Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

Remember

BIGFOOT? Shredding Safely IN THE BACKCOUNTRY Local rider NICK ENNEN brings ‘rapid’ progression to boarding

2 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011

contents 4

Sleds. Mountain machines...

Whatever you call them, they’re one helluva lot of fun. Here’s how you can find out for yourself.

6

Show me the love, baby MBSA’s Gwyn Howat says it’s all about the love that’s created and keeps the ski area going strong.

8

Now that’s sick Old school would say Nick Ennen has a death wish.

We say he’s rapidly progressing.

10

Heavenly shots If these pics by local photographers don’t get your heart pumping you need to buy yourself a new defibrillator because you are DOA.

14/6 Where to eat, shop & stay 15

Economics 542 When the going gets tough, the local sporting establishments get even smarter at what they do.

20

Remember Bigfoot?

Just because we don’t hear much about the big guy anymore doesn’t mean people aren’t out there looking for him.

23

Regional Map On the cover: Adam Ü teleskiing in the Mt. Baker ski area backcountry,

by Grant Gunderson

Rory Savatgy on the hunt for more powder. Photo by Tyler Mitchell

This is where it all HAPPENS...

MOUNT BAKER

X

e perience Printed in Canada Vol XXV No. 1

Address: 225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777, Fax: 360/332-2777 Email: info@mountbakerexperience.com Web: www.mountbakerexperience.com Next edition: February Ads due: January 21 Publisher/Managing Editor/Layout Patrick Grubb Associate Publisher/Advertising Manager Louise Mugar Ad Design Charlie Hagan, Ruth Lauman Contributors Ty Mitchell, Grant Gunderson, Grady McCombs, Dylan Hart, Tara Nelson, Jeremy Schwartz, Rylan Schoen, Rhys Logan Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Janet McCall Office Manager Heidi Holmes

Welcome to the Mount Baker Experience, the quarterly recreation guide for and about the Mt. Baker area, published by Point Roberts Press, Inc. Locally owned and operated, the company also publishes The Northern Light, All Point Bulletin, Pacific Coast Weddings and Waterside in Blaine, Washington. Point Roberts Press is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, chambers of commerce in Whatcom County and the Bellingham/Mt. Baker Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and are offered for the general interest of readers. We welcome your letters; however, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. For circulation and rate information, or to send your letters, please address to: Mount Baker Experience, 225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230, fax them to 360/332-2777 or email info@mountbakerexperience.com.

find it online www.mountbakerexperience.com: Read the current issue of Mount Baker Experience here, and find all the archives as well. www.mtbaker.us: Find the latest information about the Mt. Baker Ski Area, including snow reports, events and classes. www.mtbakerchamber.org, www.glacierchamber.org: Discover the area’s businesses. www.weather.com: Get all the weather you need. www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/northwest/traffic/bordercams: Need to know about border delays? Find out here. www.facebook.com/MountBakerExperience

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 3

0 – fun in 1.3 seconds offers both beginner and expert snowmobilers alike the chance to hit some of the most beautiful snowmobile trails in the Mt. Baker area with guidance from experienced riders.

The company rents some of the best snowmobiles available, Rodriguez said. These snowmobiles, referred to as mountain machines, are designed for challenging terrain with multiple ascents and

By Jeremy Schwartz Ever wonder where all those massive pickup trucks hauling snowmobiles are headed this time of year?

Want to feel what it’s like to ride one of those mechanical beasts first hand?

Cisco Rodriguez, owner of Baker Sleds in Bellingham, may be just the man you’re looking for.

Opened in October, Baker Sleds

descents, he said. They can reach speeds of 80 mph and are equipped with two-stroke, 800-cc engines. For comparison, a common size for motorcycle engines is 250 cc.

“It’s the equivalent of riding a dirt bike on snow,” Rodriguez said.

Baker Sleds rents their mountain machines for $250 per day each, with trailers to haul them costing $50. If two sleds are rented at the same time, Baker Sleds will throw

in the trailer for free. The company does not rent helmets or snow gear, Rodriguez said.

Though that might seem a little pricey, Rodriguez said it’s a lot better than buying a snowmobile and using it infrequently. Snowmobiles alone can cost as much as $12,000, not including the trailer and truck powerful enough to tow it, he said.

“What I tell people is the machine is the down payment,” Rodriguez

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says, laughing. “There’s so much other stuff that goes with it.”

Baker Sleds also offers guide services for anyone from a first-time rider to an experienced snowmobiler. The services start at $100 per day, Rodriguez said.

A slew of avalanches and accidents in recent years has meant snowmobiling has had its share of bad publicity, points out Rodriguez, a member of the Whatcom County Snowmobile Club. That’s one of the reasons Rodriguez started Baker Sleds. Rodriguez said he wants to show how exciting it can be when done safely.

Though the experience can be exhilarating, Rodriguez said the importance he puts on safety cannot be underestimated.

“It can be a dangerous sport,” he said. “We’re not out here to get people hurt.”

Rodriguez explained the first thing anyone interested in snowmobiling should know is his or her own limitations. Recognizing how fast to go and how rough the terrain is can be the difference between a fun ride and serious injuries. Snowmobiling is a physically demanding activity, and Rodriguez said he has come across many people who simply don’t realize how exhausting a day out snowmobiling can be.

Continued on page 5

s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power, speed and reliability.

Snowmobiling.

Continued from page 4

Another lesson for beginners to learn quickly is the importance of a group, Rodriguez said. No one in the Whatcom County Snowmobile Club ever goes out alone, he said.

Rodriguez suggested beginners get involved with a snowmobile club so they will always have someone to go riding with.

“When a machine gets stuck in the snow, it’s 500 pounds,” he said.

“You’re not going to pick it up by yourself.”

Baker Sleds is the only company in Whatcom County that offers rental snowmobiles and guide services for traversing the county’s snoparks, Rodriguez said. Sno-parks are areas specifically designed for

use by snowmobilers. Whatcom County has more than a dozen snoparks, each maintained by the United States Forest Service. Rodriguez said he mostly frequents Canyon Creek, Glacier Creek and Schrieber’s Meadow during the season.

Canyon Creek and Glacier Creek are located near the town of Glacier on the Mt. Baker Highway (state route 542). Canyon Creek is reached from U.S. Forest Service road 31 north of Glacier, while Glacier Creek is just south of town on forest service road 39.

Schrieber’s Meadow is part of the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area.

It can be reached by taking state route 20 to Baker Lake Road, heading north for 12 miles and then west on forest service road 12.

Each sno-park offers maintained trails and numerous areas with

breathtaking scenery. Sno-park permits are required for all sno-parks during the season. Permits can be purchased from Cross Roads Grocery in Maple Falls.

For more information on snow-

mobiling in Washington, visit the Washington State Snowmobile Association website at www.wssa.us.

To learn more about Baker Sleds, visit their website at www.bakersleds.com or call 360/410-6032.

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 5

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Despite Mt. Baker Ski Area’s reputation for deep snow and glorious powder days, Gwyn Howat, operations manager for the ski area, says that some of the best days that stick with her and the people she has met over the years are the days when the conditions are bad, or those rainy days when you feel like you are the only one on the mountain.

It’s when you have that feeling of just being happy to be in a certain place with friends, she explains,

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6 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011

that you know you are somewhere special. Being born into a family that has helped build the ski area from the ground up and been employed at the mountain for over 19 years, Howat literally has this feeling in her blood.

That authentic and special feeling the outdoors produces is what many people in the Mt. Baker foothills find unique and so rewarding. Mt. Baker Ski Area is one of the few ski hills not offering high-speed quad chairs, big screen tvs, plush lodging and other amenities common at most ski areas.

Here at Baker, “the mountain makes you be real,” says Howat,

meaning that people who come here are at the mercy of nature. By and large, that’s what most people come here for, and those people appreciate that the ski area is managed in a way that encourages the natural atmosphere. As Howat puts it, “We do these things because when someone comes to Mt. Baker they want to feel like they’re at a special place and not at a city plopped down on top of a mountain.”

This philosophy is a tradition that reaches far back in time. Aesthetically, the region is an exemplar of the great Northwest forests and has the majestic geographic feature of the Mt. Baker volcano. Edmund

Coleman, who in 1868, along with three local settlers were the first men known to summit Mt. Baker, created a scrapbook of the area and used it to encourage Congress to create a National Park designation for the area. It took 40 years but in 1908, the Washington National Forest was created.

In 1928 a lodge was built in the Heather Meadows area, created as a destination for nature lovers. This massive cedar lodge burned down four years later, just as the area was beginning to be recognized as a premier spot for the new recreational sport of skiing.

As skiing gained popularity in the ’30s and ’40s, people began to drive the road to Heather Meadows to reach the slopes in what would become the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

“Hikers these days just think they are hardcore, but those guys were the true hardcore skiers of Baker,” says Howat, adding that they would actually side-step all the way up the Austin slope in order to make it ‘groomed’ and ridable.

One adventurous engineer created the first lift at Mt. Baker, “The Donkey,” which consisted of a sledge and winch system. This dangerous piece of machinery operated until it, and its creator, were taken out in an avalanche.

Faced with a threat by the highway department to close the road, a group of early die-hards recognized that in the absence of the

lodge, there would need to be a reason for the mountain road to be maintained and pooled their resources to form the Mt. Baker Recreation Company, which eventually became the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

They did it because they loved the mountain and wanted to preserve it for all people to enjoy. “Do it ’cause you love it,” says Howat, “it’s the same principle that guides the management of the ski area today.”

The last of the original board of the company just recently passed away, but the stake in the company has been passed down with the stakeholdership remaining in many of the original families today. Everyone involved still understands the original purpose for the company, which is the reason you won’t be seeing advertisements plastered all over the ski area, or development crowding every possible square foot.

This founding story is similar to many Western ski operations, their origins found in the frontier-minded skiers of those early days. Mt. Baker Ski Area, however, has managed to hold onto that ethos when the vast majority of ski areas have transformed into consolidated winter theme parks.

During the ’90s when snow sports and the economy in general boomed, many ski areas invested in upgraded equipment and expansion that began a cycle of debt and sponsor-

s Gwyn Howat, in the backcountry. ship. As ski areas began to go further into debt, more and more began to rely on sponsorships and increased ticket prices to pump out more and more revenue. As the economy tightened, many ski areas were forced to sell to larger corporations in order to survive.

Mt. Baker’s original philosophy provided insulation from this cycle of debt and loss of independence.

While ski areas blew out their budgets to market themselves as the ultimate winter theme park, Mt. Baker Ski Area used its profits to maintain what they had and slowly upgrade its facilities. When times were tough, they hunkered down and waited for better days.

“When people call to find out what’s new,” Howat says, “we tell them we are what we are, which is a ski area at the end of the road.

People come here for the skiing, not

for a plush destination.” Through all this, Mt. Baker has gained the reputation as a premier ski and snowboard destination, while maintaining one of the lowest prices for lift tickets and season passes.

They have also become an important and stable mainstay for the surrounding community. This is important to the company, to be an interactive part of the community. Howat points out that everything about Mt. Baker is grassroots: The music, the artwork, marketing publications, and even some of the food items are all locally made.

The ski area provides free lift tickets to more than a thousand students who participate in their 5th graders ride free program. These kids, who according to Howat are the only people she has met who could possibly be as hardcore as those original Mt. Baker skiers, are also provided a free breakfast by the mountain and local baker Erin Baker. “Mt. Baker Ski Area is com-

munity-based with a worldwide approach,” says Howat, adding “we understand that it’s not the people coming in from out of town who sustain us.”

Responsibility to the community and to nature are driving forces that derive from the company’s founding philosophy of doing what you love. It’s the understanding that Mt. Baker Ski Area is reliant on its environment and its community that guides its actions.

In an economic environment where this line of thinking goes against the grain, it can often be very challenging and requires a lot of energy, Howat says. For her though, “seeing the familiar faces who are up there early in the morning is a very tangible benefit.” It’s one that will keep Mt. Baker operating as it is for a long, long time.

The War Against Nature Deficit Disorder Interviewed by Tara Nelson Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt. Baker isn’t high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge.

“One thing that goes on under the radar is what is happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basis,” she said. Howat is talking about several new programs at Mt. Baker aimed at providing youth greater access to nature – something she thinks is increasingly lost from American life. As each generation becomes more connected to cell phones, computers and the internet, Howat said, youths are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature.

And according to Richard Luv’s new book “Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” Howat’s observations are not far off the mark.

“Youth, not only in the Mt. Baker community but in American society in general, seem to be developing a different relationship with nature than any generation before them,” she said.

Q: At least half of Mt. Baker’s pass-holders are under the age of 18. What specific things have you noticed among that demographic?

A: We’ve noticed it starting with something as simple as dressing inappropriately. The kids take for granted their environments are artificially controlled, they just think the lights are always going to be on and there’s always going to be heat. You see it when you see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a tshirt. The other is navigation and route planning and a sense of time. Many youth in our Ski Bus program seem to have a difficult time correlating route planning with time frame. They seem to have a different awareness around it. It seems to be much more challenging for them.

Q: Why do you think it’s important for kids to have access to wilderness?

A: We are living in an increasingly technological society and the mountains are a great place to promotes these skills that are being eclipsed by technology. But there’s also a sense of freedom kids get from being in an outdoor place without having a teacher or a parent around. A few weeks ago, I asked some third graders where they like to play and their answer was they liked to play indoors because that’s where all the electrical outlets are.

The whole concept of recreation means to re-create. But they’re also finding a direct connection to creativity. Our sense of wilderness in America — which is very unique in the world — has spurred a particular type of creativity that’s directly connected to our culture, to our music, industrial design, and art than other industrialized societies which have become more focused on efficiency and interaction.

There’s a creativity that comes with simply having access to open spaces.

There’s also a huge body of evidence that children’s development and a huge part of their creativity and self-assuredness, comes from being in nature.

Electronics won’t give that the “pieces” nature provides like the dirt, the trees, branches, rocks, and snow. The only toys that come close to that is Legos and maybe that’s why they’re so popular. There is a certain creativity that comes from having to construct things out of nature. If children are only surrounding by plastic toys and electronics, they’re missing this other element that is not replicated anywhere else yet. Part of why we don’t have a day care is because we want to encourage parents to interact with their kids in nature to help make the experience as rich as it can be. This is not like going to the mall, it’s a rugged environment with special considerations.

(Please turn to page 16)

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Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2010 7 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 7

Nick Ennen: “A laugh-inducing, board-destroying machine”

Story by Tara Nelson, photos by Dylan Hart “With sports, there will always be progression. For wakeboarding the winch has allowed us to go places we never thought were possible.” Nick Ennen Professional snowboarder Nick Ennen grew up in Bellingham and has lived most of his life in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Although he has traveled extensively across the U.S. and the world, this is still the place he wants to call home.

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he said. “Here it’s all a step up from other places: You can go ride your bike in Florida but you’re not going to find any hills to air off of. In Washington – especially Bellingham – everything is so close. I can go out my front door and in 10 minutes be on a mountain bike trail, three different lakes or salt water.

It’s also got tons of snowmobile country.”

Ennen, also a longtime pro wakeboarder, recently launched Agua

Please, a new web series on Fuel.tv with the help of local filmmakers Jeremy Dubs and Scott Studach of Wild Card Movies (How The Northwest Was One and Saturday Night Ride – two other films he also starred in and helped direct). The weekly series follows local wakeboarders as they fly over raging river rapids, log rides and waterfalls in locations ranging from the Nooksack River, San Juan islands to Florida and beyond.

The September 30 debut episode, titled “Nick Ennen versus Eagle Falls,” features the 30-year-old daredevil traveling to Eagle Falls on the Skykomish River famous for its unique rock structures, waterfalls

and phenomenal water volume – a place that friend and photographer Mike Yoshida called “nerve-racking.” But Ennen nailed it on his first try, and a photo of the ride was subsequently featured in an O’Brien advertisement.

Ennen and his friends were able to pull off this adrenaline-drenched stunt using a winch. At one point, as Ennen came off the second waterfall and hit the turbulence below, he landed a little sideways and the imbalance sent him tumbling down through a chute flanked by boulders on each side. Luckily, he shot out of the rapids unharmed.

“It was pretty scary,” he said.

“There could have been some hard consequences but I was OK. With all that power, there’s not much you can do but just go for a ride.”

Another episode showed Ennen and his friends wakeboarding down an old cement chute in Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham.

“We kind of got in trouble for that one,” he said. “We got a really polite letter in the mail asking us not to do that again.”

Other riders featured in Agua Please include Bob Soven, Mikey Ennen, Kevin Henshaw, Dustin O’Ferral, Kyle Walton and Collin Harrington.

Fellow rider and photographer Dylan Hart calls Ennen a “laughinducing, board-destroying machine.

Hanging out with Nick is a sure way to have a good time,” Hart said. “He’s put time into wakeboarding and snowboarding and his talents continue to see him progressing and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”

Ennen plans to compete in the 2011 Legendary Banked Slalom at Mt. Baker Ski Area in February.

What makes this area special?

In the Mt. Baker wilderness you can really get to your own playground versus waiting in line at the ski area. It’s pretty amazing to have 360 degree views from Canada all the way to Seattle with water and farmland in between and a beautiful sunset. I often find myself stopping and just being amazed at where I live and what we have around us.

I’ll often stop and be like, “Hey, everyone, look!”

I’ve done a lot of backpacking, too, so that’s given me a lot of respect for the wilderness and beyond.

You are also starring in Saturday Night Ride, your second film with Wild Card Movies. How has that been?

We just premiered Saturday Night Ride in Seattle, where it brought in about 1,500 people and in Bellingham, where it brought in about 300 to 400 people.

Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill. He was actually the guy who brought me into the filming and videography side of things. And I had been involved in wakeboarding films so he and the rest of us were all kind of doing the same thing, and when we decided to collaborate and evolve

into Wild Card Movies, we were really able to make it professional. We like using funny plots and try to put a lot of humor in our films as well. There’s a lot of funny lines and one-liners.

How has your snowboarding influenced your wakeboarding style?

I’m trying to progress wakeboarding in ways that haven’t been done before and also showcase other local riders and show their advancement. I’m taking (wakeboarding) to a different level with the snowboarding influence. I kind of have an eye for things like lines and cool obstacles or logs to jib. It’s kind of human nature to push yourself and the sport – otherwise it might get boring.

What do you eat when you are in the backcountry?

I’m kind of a chef out there. In the winter, I like to take two of everything to cook in my muff pot, a device that heats food by attaching

to the exhaust pipe of your snowmobile. You can wrap a burrito or some leftover spaghetti in tin foil and throw it in there and drive around for a little bit and it gets really hot.

I probably eat twice the amount of food when I’m in the backcountry because you burn a lot of calories between snowboarding, staying warm, hiking and getting your snowmobile unstuck.

What else does Nick Ennen do for fun these days?

I like to barbecue with friends, ride my bike and mountain bike.

Galbraith is really fun and Whistler and Glacier have some pretty amazing places to mountain bike. I’ve also been playing tennis – like I said, I never stop doing things – go boating in the San Juan islands and hang out on the beach looking for agates or crabbing and fishing and cooking them over a fire on the beach.

(Agua Please can be viewed at www.aguaplease.com.)

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Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 9

Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap. Dylan Hart photo.

Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry. Grant Gunderson photo.

Ollie tap, rider unknown. Rhys Logan photo.

Mt. Baker Film Festival

By Tara Nelson What was originally meant to be an alternative to the increasinglyslick annual Warren Miller ski film showing, the Mt. Baker Film Festivals has become something of a legend in the world of skiing and snowboarding.

Each year the filmf festival hosts a line-up of local, national and independent films – some gritty, some polished – for a crowd hungry for snow.

The festival started out 11 years ago as a fun way to provide local amateurs a way to submit footage of their friends on the slopes but has now attracted the attention of some of the industry’s biggest players such as Teton Gravity Research,

Poor Boyz Production and The People Crew.

“It was originally meant to be an alternative to Warren Miller, which up until 10 years ago was the only gig in town,” ski area operations manager Gwyn Howat said. “We wanted a venue to show independent snow and skiing filmmakers.

Now we’re a nationally recognized festival within the industry. This year, Warren Miller had two shows and their combined attendance was less than the attendance at our one, sell-out show.”

Hosted at the 1,500 seat Mt. Baker Theatre, organizers turned away more than 150 people at the door, Howat said. “It was one of the best line-ups we’ve ever had,” she said.

Here are a few highlights:

Saturday Night Ride $19.95/ $22.95 www.wildcardmovies.com Local film collective Wild Card Films (How The Northwest Was One) is at it again this year with more ridiculousness and humor.

Their “Saturday Night Ride” is the camped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarder recently released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit who returns to a world in which snowboarding and pro wrestling have become a hybrid sport.

Big backcountry booters, huge cliffs, lines, and technical rails are the training grounds as the riders take each other out, and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjust time behind bars.

Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy, Nick Ennen, Andy Bergin-Sperry, Kurt Jenson, Tim Carlson, Manuel Diaz, Andy Stern, Temple Cummins, Shaun McKay, Forrest Burki, Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin.

Cheers $24.95 www.thepeoplecrew.com A creative dozen of snowboarding’s most dynamic riders come together for

Cheers, the new film by People Creative. The crew responsible for last year’s “Nice Try” has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones, Joe Sexton and Zac Marben, offering variety of talent, terrain, and locations.

Riders include: JP Walker, Jeremy Jones, Seth Huot, Joe Sexton, Aaron Bittner, Lauri Heiskari, Mikey Rencz, Eero Niemela, Shaun McKay, Curtis Ciszek, Zac Marben, Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox. Light The Wick $27.95 DVD/ $29.95 Blue-Ray www.tetongravity.com/tour/lightthewick The award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched their newest ski film, “Light The Wick.” The film takes viewers on a gravity defying, visually stunning tour of some of the world’s steepest and most dangerous terrain. “Light The Wick” features jaw-dropping footage of some of the world’s best athletes blasting off never-before-skied peaks of Alaska, as well as deep pillows in Italy, Croatia, B.C. and free-riding at Ripley Creek and North Cascades heli-skiing. The film features a special 3D segment of Sammy Carlson at Steven’s Pass and more than two hours of extras.

Riders include: Sage CattabrigaAlosa, Seth Morrison, Kye Petersen, Ian McIntosh, Dana Flahr, Dylan Hood, Sammy Carlson, Rachael Burks...

Revolver $15 download/ $29.95 DVD www.poorboyz.com Poor Boyz Productions’ newest film “Revolver” focuses on the progression of skiing. The 80-minute film showcases today’s raw talents of skiing in a high action, retrospective, yet progressive look at what things are pushing the sport today. It was filmed on location in three Canadian provinces, six states and Europe and Japan.

Riders include: Simon Dumont, Tim Durtschi, Dane Tudor, Sammy Carlson, Jossi Wells, JP Auclair, Bene Mayr, Pep Fujas, Andreas Hatveit ,TJ Schiller, Charles Gagnier, Riley Leboe, Matt Walker, Mike Henitiuk, LJ Strenio, Julien Regnier, Josh Stack, Alexis Godbout, John Spriggs, Brandon Kelly & Leigh Powis.

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From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges, Luxury Getaways offers overnight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt. Baker Recreational Area. Whether you’re here to relax and unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes, our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for.

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24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort 5 themed sleeping rooms with sinks Abundant common areas in and out Large kitchen & TV, WiFi/DVD/CD/iPod players Wonderful bamboo, radiant-heat floor yurt Large hot tub, bonfire circle, spa services On Mt. Baker Hwy near wineries & outdoor activities 4 scenic acres of Cedar, creek & lawn 10 mins to town

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360.599.2507 .599.2507 www.CascadeCabinRentals.com www .CaascadeCabinRentals.com Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 11

Graham Clark skiing in the Mt. Baker backcountry. Rylan Schoen photo.

Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt. Baker backcountry. Grant Gunderson photo.

Andy Stern. Dylan Hart photo.

Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip, Mt. Baker. Dylan Hart photo.

Where To Stay MAPLE FALLS Baker Accommodations 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy 888/695-7533, 360-599-1017 bakeraccommodations.com A new office in Maple Falls provides hassle-free customer service for both cabin and condo rentals in Glacier and Maple Falls. Available for weekly and nightly rentals. $109 and up.

Misty Mountains Realty 8193 Kendall Rd. 360/599-2200 mistymtsrealty.com Misty Mountains realty offers vacation rentals of all types including ski cabins, condos and private homes.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m.

Mt. Baker Lodging 7463 Mt. Baker Hwy 800/709-7669 360/599-2453 mtbakerlodging.com Mt. Baker Lodging offers cabin, cottage, condo, chalet, and executive vacation home rentals. Walk-in reservations and one night stays available. Office open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. $149 and up.

GLACIER The Inn at Mt. Baker 360/599-1776 theinnatmtbaker.com Noted in “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” This quiet bed and breakfast mountain retreat has uninterrupted views of Mt. Baker and the Nooksack River Valley. European style bed and breakfast service featuring feather beds with down comforters and outdoor hot tubs. Spa services and ski packages available. $155 and up.

The Logs at Canyon Creek 360/599-2711 thelogs.com Situated on Canyon Creek and the North Fork of the Nooksack River, The Logs Resort offers cozy log cabins widely spaced along the creek and among the trees, for the ultimate in privacy and relaxation. $125 and up.

14 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011

Mt. Baker View Guest House 360/599-2155 mtbakerviewguesthouse.com

&

Guest house is conveniently located in downtown Glacier. Also offer secluded accommodations at Cascade Retreat that sleep up to 15 people.

Fully furnished, fireplaces, full kitchens. No smoking or pets. $125+.

Luxury Getaways 877-90-Baker stayatmtbaker.com Mountain chalets and waterfront lodges. Newly built vacation homes in the heart of the Mt. Baker recreational area. Your extraordinary vacation awaits.

Winter Creek B&B 360/599-2526 wintercreekbandb.com Winter Creek offers two bedrooms with double beds, two living rooms with fireplaces, sauna and Wi-Fi internet access. Pets welcome, even horses, with additional charge. $100 per room, per night and includes full breakfast.

IN THE AREA Cascade Cabin Rentals 360/599-2507 cascadecabinrentals.com Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for private retreat, family reunion, or corporate event. Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6,140 s.f. home set on 20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt. Baker.

Cedar Tree House 360/676-2300 cedartreellc.com Beautiful northwest accommodations for up to 24. Indoor common spaces in a cedar forest near the Nooksack River.

Suite Paradise 360/599-1075 suiteinparadise.com Offers four poster bed with master bath and sitting room. Lowest rates in area. $55 and up.

Where To Eat

The weather might be cold but bar and restaurant owners in the Mt. Baker foothills are gearing up for one of their busiest seasons. The following is a list of places to hit after a day of playing in the snow for a hot meal, good music and beer, or just a place to thaw those numb fingers and toes.

Blue Mountain Grill 974 Highway 9 Acme 595-2200 The menu features burgers, steaks, and other classic road food but with a hand-made approach that has won over many locals here.Blue Mountain Grill is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Everybody’s Store Highway 9 Van Zandt 360/592-2297 Check out their selection of unusual wines, cheeses and sausages as well as their amazing sandwiches that offer a ridiculous number of fillings — 18 different cheeses is just the beginning — from which to choose.

DEMING Il Caffe Rifugio 5415 Mount Baker Hwy. 360/592-2888 Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Italian caffe that specializes in quality comfort food, coffee, beer & wine.

Signature dishes include The Deming Mile High Burger, Rigatoni & Sweet Italian Sausage and Our House Frittata. Open 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. for those heading up to the mountain early on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Tuesday - Wednesday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday - Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

MAPLE FALLS Harvest Moon Bakery 7466 Mt. Baker Hwy 360/599-1347 Harvest Moon Bakery serves breakfast and lunch daily. Dinners can be ordered for take-out. Fresh baked goods and artisan bread prepared daily. Inside the café is warm and cozy with a rustic décor. Harvest Moon Bakery is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge 7461 Mt. Baker Hwy. 360/599-2594 New owner Karen Grafwallner welcomes customers to this family friendly restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The popular breakfast menu which includes Steak & Eggs, Eggs Benedict, and Belgium Waffles is extended on Saturdays and Sundays until 1 p.m. In addition to the regular dinner menu of burgers, steaks, pasta and pizza, Karen has introduced nightly specials such as Taco Tuesdays, $1 each; Chicken Enchiladas with side salad on Wednesdays for $7 and on Sundays she serves up her grandma’s recipe for homemade chicken and dumplings. Happy Hour 4-6 p.m. Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Slide Mountain Bar and Grill 7471 Mt. Baker Hwy. 360/656-5833 Also new this season, Slide Mountain has completely renovated the former Joowana’s site and created a bright, warm and welcoming atmosphere with a full menu that will please every member of the family. Top quality ingredients and reasonable prices.

Nightly themes include Mountain Pot Roast on Mondays, and Surf and Turf on Fridays. The Take ‘n Bake super nachos feeds five. Free wi-fi and sports TV. Opens at noon.

Maple Fuels 7797 Silver Lake Rd. 360/599-2222 There is nothing small about this fuel station in Maple Falls. Features an expanded deli that includes soups, sandwiches, breakfast items, locally roasted organic coffee, a new seating area and wireless internet. Open daily 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

GLACIER Graham’s Restaurant 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy. 360/599-1964 www.grahamsrestaurant.com Check first but chances are this Glacier cultural epicenter has live music on weekend nights. But the real reason to visit Graham’s is the great food (try the Phish Tacos), pool table and microbrews on tap, or just to warm up next to the raging inferno that is their blazing cast-iron wood stove. Grahams is open for their winter dinner hours from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and for lunch on weekends from noon to 9 p.m. The bar is open until closing.

Wake ‘n Bakery 6903 Bourne St. The masters of coffee and fresh baked goods have moved from the porch of Glacier Ski Shop to their own digs around the corner by Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop. Court’s daily baking continues to impress with scones, macaroons, cookies, NutBars, coffee cake and other delectables. Open daily at 7:30 a.m.

Chair 9 10459 Mt. Baker Hwy. 360/599-2511 New this season, Chair9 is located on the former Chandelier site, just past the town of Glacier on your way up the mountain. Specialty pizzas with names like The Chute (roasted garlic olive oil, tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella) are baked to perfection in the Woodstone oven. Also serving burgers, salmon, steak and ribs. Open daily at 11 a.m. Music on weekends.

Milano’s Restaurant 9990 Mt. Baker Hwy. 360/599-2863 Offers the best Italian food in the county, possibly in the state. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Economics 542

By Pat Grubb

You would think it’s pretty tough to be a local retailer these days, especially if you’re in the sporting goods business. Especially if you’re in the ski and snowboard business.

Not only do you have to contend with big box and internet competition, you’ve got an economic recession the likes of which haven’t been seen since the Great Depression. Even the weather can have an impact. And you thought farmers had a tough go of it.

But look around. The road from Bellingham to Mt. Baker is home to some of the best sports stores in the business.

They’ve come through some tough years and they’re still going, they’re still the best at what they do. The big box stores came (remember GI Joes) and they went. Compare their prices to internet stores and what do you find? You’ll see prices that are damn close if not better right here in the store down the block from you.

Fairhaven Bike & Ski

How come? For one thing, these guys are close to their customers and they’re close to the sports they specialize in.

They offer personalized service and if you’re not satisfied, they’re not satisfied. They are the experts you never can find at a big box store or through your computer monitor. Not only are these people surviving, they seem to be thriving.

They’re expanding, they’re moving, they’re taking chances and who benefits? You got it. We the customers.

1108 11th St Bellingham 360/733-4433

Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survived and prospered. “What I do,” he says, “is respond quickly. In 1971, the pace was a lot slower. Now, the ski business is all about change. I’ve learned to be very agile on my feet, I can weave and duke.”

He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the store’s success. “Shoppers can expect a level of expertise that is second to none. You know,” he points out, “we have an interesting demographic here. We’ve got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young guns who are core users of the products.” The old guys aren’t sitting on the bench either. They’re still out there riding, skiing and competing in their fields.

Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches. “We’re selling a lot of Fischer skating skis and boots these days. A lot of our road riders are switching over because it’s a good cross-over fitness activity... We’ve got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic. They’re high-end, fat skis with wood veneers... We have a narrower focus. No one in the area comes close to us in Nordic.”

Boot fitting, repair and ski tuning are a big part of the store’s business. “The repair shop is always buzzing, I wouldn’t have my skis tuned anywhere else,” Hauter says. “Anyone here can size your boot, and 80 percent of our customers will be happy. For the other 20 percent, we have Eric Pfitzer (left, with SkiLogic). When you have a problem, you make an appointment with him.”

Glacier Ski Shop

Sportsman Chalet

9966 Mt. Baker Hwy Glacier 360/599-1943

2420 James St. Bellingham 360/671-1044

If you’re looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski and snow business, drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk with John or Drew Adams, the brothers who own the place. They’ve just finished the expansion of their building and it wasn’t that old to begin with.

Drew, seen below with some major league fatties, attributes the success of the shop to a number of factors, not easily duplicated.

“We specialize in top-quality brands that are hard to find,” he says. Picking up a pair of gloves, he says, “Look at these. These are Hestra gloves from Sweden. Fourth generation glove makers and they know what they’re doing.

No frills, just lots of quality. Feel that goatskin on the Lobster gloves!” The Lobster Gloves ($110) have an unusual split hand that retains dexterity while still being as warm as a glove.

Walking over to the ski selection, he points out some of the boutique brands that are leading the industry in innovative designs such as Moment, Icelandic and Armada.

“Every ski we bring in, we bring in for a demo and then for a rental. People can try all of the skis before they buy them.”

He doesn’t pause. “Look in here, this is our expanded ski repair area. We can do anything now. Wait a minute! Have you seen our new boot dryer? This dries out the wettest rental boot in under 30 minutes. It’s incredible.”

Like I said, the Adams are enthusiastic.

Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the business for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sporting goods business and says, “I would like to think I’ve learned a thing or two.” Looking around the new location of the Sportsman Chalet, a visitor soon realizes that’s a pretty safe thing for him to say.

Asked about internet competition, Lemke gives a nonchalant shrug and says his store is very competitive with online retailers. He adds, “In the odd case where we’re not, I can’t match it if the customer doesn’t ask. I’m happy to do so.”

Lemke gives no ground when asked about the store’s employees. “Our main emphasis is on ski and snowboard. We have the best rounded, knowledgeable staff in town. We test all of our products so we know what we’re talking about. We have the best selection of skis and snowboards. And most importantly, our custom boot fitting skills are second to none. We guarantee the fit of our boots.” And looking around, he grins and says, “We’ve got a great selection of clothes and other gear too.”

Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008 It’s been quite a ride since the Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989, but last month Marcella Dobis and mother Bobbie Dobis decided to concentrate on their online snowboard business and lease the Glacier retail shop to long-time employees and snowboarders Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson.

Trotter, who has worked at the shop for the past 12 years, wants to keep the same feel and carry it forward with energy. “We just want to keep it going, get people stoked and have some fun,” Trotter said.

The shop will continue to sell full snowboard gear and clothing and offer rentals and repairs.

And as significant as ever, you can still pick up the inimitable red, black and gold logo sticker that’s spotted on the backs of cars across the northwest and beyond, “The shop that grew with the great northwest.”

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 15

new eats!

t Court & Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakery are now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turn left at Milano’s).

s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire, a welcoming focal point at the Frosty Inn Restaurant in Maple Falls. Since taking over the lease, she has been busy sprucing it up to get ready for ski season. Her goal? “I want to provide consisChef/proprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Mountently good food at a good price. A family should be able to go out and not break tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheese the bank.” to Christian Sumner who was combining pleasure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-based Soft Icon). The work part was made easier by the free wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grill, located in the former Joowana’s in Maple Falls.

S Beyond what Everybody’s Store proprietor Jeff Margolis, left, calls “the exotic grocery where upscale meets downhome,” he has created an emporium of gifts from around the world. It’s definitely worth the few miles south on Highway 9 from the Mt. Baker Hwy. His favorite holiday shopping include cashmere and silk scarves, jade earrings, African beadwork, ceramic kissing salt & pepper shakers, baking stones and pizza paddles, cedar flutes and harmonicas, 50 international cheeses, and 15% off when you buy three or more bottles of wine. Alexis Zahary on right.

t

Nature Deficit...

Continued from page 7

Q: What programs are you offering to help combat NDD? A: We have our “Dads, Moms and Groms” program (groms is a term for little skateboarders) which helps provide a social environment for children ages five and six and helps give parents skill building tips on how to teach their kids.

We also have our “Komo Kids“ program, a six-week program that’s been around for 45 years and gives kids a chance to progress with the same instructor. At the end, there is a race where everyone gets a participant medal.

We also have the “Winter Ride” program, a sliding fee program which buses in 1,000 to 1,300 kids throughout the season to the mountain. It’s a phenomenal way to introduce kids to snowboarding and skiing. We really try not to have the monetary component be a real prohibiter for a kid who might not otherwise be able to afford to go.

The other thing is we’ve been working with Baker’s Breakfast Cookies to donate free breakfast to all 1,200 kids and also provide an educational program along with that. We did an informal survey a few years ago and we realized that at any given day on the mountain, about half of the kids hadn’t eaten breakfast and if they had, it was basically sugar or energy drinks.

Lastly, my mom, who was a fifthgrade teacher at Harmony elementary school, helped us implement the fifthgrader ride free program, in which we give between 600 and 800 fifth-graders unrestricted access to the mountain as long as they’ve had at least one year’s experience on the mountain.

The program is worth about $50,000 to $80,000 a year. The reason we chose fifth grader is because, by that age, they’re strong enough and physically able enough to handle it and they are also a little more mature. The other thing we found was it was a great way to get their parents who used to ski or snowboard [the program requires an adult presence] back on the mountain.

Another First for Mt. Baker Ski Area Howat said this year, the Mt. Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and compostable products in their food service area. Howat said that includes coffee cups, straws, ketchup, mustard, beer cups and utensils.

The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has worked to incorporate locally sourced products, fair-trade organic coffee, bread bowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased from confined animal feeding operations.

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360- 685 - 4242 Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacier behind Graham’s Store. Officially six to seven artist members run the gallery but another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings. It is open on weekends but more frequently during the holidays. Pictured are mittens made from recycled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl of black locus by Jack Wilson. Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazilian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers. Natural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazed ceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith. t

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16 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011

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The Siren of the Backcountry Staying safe during La Niña winter Story & photo by Grady McCombs

For avalanche class information, turn to the next page

The big question this La Niña season is, how big is it going to be?

Previous ‘La Niña’ winters have typically, but not always, resulted in phenomenal snow seasons, the most noteworthy being the record-breaking ’98-99 winter in which more than a thousand inches of snow fell.

Ski areas across the country are seizing on these expectations, hoping to lure the ever migrant herd of powder hunters. When it comes to the hunt for deep powder though, it’s usually best to find an area you like and stick with it.

Why? One very important reason is that you will become a safer rider. In terms of backcountry safety, experience and knowledge about the local weather and terrain are the most important preventative pieces of information you can have.

Skiing similar gradients in Washington and Colorado are completely different in terms of safety.

Riding in the Northwest, especially during and immediately following storm cycles, usually means dealing with deep snow. Heavy and deep snow can be hazardous to people riding both within ski area boundaries (in-bounds) and in the backcountry (out-of-bounds).

When the Cascades are getting the snowfall typical of a La Niña storm it is going to be falling in high amounts, and it will generally be fairly heavy. This type of storm creates all kinds of hazards by burying all the pockets of the terrain under a large, loose mass of snow.

Tree wells are the typical trap, which

iare created by snowfall filling in the wells that form around the bases of trees. These large pockets of unconsolidated snow act as a kind of quicksand trap. Rocks, creeks, stumps, and simple undulations in the terrain can also form this kind of hazard. As an in-bounds rider it is still important to not be tempted to go exploring terrain you are unfamiliar with for this reason.

Recent winters have seen a huge increase in the number of skiers and snowboarders going into the backcountry. This is largely due to the increasing ease of access to information and gear targeted at offpiste riding. Avalanche safety classes, snow science books, the internet and backcountry-specific gear have made it seem much easier to go out of bounds.

However, even though equipment such as avalanche transceivers are important tools, they are always a last resort. Safety is all about prevention in the backcountry – the grim reality is that many accidents can occur where a person’s life may be in jeopardy even if they are located quickly.

Preventing accidents and mistakes in the backcountry is all about knowledge and experience. This is especially true in the Northwest where the storms that occur and the snow that is produced can vary greatly in terms of the moisture of the snow that falls. This has all kinds of effects on the stability of the snowpack, and these differences are best learned through observa-

tion. There is no information more valuable than consistently being in the mountains observing the changes in the snowpack and/or consulting someone who has been.

By constantly riding and assessing the snowpack you gain knowledge not only about what the mountain is capable of, but also your capabilities as a rider. This information is what every backcountry rider should be using when assessing any ski run.

Consulting with experts is also a great way to increase your safety awareness. At Mt. Baker, the ski patrol posts sentries at every access gate to the backcountry to ensure all riders are equipped with beacons and are otherwise prepared.

Instead of just waving a transceiver at them, pick their brain regarding recent storm cycles and snowpack conditions.

The most important thing to remember is that every day is a new day on the mountain and, in fact, every hour is a new hour. Snowpack stability can change rapidly and vary widely, so always be on the lookout for changes and warning signs.

It is up to each individual rider to be aware and responsible for their behavior in the backcountry; when novices or people unfamiliar with the area hazard into the backcountry relying on the knowledge of others it puts everyone at risk.

Hopefully, everyone keeps safety in mind, the La Niña predictions hold true, and we all have a safe and powderful winter.

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 17

Avalanche & Winter Classes Want to access the backcountry safely? Up your game? You’re in luck as this area offers plenty of courses that will help you do exactly that.

AVALANCHE, SNOW SAFETY & BACKCOUNTRY Mt. Baker Ski Area The Mt. Baker Ski Area offers introductory and advanced avalanche and snow awareness courses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days in duration. Classes are held December through February and costs from $35 - $170. Visit www.mtbaker.us for info and registration.

American Alpine Institute American Alpine Institute offers a wide variety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 states and six countries around the globe from South America to Africa and Antarctica. Most winter mountaineering courses require participants to have a minimum of one overnight backpacking experience under their belt, but others, such as the level I and level II avalanche safety courses, are taught in the classroom and during day trips within the Mt. Baker Ski area to anyone regardless of their skill level.

Backcountry Skiing Length: 2 to 4 days

Experience: Beginner/ intermediate Location: North Cascades Dates: December – April Cost: Varies This class helps students develop a good working knowledge of backcountry skiing and snowboarding equipment, techniques and avalanche safety.

Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington Length: 1 day and longer Experience: Beginner to Advanced Location: Washington Dates: December through May Cost: Varies Join an expert ski guide on an ascent of one of Washington’s volcanoes, or take a ski tour in the North Cascades. These private courses are open to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, depending on the tour.

Snowshoeing Mount Baker Length: 1 day and longer Experience: None Dates offered: January through March Cost: $100 and up Snowshoeing is a great way for beginning-

level winter wilderness to access Mount Baker’s backcountry terrain. Follow trained American Alpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11,000-foot volcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoramic views of Mount Shuksan.

For more information or for a complete list of AAI programs and guided expeditions, visit www.aai.cc or call 360/671-1505. Their office is located at 1515 12th Street in Bellingham.

Their equipment rental and gear shop is available online at www.guideschoice.com.

SKI & SNOWBOARD LESSONS Mt. Baker Ski Area The ski area offers a number of options for children and adults of all skill levels. Students can take individual classes or sign up for multi-week courses. Private lessons are also available. There’s even a Senior Thursdays for intermediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 and older. Other classes include: Freeride Coaching Dates: Starts Saturday, January 8 Length: 8 weeks Cost: $125, does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for intermediate riders and skiers, ages 13 and up, who are

interested in improving their all-mountain skills.

The package includes on-snow training in eight, two-hour sessions and a focus on simple, efficient steps to improve freestyle and freeriding skills.

Racer Development Program Times: 8:45 a.m. for Sunday sessions and 9 a.m. for the race camp.

Cost: $125 and up This program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a way to further their personal and competitive goals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeks.

Participants are also encouraged to join the Komo Kulshan ski club’s Mt. Baker Race Team.

Adaptive Program Length: Six weeks/ or two hours Cost: $300/ or $60 for single lesson Dates: Call for dates.

This program offers current and specific training in adaptive techniques for those with visual or hearing impairments or individuals who cannot effectively use one or more of their legs for skiing. The program was developed by DS/USA and the Professional Ski Instructors of America.

For more info, call 360/734-6774.

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One of the ski industry’s most talented photographers, Grant has shot for every major snow sports and outdoor publication world s Grant Gunderson wide, including: ESPN, Outside, Powder, Freeskier, Skier, Skiing and Ski. In addition to his editorial work, Grant supplies many of the world’s top brands with images that set the bar for a new level of creativity that define the culture of action sports.

Recently he won the Ski Salt Lake City Photo Shoot Out and has been recognized as one of the world’s top action sports photographers. He skis close to 200 days a year and makes a high-quality (and highoctane) homebrewed ale. He currently serves as The Ski Journal photo editor while working with high-end commercial and editorial clients. Go to www.grantgunderson.com or email grant@theskijournal.com Tyler lives for the outdoors. He's an avid climber, bicyclist, snowboarder and splitboarder.

He's made a s Tyler Mitchell notch for himself as a wedding photographer but loves taking pictures of his friends in the backcountry on a powder day.

Check out some of his work at TMitchellPhoto.com.

Please turn to page 22

The Superfeet difference

By Jeremy Schwartz From the time it took its first baby steps back in 1977, a local company has grown to become an international powerhouse in footgear.

In fact, you could say the company has become Superfeet.

Ferndale-based Superfeet designs and manufactures sport-specific insoles for skiers, snowboarders, runners and most every kind of athlete. However, their products aren’t just for those heading off to the Hindu Kush or the backside of the Matterhorn. Anyone on their feet for long periods of time or out for a walk will appreciate the fit and comfort they achieve when slipping a pair of Superfeet insoles into their dress shoes or walking flats. For good reason, members of the military have become enthusiastic fans of the company’s products.

Lack of proper foot support can have a wide range of effects on the body, none of them good. Foot structure is the foundation on which the body’s skeletal system rests. Misaligned feet can lead to pain and injury from the foot up the leg through the hips to the spine and shoulder and neck. Improperly supported feet also prevents the body from achieving a full range of movement and power.

Despite the current economic hard times, Superfeet spokesperson Susie Rickerts said the company’s sales are up over last year.

People’s health concerns are unrelated to the economic climate, she said, and Superfeet sells products that enhances people’s health and comfort.

To accommodate the booming business, Superfeet will be moving to a larger facility near Hovander

s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff for their service and commitment to the company and its products.

Park in Ferndale. The company is scheduled to move in around the New Year.

The new facility will replace three separate buildings they now occupy with just one, Rickerts said. The new building totals 45,000 square feet of workspace for warehouse and distribution services and offices.

According to Rickerts, the new facility allows more office and distribution space as well as dedicated classrooms for employee training. The building should be sufficient to accommodate the company’s growth over the next five to ten years.

Superfeet was spun off from Northwest Podiatric Laboratory in Blaine in 1977 by owners/doctors Dennis Brown and Christopher Smith, two experts in podiatric medicine. At that time, Superfeet’s focus was providing high-quality insoles for skiers, Rickerts said. Now with more than 35 insole patents, Superfeet has expanded to provide custom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles for all manner of athletes and non-athletes. Brown and Smith still oversee design and production of all of Superfeet’s products.

Superfeet is popular with skiers and snowboarders because of the enhanced performance and stability provided by the insoles. Riders making turns with improperly supported feet can stress their feet, leading to pain and possible injury.

Insoles allow the feet to be supported and properly aligned, resulting in greater control and balance on the slopes.

For more information on Superfeet and how to find a retailer in the Mt. Baker area, visit www.superfeet.com. Superfeet products are widely available in shoe and specialty stores in Whatcom County and beyond.

s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan. Baker Bus offers round trips to the Mt. Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with additional stops along the way. For more information check out the schedule at www.bakerbus.org or call 360/599-3115.

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Mention the name Bigfoot to someone and the reaction you get will range from a snort of derision to a wide-eyed “It’s real! I’ve seen it myself!”

Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Both refer to a large, ape or man-like creature that supposedly inhabits the forest areas of the Pacific Northwest.

“Sasquatch” is derived from the Salish word sesqac, meaning “wild man.”

Sasquatch is commonly described as bipedal and ranging in height from 7 to 8 feet. It is covered nearly head to toe in brownish or tan hair and is said to resemble a large human. Its reported encounters with people range from harmless and inquisitive to aggressive. Their footprints reportedly measure up to 20 inches in length and they are usually described as odoriferous, a cross between a skunk and a dead animal.

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“They will seek you out if you seek them out,� he said.

The national forest has offered a few places where Spawn believes he has had genuine encounters with Sasquatch. He still vividly remembers his first trip three years ago to a spot near the small town of Verlot, Washington, where he said he heard a Sasquatch’s possible communication attempts.

Spawn was camping near a small lake at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The lake is surrounded on three sides by steep, rocky cliffs covered in dense undergrowth and boulders.

During online research of Sasquatch, Spawn came across a YouTube video of another investigator clacking rocks together in order to communicate with a Sasquatch. Rock-knocking and wood-knocking are methods Sasquatch investigators believe the creatures use to communicate with each other. Interestingly, one Indian name for Sasquatch translates as “tree-striker.�

At the lake, Spawn set up his video camera and recorded himself knocking rocks together. After three hours with no response, he decided to pack it up for the day. About 20 minutes after shutting off his camera, Spawn said he heard rock-knocking high up on a ridge to the left of him.

The knocking, he said, was followed by small rocks rolling down the slope, as if a creature higher up

Sp

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The earliest reported sighting by a white man took place in 1811 near Jasper, Alberta but Bigfoot has long occupied a place in Native Indian mythology. Sasquatch most recently re-entered the public imagination in 1967 with the famous Patterson-Gimlin film. The short film clip allegedly shows a Sasquatch walking along a dry lake bed in Six Rivers National Forest in northern California. The two men responsible for the film, Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin, have historically maintained its authenticity, but even the Sasquatch believers don’t always agree.

While not much is heard about Sasquatch in the mainstream media these days, a lack of press coverage within the last few years has not detered numerous amateur researchers and investigators for whom Sasquatch in one of two things: A mysterious being with supernatural powers, or a living, flesh-and-blood creature.

Peter Spawn, an EMT living in Tulalip, is a Sasquatch investigator of the latter category. When not driving an ambulance for 24-hour shifts two days a week, Spawn spends his days in the Mt. BakerSnoqualmie National Forest looking for a group of Sasquatches he believes is living in the area. “For me, I know they exist,�

Spawn said. “There’s no doubt in my mind.�

Washington state has been Spawn’s home since about 2005.

Since then, he has made numerous trips to the national forest in attempts to better understand the Sasquatches he believes live there.

Unlike others, Spawn doesn’t waste time trying to prove the creature exists but focuses on learning more about their movements throughout the forest.

Spawn has come away from his investigations with two main observations: The creatures appear to be intelligent and curious and seem to communicate with each other.

Spawn’s first piece of advice for a budding Sasquatch hunter—besides knowing how to be safe in the forest—is simply to go out and look for them.

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s Bigfoot?

was walking along the ridge. While he did not see anything, Spawn said he is doubtful a person would climb that high up just to spook him.

In addition to the lakeside encounter, Spawn said he has had several other experiences where he thinks Sasquatches have responded to him with wood-knocking and even followed him and a friend through the woods.

While Spawn and others are certain of the Sasquatch’s existence, the scientific community is skeptical. Professor Joan Stevenson, a biological anthropologist at Western Washington University, says there has been no credible scientific evidence to support the creature’s existence.

Further, Stevenson doesn’t believe there is enough food or other resources in the national forest to support a breeding population of another family of the primate order.

There has been no evidence that any large primate other than humans has ever populated the North American continent. “It just doesn’t make sense,�

Stevenson said. “We don’t have a problem with [the idea of] finding this thing and showing that it exists, but to me [researchers] just don’t have sufficient evidence to show that it exists.�

Spawn said he knows how outlandish his views on Sasquatch may seem to those who haven’t had his experiences, but he remains unfazed.

His goal is not to prove Sasquatch exists but only to learn more about the creature.

The Sasquatch community has a saying when it comes to the lack of scientific evidence for the creature, Spawn said: “We have enough evidence to convict Bigfoot of murder, but not to prove it exists scientifically,� he said with a laugh.

Most of the Sasquatch community has long thought there is enough photographic and DNA evidence, such as scraps of hair, to show the creature exists.

But as long as the scientific community requires more evidence than courts of law, the existence of Sasquatch in the forests of the Northwest will remain in doubt. In the minds of Sasquatch believers, Bigfoot lives on in hairy splendor.

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 21

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Dylan Hart has over a decade of experience shooting snowboarding and skateboarding (as well as gapping ledges and s Dylan Hart smashing plenty of powder pillows himself).

In recent years his friendly attitude and consistantly high quality work has won him gigs in other action-sports. Skiing, wakeboarding, and rock climbing are just a few. Art and social media are his driving forces. www.dylanhart.com Rhys Logan decided his mountain problem could be solved by Mt Baker, and his college problem at Western Washington s Rhys Logan University. To keep the moss from growing too thickly on his brain and to keep his fridge full of cake, he spends his summers in north central, Washington, working for a Forest Service research lab in Wenatchee and shooting weddings. Rhys enjoys pushing buttons, one in particular.

Now 23 years young Rhys hopes to pursue a life of shredding, shooting, and shuffling across continents and call it a "career." www.rhystomahawk.com/ You can find Rylan Schoen most powder days shooting at Mt Baker and in the surrounding backcountry, in between s Rhylan Schoen getting his own face shots of course!

Rylan prides himself on being able to ski every line he shoots. When traveling in the backcountry with only one or two partners it is a necessity to be able to ski a line either before or after the shot is taken.

With a laid back attitude about which direction to ski but with saftey always in the forefront, Rylan is happy to work with anyone on the slopes.

His passion for photography does not limit him to the mountain-side though; Rylan is available to hire for anything from commercial shoots to family portraits and everything in between.

You can reachRylan through his business www.opticflows.com or call 360/704.0013

Map Directory

8 NORTH FORK BREWERY 6186 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 599-2337

15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR & GRILL 7471 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 656-5833

22 GLACIER SKI SHOP 9966 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-1943

9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY 8193 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls • 599-2659

15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TON Corner of Mt. Baker Hwy & Silver Lake Rd. Maple Falls • 599-2222

22 HAIRSTREAM 9970 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2443

10 SUITE PARADISE Golden Valley Dr., Kendall • 599-1075

16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY & VIDEO 7802 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls • 599-9657

3 EVERYBODY’S STORE Hwy 9, Van Zandt • 592-2297

11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY & GIFTS 6900 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 599-2890

17 INN AT MT. BAKER 8174 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 877/567-5526

23 MT. BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP 9996 Forest St., Glacier • 599-2008

4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALS Van Zandt • 599-2507

12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 599-1017

18 THE LOGS 7577 Canyon View Dr., Glacier • 599-2711

24 MILANO’S RESTAURANT 9990 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2863

5 DODSON’S IGA 3705 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner • 592-5351

12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT 7461 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 599-2594

19 WINTER CREEK B&B 9253 Cornell Creek, Glacier • 599-2526

25 GRAHAM’S STORE 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2665

6 KELLEY INSURANCE 103 W. Main St., Everson • 966-3732 619 Cherry St., Sumas • 988-2462

13 MT. BAKER LODGING 7463 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 599-2463

20 SCOTT’S SKI SERVICE 9935 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-WAXX

25 GRAHAM’S RESTAURANT 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-1964

20 MT. BAKER HOMES & LAND 9937 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-1900

26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA & PUB 10459 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2511

21 MT. BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE 6920 Central Ave., Glacier • 599-2155

27 LUXURY GETAWAYS www.stayatmtbaker.com, Glacier • 877-90-BAKER

1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL 974 Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2200 2 ACME GENERAL STORE Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2146

7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO 5415 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 592-2888

14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY 7466 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls • 599-1347

23 WAKE ’N BAKERY 6903 Bourne St., Glacier • 599-1658

Mt. Baker Highway Mile Posts Mile 1: Junction of I-5 and Mt. Baker Hwy., Sunset Drive.

Mile 3: View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left).

Mile 8: Whatcom County Parks & Recreation Dept. (Right).

The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables, restrooms and a view of Mt. Baker, elevation 10,778 feet. 360/7332900.

Mile 9: Deming Logging Show – second weekend in June.

Two-day show: log rolling, tree climbing and axe throwing.

Nooksack River Bridge – great fishing spots can be found.

Mile 10: Community of Nugent's Corner. Groceries, gas, bank (ATM), bakery, cafe, crafts and other services.

Mile 11: U-pick berry farms (right and left). Strawberries in June, raspberries in July and blueberries in August.

Christmas tree farms (right and left).

Mount Baker Vineyards (left). Tasting room/gift shop open Wednesday – Sunday. Grape Stomp Festival in September.

Mile 12: Community of Deming.

Stewart Mountain – elev. 3,087 feet (right).

Sumas Mountain – elev. 3,430 feet (left).

Mile 14: Highway 9 South Junction (right). South to Van Zandt, Acme, Wickersham and Skagit Valley. Attractions: B&B, general store, mushroom farm, and train ride.

Nooksack River Forks (right). Nooksack River forks into three segments: the North Fork, which Mt. Baker Highway parallels; the Middle Fork, which heads southeast to the southern face of Mt. Baker; and the South Fork, which heads south into the Skagit Valley. Hwy. 9 follows the South Fork.

Mile 16: Mosquito Lake Road – Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right).

Dec. – Feb. Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road, drive to the first bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack. Park on left shoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eagles.

Mile 18: Community of Welcome (left). Grocery store, fire station, senior center and other services.

Mile 21: Kendall Creek Hatchery (right). Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road. The hatchery raises chinook, coho and chum salmon as well as steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Mile 22: Slide Mountain – elevation 4,884 feet (right). Named for a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up the Nooksack River in ancient times.

Highway 547 North Junction/Kendall Road (left). North to Kendall, peaceful Valley, Paradise Lakes, Columbia and Sumas.

Gas, groceries, golf, tavern.

Mile 23: Community of Kendall. Grocery store and gas (left).

Mile 25: Community of Maple Falls, post office, pay phones, cabin rentals, lodging, restaurants, gas, groceries, liquor, library.

Silver Lake Park, Silver Lake Road, 3.5 miles north (left). Park sits on 411 acres around Silver Lake.

Mile 27: Farm stand (right). Fresh produce, gourmet foodstuffs.

Mile 29: View of Nooksack River (right). Highway ascends a ledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack River.

Mile 30: Mt. Baker Scenic Turnout (right).

Mile 33: Glacier – elev. 932 feet. Last community along the highway. Fire department, post office, library, general store, restaurants, snowboard shop, lodging, phones.

Mile 34: Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right). Picnic tables and

trash cans; no restroom.

Glacier Public Service Center (right). Open Memorial Day to October. Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning, and issues permits. Restrooms , picnic area. 360/599-2714, www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National Forest Scenic Byway. Glacier Creek Road (Rd. #39) to Mt. Baker Vista (right). Mostly paved, 9.5 mile road leads to Mt. Baker view.

Mile 36: Douglas Fir Campground (left). National forest camp built by the CCC in the 1930s. Fees charged. Reservations accepted: 1-877-444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov.

Horseshoe Bend Trail (right). Access for guided river rafting tours.

Washington State Sno-Park (left). Permit required for snow mobiling or cross-country skiing.

Mile 37: Church Mountain – elevation 6,245 feet (left). High elevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in the area to open for summer hiking.

Turnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right).

Mile 40: Excelsior Group Camp (right). National Forest Campground. No water. Fee charged. Reservations only:1-877-4446777 or at www.recreation.gov.

Nooksack Falls, Wells Creek Road Road #33 (right). Take Wells Creek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced viewpoint. Fall plummets 100 feet.

Mile 41: Excelsior Pass Trail (left).

Mile 43: North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left).

Established in 1937, this is a 1,400-acre preserve of old-growth

Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Western Red Cedar.

Mile 44: Nooksack River Viewpoint (right).

Mile 46: Twin Lakes Road (Road #3065) at Shuksan Highway Maintenance Sheds (left). Twin Lakes is not accessible until early to mid-August.

Hannegan Pass Road (Road #32) (left). Popular cross-country skiing area in winter.

Shuksan Picnic Area – Hannegan Pass Road (left). Tables, a restroom, Nooksack River views. Mining cabin nearby.

Silver Fir Campground (right). Fees charged. Reservations accepted: 1-877-444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov.

Mile 47: Goat Mountain – elevation 6,891 feet. (N.E.). Summer grazing range for one of four bands of mountain goats.

Mile 49: View Mt. Shuksan – elevation 9,038 feet. (East).

Mile 50: View Mt. Sefrit – elevation 6,015 feet. (Southeast).

Mile 52: Mt. Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left).

Mile 53: Entrance to Heather Meadows.

Mile 55: Picture Lake (road forks – stay to the right). Picture Lake – elevation 4,100 feet, provides a postcard view of Mt. Shuksan – elev. 9,038 feet. Vista picnic area (right). Picnic area; no restrooms.

Mile 56: Austin Pass Picnic Area (right). CCC-built area sits in a bowl-shaped valley with glorious views.

Heather Meadows Visitor Center (right). Open mid-July to September.

Mile 58: Artist Point – elev. 5,140 feet. (End of highway). Parking lot surrounded by Mt. Baker’s peak (south), Mt. Shuksan (east) and Table Mountain – elev. 5,628 feet.

Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011 23

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8174 Mt. Baker Hwy 360/599-1776 between Maple Falls & Glacier, mile post 28

www.theinnatmtbaker.com 877/567-5526

24 Mount Baker Experience • Winter 2011

Mt. Baker View Guesthouse View • 2 Bedrooms

Special Packages Available

Full Kitchen • Hot Tub • Sleeps 6

Cascade Retreat Spacious • Hot tub • Sauna Full kitchen • Sleeps 15

Reservations 360-599-2155 www.mtbakerviewguesthouse.com