Mount Baker Experience, Fall 2016 by Point Roberts Press

FALL 2016

ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

ULTRARUNNER KRISSY MOEHL

B.C. HIKES & BEERS BAKER DOES DENALI

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE Special publication of The Northern Light PUBLISHERS Patrick Grubb and Louise Mugar

CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR Oliver Lazenby PUBLICATION DESIGN Doug De Visser COPY EDITOR Kara Furr OFFICE MANAGER Amy Weaver STAFF WRITERS Kara Furr ADVERTISING DESIGN Ruth Lauman • Doug De Visser

ADVERTISING SALES Catherine Darkenwald • Janet McCall Molly Ernst CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE: Brad Andrew, Andy Basabe, Brian Bates, Nick Belcaster, Anne Cleary, Paul Conrad, Nick Danielson, Chris Duppenthaler Jann Eberharter, Matt Firth, Brandon Fralic, Paris Gore, Alex Guiry, Grant Gunderson, Steve Guntli, Jason Hummel, Aubrey Laurence, Jason Martin, Spencer Paxson, Brandon Sawaya, Luca Williams, Scott Wilson EMAIL: info@mountbakerexperience.com WEB: www.mountbakerexperience.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/mtbakerexperience INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/mtbakerexp If you can see Mt. Baker, you’re part of the experience. Mount Baker Experience is a quarterly outdoor recreation magazine for and about the Mt. Baker region, distributed from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. and published by Point Roberts Press, Inc. Locally owned, the company also publishes The Northern Light, All Point Bulletin, Pacific Coast Weddings, Waterside and area maps. Vol. XXX, No. 3. Printed in Canada. ©2016 POINT ROBERTS PRESS 225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 TEL: 360/332-1777 NEXT ISSUE Winter 2016/2017 • Out mid-November Ad reservation deadine: October 14 ON THE COVER The look of content at a fire lookout atop a North Cascades summit. Photo by Alex Guiry. Alexguiryphoto.com

MBE Fall 2016

bradANDREW

Brad Andrew is a Bellingham-based freelance action sports photographer. He spends his winters chasing the snow looking for the perfect spot to make the perfect image. He is a husband, father and a student of life.

andyBASABE Andy is an educator in Whatcom County. Some of his days are best for words, others for walking. Everyday for eating.

brianBATES Brian Bates moved to Bellingham five years ago and hasn’t looked back. Whether it’s the skiing, mountain biking, or trail running, he loves bouncing around the hills and coastlines of the Northwest.

nickBELCASTER Nick Belcaster is a Bellingham writer who traverses the Pacific Northwest on rack, rope, skins and boot tread. An ice axe in one hand and a fly rod in the other.

anneCLEARY An always say yes attitude and a passion for storytelling through media brought Anne to Bellingham. She has employed filmmaking and photography to document and share adventure.

paulCONRAD Not only does Paul Conrad have a love for photography, he’s also an avid outdoorsman. Camping, hiking, backpacking, and snowboarding are some of his favorite things. He lives in Bellingham with his wife Heidi.

nickDANIELSON Photographer, designer, and all around visual nerd, Nick has always been drawn to capturing action and telling the stories of athletes in motion. www.nickdanielson.com.

FALL 2016

ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

ULTRARUNNER KRISSY MOEHL

B.C. HIKES & BEERS BAKER DOES DENALI

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

jannEBERHARTER Originally from Boise, Idaho, Jann Eberharter came to the Northwest to pursue a degree in visual journalism at Western Washington University and stayed for the loamy trails.

brandonFRALIC

Based in Bellingham, Brandon writes about Pacific Northwest trails, ales, and travel for a handful of regional publications. brandonfralic.com

alexGUIRY Alex is a Squamish-based adventure photographer who seeks emotional driven stories of failure and success. Alex is more interested in sharing the personalities and processes of an athlete rather than glorifying ones talent.

grantGUNDERSON One of the ski industry’s pre-eminent photographers, Grant has shot for every major snow sports and outdoor publication worldwide. Grantgunderson.com

jasonHUMMEL Jason is an outdoor photographer from Washington who has documented numerous first descents in the North Cascades. Alpinestateofmind.com

aubreyLAURENCE Aubrey is an artist and a freelance writer who has written about craft beer, hiking and climbing for a variety of publications in Colorado and Washington. He lives in Bellingham with his No. 1 climbing partner, his wife Jen.

spencerPAXSON Spencer is a Bellingham local and Pacific Northwest native who rides professionally for The Kona Bicycle Company.

brandonSAWAYA Kayaking, mountain biking and mountaineering were all becoming so boring and tame. So Brandon decided to start a family. He is an image maker living in Bellingham. Brandonsawaya.com

lucaWILLIAMS Luca Williams is a certified rolfer in Glacier. She helps snowboarders, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts to get aligned and out of pain. Website: lucasrolfing.com blog: movingwithgravity.wordpress.com

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

Fall2016 in this issue

Publisher’s NOTE BY PAT GRUBB

ever let it be said that Mount Baker Experience isn’t a source of inspiration to its readers. Tell me that learning about Dan Probst’s plan for a 108-mile, 10,000-foot altitude-gaining ultramarathon didn’t make you lace up your runners so you could get in shape for the race. Didn’t I see you last night, crawling on all fours with your flashlight looking for crickets so you could make your own DIY energy bar? Or hearing about the Baker crew trapped in a tent on Denali for days on end didn’t make you feel like sitting in a closet with the lights out? See – here’s the thing. Even though this mag is full of stories and photos of incredible people doing incredible things, it doesn’t mean that lesser mortals like myself or perhaps you can’t be inspired to do things that are a little more accessible, a little more manageable. Take Spencer Paxton’s story about Everesting Blanchard Mountain on his mountain bike, for instance. You don’t have to ride up and down some damn mountain umpteen times to get 29,029 feet in altitude, you can pick your own kind of Everest. Who says it has to be feet? I’ve proofed this issue’s editorial twice now and I’m pretty sure the word count is way over 29,029. Plus, no one summits Everest in one day. If it takes me eight days to get a step count of 29,029, I’ve done my own Everest in my own sweet time. So go ahead and pick your own Everest and if anyone asks you why you chose a particular goal, say what Edmund Hillary said “Because it’s there.” And make sure you tell them you read it first in Mount Baker Experience. There’s plenty of good stuff in this issue – we hope you enjoy it all! Thanks for picking it up.

BAKER DOES DENALI

Mt. Baker crew rides the big one

KRISSY MOEHL Q&A

EVERESTING

Top ultrarunner returns to the PNW

29,029 vertical feet in a day

BC HIKES AND BEER

TRANSITION BIKES

POSTCARD

Company unveils new showroom Greetings from Abernathy Peak

17 YOGA STRETCHES

Exercises for carrying loads

18 ORCAS MOUNTAIN BIKING

A guide to island trails

20 SEA TO SKY GONDOLA

New lift outside Squamish

22 PHOTO GALLERY

Captured moments

28 ROCK CLIMBING ETHICS

How to not be “that guy”

29 MT. BAKER MARATHON

19 8

20 16

YEARS

Hikes, brews and gondola views

Reviving the historical race

32 REVIEWS

Books and edible bugs

33 SUP TO ALASKA

33 FIFTY YEARS OF TRAILS

Washington Trails Association

40 GEAR GUIDE

Unleash your inner consumer

41 A CASE FOR POKEMON GO

The benefit of catching ‘em all

FREEZER BAG COOKING DIY camping meals

Can it be done?

MAZAMA COPPER MINE threatens mountain town

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

TRANSITION BIKES unveils new showroom

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANNE CLEARY

his summer Transition Bikes opened a new showroom after moving its headquarters from Ferndale to Carolina Street in Bellingham last year. The showroom has a spruced up garage feel with a beer fridge under the register and a display of mountain bikes both current and historical. The company moved partly to get closer to the trails and the community of local riders – the same reason they moved from a basement in Seattle to Whatcom County in the first place. The new location allows mountain bikers to demo a bike for $40 and ride it off the showroom floor, through Whatcom Falls Park to Galbraith Mountain, less than 3 miles away. Even better, the $40 goes entirely to the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) to support local trail building and advocacy. “That’s my main goal, to promote the WMBC and do everything I can to make the organization stronger because that’s really the backbone of why we’re here and why we want to be in town,” said Transition co-owner Kevin Menard.

“It’s been sweet; some months we’re donating $2,500.” Though the shop is primarily a showroom, they also service Transition Bikes. Since opening, it has already evolved and changed. “We’re slowly figuring out our identity in town and what we’re going to do,” Menard said. “We definitely want to do more group rides and community involvement here.” Transition offers a 100 millimeter travel bike with 24-inch wheels for young riders called the Ripcord, and works with local elementary schools to get kids on bikes. As the company dives further into the local mountain bike community, it also continues to expand overseas. Menard just got back from riding in the Dolomites in Val Gardena, Italy, where he found his bikes are popular. “I didn’t know what our dealer situation was there when I arrived, but I walked by this shop and there were four complete Transitions in the window,” he said. “I walked in to talk to the owner and he knew me right away – he only carries

our bikes. ‘I love your brand, everything about you guys,’ he told me.” The brand is about having fun and not taking things too seriously. Transition recently worked with Kulshan Brewing to create a limited edition collaboration brew called Party in the Woods IPA. A recent press release pokes fun at the industry by touting the company’s acronyms as the “most optimized” in the industry – its P.A.B.S.T. (Put A Bottle n’ Stuff in There) water bottle cage is one example. Apparently that sense of humor and penchant for fun crosses cultural barriers. “That’s why we do well in the international market, because there are a lot of other mountain bikers out there that do relate to that: having fun, not taking yourself too seriously,” Menard said. Transition’s headquarters are now located at 1600 Carolina Street in Bellingham, a block from Kulshan’s Kentucky Street brewery and less than 3 miles from Galbraith. Swing by on weekdays from noon to 5 p.m. to demo a current bike and check out their lineage of historical bikes on display.

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rom

gs f n i t e e Gr

Y H T A N ABE R PEAK POSTCAR DS

terlands Reports from the highways & hin

“Top

way. the look of the rib’s right side and went that For one reason or another, we preferred the to cked wha bush we lake, the (east) side of After following a faint trail on the right it er steep the bed, clim we er high the so bad. But base of the scree slope. At first it wasn’t elves ours half a step back down. When we found got. With every grueling step up, we slid left. ble up some of the more solid rock to our scampering on all fours, we decided to scram a just is ntain mou est of Washington’s 93rd-high After gaining the ridge, the true summit mit. sum the ed reach we as clouds began to billow short way farther. The wind picked up and views, kissed my wife, and then we retreated. ee degr 360zing I quickly drank in the ama skiing most of the way and setting off mini We made quick work of the descent, scree ’t have the mountain all to ourselves, so we didn rock slides with every heel plunge. We had said, and s down onto others. I looked at my wife to worry about accidentally kicking rock done climbs.” “This is definitely one of those one-andy worse ment could change. I’ve re-climbed man senti But deep down inside, I knew that g than Abernathy. mountains that were much less rewardin urence

From Aubrey

!” you

on Abernathy Peak’s 8,321-foot sumeep in the North Cascades, I’m standing waters of Twisp River offers magnifimit. This small and airy perch at the head ides me with an indescribable sense of cent views in every direction, and it prov a brutally cold gust of wind stings my freedom. But the feeling is ephemeral, as n. face, and I realize it’s time to go back dow it’s y for years, but kept putting it off because nath Aber b clim My wife and I wanted to a m, ngha Belli in e hom our from four-hour drive not an easy summit to get to. It requires a give to ed decid ly final We . gain tion mile of eleva 10-mile (round-trip) hike and roughly a . ided subs fires wild after it a go last fall despasses by Scatter Lake, which is a worthy The route to Abernathy’s lonely summit ” om. “blo full in are time it when the larch trees tination on its own, especially if you can air. mn autu cold the in n already faded and falle Unfortunately, on our visit the needles had unintimidating, and at first glance it looks is lake the ss acro The route up the ridge u o the n of h t M nort a rib rock a of in t e side left h going up the o f tits climbable. One guidebook recommends half. r o lowe on nery gree r othe and small trees lake. This rib stands out because it has

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Krissy Moehl, left, running with Jenn Shelton on the John Muir Trail in 2013. Ken Etzel photo.

Catching up with

KRISSY MOEHL

Ultrarunner returns to the Northwest BY OLIVER LAZENBY

hen ultrarunner Krissy Moehl quit her day job seven years ago for ultra running, it allowed her the time to pursue any opportunities that came her way. Since then, she’s clocked the fastest-known time on the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, written a book called “Running Your First Ultra,” supported friends and fellow runners on their projects and record attempts, won races around the country, and ran for fun around the globe. Last December, her travels led her back to the Chuckanut Mountains and to Fairhaven, on the south end of Bellingham. It’s a homecoming, in a way. Moehl grew up in Bow, on the other side of the mountain. The first ultra she ever ran – the Chuckanut 50K, which she has now directed for 15 years – starts blocks from her new home. Though she hopes to establish roots in Bellingham, Moehl, 38, maintains a busy travel schedule. She talked about her career and her future during a four-day window between summer trips.

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE (MBE): Why did you move to Bellingham? KRISSY MOEHL (KM): I moved home, essentially. I lived in Boulder, Colorado, for the last four years because I felt that I needed to live someplace else – to truly uproot myself

– before deciding to call the Pacific Northwest home. I had a great time down there. There’s a terrific group of people that I really connected with, but it just never felt like home. Here I have these moments where I go, “This is it, I can call this home.”

pable of. I think that’s why I’ve race directed the Chuckanut 50K for so long. I love watching people cross the finish line in awe of themselves and what they’ve been able to accomplish. To be able to provide a venue for that, as a coach or as a race director, is such a sustaining part of what I’ve been doing.

MBE: How do you pay the bills, and has that changed with your move to Bellingham? KM: I do a lot of things. I manage sponsorships, coach athletes, race direct and I’ve been writing a lot more lately – whatever I can piece together. I quit my last day job (working to protect wild places with The Conservation Alliance) seven years ago in May. I had two rules: I had to smile and continue enjoying running, because making your passion your job is kind of risky in terms of continuing to enjoy it; and I didn’t want to do it on credit cards. It had to be sustainable. The biggest thing that changed with moving here was starting the Revolution Running coaching group. I’m trying to see if that’s something that could be long term; I don’t see myself being a sponsored athlete for the rest of my life.

MBE: How long have you coached runners? KM: I’ve been coaching for the last five years. A guy who lived up in Saskatchewan called me after I quit my day job and said he’d followed my running career and asked me to coach him. It took me about eight months to decide to actually give it a try. That’s been the coolest thing about these last six years – just being open to opportunity. I spent a month in a motorhome crewing a friend as he ran 50 miles a day across the U.S. There are just so many different experiences that I probably wouldn’t have had if I stuck to what I thought I was supposed to do. I had myself pegged as a married with kids and dog and fence type, and I’m not that person.

MBE: What do you like about coaching? KM: I love first-timers – working with athletes who have a ton of curiosity about the sport and what they might be ca-

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Krissy Moehl, right, with Magdalena Lewy-Boulet after the 2015 Chuckanut 50K. Paul Conrad photo.

got to put in your miles. Recovery is a very key aspect. Take a down week to recover after building up your mileage and let your body absorb the load so you can start again and build from an even stronger base. Core strength is the final thing that I would add. You can’t run an 80-miler to train for a 100-miler, so you have to support all your systems and core work will be that strength that will get you through those later miles. MBE: Do you have a favorite terrain for running? KM: I’d say high alpine, and I like earning it. In Colorado you can easily just be above tree-line, no problem. Climbing from a deep valley and getting up above tree-line like you can here is pretty cool.

MBE: Will living a few blocks from the start of the Chuckanut 50K allow you to do more with the race? KM: This year is the 25th anniversary of the Chuckanut 50K and that will be my 15th year as race director. I foresee putting a lot of energy into making that a big event. Details are just now starting to come together. I submitted for permits and found out that I need to find a new start/finish location. So there will be a bit of a change. I’m thinking we will likely go back to the original spot [Fairhaven Park] and figure out a way to deal with the lack of parking. We have confirmed the post-race party at Wander Brewing and plan to have live music, a photo booth, a raffle to benefit Girls

MBE: How is your new book doing? KM: It’s been pretty popular. I’ve been told that I pigeonholed myself with the title “Running Your First Ultra.” What I’ve heard is that people who have been running ultras for 5, 10, 15 years found helpful pieces in there, and people that will never run an ultra loved finding little tidbits that helped their running. But about half the book is training plans that are specifically for 50K, 50-mile and 100-mile races. MBE: Can you encapsulate the book? What are the most important parts of training for an ultra? KM: I’m a big advocate of consistency, so let’s say the training plan calls for 10 miles one day but you can only get in three – it’s better to do the three than not run at all. You’ve

MBE: Has your motivation for the sport changed over the course of your career? KM: Definitely. I don’t think I’m as competitive as I used to be. I’ve never really been a super competitive person, but as soon as the gun fires I’m definitely paying attention to how the field works and where I’m working amidst it. Running for me now is more about exploration as opposed to competition.

Paul Conrad photo.

them is I’m contracted as a tester; my job is to make sure the product works in the environments I train in. The fact that I go and win races around the world, they think it’s cool but they don’t really talk about it. It’s not in their marketing; it’s not in my contract. My job is to make sure the product is the best it can be.

on the Run and likely some other fun goings-on. We’re looking into what else we might bring to the table to make it a bigger celebration. Engaging the community is a big part of what we want to do. I want to get as many people involved as I can.

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BAKER DENALI DOES

Vacation on the roof of North America STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANDY BASABE

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

laid my book on the downy red ripples of Jerry’s sleeping bag and rolled on top of him to get to the nozzle of my leaking pad. Squinting in the bright Alaska night, I pushed my breath into the pad, growing dizzier with each breath of air at 14,000 feet on Denali. I hadn’t seen stars or darkness in 15 days and I wouldn’t for another 10. The evening radio forecast called for -20 degrees Fahrenheit. I removed myself from Jerry’s sleeping space, which was also my table and chair during the day. When we were in the tent, we had to care for each other, as there wasn’t room for each of us to do so separately. We had one toothpaste tube between us and Jerry would need my sunscreen in the mornings when he forgot to tuck his in his sleeping bag to thaw overnight. I secured some toilet paper from a group heading down. I set one aside in the tent, knowing Jerry’s roll was almost done. He lit the stove and melted snow every evening, and I dumped our pee bottles outside every night so we could continue to pee in the comfort of our sleeping bags. As a home, Denali is a particularly exacting place to live. Sunlight is the only kindness and clouds are frequent. Each new camp meant destroying and rebuilding our homes, digging walls, foundations, stairs, kitchens and bathrooms. We were told that guiding clients on Denali is simply taking people where they don’t belong and managing them so they don’t hurt themselves or anyone else. Lucas DeBari, our unofficial head honcho, told us exactly where we did belong and what we should be doing while we were there. After chores, we were free to enjoy the mountain. There were over 100 people at basecamp at 14,000 feet, and they all walked the same path up and down the mountain preparing to go to higher camps. We strayed from the path and painted the rest of the mountain with tracks, reminding everyone that there is more to an expedition than going home as soon as possible. As much as this trip was a snowboard expedition, it was also a vacation. We didn’t set any speed records, nor did everyone summit, but we did it our own way. The Mt. Baker Hard Core (we needed a team name for the climbing permit) was a testament to friendship and fun. Mt. Baker locals Lucas and Maria DeBari, and Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Kaitlyn Farrington frequently travel across the world to snowboard for The North Face. This time they were foregoing the budgets and obligations to find satisfaction not in accomplishment, but companionship. Story talk after dinner was made more

interesting by the diversity of our jobs and interests – engineering, teaching, stream science, bartending, pizza, trail building – and most importantly by growing up together. At basecamp we erected a bright orange dome canopy and dug down in the snow to build benches, counters, a stove and some nooks for our mealtime trinkets. It was the biggest tent in camp. The kitchen was the place to hang out. Rumor

spread through camp that we had a private chef. Since we went snowboarding on sunny days instead of pushing higher, people began to ask if we were making a ski movie. No ski movie, no chef, just friends on an adventure. Every evening and some mornings, a select group of guides, rangers, climbers and outdoor company CEOs would come visit for a spell and people began to ask if we had a bong. The first one broke, but we built a new one and they all came back. Our goal, other than fun, was to snowboard from the top of the mountain. Lucas and Maria, along with their mother Jeannie, had attempted to summit two years prior, but Maria got pneumonia and had to descend from basecamp. Giving her another shot was a big motivator for the trip. After acclimating, the Mt. Baker Hard Core crew moved up to 17,000 feet under sunny skies. With snowboards on

our backs, we climbed steep snow, crossing a mile of rock and ice ridgeline, sometimes walking on the crest with nothing on either side but gravity. We hoped to summit the next day. We awoke to clouds and wind, with a forecast of 50-plusmile-an-hour wind on the summit, so no go. Higher than most of us had ever been, we poked our heads out of the tent to take in the most extreme and beautiful campsite in America. Our neighbors told us the weather would improve, so we waited out the wind, leaving the tent during intermittent calms to ask for extra food from other climbers. We had only brought enough for one extra day. The next day was just as hopeless but we stashed some food and gear for a return trip before we worked our way back down to a more hospitable camp at 14,000 feet. On the way, I swung my hands to bring blood to my fingers, jumping and kicking to keep feeling in my toes. The demands of the descent prevented me from moving fast enough to stay warm and I had to tell my body it only needed to function for a few more hours, then I could get in my sleeping bag. The wind and snow bit though my sunglasses and hood. It’s strange that if there is nothing else to be done, telling yourself you’re fine is enough. A week later, we found ourselves back at high camp with more food. We embarked for the summit in the morning under a clear sky. The first steep face requires teams to move from picket to picket, attaching the rope to each one as they pass. After this, we moved over rolling hills, passing guided groups to the base of the summit. All 10 of us were together, 500 feet below the summit of North America. At this point, Maria’s face began to turn purple and she couldn’t speak clearly, so she and Lucas turned back and the eight of us continued. As we slogged up the last incline, I was energized by how close we were to the culmination of a month’s effort. We were beset by guided groups while stepping across the summit ridge and had to work not to endanger ourselves in their wayward ropes. With the end in sight we watched the clouds move in, enshrouding the uppermost 200 feet of Denali. We could see each other, and the USGS marker denoting the highest point on the continent – nothing else. Snow really sucks at 20,000 feet. The frozen Styrofoam that crumbled underfoot was too dense to slide on. I didn’t even bring my snowboard on summit day.

It turned out the reason we were on top of the mountain was much less important than the people we climbed it with.

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

Those who did snowboard resorted to ice-axe, sit-down shenanigans while the rest opted to carry their boards all the way down. As usual, it turned out the reason we were on top of the mountain was much less important than the people we climbed it with. Maria was feeling better, happy that she had gotten close enough to the top to see it, and the rest of us were just tired. We slept and then moved back down to basecamp the next day. Unlike most parties who head down to the airstrip as soon as they can after summiting, we opted to savor the sunshine. We had whiskey to drink, backflips to do and seracs to jump. But cheeseburgers, pizza, beer and significant others began to dominate conversations after a few days of leisure, so after 25 days on the mountain, we decided to head down. On the way up, we had spent eight days shuttling loads on our backs and our sleds, lugging 1,500 pounds of gear from 7,000 to 14,000 feet. It took us six hours to retrace those steps that final night. We loaded our sleeping bags and jackets into backpacks, and put all the heavy things on the sleds and leashed them to our harnesses. I pointed my snowboard down the longest hill I’ve ever seen. It was memorable, but not quite what I hoped for. I fell down a lot. If the slope was steep, the sled would slide in front of me, but when the terrain mellowed, it was like playing catch me if you can with a warthog. I would slide in front, trying to keep slack, but if I went too fast I would jerk the sled forward into the back of my knees. On corners, it would ragdoll, ripping me off my feet as soon as the cord went taut. Whenever I stopped too quickly, the sled would fly past and jerk me to my face, down again. If I went just slow enough I could guide the sled down with my hands and feet, letting my eyes rise to the amphitheater around me, lit by the longest sunset of my life. Around each bend was a new glow – glaciers unfolded for miles, sinuous bands of crevasse-speckled white. To take my mind off my throbbing toes, I replayed the events of the previous month: Kaitlyn college-girl dancing to nasty music in bad weather, clouds lapping the edge of Denali with Mount Foraker interrupting the horizon like an Arctic island, waking to helicopters drowning everything in noise as they came to pick up fallen climbers, my newfound distaste for oatmeal, the people we met and the food and stories shared by all those who make Earth’s higher altitudes their home. I found some satisfaction in dropping my backpack, untying my sled and having to go up no more. We laid out our sleeping bags together, no longer needing a tent’s walls to keep us close. The plane would come in the morning.

Denali by the numbers: 20,310 feet above sea level 25 days (May 23-June 16) 10 people 1,500 pounds of gear 8 days up, 16 days at 14,000 feet, 6 hours back down. 300,000 vertical feet climbed

Mount Baker Hard Core:

Andy Basabe, Lucas DeBari (head honcho), Maria DeBari, Frank Devlin, Sam Duke, Kaitlyn Farrington, Seth Holten, Ryan Hyde, Jerry Mark, and Kael Martin.

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

YogaSquats

MALASANA

Strength training and stretching for carrying loads

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LUCA WILLIAMS

ears ago I traveled to Kenya for a work-study program. The opportunity to live among a “primitive” culture changed my life. I watched women carry babies on their backs while balancing a bucket of water or stack of wood on their heads. The women walked great distances with their heavy loads, laughing, singing or chatting. If you look at Kenyan women from the Bantu tribes who grew up in the country you will see beautiful regal spines, even under a load. What do the Kenyan people in the country do differently than us in the Western world? For one, they don’t sit at a desk or in a car for hours every day. I never saw a Kenyan woman from the country do any core exercises, lunges or any other strengthening exercises. On the other hand, they walk everywhere and they squat whenever they cook, eat, or use the choo (bathroom). Hey, doesn’t this sound like backpacking? Did you notice how much more you walk and squat during a

backpacking trip? Backpacking requires strength, power and endurance to tackle steep climbs and descents while carrying weight. Squatting is the perfect exercise to train for hauling a pack up and down the trail. It strengthens the quadriceps muscle group (front of the thigh), gluteal muscles (butt muscles), hamstrings (back of the thigh), calf muscles and the stabilizers of the spine and the muscles that run along the spine. Other benefits of squatting include: • Increased ankle, knee and hip flexibility. • Improved balance and coordination. • Relief from lower back pain. • Aid in stabilizing the spine. There are two yoga squatting exercises that you can do anywhere. Utkatasana (chair pose) will strengthen your lower body before your backpack trip. Malasana (Garland) pose is great for stretching before, during and after your trip.

UTKATASANA

Stand with your feet approximately shoulder width apart. Anchor your ribcage by contracting your upper abdominal muscles to pull the front of your rib cage downward and inward toward your spine. This anchoring of the rib cage will lengthen and strengthen your lower back. Bend your knees and drop your hips toward the floor. Keep your heels flat on the floor. If your heels come up you went too far. Make sure that as you are lowering, your chest doesn’t thrust forward. You can keep your arms out in front of you parallel to the floor or above you, just make sure to keep your rib cage anchored. Now, bring your attention to your feet. They can be slightly pronated (turned outward) or facing straight ahead. There must be a full foot connection to the ground. Do not roll to the outer or inner edge of the foot. Check into your shoulders, face and neck. Are they relaxed or are they holding stress? If you are unable to release the stress then come out of the pose and hold it for less time or try the following easier modification. Variations A) To make this pose less challenging, place the hands on the knees or on a table in front of you. Variation B) To make it more challenging, reach your arms and gaze up to the ceiling.

Once again, begin by anchoring your rib cage. Squat down with your feet turned outward (pronated). This is how most indigenous people squat. You can put your hands in front of you in prayer position or hold onto a chair or table until your balance and flexibility return. If a squat is too difficult you may want to engage in other stretches to help you open your hips and ankles. By sitting as much as we do in the Western world we start to lose the suppleness and strength in our legs and the flexibility in our calves, ankles, and outer hips. By walking more and including squatting in our exercise program we can recuperate some of this flexibility and strength for our next backpack trip.

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FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

ne morning in late July I set out on a mountain bike ride to Chuckanut Mountain, pedaling up its western flank along Fragrance Lake Road, then down the Double Black Diamond trail to the bottom, doing so again and again until I had covered more than 100 miles and climbed and descended the equivalent of Mt. Everest. Up to that point, it was without question the most colossal ride I had ever done. This was not so much a ride as it was a spiritual experiment. Despite sharing the experience here, it was a singularly personal endeavor, neither for training, nor exhibition. I needed to do it for reasons I had hardly begun to untangle. The absurd concept of climbing 29,029 feet in a single ride struck me just a week before, while I was in Mammoth, California preparing for my last major race of the season. For the previous six months, I had been deep into another quest – traveling around the world, competing in high-level mountain bike competitions with the ultimate goal of qualifying for a spot at the summer Olympics. It was a phenomenal adventure, but the bid itself was unsuccessful. The United States only qualified one starting spot for the Olympics, and despite my efforts, I was third in line at best. Though I knew the journey itself was the true prize, a small part of me struggled with a sense of failure, and perhaps also a sense that something was missing, like the right chord to end a song. I had accepted that this specific Olympic and World Cup quest was over, but now I felt like it was stuck on a flat refrain, unworthy of the grand symphony that preceded it. It deserved a strong resolve. My first harebrained intention was to climb 20,000 feet in a day. The most climbing I had ever done in a single day was just over 11,000 feet, and nearly doubling that seemed daunting enough. That is, until I suddenly recalled a friend mentioning the concept of “Everesting:” repeating a climb until achieving total elevation gain of 29,029 feet. I later discovered that “Everesting” is indeed a thing; there’s a semi-formal organization based in Australia called the Hells 500 that’s spreading the concept around the world. There are rules and even an “Everesting” Hall of Fame. When I looked into it on the Hells 500 website, less than 2,000 people in the world had Everested, and only three in Washington state. If I pulled this off, I wouldn’t be setting any records, but I would be the first in the state to do it on a mountain bike. That was all the extra encouragement I needed. I

shared my plans with my wife, and with my two closest friends the night before over a few beers. The climb up Fragrance Lake Road to the Cyrus Gates overlook at the top of Cleator Road gains just around 1,600 feet, plus another dozen or so on the way back down the trail. Each complete lap is just over 5.5 miles. The average gradient is a manageable 8.5 percent comprised of mostly gravel and dirt road with a few sections of narrow trail. This spot came to mind because of its scenic and quiet climb route, and an excellent trail option for the way down – the Double Black Diamond-Double Down trail is a singletrack gem, completed just a year prior through a collaboration between the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and Washington State Parks. To complete an “Everest,” I would need to do 18 full laps. Having done numerous (and much shorter!) workouts on this climb, I estimated that it would take me around 16 hours to complete the mission. I specialize in fast-paced races that last for 90 minutes and cover 20 miles or less. My typical training rides average around three hours. A “solid” day is around 5,000 feet of climbing and descending. This ride would be six times the vert, five times the duration and over three times the calories. My regular five-Big-Mac training rides were about to be eclipsed by a 17-BigMac blowout. And it wasn’t just the climbing that was intimidating. Descending the height of Mt. Everest on rough, dusty trail was going to be a separate challenge altogether. In short, this single ride would equal nearly a week’s worth of good, hard mountain biking. I made a basecamp for the day next to a log on the side of Fragrance Lake Road. Predicting that my unusual stash of Clif Bars, boiled potatoes, sardines, peanut butter cups, rice pudding, hemp seeds, chocolate milk and coconut water would either intrigue or irritate others enjoying the trails, I simply left a note that read “Pls do not remove :).” And with that, the ride began unceremoniously at 5:50 a.m. with a bleep of my Garmin device. I decided to mentally break it into thirds – six laps for each batch, three batches to the end, only three laps to get half-way through each batch, and three at a time didn’t seem like so many. On this first lap it dawned on me that my 16-hour completion target might exceed the battery life of my recording device. If it didn’t record, did it happen? My backup solution was to take a picture of my computer at the top of each climb. Hopefully my phone would last that long, too. In any case, it was extra incentive to keep the pace up and the breaks short.

Chuckanut Mountain “Everesting”

Everesting channeling an Olympic bid into one pointless goal – 29,029 vertical feet in a day BY SPENCER PAXSON

Mount Everest (29,029 feet)

Denali (20,310 feet) Mount Rainier (14,410 feet) Mount Baker (10,781 feet)

Date completed: July 20, 2016

Total ascent: 29,047 feet

Total distance: 102 miles

LAP ELEVATION (ft) 1 1,558 2 3,217 3 4,829 4 6,443 5 8,054 6 9,668 7 11,270 8 12,911 9 14,523 10 16,129 11 17,722 12 19,325 13 20,911 14 22,509 15 24,095 16 25,681 17 27,260 18 29,029

Moving time: 14:25:44

By 10 a.m., I had completed the first batch and nearly 10,000 feet. That is a big day by any standards, and I was surprised by how fresh I felt, as if it had so far been a warm-up. It’s amazing how the subconscious mind can partition a massive effort into manageable sensations. The reflections and the climbing continued. I also realized on the first lap that 18 repetitions was the same number of years I had been racing bicycles, so on each climb I would take a moment to recall the corresponding year, starting in 1998 with the Gorge Games in Hood River, Oregon –

saving up for my first mountain bike, my parents taking entire weekends to drive me around the state for more races. By the time I surpassed my record for total ascent, I was on lap seven, approaching 12,000 feet and thinking about 2004, the year I started college and upgraded from “semi-pro” to “elite” in the NORBA National Series. I recalled something about a very steep climb at my first elite race in Durango, Colorado. Around 4 p.m., I surpassed the 20,000foot mark. On the climb for my 13th lap I reflected on 2010, the year I met the woman who later became my wife. It was also the

year I had a break-out performance at National Championships in Granby, Colorado and qualified for my first Elite World Championships. That was the year things really started to get serious. The climb was also getting serious now. On the 15th and 16th laps, approaching 25,000 feet, I was feeling it. The descent was the most painful. I also began to feel the release. In miles per hour, 25,000 is the escape velocity for earth’s gravitational pull. I was escaping from my own gravity. Part of it was that my wife, Sarah, had joined for these two laps. What I felt was a sort of harmony building. Was it that resolving chord I had sought? Harmony amidst this present summons up and down the hill, this pastime on two wheels that had ceaselessly ensured that my life never passed a moment unlived, the people who had fostered the connections to live that life, this body that carried me, this place I called home, this person who was my life partner. This was the place I had always sought, and had been there before, but now it felt more liberating because of the resolve it brought to this latest adventure. Results rankings, training targets and podiums all washed away. There was no singular desire I could comprehend a need for over simply existing there at that moment. On the last two laps, I was alone again. I reached the top of Cyrus Gates just as the last sliver of red sunlight snuck below the cloud line. Year 2016, 15 hours and 35 minutes. Elevation 29,047 feet.

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MOUNTAIN BIKERS STORY BY JANN EBERHARTER • PHOTOS BY ANNE CLEARY

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hen the Civilian Conservation Corps put in a road to the top of Mt. Constitution in the 1930s, they had no idea they were laying the groundwork for a mountain biker’s paradise. On the eastern side of Orcas Island, the summit is the highest point in the San Juan Islands, providing views of Mt. Baker and surrounding islands, and access to 2,000 vertical feet of singletrack. Unlike most trails, those on Orcas have an open season — September 15 to May 15 — where it’s a singletrack free-for-all and mountain bikers have access to all the good stuff. They’re closed the rest of the year due to the island’s tourist season. Tourists flock to Orcas for the fresh ocean air, good views and island vibes during the warm months. Thankfully, none of these elements go away during the winter, so bikers are greeted with the exact same, plus tacky trails and less crowds, although there certainly can be some inclement weather in the winter. The paved, two-lane road to the top is an anomaly for Washington’s bike trails, allowing riders to shuttle in groups and put their energy toward the downhill. However, as always, the hardcores ride to the top – an impressive feat as the road is steep enough that it’s only fun when you’re reliving it around the campfire later. During the open season, bikers have access to 25 miles of singletrack, a considerable jump up from the 11 that are open year-round. Many of them double as hiking trails, which can mean tight switchbacks and minimal berms for riders, but with the

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DON’T MISS THESE TRAILS: Powerline: The island’s jump-specific trail with large stepdowns, gaps and high-speed berms.

Summit View to Cold Springs: astounding views of the archipelago and fun, technical sections, it can be hard to notice. Trails wind around all sides of the mountain, many leading directly back to Cascade Lake and Mountain Lake, which both have campsites and services. One trail stands out above the rest for its ample airtime and lack of hikers. Powerline Trail skirts around the western side of Mt. Constitution and winds down an old road beneath towering hunks of metal connected by high-voltage power lines. The combination of stepdowns, tabletops and gap jumps provide high-speed sections that take a few runs to learn, but are equally gripping and fun. The whole run feels like a secret – a trail with behemoth features deep in the woods, simultane-

ously providing a getaway from everyone else on the trails and creating stoke that is natural for mountain bikers to share. And there’s plenty more. Nearly a century after the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps worked tirelessly to provide access to one of Washington’s most beautiful spots, the effort they put into the single route to the top has been matched by the many routes back to the bottom. With access to the trails three-quarters of the year, it’s hard to think mountain bikers are getting the short end of the stick. Spring and fall provide the perfect conditions for bikers. And while winter might be harsh, it’s in the fun but slightly miserable way many bikers secretly love.

Ride right off the summit of Mt. Constitution with amazing views of the San Juans and connect to narrow singletrack with steep switchbacks.

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Squamish’s new Sea to Sky Gondola STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRANDON FRALIC

ake a ride on the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, B.C. Opened in 2014, this cable-and-cabin attraction whisks riders from basecamp to summit – a vertical rise of 850 meters – in 10 minutes. A $22 million project, the Sea to Sky Gondola was built to provide trail access and attract tourists. The gondola is located between two of Squamish’s best-known natural attractions – the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls – in the newly designated Stawamus Chief Protected Area. Sea to Sky Gondola’s green cabins were designed to blend with their natural surroundings and reduce visual impact. The gondola’s destination, Summit Lodge, sits on a ridge northwest of Mount Habrich. Most visitors make their first stop at the viewing deck for sweeping vistas of Howe Sound, surrounding mountains and the coastal forest below. Next to the viewing deck, the 100-meter-long Sky Pilot Suspension

Bridge is a “must-do” for all visitors, due to its unique photo opportunities and easy access. Several easy walking trails are worth exploring. The Spirit Trail takes off from Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, offering interpretive information along the way. Learn about the Squamish First Nation’s history and culture on a short, 400-meter loop. For a longer walk, try the 1.6 kilometer Panorama Trail loop. Allow an hour to explore this trail’s various viewpoints, including the Chief Overlook Platform. True to its name, this deck offers unparalleled views of Squamish’s granite monolith, the Stawamus Chief. Adventure seekers can experience a Via Ferrata course, in which you can ascend a granite cliff safely anchored by fixed steel cables. Backcountry trails are accessible year-round, for hiking during summer and backcountry skiing during winter.

Access: The Sea to Sky Gondola is 2 kilometers south of Squamish, right off BC-99. Free threehour parking is available. For a longer stay, park at nearby Shannon Falls Provincial Park or the Darrell Bay parking area and walk 500 meters to the gondola basecamp. Hours: The gondola is open year-round. Summer/fall hours through November 6, 2016, are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Price: An adult round-trip ticket costs $39.99. Reduced tickets are available for seniors and kids. Buy online for special pricing (seatoskygondola.com). Gondola cabins can accommodate skis, snowboards, wheelchairs and strollers. Dogs are not allowed to ride up the gondola but they may hike up the Sea to Summit trail and ride down for an additional fee. “Dog parking” areas are available at the summit.

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Hikes, Brews, & Gondola Views in British Columbia STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRANDON FRALIC

ritish Columbia provides everything you need for “mountainbeering” adventures: challenging hiking trails with big rewards, beers at cozy mountaintop lodges and enclosed cabin gondola rides down to even more drinking and dining options. Hike these trails in late summer and early fall for cooler weather, smaller crowds and changing colors. Taps change seasonally too, with fresh hop and harvest ales taking over come fall. Here are three of the best hike-and-beer combos with gondola assists in lower left Canada.

Squamish: Sea to Summit Trail

Length: 4.6 miles (7.5 kilometers) one way Total Elevation Gain: 3,012 feet (918 meters) Getting There: From Vancouver, head northwest on BC99 to Trans Canada Highway/BC-1 W/BC-99. Merge onto the highway to continue west, then north, for approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles). Turn left into the Darrell Bay parking area, directly across from the entrance to Shannon Falls. Cost: $10 CA for a one-way ride down on the gondola The Hike: Perhaps somewhat underrated in terms of difficulty, Sea to Summit trail gains 3,000 feet over terrain so steep that fixed ropes and chains are in place to assist you. Yet the payoff is oh so worth it. Trailside waterfalls gush with snowmelt, and views of Howe Sound improve with every step. Gondolas pass quietly overhead – a reminder that your hike is only one way. Fortunately, most of the route is under tree cover, providing shelter from the elements. From the Darrell Bay parking area, cross the street into Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Take a gander at B.C.’s third tallest waterfall before following the Connector Trail towards Sea to Summit. The route is well signed. You’ll climb steep staircases, cross bridges and scramble over rocks, enjoying a mix of flat and downhill sections to balance things out along the way. This is one trail where the estimated 3-5 hours hiking time is no exaggeration. Take your time, and remember that it’s smooth sailing once you reach the top. The Beer: Replace those burned calories with a beer and some food on the deck at The Summit Lodge. You’ve earned it. At 2,900 feet above Howe Sound, the Summit Eatery and Edge Bar serves local food and drinks — at a price. If you’d rather save a few loonies, take the Sea to Sky Gondola down and drive to Howe Sound Brewing in Squamish. This award-winning brewery has been serving up fine B.C. beers for 20 years. Try the classic Bay Ale or the new Skypilot Northwest Pale Ale – brewed in collaboration with Sea to Sky Gondola.

North Vancouver: Grouse Grind

Length: 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) one way Gain: 2,800 feet (853 meters) Getting There: From downtown Vancouver, drive north across Lions Gate Bridge. Take the right-hand exit to North Vancouver. Turn left onto Capilano Road and follow it north 6 kilometers to the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Cost: $10 CA for a one-way ride down on the gondola (walking down the trail isn’t permitted). The Hike: The legendary Grouse Grind needs little in the way of introduction. Known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” the Grind is perhaps Vancouver’s most iconic trail. It’s certainly the most-used, with more than 150,000 hikers every year. Enthusiasts seek out the Grind for a challenge; many train regularly on the route and take advantage of the built-in Grind Timer to track their workout. Don’t expect solitude or much scenery beyond trees and stairs during your ascent. Grouse Grind is all about pushing your limits and the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel at the top. Step-by-step directions for this trail are unnecessary. The route is simple: up. You’ll encounter quarter-marker signs along the way to encourage (or perhaps discourage) your continued ascent. Expect a well-trodden trail full of hikers and runners of all abilities, making their way up the 2,830 steps – approximately one step for every foot of elevation gain – to Peak Chalet. The Beer: Enjoy a victory beer at Altitudes Bistro inside Peak Chalet. The outdoor patio offers awesome views from 3,700 feet above Vancouver. When you’re ready, take the Skyride gondola back down the mountain. IPA fans can drive 20 minutes south to Green Leaf Brewing, located within the thriving Lonsdale Quay Market. This brewery always has four unique IPAs on tap, along with a selection of seasonal and experimental brews.

Whistler: High Note Trail

Length: 5.8-mile loop (9.4 kilometers) Gain: 846 feet (258 meters) Getting There: From Whistler Village, take the Whistler Village Gondola up to Roundhouse Lodge. Walk the short Peak Express Traverse to the Peak Express chairlift. The trail begins behind the large stone Inukshuk statue. Cost: $40 US for an adult gondola ticket if purchased five days in advance. A ticket allows for rides on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in addition to the Whistler Village Gondola. The Hike: Said to be the best hiking experience on Whistler Mountain, High Note Trail may very well be the best hiking experience in all of Whistler Blackcomb. This one’s a little different from the other gondola hikes; you’ll take a round-trip on the gondola instead of climbing to a summit lodge. From the trailhead at Top of the World Summit, descend into Garibaldi Provincial Park. Peer down on the turquoise waters of Cheakamus Lake and across the valley to Black Tusk before coming to an intersection with the Half Note Trail. This connector is a shortcut back to Roundhouse Lodge via Pika’s Traverse Road. Stay right to continue along the High Note Trail. At a second junction, a trail goes right toward Flute Summit and Singing Pass, an adventure for another day. Stay left to follow High Note Trail all the way back – past Symphony and Harmony lakes – to Roundhouse Lodge. The Beer: Enjoy bird’s-eye views with your brew at Roundhouse Lodge. Then download to the village for Whistler’s largest selection of B.C. beer on tap at Beacon Pub. With 12 taps, there’s something for everyone including clean B.C. lagers, a local cider, and of course the almighty IPA. People watching here is prime. The pub provides front row outdoor seating at the Village Stroll, Whistler’s pedestrian highway. Best of all, the Beacon is only a 200-meter walk from the gondola.

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

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Clockwise from top left: Flyfishing the Sauk River / Paris Gore photo. Zack Giffin and Tess Grolling backpacking the Mckenzie River Trail / Grant Gunderson photo. Ladders leading to a North Cascades Summit / Alex Guiry photo. Kevin Menard and Kyle Young riding on Galbraith / Paris Gore photo. Squamish camp fire / Alex Guiry photo. North Cascades hyrdotherapy / Alex Guiry photo.

GALLERY

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

Clockwise from top left: Choppy surf on the Olympic Peninsula / Brian Bates photo. Bellingham Bay / Brandon Sawaya photo. Chuckanut Ridge / Anne Cleary photo. Backpacking in the Enchantments / Grant Gunderson photo. Rob Kunch on an abandoned trail / Brad Andrew photo. Josh Myers-Dean on Sourdough Mountain / Nick Danielson photo. A young runner crosses the Baker River / Andy Porter photo.

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

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Clockwise from top left: Tara and Carl Simpson at the Squak Glacier / Jason Hummel photo. Louie Dawson outside Leavenworth / Jason Hummel photo. Vancouver Island woods / Alex Guiry photo. Willow at Artist Point / Anne Cleary photo. Matt Slaven in the

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

Chuckanuts / Paris Gore photo.

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Don’t be

“that guy” at the

climbing crag Ethics for a sport under a microscope STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON D. MARTIN

n the old days, most people learned to climb from a mentor who showed them the ropes, literally. These mentors would also teach new climbers how to behave at climbing areas. That’s not so common anymore. Now, most people transition to outdoor climbing after logging time at a gym and they don’t have the same kind of guidance that climbers had in the past. The result is that new climbers often make mistakes that irk not only other climbers, but also land managers. Climbing ethics are important because the sport’s growing. There’s room for us all to have a good time if we treat each other and the crags with respect. But they’re also important because we’re under a microscope. Land managers are always watching. If we mistreat an area or if a dispute between climbers grows beyond the climbing community, it jeopardizes the crag. It can take years to understand the nuances of climbing ethics, but there are a handful of universal ethical considerations that every climber should contemplate. HUMAN WASTE AND TRASH Nothing gets a crag closed down faster than human waste and litter. Indeed, nothing makes a crag less appealing than those things either. Poop is a major problem at climbing areas across the country. New climbers often don’t know how to deal with it and leave stinky surprises for others to find. Sometimes they seem to think putting a rock on top of the pile will mitigate its impact. It doesn’t. The best way to deal with human waste is to carry it out. Several commercial waste bag systems make this easier, but Ziploc bags work too. If you’re unable to deal with packing out your waste, climbing outside probably isn’t for you. This is considered a baseline standard that everyone should abide by at hundreds of climbing areas throughout the United States and Canada. If you are in an area with good, organic soil, it’s possible to bury your waste in a cat hole. Dig your hole at least 6 inches deep, at least 200 feet from any water source and nowhere near the crag. Pack out your toilet paper. Climbing tape, candy bar wrappers, gum, cigarette butts and other trash should always be packed out. CRAG HOG Climbing clubs and other large organized groups occasionally string ropes on all the climbs in an area to claim them. If people from the group are actively climbing on the ropes, there’s nothing wrong with this. The problem arises when the ropes are left empty while another party waits to climb. North American ethics dictate that whoever gets to the crag first gets priority. But that doesn’t mean they’re the

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

only ones with access for the day. Group leaders should work to accommodate all visitors. Multi-pitch climbs have a similar issue. If you’re first to the crag, then you get priority access. However, if you are first and you are not a fast party, you should allow others to pass. Those who arrive later should understand that even if they’re faster climbers, they still must ask before passing. THE KNOW-IT-ALL Occasionally you will run into the person who thinks he knows everything. In some cases, he’ll provide unsolicited beta or advice. In other cases, he will tell you all the things you’re doing wrong. If you’re that guy, nobody wants to listen to you. There are legitimate reasons to step in and give advice. If someone is in imminent danger you should say something. But it’s quite unusual for someone to be in such danger. It’s far more common to run into someone who’s doing something mildly wrong. In those cases, be friendly, talk to the person, make friends with them, and then provide gentle, nonjudgmental advice. DOGS AND MUSIC In most climbing areas, well-behaved dogs on a leash are acceptable. Barking dogs, dogs off-leash and dogs that bite people are not welcome. Ask yourself two things before bringing your dog: does your dog listen to you? If it doesn’t, it’s not acceptable at the crag. And second, ask yourself honestly if your friends like your dog. If they don’t, strangers probably won’t either. Not everyone has the same musical tastes. In fact, many people like to hear the sounds of nature when they go climbing. It’s fine to listen to headphones, but speakers are not considered acceptable in either a crag or a multipitch environment. Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing sports in America. The Outdoor Foundation estimates that 4.6 million people climb each year. Certainly a large percentage of them only climb indoors, but we all know they won’t stay there – climbing outside is just too much fun. Educating yourself and others in climbing ethics will ensure that everyone has a good time and that the crags and mountains of North America will remain open and clean for generations to come.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED with protecting your favorite rock climbing access? Get active with these organizations: • Washington Climbers Coalition • Access Fund • The American Alpine Club • Climbers’ Access Society of B.C. • The Mountaineers

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Chris Duppenthaler photos

Bellingham to Baker race revived… starting in Concrete BY OLIVER LAZENBY

an Probst wants to hold a trail race from Bellingham Bay to the summit of Mt. Baker and back, a 108-mile journey with more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain. He envisions a world-class race on a world-class trail that would draw hikers from all over the planet to walk the course at a more leisurely six-day pace. The problem is, despite a corridor of public lands, the trail doesn’t exist. To advocate for and build the roughly 40 miles of trail needed to complete the route, he wants to hold a race to raise money. To complicate the chicken/egg scenario, getting permits to hold a race is an ever-expanding venture with multiple government agencies involved. The crux is that he needs an OK from the U.S. Congress to hold a race through a designated wilderness area, as the route winds through about two miles of Mt. Baker Wilderness Area. That would be an action without precedent. Currently three races in the United States cross wilderness areas, and all three predate the creation of the wilderness areas they are in. The Bellingham to Mt. Baker race also predates the wilderness. Kind of. The Bellingham Chamber of Commerce held a similar race from 1911 to 1913. “There’s never been a case where the race has been dormant for 100 years and then has been accepted back in the wilderness area,” Probst said. Probst is all in on the project – he’s not only attempted the 108-mile course six times and completed it three times, he’s also been working for years with dozens of politicians, government agencies and private landowners to make the event happen, even as new challenges unfold. “It’s all or nothing,” Probst said. “The point in which I should have dropped this so that I could maintain a life has well passed.” Probst and his nonprofit, Cascade Mountain Runners, are making progress. Whatcom

DODSONS

County Council added the trail to a draft of its comprehensive plan update. But the next year could be make-or-break for the proposed Bellingham to Mt. Baker Trail. Probst and the nonprofit are burning through money. “Without a race this next year, the trail may also fail,” he said. “I cannot personally afford to keep pushing for the trail.” Probst, through an LLC separate from his nonprofit, started planning a race for next year on an alternate course from Bellingham to the summit but that course didn’t work due to one private landowner refusing permission. He’s now on Plan C: “I have no choice, we’re going to move the race out of Whatcom County and we’re going to Concrete.” Probst hasn’t gotten final approval from all the government agencies involved, but if all goes according to plan, the first ever Bellingham to Mt. Baker race will start at 12 a.m. on June 4, and go from the town of Concrete to the summit of Sherman Peak – a sub summit of Mt. Baker, about 700 feet below the true summit – a distance of 55 miles with about 10,000 feet of elevation gain. It’s a compromise in service of the end goal

– the Bellingham to Mt. Baker Trail. “The race will ensure that every single year we have money coming in for the Bellingham to Mt. Baker Trail,” Probst said. “We can get donations and we can get grants, but none of those are sustainable. They’re one time.” Probst needs at least 100 people to sign up for the race by January in order to fund it. He’ll also need a local guiding company to fix ropes on the glacier portion of the course, which could require tens of thousands of dollars and up to a mile-and-a-half of fixed ropes. “What makes this race incredibly expensive is the glacier,” Probst said. “But that’s also the draw.” He’s not crazy for thinking that hundreds of people might want to run the course. His model for the Bellingham to Mt. Baker Run is the Tour dés Geants, a 205-mile race in the Italian Alps. That race boasts an international field of 750 runners, and this year had to turn away about that many. That race also has its own trail, built for the race, which is now a hiking destination. In Europe, this kind of thing – races over seemingly inhuman distances in the mountains – has its own name: skyrunning. It takes a world-class course to make a

world-class race, Probst said. The race from Concrete will be great, but a trail race from Bellingham to Mt. Baker would have a truly global pull, he expects. The race is on to build it. For more information, check out cascademountainrunners.org.

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Mazama Copper Big mining’s threat to this dry-side recreation destination BY NICK BELCASTER

round pitch two of the classic Prime Rib of Goat climb, often touted as one of the longest sport routes in the U.S., the light fades and the yellow bulbs of the Mazama Store flick on in the valley below. The rock is still warm. Everything is calm and quiet from this vantage. But in the valley below, mining drills clunk into gear and truck engines groan to life – at least in the imaginations of some residents. There’s copper behind these walls. And after transforming itself from a mining outpost to a recreation destination, Mazama could once again host a mining operation. Blue River Resources, a Canadian mining company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., applied for permits to explore the earth above the little Highway 20 hamlet in April 2014. They’re looking to see if the copper behind the rock warrants an open pit mine.

The possibility of a mine on Flagg Mountain, 2 miles above Mazama, is still a long way off, but the community has hit the ground running in order to stop it. Blue River Resources could not be reached for comment, but the plan they submitted to the U.S. Forest Service in August 2013 outlines 15 exploratory bore holes to be drilled to a depth of up to 980 feet. A support system of drills on sleds, bulldozers and water tank trucks would be on Flagg Mountain for approximately four months, and could operate for 24 hours a day. The infrastructure required to actually mine the copper would likely impact 6 square miles of land in the narrow valley, according to one group that’s fighting the proposal. The company is waiting on a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. The General Mining Act of 1872 gives U.S. citizens the right to make a claim on federal lands that they believe hold precious minerals. As a Canadian

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company, Blue River Resources functions as the operator of the claim, while the owner is listed as Mazama Minerals Inc., based out of Henderson, Nevada. The U.S. Forest Service has conducted environmental assessments and heard public comment in preparation for issuing a decision on the permit, but has been held up since 2013 by bad fire years in the Methow Valley. Its decision is slated to come down later this summer. Recreation in Mazama is a big deal. Fly fishers scan the Methow River for rising trout, climbers head to Washington Pass for classic climbing objectives or take to the

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near-town cliffs. Hikers out for the day or passing by on a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail wind their way past the valley. In the winter, skiers flock to the valley for worldclass, cross-country skiing. To these folks, a copper mine above Mazama is a direct threat to the activities they hold dear. Methow Valley locals have formed conservation groups to rally against the drilling, one of the largest being the Methow Headwaters Campaign. The group fears that a mine will come with years of heavy truck traffic, visual impacts, wildlife disruption, and spills that affect water quality. The campaign’s outreach coordinator, Hannah Dew-

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ey, said the campaign has taken off in the last six months, after they announced a petition against the mine. The petition carried the signatures of 135 local business owners, and was sent to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service. The letter caught the eye of state representatives, and earlier this year U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell introduced the “Methow Headwaters Protection Act of 2016” to Congress. Aiming to accomplish a “mineral withdrawal” of approximately 340,079 acres of federal land surrounding Mazama, the legislation would effectively take new mineral claims off the table, but would not necessarily stop Blue River. If the mineral withdrawal is successful, the Bureau of Land Management will require Blue River to demonstrate

the existence of a valuable mineral resource in order to mine, something the company aims to achieve with the exploratory drilling. This isn’t the first time industry has probed the area in search of copper. Nestled beneath Flagg Mountain sits Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, and manager CB Thomas has watched the issue from the onset. “I trust the people who have lived here a long time. This is the fifth or so time bore holes have been drilled looking for copper, and I don’t think they’re going to find anything they don’t already know,” Thomas said. Even so, Thomas said he believes many in the valley have reluctantly accepted that the holes will be drilled this fall. Like Thomas, many in the valley not only enjoy the recreational bounty of Mazama, but make their living from the recreation industry as well. Josh Cole owns North Cascades Mountain Guides, a rock and ski guiding company that operates in the Methow area and beyond. Cole describes the dependence on recreation dollars as a gradient running down the valley, with Mazama being mostly dependent on recreation, Twisp less so, and so on down the river. A 2015 study on the economic impact of Methow Valley’s trail system on the local economy found that nearly $6.7 million is injected into the community through trail users annually, and the trails play directly into local real estate purchasing decisions. “If you think about mining as the historical economic underpinning in the upper part of the valley, in the early part of this century recreation has become that underpinning,” Cole said. Many in the valley wonder why, when there is near unanimous community support for denying the permit, the Forest Service has not taken larger steps in moving the mineral withdrawal forward. In many ways, however, the agency’s hands are tied: “To

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sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations,” reads the Forest Service’s mission statement. The words hang above Methow Valley district ranger Michael Liu’s desk. He said to note the key word, productivity. The Forest Service must manage all uses of federal land, even when those uses oppose one another. “When I look at those words, and the potential effects of a mine, they do seem a little at odds with each other,” Liu said. Liu has worked for the Forest Service for more than 30 years and has lived in the valley for eight. He explained that while many associate the Forest Service with hiking and trails, the agency is beholden to laws such as the 1872 mining law and has to issue permits when they qualify. Liu said the Forest Service will delay its decision until he can meet with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, who have expressed concerns over the potential mining plans. Should the Forest Service issue the permit for drilling, however, and the company finds sufficient copper in the ground, Blue River’s likely next step will be to apply for a mining permit, which would require a broad environmental review, Liu said. Many in the community see a struggle ahead and hope that the combination of mineral withdrawal and public outcry will be enough to prevent something they see as incongruous to the landscape they call home. Back on the wall, we start setting up our rappel. The sun tilts back over Washington Pass, and the wind blows east down valley with the Methow River. The rock glows orange as the sun sets. I wonder what stands to be lost in an area that has rebuilt itself on enjoyment of the outdoors, where the local economy hinges on tourism dollars, and recreation acts as the glue that holds together this unincorporated community.

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CRICKET FLOUR PROTEIN BARS think of them as a gateway drug to insect ingestion BY OLIVER LAZENBY

oast Protein, a Vancouver, B.C.-based company, is preparing to launch its protein bars later this summer in three tasty flavors made from natural ingredients including organic Canadian cricket flour. Crickets can be found in cuisines around the planet, but they’ve only recently made it into the kind of snacks North Americans bring to the mountains for an energy boost. There are many good reasons to eat crickets: The chirping insects take 13 times less water, 12 times less feed, and produce 100 times less greenhouse gases per pound than a dairy cow, as Coast Protein’s marketing points out. They’re also highly nutritious and relatively inexpensive – qualities that have led some to call them the

future of protein. And as a futuristic bonus, they have antennae. While feasting on crickets is easy on the Earth, getting them into a bar comes with some serious challenges. For one, crickets have a stronger flavor than the proteins used in other bars, which are often whey- or soy-based. Coast Protein’s CEO, Dylan Jones, compares the flavor to mushrooms and roasted almonds – not a bad flavor, but challenging to turn into a diverse line of sweet and savory protein bars. Also it’s not easy to turn an insect with a hard exoskeleton into a baking ingredient. “You have to have some pretty talented bakers,” said Jones, a regular at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Evidently Coast Protein’s bakers and food scientists

know what they’re doing. Their chocolate sea salt bars, of which they produced samples this summer, tasted like, well, salt and chocolate. That is to say, they’re delicious, and without knowing beforehand, one would never guess that crickets are the main source of protein. Currently about 85 percent of Coast Protein’s ingredients come from Canada or Washington state, including the crickets, which currently come from Ontario. “We focus really highly on the sustainability aspect,” Jones said. “We’ve shied away from using dates, almonds, cashews and other really water-intensive crops. We realize it’s a big world and there’s a lot of things that need to be changed and we’re trying to change a small part of it.”

BOOK REVIEW Cascades Rock by Blake Herrington BY JASON D. MARTIN

rofessional climber and writer Blake Herrington has been a staple of the North Cascades climbing scene for several years now. He has more than two dozen new routes and first free ascents in the Cascades, the Alaska Range, Colorado and Argentina. His writing has been featured in Alpinist, Climbing and Rock and Ice magazines as well as in newspapers like the Seattle Times. Blake has a deep knowledge of the Cascade Range. He recently completed a new guidebook by sifting through that knowledge and picking out the gems. Blake’s full-color book, “Cascades Rock,” details 160 routes in the region and includes dozens of topos, interviews and photos. Blake took a chance with this book. Many of the mountains and features

covered here are covered in other texts – there is a lot of competition in the Washington guidebook arena. But he needn’t worry too much. His book is absolutely beautiful and stands out dramatically against the competitors. The book covers peaks, such as Dragontail and Prusik, and it also covers walls, such as Snow Creek outside Leavenworth and Green Giant outside Darrington. But what makes this book stand out is the attention to detail. I’ve climbed Green Giant Buttress three or four times, and every time I’ve found myself floundering, trying to understand where the routes are located. But Blake’s book is so detailed that I know I will always be able to find those routes in the future, no matter how confusing it’s been in the past. In addition to some of the wellknown walls, Blake’s book also includes several lesser-known areas. He covers places like the Twin Sisters and Mamie Peak in the Mt. Baker area as well as the Supercave Wall in Washington Pass. Each chapter starts with a map of the area, a breakdown of camping issues and red tape and then launches into the meat. Many of the routes have

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

photos and topos, and every route has a description. Each page is filled with multi-color information, which is incredibly pleasing to the eye. Some of the routes are a bit remote. It can be somewhat daunting to burn a day trying to get to a route, only to get stymied by bad approach or climbing beta. This seems unlikely with “Cascades Rock.” The book doesn’t get bogged down in any one thing. Instead, it provides all the beta you need to climb a route. The only criticism that I have of this guide is that it is heavy on harder climbs. There’s no doubt that the climbs in the book are awesome, but Blake probably could have added a couple dozen more routes in the 5.55.7 range for those who want to get after it with a little bit less commitment. In the end, the most important thing that any guidebook can give you is psyche: psyche for new areas, new routes and new experiences! Many of the routes in Blake’s book I was aware of, but didn’t have that tight of a grasp on. The situation is different now. I can’t wait to get out there and try some of the lines detailed in the book! cascadesrock.blogspot.com.

FREEDOM FOUND: My Life Story

arren Miller, voice of adventure and action sports filmmaking pioneer, put pen to paper to tell stories from behind the lens. His new autobiography, “Freedom Found,” comes out in September.

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SUPing to Alaska Matthew Nelson photo

can it be done? BY OLIVER LAZENBY

he closer you get to Karl Kruger, the more realistic it seems that someone could ride a stand-up paddle board unsupported from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, as he’s trying to do. Hours before his first attempt, he spoke with calm conviction about the journey, revealing deep knowledge of the route, meticulous preparation and his calculated approach to nutrition, which involves eating several calorie-dense pellets every hour. Get some distance, and reality seems to sink in: the Orcas Island man wants to ride a glorified surfboard up the inside passage for about 750 miles, enduring weather, rough seas and at the very least, 10-20 days with cold, wet feet. Karl made his first attempt during the 2016 Race to Alaska, a non-motorized boat race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan held by the Northwest Maritime Center in Port

Townsend. He strapped food and minimal camping gear to his 19-foot paddleboard and set off. He made it across the open waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in some respects the most challenging part of the course, near the middle of the pack of boats. “I really enjoyed that day. For the first 15 or 20 miles I was averaging 6 to 10 knots and having the time of my life,” he said. Toward the middle of the crossing, where currents from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait and Admiralty Inlet converge, he encountered big waves that his weighted board bounced over. “The peaks were just kind of everywhere. I think that is where my trouble began,” he said. After going through customs – a strange experience on a paddle board – he reunited with his wife and daughter in Victoria, B.C. and everything seemed to be going well. Over the next few days of paddling, however, his board started tracking to the left and it slowly got worse.

At some point in the race, probably in rough water in the middle of the strait, he cracked his board and it started absorbing water. By the third day, he was in pain and paddling 30 or 40 times on his left side for every 10 on his right. “It’s one of those things that snuck up on me so slowly that it took a while for it to dawn on me that I was having some trouble,” he said. On the third day of the race, after paddling with a pod of Orcas near Dodd Narrows south of Nanaimo, he dropped out of the race. Karl became a fan favorite in the first few days of the race, which people followed on Facebook and on the race’s GPS tracking website. By the time he got home he had emails from people offering their board shaping services. For next year, Race to Alaska, he’s going to add some paddle-specific training to his regimen and come back with a redesigned board.

50 years of protecting trails.

t’s virtually impossible to hike in Washington state without benefitting from the work of the Washington Trails Association. The nonprofit, which is the largest trail maintenance organization in the United States, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. That’s 50 years of advocacy, wilderness protection, family and youth programs, education, trail work parties and much more. The organization is celebrating from noon to 6 p.m. on September 17 at Snoqualmie Point Park in Snoqualmie. Find more information about the organization and its work parties at WTA.org.

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™ The Key to Bellingham’s Best Cannabis™

Every Day 5-6-7™ Deal $5 Edibles • $6 Pre-Rolls • $7 Grams

360-393-3459 • 218 N Samish Way

www.trovecannabis.com Store hours: Sun-Wed 9am-10pm • Thu-Sat 9am-11pm View our full menu on our website:

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

Ryland Bell in Cordova, Alaska. Court Leve photo

CANNABIS DIRECTORY

Find Your Bliss at Evergreen Cannabis

Buds • Edibles Waxes • Oils Topicals Must be OPEN: Mon-Sat 9-9

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BELLINGHAM, WA

Birch Bay

360.306.8635 (Take I-5 Exit 270 across from Birch Bay Square)

Bellingham 360.526.2198 (Across the street from Olive Garden)

Yes! We’re Medically Certified! 3435 Birch Bay Lynden Rd. M - SUN: 9AM - 9PM Everyday! Offers Valid While Supplies Last!

Hours

4220 Guide Meridian Rd. STE. 102 SUN - W: 9AM - 10PM TH - SAT: 9AM - 10:30PM

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CANADIANS WELCOME!

Warning:This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking can be hazardous to your health. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery while under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. Not for use by woman who are pregnant or breast feeding. This product is infused with marijuana or active compounds of marijuana. For use by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

Where to

EAT

Where to

STAY

ACME/VAN ZANDT

DEMING

BELLINGHAM

BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL

RIFUGIO’S COUNTRY ITALIAN CUISINE

SPRINGHILL SUITES BELLINGHAM

974 Valley Highway (Hwy 9) 360/595-2200 bluemountaingrill.com Fresh, homemade fare, including baked bread and desserts made daily, steaks and burgers. Open for lunch and dinner every day, and breakfast on weekends. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Twin Sisters.

EVERYBODY’S STORE

5465 Potter Road, off Highway 9 360/592-2297 everybodys.com This delightful, eclectic store features a wide array of gourmet meats, specialty cheeses and fine wines, many of which are made locally. Also check out their great selection of clothing, books and artwork.

BELLINGHAM BELLEWOOD ACRES

6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden 360/318-7720 bellewoodfarms.com Visit the distillery, farm, country store and bistro for artisan food products and Northwest gifts. Visit the website for a full list of entertainment and family activities.

EAT RESTAURANT AND BAR

5415 Mt. Baker Highway 360/592-2888 ilcafferifugio.com Gourmet full-service menu, serving wine, beer and espresso at reasonable prices. 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Thursday– Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 15 minutes from Bellingham. New drive-up bar. Live music and events. Last stop for WiFi.

THE NORTH FORK BREWERY AND BEER SHRINE

6186 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2337 northforkbrewery.com Looking for marriage or a pint of fresh ale and hand-tossed pizza? Our pizzeria, brewery, wedding chapel and beer museum is your place! Open to all. Monday–Friday: dinner; Saturday–Sunday: lunch and dinner.

WELCOME GROCERY

5565 Mount Baker Highway 360/922-7294 Brand new! Eat in or take out. Fresh-made, homestyle breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pastries, deli sandwiches, rotisserie chicken and more. Largest bottle shop in region.

EVERSON HERB NIEMANN’S STEAK HOUSE RESTAURANT

1200 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham 360/306-3917 4u2eat.com American farm-to-table with a French twist. Back-toroots cuisine from regionally inspired dishes that are healthy, creative, and flavorful, utilizing locally foraged and sourced products from nearby farms.

203 W. Main Street 360/966-2855 eversonsteakhouse.com Nestled in the middle of Everson, serving a mouthwatering array of steaks, Bavarian specialties, seafood and desserts to customers since 1993. Offers atmospheres for adults and families alike, including parties up to 50.

KEENAN’S AT THE PIER INSIDE THE CHRYSALIS INN & SPA

GLACIER

LUXURY GETAWAYS

4040 Northwest Avenue 360/714-9600 springhillbellingham.com Discover a hotel infused with smart and stylish design, offering a seamless blend of comfort and functionality. Enjoy our newly redesigned spaces to work, relax and connect and be completely in sync with the hotel experience you want.

THE CHRYSALIS INN & SPA

804 10th Street 360/756-1005 thechrysalisinn.com Each guest room overlooks a spectacular Northwest seascape. Spacious rooms feature fireplace, down comforters, luxury amenities and a two-person bath elegantly set in natural slate. Three distinctive room types offer increasing levels of luxury.

CONCRETE MAIN STREET GUEST HOUSE

45501 Main Street 360/927-3671 airbnb.com Cozy and quiet short-term rental just one block from 5b’s Bakery. Near the Baker and Skagit rivers, Baker Lake and North Cascades National Park, it’s a perfect base for rest, recreation or business. Two-night minimum.

GLACIER A CHALET AT MT. BAKER

804 10th Street 360/392-5510 thechrysalisinn.com Featuring a seasonal menu, full bar and terrace bar open for happy hour every day, 3–6 p.m. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner daily with a view of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands from every table.

9990 A Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2863 barveneto.com An elegant, cozy space in the foothills to enjoy a classic craft cocktail, a unique and delicious wine, a local or exclusive beer. The new not-to-be-missed restaurant/bar in the area.

7087 Bluet Pass 360/367-0963 chaletatmtbaker.com Enjoy all things outdoors. Chalet is warm and inviting with lots of beautiful wood and a cozy wood-burning stove. Sleeps 4–6. Hot tub on outdoor deck, fire pit area. Great rates!

WESTSIDE PIZZA

CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA AND BAR

BLUE T LODGE

7260 Cordata Parkway, Suite 107 360/756-5055 Pizza made with only the best ingredients available, and dough made fresh every day. The perfect place to stop after a long, hungry day of adventuring.

BURLINGTON SKAGIT’S OWN FISH MARKET

18042 Hwy 20 360/707-2722 skagitfish.com Offering the highest quality in local seafood. Daily lunch specials freshly prepared. Local jams, jellies, salsas, honey and sauces. Visit them on Facebook.

CONCRETE

BAR VENETO

10459 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2511 chair9.com The perfect place to enjoy a great family meal or a brew after a day on the mountain. Bands play weekends. Try the “Canuck’s Deluxe” pizza, a staff favorite. Open for lunch and dinner. Dine in or take out. Check music events on Facebook.

GRAHAM’S RESTAURANT

9989 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-9883 Grab a stool at the legendary bar and enjoy rotating selections of fine craft beers, ciders and wine. New menu specials – appetizers, sandwiches and dinner. Breakfast weekends.

45597 Main Street 360/853-8700 5bsbakery.com Skagit County’s premier bakeshop serving home-style breads as well as a full array of fresh baked goods and classic American desserts. Dedicated gluten free. Great food for everyone. Open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

9990 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2863 milanosrestaurantbar.com For 25 years Milano’s has been a landmark of the Mt Baker foothills. Now you get our improved traditional Italian recipes plus daily specials to make you remember us. A feast for all senses.

ANNIE’S PIZZA STATION

WAKE ‘N BAKERY

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

MT. BAKER VACATION RENTALS

360/671-5383 mtbakervacationrentals.com Come stay with us! All our properties are located in and around the Glacier area, a short drive to Mt. Baker. Winter, Summer or in between. Get up here… “Top of the Mountain to you!”

SNOWATER RESORT AND CONDOMINIUMS

10500 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2724 snowater.org One and two-bedroom rentals available. Recreation centers with indoor pools and sauna. Indoor/outdoor racquetball courts.

MAPLE FALLS BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS

7425 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2999 or 888/695-7533 bakeraccommodations.com Baker Accommodations offers cabins and condos in the resort developments of Snowater, Snowline and Mt. Baker Rim, conveniently located just east of Glacier.

MT. BAKER LODGING

7463 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2453 or 800/709-7669 mtbakerlodging.com Mt. Baker Lodging offers cabins, condos, chalets and executive rental home accommodations. A number of selected units are pet friendly. Walkin reservations and one-night stays available.

WINTHROP CHEWUCH INN

223 White Avenue 800/747-3107 chewuchinn.com Guest rooms for romantic getaways, seasonal travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. The relaxed atmosphere of a B&B with the privacy of a hotel. Centrally located for an abundance of outdoor adventures in the surrounding wilderness areas.

MILANO’S RESTAURANT

5B’S BAKERY

44568 State Route 20 360/853-7227 anniespizzastation.com Family-owned pizza restaurant focusing on fresh, homemade quality Italian fare. Friendly service, helpful information and great food combine for an unforgettable experience.

10459 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-9944 bluetlodge.com Conveniently located behind Chair 9 Woodstone Pizza and Bar, this six-room inn is ideal for families or groups. Clean rooms have queen-sized beds, a full bathroom and private small patios as well as access to a meeting space.

9989 Mt. Baker Highway 360/398-9590 or 877/90-BAKER stayatmtbaker.com From mountain chalets to waterfront lodges, Luxury Getaways offers overnight accommodations in newly built vacation homes located in the heart of the Mt. Baker Recreational Area. Perfect for hitting the slopes and relaxing.

6903 Bourne Street 360/599-9378 getsconed.com Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 5ish p.m. Serving breakfast burritos, quiche, soup, lunch wraps and freshly baked goods. Savory and sweet gluten-free options. Organic espresso and coffee. Indoor and outdoor seating. Dine in or take out.

Luca Williams Certified Rolfer Glacier, WA 360-599-3172 lucasrolfing.com MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

BELLINGHAM SEAFEAST NEW FESTIVAL WILL CELEBRATE BELLINGHAM’S MARITIME HERITAGE

The cities and towns along the Salish Sea have a long history of subsistence and commercial fishing, from First Nations people harvesting salmon with weirs and traps to Whatcom County’s still-thriving commercial fishery. A new event sponsored by the city of Bellingham is embracing that heritage. The Bellingham SeaFeast, on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1, will feature poetry, sea shanties, harbor and boat tours, an international salmon grilling championship, an oyster shucking and slurping contest and endless seafood.

LEARN MORE AT BELLINGHAMSEAFEAST.COM

Resort Condominiums

Full and Fractional Condo Sales and Rentals Available

Come Experience Snowater Resort

Gateway to the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and Ski Area

360-599-2724

Glacier, WA

www.snowater.org FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

EVENTS

- find more events and submit your own at mountbakerexperience.com

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

LAKE PADDEN RELAY September 3, Bell-

MT. BAKER FILM FESTIVAL November 3, Bellingham. Kick back for an evening of snow sports entertainment at the 17th annual Mt. Baker Film Festival. More info: mtbaker.us

ingham. Enjoy the forested trails of Lake Padden with a four person, 2.6-mile relay race or an individual 10.35 mile run, hosted by the Greater Bellingham Running Club. More info: grbc.net

NORTH COUNTY ROAD RUN September 3, Lynden. Explore scenic roads in northern Whatcom County with a 5K, 10K or 25K course. More info: northcountyroadrun.com WINGS ON THE WIND KITE FESTIVAL

September 5, Manning Park. Build your own kite and then come to the group kite launch at 2:30 p.m. to fill the sky with kites. More info: manningpark.com

BELLINGHAM BEER WEEK September

9-18, Bellingham. Celebrate the exploding craft beer scene in Bellingham with events and beer all week long. More info: bellinghambeerweek.com

WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL September 9-11 Port Townsend. Celebrate the beauty, history and craftsmanship of wooden boats at the largest wooden boat festival in North America. Music, food, family fun and an incredible variety of wooden boats. More info: woodenboat.org PEOPLE OF THE UPPER SKAGIT Sep-

tember 9-11, Hope Mountain Centre and the North Cascades Institute are hosting this three-day tour, bringing together an audience of Americans and Canadians. Explore the many natural and cultural wonders of Ross Lake with archaeologists and historians. Preregistration is required. More info: hopemountain.org

HOPE BRIGADE DAYS September 9-11,

Hope. Hope’s end of the summer festival is back with a bike jam, dogeball and hockey tournaments, parade, fireworks and more. More info: brigadedays.com

SUMAS BULL-A-RAMA September 10,

Sumas. Catch impressive bull riding and other rodeo events at the Rodeo Grounds in Sumas. More info: sumaschamber.com

BELLINGHAM TRAVERSE:

September 17, Bellingham. The multisport relay through Bellingham puts a big emphasis on fun. Run, mountain bike, road bike, kayak and trek your way to the finish line at Boundary Bay Brewery, solo or with friends. More info: recreation northwest.org WHIDBEY ISLAND KITE FESTIVAL Sep-

tember 17-18, Clinton. Enjoy the scenic backdrop of Camp Casey and enjoy the colorful kites, demonstrations for both adults and children and more. More info: www.kitefestical.com

BAKER LAKE CLASSIC September 24, Baker Lake. Trail run through the national forest on this scenic 25K with views of Baker lake, Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. More info: skagitultratunners.com ISLAND QUEST ADVENTURE RACE Sep-

tember 24, Orcas Island. Mountain bike, kayak and trek your way across local trails and waterways. The best route is up to you and your teammares. six and 12 hour races. More info: recreationnorthwest.org

VANCOUVER EASTSIDE 10K September 17, Vancouver. The Eastside 10K, part of the Canada Running Series, is a 10K race through the historic east side of Vancouver. The race goes through parts of Gastown, Chinatown and East Vancouver. More info: runguides.com

TIGHT LOOSE MOVIE PREMIER Sep-

BURLINGTON

30- October 1, Bellingham. A brand new festival celebrating the maritime heritage of Bellingham and Whatcom County, featuring seafood, poetry, music, harbor tours and more. More info: bellinghamseafeast.com

HARVEST

FESTIVAL

September 24, Burlington. Celebrate the harvest at Skagit River Park. The event features a pumpkin patch, free kids zone, food vendors and live music. More info: burlington-chamber.com

tember 28, Bellingham. Teton Gravity Research is returning to the Mount Baker Theatre to show its new feature length ski and snowboard film. More info: tetongravity.com

BELLINGHAM

SEAFEAST September

BELLINGHAM BAY MARATHON: September 25,

Bellingham. The views are beautiful, it’s a Boston marathon qualifier and 2016 is the event’s 10th birthday. More info: bellinghambaymarathon.org

OCTOBER RUN LIKE A GIRL HALF MARATHON OR 10K October 1, Bellingham. Run Like a

Girl is a non-competitive event for folks (male or female) who just want to get out and have some fun. Never participated in a half marathon before? No problem! More info: runlikeagirlbellingham.org

WINTER EXTREME EQUIPMENT SALE

October 15-16, Vancouver. Canada’s largest ski swap drops into Vancouver for a weekend of deals on new and used gear. More info: winterextreme.com

BLOEDEL DONOVAN SKI SWAP Octo-

ber 21-22, Bellingham. Gear up to hit the slopes at Komo Kulshan Ski Club’s annual ski and snowboard swap. More info: komokulshanskiclub.com

SIX FOOT TRAIL RELAY October 22, Orcas Island. Bring your friends and run 12 legs for a total of 70 miles at beautiful Moran State Park. More info: nwtrailruns. com ROCK ‘N ROLL OASIS VANCOUVER MARATHON October 22-23, Vancou-

ver. Rock out in a half marathon or 10K through scenic Vancouver. More info: runrockroll.com

WARREN MILLER’S 67TH FEATURE FILM “HERE THERE & EVERYWHERE”:

November 10, Bellingham, Mount Baker Theatre. Info at WarrenMiller.com

MEC SNOWFEST November 20, Vancou-

ver. Celebrate all things snow at this year’s snowfest, featuring a gear swap, instructional clinics, and family friendly entertainment. More info: events.mec.ca

SIP ‘N’ SHOP ON THE COVE November 19, Coupeville. Sample some of Whidbey’s best wines and liqueurs, enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants. More info: coupevillechamber.com TURKEY DAY 10K November 24, Belling-

ham. A fun and fast 10K on Thanksgiving morning before all the day’s festivities! The 10K race begins and ends at the Lost Lake Parking on the East side of Chuckanut Drive. More info: Bellinghamtrail. com

DECEMBER JINGLE TRAIL 5K RUN AND WALK December 3, Coupeville. Go at your own pace through scenic Camp Casey trails and Fort Casey State Park. More info: jingletrailrun. com

THANKS GIVEN’ER December 10-11, Oak Harbor.

Two days of cyclocross races, including a kids course. Also features food and beer vendors. More info: cascadecross.com

Basecamp Bellingham COME OUT AND PLAY!

FALL Events

Bellingham, WA • August 27 – Wondermud • August 28 – Chuckanut Classic, Road Bike Race • September 17 – Bellingham Traverse • September 24 – Lake Samish Salmon Roe • September 25 – Bellingham Bay Marathon

Photo: Eric Mickelson

Bellingham Premiere of Tight Loose Mount Baker Theatre Wednesday, September 28 Doors at 6:30pm • Show at 7:30pm

WANT MORE?! VISIT US ONLINE.

BASECAMPBELLINGHAM.ORG

$12 Advance • $15 Day of Show and $7 for ages 16 and under. FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

BY PAT GRUBB

FALL GEAR GUIDE

MSR POCKETROCKET STOVE KIT When you’re traveling fast, you want to travel light. This you can do with MSR’s PocketRocket stove kit. Total weight of stove, aluminum stove, two mugs and two bowls and two Sporks? 24.9 oz. Boils a liter of water in under 4 minutes. $99

msrgear.com

ODIN FLOW JACKET The Odin Flow is a great jacket for stop and go activities or as a mid-layer in harsh weather. Open internal mesh allows for easy ventilation. Both men’s and women’s versions. $250

hellyhansen.com

SEALINE BLOCKER DRY SACKS Whether you’re fording raging rivers or have waves coming over the starboard bow, Sealine Dry Sacks will keep your scheisse water-free. A range of sizes are available depending on need.

sealinegear.com

ULLR MIDLAYER JACKET

PARTY BUCKET If there’s anyone who knows how to party, it’s the folks at Dakine. This party bucket fits a 5-gallon pail and holds enough ice, snacks and beverages to keep things rolling for a long time! $55

dakine.com

All new, the active wicking material means you won’t be stewing in your own juices while participating in high-intensity activities. Wear it as a mid-layer or on its own. $175

hellyhansen.com

COMSTOCK UNISEX SUNGLASSES The bold styling of Smith’s latest design looks good at the beach or downtown. Various lens options available from non-polarized, polarized Carbonic lenses in eight different colors. Locking hinges. $99$169, depending on lenses.

smith.com

THERM-A-REST NEOAIR CAMPER SV An ultra-thick mattress featuring the SpeedValve design for fast inflation and deflation. Stuff sack and repair kit included. $99.95

thermarest.com

The Nerd, Ascendant:

How Pokémon Go helped me gain friends, lose weight and conquer the world

STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVE GUNTLI

ou see them everywhere: socalled “Pokémon Trainers,” wandering around the country, noses buried in their smartphones, desperately trying to catch that one elusive Pikachu or Charmander. Since the release of the Pokémon Go app this summer, the game has transformed the way people interact with each other and their surroundings, and has inspired a generation of nerds to get outside for hours each day. Not being a nerd (suspicious cough), I didn’t know much about this game, but Pokémon Go has captured the zeitgeist in a rare way, and if there’s one phrase that describes me, it’s cutting edge, so I decided to jump on this bandwagon … purely for journalistic pursuits, of course. For those who’ve been under a rock for the last few months (possibly looking for a bug- or rock-type Pokémon), Pokémon Go is a new smartphone game from Niantic and the Pokémon Company. It’s something of a nerdy spin on geocaching: using your phone’s GPS and camera, you wander around the real world looking for the titular pocket monsters from the mid-’90s video game sensation. You catch creatures by flicking little red and white Pokeballs at your target, build up your library of creatures, collect items at outposts (called “Pokestops”) and battle other players at “gyms” scattered around the world. The game has quickly proven to be a sensation. In just 12 hours, it reached the top slot in the iPhone store and in the first few weeks, it was the most-used app in the

world, topping Instagram, Facebook and Twitter by wide margins. Nintendo’s stock rose 25 percent in five days, despite the fact that Nintendo, which has produced Pokémon games in the past, had nothing to do with this title. It’s inspired feverish fandom and vocal derision. Police have had to warn people against playing and driving, following a number of accidents; some enterprising young criminals were caught luring players to Pokestops only to rob them at gunpoint; a young man was caught by police in Blaine wandering around wearing nothing below the waist; a young girl in Wyoming stumbled across a dead body while out playing the game; and one man (and this is my favorite) found himself in serious trouble with his girlfriend after she discovered that he’d caught a rare Pokémon … in his ex-girlfriend’s bedroom. Personally, I’d never heard of this “Pokémon” (cough), so the novelty of the game was largely lost on me, cool, metropolitan chronicler of the world that I am. But the idea of using a game as an excuse to get out into the world and exercise more appealed to me, and I thought it might help me lose those last few pounds I’ve been fighting since … well, birth. So I downloaded the game and set out on my journey to be a Pokémon Master. The first thing I noticed about the game

was that it barely worked. For the first week or so, the servers were so overloaded with users that actually getting the game to load was miraculous. Even if you got the game to work, the chances of it crashing in the middle of a battle were likelier than not. It was frustrating to get it going, but by the time of this writing most of the kinks seem to have been worked out. The second thing I noticed is that the game came with an instant, built-in com-

munity. Case in point: I was walking home from a bar one night shortly after the release of the game, and I stopped along the sidewalk to catch a creature, a stocky anteater-looking fellow called “Drowzee.” I threw a couple of balls and finally snagged my quarry; shortly after, I heard a voice calling to me from across the street. “What’d you get?” It was a girl, around college age. I’d never seen her before.

“Drowzee,” I replied. She smiled and cheered congratulations to me. I was fairly stunned. The game had been out for less than two days, and already players could identify their ilk by sight on the street. In the weeks since I’ve started playing, this has happened time and again. Once, while walking my new puppy in the park, I was stopped by a couple of teenagers who couldn’t give less of a damn about my adorable puppy, but were really curious to see if I caught that rare Dratini that had popped up in the park. Parks, by the way, have become overrun with trainers. If you find yourself walking through a public park and see a person looking at their phone, they are most assuredly trying to “catch them all.” Recently while in Zuanich Park in Bellingham, I saw that every person in the park was perched around a Pokestop, and that is not an exaggeration: it was every person. Beyond the social aspect, the more I played, the more I found I wanted to be out and about, exploring new corners of the world and logging steps. My favorite feature of the game so far is the egg-hatching system. Using an incubator, players can attempt to hatch eggs, possibly containing rare Pokémon, by fulfilling a certain step count, usually between 2-10 kilometers. I find myself going on runs lately just to hatch eggs, and I’m not the only one using the egg system to get some fresh air. On July 23, I participated in a “Hatch-athon” in downtown Bellingham. The event was a 5k walkathon, mapped out to hit a high number of Pokestops and designed to give players the perfect route on which to hatch eggs. Proceeds from the event went to the Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a charity dedicated to preventing and protecting the victims of child abuse. More than 350 people showed up, and raised nearly $3,000 for the charity. That’s pretty fantastic for a silly little video game. As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a coffee shop about 3 miles from my house. I walked here, and hatched a couple of eggs along the way. A month ago, I would have driven, or, more likely, stayed at home, partially because I wouldn’t have had any need to write this article, but mostly because of laziness. Pokémon Go, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, has inspired me to exercise more, to engage more with strangers and my surroundings. I’ve met some really cool people, even made a few friends. I’ve caught more than 60 unique Pokémon (out of a possible 151) and I’ve even lost a few pounds in the process. Pokémon Go is more than just a goofy app that’s turning the youth of the nation into a bunch of mindless phone zombies. It’s a certified cultural force that has the potential to do a lot of good. Take it from me, a genuine cool guy (cough, cough).

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

Freedom to Explore!

2017 Jeep® Wrangler

Uncompromised off-road capability and impressive on-road handling.

1615 Iowa St. • Bellingham (866) 448-0086

www.dodgechryslerjeepofbellingham.com

Proudly Serving Whatcom County for over 69 Years

John E Tack Construction General Contractor New Construction • Additions Remodels • Repairs

“Traditional Service Meeting Modern Needs.”

(360) 410-6235

www.johnetackconstruction.com LIC# JOHNEET925KL

WANTED We need vacation homes!

Glacier and Maple Falls homeowners: are you looking for ways to off-set the debt service on your 2nd home? Consider placing your vacation property in the Mt. Baker Lodging vacation rental program.

Mt. Baker Lodging offers a full-service “turn-key” program that combines extensive marketing with reservation procurement and professional housekeeping services, providing you with hassle-free rental income that assists in reducing the debt service associated with owning and maintaining a second home.

The Power of Dreams! The Accord is luxuriously appointed with updated accents and innovative technology!

40 Years of Leading the Way

2010 Iowa Street • Bellingham, WA 98229

360-676-2277

The amazing

Our Clients enjoy peace-of-mind while working with the Mt. Baker area’s oldest, largest and most established vacation rental agency. Mt. Baker Lodging provides friendly and knowledgeable personnel in a fully staffed local area office, utilizing a direct hands-on approach to managing the properties that we represent. Our Clients also have the flexibility of utilizing their homes for personal use between rental occasions. It’s a win/win!

2017 Volvo XC 90 T6 has arrived in Bellingham! Engine: 2.0L 1-4 cyl Transmission: AWD • MPG Range: 20/25 Exterior Color: Osmium Gray Interior Color: Charcoal Stk# 17004

Call 360-599-2453 x113

Mt. Baker Lodging, Inc. 7463 Mt. Baker Highway Maple Falls WA 98266-2002 www.mtbakerlodging.com reservations @ mtbakerlodging.com 42

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

northwesthonda.com

1601 Iowa St. • Bellingham

KING VOLVO

Local 360-255-5999 Toll Free (888) 493-3189 KingVolvo.com

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

Recreation Real Estate “Recreation benefits human well-being by improving health, providing social experiences, and increasing happiness. Many health benefits, including physical and mental health, have been attributed to outdoor recreation... access to green spaces reduces stress and anxiety across all demographics.” - Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State prepared by Earth Economics, January, 2015

LEXAR HOMES now open in Bellingham to better serve Whatcom County!

Over 23 years experience building affordable energy efficient homes!

‘Third Generation Knowledge’ comes with local experience and being locally connected. Call today to learn about the unique real estate opportunities in the Mount Baker region!

LEXAR HOMES NOW OPEN IN BELLINGHAM TO BETTER Constructing New Quality-Built Homes in Whatcom • Skagit • Island • San Juan Counties SERVE WHATCOM COUNTY!

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HOMES 4340 PACIFIC HWY, BELLINGHAM • 360-778-3292 WWW.LEXARHOMES.COM

360-778-3292

VISIT OUR GALLERY OF HOMES AT WWW.LEXARHOMES.COM

Need Help Buying or Selling? Call your neighborhood experts.

360.303.4272 • bethniemorrison@cbbain.com

#bluejeansrealtor

360-333-0156

MarkFrye@NWHomes.net MountBakerProperties.com

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A HOME? Mount Baker Vacation Home Specialist Live happier and healthier in a community you’ll love!

Independently owned and operated.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Vanson Associates 360-933-0001 | weichert.com

“Your marketing plan worked and our place sold in 13 days. Your enthusiasm and confidence won the listing, but your effort made the sale.” Bernie – Vancouver, BC

Call me today at 360-333-0156 for a no obligation consultation.

Buying | Selling | Careers

RDL 708 WEI Vanson Associates qtr pg 2.indd 1

“Mark continued to look out for us even after the property had closed. He saved us time, effort and money.” Tom & Bonnie – Delta, BC

8/16/16 3:01 PM

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

reezer bag cooking is nothing new for experienced backpackers looking to keep a pack light, but it’s useful for more than just cutting weight. Freezer bag cooking has the added benefits of making clean-up a breeze, since you can eat straight out of the bag, and your cook pot is only used to boil water, which can also save you fuel. The method is just what it sounds like – fill a freezer bag (no sandwich bags please – they won’t hold up to the boiling water) with dehydrated or quick-cooking foods, top up with boiling water, seal and insulate the bag, and wait for your food to rehydrate. While companies such as Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry make great freezedried meals, making your own single-serve packets is a great way to control both cost and ingredients, in addition to making it possible to enjoy a greater variety of foods on your adventures. Freezer bag cooking can be as complicated as dehydrating your own fully cooked meals, or as simple as grabbing a few things at your local grocery store. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started using readily available ingredients:

DIY FREEZER BAG BACKPACKING MEALS STORY AND PHOTOS BY KARA FURR

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD Powered for the road you choose to take.

Couscous Primavera

tables, ground ginger and garlic, shredded beef jerky and soy sauce packet • Ramen noodles (minus the seasoning packet) or rice noodles, freeze dried vegetables, bouillon, red curry powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes and chopped dried shrimp (available at your local Asian grocery)

Supplies needed: Quart-sized freezer bag, cook pot, spoon, bag cozy In a quart freezer bag put: • 4 ounces couscous • ¼ cup freeze-dried mixed vegetables, such as Just Veggies • ½ cube chicken or vegetable bouillon, crumbled • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning blend • Pepper to taste Bring on the side: • 1 tablespoon or 1 packet olive oil • 2-3 tablespoons shelf-stable parmesan cheese Optional: foil pack chicken or salmon To cook: Combine all ingredients in freezer bag. Boil 2 cups water and pour into bag. Seal bag and place in a cozy (a foillined bubble mailing envelope is a common, lightweight hack. A jacket or sleeping bag works in a pinch) for 10 minutes. Drain any excess water and eat.

Tips: Don’t skimp on your freezer bags – use high quality namebrand bags to reduce the risk of leaks. Make a great makeshift bag cozy by lining a bubble mailer with tin foil, or, if you’re feeling brave, just use your sleeping bag or coat. Prepack your freezer bags only with truly dry ingredients. Anything with moisture, such as parmesan, jerky, nuts or chewy dried fruits should be kept in a separate bag to prolong shelf life. Instant mashed potatoes are a great base on their own, but they can also add bulk and creaminess to a variety of recipes. Couscous, rice noodles or deep-fried ramen noodles are your best bet for pasta, as none of them need to boil in order to cook fully.

Other simple ideas: • Instant Mexican-flavored rice, dried refried beans (available in most bulk bin areas) and hot sauce • Instant rice, freeze dried vege-

Is Your Windshield Chipped or Cracked? Your safety is our concern.

• Windshield Replacement • Rock Chip Repairs • Side & Back Glass Replacement

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with every windshield installed.

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Dinner onis Usoh so sweet in the An outdoor experience 1512 N. State St.

1721 E. College Way

Mt. Vernon 2017 Subaru Forester

To Our Canadian Friends Bellingham Lynden

1512 N. State St.

(360) 734-3840

407 19th St.

1721 E. College Way

(360) 354-3232

(360) 424-9759

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Family owned & operated for 4 generations!

407 19th St.

(360) 734-3840 (360) purchased 354-3232 (360) 424-9759 with every windshield and installed.

*All prices exclude taxes, title, registration and document fees. Customer cash applies to purchases. Take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 1/4/16. See dealer for residency restrictions and complete program details. **Ford Credit financing required. Not all buyers will qualify for Ford Credit financing. Take new retail delivery stock by 1/4/16. Additional incentives may apply. See dealer for residency restrictions, qualifications and complete program details.

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1820 James St. • Bellingham I-5 Exit 254

360-392-7000 • 800-628-9331

QUALITY SALES AND SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS SINCE 1908

www.DiehlFord.com

Mt. Vernon

Windshield Replacement Rock Chip Repairs 1512 N. State St. • 360-734-3840 407 19th St. • 360-354-3232 1721 E. College Way • 360-424-9759 Side & Back Glass Replacement Family Owned and Operated Since 1929! Free Loaner Cars Free Pick up & Delivery

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

OF BELLINGHAM 1800 Iowa St. • Bellingham, WA 98229

360-734-8700

www.deweygriffin.com MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

PARTINGSHOT

Cam Hamilton near Mt. Baker Ski Area / Brad Andrew photo

Thomas O’Keefe photo.

endy McDermott, associate director at American Rivers, Paul Engel, president of the Mt. Baker Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene along with other interested

CHAIR 9

representatives from various local groups involved in recreation, conservation and ecology toured the North Fork Nooksack in August. The tour focused on the economic and health benefits of outdoor recreation, the value of public lands, and the campaign

to protect the Nooksack River by having it designated as a Wild and Scenic River. For more information about the Wild and Scenic effort or the Upper Nooksack River Recreation Plan, contact Wendy McDermott at wmcdermott@americanrivers.org.

WOODSTONE PIZZA & BAR

Full Menu & Family Dining

Happy Hour

Upstairs Game Room Free WiFi

Mon-Fri 11am-4pm

Watch all your sporting events here! 6 big screen TVs

LIVE MUSIC - Check

for schedule

PRIVATE ROOM available for parties and events.

From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges, Luxury Getaways offers overnight accommodations in newly built vacation rentals located in the heart of the Mt. Baker recreational area.

CATERING for all your party needs.

10459 Mt. Baker Hwy Glacier, WA

360/599-2511 www.Chair9.com

Glacier’s Only Hotel Located next to Chair 9 A great place to rest your head after your mountain adventure!

360/599-9944

Ask about pet-friendly rooms 46

www.bluetlodge.com

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | FALL 2016

www.stayatmtbaker.com

360.398.9590

9989 Mt. Baker Highway

•

Glacier, WA

MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM

GLACIER Satisfy your vacation rental needs.

Office 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy. • Maple Falls

BakerAccommodations.com • 1.888.695.7533

GLACIER, WA S H I N G T O N

360-599-9883

ST AU R A

Serving great food 7 days a week

9989 Mt Baker HWY

HAM’ RA

H GREAT FOOD H LIVE MUSIC H HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS H BREAKFAST WEEKENDS

Noww SSeeNrrvovin ing

Fresh Baked Goods BrB&earkfeasatkBufarritoss,t Strictly Organic Coffee & Espresso ASoupllL&uDQunaiccheyh Behind Milano’s Restaurant • Open everyday at 7:30 am Behind Milano’s Restaurant • Open everyday at 7:30 am 360-599-1943

Glacier Ski Shop 9966 Mt. Baker Hwy • Glacier • GlacierSkiShop.com Best Rates

R E N TA L S

Downhill • Tele • X-C • AT • Snowboards • Snowshoes VoTeD BeST

HOT SHOTS

E STOR BIG SCOOPS

tune shop Binding Mounts • Hotwax • Ski & Board Tunes

Espresso • Ice Cream • Groceries • Bagel Sandwiches • Videos • Local Crafts & More

Glacier, WA • 599-2665

LODGING

Milano’s Restaurant

Fresh PastahLocal Seafood

Private Cabins, Cottages & Condos at the Gateway to Mt. Baker

Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available!

1-800-709-7669 OPEN DAILY • 9AM - 5 PM

Mt. Baker Lodging, Inc. Open 4 pm - 9 pm OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK • CLOSED TUESDAYS

9990 Mt. Baker Hwy. Glacier, WA • 360.599.2863

7463 Mt. Baker Hwy. • Maple Falls, WA www.MtBakerLodging.com

www.MilanosRestaurantBar.com

FALL 2016 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

FRIDAY, SEPT 30

Downtown Bellingham

FisherPoets -onBellingham Bay Boundary Bay Brewery

Sea Shanties

Eat. Play. explore. ...AND EAT SOME MORE!

FrIday, Sept 30 Saturday, Oct 1

2016

www.BellinghamSeaFeast.com

Honey Moon Cider & Mead

SATURDAY, OCT 1

Zuanich Point Park

International Salmon BBQ Grilling Championships Harbor Tour & Boat Ride Meet Your “Meet Fisherman Fisherman” Activities Live Music Check out the lineup on our website. ADMISSION FREE

TO FESTIVAL GROUNDS.

Photo credit: Katheryn Moran Photography