Highline Magazine, Summer 2014 by Highline Magazine

highlineonline.ca summer 2014 VOL. 6, ISSUE 2

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FOR ALL

the UNDERGROUND edition

reading the signs \\ seedy \\ mountain weather \\ good grazing

Musically gifted. Harvest Moon Acoustics Suite 102A, 722 Main Street Canmore, AB 403-678-0023

www.harvestmoonacoustics.com

IN SUPPORT OF

July 5

Gran Fondo Canmore July 20 Canmore Open Water Swim Challenge July 20 Bow Valley SuP CuP Paddleboard Race

2014 EVENT SCHEDULE Thank you to all our sponsors and partners! Title sponsor:

AuGuSt 3 Canmore ultra Half & Relay AuGuSt 17 XtERRA Canmore triathlon & Duathlon

Gold sponsors:

SEPtEMBER 20 MitoCanada Endurance Challenge OCtOBER 4 Canmore Mountain Bike Marathon & Relay OCtOBER 12 Canmore ultra Marathon & Relay

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letter

shameless plugs 10 chatter 12 summer festivals 16 playlist 18 glen boles 20

where the weather is wild 22 know your neighbour 28

signs, signs everywhere a sign 30 seedy 36 good grazing 44 recipe 46 locally grown 47 snapshot 50

Photo by Francois-Xavier De Ruydts. Exploring Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest cave, beneath Castleguard Mountain, AB.

THE BANFF CENTRE PRESENTS THE 39TH

BANFF

Summer 2014

MOUNTAIN

Volume 6 | Issue 2

Founding Publisher + Editor-In-Chief

FILM BOOK FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 1 – 9, 2014 AND

Kristy “Birthday Suit” Davison · kristy@highlineonline.ca

Associate Publisher + Distribution Manager “OC” Dee Medcalf · dee@highlineonline.ca

Managing Editor Corrie “Midnight Snack” DiManno · corrie@highlineonline.ca

Head Designer Julie “Ninja” Lavery · Wild Ginger Design

Copy Editor Paul “Private Dancer” Davison

Journalist + Neighbour-In-Chief Chloe “FOMO” Vance · chloe@highlineonline.ca

Creative Media Consultant Camara “Plant Killer” Miller · camara@highlineonline.ca

Advertising Sales Manager Nicole “Taste the Rainbow” Larson · nicole@highlineonline.ca

Online Editor Taryn “The Tyrant” Hajnrych · taryn@highlineonline.ca

Community Connector Siri “Heavy Pedal” Bright

Distribution Canmore · Banff · Jasper · Lake Louise · Edmonton · Revelstoke · Calgary For a complete list of locations, check out highlineonline.ca/print-magazine/pick-up-a-copy

Contributors

TICKETS ON SALE AUGUST 6

banffmountainfestival.ca 1.800.413.8368 @BanffMtnFest

Camara Miller, Carolynn Winterhalt, Chloe Vance, Chris Lavery, Corrie DiManno, Dan Rafla, Evan Peters, Francois-Xavier De Ruydts, John Reid, Lynn Martel, Mark Unrau, Meghan J. Ward, Pam Traut, Paul Zizka, Tanya Koob, Rosemary Gartly and Taryn Hajnrych.

Special Thanks Allan Buckingham, Brita Thomas (for everything), Glen Boles, Greg Bouck, John Coleman, the fine folks at Skoki Lodge, Email · info@highlineonline.ca Web · www.highlineonline.ca Facebook · Highline Magazine

Twitter · @HighlineMag Instagram · @HighlineMag

Printed on recycled paper at McAra Printing; a solarpowered printer in Calgary. Highline Magazine is a free, semi-annual publication that embodies a playful, authentic, community-minded, and earth-friendly approach to life in the Rockies.

Will Gadd Climbing Louise Falls, Banff National Park © Kennan Harvey

Cover photo: Mark Unrau at Rampart Creek, near the Icefields Parkway.

LETTER FROM us - The Highline Team

HIGHLINE

— Margaret Atwood

summer 2014

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

However, the overriding pattern we saw emerging from the theme-based submissions was that our contributors (a hardy bunch of bad-asses) were questioning patterns and challenging the norm with their chosen topics. So we decided that a new theme, “Underground,” would be a better description of the collection of stories we share with you in this issue. For instance, Know Your Neighbour [PG 28] features a Canmore kid who grew up dissecting owl pellets in his backyard and also happens to be a loud and proud, fierce and fabulous drag queen. In Reading the Signs [PG 30], Taryn Hajnrych teaches us how to be bear aware in the woods by identifying and deciphering the subtle clues that a bruin leaves behind. You’ll connect with your inner ground squirrel in Gone Squirrelly [PG 12]. And finally, in Seedy [PG 36], Chloe Vance gets her hands dirty by exploring the complicated physical and political challenges facing sustainable food systems in the Bow Valley. We hope this edition of Highline inspires you to wonder what other secrets the Rockies might hold. And to wonder whether the Richardson’s ground squirrel is actually your true spirit animal. Dig in, dig deep and get some dirt under your nails, why don’tcha?

Photo by Evan Peters

This edition of Highline actually began as the “Patterns” issue.

contributors

Question: “What is your worst, best-kept secret?” Meghan j. Ward Originally from Ottawa, Meghan made the journey West nine years ago. Now based in Banff, she works as a professional writer and editor. One year ago Meghan traded in her place on the Highline masthead for motherhood, at least temporarily. You can catch her outdoorsy exploits with her family at adventurousparents.com. Answer: I am addicted to Wild Flour Café brownies.

Carolynn Winterhalt  Carolynn is a local mountain girl obsessed with food. She was born in the oldest public health hospital in Canada, holds a master’s in International Health Policy from the University of Edinburgh, prefers cinnamon straight from a tree in India and spends most of her time these days socializing with technology entrepreneurs. She shares her recipes on her blog: realfoodcollective.com. Answer: I often go to grocery stores just to “look around.”

Tanya Koob Tanya is a Calgary local and spends her weekends gliding through snow or water on her light touring skis or stand-up paddleboard. She has a five-year-old son named Noah and loves camping and exploring the backcountry with him and her husband Mark. This summer, she’s looking forward to adding mountain biking to her list of outdoor passions. Answer: I’m a complete camping-princess; I don’t know how to start a campfire, and I make my husband do most of the work when we go camping. Lynn Martel  The mountains are Lynn’s oyster — for backcountry adventures, for rich friendships and especially for story material. A full-time writer since 1999, Lynn has authored 10 books that celebrate the people, art, science and natural environment that comprise the unique and distinct mountain culture of Western Canada’s mountains, especially the Rockies. To soak in some of that culture, go to lynnmartel.ca.

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

Answer: I’m old school — I rarely use my cell, I’ve never sent a text and I love being anywhere that has no Internet connection so I can escape my bottomless inbox!

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summer 2014

THE ALPINE CLUB OF CA

The Alpine Club of Canada – delivering smiles to remote faces since 1906

HIGHLINE

Good Times Are A Tradition

shameless plugs

Highline Mag + You = True Love

Blogging is the new black Add your colour commentary to HighlineOnline.ca by blogging about your field of expertise! Blogging for HighlineOnline.ca is an awesome way to gain valuable experience and exposure: we get an average of 5,000 hits on our website per month, and we’ve got a strong, connected social media following. While this gig is unpaid it often leads to paid work in Highline Magazine

Are you seeking a meaningful, long-term relationship? Or even just a one-time thing? With our publication? Send us an email at info@highlineonline.ca to see if we’re a good match! Winter 2014-15 deadlines Booking: Oct. 15, 2014 Material: Nov. 1, 2014

Oh, snap! Big ups to our readers who submitted Insta-Snapshots and embraced winter and mountain life by photographing 12 out of 15 scenarios defined in last winter’s issue of Highline. Our winning entry — based on creativity, uniqueness and major fun factor — went to @jeska_p who took home the $500 cash prize!

and is a rad way to build your portfolio and to share your stories and photos. Ultimately, blogging for us connects you directly with the Highline community. To learn more about contributing, plug this link into your Internet machine: ow.ly/x27Eg.

know your neighbour night summer 2013

HIGHLINE

Freaky Friday

Let’s get weird on Friday, June 13 for the seventh official Know Your Neighbour Night. Entertainment will be provided by The Last Order, Elk Run & Riot [PG 18], DJ All Nite Mike and Miss Ellen Q [PG 28]. Serving up beer and wine, wicked raffle prizes and our usual Know Your Neighbour Night shenanigans. Tickets are limited — $15 Pre-sale ($20 at the door) highlineonline.ca/tickets.

online store Check out our SWAG page online for tshirts, Buffs, back issues and more.

TWO WAYS TO CONNECT How would you like to open your mailbox to find a shiny new copy of Highline nestled in there twice a year? You can now purchase your annual subscriptions at ow.ly/wHHXG. And stay in touch monthly through our newsletter at ow.ly/wHI0L.

YODELAY HEE HOO!!! SING YOUR BEAR HUGS + MOOSEKNUCKLES LOUD AND PROUD ON TWITTER WITH #BHMK + @HIGHLINEMAG OR ON FACEBOOK (Facebook: Highline Magazine). EACH MONTH ONE ENTRY WILL BE SELECTED TO WIN two TICKETS TO A BANFF CENTRE SHOW! Big ol’ Bear Hugs to the Banffite who found my lost postcard outside the post office and delivered it back to me! Bear Hugs to Keith Francis and the Bow Kor crew for repairing the creek at the Bow Valley Riding Association after the flood. Mooseknuckles to people shopping with their guinea pigs. Bear Hugs to the brilliant people at the Alpine Club of Canada. Bear Hugs to Sarah H. whose courage, perseverance and positive attitude inspire us all. Mooseknuckles to the AeroPress: you’ve changed me and now I can’t live a single day without you. Bear Hugs to the Pro at the Canmore Golf Club for getting us out of the rough with the broken driver! Bear Hugs to the silent town emergency alarm. Mooseknuckles to the guy in the loud diesel truck that rips up and down Three Sisters Drive. We all know who you are…and where you live!

Bear Hugs to long hot summers. Bear Hugs to L. for swearing his Oath of Canadian Citizenship on Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies.

summer 2014

Mooseknuckles to parents who throw dirty diapers in the glass recycling bins. Yes, this really happens. You are literally taking a crap on your local recycling team.

HIGHLINE

Bear Hugs to a very thoughtful neighbour who offered me a cup of coffee and Bailey’s for shoveling her driveway when I was already contracted to do it.

chatter

Bug spray – the natural way the mosquitoes are out and they are huge this year! Here is a great recipe for homemade, chemical-free bug and tick repellant that smells fantastic and, most importantly, really works. *Sensitive-skinned folks should make sure to do a test patch before spraying themselves down or oiling themselves up.

Fresh Cedar Bug-Be-Gone • 3 Tbsp cedar soap concentrate (available from cedarsoapsolutions.com) • 475mL warm water • 500mL spray bottle Fill the spray bottle with warm water then add the cedar soap concentrate. Shake it up, and voila! You’ve got bug spray for people and pets. Reapply as needed.

Did you know?

Ants stretch out all six of their legs and then open their mandibles when they first wake up in the morning. Does the bug world get any cuter? We don’t think so.

Keep Calm & Fight FOMO Next-level FOMO thrives in summertime. Here are five ways to conquer the fear of missing out: 1. Unplug from social media more often, and yes, that especially means your phone.

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

2. Plan a summer bucket list to end all lists — you’ve got yo’ own thing going on!

3. Focus on the love of missing out instead: LOMO is the new FOMO. 4. Be the change you want to see on Instagram, and keep your own humble brags to a minimum. 5. Muster 30 seconds of courage and invite yourself to those bike/hike/hang out plans you see unfolding on your Facebook feed.

Pot Growing 101

Making your own munchies is a dope way to get high on life! Follow these six easy steps for success in your small container garden this summer: Step 1. Location, location, location. Pick a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. If that spot dips below 0° at night, bring your potted friends inside for a sleepover. Step 2. Size matters. Pick the perfect pot, don’t

over-plant

and

remember,

terra

cotta absorbs your H20. Step 3. Plant the right stuff. Your best choices in our climate are green, leafy veggies and herbs. Step 4. Get ‘em good and drunk. Water every other day. Parched plants = sad plants. Step 5. Eat what you grow! Step 6. Repeat. Plant a new seed a few weeks

after

the

first

one

and

you

could have freshly grown greens every other weekend.

To read the full article, use your green thumb to click on bit.ly/1iI7W4B. And for more healthy living goodies like this, check out tujawellness.com.

chatter

GONE SQUIRRELLY

By Chloe Vance, illustration by Camara Miller

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

nlike his tree-hugging cousins — grey, red and flying squirrels — the Richardson’s squirrel has mastered the art of life on terra firma. A master of hunkering down, he holes up in a cozy little grass-lined subterranean burrow system for up to eight months of the year. But, despite his enviable schedule, this pint-sized neighbour is anything but lazy. Like many human inhabitants of the Bow Valley, the Richardson’s ground squirrel has found a way to thrive by working seriously hard for only a few months of the year. Between early March and mid-July, this gregarious diurnal rodent from the sciuridae family runs amok on the grassy knolls and roadsides of the Bow Valley and beyond. The adult male is the first to stir in the spring. He has a two-week window in order to secure territory, eat some grub and prepare himself for the impending mating frenzy before the ladies emerge. That’s right: it’s business time. Since females are only in heat for a few hours on one day of the year (yes, you read that correctly), it’s best not to sleep in. With the highlight of his year in the bag, the male’s testes retreat into his abdomen. In harmony with this shrinkage, his territory also disappears as he scurries to avoid the wrath of aggressive, pregnant and lactating females. Twenty-three days pass before the ladies give birth to litters of four to 10 pups. With the males driven off, the ladies are left alone

to raise their offspring in close-knit matriarchal groups. And, as usual, they don’t waste any time. A life-sized game of “whack-a-mole” ensues as they forage for roots, seeds, grasses and wildflowers and begin to renovate their burrows— interconnected labyrinths of tunnels, each up to 10 metres long and a metre deep, containing a dozen different entrances (and even bathrooms) within. During the work day, each takes a turn standing guard at the main burrow entrance. Dutifully, at the sight of intruders (hawks, coyotes, wolves, bears, humans) the “watch squirrel” lets out a shrill shriek, alerting the entire community to run, flick their tails and duck for cover. They are nicknamed ‘picket pins’, ‘flickertails’ and ‘sik siks’ after their characteristic behaviours and sounds. A short, lowpitched chirp with altered frequency means an aerial predator is approaching. A long, high-pitched consistent whistle is a warning of earthbound predators. Either way, it’s time to high-tail it, y’all. They might appear frenetic, but imagine you only had four months to build a house, find a mate, conceive, bear and raise a family, defend your territory and eat enough to double your body weight? You’d be going a bit squirrelly too.

Where to watch the squirrelly action: Two particularly chaotic colonies in Canmore include the hill across from Summit Café and the roadside in front of the Shell Station on Bow Valley Trail.

Taxidermy more your style?

Head to the Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, AlBerta for an impressive(?!) display of taxidermy ground squirrels in various dioramas: driving chuck wagons, building snowmen, duck hunting, and much more. Sound bizarre? It is.

festivals & events

Summer Festival Highlights Happy festival season, Highliners! You know you can always count on us to keep you in the loop when it comes to great happenings in the Rockies, and we really think we’ve outdone ourselves this summer. Maybe it has something to do with all of the great festivals to choose from. We’ll let you decide!

Check out our full summer event round-up with links to purchase your tickets online at highlineonline.ca/events.

Canadian Rockies Bluegrass and Folk festival Nordegg, June 13-15 Bluegrass, band scrambles and the blue waters of Lake Abraham go hand-in-hand to make this a must-do for this summer’s festival circuit. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does! A BBQ steak dinner is included in the price of your ticket.

Performance in the Park Banff, June 20-21

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

If the mere mention of Corb Lund isn`t enough to get you up dancing, then maybe the toetapping tunes of Elliott BROOD, Sarah Harmer, Jeremy Fisher or Whitehorse will have you grooving away over this year’s two-day event in the heart of Banff.

Summer Street Festival Revelstoke June 28- September 1 The jewel in Revelstoke’s cultural crown, this is quite possibly one of the best, longest running music festivals known to man. Every night locals gather at Grizzly Plaza to embrace a range of unique artists all performing live at the local bandstand. Mingle, eat ice cream, dance in the streets and let loose.

Feel Good Fernie Yoga and Wellness Festival Fernie, July 12-13 If setting a Guinness World Record without having to eat something strange and/or huge interests you, then this is your chance! Partake in an effort to create the world’s longest yoga chain, or simply participate in wellness seminars, trance dance or sit back and enjoy the selection of live music. This festival is FREE!

National Aboriginal Day Celebration

Bragg Creek Days

Jasper, June 21

Bragg Creek, July 18-20

Celebrate the rich cultural history of Jasper National Park at the annual National Aboriginal Day celebration. Sample fresh bannock, bush tea and take in traditional dancing and drumming. The colourful traditional dress will be sure to catch your eye.

Bragg Creek Days is everything you imagine a small town country celebration to be. It all kicks off with a pancake breakfast and will showcase live entertainment, midway rides and a fun run to raise funds for local trail stewardship.

Motion Notion Golden, July 24-28 If electronic music is what you’re looking for this summer, head to Golden for the Motion Notion festival to celebrate everything the genre has to offer from music to art, as well as a supreme love for the great outdoors.

Canmore Folk Festival Canmore, August 2-4 Treat yourself to the sweet crooning of folk artists from far and wide while taking a leisurely stroll through the global artisan village at the Canmore Folk Festival. This year the festival features the likes of the Cowboy Junkies, Pharis and Jason Romero, and the Strumbellas.

Wapiti Music Festival Fernie, August 8-9 What’s not to love about Indie music hosted in a beautiful mountain town in a park that is bordered by the rushing waters of the majestic Elk River? If you answered nothing, then you would be absolutely, 100% correct.

Canmore Highland Games Canmore, August 31 To kilt or not to kilt? Regardless of your garment selection, it’s time to get your Celtic on as participants demonstrate skills in a range of events from piping and drumming, to traditional dance and the ever-popular heavy sport. The ceilidh is a must-do, and get your tickets early because it sells out every year.

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playlist

Elk Run & Riot: Both Sides of the Valley Review by Corrie DiManno

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

Elk Run & Riot’s recently released debut album Both Sides of the Valley is the soundtrack to packing up and heading out West, making friends with strangers, and growing up but never growing old. Set to folky-shuffle-rock-electric beats, the album’s eight songs follow the journey of a lost soul searching for answers in Rocky places.

“Both Sides of the Valley is about going all in and doing whatever you want to do in a crazy town,” drummer Marc Frappier says. “But then you want to mature a bit more, grow, and consider yourself a part of the Valley.” Described by the four-man band as a concept album, it recounts the familiar story of a Bow Valley newcomer who parties hard, burns out and eventually settles down, swapping recklessness for reflection. Not every character in their timeless tale takes this well-travelled path though: the upbeat tune “The King” depicts one dude in particular who winds up crashing, burning and leaving town after living la vida loca just a little too large. The King was dubbed with this distinguished nickname after spending most of his paycheques on champagne and chocolate, which he would feast upon late at night in his “castle” (a closet converted into a room) after coming home from the bar. “So many people go through that,” lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player Ryan Schepens says of this regular royal experience. “Everyone knows a king.” And whether or not these plaid-shirted, backyard-campfire-rocking boys had plans to sit on the throne of the local music scene, it’s safe to say they’ve secured a seat at the table. In November 2012, Frappier and Schepens formed the band alongside Andy Cotter (bass, electric guitar and vocals) and Bailey (mandolin and bass guitar) and quickly progressed from their practice space atop a garage in Canmore’s Elk Run Industrial Park to playing sold out shows in the bars of the Bow Valley. A short time later, as the grand prize for winning a Banff Battle of the Bands competition, they opened for Canadian rapper Classified at The Banff Centre before scoring a spot at the 2013 Canmore Folk Music Festival. However, their ultimate wish, and the inspiration for their band name, has yet to be realized. “We want to see the elk rise up against the tourists who are trying to pet them and ride them down Banff Avenue. We want to see the elk take back the Valley,” declares Schepens. Right on, brothers. Riot on.

WORKIN’ THE DAY SHIFT Ryan Schepens: Head chef at Nourish Marc Frappier: EMERGENCY DISPATCH AT PARKS CANADA Andy Cotter: Teacher at Mountain Munchkins daycare Bailey: Snowmaker at the Nordic Centre in the winter / Streets and Roads at the Town of Canmore in the summer

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LEGENDARY LOCAL

Glen Boles: Mountain Masterpiece by Lynn Martel

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

Glen Boles, “Snowpatch Spire 2,” pen, ink and pencil.

hile observing his signature drawings and paintings, it’s easy to imagine that Glen Boles’ hands have grasped the very rock he so meticulously replicates; this intimate connection to his subject no doubt imparts a deeper, more personal expression. Tiered buttresses, stacked cliff bands, blocky chunks of tottering seracs, chaotic striations imprinted in a glacier’s crevasses — the patterns in his drawings are distinct to the hand that guides the pencil. “Unlike many mountain artists who focus on atmosphere and colour but treat geology and topography in a gestural manner, Glen Boles wants you to feel the cold stone in his drawings,” says mountain art aficionado Bob Sandford. “Every line in a Glen Boles painting tells you something about the composition of the rock, the line of ledges and the nature of the route; each ultimately points the way to the summit.” Widely respected as one of the most prolific climbers to ever explore Western Canada’s mountains, Boles is credited with numerous firsts among his 600 climbs. But he’s equally celebrated as a photographer, author and artist. Together with the esteemed Summit of Excellence Award and honorary membership in both the Canadian and American Alpine Clubs, Boles, who turns 80 this summer, holds a very special place in the hearts and imaginations of the mountain community. “Glen Boles is a climber and sees mountains with a climber’s eye,” explains Canada’s preeminent mountaineering writer, Chic Scott. “He sees the details, the corners, cracks, chimneys and ledges. All of this appeals to other climbers who see the mountains in a similar way.” From the wondrously intricate curls of a bighorn sheep’s horns to the spectacularly jumbled icefall tumbling into Mount Robson’s Berg Lake, Boles reveals an insider’s perspective into the mysterious, inaccessible, remote wilderness available only to ravens and climbers — sculpted snow ridges, steep rock faces and fractured icefields — and welcomes his viewers to contentedly admire the spectacle. For mountaineers, Boles’ work is personal, each piece holding intimate memories of the deep bond between climbing partners. “I just have one piece of Glen’s hanging on my wall,” Scott says. “It’s a pen and ink drawing of Mount Hungabee. I did the first winter ascent of Mount Hungabee back in 1966 with Charlie Locke and Brian Greenwood. Hungabee is a mountain that is special to me.” As Scott suggests, Boles’ works take climbers home, back to the hard-won, intensely rewarding landscape of the high alpine. To see Boles’ work for yourself, visit www.glenboles.ca.

Where the Weather is Wild Don’t make your next date with Mother Nature a blind one Story by Meghan J. Ward, photos by Paul Zizka inside. Motionless, we stood in the entrance for a few minutes. Water pooled at our feet as we peeled off the wet layers. For the rest of the evening we sipped on cups of hot chocolate, kept warm in our sleeping bags, and took turns putting damp rain suits on over nothing but our undies when we needed to gather snow for melting. We felt we had dodged a bullet. Or two. Or three. We never would have set off in bad weather on purpose, and we were thankful for our position at the hut that night. Eventually, the skies did clear, and we had the best seats on the planet to watch the night sky as it pulsed with green waves and purple pillars of shimmering light.

HIGHLINE

Clash of the Air Masses One of the wildest things about this story is that it is not uncommon. Anyone who has lived in the Rockies long enough has a story about a time he or she sought shelter from a sudden storm, or ended up winter camping in August. We know our weather is unpredictable, but have you ever wondered why? A lifetime could be spent studying the complex weather systems of the Canadian Rockies, but here’s a snapshot: according to Dr. Shawn Marshall, a glaciologist, climatologist and professor in the department of geography at the University of Calgary, a few factors, including a clash of air masses, contribute to the dynamism of our Rocky Mountain weather. “We are at a bit of an atmospheric carrefour, [a fancy word for “crossroads” it turns out] with weather systems coming in

summer 2014

une had been a wet month, leaving thigh-deep water in the meadows beyond Sherbrooke Lake, washing out bridges and making creeks out of what used to be hiking trails. But it was a beautiful day in July 2012 when I set off with my husband Paul and friend Ian in hopes of catching the aurora borealis from the high vantage point of Scott Duncan Hut. Despite the high water, we made good progress, even leaving time for the guys to scramble up Mt. Daly while I waited with a radio down below. There was a chance the weather would deteriorate later in the day, but things were looking fine when they set out. Conditions changed quickly. Thunderclouds rolled across the sky, threatening us with repetitive, deep rumbling. Paul and Ian hustled back down and we set off across the Waputik Glacier toward the hut, hoping to avoid exposure if the storm really set in. We were 30 minutes too late. About halfway from the edge of the glacier to the hut, lightning joined the chorus of thunderclaps. Tethered by our rope, we accelerated to an all-out run, overnight packs bouncing on our backs, our hands gingerly holding onto our ice axes. As I ran, I contemplated what was more likely: a crevasse fall or electrocution. Though we were finally off the glacier, exposure was still a concern. Soaked from head-to-toe, and becoming dangerously cold, we clambered our way across slick rocks, moving gradually towards the hut. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, it began to hail, and pea-sized balls of ice pelted our alreadyfrozen fingers. Thankfully, we reached Scott Duncan Hut and stumbled

23 continued

HIGHLINE

summer 2014

from all directions,” Marshall explains. “Pacific air masses tend to bring snow, wind and warm temperatures — chinooks when they are especially strong — but sometimes the cold Arctic air masses shove the Pacific air out of the way and export cold, dry air from Northern Canada.” On days when the temperature is bouncing all over, we can attribute it to these two systems advancing and retreating in a classic tug-of-war. These air masses clash in the Rockies for a few reasons, but it is mostly due to geography. “Our latitude and distance from the Pacific are just right for this confluence,” Marshall says. Like a dam, the Rockies channel and block these weather systems, keeping cold Arctic air generally east of the continental divide. Steering these systems is the winter jet stream, which is hovering over us most of the time. But the weather wars don’t stop there. According to Marshall,

in the Rockies we experience seasonal systems (such as heavy precipitation in June, thanks to southerly or easterly weather systems), as well as smaller-scale phenomena like “raging winds that reliably whip through parts of the Rockies.” He points to Mt. Allan, the Wind Tower and the Haig Glacier, where winds in excess of 100 km/hr have been recorded every year. “This is mostly the mountains funneling the westerly winds, which are pretty persistent if you go high enough up,” Marshall says. “The Rockies reach up to sample the jet stream in places.” And what about that summer thunderstorm we experienced on the glacier? “The Rockies force the air up creating a surface void as effectively as hot air rising,” explains Marshall. This creates “lots of turbulence, thunder echoing off the mountains and hail that can be hard to hide from!”

Tips from the Weather Guru

If our weather is so wild, how can we prepare for it? Local weather aficionado Rod Plasman teaches mountain weather courses for the Alpine Club of Canada. Here are some of his basic forecasting tips to help you prepare for your next date:

observant of what is happening in the 11. Be sky. Watch the clouds and the direction they are moving. A completely clear sky is always a good sign. In the Bow Valley, the worst weather comes from the East. the barometric pressure is dropping 22. Ifrapidly, you can expect stormy weather. Make it easy on yourself and invest in a watch-based altimeter. trust a weather forecast. Personal 33. Don’t observation is paramount. Interested in taking the Mountain Weather Course? Check the schedule at accrockymtn.ca/activities/courses/.

Be the Early Bird

According to Dr. Shawn Marshall, the best way to make the most of the weather is to be the early bird. Our weather systems almost always roll in during the afternoon. “The blue-sky mornings with the layer of frost are one of the true delights where we live,” he says.

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Photo by Paul Zizka

A waterfall in winter forms wild shapes while the underlaying water continues to flow into a deep pool.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;May your trails be crooked winding lonesome dangerous; leading to the most amazing view.â&#x20AC;?

- Edward Abbey

Miss Ellen Q Photo and story by Corrie DiManno

know your neighbour revitalizing the drama department at Banff Community High School as an artist in residence. Directing the school’s plays for the past three years, Bembridge is a sucker for edgy, social action theatre and his knack for challenging the norms of a traditional drama program hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Joe is helping to change the face of acting in the Bow Valley. He continues to push the students and the community’s sense of creativity,” BCHS music teacher Shane Nizinkevich says of his colleague. Which is why Bembridge has committed to organizing the Banff Pride event again this fall. “Banff Pride changed the cultural landscape of the Bow Valley forever,” Bembridge says of the sold-out celebration in 2013. “This is my community, and all I can do is make my community the best it can be.” But it’s not easy being the best. “Drag is a lot of work,” Bembridge says of the elaborate costumes and the three-hour transformation process of becoming Miss Ellen Q. “Ellen costs a fortune. I haven’t bought boy clothes in a year.” Add fabulousness to your news feed by following Miss Ellen Q on Facebook.

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ith lipstick the shade of a wild rose, high heels taller than Mount Temple and a personality bigger than the aurora borealis, Miss Ellen Q is Rocky-Mountainfabulous. Named in honour of Edmonton’s Loud & Queer Cabaret, Miss Ellen Q (Miss L ‘n’ Q) made her Bow Valley debut in Fall 2013 at the Banff Pride event. Arguably (she would argue) the showstopper, she was a crowd magnet during her onstage performance, combining the essence of Marilyn Monroe, dance moves like Madonna and the mad ‘tude of Missy Elliott. Described as an avalanche of extravagance, she leaves a trail of fabulous in her wake. One of her “Pumas” — Miss Ellen Q’s four backup dancers — Kim “Cherry Pop” Mayberry explains, “I need fabulous in my life, and Ellen helps bring it out in me.” But despite her proclivity for glitz and glam, Miss Ellen Q is also just a regular Joe. Joe Bembridge, that is. Growing up in Canmore, Bembridge was the ultimate mountain kid. For fun, he collected owl pellets at Grassi Lakes, dissected them and then resurrected skeletons of mice from the contents. Slipping into a fluorescent pink racing suit, Bembridge also competed in biathlon. And with a strict ban on toilet paper — enforced by his family while camping in the backcountry — he has wiped his butt with mountain moss more than a handful of times. Now, with a degree in theatre performance, Bembridge is

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T.G.I.F. — Thank God I’m Fabulous!

Signs,Signs, Everywhere a Sign Story by Taryn Hajnrych, photos by Dan Rafla

continued

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he combination of heavily-weighted footsteps, breaking branches, and low grunting and snorting made it clear that we were in the company of a grizzly bear. With the light of the full moon shining behind the bruin, we could actually make out its silhouette as it brushed along the wall of our tent. After quick deliberations, we grabbed the bear spray, peeked out under the fly and let off a few blasts in its direction. Crashing and battering through the woods, the bear took off in a fury. Three times it would return, and each time we would use the spray until we had emptied two cans. Pitifully armed with a Leatherman and a marine rescue whistle, we spent the night lying in wait, preparing for the worst. In time, and as the campsite grew quiet, our adrenaline began to subside and we managed to catch an hour or two of sleep. Miraculously â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and in opposition to the gory end that we had been preparing for â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we awoke in the morning, unscathed and with no bear in sight. We cautiously crawled out from our tents and immediately saw the one crucial mistake we had made when choosing the campsite.

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Deadfall… Everywhere! At least eight fallen trees surrounding the site had been torn to shreds by the grizzly’s powerful claws. The bear hadn’t had any interest in us; it was simply there to enjoy the delectable buffet of grubs that those fallen trees had to offer. In the light of a new day, we could see — to our chagrin — that we had basically set up camp in the middle of its kitchen. As experienced backcountry users, we were shocked at our own blunder in overlooking what was such an obvious sign of possible bear activity. We are lucky enough to laugh about it now, but the outcome could have been drastically different, and not just for us humans. Regardless of where it is that you are planning to visit in the backcountry, and no matter how experienced you are, you should always be aware that there is a chance you might encounter wildlife. This is, after all, their home.

Ask the expert Sarah Elmeligi, bear biologist and PhD candidate, shines a flashlight on the sometimes hard-to-see signs of animal activity that we should be looking for out there. “Try to have a heightened sense of awareness when you’re walking through the bush,” Elmeligi cautions. “Pay attention: look, hear, smell.” The element of surprise is often the leading factor in unwanted human-animal interactions. Be sure that you’re always following the basic rules of backcountry travel, and respect the space of our wild neighbours by keeping an eye out for the following signs:

Trail camera footage shows that often hikers and bikers unknowingly choose to stop and take a break or even picnic in close proximity to rub trees.

RUB TREES

SCAT Scat is another key sign to watch for — and not just because you don’t want it on the bottom of your hiking boot! Determining the freshness of a scat will help you to know whether or not you’re increasing your chances of an encounter. Use a stick, a knife or the toe of your boot to get a feel for how new the poo is. “Whenever I see bear scat, my first instinct is to poke it,” she says. “Use a stick, or use your hiking pole to see how soft it is. If it’s encrusted on the outside and still soft and gooey on the inside, it’s maybe a day old, up to a few days old, depending on the weather. If it’s really, really soft, it can be within the last day, and that’s probably when you should be more aware.” Since it is the forest, after all, and we can’t quite hold bears to the same bathroom standards as our beloved indoor pets, Elmeligi says to keep your eye peeled, and take a good look around. “Look for scat off of the trail as well as on the trail; bears can be crapping anywhere.” continued

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FOOTPRINTS Some of the more obvious signs of bear activity are footprints. Though easily identifiable, they’re probably one of the least reliable indicators when it comes to quality bear signs. Elmeligi says that it can be really easy to use tracks for identification in the springtime when the snow is melting and

the ground is soft and muddy, but beyond that, it can be very difficult to tell how recently a track has been made. “How you age tracks is quite dependent on what the weather has been like, and typically, when we look at tracks, my first question is, when did it last rain? Tracks are always younger than the last day it rained.” Despite tracks being an exciting and interesting sight to behold while out on a hike, Elmeligi says she doesn’t believe that tracks are a reliable way to estimate when a bear was last in the area.

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Some signs of animal behaviour you may know, and some may be less obvious. One of the least obvious signs — that undoubtedly you have walked past without a clue — are rub trees, otherwise known as the Facebook of the forest. “Black bears and grizzly bears both use rub trees as a communication tool. It’s how bears communicate to each other in the forest. They mark them, they rub up against them, and then other bears walk by and smell them – bears use rub trees as a middle man,” Elmeligi explains. Beyond being used as a form of basic communication, these trees play a significant role during mating season. From late May to early June, male bears will mark trees to let females know that they are in the area (“the boys are back in town!”), and females will respond in kind. So what is it that you should be on the look out for? Rub trees can have a variety of markings, but first and foremost, you will see claw marks. Black bears like to climb these trees while grizzlies rake their claws down the bark. Sometimes bears will bite at the tree to leave saliva behind, so you may see teeth marks. Clumps of fur are also a common sign as bears frequently rub up against these trees. Most importantly, according to Elmeligi, is that, “you’re looking for a tree that has bark that has been freshly disturbed.” What does this mean, then, for the humans passing by? Trail camera footage shows that often hikers and bikers unknowingly choose to stop and take a break or even picnic in close proximity to these trees. If you come across what you suspect to be a rub tree, keep your distance from it and avoid disturbing it in any way.

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DISTURBED GROUND

I SAW THE SIGN

Despite their large carnivore status, Rocky Mountain bears exhibit mainly vegetarian tendencies. Our local bears dig for two main reasons, and the dig sites themselves vary quite a bit in appearance. Later into the summer season, as the melt progresses, grizzlies return to alpine meadows where they commonly forage for the roots and bulbs of glacier lilies. In these dig sites you will see concentrated signs of purposeful, localized excavation. The second reason grizzlies dig is to hunt for juicy marmots and those bothersome, feisty little gophers and ground squirrels [see page 12] we’ve all grown to know so well. The pattern of these digs is more erratic and is determined more by the path of the pesky prey than the bear itself. Elmeligi says it’s not uncommon to walk in an alpine meadow and see the entire area ravaged, with boulders turned upside down. These digs are quite large. Just imagine the size of a grizzly bear and the stroke of its paw; one swipe is about a metre in length. You can also take a stab at determining the age of a dig site, she says. “Take a look at the soil on top; is it dry or is it still moist? Sometimes what I’ll do is flip over some of the big chunks that they’ve dug out and see if the vegetation on top is dead or alive; if the vegetation that they’ve overturned is still alive, then the digging is probably less than a few days old.”

Regardless of which sign it is that you find yourself staring at, it’s important that you not only recognize it as a sign, but that you can assess it properly, both for your safety and for the safety of the bear. “People can often misjudge how old signs are,” Elmeligi says. “It’s not only the ability to recognize the sign, but you have to be able to look at it a little bit critically: ask yourself, is it fresh, or is it years old?” Be aware that no matter where you go, whatever trail you pick, even if no one has heard of anything happening there, you have the responsibility to be prepared. So carry bear spray, make lots of noise, go with a big group and make sure everyone in your group knows how to use bear spray and what to do during a bear encounter. All images by Dan Rafla. More at danrafla.com and on Facebook at DanRaflaPhotography.

often don’t consider, particularly in August, is the presence of ripe berry bushes. When planning your trip, find out as much information as possible about sightlines and try to pick trail systems that avoid walking through a lot of deep brush (known to bears as “the berry buffet”).

2. When you are hiking near streams, rivers or waterfalls, be sure to make extra noise to let animals know you’re coming.

Serving the Bow Valley locally sourced and naturally produced meats for over 35 years.

3. Always check the trail reports before you head out. WildSmart issues a report every Friday afternoon in the summertime.

4. There is always an alternative. There are so many places to go. If the signs are there, choose another hike or another day.

5. Be prepared! Carry a can of bear spray in an easily accessibly location like the waist belt of your pack, and know how to use it. Check out: wildsmart. ca/bearspray.htm For more useful hiking tips, check out

While

you’re

there,

click

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wildsmart.ca/onthetrail.htm. on

the

resources tab to discover all you need to know about safe recreation in

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WildSmart Tips

1. Assess the time of year. Something we

Phone: 403.678.4109 www.valbella.ca 104 Elk Run Blvd, Canmore, AB

bear country. 35

Seedy:

The Underbelly of a Revolution How has a process so crucial to our survival come to feel like a criminal act?

continued

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tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s midnight on a cold Friday in January. The running lights of a transport truck cast a yellow glow on a downtown side street in Canmore, illuminating three bundled figures. They exchange paperwork and shake hands as the low drone of an idling engine muffles their words. A hooded figure meticulously maneuvers a small skid steer, extracting teetering pallets laden 10 feet high with boxes from the back of the truck. The figures spring into action, a sense of urgency rising like their breath in the icy air. Scurrying back and forth, they shuttle precious cargo piece-by-piece into a wooden shed and into the back of a white cargo van.

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Story by Chloe Vance, illustration by Julie Lavery

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This is the underbelly of a growing revolution that is creeping into our backyards, sprouting on our rooftops, growing on our balconies and taking root in our public parks and schoolyards. A voice emerges from the darkness. “Let’s get these apple boxes stacked to the left, pears right beside them and all the frozen heirloom tomatoes into the van,” calls Chrystel Vultier, pointing with a mitten to coordinate the delivery of a mid-winter shipment of organic produce direct from Okanagan farms. Farm Box, led by co-owners Chrystel Vultier and Avni Soma, is a Canmore-based company that sources organic food, direct from local producers in Alberta and British Columbia, and delivers it to residents of the Bow Valley. What began as one solo mission to an Alberta farm in a borrowed van — to pick up farm-fresh produce for a few families and friends — has blossomed into a thriving local business, an alternative food system and an evolving real-food culture. This is the local-food movement. These are some of its ringleaders. And while your mind might conjure serene pastoral images at the thought of an organic, whole food movement, the reality of what local food looks like midwinter in the Rockies when the majority of our “100-Mile Diet” radius is encapsulated in rock and glacial ice, is a much different scene.

Food for thought Despite the suggestive nature of late-night, back alley deliveries, Farm Box’s operations are completely legal. As an alternative to mainstream grocery systems, the company offers consumers the opportunity to source local alternatives, make informed decisions

and connect with where their food comes from. Moreover, their business is supporting small-scale, family-run, sustainable farms across the province – now a rarity. Farm Box’s exponential growth over the past four years is just one testament to our mountain community’s hearty appetite for locally sourced food. For instance, over 230 homes and offices from Canmore to Lake Louise currently receive Farm Box shipments once a week, year-round; however, beyond simply having access to affordable, organic, sustainably produced food, there is a groundswell of primal enthusiasm from people wanting to grow it themselves.

here’s the pickle Living in this mountain ecosystem poses a cornucopia of challenges, including: • • • • • • •

Short growing seasons Subarctic alpine climate Expensive and scarce real estate Strict national and provincial park regulations A complex political landscape Rigid bylaws such as ow.ly/wWFzE Sensitive wildlife corridors.

National park regulations and strict wildlife management policies combined with a cold climate, as well as an evolved culture of respect for our four-legged neighbours, has naturally forced backyard food production underground. “Living in an active wildlife corridor comes with a large amount of responsibility and compromise,” explains Kim Titchener, program director of WildSmart, an organization that strives to reduce negative human-wildlife interactions. “The ultimate goal of these guidelines is to enable the continued flow of wildlife through their natural corridors. We need to continue to reduce the number of reasons wildlife have to come into our townsites. If people really want to live a sustenance lifestyle — growing food and raising animals — perhaps they should seriously consider moving to a place with no endangered bear population and a longer growing season.” On the flip side, Soma and Vultier are outspoken advocates for creating local food systems. They’re also the founders of the Canmore Community Gardening Society and board members of Alpine Edible Schoolyards, two non-profit organizations that are educating people about gardening in the Rockies. “Be it British Columbia, Peru or the Himalaya, there are examples of people surviving and thriving by growing their own food in mountain communities all over the world,” says Soma.

Where the wild things roam Though the popularity of organic, locally produced, whole food systems might seem like a new-age yuppie trend, the reality is that this mountain landscape has embodied a rich local food culture for millennia. The Indigenous people of this region were the first foodies to be drawn here by Over 10,000 Did you know it is legal cuisine. years ago, “local to bow hunt just beyond food movement” referred to keeping the boundary of the up with the food that was moving Canmore Nordic Centre? through the river valley. Nomadic hunter-gatherers followed roaming herds of bison, elk, deer and caribou from the open plains to the mountains and back again. They fished nearby rivers and lakes and foraged for berries and plant medicines based on availability and season. The land provided, and when it did not, they moved on. Evidence of this thriving food culture has been discovered in the form of charred bones, cooking hearths and stone tools at over 35 prehistoric archeological sites peppered throughout the area. The Stoney Nakoda people, native to this region, were even named for their forward-thinking culinary technique of cooking with hot stones.

Centuries later, as the railway snaked its way westward and tracks were laid along the banks of the Bow River, a new wave of immigrant rail workers and miners, from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, flooded the valley. With them came the need for basic services, access to supplies and a food system to support rapidly-growing populations. Instead of pursuing food hunter-on-horseback style, calories came to residents by way of steam train – the Iron Horse – and later, by automobile. Canmore’s first grocery store, Joseph Chenier and Co., was established in 1885 in the basement of one of the town’s first buildings, Mountain House. It was the first of a handful of food providers to set roots here. As the railway steamed west toward Banff and beyond, so too did the need for food. The Brewster family founded a dairy in 1887 at the corner of Banff Avenue and Moose Street, and others sprouted up in the areas we now know as Dead Man’s Flats and Spring Creek Village. For decades, farm-fresh milk was delivered to locals by horse-drawn carriage. After the Second World War, Cardo Marra established “Cardo Marra and Son Groceries” (affectionately known by locals as “Marra’s”), which would serve as a community hub and as the main retailer of groceries for the town of Canmore for more than 50 years. Though local businesses provided imported staples and supplies, the truth remained that rail workers and miners lived on meager wages. To supplement empty pockets and bellies, many relied on the skills, ways of life and traditions of their home countries by planting backyard gardens to provide fresh produce for their families. Legends still circulate of the Italian old timers’ ability to grow larger-than-life cabbages in this mountain soil, and rhubarb plants remain scattered amongst the ruins of Lower Bankhead, perennial reminders of Chinese rail builders’ gardens long overgrown. Small farms were established along what is now Bow Valley Trail in Canmore and, get this, there was once a pig farm right behind the Canmore Hotel.

Development and activism The mines closed and the Olympics came – all within a 10year span, between 1979 and 1988 – catalyzing a shift away from blue-collar jobs towards a thriving real-estate and tourism industry. In the coming decades, neighbourhood topography transformed from humble homes on large lots to condos and large homes with little green space. Suddenly Canmore was continued

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HISTORY

Railways and mineshafts

summer 2014

“It is time for us to revisit the paradigm that humans are separate from the environment. We need a holistic approach to this issue, to see ourselves as one component of a thriving ecosystem,” adds Vultier. One gets the sense that gardeners and wildlife conservationists are poised on opposite sides of a 12-foot tall, wildlife-proof electric fence. But this conversation is relevant to more than just foodies, gardeners and wildlife experts. If you live here and you like to eat, this topic affects you too. It’s time for interest groups, policy makers and mountain community members to gather and dig into important conversations about food security, wildlife conservation and building healthy food systems in the Bow Valley and beyond. By looking at the past, we can envision the future and work together to devise creative solutions that will thrive within the context and realities of our mountain towns.

CASE STUDIES:

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What’s growing?

“on the map,” and visitors began pouring in from the Trans-Canada like they never had before. Dependence on, and demand for, grocery store variety and convenience took hold, and chain grocery stores managed to supplant the “mom and pop” varieties. Against this backdrop of rapid, large-scale development and the influx of users flooding the sensitive habitat, seeking lifestyle and outdoor recreation opportunities, a culture of conservation began to grow amongst the locals resulting in a renewed awareness of and respect for living within an active wildlife corridor. In a community effort to reduce negative interactions between wildlife and humans, local citizens and burgeoning environmental groups, such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and WildSmart, worked diligently with town council to see that items considered to be “animal attractants” were removed or revised: garbage bins were bear-proofed, berry bushes and fruit trees were uprooted, gardens tilled over, composters ousted, and even bird feeders banned. Anything considered an attractant to wildlife became back yard taboo. As a direct result, animal death rates declined. Soon, browsing the produce aisle for California-greenhouse-grown lettuce and strawberries was the closest thing to hunting and foraging that most mountain-dwelling folk could hope for. Or so it appeared on the surface…

Growing local food within the current system requires the utmost patience and passion. Despite the struggles (and potential recourse) of growing in the Rocky Mountains, many residents have continued to take local food production into their own hands. But growers remain tight-lipped about their activities for fear of being exposed, having their goods seized and their operations shut down. I was asked to meet with interviewees in public places, had phone calls unreturned, and took vows of silence before being ushered down back laneways and into garages, basements and backyard sheds. I have even chosen not to share some specifics in order to protect sensitive operations. Then I found a safe zone - Farm Box’s annual general meeting. There, talk of rooftop beehives, community chicken coops, aquaculture systems and vermicomposters flowed freely. Dreams of a time, place and space where residents could cultivate locally grown food for their families were shared with an air of hope. Feeling as though I was attending a secret meeting in the underground lair of a hidden subculture, I listened further and realized that these weren’t just dreams. Many of these systems were already in place, albeit piecemeal, small-scale and hidden in backyards, garages, sheds and greenhouses throughout our mountain towns.

Stella Alpina B&B Carmelo Ciaramidaro & Anneke RijpmaCiaramidaro, owners of Stella Alpina B&B, are longtime residents and advocates of locally grown living. Their bed and breakfast business in south Canmore thrives on produce grown in their backyard gardens, as well as wild edibles foraged in nearby forests. Growing up in Holland and Italy (respectively) instilled in them a close connection to the seasons, the land and their food.

Less a hobby and more a way of life, Anneke and Carmelo abide by the “grow food, not lawns” philosophy. Utilizing every square inch of available growing space in their fenced yard, they plant a variety of vegetables and flowers to keep humans, butterflies, birds and bees happy. Their plants thrive with the help of small greenhouses, raised and covered garden beds, an integrated rainwater collection system and wisdom gathered from decades of Rocky Mountain growing seasons. Carmelo took me down to the cellar to show me the contents of their large chest freezer. It was overflowing with homemade soups, sauces and pesto, chopped and frozen herbs, kale and greens from the garden’s harvest stored for winter use. He beamed with pride as he allowed me a peek at his collection of handforaged, sun-dried morel mushrooms, the star ingredient of the B&B’s well-known wild mushroom omelets. “Growing food here can be hard. We have learned a lot over the years, but if you have the passion to grow here, you will succeed,” says Anneke. “He who plants a garden, plants happiness,” smiles Carmelo, as he places a steaming shot of espresso and an Italian almond cookie in front of me. After spending a morning with these two green thumbs, I would have to agree.

three New Zealand White rabbits and started a legit breeding program in a backyard shed. This unassuming, cheerful, young guy is able to singlehandedly produce over 30 pounds of local hand-raised rabbit meat each month in his backyard in downtown Canmore, feeding his family and providing extra nutrients for their dogs. “People have become way too out of touch with where their food comes from,” states Roger as he casually guides me through the most humane way to “dispatch” a litter of a dozen roastersized bunnies. He and his wife also tan and process the rabbit furs, ensuring all parts of the animals go to good use. “Plus,” he adds, “the neighborhood kids love to hang out with the baby bunnies.” continued

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Roger Lapin (not his real name) is an animal guy. Growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan fostered a love, respect and connection to the animal world and a belief that animals are, for him, a sustainable food source. When he and his wife (let’s call her Jessica) moved to Canmore It is illegal to with their dogs, it didn’t take long for him to devise keep cows, pigs, a solution to the high cost of here. goats, sheep, living Inspired by “the bunny roosters, geese, problem” here in town, Roger began his own ducks, chickens breeding program. Hold up: it’s not what you and bees within think. After scouring the to find that huntCanmore’s bylaws ing and trapping, as well current bylaws. as keeping wild animals within town limits, is illegal, Roger refrained from utilizing the food source that happily hops through his yard each day. Instead, he invested $150 for

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Bunny, honey

Foodies 2.0 Christian Wright has no qualms speaking outright about his vision for a greener Bow Valley. Urban farmer by day and bartender by night, this multi-talented Canmorite imagines a local network of high-producing urban farms. In fact, he’s already operating one on the rooftop of Canmore Collegiate High School. By revitalizing and planting an underutilized section of the school’s roof, Wright was able to harvest more than 600 pounds of artisan organic greens over the course of the first summer production season in 2013. The greens were used in the high school cafeteria, taken home by student’s families and sold at the Canmore and Banff Mountain Markets. Funds raised through the sale of the greens established the financial seed for a second urban farm: with the support of the Canadian Rockies Public Schools and Alpine Edible Schoolyards, a quarter acre urban farm was installed in the schoolyard of Lawrence Grassi Middle School in May 2014. Wright’s dream is multifaceted: he wants to prove that growing food in the Rockies and composting the waste is possible, and he aspires to grow nutritious, local organic food for his community. But most importantly, he believes he can inspire a new generation of farmers. “I hope that some youth involved in the garden project are inspired to want to be urban farmers too. If motivated young leaders want to take over operations or start a small urban farm of their own… awesome,” beams Wright.

GREEN SOLUTIONS We are at a crossroads. Our need for healthy communities fuelled by sustainable food systems in this valley runs parallel to our collective desire to be stewards of our natural environment, ambassadors of our wildlife corridors and global leaders in the conversation about locally grown food systems. These may seem to be conflicting goals. But the more people I meet from both camps, the more synergies I begin to hear within their respective arguments. As if to echo Farm Box’s Vultier, WildSmart’s Titchener offers, “We need to take a holistic approach to these issues in order to come up with safe options for what our communities ultimately want.” Titchener personally believes the solution lies in shared spaces. “If people really want to raise chickens and keep bees here in our mountain towns, perhaps there are opportunities for community-based coops and collaborative hives that can be kept safely and securely, while still offering individuals the freedom to provide for themselves.” There have already been steps towards success in this realm. The communities of Canmore, Banff and Hinton have all devised wildlife-safe frameworks for establishing community gardens and greenhouses. Moreover, Banff is currently piloting a largescale municipal composting program. However, our adoption of larger scale policies on these matters seems to shift and change like the seasons in response to changes in our natural, political and social landscape. Will we seize the opportunity to set an example for mountain towns world-wide by working together and devising creative solutions wherein a mutual respect for all components of this dynamic system – food, feather, fur, family and friends – are honoured? Or, will we continue to push backyardgrowing initiatives underground with outdated bylaws and policy structures? One thing is certain: from hungry hunters to urban farmers, the resilient, innovative inhabitants of the Rockies continue to learn from the past and look to the future to devise their own clever solutions to the age-old problem of feeding ourselves yearround in a subarctic alpine climate. Collectively, we are tasked with writing the next chapter of the Bow Valley’s local food story. How do you think it should read?

Backyard basics

“When considering planting fruit trees, composting or raising chickens or bees, I would encourage people to really consider… Is it worth it?” says Titchener. The “it” she refers to is the potential loss of life of one of 700 remaining grizzly bears that live an endangered life here in Alberta. • Avoid planting shrubs and trees that provide bear food, or even consider their removal (THESE INCLUDE berries and other fruit bearing vegetation such as: apple, crabapple and choke cherry trees that produce fruit, dogwood, buffalo berry, and mountain ash). • Keep your lawn mowed and yard weed-free; especially of dandelions. • Consider using an electric fence to keep wildlife out of your garden. • Do not use bird feeders of any kind during bear season (April 1 to October 31); use bird baths as a safe option. • Remember to clean the ground underneath bird feeders. • Do not feed your pets outside; store pet food indoors. • Barbeques should be kept clean and drip pans taken inside. Source: wildsmart.ca/top10tips.htm

Wil d Str a wbe rrie s

Good Grazing Story by John Reid, illustrations by Chris Lavery

Stalking quietly through the undergrowth of Mount Cline, I pause, still as stone. My hunting skills are weak, but thankfully my prey hasn’t sensed me. I spot my target: a group of lambs bedded in the shade of a small gully. Springing from the bushes, I strike! My hands are a blur as they fly over dark green leaves, searching for the young leaves with jagged edges and mature stems. Within seconds, it’s over. I’ve harvested enough delicious lamb’s quarter to form the base of a nice little backcountry green salad.

With a little knowledge and imagination, foraging in the Rocky Mountains can be quite exciting. There’s satisfaction that comes with identifying, collecting and eating your own alpine meal. It’s like when you finally have a use for those zip-ties you’ve had stowed in the bottom of your daypack for the past four years. Learning how to identify and sustainably harvest local foods isn’t difficult, and the rewards are delicious. Imagine standing in the middle of a mountain meadow knowing that, surrounding you, there is more food than you could possibly consume. Now that’s eating local!

L a m bs Qu a rte r

Julie Walker is a nature guide and avid forager in the Bow Valley. Her company, Full Circle Adventures, educates outdoor enthusiasts about how to gather wild plants safely. She recommends starting with the most common and easily recognizable species in the area, then planting them in your garden at home to study and cook. With a little backyard research, traipsing a trail will be like walking the bulk food aisle at Safeway.

How to Get Started: Julie’s Foraging Rules 1.

Foraging in national and provincial parks is illegal. Scope a map ahead of time.

Many plants can be harmful if ingested or even touched. Be absolutely sure of your identification before you pick any wild plant! Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies by Linda Kershaw is your best reference.

Eat sustainably. Only pick what you will eat immediately. Grow your own plants when possible.

Start with small servings to test your body’s digestion.

Bragg Creek resident Sasha Gray is a master herbalist and vegan chef who creates delicious meals with foraged ingredients. She shares this simple salad created with easily identified and prepared plants.

Plantain Salad

Foraged

1 cup broad or narrow leaf plantain 1 cup lamb’s quarter 1 cup young nettle leaves 1 handful wild rose petals 1/2 cup wild strawberries (late season)

From Home

1 can chick peas 1/2 white onion chopped 4 stalks celery chopped • Wash all ingredients under cold water. • Blanch the nettles in boiling water for two minutes. • Combine ingredients except rose petals. Toss with olive oil & white wine vinegar. • Add rose petal garnish. Enjoy!

Sti n g in g Ne ttle

Broa dl e a f P la n ta in

Wil d Ros e

MOUNTAIN FRUIT LEATHER Photo and recipe by Carolynn Winterhalt

Fruit leather is the perfect way to get nutritional energy in a compact form and (bonus points) it’s super easy to throw together with locally grown ingredients. Adding nuts and vegetables to the mix will give you an extra boost during your next outdoor activity. To make this go-to snack, all you have to do is puree fruit and vegetables, add in a few extras and dehydrate it. Typically, I use a high-speed blender for this recipe but if you don’t have one I suggest steaming the fruits for about 15 minutes before adding them to a food processor or basic blender.

Ingredients

4 small ripe pears (from your Farm Box or the market) 1 1/4 cups packed spinach, kale and/or mixed greens (from your garden) 1 large Tbsp local honey Juice of half a lemon 1/4 cup nuts soaked in water overnight and drained 2 Tbsp sesame seeds 2 Tbsp coconut

Directions

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

Like this recipe?

There’s more where that came from on Carolynn’s blog at realfoodcollective.com.

Wash and chop the pears and greens. Add to a high-speed blender along with the honey, lemon and soaked nuts. Puree until smooth.

Pour the mixture onto a large rimmed baking sheet lined with plastic, parchment paper or a Silpat, leaving about an inch of empty space around the perimeter.

Sprinkle the sesame seeds and coconut evenly over top.

Place the tray in the oven (or dehydrator) on the lowest temperature. Check frequently until you can easily peel the leather off of the tray (about five hours).

Rip the leather into strips and roll, then pack ‘em on your next adventure!

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We use only fresh and wholesome ingredients to create artisan breads, pastries, all day breakfast and lunch items, including a full organic espresso menu. Vegan, vegetarian, glutenfree and raw options always available. Open 7am-6pm.

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Banff Tea Co. is a local specialty store ‘infusing’ the Bow Valley with over 180 kinds of loose tea and fun tea-related equipment.

Valbella Gourmet Foods has been serving the Bow Valley locally sourced and naturally produced meats for over 35 years and counting. Our goal continues to be unbeatable product quality tied in to tradition and product innovation. Visit us in our Deli to taste what it’s all about!

We are passionate about serving the perfect cup of coffee with fair-trade, organic beans that are sourced from Moja Coffee. Using market fresh ingredients, we create house made breakfast, lunch and snack selections. Don’t miss our getaway patio right in the middle of Banff!

The Locally Grown section showcases the businesses that are rooted here in the Rockies. Align your business with Highline and reach an audience of happy, healthy, mountain-loving folks.

Drop by for a sniff of the heavenly aroma and some tea supplies to warm your mountain adventures.

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snapshot

Weekday Warrior by Tanya Koob It’s summertime, but the living isn’t always easy. Between work and those pesky grown-up responsibilities, there never seems to be enough weekend to go around. Fortunately, we mountain folks have easy access to multiple national parks and protected areas right out the back door, and with a little bit of creativity, we can prolong the weekend by taking mini-adventures throughout the week.

1. 2.

summer 2014

HIGHLINE

Photo by Pam Traut

4. 5.

Watch the sun go down from the top of a local summit. Many peaks in the Rockies offer accessible post-work scrambles with short, easy descents (by headlamp if need be). Some Highline-approved hikes are Ha Ling Peak and Heart Mountain from Canmore, Sulphur Mountain in Banff, Whistler’s Mountain in Jasper and Polar Peak in Fernie. Night hike a popular tourist trail. Johnston Canyon near Banff is a lovely little stroll, especially when you have the place all to yourself. Extend your trip with an overnight stay at Larry’s Camp above the Ink Pots, then hike down early before the tourists are even out of bed. In Revelstoke, check out Eva Lake Trail. There’s a backcountry campground at the lake and it only takes two hours to get there at a good pace. Have lunch on a lake. Get away from the hustle and bustle by heading out on the water in your boat of choice. If you don’t have time to go for a paddle, you can keep it simple with a lakeside picnic. Catch your own dinner. Pick up a fishing permit from the local visitor centre and head out to your local fishing hole to rustle up some grub. Bring a cast iron frying pan and some butter to enjoy the fruits of your labour over a campfire before heading home. Check in to your local wilderness hostel. Hostelling International Canada has a network of 10 wilderness hostels spread across the Alberta and B.C. Rockies. Many of the hostels are located within a 30-minute drive from the towns of Banff, Canmore or Jasper. Head out after work for some cragging or mountain biking, then bunk down at a nearby hostel for the night. Bring a change of clothes for work the next day and your boss will be none the wiser.

Highline hot tip: Go heavy on the sunscreen if you don’t want others to be privy to your lunchtime escapades. Arriving back at work with a sunburn = busted.

Don’t forget to tag @highlinemag in your sweet local getaway pics on Instagram!

Photo courtesy of Patagonia/Chris Noble

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