTITUDES

By Tony Mottershead Here’s a high-altitude quinoa recipe to help expand your nutritional repertoire. This salad is great for après adventure as a recovery meal or as a delicious gluten-free addition to your favorite lunch or dinner.

Eating healthy enhances our lives and promotes well being. An essential part of any active mountain lifestyle is consuming foods that provide the fuel our bodies need to play hard and recover quickly.

QUINOA (keen-wah) Quinoa is an edible seed that originated about 6000 years ago in the Andes of South America. An undemanding and altitude-hardy plant, it can be cultivated at altitudes up to 4000 metres above sea level. It boasts the highest source of protein among all the grains at 12-18%, and is also gluten-free and an excellent source of fiber, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. It can be eaten as an alternative to potatoes, rice, or pasta, and quinoa flour can be a delicious gluten-free substitute for wheat flour in most recipes.

PREPARATION Like some other varieties of produce, quinoa has a naturally occurring resin coating (made of particles known as saponins) that should be removed before consumption. If you buy raw quinoa, soak it for a couple of hours to dissolve the saponins and then rinse it thoroughly until the water runs clear.

When it has finished soaking, it can be prepared in much the same manner as rice: Combine 1 cup quinoa with about 2 cups water Bring to a boil, then simmer for 18-20 minutes Let stand, covered, for 15-20 minutes and then fluff with a fork

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For more information, check out Tony’s website at www.onenutrition.ca

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PHOTO: Kristy Davison. Dishes and cutlery courtesy of Stonewaters.

ESSENTIALS

Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park

winter newS 2008-2009

2008/09 winter eventS

Ski School ProgramS

November 2008 Nov. 21 1988 Winter Olympic Games 20-year Anniversary Celebration Nov. 29-30 Biathlon: Calforex Cup # 1, North American Cup # 1

Drop in Lesson

December 2008 Dec. 12-14 Biathlon: Calforex Cup # 2 Dec. 20-21 Cross Country: Alberta Cup Dec. 28 Cross Country: Bow Corridor Regional Race #1

$40.00

(no booking required, register at Trail Sports by 9:45 a.m.)

1.5 hour group lesson Skating weekends and holidays at 10:00 a.m.

Classical weekends and holidays at 10:00 a.m.

5 Week Skating Course

January 2009 Jan. 2-6 Cross Country: Haywood NorAm Cup, World Junior & U23 Trials Jan. 17-18 Biathlon: North American Cup #4 Jan. 25-Feb. 3 IBU Biathlon Youth and Junior World Championship

$160.00 1.5 hour lesson each week to improve your skating technique.

Participants should have taken a skating drop in lesson.

2 to 3:30 p.m. (commences Nov. 16, 2008; Jan. 10 or Feb. 15, 2009).

5 Week Classical Course

$160.00 1.5 hour lesson each week to improve your classical technique.

Participants should have taken a classical drop in lesson.

2 to 3:30 p.m. (commences Nov. 15, 2008; Jan. 11 or Feb. 14, 2009).

C.A.N.S.I. Level 1 Preparation Course

2008/09 Trail passes Day Passes (Valid from 9:00 am- 9:00 pm) Adult daily Senior (Ages 55+) daily Junior (Ages 12-17) daily Child daily Special Adult* daily Special Junior* daily * Special rates apply to handicapped skiers

$7.50 $6.00 $6.00 $4.50 $3.00 $3.00

C.A.N.S.I. Instructorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Refresher

$106.00 For certified instructors this will review new developments in technique and teaching drills. It allows all instructors to participate in a sharing of teaching ideas. Dec. 13, 2008 as part of CANSI Mountain Regions Fiesta. Register on line at www.cansi.ca at least one week prior to the course.

C.A.N.S.I. Level 1 Certification Course

Night Skiing Passes (Valid from 5:00- 9:00 pm) Adult evening Senior (Ages 55+) evening Junior (Ages 12-17) evening Child evening

$106.00 This one day course is designed to give you the information you need to improve your skiing skills to the level required to pass the CANSI Level 1 Instructor certification. Video analysis and an assessment of your ability relative to the standard is given. Nov. 22, 2008. Register on line at www.cansi.ca at least one week prior to the course.

$3.75 $3.00 $3.00 $2.25

$305.00 The CANSI Level 1 course is an exam course designed to develop your instructional skills so you could teach beginning skiers. Nov. 29 & 30, 2008 or March 28 & 29, 2009. Price does not include $85.00 CANSI fee payable by cheque to CANSI. Register on line at www.cansi.ca at least one week prior to the course.

Seasons Passes (Valid from 9:00 am- 9:00 pm) Adult season Senior (Ages 55+) season Junior (Ages 12-17) season Child season Family of 2 season Family of 3+** season

$108.00 $87.00 $87.00 $62.00 $166.00 $224.00

** Maximum of 2 people over 18 and must reside at same residence

403.678.2400

Canmore.NordicCentre@gov.ab.ca www.Kananakis-Country.ca

ESSENTIALS

INJURY PREVENTION 101 Pre-Season Training for Snow Sports

By Colin Davis, MS, CSCS Brooke Gosling, Model

Here in western Alberta, our four months of summer may seem to have been over too quickly for those of us who love green grass, singletrack trails, bare rock, and warm sun. In their place now are long shadows and freak fall snowstorms, which will soon bring about a cultural shift into winter mode, and collective joy for the coming winter. Anticipation grows, resulting in winter-sport film festivals, fiery ski-burning rituals, and my personal favorite, pre-season ski conditioning workouts!

Biomechanically, gravity sports differ substantially between summer and winter. In snow sports, greater vertical force and higher velocity increase the load on the joints and structures of the body. For both injury prevention and performance, conditioning routines must incorporate strength training, balance, joint strength, muscular power and ROM (range of motion) exercises to be thorough.

Supplement two dry land sessions per week with three to four days per week of vigorous walking, hiking, or running to build general fitness, and you have a solid six to eight week training plan!

The following exercises are excerpts from a snow sports training program designed by Colin Davis. To view the program in its entirety, please visit www.alliancesportmedicine.com.

PLANNING Warm-up Run easily for five minutes, adding 5x 30 second pick-ups with 30 second rests. If on a treadmill, begin adding inclines to your pickups as you progress.

MOVEMENT PREP 1. Deep Squat Equipment: optional mini-band or belt around both legs above the knee

Start: Wide legs and parallel feet, activated core.

Movement: sink your bum out behind and down as low as or below your knees, pulling your knees as far forward as the ankles.

2. Forward Lunge with Overhead Reach Start: Tall stance, feet under hips with legs straight.

Movement: Lunge forward with one leg, bending both knees to 90 degrees. Allow rear heel to rise, keeping rear toes planted. Reach overhead with both arms, and contract the gluteus maximus of the rear leg for a brief hold of 2-3 seconds. Push into the floor with the forward leg to return back upright.

Repeat, alternating legs.

3. Hamstring Deadlift Start: Tall stance, arms outstretched to your sides, hands shoulder height.

Movement: Shift weight to one leg, keeping standing leg very active. Bend forward at your hip, keeping rear leg lifted high and in-line with your torso. This is called being â&#x20AC;&#x153;locked inâ&#x20AC;? with a strong pillar.

Staying locked in, pivot back to upright position and repeat with the same leg for desired number of repetitions before switching.

STRENGTH 4. Hamstring Bridge/Curl Equipment: none, or 65cm exercise ball.

Start: Lying supine on the ground, feet flat on the floor or with heels on the exercise ball.

Movement: Lift into a bridge, stabilizing with your pillar. Feel a strong gluteus maximus contraction, then draw the ball toward you while keeping your hips fixed in space. If doing the move from the ground, extend one leg at the knee while keeping thighs at the same angle. Return to starting, then repeat for 10-12 times per set, for as many sets as desired .

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5. Prone Plank with Forward Reach Start: Push-up position, hands below shoulders, with body straight and pillar strength activated.

Movement: Stabilize in the Plank, contracting the core with enough effort to allow one hand to come free.

Reach forward, hold for one breath, then return to starting and alternate hands. Repeat up to 10 times per set.

6. Side Plank, Side Plank ‘X’ Start: Lying on side, with lower arm either straight or bent at the elbow, planted firmly on the ground.

Movement: Lift your midsection into a bridge or plank, so that your torso is straight and in-line from your nose to sternum to bellybutton. For the advanced version, lift your higher leg to form the ‘X’ pattern. Hold for up to 10 seconds, lower in a controlled fashion, pause, and repeat up to 10 times per set.

7. Lunge Series

Start: Tall stance, as before for the previous Overhead Lunge.

First movement: Step out directly sideways, keeping both feet parallel and planted on the floor. Sink into the stepping leg, keeping the trailing leg straight. In particular, as you attempt to keep that foot flat, feel the flexibility of the ankle on the trailing foot. Reach forward with the hands for counter-balance, and return to standing by pushing into the floor with the stepping leg.

Alternate sides, then repeat up to 12 times per leg.

Second movement: Step behind you with one leg, crossing it over to the far side of your other (front) leg. Keep feet parallel, sinking into the position and feeling the IT band on the outside of your leg stretch. Hold for a breath, then push back upright to start and alternate legs. Repeat 10-12 times per leg for each set.

Colin Davis is an Exercise Physiologist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and is currently a certification candidate in Athletic Therapy. Photos by Kristy Davison.

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ESSENTIALS

GEAR REVIEW The Low-Down on this Season’s ‘Must Haves’ Story by Mike Trehearne Photos by Kristy Davison

If you live in the valley, chances are you’re toying with an obsession for at least one new activity. Inevitably, with each new pastime comes the outlay of cash for equipment, and eventually, for the best equipment available. ACMG Assistant Alpine Guide, Mike Trehearne, has narrowed the field on a few essential pieces for your gear room.

MSR Reactor Stove $135.00 I never thought I’d live to see the day —a canister stove that works well in the cold and at altitude. The Reactor from MSR is definitely the go-to stove for small self-contained overnight trips. MSR has listed boil times for the Reactor at three minutes or less, almost a full minute faster than that of its closest competitor, and I found it to be substantially faster than even that.

The stove and pot are sold together, designed to work as a single unit. The 1.7-litre pot has a built-in heat exchanger that matches the shape of the radiant burner below.

This design allows for maximum fuel efficiency and storm-proofing as the flame is almost completely enclosed when cooking.

You can expect to boil around 22 litres of water (or 80 minutes) out of a 227 gram LPG fuel canister.

Along with the pot, the stove sports its own unique design which allows the flame to breathe during use, but still keeps the wind out. The stove body houses a unique pressure sensitive regulator which keeps consistent pressure inside the canister throughout its lifespan, maintaining maximum output in low pressure environments (high altitude) and also fuel efficiency, regardless of the ambient air temperature.

When your meal is done, the stove and fuel canister stow away neatly inside the pot. Flip the pot handle over and lock the lid in place keeping everything secure for the journey ahead.

Presently, the only pot available for the Reactor is the 1.7 litre version sold with the system. Total weight 595 grams.

Black Diamond Speed 40 Pack $119.95 My new Speed 40 pack has been brilliant. Until this summer, I’d always gone by the ethos that if I forced myself to take my 30 litre pack everywhere, I’d end up with only what I really needed.

It only took a few trips sans toothbrush or extra gaunch to realize that maybe I should just pony up and start carrying a slightly bigger pack.

With the Speed 40, a standard mixed alpine rack, including rope, rack, insulated jacket, clothes, food and the usual personal gear fits with room to spare. Depending on how streamlined your overnight gear is, it will likely fit without having to employ any creative stuffing techniques.

The pack can be stripped down to 712 grams from its already minimal 1.1 kilograms by removing the frame and floating lid.

For heavier loads, the internal framework of the Speed 40 might prove to be useful, but I’ve found that it still carries heavy loads exceptionally well, even without the internal frame in place.

Another bonus of not having the frame in place is that it allows for substantially more range of motion in the head and neck while wearing a helmet or when climbing. The shape of the shoulder straps allows extended range of motion and makes it quite easy for the users to function with their hands overhead for long periods of time without tiring the shoulders.

The Speed 40 comes with standard crampon patches, interior hydration sleeve, and two ice axe loops. The ice axe loops do position the picks of your ice tools in a rather outward orientation, however, so I suggest safety glasses for the tail-gaiters behind you. It comes in three colors and in torso lengths

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small/medium and medium/ large. The new Speed 40 has everything you’ll need and nothing you don’t. One of my favorite purchases this year.

$ B O N P S F t ' F S O J F ,JDLJOH )PSTF 3FTPSU t ,JNCFSMFZ

Petzl Reverso $26.95 The local gear shop in Canmore had completely sold out of these beauties two weeks before the shipment had even arrived! A testament to the anticipation these devices stirred up.

Stay a Night or a Lifetime First thing I noticed when I got a hold of this new device was the weight. It’s noticeably lighter. At 72 Canadian mountain Lodging and Ultimate Properties grams it’s a full 30 grams lighter than its closest competitor. Just offer the most complete selection of luxury vacation imagine being able to shave 25 per cent of the weight off the rest homes, condos and condo hotel suites in the Rockies of your rack… sounds sort of nice doesn’t it? The device also rentals: 1.877.771.4653 | www.CanadianMountainLodging.com accepts a huge range of rope diameters. It will brake effectively real estate: 1.888.337.6432 | www.UltimateProperties.ca down to 7.5mm on twin and half ropes, and down to 8.9mm for the new skinny single ropes, eliminating the need to403.547.9111 own 1.877. multiple devices to cover your different rope diameters. New “adaptive rope control” and asymmetric grooves in the sidewalls make it noticeably easier to control lower diameter ropes in C BOBEJBO M PVOUBJO L PEHJOH rappel systems and leader fall events, something that older generation Reversos have struggled with.

P R O P E RT I E S I N T E R N AT I O N A L

The new unit features an oversized clip-in hole for use in “Reverso” mode. In a pinch, two non-locking carabiners could be clipped through here (gates opposed) to take the place of a locker that got dropped on the last changeover. The asymmetrically grooved teeth give more holding power to the device when used in “Reverso” mode as well, applying maximum braking through the same wide range of rope diameters. The new design also sports a small hole below the teeth that fits the nose of most carabiners and serves to disengage the auto-block feature while in “Reverso” mode (see www.petzl.com for instructions in use).

Super slick.

For all the good, I did have one issue with this new device. It is actually fairly difficult to pull large diameter ropes through the device while using it in “Reverso” mode, making it a less than ideal choice for those still climbing on ropes 10mm and bigger.

Whether this is actually a big deal or not, I’ll leave up to you.

Nobody climbs on 10.5mm ropes anymore anyway… do they!?

Go down and visit Ross at Valhalla Pure, and for a nominal fee, he’ll get you hooked up.

Mike Trehearne is an ACMG Assistant Alpine Guide living in Canmore. You can reach him at m_trehearne@hotmail.com.

Special thanks to Valhalla Pure Outfitters of Canmore.

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SCENE + HEARD

Out + About in The Bow Valley SBP CRC LGMS BCCG

Sally Borden Pool Canmore Recreation Centre Lawrence Grassi Middle School Banff Centre Climbing Gym

To have your weekly event listed on this page, please contact info@highlineonline.ca *Some programs are subject to change + availability

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SNAPSHOT

Pinhole camera image by Keith Addy.

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We want to publish your photo.

You can submit images for this page to info@highlineonline.ca. If your photo is chosen for publication, you'll win the respect of your friends, a stylie Ambler Hat and 4 Tickets to the Taste of Canmore Wine & Food Festival from The Oak Barrel.

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