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MBE
summer 2019
contributors CarsonARTAC Carson is a Midwest transplant working as a commercial and editorial photographer in the Pacific Northwest. Carsonartacphoto.com
nickDANIELSON A designer by trade and photographer by experience, Nick spends his summers trail running and winters splitboarding in the mountains of the Northwest. Nickdanielson.com
BeauGAUGHRAN Beau Gaughran is a Bellingham-based freelance photographer from Maine. He moved here for the incredible whitewater, year-round splitboarding and mountain playgrounds where he practices his craft.
jasonGRIFFITH Jason is a fisheries biologist who would rather be on a summit than down by the river. When he isn’t fiddling with his camera in the mountains, he lives in Mount Vernon with his wife and two boys.
katieGRIFFITH Katie is a Seattle-based climbing coach, guide, and writer. She writes at the intersection of climbing and life, most curious about topics related to gender, privilege, healing, and vulnerability. Shrinkitandpinkit.wordpress. com
stephenHUI Stephen Hui is the author of 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, an all-new guide from Greystone Books. Visit 105hikes.com.
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jasonHUMMEL Jason is an outdoor pher from Washington documented numerous scents in the North Alpinestateofmind.com
photograwho has first deCascades.
drewHURTER Drew is a skier, climber and mountain biker living in Bellingham who loves documenting adventures through photography. He likes to capture his friends doing the things they love most.
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.
audra leeMERCILLE Audra Lee Mercille is a Pacific Northwest-based freelance adventurer. She found photography as a way to display her love and gratitude for the mountains and landscapes that inspire her.
jeffersonMORRISS
skyeSCHILLHAMMER Skye is a rider, photographer and cinematographer for Transition Bikes based out of Bellingham. When he’s not on assignment or on a bike, you can find him deep in the woods building trail and soaking in the PNW.
jennySCHMIDT Jenny travels the world looking for her next awesome biking adventure. In her spare time, she works tirelessly to make Bellingham recreation more inclusive through her work at Shifting Gears. Letsshiftgears.com
evanSKOCZENSKI Evan Skoczenski is a lifestyle and landscape photographer born in Bellingham. He spends almost all his time chasing light and the next adventure!
matthewTANGEMAN Matthew is a Bellingham-based adventure photographer with a passion for deep powder, alpine granite and not making it back to the trailhead until way after dark. mtangeman. com.
jacquelineTHOMPSON
Jefferson Morriss is a Mount Vernon-based photographer. After relocating to Washington state in 2001 from the mean streets of Bismarck, North Dakota, he picked up his first camera and never looked back.
Jacqueline is a writer, mountain guide and environmentalist who splits her time between northern Arizona and Western Washington.
marcusPALADINO
benjaminWHITNEY
Marcus Paladino is a surf and outdoor photographer living in Tofino, B.C. He strives to have simple descriptions like ‘surf shot’ or ‘nature photo’ fall short. That’s when his work becomes art. marcuspaladino.com
Inspired by the allure of the North Cascades, Ben moved to Bellingham from Vermont this winter. He writes about people, place and community, and is excited to contribute to the creative wellspring that surrounds the alpine.
LisaPULSIFER Lisa Pulsifer is passionate about hiking and backpacking and just completed the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington. She lives in Vancouver, BC.
lucaWILLIAMS Luca Williams is a certified rolfer in Glacier. She helps snowboarders, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts get aligned and out of pain. Website: lucasrolfing.com Blog: movingwithgravity.wordpress.com
MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
Summer 2019
MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE A Special Publication of The Northern Light PUBLISHERS Patrick Grubb and Louise Mugar EDITOR Oliver Lazenby PUBLICATION DESIGN Doug De Visser COPY EDITOR Aly Siemion
ADVERTISING DESIGN Ruth Lauman • Doug De Visser
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ADVERTISING SALES Molly Ernst • Adam Albert CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE: Carson Artac, Nick Danielson, Zoe Deal, Beau Garreau, Beau Gaughran, Jason Griffith, Katie Griffith, Stephen Hui, Jason Hummel, Drew Hurter, Ben Shanks Kindlon, Aubrey Laurence, Marshall Lockman, Audra Lee Mercille, Jefferson Morriss, Marcus Paladino, Lisa Pulsifer, Skye Schillhammer, Jenny Schmidt, Evan Skoczenski, Matthew Tangeman, Jacqueline Thompson, Benjamin Whitney, Luca Williams.
Into the unknown on Mt. Prophet
A FIRST ASCENT ON JACOB’S LADDER
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EMAIL: info@mountbakerexperience.com
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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 an outdoor recreation guide for and about the Mt. Baker region, distributed from Seattle, WA 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. XXXIII, No. 2. Printed in Canada. ©2019 POINT ROBERTS PRESS 225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 TEL: 360/332-1777 NEXT ISSUE Fall 2019 • Out late August Ad reservation deadline: August 5 ON THE COVER Michael Darling post surf on Vancouver Island, heading home through wildfire smoke. Photo by Marcus Paladino.
WOMEN’S WORK
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LOVE & SKI TO SEA
Making a living in the backcountry
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Bringing people together since 1973
10 NEWSROOM News from here and there
BIKES 16 EVIL Q&A about new Fairhaven facility
TO LUMMI 15 PADDLE A canoe journey
OUR WINTERS 22 PROTECT Nonprofit starts Canadian branch
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AND SLEEPS 46 EATS Snacks and shelter for summer trips
47 EVENTS Try something new
GUIDE 31 HIKING To BC’s North Cascades
AND WELLNESS 33 HEALTH Stretches to reverse modern life
ISLANDS 36 GULF Your guide to the southern islands
ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
FINDS 39 FORAGING Cooling and calming summer plants
SUMMER 2019
GUIDE 45 PRODUCT New summer gear
SURF TOFINO | WOMEN’S WORK | SLUSH CUP
Special Publication of The Northern Light
GOING SOLO
Learn to adventure alone
SLUSH CUP
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A local event with a long history
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SPRING 2019
Newsroom
Notes big and small from around the region
ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Glacier Research
Squamish mountain bike
guide
Micah
Evangelista HOMEGROWN MT. BAKER MASTER
Special Publication of The Northern Light
www.MountBakerExperience.com
A stump too far? Mount Baker Experience heard from several readers about our spring 2019 cover, which shows a mountain biker riding over an old-growth stump, with big trees in the background. We discussed the ethics of the photo in our office before publishing it and ultimately felt comfortable with it since it takes place next to a popular trail on Galbraith Mountain – a working forest that’s been heavily logged in recent years and will continue to be. The forest in the photo isn’t as pristine as it appears. However, we regret not communicating that decision and should have made the context of the photo clear to readers, as many feared the photo would encourage mountain bikers to do similar stunts in other areas, some of which might not be working forests. Nevertheless, as one reader, Chris Moench, pointed out: “That kind of activity leads to continual widening and braiding of trails as riders look for opportunities to get a little more thrill and challenge in their “shredding.” It damages tree roots, small animal habitat and can increase erosion. That the area will likely be clear-cut in the next few decades doesn’t negate its value as habitat currently.”
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Western Washington has a wolf pack Western Washington officially has a wolf pack for the first time in decades. This winter, a female wolf joined a male that had been captured and radio collared in Skagit County in 2017, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Biologists named the pair the Diobsud Creek pack, for the creek they have been spending time at north of Marblemount. Wolves began returning to Washington state in 2008 after being wiped from the region in the early 1900s. Wolves settling west of the Cascades could mean that their territory to the east is full, wildlife biologists said. Fish and Wildlife’s annual wolf survey this winter found there are at least 126 wolves and 27 packs in the state, mostly concentrated in northeast Washington.
Parkscriptions day On April 28, Recreation Northwest held its first annual Whatcom Parkscriptions Day. This new public health campaign allowed participants to attend any of 15-plus free, all-ages educational events in various Whatcom County and state parks. The campaign is in partnership with community doctors and health care providers, who are encouraged to prescribe time outdoors to patients. Parkscriptions are meant to help patients foster a healthier lifestyle in tune with nature and gain improved mental and physical health. It can also be more encouraging to get a parkscription in a written format, according to Dr. Richard Smith, regional medical director at Humana. “We all receive advice from physicians, and it seems to have more traction when it’s written down,” said Dr. Smith. For more information, visit recreationnorthwest.org/parkscriptions
Squamish ski resort could open by 2025 Garibaldi at Squamish is planning a four-season mountain resort on Brohm Ridge, five minutes north of Squamish on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, that would eventually be 1,635 acres with 21 lifts and up to 20,000 beds. That’s much smaller than Whistler’s 8,171 acres, but bigger than Mt. Baker Ski Area, which is roughly 1,000 acres. Construction would occur in four phases, with the first phase – eight ski lifts and 610 skiable acres – opening in 2025 and the final phase by 2040. In addition to skiing, plans call for lift-accessed mountain bike trails, a 62-acre village, and could also include snow tubing, ice skating, climbing walls, an “alpine roller coaster” and more. The resort has received one environmental approval from the federal government, but still needs dozens of others before construction can start as planned in 2023.
King County’s transit to trailhead program expands King County’s Trailhead Direct shuttle program has expanded for the third year in a row after two successful pilot years. Starting in 2017, the service ran a shuttle between the Issaquah Transit Center and Squak and Tiger Mountain – two popular hiking areas in the King County foothills. The service is a partnership involving King County Metro, King County Parks, private companies, several municipalities, nonprofits and others. More partners coming on board has allowed the program’s expansion. Now, buses leave Seattle from four different transit hubs and reach eight different trailheads, stopping at regional transit centers along the way. The service costs $2.75 for adults and runs between April 20 and October 27.
MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
ARDS
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Larrabee Trail Plan The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission started a trail planning process for Larrabee State Park this year. The 2,748-acre shoreline park currently has 2.7 miles of hiking-only trails, 1.5 miles of biking-only trails and 18.8 miles of multi-use trails. To let Washington State Parks’ trail coordinator know what you think of the current trails and what you desire for the future, search “Larrabee State Park trail planning” on the state parks website, parks.state.wa.us, and check the events page on our website for future planning meetings.
Guide service offering tree-climbing adventures at Deception Pass State Park Seattle-based guide service AdventureTerra began taking visitors to Whidbey Island’s Deception Pass State Park on tree climbing adventures in 2017, and it has plans to guide more activities in the treetops, including canopy camping, later this summer. AdventureTerra also teaches rock climbing and kayaking nearby. Learn more at adventureterra.com.
BC adventurer’s bike travel book wins nonfiction prize Kate Harris of B.C. won the RBC Taylor Prize for literary nonfiction for her book, “Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Roads,” in which she bicycles along the famed routes connecting Europe and Asia. In 14 months, Harris pedaled the Silk Road from beginning to end, then wrote about it from her offgrid cabin in northern B.C. The trip derailed her plans to become an astronaut, showing her that there’s adventure and exploration here on earth. The book tells the story of her adventure, but also of the region’s human history and her philosophy of exploring.
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LUMMI ISLAND ARTISTS’
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s the snow melts on Mt. Baker, hikers, climbers and campers head to the hills. Roads clear of debris, trails dry and snow consolidates to create easier passage on climbing routes. Behind the scenes of the summer recreation boom, folks prepare for a busy season of work on the mountain. Trail crews carry McLeods and Pulaskis uphill to remedy the winter’s ravages, guides prepare aspiring mountaineers for summit attempts and researchers scout data collection sites. Within each industry on Mt. Baker, there are women working every day to protect natural resources and make mountain recreation possible. They haul in gear, pack out trash and are fueled by their passion for the outdoors and this region. Here is a peek into a few of their stories.
BARB RICHEY
Women’s Work Making a living on the mountain BY KATIE GRIFFITH
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest As the wilderness and trails manager for the U.S. Forest Service’s Mt. Baker Ranger District, Barb Richey has managed the Mt. Baker Wilderness since it was designated as “wilderness” in 1984. Before every summer, Barb prepares her crews with the training and supplies they need to do their jobs safely. She oversees the climbing ranger program, a two-person team that assesses route conditions, provides information to the public and makes sure climbers take care of the mountain. Barb also manages trail maintenance crews and a volunteer education program called Mountain Stewards. “We’re all public servants,” she said. “We’re all there to try to open the trails and manage the land so it’s available and accessible for the public to enjoy.” While Barb spends less time working outside in her current role, she is no stranger to fieldwork. She began as a backcountry ranger in 1980, when the north side of Baker was known as the Glacier Ranger District. It took a few tries for her to land a position with the Forest Service; the first time she applied she was told, “It’s not a place for a girl like you. It’s dirty work.” Barb persisted and has since served as a backcountry ranger, firefighter, educator, trail crew worker, and finally as the wilderness and trail manager.
Barb’s advice for women seeking careers outside:
“Go for it! Take every opportunity to knock on doors and find your way in! You get turned down once, go and knock on a different door, because maybe that door will open for you.”
Barb’s favorite spots on Mt. Baker:
“I hold dear all those places that I went with my kids: Skyline, Chain Lakes, Ptarmigan, Yellow Aster Butte, Heliotrope, Heather Meadows. It’s really unique that we have this in our backyard, and so accessible.”
Barb’s message to recreationalists:
Jefferson Morriss photo.
“It’s great to see people out, and the more education and information we can provide to people on how to take care of the resource and be responsible out there when they are recreating, the less the agency has to do to crack down and manage it. They do have to pack out their poop now! That’s a requirement for Mt. Baker.”
KATLYNNE SCHAUMBERG – American Alpine Institute
A native of Bellingham, Katlynne grew up in the shadow of Mt. Baker. She now spends her summers leading new mountaineers to its summit as a guide for the American Alpine Institute (AAI). Most of her season is spent in the Cascades guiding alpine objectives and teaching climbing skills. She also guides on Denali and oversees Denali expedition logistics as the Institute’s Alaska coordinator. As a guide, Katlynne seeks to empower people to take on new challenges and manage their vulnerabilities when at their limits in the mountains. Katlynne is motivated to expand AAI’s women’s programs: “Even though women have been in the outdoors and have been climbing for a while now, there’s still a lot of firsts,” she said. She sees opportunity to develop women-specific courses that don’t currently exist anywhere. Katlynne’s path to Baker’s summit began with a trip up another Cascade volcano. She began guiding climbs of Mt. St. Helens in 2011, then followed her passion for leading people in the outdoors to a job with Colorado Outward Bound School. After falling in love with technical rock climbing, she started guiding with AAI in 2017. Managing her seasonal lifestyle is not always glamorous. “I don’t remember the last time I spent Christmas with my family,” she said. Summer and winter are her busiest seasons; fall and spring are transitional and she has more time to slow down, spend time with family and friends, and squeeze in some personal climbing.
Katlynne’s advice for women learning how to climb:
“Get outside and see what the terrain looks like. If you can get your eyes on something, you have a better understanding of what it might take. Seeing it is the first step in being able to visualize yourself out there doing it.”
Katlynne’s favorite spot on Mt. Baker:
The Black Butte camp – “You can see everything!” she said. “You can see the Olympics, the Twin Sisters, all the way up to the Canadian Coastal Range.”
Katlynne’s least favorite part about fieldwork:
“Dealing with other people’s poop. About once a year I have a tragic human poop story.”
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
BARBARA BUDD – Washington Trails Association
During the last few summers, Barbara Budd spent nearly every weekend on Mt. Baker’s trails. She isn’t just a diehard hiker though; Barbara is the Northwest regional trails coordinator for Washington Trails Association (WTA). She leads volunteer trail crews, getting a ton of trail maintenance done while practicing the WTA’s motto of “safety first, fun second and work third.” She works closely with land managers to prioritize projects, meeting a couple times a year with representatives from Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Barbara loves the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers and is motivated by helping people learn new things about trail work and living in the outdoors. While her projects vary with the seasons, Barbara works outside in Washington year-round. As the snow melts from the alpine, her crews head higher, working in the Mt. Baker region and Lookout Mountain area. During the winter, she leads volunteers in the lowlands, working on the San Juan Islands, at city parks in Mount Vernon and Bellingham, and at county parks in Skagit and Whatcom counties. There are opportunities to get involved with the WTA all over Washington and Barbara is particularly excited about WTA’s efforts to make trail work more welcoming to folks who might not otherwise try it. WTA works hard to “educate all people who volunteer with us that everyone can do trail work, as opposed to what we've been told to believe,” she said.
The most challenging part of Barbara’s fieldwork:
“We work in pretty much all weather, unless the ground is frozen, or there are high winds or bad smoke. Keeping volunteers happy, motivated and cheerful while it is 40 degrees and raining is a challenge!”
Barbara’s favorite spot on Mt. Baker:
The first time she visited Mt. Baker, Barbara camped on the south side of the mountain at Mazama Park below Park Butte. She recalls thinking how beautiful and remarkable the view of the Easton Glacier is from that spot.
Barbara’s message to recreationalists:
Don’t cut switchbacks; it causes erosion. Pay attention to the toilet situation. Learn how to poop in the woods. Learn about when and where it is appropriate to have fires. File trip reports with WTA; land managers are paying attention to these, so reports from hikers play a role in taking care of the trails.
ELIZABETH KIMBERLY Western Washington University Last summer, Elizabeth spent over 20 days on the south side of Mt. Baker, gathering data to test a new method of measuring glacial change. Traditional glacier monitoring methods require researchers to drill long poles called ablation stakes into the ice at different elevations. Researchers then return to collect measurements from these points throughout the season. Elizabeth collected data from the Easton Glacier using this standard method and is comparing her results with a new, more
efficient method that uses drone imagery. In addition to slogging uphill on snow many times to check her ablation stakes, she teamed up with David Shean from the University of Washington, who flew drones to collect repeat overlapping photos of the glacier. This new method allows Elizabeth to compare drone imagery taken in May with images taken in September to calculate how much the surface of the glacier changed over the course of a season, with accuracy down to the centimeter. Elizabeth’s research was a team effort, with a diverse crew of skiers, climbers and guides joining her rope team as she visited her ablation stakes throughout the season.
She ended up in Bellingham as a graduate student at WWU after completing an undergraduate degree in geology at Carleton College and teaching field science in Wyoming at the Teton Science Schools. Elizabeth was motivated to study glaciers because of their critical role as freshwater reservoirs, and part of her research examines how glacial change affects streams and rivers formed by glacial runoff. She hopes that this new, more efficient technology will make it possible to monitor more glaciers throughout the world.
How Elizabeth’s summer season compares with winter:
“Summer is spent in the field, on the ground, collecting data. Winter is sitting in the computer lab, staring at GIS, running into dead ends, reading scientific papers – the least glamorous part of my project.” As an avid skier, Elizabeth manages to get outside in the winter, even though she isn’t collecting data.
Elizabeth’s favorite parts of this region:
She loves having the ability to ski on a volcano in the morning, go for a bike ride in the foothills in the afternoon, then spend the evening at the coast. “It’s the coolest,” she said. “There are so many different ecosystems so close together.”
Elizabeth’s go-to meal in the field:
Most of Elizabeth’s dinners in the field consist of Annie’s macaroni and cheese with arugula. After long trips collecting data, she always makes a stop to the Mestizo Mexican Family Restaurant in Sedro-Woolley for a super burrito.
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100 canoe families
E Lummi
Paddle to
ach year since 1989, various native nations have hosted a gathering of native canoers from tribes throughout Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. This summer, the gathering, which honors the relationships coastal tribes have with the land, water and each other, is coming to the Lummi Nation in Whatcom County. The Paddle to Lummi tribal canoe journey (also called “Sqweshenet Tse
Schelangen/Honoring Our Way of Life) takes place from July 24 to 28 at the Lummi Stommish Grounds on the Lummi Peninsula. “The Lummi people are honored to welcome all our relations traveling the traditional highways of our ancestors to participate in this year’s journey,” said Jeremiah Julius, tribal chairman of the Lummi Indian Business Council. “Together we will celebrate, honor and share the unique cultural heritage
of the Coast Salish people.” Julius expects approximately 10,000 people and over 100 canoe families on their ancestral shores – something he says will help build strong bridges with neighboring communities. The event culminates with a traditional potlatch song, dance, gift-giving, singing, dancing and stories of the journey. All are welcome to attend the festivities. For more information, visit paddletolummi.org.
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BIKES enjoys a slice mountain bike heaven
of
A Q&A WITH KEVIN WALSH BY BENJAMIN WHITNEY
T
Photo by Benjamin Whitney.
he red hot brand Evil Bikes is known for defying tradition when it comes to developing mountain bikes. The brand’s history is checkered with hang-ups and successes, but its resilience is paying off. Kevin Walsh, owner and designer, has assembled a quiver of award-winning carbon fiber trail bikes that are standard bearers for industry trends in design, suspension and geometry. Mount Baker Experience caught up with Walsh to discuss Evil’s recent move to Bellingham, its plans to open a showroom in August and what the future has in store. Mount Baker Experience: Evil Bikes relocated from Seattle to Bellingham. What factors were involved in making the move? Kevin Walsh: The move was something we wanted to do for years and for a variety of reasons. Seattle is experiencing uncontrolled growth, which makes it not only difficult to operate a business within the city limits, but more importantly, it makes it difficult to ride bikes. I wanted to give the staff a better quality of life and better access to the outdoors without gridlock traffic and an hour drive in every direction. We also wanted to be part of a community where we could actually contribute and make a difference. Your new facility in Fairhaven is huge. What’s inside? We thought the same thing until we started filling it with bikes and watched the space quickly disappear. The Fairhaven building is our global headquarters and houses a large showroom/event space in the front with office and a large warehouse in the back. We built the facility with the intent to house the next 10 years of growth and expansion for
Waterfront Luxury Awaits
Evil. The showroom will be a brand experience and have all our bikes, accessories, soft goods, a selection of apparel and rotating artwork. We are working on a public bike park around the building as well. We will offer technical servicing for our customers’ bikes, but we will push anything else to our local partners and shops around Bellingham. Additionally, we will have a demo fleet available with rental proceeds donated to the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition. I’ve heard whispers about a taproom event space. Any collaboration beers in the works? We currently have six taps, which are just for personal use at the moment. This could change in the future once we get the showroom up and running. We really look forward to hosting events and connecting with the local community. You might see a few different collaborations in the near future. Boe Trosset from Aslan and I have been throwing around some ideas. Are you bringing a crew up from Seattle or will you be looking to hire locally? We brought up 90 percent of our Seattle staff and hired five new team members from Bellingham. We will be hiring more local staff as we get closer to opening the showroom. Additionally, we are working with Western Washington University on setting up a graphic and industrial design internship program. How's the relationship with other bike brands and shops in town? What niche does Evil fill? It’s funny, from the outside I think people maybe assume there could be tension or competition, but everybody has been incredibly welcoming. In fact, our good friends at Transition disguised a case of Smirnoff Ice as a house-warming gift, and basically iced the entire company. This was shortly followed by a visit to Zane Burger for lunch, then a group ride on the Chuckanut trails with the Transition crew. I think everyone is mostly concerned with building the local riding community. And we are definitely excited to be part of it and contribute as much as possible. Favorite trails in town? Digging any dirt at the Fairhaven facility? There are so many! I love the Chuckanut trails as they are in my backyard, but we all ride Cougar Ridge, Blanchard, Cedar Dust jumps, etc. We are very fortunate to have such a variety of amazing trails, and a big thanks to Eric Brown, WMBC and all the volunteers who make it happen. We are currently working on a small bike park on the property surrounding the building. We are working with the city and hope to make it a public park with dirt jumps, speed and style course, pump track, single track and some progression skills areas. We want to make a little something for everybody while keeping it interesting. It looks like Evil's been ramping up the dual-crown downhill bike line. What's the line-up looking like for the upcoming production year? Any surprises you can let us in on? The dual-crown park bikes were just a fun little experiment, as we don’t have a downhill bike at the moment. We all love the playful short travel bikes, so we decided to make a limited-edition version of the Insurgent and Wreckoning. You can see these in action on the Black Collars page of our website. I can’t really speak too much in regard to the new line up, but I will say we’ll be throwing a few curveballs.
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Keep the
great white north
cold
• Fresh organic produce & organic dairy items • Best beer & wine selection east of Bellingham
Protect Our Winters launches Canadian offshoot
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OPEN 7AM-10PM EVERYDAY At the crossroads of Mt. Baker Highway & Silver Lake Rd. 7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
SCENIC TO CLASS V WHITEWATER ADVENTURES
BY OLIVER LAZENBY
W
inter is important to Canadians – think ice hockey, snowmobiling and some of the best skiing on the planet. So with Protect Our Winters (POW) gaining such a following south of the border, it made sense for Canada to have its own branch, thought David Erb, a 41-year-old serial entrepreneur who, after having kids, wanted to devote his life to pursuits that make the world better. Founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, POW is an athlete-driven nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about climate change and advocates for prioritizing renewable energy. POW regularly gathers athletes and snow enthusiasts in D.C. to talk to politicians, and the organization helped unite the outdoor industry in the U.S. as a political force. With this success in mind, Erb has been bugging POW to start a Canadian branch for years, he said. “The voice of POW in the U.S. has zero power in Canada when it comes to anything political,” Erb said. “Knowing that everyone in Canada experiences winter it just made
sense to have our own organization.” Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada’s largest outdoor products retailer, came on board two years ago, supplying the funds to get started. Erb and veteran professional skier Mike Douglas assembled a team and launched POW Canada in the fall of 2018, and since then, many other brands have partnered with POW. While POW Canada’s mission is aligned with the U.S. organization, it has its own board of directors, which includes wellknown snow sports athletes Douglas and Marie-France Roy. And like the U.S. organization, POW Canada partners with dozens of skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor athletes. Outdoor athletes are a force ready to be harnessed – the fledgling organization already has more than 30 athlete ambassadors. They’re passionate about winter and many want an outlet to make positive change in a career that requires emissions-intensive travel and promoting consumer products. And the original branch of Protect Our Winters has shown that athletes are an effective way to influence those who look up to them. While POW Canada urges personal action and sacrifice, it focuses on the political. “There’s zero doubt that we all need to do our piece – we for sure do – but the scale of change that we need right now is so massive and it needs to happen so quickly that our actions, although they’re important, are not going to be enough,” Erb said. “Galvanizing people around a message of climate action and making sure that message is heard at the government level is our mission.” Still in its first year, POW Canada is focused on building its membership. This spring POW athletes presented at schools in Vancouver, Banff and Canmore. The organization’s goal is to reach 10,000 students this year through assemblies and presentations. Reaching young people is important and even personal for Erb, who has his own two children who he regularly takes skiing. “For me it’s kind of a legacy project – what can I do at this stage to spend my time in a way that leaves the planet not only in a habitable condition for our kids, but a condition that they can thrive and have some of the same experiences I had,” he said. To learn more or become a member, visit protectourwinters.ca.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
GALLERY FROM LEFT: Two trail runners descend toward Snoqualmie Pass via the Kendall Katwalk after a long day in the central Cascades / Nick Danielson photo. Hikers in Glacier Peak Wilderness / Jason Hummel photo. Justin Bartolini kicking up dust through the North Cascades / Carson Artac photo.
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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FROM LEFT: High above Howe Sound, Darrin and Dave make their way down a hidden gem outside of Squamish / Skye Schillhammer photo. Moon over the North Cascades / Jason Hummel photo. Josh Larsen and Japhy Carpenter-Dorworth paddle Boulder Drop on the Skykomish River / Beau Gaughran photo.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
GALLERY
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Scrambling above Cyclone Lake, Alex Franke chooses his route along the slabs to Snowking Mountain / Nick Danielson photo. Sarah Burley strolls along the climber’s trail leading to Kaleetan Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on an early July morning / Nick Danielson photo. Morning light on Steinbok Peak captured on the final rappel after rappelling through the night / Matthew Tangeman photo. Glacier Peak with a smoky haze in the valley / Aubrey Laurence photo. North Bennett finds a place to rest on the way up North Twin Sister with Mt. Baker looming in the distance / Evan Skoczenski photo. Will Hutchinson finessing his way up the finger crack, “Yorkshire Gripper” in Squamish, B.C. / Drew Hurter photo.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
GALLERY
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Andy Jones slowing things down as he nose rides his longboard at a Vancouver Island beach break / Marcus Paladino photo. Sunset in Glacier Peak Wilderness / Jason Hummel photo. Britney White ripping through a trail in Whatcom County / Carson Artac photo. Descending a headland to a deserted beach on the Washington coast / Audra Lee Mercille photo. Marie Kochman crosses one of the many water hazards on the way down from Heliotrope Ridge / Evan Skoczenski photo.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
GALLERY
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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Pete Devries getting barreled at a surf break that rarely works like this.
Tips for your first surf trip to
TOFINO
PHOTOS AND TIPS BY MARCUS PALADINO
T
ofino-based photographer Marcus Paladino isn’t giving away his spots, but he has some helpful tips for a first trip to the world-renowned surf destination on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
1. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO If you’re new to surfing, take a lesson. There’s a bunch of great surf schools in Tofino that will teach you everything you need to know. If you’re a bit more advanced, start doing some research about the area to find out which beaches work best on certain swells, tide and wind. Keep an eye on the forecast to see what you’re in for and be prepared; don’t just bring short boards. Instead, pack a full quiver for a variety of waves.
2. IF IN DOUBT, DON’T PADDLE OUT Tofino isn’t the quiet fishing and logging town it once was; it’s a full-blown surf community. If you get to the beach and nobody is out, there’s probably a good reason. The main beaches tend to max out when there’s too much swell – the waves don’t necessarily get bigger, they break farther and farther out to sea, causing extremely strong currents, a next-to-impossible paddle-out and demolishing anything close to resembling a lineup.
3. TRY NOT TO FLOCK Just because there’s a pack of people in the water doesn’t mean that’s where the best waves are. Surfers have a tendency to follow others when they’re not sure where to go, which causes crowded lineups and localism. Watch the beach for 10 or 15 minutes to figure out what looks the most fun for you before paddling out. The great thing about sandy beach breaks is that there are peaks everywhere and with such big tidal swings, those peaks are constantly shifting.
4. BE FRIENDLY Surfing is a selfish sport – we all know that. Everyone’s out there to get good waves. If you’re sitting in the lineup near someone and they’re mean-mugging out to sea, take the opportunity to say, “Hi, how’s it going? Fun waves!” That 10-second conversation shifts the dynamic of the people around you and all of a sudden you go from competitors to comrades. Trust me.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
Three hikes F in the Canadian North Cascades STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEPHEN HUI Poland Lake
Round trip: 16 kilometers (10 miles) Elevation gain: 479 meters (1,571 feet) Access: From Trans-Canada Highway 1
in Hope, head east on Crowsnest Highway 3 for 66 kilometers (41 miles). At Manning Park Resort, turn right on Gibson Pass Road. Reach the Strawberry Flats parking lot in 8 kilometers (5 miles). On foot: Surrounded by woods and meadows, Poland Lake is a lovely destination for a day hike, or an overnighter for beginner backpackers. Find the trailhead on the north side of the road and set off west on the Poland Lake Trail. In several minutes, head right on a gravel road, which goes over a few streams as it rises to enter the ski area at Manning Park Resort. Forty minutes of hiking earns a big view of Hozomeen Mountain in Washington. Fork right and duck under a chairlift. Where
or Vancouverites, the Coast Mountains north of the city are celebrated for rugged trails and wild views. Perhaps lesser known, the North Cascades in B.C. provide plenty of spectacular hiking as well. Some of the best trails are located in E.C. Manning Provincial Park and the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area, both east of Hope and in the territory of the Nlaka’pamux people. Here are three superb destinations for this summer. Reminders: Check current conditions, take the 10 essentials, leave a trip plan with a responsible person and remember – leave no trace. Dogs must be leashed on these trails.
the road curves right (2.5 kilometers from the trailhead), bear left on a path through meadows (horse riders and mountain bikers stick to the road here). Switchback up the ski area and follow a double track to rejoin the bike and horse route after 1 kilometer. In short order, the road reaches a map and signpost and heads into the woods. The road curves left to peak near the top of Grassy Mountain, about two hours in. From here, a gentle descent reveals a succession of meadows and vantages of mountains. The road rises to traverse the south slopes of Bojo Mountain en route to a hitching post (no bikes or horses beyond this point). Continue on the path along Poland Creek to arrive at Poland Lake, just over 2.5 hours in. Round the eastern shore and turn left at a signpost to find Poland Lake Camp, three hours up. Backtrack to return to the trailhead.
The Flatiron
Round trip: 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) Elevation gain: 689 meters (2,260
feet)
Access: On Yellowhead Highway 5, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Hope and past the Great Bear Snow Shed, take poorly marked Exit 217. From the northbound off-ramp, immediately turn right onto a gravel road and right again into the Needle Peak trailhead parking area, below the highway maintenance sheds. On foot: On a hike of The Flatiron, you’ll tread on 39-million-year-old granite and score 360-degree views. Locate the trailhead just west of the parking area, across a creek. The Needle Peak Trail threads south into the woods, steepening as it weaves uphill. After 45 minutes, the forest opens up,
inviting a look back at Yak Peak. Gain the crest of a spur ridge, extending north from Needle Peak’s west shoulder, 15 minutes farther. The trail levels out before rising gently over bare rock and through heather meadows. Reach the signed “Needle Peak Saddle” at 3.4 kilometers. Watching for flagging, drop right to the actual Needle-Flatiron saddle. The braided path skirts a cliff on your right, then climbs to a tarn on the east side of The Flatiron. Cross via an island and make a zigzagging ascent, following occasional cairns. The broad summit plateau comes 1.5 kilometers past the Needle Peak junction and about three hours from the trailhead. Needle Peak dominates to the northeast. Descend the way you came.
Derek Falls
Round trip: 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) Elevation gain: 170 meters (560 feet) Access: From Trans-Canada Highway 1 in Hope,
head east on Crowsnest Highway 3 for 66 kilometers (41 miles). At the Manning Park Resort, turn right on Gibson Pass Road. Reach the Strawberry Flats parking lot in 8 kilometers (5 miles). On foot: Begin with a stroll through meadows of strawberries and wildflowers on a fire access road. Follow the trail into the steep-sided valley of Nepopekum Creek. With a payoff of three waterfalls, this short outing is perfect for families. Find the Strawberry Flats trailhead on the south side of the road. An immediate right turn takes you west on a double track into a stand of lodgepole pines broken up by meadows. Meet the Skyline Trail junction in 0.5 kilometers. Stay right to stick with the Strawberry Flats Trail. Often achieving peak bloom in July, the flower show includes cow parsnip, thistle and fireweed. Keep
your eyes peeled for black bears and mule deer in the meadow. After less than 30 minutes, take the right fork for the start of the Three Falls Trail. Pass a T-bar lift, cross a ski run and re-enter the woods. The first waterfall viewpoint comes at 3 kilometers. A log fence keeps visitors back from the edge at Shadow Falls, which seemingly springs forth from the forest. It’d be easy to miss Nepopekum Falls, at 3.2 kilometers, if not for a sign. Across the valley, a tributary dives over a high cliff. Continue downstream and cross a boulder field. Derek Falls announces itself with a rumble. Stay on the main trail, traversing Stephen Hui is the author a large boulder of 105 Hikes In and slope to the fiAround Southwestern nal viewpoint. British Columbia, a Retrace your #1 B.C. bestseller. Visit steps on the 105hikes.com. uphill return.
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STRETCHING
after texting, typing, driving and mountain biking too BY LUCA WILLIAMS
S
ince we were kids, my brother and I have had our own private war: the computer versus the trees. Our family owned one of the first personal computers – the TRS-80 – and my brother fell in love while I proclaimed, at age eight, that computers would destroy the natural world. Now he asks me to take him for a hike in the trees and I beg him for computer help. These days I’m thankful for my cell phone, my mini personal computer, because it is one of the few ways I can communicate with my teenager who will text me every once in a blue moon. I get so excited when he does that I text him these long rants – about the bills he has to pay and how he needs to be responsible and then, strangely, I don’t hear from him again for another month or two. I coach myself during the quiet times to quit haranguing him, but the cycle starts all over again on the next text exchange, because we all have our weaknesses and this is mine – I nag the ones I love most. The thing is, I don’t reserve my nagging just for loved ones. I find myself nagging my clients too. I hide my nagging with a professional voice while I encourage them to take care of their bodies when they are texting, typing, driving or even riding their bikes. One of the biggest detriments to our bodies in this modern age is that we spend so much time looking down with our arms bent in front of us. The bones, muscles, connective tissue and skin on top of our shoulder blades migrate upward and forward, and our chests cave as the muscles that stretch from the front of the shoulders to the chest tighten down. We don’t just practice this poor posture while typing, texting and driving: when we finally
A
B
get on our bikes to get some exercise, our arms are out in front of us once again. Thankfully, new mountain bikes are more ergonomic with wider handlebars, but road bikes still place a great deal of strain on the shoulders, neck, arms and chest. So I have a simple mantra (or nag): Look up, look around, swing your arms and stretch your chest whenever you get off your phone, your computer or even your bike. To check the tightness of your shoulders and neck, put your arms at your sides. Take one hand and place it on the front of the shoulder and then on that spot that gets so tight in most of us between your neck and your shoulder (Figure A). Bring your arm up as if you are driving, typing, or texting (Fig. B). Do you feel how the muscles on the front of your shoulder and between your neck and shoulder are tighter? Now, move your arm outward keeping it shoulder height (Fig. C). Feel the front of your shoulder again. Notice that your shoulder isn’t as tense as when you had your arm right in front of you. That’s why wider handlebars are better for us. The tighter the front of our shoulders get, the more our neck recedes into the chest. To stretch the front of your shoulders and chest, stand in a doorframe or in the corner of a room. Place your hands and forearms on the doorframe and with elbows about shoulder height step through the door with one leg, gently stretching the front of your shoulders (Fig. D). Take a break and walk around, then step through the door with the opposite foot forward and repeat the stretch on the opposite side. Now walk around and notice that your chest may feel more open and your arms may swing with more ease. Take the time to do this throughout the day in between typing or texting and you can mellow or reverse the effects of this modern age of computers.
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Photo courtesy of Ski to Sea.
Ski to Sea is for lovers The couples who met, or proposed, at Ski to Sea BY OLIVER LAZENBY
S
ince 1973, Ski to Sea has been introducing people to new things: new friends, new sports and even to future spouses. It’s not easy to find a whole team for the iconic seven leg relay race – the Ski to Sea message board is busy in the months leading up to the Memorial Day Weekend race with people looking to join a team or for someone to fill a leg. As a result, it brings strangers together with a shared goal. Toss in some exercise endorphins and for some, it’s a recipe for love.
Cathy and Mike Cathy McNair and Mike Roze met on a Ski to Sea team in 1993 when both were living in Bellingham and going to Western Washington University. Mike and some friends from his computer science program were putting together a team and needed an extra female to join the recreational mixed division. Mike and Cathy had mutual friends and she agreed to do the mountain bike leg for “Team Jose Cuervo,” (they called the tequila company, which decided to send them some sweatshirts and other swag). The race crystalized friendships and the entire team continued to hang out. Mike and Cathy continued to see each other but were “just friends” for about six months until they finally started dating. They got married the following June on the Napali Coast of Kauai and 15 years later they’re still taking off together for triathlons in Hawaii, bike trips in eastern Washington, and other adventures. Did Ski to Sea make that happen? “It brings people together who have outdoor interests,” Cathy said. “I don’t know if our paths would have crossed otherwise.”
Mike and Alexa Mike Troop didn’t meet his future wife Alexa at Ski to Sea, but he did think the canoe leg of the Ski to Sea would be the ideal place to propose. Mike and Alexa, residents of Austin, Texas, met on their college’s club triathlon team and started dating in 2014. Mike had raced Ski to Sea annually since 2013 with a friend who lives outside Seattle and Alexa came along in 2016 to watch. She wanted to try the race, so Mike agreed to do the canoe leg with her in 2017. Mike tells the story best: “Coincidentally, in mid2016 a strange feeling hit me – the urge to propose. Not long after, a thought struck me to my core: what more perfect setting for a surprise marriage proposal than during Ski to Sea, an annual race that keeps us active and trying new adventures?” Some frustration crept
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in, as Alexa was hoping for a proposal earlier, Mike said, but he stuck with the plan. He didn’t have a plan for where on the Nooksack River to make the proposal, however. “Miles go by, and my anxiety grows. Where’s the right spot? Then the moment comes: we round a corner and Mt. Baker swings into full view behind us as cattails on the shore sway gently in the breeze,” he said. “I put my paddle down, reach for the ring, and Alexa says, “What are you doing back there? Keep paddling!" She’s not happy. We’re about to run into some brush on the edge of the river and get passed by another team.” Mike gave up on that attempt to dig out the ring, which was inside a key floatie and tied to both a lanyard and his life jacket for redundancy. Mike and Alexa paddled along until the final mile to Hovander Park in Ferndale, when Mike realized it was now or never. “Another barrage of insults comes from the front of the boat as I stop paddling, but this time Alexa turns around and realizes what’s happening,” Mike said. “We have a lovely moment where we can neither embrace nor actually put the ring on her finger (too risky), then she smears away a few tears and says, “OK, get back to paddling,” (which is one characteristic I love so much about her). Our whole team is waiting to congratulate and celebrate with us on shore at the finish line, where we can actually finish the get-on-one-knee, put-the-ring-on-and-kiss moment that felt long overdue.”
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Lizzy and Trevor Trevor Maczuga joined team “Pacific Tree Octopi” in 2015, and the team posted on Ski to Sea’s orphan board for a few more teammates. Lizzy and a couple others signed up and the team had a potluck dinner before the race to meet the new members. Trevor and Lizzy noticed each other, but hardly saw each other on race day and didn’t pursue a relationship. Lizzy lived in Bellingham and Trevor lived in northern Alberta. “Pacific Tree Octopi” kept track of their orphan teammates and invited them back the next year. Lizzy signed up to run and Trevor to cross-country ski. Lizzy offered her extra bedroom to Trevor while he was in town. “Skiers and runners travel up the mountain together anyway, right?” she said. After the race, they stayed up talking until early in the morning. But that was it, though Trevor was now living in Kamloops, just 200 miles away (instead of 900-plus in northern Alberta). Lizzy signed up for the Kamloops Half Marathon the following month and asked Trevor if he knew of a place to stay. Trevor, returning the favor, offered up his spare bedroom. After that race, their interest in each other blossomed. They began seeing each other every few weeks and Trevor proposed six months later while they were in Orlando for a marathon. “Ski to Sea was definitely a big part of it,” Trevor said. “If it wasn’t for Ski to Sea, we definitely would have never met.” Now living together in Kamloops, they returned to do Ski to Sea together in 2017 and 2018.
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Escape to the
SOUTHERN GULF ISLANDS STORY AND PHOTOS BY LISA PULSIFER
View from Mt. Norman on North Pender Island.
W
ashington state residents know the San Juan Islands are a must-visit destination. They also know the San Juan island archipelago continues north across the border, where they’re known as the southern Gulf Islands. This collection of 15 islands is every bit as charming as the San Juans, and many of the islands are easily reached by ferry from Tsawwassen, B.C. The southern Gulf Islands have a warmer, drier climate than the mainland and are rich in ecological diversity. You’ll find fern-filled forests, rocky bluffs and grassy meadows. The surrounding waters are home to abundant sea life including seals, otters, porpoises and whales. When the local mainland mountains are still buried under snow, these islands are the perfect playgrounds. Pack your bags, load the car and follow along to explore three of the easier-to-access islands.
Village Bay on Mayne Island.
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Mayne Island
Leave the car on the mainland to tour this lovely eight-square-mile island by bike. From the ferry dock, head north to the town of Miners Bay to pick up provisions for your day. Continue north to reach the Georgina Point Lighthouse. The historic lighthouse helps to guide ships into the narrow and busy Active Pass. East of the lighthouse, Campbell Bay’s sand and pebble beach is another nice spot for a break. Don’t miss Mayne Island Brewery at the crossroads of Campbell Bay Road and Fernhill Road. If you’d prefer a view with your lunch, cycle east to Bennett Bay Bistro. After lunch, trade your bike for a kayak (rentals are available right on the bay) and paddle around nearby Georgeson Island. Back on your bike, head south, passing below the 800-foot summit of Mount Parke. On the south shore, pull off at either Piggott or Gallagher bay to take in views of Pender Island. Finish up your loop with a visit to the Japanese gardens at Dinner Bay Park before returning to the ferry dock or your accommodation for the night. Mayne Island is also a great jumping-off point to explore the section of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on neighboring Saturna Island. The national park reserve is spread throughout the Gulf Islands, but the section on Saturna Park makes up 43 percent of the total reserve. Catch a ferry for a day trip to remote Saturna Island where about half of the island is incorporated into the reserve. Hike to the 1,300-foot summit of Mount Warburton Pike, whale watch from East Point Lighthouse or enjoy the quiet beauty of Winter Cove Marine Park.
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Galiano Island
Only 17 miles long and three miles wide, Galiano is a treat to explore. It’s the first stop along the Gulf Islands ferry route from Tsawwassen, and you’ll arrive in the hamlet of Sturdies Bay. Start your exploring with a hike up to the 1,000-foot summit of Mount Galiano where you’ll have fantastic views of the surrounding islands. Galiano is home to three B.C. provincial parks – Dionisio Point, Bodega Ridge and Montague Harbour. At Dionisio Point you’ll find unique sandstone cliff formations, wide-open beaches and trails in thick forests. Hike Bodega Ridge for views of the Gulf Islands to the north and the Coast Mountains to the east. Montague Harbour offers up a white shell beach, tidal lagoons and craggy headlands.
The harbor at Sturdies Bay, Galiano.
Port Browning on North Pender Island.
Pender Islands
North and South Pender are home to eight parks and more than 20 public beaches. Plan to spend a few days on the Penders, which are connected by a bridge, to properly explore all that the islands have to offer. There are three campgrounds, a handful of resorts and dozens of bed and breakfasts that you can call home during your stay. On North Pender, visit historic Roesland, hike to Roe Lake or explore the shoreline of Shingle Bay. On South Pender, hike to the summit of Mount Norman or kayak the shoreline of Beaumont Marine Park. Interested in a more laid-back trip to Pender? Visit the Saturday morning farmer’s market at the Community Hall on North Pender, then cruise the islands to visit local artisans, find Instagram-worthy viewpoints and explore hidden rocky coves.
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Calm waters in the passage between South and North Pender Islands.
The Great Divide mountain bike route. Josh Schmidt photo.
SOLO ADVENTURING Experience the joy of going it alone STORY BY JENNY SCHMIDT
A
few years ago, faced with a complicated and emotional decision, I knew I needed some solo time. I loaded my bicycle on my Jeep and headed south toward the deserts and December sunshine of Texas. For two months I walked, ran and biked with my backpack filled with snacks and my head filled with problem-solving strategies. My adventures weren’t logistically complicated and I settled into a simple routine of sunrise, coffee and maps, trail run/walk/bike, drive to the next spot, whiskey, sunset, sleep, repeat. Eventually, on a dusty trail in Big Bend National Park, I saw the solution. I returned home armed with clarity and resolve. Without those days of solo time I doubt I would have found the inner quiet needed to work through my internal mayhem, and I’m so grateful I had the resources to do that for myself. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, solo adventures seem to fix everything. It’s the state of mind I need in order to think through problems. It’s where I go to generate new ideas. It’s just about the only place I can practice selfishness, balance and reflection. Unfortunately, many of my peers haven’t found this joy.
Maui. Nadine Van Niekerk photo.
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When I preach the power of solo adventures, I often hear “I could never do that. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I don’t have the skills,” or something similar. I became curious about these comments and started to dig in. Patterns emerged and I started to comprehend how often my friends had been told growing up they shouldn’t do something because of who they were. It had been ingrained into their brains: You’re a girl; it’s not safe alone. It’d be better if you went with your boyfriend. Don’t you know how many men are out there looking to hurt you? You don’t know enough about that; you should let me take you. That’s for athletic people. Wouldn’t you rather play inside with your sister? My curiosity turned to action and in the summer of 2016, my friend Kait and I planned a bike trip from Bellingham to Anacortes with 15 of our friends. Most of our friends on that trip were new to bicycling and many of them were so affected by the experience that they’ve since gone on to plan and execute their own solo trips. Participants gained the confidence to believe in themselves. Even better, they now have a community of friends supporting them along the way.
Through that experience, a myriad of barriers between women and their recreational dreams became apparent to me and Kait. Fear, lack of confidence, finances, access to resources, lack of support, social judgments – most, if not all the women on that first trip, had experienced a combination of these barriers and more. We learned we could provide a space and community where those barriers could be broken. One friend’s experience was so profound, it forever altered her perspective on exercise and outdoor activity and her place in that world. Prior to the trip, we went on a training ride together, aiming to get comfortable on the bike and work up some mileage. While riding up the first hill, I watched panic set in her face and we quickly pulled off to the side of the road, talking through the challenge. After a few minutes she realized she was simply breathing hard, a feeling she had forgotten. It turns out, having a friend with her in that moment, encouraging her and telling her it was a positive thing that was happening, was the one key she needed to take that next step and bike up that hill. One week later we were on the group trip, and by the
MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
Balancing Botanicals in the Sun Summer plants to balance the state of the season
T The author fixing a flat in New Mexico. Gen Shimizu photo.
end of the first day she was at the front of the pack with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on a sweaty, tired cyclist. One year later, she was cycling through Oregon on her own, fitter, happier, stronger and ready for anything. After seeing how the barriers between women and their outdoor dreams can be dismantled, we started a nonprofit that aims to make the outdoors accessible to everyone. Shifting Gears provides programs to anyone wishing to learn the skills to branch out on their own. Programs are inclusive and welcoming, eliminating any sense of judgment or social pressure. We dig into the skills it takes to step into the outdoors – reading maps, choosing trails, safety, bike repair, training for longer distances, hygiene, packing and the list goes on.
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Tips for your
BY JACQUELINE THOMPSON
he Cascades truly blossom into their namesake in summer, as water rushes from glaciated peaks to feed the land and wild plants. For foragers and herbalists, summer in the Northwest is not simply abundant – it is totally epic. Sixteen-hour days hyper power a flurry of plant activity. Plant nerds stuff their noses into foliage with the same tenacity and elation as the mountaineers scrambling up nearby peaks. Summer, despite (and thanks to) its glories, can burn people out. Between projects, festivals, outdoor adventures and heat, it is all too easy to find oneself in an overstimulated or depleted state. To counter this, try foods and herbs that are cooling, calming to the central nervous system, and stimulating to vital energy. Fresh foliage, such as berries and greens, is a start. If all else fails, follow taste: seek out moist, cooling, astringent and salty foods including cucumber, melon, leafy greens, tomatoes and yogurt. Likewise, begin to phase out warming foods and drinks with cooling alternatives to balance out the body’s system. This could mean drinking green tea instead of coffee and eating fish rather than beef. Eating seasonally and locally will likely set you up for success, since the foods available naturally in the summer tend to be cooling and stimulating. Here are some plants to forage that nourish the body and balance out the heat of summer.
first solo adventure:
• START SMALL! Build confidence as you work through smaller adventures. • ASK FOR HELP. Make a list of the things standing in your way. Seek out a friend that you know has done something similar and ask for their advice. • DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU FEEL SAFE. Always tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you back. • EMBRACE YOUR VULNERABILITY. Too often we see fear as a weakness, a trait that must mean we are cowards. Instead, use that fear as voice of reason, a tool for staying safe. Be willing to talk about your fears with friends. • ALWAYS, ALWAYS TRUST YOUR GUT. If a situation raises alarm bells and red flags, listen to your intuition and change course. Those looking to take an extra step toward planning a first solo adventure can read more about Shifting Gears at letsshiftgears.com or contact Jenny at jenny@letsshiftgears.com.
Wild Rose
Several varieties of wild rose grow in the Pacific Northwest. Wood rose is most common, but all local varieties are edible and medicinal. They bloom throughout summer and grow in moist clearings, along beaches and streams and at forest edges. These shrubby plants bear thorns and smaller flowers than their domesticated counterparts. The primary medicinal property of rose is its cooling effect on the body. When feeling aggravated, hot or upset, rose can provide immediate relief. Rose is deeply calming and particularly useful for anxiety, anger and frustration. Physically, it is anti-inflammatory, helping internally with gut inflammation and externally on bites, burns, rashes and skin irritation. Rose petals and leaves can be gathered and used fresh or dried for teas. Make a cold infusion by filling a jar with cold water and a handful of rose petals, leaving it for 4-6 hours. The cold infusion draws out the pleasant floral sweetness of the petals, while a hot infusion tends to draw out more of the astringency of the plant. Fresh rose petals also make an excellent addition to summer salads, adding zest and color.
Mint
Like rose, several varieties of mint grow in the Pacific Northwest, with field mint being most abundant. Though mints vary in taste and intensity, the A Shifting Gears trip to Chain Lakes. Nadine Van Niekerk photo.
primary medicinal properties and flavor profiles are all similar. The active compound is menthol, which gives mint that deliciously cooling flavor and scent. Wild varieties look and smell like cultivated varieties, with serrated, elliptical leaves on plants from 10 to 20 inches high. Mint can overtake a garden and spread, and feral plants can be found in neighborhoods and gardens. Wild varieties typically grow in damp fields, wet meadows and stream banks. Mint makes a refreshing addition to teas, salads and cocktails. Medicinally, its primary use is to treat upset stomachs. Mint is also rich in minerals and has a stimulating effect. It’s used to awaken and sharpen the mind, increase vitality, and nourish the body. When combined, rose and mint make a tasty duo in salads and drinks, and their medicinal properties blend together nicely as a formula that balances the calming effect of rose with the invigorating qualities of mint.
Raspberry
Wild raspberry is one of many berries that decorate the Pacific Northwest landscape. Though raspberry’s close relatives – blackberries, thimble berries and salmon berries – all make amazing pies, wild raspberry stands out not only for its irresistible tiny red berries, but also for its highly medicinal leaves. Not to mention that wild raspberries are the best trail snacks known to mankind. Blackcap raspberries and red raspberries both grow in Washington. While blackcaps grow best in the conifer forests west of the Cascades, red raspberries prefer riparian areas and damp forests east of the mountains. The leaves are high in vitamins and minerals, and have long been regarded as a female tonic with an ability to tone and strengthen the female reproductive organs. The berries can be eaten fresh or used in any recipe that makes sense for berries, such as jams, jellies, sauces and baked goods. The leaves should be dried completely and steeped as a tea. To make a refreshing summer beverage, throw a handful of the fruit (and leaves, if you have them!) into a quart jar full of water, add mint or lemon balm to the mix, and let sit for at least three hours. Add sweetener to taste.
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Into the Unknown
A first known ascent on Mt. Prophet BY JASON GRIFFITH
A photo of the route taken by the author in 2007.
The upper southwest rib of Mt. Prophet.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
I
“No one has yet explored the possibility of climbing it directly to the summit. That could prove to be a bad idea.”
’m just drifting off to sleep when I hear it, far down the Big Beaver Valley … Thud. The wind rushing up the valley sounds like a train approaching. Thud. Lightning flashes across the sky and thunder echoes as I groggily try to make sense of the noises just outside the tent. “Kit, wake up!” I said to my climbing partner, fast asleep in the tent next to me. “Do you think those are trees falling?” Crash! A tree lands much too close to the tent for my liking. I bolt out of the tent and into the thunderstorm that is suddenly upon us. Kit wasn’t far behind as I ran to the biggest tree nearby – flashing, crashing and booming were exploding all around us. We stand in our underwear in the rain, huddled around an old hemlock, running from one side to the other as trees and branches fall in the forest. Thunderstorms weren’t on our mind a couple days prior when we hiked down to Ross Lake from Highway 20 to meet the water taxi that took us to the Big Beaver Valley and the start of the nine-mile trail to the base of Mt. Prophet. Prophet is a modest peak by North Cascades standards. It stands 7,640 feet tall at the eastern gateway to the fabled Picket Range, a rugged subrange of the NCs. Overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, Prophet is rarely climbed and then almost exclusively by two non-technical routes. Back in 2007, as I bashed my way out of the Northern Pickets, I spied a prominent rib that descended over a thousand vertical feet off the southwest side of the peak. It looked like an interesting climb. Surely it had been done before. I consulted Fred Beckey’s “Cascade Alpine Guide” when I returned home and turned up nothing, but didn’t ask around our tight-knit climbing community either. I forgot about the rib for a decade, distracted by the familiar refrain of young kids, work and family life. But somehow, someway, I started thinking about Mt. Prophet again in 2018. The amount of information online had exploded and Mt. Prophet even had its own SummitPost. org page, though everything I could dig up said that all ascents had avoided the upper southwest rib where it narrows and steepens in an aesthetic sweep to the summit. SummitPost even had an ominous warning: “The rib has cliffs on either side and no one has yet explored the possibility of climbing it directly to the summit. That could prove to be a bad idea.” It might surprise some to know that there are still unexplored areas in our local mountains, but there are. And there are people out there climbing routes with no recorded ascents, no trip reports and no social media posts. Sometimes the trips end in minor “epics,” involving scary climbing, dense brush, horrendous gear-eating descents and, quite commonly, failure. After all, there are reasons that most climbers stick to the more traveled areas. However, there is something to be said for solitude in our increasingly crowded mountains, and trying to climb a route for the first time is a good way to escape the masses. But how does one pack for something with no information? In the case of Mt. Prophet, we were armed with a photo and some rumors. The photos I had made the rib look reasonable for a middle-aged dad like myself (probably no worse than easy class five climbing), but the rumors indicated that there was a reason that all recorded ascents had avoided taking the rib head on.
In the end, we opted to pack on the heavy side, bringing a medium rack of climbing gear, rock shoes, a 60-meter rope, crampons, ice axes and helmets. Mt. Prophet’s a long way from the road (we planned for three days), and we didn’t want to have to turn around for lack of gear. With the addition of my DSLR, this made for a heavy load as we toiled up the Big Beaver Valley on our first day, glad to have saved six miles of walking by taking the water taxi. Our first night low in the valley was quiet and we turned in early in anticipation of the pre-dawn start the next day. As usual in the mountains, I didn’t sleep well, thinking of the next day and what could be in store for us. This is the yin and yang of the mountains for many of us – stress and challenge much of the time, but a sense of reward, camaraderie, and accomplishment when it all falls into place. Kit and I were certainly in the yin state the next morning as we picked our way up through steep brush to the base of the southwest rib. We left the trail within minutes of leaving camp, climbing 3,000 vertical feet to where we took a break and donned harnesses and helmets. The first bit of the ridge looked like a scramble so we left the climbing gear in the top of our packs. At about 6,000 feet, the rib narrowed dramatically and steepened, but remained exposed “class 3” scrambling. This refers to terrain where you use hands and feet, but where a slip would rarely involve serious injury or death. Several sections looked like they would require rope, but again we found work-arounds. It kept us guessing as we worked our way up the mountain. It was a novel place to be – we had never tried to climb a route with no known ascents before. The southwest rib finally eased off at 7,200 feet for the final easy slopes to the summit. As is our custom, Kit and I shook hands on the summit and slowly turned to take in the view. The Pickets rose like their namesake fence to the west and to the east a glacier dropped off the summit of Prophet toward fjord-like Ross Lake snaking its way to Canada. We lingered for hours on a warm summer day, in no hurry to descend to the brush of the Big Beaver. We knew from route descriptions that the descent off of the mountain’s south side was non-technical and we could relax with the challenges of the morning behind us. We chatted as we descended, talking about the quality of the route and how future parties could leave the climbing gear behind and move much more quickly and pleasantly up its exposed and aesthetic crest. In keeping with the theme of the mountain we even came up with a name for the rib: “Jacob’s Ladder,” from the story in Genesis 28. So we were in high spirits as we bashed our way into camp that evening, eating much of our extra food, sitting by the fire and having a few sips of the whiskey that we had saved for the occasion. The fear of the unknown had been confronted, and we were safely below treeline with an easy hike out to the boat the next day. This was the other, truly fun side of mountaineering. Then, we saw distant flashes in the sky.
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(360) 410-6235
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“Traditional Service Meeting Modern Needs.” Northwest Propane LLC. is locally owned and operated and has been in business since 1947. We service Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Island counties. In addition to delivering propane, we also stock propane parts, and sell tanks from 1 to 1,000 gallons. We take pride in our service and will help with all your propane needs. Lynden 8450 Depot Rd.
Mt. Vernon 420 Suzanne Lane
Ferndale 5494 Barrett Rd.
354-4471 or Toll Free 800-254-4471
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1512 N. State St. 1512 N. State St. • 360-734-3840
(360) 734-3840
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Lynden
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407 19th St.
1721 E. College Way
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
ANGI CRASH SENSOR Compatible with most bike helmets, Specialized’s ANGi sensor detects crashes and alerts selected contacts that you’ve fallen. It acts as a ride tracker, crash detector and safety beacon. Also available on integrated Specialized helmets. $50. skagitcyclecenter.com
VIPPA WALKSHORTS M Water-wicking, quick-dry fabric, these shorts are great for hikes in the country and walks in the city. $70 hellyhansen.com
RONAN 155 PRO Build your own stitch and glue kayak. Famed Port Townsendbased designer John Lockwood has come up with the new Ronan 155 Pro which features side paddle cutaways allowing the paddler a much closer and efficient stroke. $1,199 pygmyboats.com
ODIN MINIMALIST 2.0 JACKET M A pure shell, this fully seam sealed, waterproof, windproof and breathable jacket packs into its chest pocket. $220 hellyhansen.com
SPECIALIZED ROLL LOW Styled and engineered for comfort, this bike can take you on and offroad in an easy, upright position. Cruise up hills and along the flats with its 7-speed Shimano gear set and 2.3-inch-wide tires. $510 skagitcyclecenter.com skagitcyclecenter.com
LILLO SWEATER W A soft, quilted polyester pullover, the Lillo is a great layering piece for all your outdoor adventures. $120 hellyhansen.com
RASK TRAIL TIGHTS W Move fast and comfortably in the hills with these 4-way stretch tights. Reinforcement panels on the knees and backside with moisture protection. $85 hellyhansen.com
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BOUNDARY BAY BREWERY
GOOD TO GO MEAT PIES
1107 Railroad Avenue 360/647-5593 bbaybrewery.com Handcrafted beer and fresh, local food since 1995. Boundary Bay Brewery houses a taproom, family-friendly bistro with outdoor dining and a dog-friendly beer garden where you can enjoy BBQs, concerts and nonprofit events in the summer.
128 W. Main Street 360/966-2400 goodtogomeatpies.com Artisan Hand Pies made from scratch in the heart of Whatcom County’s organic farmland has made Good to Go Meat Pies a popular destination place in both Everson and Lynden. Pastries are offered hot, chilled or frozen.
MELVIN BREWING
HERB NIEMANN’S STEAK HOUSE RESTAURANT
2416 Meridian Street 360/306-3285 melvingbrewing.com Located in the Historic Fountain District, our brewpub serves up 20 taps of Melvin hits and ciders. We offer a fusion of Asianinspired flavors on our menu along with a variety of traditional pub fare.
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 us on Facebook.
CONCRETE 5B’S BAKERY
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.
ANNIE’S PIZZA STATION
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.
DEMING THE NORTH FORK BREWERY AND BEER SHRINE
6186 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2337 northforkbrewery.com Looking for a pint of fresh ale and hand-tossed pizza? This pizzeria, brewery, wedding chapel and beer museum is your place! Open to all. Open every day at noon.
WELCOME GROCERY
5565 Mount Baker Highway 360/922-7294 Eat in or take out. Espresso, fresh-made home-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pastries, deli sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, ribs and soft serve ice cream. Largest bottle shop in region. Plus, ethanol-free gas.
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203 W. Main Street 360/966-2855 eversonsteakhouse.com Nestled in the middle of Everson, serving a mouth-watering array of steaks, Bavarian specialties, seafood and desserts to customers since 1993. Offers atmospheres for adults and families alike, including parties up to 50.
FERNDALE SILVER REEF HOTEL CASINO SPA
4876 Haxton Way 866/383-0777 silverreefcasino.com We offer diverse dining options from woodstone fire pizza to themed buffets and award winning fine dining at The Stake House.
GLACIER CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA AND BAR
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.
p.m. through early September.
FERNDALE
LYNDEN
SILVER REEF HOTEL CASINO SPA
4876 Haxton Way 866/383-0777 silverreefcasino.com Located off I-5, exit 260, we’ve got 206 luxurious rooms or suites to make yourself feel at home with beautiful Mount Baker Views, complimentary breakfast, and free Wi-Fi.
GOOD TO GO MEAT PIES
305 Grover Street 360/778-1111 goodtogomeatpies.com Artisan Hand Pies made from scratch in the heart of Whatcom’s organic farmland has made Good to Go Meat Pies a popular destination place in both Everson and Lynden.
GLACIER BLUE T LODGE
10459 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-9944 bluetlodge.com Conveniently located behind Chair 9 Woodstone Pizza and Bar, this sixroom 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.
MOUNT VERNON THIRD STREET CAFE
309 South Third Street 360/542-5022 thirdstreetcafe.coop Brought to you by the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, Third Street Cafe is a communityowned restaurant and bar offering a fresh perspective on Pacific Northwest cuisine with its made-from-scratch dishes and hyperlocal ingredients.
THE KNOTTY LODGE
360/303-2887 VRBO.com/563675 @knottylodge Explore, Relax, Repeat Premier Mt. Baker vacation rental 3 bed, 2 bath, luxury timber home with modern amenities, hot-tub, WiFi, gourmet kitchen, fireplace, fire pit. Your perfect getaway base camp!
SKAGIT VALLEY FOOD CO-OP
202 S. 1st Street 360/336-9777 skagitfoodcoop.com We make our deli food from scratch using fresh, quality ingredients, sourced from local and organic suppliers whenever possible. Stop in for entrees, side dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches, or our handmade, organic ice cream. We offer vegan, vegetarian, raw, gluten-free, and whole food choices for every meal.
LUXURY GETAWAYS
9989 Mt. Baker Highway 360/398-9590 or 887/90-BAKER stayatmtbaker.com Redefining the cabin in the woods. Luxury Getaways offers a variety of vacation rentals located in the heart of the Mt. Baker Recreational Area. Our accommodations are perfect for hitting the slopes and relaxing.
MT. BAKER DELIVERY CAN SAVE YOUR WEEKEND
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 on weekends.
WAKE ‘N BAKERY
6903 Bourne Street 360/599-9378 getsconed.com Open daily 7:30 a.m.–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.
HEATHER MEADOWS CAFÉ
Mile Marker 55 Highway 542 360.734-6771 mtbaker.us Our bistro style menu is great for takeout picnics or eating at our Heather Meadows Day Lodge while enjoying views of Shuksan. Daily specials featuring local produce. Beer, wine and cider available. Open Friday through Monday 11 a.m.–5
While Glacier has bars, restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores, some things aren’t available without a two-hour round trip to Bellingham. To save visitors and locals the trip, Glacier residents Rich and Angie Griffin recently started a delivery business called Mt. Baker Delivery. Mt. Baker Delivery will pick up auto parts, prescriptions, baby formula, office supplies, groceries or anything else you can dream up. “This is a remote area and it takes most visitors quite a while to get here,” Angie Griffin said. “We want them to be able to get the most out of their time here doing the things they love.” Learn more at mtbakerdelivery.com
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
EVENTS JUNE RACE TO ALASKA KICK-OFF: June 2,
find more events and submit your own at www.mountbakerexperience.com
TREK DIRT SERIES: July 13-14, Whistler
Port Townsend. Check out boats, music, a live podcast and other kickoff festivities at the pre-race ruckus before a free-forall, no-motors-allowed watercraft race up the inside passage to Ketchikan, Alaska. Free R2AK tattoos. More info: r2ak.com
BC. The Trek Dirt Series is a traveling mountain bike skills instruction program designed primarily for women. Camps are appropriate for all skill levels, covering cross-country, all mountain and downhill riding. More info: dirtseries. com/whistler
DEMING LOGGING SHOW: June 8-9,
SEATTLE TO PORTLAND RIDE: July
Deming. For the benefit of busted up loggers since 1963. See world champion loggers compete in 31 events and perform incredible feats of woodsmanship. Breakfast and BBQ. More info: demingloggingshow.com
KULSHAN 2 KULSHAN RACE: June 20, Bellingham. This event includes a mile and a 5k race, and each will start at Kulshan Brewery (K2) on Kentucky Street and will end at Kulshan Brewery on James Street. Raffle prizes, costume contest, food tricks, prizes and more. More info: bellinghamraces.com/k2k-race
JULY BARE BUNS FUN RUN WEST: July 14,
Tiger Mountain. Be brave, be tough, beat the mountain in the buff with the Tiger Mountain nudists at the 26th annual clothing optional 5k run up Tiger Mountain. More info: tigermtnudists.com
RAGNAR NORTHWEST PASSAGE RELAY: July 12-13, Blaine to Langley. Teams
of 12 runners tag off for an aroundthe-clock, 196-mile relay race. Only one teammate runs at a time, and each participant runs three times, with each leg ranging between 3–8 miles. More info: runragnar.com
13-14, Seattle. Deemed one of the best cycling events in the nation by Bicycling Magazine, this 206-mile bicycle ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 8,000 participants riding from Seattle to Portland in one or two days. This year is the 40th annual STP. More info: cascade.org
ham. Cycle the iconic roads of Whatcom County, beginning and ending in Bellingham with 22-, 44-, 62-, and 100-mile courses with views of Mt. Baker, Lake Whatcom, valleys, rivers, farmland, beaches and the Puget Sound. All proceeds benefit local charities. More info: tourdewhatcom.com
SEAFAIR TRIATHLON: July 21, Seattle. Seattle’s only triathlon, on the shores of Lake Washington, offers participants multiple disciplines on a flat, fast and picturesque course in the shadows of downtown. More info: seafair.com WHIDBEY ISLAND TRIATHLON: July
27, Langley. A great all-around triathlon on a scenic course for beginners and veterans alike. More info: swparks.org/ recreation/whidbey-island-triathlon/
AUGUST “Best Blues Festival in America” in 2013, this festival at the Deming Log Show Grounds is a hit with blues fans far and wide. More info: bakerblues.com
ANACORTES ARTS FESTIVAL AND ART DASH: August 2-4, Anacortes. Come for
July 13, Bellingham. Olympic-distance triathlon comes alive again this year with the Lake Whatcom Triathlon, an official timed event that welcomes athletes and relay teams. The event will draw beginner to elite athletes, in individual and relay divisions. More info: lakewhatcomtriathlon.com
the run, stay for the fun. An arts festival of global repute in downtown Anacortes follows Art Dash Run half marathon, 10K or 5K. The sheer variety and magnitude of artistic talent on display is jaw dropping. More info: anacortesartsfestival.com
BELLINGHAM YOUTH TRIATHLON:
August 4, Bellingham. Three divisions for kids between the ages of 6 and 13. A super fun event for participants and spectators alike. Kids are truly the best competitors. More info: cob.org/services/ recreation/races
ARC’TERYX CLIMBING ACADEMY: Au-
gust 22-25, Squamish, BC. The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy continues to provide world-class clinics and workshops to all participants in an unbeatable setting. All skill levels are welcome. More info: squamish.arcteryxacademy.com
CHUCKANUT CLASSIC: August 25, Bellingham. Ride down beautiful county roads and along the cliffs and shoreline that define Chuckanut Drive. Distances include 25, 38, 62, and 100 miles. Routes are fully supported, with rest stops stocked with high-energy food and drink. More info: chuckanutclassic.org
SEPTEMBER
WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL: September 6-8, Port Townsend. North America’s premier wooden boat gathering features 300 wooden vessels, 120 presentations and thousands of experts and enthusiasts. The festival honors tradition while allowing for discussion about the latest innovations. More info: woodenboat.org
TOUR DE WHATCOM: July 20, Belling-
MOUNT BAKER RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL: August 1-4, Deming. Voted
LAKE WHATCOM TRIATHLON:
RIDE THE HURRICANE: August 4, Olympic National Park. This challenging bike ride on Hurricane Ridge Road features tough climbing and stunning views. The road closes to cars for the ride into the national park and cyclists have three options for distance. More info: portangeles.org/pages/ridethehurricane
MAPLE FALLS BIGFOOT FESTIVAL:
August 4, Maple Falls. Hosted by Maple Falls Community Park, this event and park fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with over 25 arts and crafts vendors, a local food truck and events including a best Bigfoot costume contest, raffle drawing, beer garden, music and kids games. More info: maplefallspark.com
SUBDUED STRINGBAND JAMBOREE:
August 8-10, Deming. Check out the annual pickin’ party at the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds. Dozens of Northwest bluegrass favorites will be there. More info: stringbandjamboree.com
BELLINGHAM SEAFEAST: September
21-22, Bellingham. Come for the food, stay for the fun. World-class seafood, water recreation and more. Eat, play, explore. Free admission. More info: bellinghamseafeast.org
BELLINGHAM BAY MARATHON:
September 29, Bellingham. With views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, and North Cascades, this is one of the most beautiful marathons in the Pacific Northwest. Full marathon, half, 10K, and 5K and relay divisions for runners and walkers alike. More info: bellinghambaymarathon.com
BELLINGHAM NORTHWEST WINE FESTIVAL: August 10, Bellingham. The
4th annual festival will include a public wine tasting and a judged competition. Whether you’re a serious wineophile or beginner, the festival is a great opportunity to meet winemakers, enjoy a nosh or two, and sample an amazing selection of Pacific Northwest wines! More info: whatcombeerandwinefoundation.org
TOUR DE WHIDBEY: August 17, Whidbey Island. The Tour de Whidbey is one of the most popular rides in all of Washington state. Travel the back roads of Whidbey Island for gorgeous vistas, breathtaking scenery and varied terrain. Mileage options are 30, 40, 50, 100, or the 162-mile POWER (Perimeter of Whidbey Endurance Route) with more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain. More info: tourdewhidbey.com
MT. BAKER HILL CLIMB: Septem-
ber 8, Glacier. The Mt. Baker Hill Climb is back, in its second year hosted by Whatcom Events – the organization that brings you Ski to Sea. The 23-mile road bike race from Glacier to the end of Highway 542 offers three divisions and a whole lot of climbing. More info: bakerhillclimb.com
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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Mt. Baker Slush Cup The pond skim emulated around the world BY OLIVER LAZENBY Historic photos courtesy of Marshall Lockman.
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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019 MOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCE.COM
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eep, wet snow, steep terrain and pond skimming: A few years after the first ski lift came to Mt. Baker in 1953, those are among the things the area was known for. Early each summer, skiers and snowboarders gathered at Terminal Lake, near the Heather Meadows Visitor Center, to ski across (or into) the recently melted-out lake. That’s the idea behind the late-season pastime of pond skimming. After a decades-long hiatus, the Mt. Baker Slush Cup has resurfaced. The Mt. Baker Slush Cup became a staple of Warren Miller ski films throughout the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s after Warren first filmed it in 1954, (or maybe 1953 – Miller has said both in various articles). Those early Baker skiers in leather boots probably didn’t invent pond skimming – the people of Banff, Canada, claim their end-of-season pond skim party dates back to 1928 – but Baker’s was the pond skim that spawned a movement. At least, that’s what Warren Miller thought: “In the 60 years since showing the 1954 Slush Cup at Mt. Baker, it has become a tradition at almost every ski resort in the world to try and replicate what happened that day,” he said in a 2015 article in Kalispell, Montana’s Flathead Beacon newspaper. He’s not exaggerating about the global appeal of pond skimming – people from the Canadian Rockies to the Andes, New Zealand and the Alps attempt to plane across icy water on skis and snowboards, either at random or in ski resort-sanctioned parties.
Many, like the skiers riding piggyback, or the guy with a chair mounted to skis, aren’t even really trying to make it to the other side. Sometimes, the journey is the reward. The 1981 film “Ski in the Sun” shows skiers launching off a 10-foot jump into the center of the pond. Several go headfirst into 18 inches of water after flips go wrong. One double backflip, double ski ejection launches skis 50 feet into the air above a crowd of spectators. As usual, Miller’s commentary is a highlight of the footage: “The water is about 18 inches deep, a number that exactly matches their IQ,” he said after one unsuccessful attempt across the pond. The event’s wild nature may have been its downfall. In the early 1980s, the U.S. Forest Service and state patrol shut it down. Miller cryptically blamed the event’s undoing on drugs; other sources cite huge quantities of beer. “Cowboy” Wade Wiltse, an organizer of the current-day Slush Cup, mentioned something about biker gangs. “It was rowdy. A hundred people would show up back in the day,” he said. Whatever the reason, the Slush Cup disappeared for much of the 1980s and 1990s.
“In the 60 years since showing the 1954 slush Cup at Mt Baker, it has become a tradition at almost every ski resort in the world to try and replicate what happened that day.” – Warren Miller
Beginnings
In the book “Mount Baker,” authors John D’Onofrio and Todd Warger write that the Slush Cup had its origins in the late 1940s, when the Komo Kulshan Ski Club organized a July 4 slalom race that included a pond skim. Several sources, including organizers of the current-day event, believe it first happened in 1948. By the 1950s, the event drew big crowds to Terminal Lake or another nearby patch of blue water, to get soaked and celebrate the end of the ski season. “The combination of high-altitude, hot July sun, high blood-alcohol content, and wobbly legs offered some fantastic, never before seen crashes for my next year’s feature-length ski film audiences,” Miller said in that same Flathead Beacon article about his first trip to the Slush Cup. Warren Miller Entertainment recently released a cache of Mt. Baker Slush Cup footage from six films between 1964 and 1982. Earlier footage shows skiers on 210-centimeter skis occasionally skimming the pond successfully. More often their tips dive and they windmill into the water, avoiding microwave-sized icebergs if they’re lucky.
event happened each 4th of July, the modern version is a little looser. In recent years, Wiltse announced a date (or multiple possible dates) on the Mt. Baker Slush Cup Facebook page about a week in advance, based on ideal lake conditions and weather forecasts. Filmmakers Michael Dyrland and Wil Drake have also been instrumental in working on the event and promoting it through their films and making shirts and stickers. All three are inspired by the history and spirit of earlier Slush Cups. “I think the fun they were having is the same fun we’re going for,” Drake said. “The videos show kayaks, people riding at the pond on each other’s backs, they’re all in jorts and bikinis. I almost feel like they did it even more outlandishly than we do.” Thanks to the newly released historic footage, you can judge for yourself which generation did it better. Check mountbakerexperience.com for Slush Cup videos from Warren Miller, Michael Dyrland and Wil Drake. The 2019 pond skim will likely be held shortly after the road to Artist Point opens. Check the Facebook page facebook.com/MtBakerSlushCup/ to learn more.
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Current Slush Cup
Wiltse, 55, and an early Mount Baker Hard Core affiliate, not only attended the Slush Cup in the 1970s, he was a big part of bringing the event back after the turn of the century. In the mid 2000s, a loose group of folks including Wiltse – the oldest person to jump the Mt. Baker road gap and a man who seems to embody the go-for-it spirit of the original event – brought it back. While the original
Slush Cup 2017. Ben Shanks Kindlon photo.
SUMMER 2019 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE
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The Knotty Lodge - GLACIER, WA Redefining the Cabin in the Woods
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.
www.stayatmtbaker .com
9989 Mt. Baker Highway • Glacier, WA
View Pictures & Book online at
www.vrbo.com/563675 or call 360.303.2887
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Fresh Baked Goods BrB&earekfasatkBufarritoss,t Strictly Organic Coffee & Espresso ASoupllL&uDQunaichcyeh Behind Milano’s Restaurant • Open everyday at 7:30 am Behind Milano’s Restaurant • Open everyday at 7:30 am
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360-599-9883
CHAIR 9
T
ST AU R A
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Serving great food 7 days a week
9989 Mt Baker HWY
S
GLACIER, WA S H I N G TO N
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360.398.9590
HAM’ RA
H GREAT FOOD H LIVE MUSIC H HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS H BREAKFAST WEEKENDS
WOODSTONE PIZZA & BAR
Full Menu & Family Dining
Happy Hour
Upstairs Game Room Free WiFi
Mon-Fri 11am-4pm
We provide delivery services to the communities of Maple Falls and Glacier, including grocery delivery, office supplies, firewood or anything else you can’t find locally.
Watch all your sporting events here! 6 big screen TVs
LIVE MUSIC - Check PRIVATE ROOM available for parties and events.
10459 Mt. Baker Hwy Glacier, WA
Call or visit our website for next day delivery! www.mtbakerdelivery.com 360-599-3905
for schedule CATERING for all your party needs.
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
www.bluetlodge.com
BC’S BIGGEST Waterpark!
Open Daily June 1 - Sept. 2
BC’S BEST Theme Park!
The Ultimate BC Adventure! Open Daily - Rain or Shine
About 30 minute drive from the Sumas border
57th Annual MAIN SHOW 1 p.m.
June 8 & 9, 2019 Free day parking!
• 31 Events • Professional Acts • World Champion Speed Climbing • Loggers Breakfast Starts @ 6 a.m. • Salmon, Beef & Chicken BBQ
demingloggingshow.com
Located just 12 miles East of Bellingham, off the Mt. Baker Highway, on Cedarville Road.
Self-contained Camping Available with Reservations
EXHIBITIONS START 11 A.M.
Open Daily June 22 - Sept. 2