Reved—summer splashtacular

GET SET TO GET WET! THIS ISSUE IS DRIPPING WITH GOODNESS. PLUS! FREE POST CARD INSIDE! (...IT'S DRY)

SEE CENTREFOLD.

Today In History

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 3

Crossing Paths Sanford Fleming & Baptiste met on the Columbia River one Tuesday in September 135 years ago mountains.”

Fleming grazed on the abundant huckleberries and pondered the future. “Is not this presence of a luxurious t was noon on a perfect early-autumn day. Baptiste growth of wild growing fruit an indication that garden felt the sun warm on his back. He drew on his pipe fruits might find their home in these sheltered valleys?” with satisfaction as he gazed out over the Columbia Similarly, “a vast grove of fine timber, mostly hemlock” River. His band usually spent the late summer and auwas well-suited to railway construction. He marvelled tumn here, at skxik’ (now Big Eddy). Here, in his peoat “cedars, four feet in diameter, (that) rise up around ple’s northern home. Here, among the abundance of us like the columns of a lofty temple.” berries, game and fish. Here, by the great river, their The trek was strenuous, with “troublesome marshes” world and travelway since time immemorial. and “a seemingly endless number of prostrate trunks of trees and rocks to surmount.” Still, Fleming praised Baptiste: “We thoroughly recognize all we owe to our WORLDS COLLIDE guide. He has saved us labour, time and much painful experience, and we are proportionately satisfied with Baptiste, his wife and two other families set up camp our own forethought that his services could be utilized.” a month ago, glad to be back amongst the great cedars The men crossed Three Valley Lake with a raft and and snow-capped mountains. He and the other men Baptiste followed in a canoe he had cached. Their camptrapped and hunted, sometimes helped by their dogs. ing spot at the north-west end of the lake was “brilliant They fished from gravelly banks, using spears and nets with rich mosses… you walk on them as on a Turkish weighted by stones. The women and children gathered carpet,” Flemberries and firewood. wrote. BapThey dried fish and meat “He reappeared, and started without comment on the trail. We submissively followed.” ing tiste told them for winter. A few years that “much game ago, a forest fire ripped through the valley just to the west, leaving perfect con- from the west: four Secwepemc (Shuswap) men and abounds, and that from the lake large fish are taken.” one HBC employee, Mr. McLean. Fleming’s joy at seeThe following morning Fleming paid Baptiste, who ditions for huckleberries. “had a cool way of his own in reckoning the value of His people knew to take from the land only what they his services, whatever he might know of arithmetic. As needed: food for the present, some to save for winter, a ‘lucky penny’ we supplied him with enough matches and some to trade. With four canoes between them to last him a month, a mine of wealth to him; and he and the need to be mobile, what good was taking more? paddled away to the east to find his way back to the They thanked the Creator for all this abundance.

Grand Eddy.”

That day, the women tended fires, perhaps in their lodges, perhaps for drying food, and the smoke wafted into the clear, blue sky. Suddenly two gunshots broke COMING DOWN THE TRACK the silence from the east. One of the men grabbed his rifle and fired into the air. They heard three sharp reWhen Baptiste and Sanford Fleming met, two worlds sponses. collided. The relationship was one of cooperation, with White men, Baptiste thought—who else would anBaptiste expertly leading Fleming and his companions nounce their presence in this way? He gazed toward the through the land that he and his ancestors knew well.

Illecillewaet, waiting. The others also watched.

But Fleming knew of a railway that would soon be built Both the Sinixt and the Ya-qan nu-kih (Lower Kootenay White men had been travelling on this river as long Indian Band of the Ktunaxa Nation) used the sturgeon through the mountains, changing the lives of Baptiste as Baptiste could remember, but he knew they had not nosed canoe, pictured here. This photo was taken near and his people forever. always been here, that they were newcomers. He knew, Nelson on the west arm of Kootenay Lake.

When Fleming and his companions continued to Eatoo, that they were not all the same. gle Landing (Sicamous) they passed a road-building PHOTO COURTESY OF ARROW LAKES First they came to trade—something Baptiste’s people camp led by Gustavus Blin Wright. The wagon road was HISTORICAL SOCIETY, NAKUSP knew well. They traded useful things like guns, flour a day’s walk east of Eagle Landing; by the next sumand matches in exchange for furs, meat and fish or a mer, it would reach the Big Eddy. In less than two years, day of guiding or borrowing a canoe. Some white men ing them was dampened when he learned that they carWright’s men had constructed a bridge across the Coformed families with Sinixt women. Many stayed and ried “barely enough food to supply their own wants”. lumbia River and the town of Farwell (later, Revelstoke) settled down; others abandoned their families and re- They have cached the rest five days’ journey west. The route, with “fallen trees of gigantic size,” lakes, swamps had been built, burned down and rebuilt. turned east.

Imagine Baptiste, standing in that warm autumn sun.

Then came the priests who talked about their Creator, and “masses of rock” had delayed them by several days.

Soon he, and his people, those who have known the Fleming learned that the Sinixt “knew the route well Dieu, but it was not the Sinixt Creator. One of these land intimately for generations, would be a minority priests baptized him and gave him his Christian name, as far as Three Valley Lake.” He asked “Old Baptiste,” to in their own homeland—unwelcome foreigners in the Baptiste. After that, the white men only called him Bap- guide them “by the least difficult route… We felt safer eyes of those who usurped them.  tiste, which sounded strange to him and felt, somehow, under his pilotage, and assigned him the advanced post like a loss, even though his people continued to use his of our party.” Baptiste agreed.

Baptiste led the men to his camp and disappeared inreal Sinixt name.. side his lodge where his wife repaired his moccasins, Less than 20 years earlier, for a year or two, thousands leaving Fleming and his party to wait impatiently outof white men paddled up the river—a day’s journey by side.

For 45 minutes she “deliberately plied her awl and canoe past skxik’—looking for gold. The Sinixt saw that the strangers were plentiful and forceful, and that they leather thong,” Fleming wrote, while Baptiste sat “motionless, smoking his pipe and looking into the embers were no longer respectful.

Baptiste’s thoughts were interrupted when men emerged of the fire. We could only imitate his patience and await from the forest onto the banks of the Illecillewaet, which the results. At length, in the same silent way, he reapdrains into the Columbia. Two men from Baptiste’s band peared, and started without comment on the trail. We submissively followed. The thought crossed my mind canoed across the Columbia to meet them. that in this case knowledge was power.”

LAURA STOVEL is an author of three books and has a Baptiste led the men “by a circuitous route round the strong interest in environmental and social justice issues.

A HARD SLOG shore of the ‘big eddy.’ Avoiding the “large marsh, full of She grew up in Revelstoke. LESLIE DAVIDSON recently water holes, skunk cabbage and deep black muck,” that moved to Revelstoke and is the author of In The Red Sanford Fleming was disappointed. He had been trek- slowed the Kamloops men, he led them on an indigeCanoe, available at Grizzly Books. king for five days, down the Illecillewaet River from nous path used “for carrying caribou and game over the

>> WRITTEN BY Laura Stovel with EDITING BY Leslie Davidson

I

its source near Roger’s Pass. It had been a hard slog through dense, wet bush and spiky devil’s club. Fleming, the former chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway, assigned to survey the route through the Selkirk mountains, had hoped to see Hudson’s Bay Company men waiting for them at Big Eddy with desperately needed provisions.

Fleming recognized the men crossing the river towards them in sturgeon-nosed canoes as “Colville Indians” from the United States. The Sinixt told Fleming that the Kamloops men had not arrived. Dismayed at the news, Fleming, his son Bob, Reverend George Grant, Albert Rogers, and their cook, Dave, all crossed the river in the Sinixt canoes.

Camped in the Big Eddy, Fleming and his friends discussed what to do. Albert Rogers had hiked through Eagle Pass to Roger’s Pass with his uncle, Major A.B. Rogers, in 1881 and told them of the difficulty of the route. They decided to chance it anyway.

Early the next morning five Kamloops men arrived

4 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

Street Weirdness

TIP-Top TAP: WHO’S GOT THE BEST TAP WATER IN REVY? Reved's official, very scientific study shows that, in fact, we all do “It’s good mountain water.

And Pepsi-filtered to get rid of the beaver fever.”

—James Macdonald Nomad

“It’s tap water with hints of citrus, hydrogen and oxygen.”

—Connor Sheridan Last Drop

“It has a clear and crisp nose. Then I would say a round wetness in the mouth with a fresh finish.”

—Marie Blanchete Wosley Creek H₂0 sommelier

“It’s fresh.”

—Taylor Lee Frisby Ridge

“It’s delicious, filtered, hydrating— what else do you want from water?”

— Eva & Kelsie Chubby Funsters

“It’s glacierfresh with a homegrown touch.”

“It’s good.

I drink it.”

—Ariel Hill Craft Bierhaus

—Brittany Loeppky Grizzly Pub

“It’s very hydrating, ice-cold and refreshing.”

— Luke Sumich La Baguette

“...Really?”

—Mat Rebelo Main Street Café

“I absolutely love any water from any tap. We are spoiled by water.”

“It’s da bomb.”

—Nico Caron Nico’s Pizzaria

—Sarah Leah & Spencer =River City Pub

“I (Julie) am from Sweden and we have good water, but this tastes really good.”

— Leanne Hawkins Village Idiot

—Julia Hendrikson & Erin Behncke Mountain Meals

—Goldie Sanghera Paramjit’s Kitchen

... because we’re closest to Greely.”

—Lauren Treasure Green Mustache

“I drink it straight from the tap all day everyday.”

“It’s refreshing, the perfect temperature, satisfying and clean.”

“Ours is the best...”

“We start early in the morning and rise with the birds, put on music and invite the water out of the tap. Then, garden fairies and sometimes dinosaurs bring fresh berries and herbs.”

—Hannah, Ollie & Ivan Dose Café

BUT SERIOUSLY, FOLKS ...

Straight up, I think Klaus at Revelstoke U-Brew & Water has the best tap water in town. He’s practially a drive-thru water restaurant. And since Revelstoke water is naturally good to begin with, it is all in his pipes (that, unlike many other 100-yearold buildings in town) are brand new, and his filtration system:

“It comes in here in the basement where it goes through a sediment filter, charcoal filter, micro-filter and UV to kill any bacteria. But it retains the mineral content. A lot of micro-filters take them out.” He is also against flouridization (“Period.”)

And his 5-gallon bottles are all BPA-free. Why’d Klaus get into the water biz? “I wanted purified water for the beer and wine I make. Last year, the water business next to me was destroyed by a truck. So, I started to sell the water that I’ve been purifying all along.” And why should we get our water here? “Because it’s purified. It’s bacteria-free, and all the taste is left in.”

Fill-ups are $2 outside (self-serve), and $3.25 inside.

Check out the pipes on this guy! One of the reasons his water is so good.

From The Editor’s Desk

W

ater. We drink it. We jump in it.

We play in it. We fall asleep naked in dingies on it, then float until a passing motorboat stops to check up on us. We wash with it. We make energy with it. We make coffee, beer, food—hell, we make everything with it. A better question is what don’t we do with water?

And the answer is pretty much nothing. And yet, we sully it. We litter it with, of all things, plastic water bottles. Our dogs, mine anyway, occasionally poop in it (see p.21) ...

van down by the river

Follow along: @RevedQ /RevedQuarterly

And so, this issue is dedicated to that most wonderful, clear, life-giving, live-enhancing miracle liquid, water. Eau. Aqua. Woda. Das Wasser. In any language, good, clean, fresh water is a going concern. So, like this place where we so fortunately live, the summer Reved is overflowing with water fun and history. Take a trip through time, back before before European settlement (p3) and before neighbouring towns were flooded to make electricity (p11).

Take a trip into the future of the Columbia River (p.19), or maybe a trip right this second to any of the many amazing waterfalls (p.14) tourist destinations (p.10) or lesser-known local attractions (p.19). Happy summer. 

Dear Peter, I picked up Reved when in town recently, and enjoyed it as always. Rumour has it this was your last issue. Is that true, or just a public misunderstanding due to its death theme?—Tom Parkin RQ: Thanks for the pre-condolences, Tom. Reved lives to see another issue! 

Instead of flying across Arrow Lakes, winged hitchhikers often opt for a relaxing sail aboard the M.V. Columbia, upon which they sometimes get free scraps and caw madly at you.

FRIDAY DIPPERS A dedicated group of cold water enthusiasts is going on 20 weeks and counting. Join them in their insanity every Friday at 4:30 under the Big Eddy Bridge.

Timber Days was an axecellent time for all the logger people who came to compete, spectate or just drink beer. Revelstoke has a long history of people balancing upon wood. Log burling, after all, is the original standup paddleboarding. PHOTO BY TAMMIE JOHNSON

#ICYMI LAST ISSUE

“My experience on the river taught me to always be prepared and manage risk. It also taught me that bad things happen to good people.”

Read Louise Stanway’s Fate & The Incomappleux: Reflections on a deadly river at www.reved.net

Whose a good readerweeder! Millie just ruvs Reved. (Especially the #Catsified ads on page 26.) Send your doggy, kitty or people pics for the next issue. Facebook/Insta @RevedQ or editor@reved.net

www.reved.net

VOLUME II ISSUE 10 Published by Reved Media © 2018 Reved Media est. 2005

Any reproduction or duplication is usually OK if you make it up to me with money or beer.

Send words of adoration to:

REVED MEDIA

Email: editor@reved.net

DRAWERS OF WATER & BURLERS OF WOOD

DOGGIES RUV REVED

REVED

Box 57 Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 Tel: 867 222 4556 Fax: Nobody faxes anymore.

STILL KICKIN’

ATTEMPTED MURDER

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 5

Write me (please, I get so lonely...) online reved.net email editor@reved.net

PUBLISHER Peter Worden ADVERTISING GENIUS Peter Worden NEWSPAPER DELIVERY BOY Peter Worden OFFICE MORALE Peter Worden CONTRIBUTORS & ADVERTISERS Writers Michelle Cole, Laura Stovel, Leslie Davidson, Cassidy Randall, Francis L. Maltby, Kate Borucz, Angela Mobray Glenn Westrup, Stacey Brensrud, Kim Kaiser PHOTOGS Rylee Rosenberger, Emily Kemp, Eva Brownstein, William Eaton Reved wants you! If you have an idea, a story, a business, a product, a haiku, classified, catsified—anything!­—call or email right meow.

GET REVED

Do you want the joy of Reved Quarterly at your home, work or office? Who wouldn’t! For $20, I’ll even deliver it to you, singing the Canoe Song Reved Quarterly is published quarterly (obviously). It has been in proud existence for 10 years and counting. Its publisher reserves all rights to have fun with this newspaper and miniature newspaper. Reved Quarterly and Reved ¼’ly are a printed by Reved Media, a division of Reved Global Inc., which is a subsidiary of, oh who am I kidding, my office is a van down by the river ...

COVER GIRL This cheeky cover shot of Sage Laboucan at Wilson Creek Falls (outside of New Denver) was shot by Eva Brownstein from Nelson. As publisher, I stand behind each and every buttcheek or cheeks I print in Reved. It’s only fair to back that commitment ...with my own backside.

6 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

The Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre is located 5km north of Revelstoke on Hwy 23. Open from 10 am to 4 pm every day until September.

Adults: $6 / Seniors & Youth: $5 / Children under 5: free. Call 250 814 6697 or email revelstoke@bchydro.com

Q&A

(MORE) ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR DAM QUESTIONS BC Hydro fields impossible questions about the dam, settles bar bets and sets records straight Q+A WITH JEN WALKER-LARSON & THE GOOD PEOPLE AT BC HYDRO

T

he Revelstoke Dam generates its fair share of local intrigue and alcohol-fueled spurious rumour. Luckily, BC Hydro is happy to address this smattering of dam questions, even calling in all the experts for another round of Answers to All Your Dam Questions.

Bill asks: If the dam gave way this minute, how safe would he be in his second-floor condo of Selkirk Gardens ... What about the roof?

electricity demand is low and use that water to generate power when people need the power.

Peter has to know: What are those red shack thingies on top of the dam?

There is a small structure with a red roof on the left that we call the ‘Pizza Hut’. Come visit the Revelstoke Dam visitor centre and you can take a trip up the longest, fastest elevator in Revelstoke, and stand out on the Pizza Hut to take in the view.

We also have a red roof over the crane on the right. The crane runs on a track along the crest of the dam and is used to lift gates and other heavy equipment during maintenance work.

It is extremely unlikely that Revelstoke Dam would fail, we have thousands of instruments that monitor movement, seepage, and dam pressure 24/7 so we would be aware of any issues far enough in advance to take steps to address the situation.

“Mark Andy wants to know: What would the landscape look like if the dam had a complete and catastrophic failure and flooded everything?

says fish get sucked through the dam’s turbines, chopping them up into pieces—is he drunk?”

Hard to say exactly.

He also heard (it’s a two-part question) that, if Mica Dam failed, it would set off of a catastrophic waterfall effect of other dams, all the way down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean.

Is that possible?

It is extremely unlikely that Mica Dam would fail, we monitor it very closely as well.

Eric wonders why the river fluctuates so much, and if the dam can’t generate the same amount of power all of the time. Is it possible to store electricity in a big BC Hydro battery?

The reservoir is the battery. Revelstoke dam is what we call a peaking plant so we generate more during periods of high demand, like when everyone wakes up and plugs in their toaster or comes home from work and starts making dinner and watching TV. The beauty of our hydro-electric dam is that they allow us to store water when

I... er, he, also wonders: Do you call the foot of the dam and lip of the dam the “foot” and the “lip”?

We do call the bottom of the dam its ‘foot’ and there is the ‘toe’ on the downstream side and its ‘heel’ on the upstream side. We call the front of the dam its ‘face.’ And you could call the top of the dam a ‘lip’ but we usually refer to it as the dam ‘crest’. Guess we are not too consistent with our terminology. We should really put some more thought into that.

Mark says fish get sucked through the dam’s turbines, which chop them into pieces, and all those fish guts go downstream. He says you can’t go fishing below the dam because it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Is he just drunk?

Mark is talking about what we call “entrainment” whereby fish pass downstream through the dam.

RIDDLE ME THIS! What has one foot, one toe, a heel and a face? Learn your dam terminology, below ...

At Revelstoke Dam this happens mostly to kokanee and usually the small, young ones. But it is not like there is a strong current at the dam’s water intakes that “suck fish in”. It is more that at certain times of the day and year the behaviour of the fish puts them at greater risk. Fish are usually able to pass through and survive because the turbines at Revelstoke Dam are so huge (over seven metres in diameter). It is against the law to fish in the sections of the river below Revelstoke Dam and Mica Dam because fish tend to congregate there.

Kary Fell and her daughter Heather from Golden want to know what happens to all the debris that builds up at the lip—the boom catches it, and then what?

The boom behind Revelstoke Dam is there to stop boats and debris from getting right behind the dam. Some wood does sneak past, though, and we regularly pluck it out from behind the boom so it doesn’t damage the intakes or spillway.

If I swam past the boom at the lip of the dam on Lake Revelstoke, would I/ could I get sucked under?

Possibly. Although the intakes of Revelstoke Dam are well below the water surface—more than 17 metres. There is always the chance we might need to release water over the spillway, and

those gates are at the water surface. The booms are there to keep everyone safe, so please don’t cross them.

The creek at the top of the dam is filled partially with cement. I heard when the dam was built, there was exrtra cement left over, so it was all dumped there—is that true?

No, but that is a good story. We used over two million cubic meters of concrete to build the dam and had a concrete plant on site that only made the amount we needed. We did use some concrete to line the banks of the creek just above the dam on the west side—called Deadman’s Creek—to make sure that the creek flows could not erode the shoreline towards the dam.

Everyone wants to know: Will BC Hydro ever make the dam a giant waterslide with accompanying waterpark?

BC Hydro is a serious, conservative organization that works tirelessly to keep the lights on for our customers while keeping the public and our workers safe. As much as we hate to be boring, a giant waterslide/waterpark at the dam will never be in our 10-year plan.  ANYMORE DAM QUESTIONS? editor@reved.net

Not quite a cube,, or a hoteL.. (...((BUT, CLOSE TO THE WATER!. ..)

5 WICKED Water WETAWAYS Courtesy of your local travel agent >> ANGELA MOBRAY

EGYPT What? Wait a second—isn’t Egypt a massive desert? This is true, however, don’t forget the longest river in the world runs through the entire country, The mighty Nile River was ancient Egypt’s highway, and is an ideal way to explore all she has to offer. With flights around $1,200, and nine-day small-group tours from $950 (which include an overnight sailing on a felucca and sleeping under the stars) this watery destination is more affordable than you think.

Aw, the soft, white sand beaches of Baham...I mean, Nakusp. Wait, Nakusp?

ROME Did you know natural spring water is readily available throughout the city of Rome? You can safely drink the water flowing from the fountains in the piazzas. But don’t go scooping your canteen— there are taps on the side. Just do as the Romans do.

DISNEY WORLD

Florida’s Blizzard Beach is like home away from home for us mountain people.

In 30-degree heat, it’s the illusion of a ski resort in a tropical destination. Take a chairlift to the peak of the Downhill Double Dipper waterslide. Like a downhill ski race, flags mark your course and your time is displayed on an overhead digital stopclock. (If you buy a Disney Flex Pass Plus, you get free access to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon each day.)

LAKE O’HARA is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and just a couple hours drive east from Revelstoke. You can hike the road in or book the school bus in advance through the Alpine Club of Canada. You can day-hike or stay a night or two in the campground, Elizabeth Parker Hut (shared sleeping), or splurge, and stay in one of the luxury cabins dotted along the lake. The best photos and paintings capture just a smidge of the raw beauty; you really must see and experience it yourself.

NAKUSP If you have no budget to travel farther

than a half-tank of gas, then you need to spend time in Nakusp. It’s a quirky village located 100 km south of Revelstoke. With quality beaches that make you think you have flown south to the Caribbean (as a former Nakuspian, we have a spot called the Bahamas) you will be amazed at the laid back vibe Nakusp has to offer.

Angela Mowbray is a CTC travel advisor and owner of Travel Escapes, a new, full-service travel agency in Revelstoke.

Find out why she’s an awesome travel agent on page 19.

Lil’ Edumacation

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 11

STORIES BENEATH THE SURFACE: A DIP INTO TIME

The Revelstoke Museum peers beneath the surface at the lost towns of the Arrow Lakes Resevoir >> Cathy English

S

ections of British Columbia experienced devastating flooding this year, particularly in the community of Grand Forks. Residents there are beginning the long process of reclaiming and rebuilding their homes. This has been a traumatic experience for all those affected.

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR FLOODPLAIN Imagine how traumatic it would be if you knew that your home and land would be flooded for all time, and that you could never live there again. This was the experience for more than 2,000 residents between

people did for a living. See their lifestyles. It looks at the once-thriving community of Arrowhead, which was created as the terminus for CPR steamers in 1895. It even had a railway branch-line from Revelstoke (built to connect with the steamer traffic on the Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes).

The exhibition explores the community of Mount Cartier, settled mostly by Ukrainian immigrants between 1908 and the 1920s.

This farming community, now known simply as “the Flats” was once home to several fam-

Imagine how traumatic it would be if you knew your home and land would be flooded for all time, and you could never live there again ...

Revelstoke and Robson when the Hugh Keenleyside Dam was built at Castlegar in the late-1960s.

Between Revelstoke and the Galena Bay ferry terminal, several communities were displaced, including Mount Cartier, 12-Mile, Sidmouth, Arrowhead, Beaton and Galena Bay.

COMING TO A MUSEUM NEAR YOU The Revelstoke Museum & Archives is creating a new exhibition—set to open later this year—that explores these communities. Learn about the lives of the people who once lived, worked and farmed in the valley.

Stories Beneath the Surface looks at why the valley was settled and what

ilies, who had their own school, church and post office. They celebrated their own culture and traditions.

GETtin’ DOWN RURAL-UKRAINIAN-STYLE Stories of former residents will be included in the exhibition, talking about the good and the bad of their rural lifestyles, and all about being displaced from their homes and their way of life. Watch for the exhibition opening later this summer, and contact the museum if you have artifacts, photographs, or stories to share.

TOP The proud sternwheelers SS Trail, SS Rossland and SS Minto all being adorable in port at Arrowhead, in 1898. BOTTOM Skyline of the thriving metropolis of Arrowhead, circa 1910. INSET Emil Rauchert on the Twelve-Mile cable ferry sometime in the 1950s.

Invasives Watch

12 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

MusclIN’ out mussels

Joint alliance is fighting to keep BC zebra mussel-free

LEFT In a concerted fight to prevent the accidental introduction of invasive mussels to BC waterways, mandatory inspection stations are set up at the province’s eastern and southern borders.

RIGHT Zebra mussls would be eve worse for BC than a zebra with muscles.

>> KIM KAISER

B

C waters are precious, clean and, importantly, mussel-free. The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) and Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) want to keep them that way.

These two groups have begun working closely together in a concerted bid to prevent the accidental introduction of invasive mussels to our waterways. Media campaigns, highway billboards, boat launch outreach and involvement with local marinas will help spread the message that all watercraft entering BC must be inspected at Provincial Inspection Stations, and all watercraft within BC must follow CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY practices between waterbodies.

FUN FACT Did you know that invasive mussels like to hitch rides on boats and could hitch a ride all the way into BC? Did you also know that if they were accidentally introduced here, they would cost millions of dollars in infrastructure maintenance every year? That they make the water taste foul? That they leave terrible sharp shells on the beaches? That they would have a serious negative impact on tourism in BC? The mussels cling and cluster on hard surfaces, making them a threat to infrastructure. Imagine having to unclog every town water supply, irrigation pipe, sewage pipe and hydro They would cost tens of millions in infrastructure facility every year. The cost maintenance every year. They’d make the water to BC would taste foul. They’d leave terrible sharp shells be estimated on beaches. (In other words, they’d really suck.) at around $43 million annually.

EASTERN @#!$*&'s “It would be all too easy for a few mussels to survive a cross-country journey on a boat from an infested lake out east,” said Sue Davies, CSISS’ Education and Aquatics Coordinator. “Each of those adult mussels can produce a million eggs per year.

Just imagine a million new mussels all producing a million more eggs; within a couple of years the lakes would be full of mussels, and nothing else. This has happened to other lakes and it would be a massive impact here if they ever reached our lakes or rivers”, she said. Zebra and Quagga mussels are freshwater shellfish that are non-native to North America. They were accidentally introduced from Europe to the Great Lakes in the 1980s and have since spread throughout much of Canada and the U.S.—although they have not yet made it to BC. “Let’s do everything we can to keep mussels out of BC,” said Davies.

BORDER PATROL For several years the province has had a ring of watercraft inspection stations near border crossings at BC’s southern and eastern boarders. It is mandatory for all watercraft including powerboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats and anything in between to stop. So far, the stations have been successful at preventing mussels from entering BC. With an 81 per cent average compliance rate during the 2017 season, it is clear that the majority of people are aware of the requirement to stop.

Failure to stop at highway inspection stations is an offence, and inspectors monitor the highway for those not stopping. If a vehicle with a watercraft fails to stop at the inspection station, Conservation Officers are notified and they pursue the vehicle.

Kim is the CSISS Education Officer. She spent last year working for the Provincial Mussel Defence team, inspecting boats at the Golden Watercraft Inspection Station For more info, visit columbiashuswapinvasives.org/resources-for-boaters

YOU MAY BE READING THIS UPSIDE DOWN.

Spot The Differences

Spot The Diferences

1.

Carefully remove Reved Quarterly centerfold.

WARMING UP FOR A COLD PLUNGE! Crazy fools (from left) Marnie DiGiandomenico, Mike Newbury, Giles Shearing, Neil Kelly, Steve Wesley and Heather Hood get pumped for a wee dip in the Columbia. Warm-blooded Revelstokians gather together every Friday—all year-round—to immerse themselves in icy water. But right now, YOU must immerse yourself in an equally painful task— finding 10 differences!

Reved Quarterly 1/4’ly SUMMER 2018

“It’s good. I drink it.”

Connor Sheridan, The Last Drop Brittany Loeppky, Grizzly Pub

Taylor Lee, Frisby Ridge

Luke Sumich, La Baguette

Ariel Hill, Craft Bierhaus

2. AND HERE.

“I absolutely love any water from any tap. We are spoiled by water.” Sarah Leah and Spencer, River City Pub “We start early in the morning and rise with the birds, put on music and invite the water out of the tap.

Then, garden fairies and sometimes dinosaurs bring fresh berries and herbs.” Hannah, Ollie and Ivan, Dose Café

Julia Hendrikson & Erin Behncke,Mountain Meals

“I (Julie) am from Sweden and we have good water, but this tastes really good.”

“It’s very hydrating, ice-cold and refreshing.”

“It’s refreshing, the perfect temperature, satisfying and clean.” Goldie Sanghera, Paramjit’s Kitchen “It’s glacier refreshing with a homegrown touch.”

Lauren Treasure, Green Mustache

Nico Caron, Nico’s Pizzaria

Mat Rebelo, Main Street Café

“It’s da bomb.”

“I drink it straight from the tap all day everyday.” Leanne Hawkins, Village Idiot “It’s delicious, filtered, hydrating—what else do you want from water?”

“It’s fresh.”

“Really?”

“It has a clear and crisp nose. Then I would say a round wetness in the mouth with a fresh finish.”

Marie Blanchete, H₂0sommelier at Wosley Creek

“It’s tap water with hints of citrus, hydrogen and oxygen.”

Kelsie and Eva, Chubby Funsters

James Macdonald, The Nomad

“Ours is the best because we’re the closest to Greely.”

“It’s good mountain water—and Pepsi-filtered to get rid of the beaver fever.”

Reved asks: What restaurant has the best tap water?

Tip-top tap: Town-wide tapwater taste test...tally

Street Weirdness

WARNING!

2.

Fold on dotted lines— once, twice and thrice.

3.

And voilá!—you have your- self a Reved 1/4’ly Quarterly.

...THIS PAPER DOUBLES AS A POSTCARD

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES ANSWER KEY A T-Rex is spying from the other side of the river; Marnie is showing love for the summer issue of Reved Quarterly (Thanks, Marn!); someone has constructed a sand castle; Neil’s suit has changed colours; Giles has a surperfluous third nipple; Steve went and got a lower-back tattoo; Heather is missing a flippy-floppy; there are extra girders in the bridge; the water level is up; and Mike’s wristband is missing.

HANG ON TO THIS!...

HOW-TO: READ REVED 1/4’ly WITHOUT HURTING YOURSELF:

¼’ly

1. FOLD HERE.

You We should:

Find a sexy waterfall Drink more tapwater Jump in a freezing river on Friday Other ___________________

3. AN-N-D HERE.

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

STARTING WITH THE EASY ONES A good way to break up a long, hot drive on the TransCanada, is to take a 30-minute cool-down/stretch stop at Meeting of the Waters in Glacier National Park. If heading south from Revelstoke on Hwy 23, stop in at Blanket Creek campground and Sutherland Falls, a five-minute jaunt up a not-too-steep pathway. A bit closer to Revelstoke—just past the dump—is Moses Creek Falls—a non-technical but careful downhill scramble, or a bumpy (but short) road, to the foot of the falls.

PARK GEMS

Not quite easy,

but easy enough, are two

sweet little hikes in the two nearby

national parks. Bear Creek Falls,

just east of Rogers Pass PHOTO WILLIAM EATON and a

newly reopened Broken Bridge trail on Mt. Revelstoke.

MAN-MADE FALLS

A LITTLE MORE HARDCORE? What about a new waterfall-based activity? Creek climbing (pictured here on Boulder Mtn) gives new meaning to going “bouldering.” You can walk, scramble, climb or swim upstream. Then, the fun part is sliding downstream over terrain you’ve scouted. PHOTOS STEPHANIE BALLENDINE New Denver has the splashtacular 207-foot-high Wilson Creek Falls. It is a three-ish-hour return hike from the highway turnoff.

And, finally, while not hard on the body, getting to Frog Falls might bang the hell out of your car.

It’s four clicks up Wap Lake Forest Service Road at Three Valley.

They may not be Fern Gully waterfalls, but they’re

magical in their own rite. Watching the Revelstoke

Dam spillway in action is a sight to behold. Since BC

Hydro frequently releases water to maintain a minimum

flow, it allows for a periodic industrial waterfall.

Speaking of, in Revelstoke’s Industrial area is a fish ladder of gentle flowing steps, allowing

Kokanee, a landlocked sockeye salmon,

to return to spawn

each fall.

Whole Wotta Water

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 17

genius splash park needs youR HELP

CHEEKY LIL’ Water Taste-Test RESULTS REVEALED

Water conservation Clean fun Quiet home to yourself

And the truth will SHOCK you!

An artist rendition for the proposed Farwell Splash Park. Just look at all these little computer renditions of kids playing outside in the fresh air ... and not in your living room.

>> Stacey Brensrud

I

WHAT A WASTE OF WATER!?

Actually, in accordance with Revelstoke’s ’ve got a wagon with a squeaky wheel.

Official Community Plan, water conserIt’s loaded with a bucket of ice cream vation is a top priority for this project. and a birthday cake. I’m thinking about So, the new splash park’s hours of operall of the kids that will be running around ation will be unaffected by water restrica fully fenced-in splash park. For free...and tions, thanks to the recirculating water not in my house. treatment system incorporated into the Just a few blocks away from the mighty Co- design. We’ve logged around 900 volunlumbia, a little park in Revelstoke will soon teer hours. We’ve fundraised almost 90 be revitalized percent of into an outdoor “Together, we can abolish cleaning $653,000. splash park.

And now, In Revelstoke, the house for birthday parties and I’m the you can load simultaneously help save the planet.” s q u e a k y up your paddle wheel asking board, kayak or for grease boat and enjoy endless hours of recreation for this bandwagon. Together, we can out on the water. But what if you haven’t got abolish cleaning the house for birthday those toys, the truck or the time or energy parties ….and simultaneously help save to embark on such an adventure? What if the planet.  you just want to beat the summer heat?

Enter: The Farwell Splash Park Society.

We’re a volunteer, non-profit society dedContact the Farwell Splash Park Society icated to inclusive, accessible and free outon Facebook if you’d like to donate or door waterplay for all ages and physical visit City Hall in Revelstoke abilities.

The North Columbia Environmental Society’s water taste-test proved bottled water is the greatest sham ever perpetrated on Revelstoke water-drinkers. Some 49 people stopped by the NCES booth on June 2. Volunteer Rachel Gingerich (above) set up the experiment and talked with participants.

PHOTO JOCELYN DOLL REVELSTOKE REVIEW

>> Kate Boruz

T

he contenders were a variety of bottled waters pitted against filtered Revelstoke tap water.

Cue Michael Buffer-style boxing ring announcement: In the left corner of the table, at 330 millilitres, it’s a bottle of Nesssss-tlé Puuuuure Liiiiife water! In the other corner, ringing in at $3 for a whopping three litres, is a very generic, very affordable…

Mystery Bottttttttled Watttt-ter! In the third corner, at $2.50, it’s a litre of vapor-distilled Smarrrrt Water! And, in the final corner, it’s straight outta Greely and purified in a Brrrrrittta filter, Revelstoke’s finest TAAAAAP-WAAAATERRRRR!…

“...DING, DING!”

brane to remove particles and parasites.

Chlorine is added to treat the water (standard procedure in most municipalities).

Some people are sensitive to the taste of chlorine, although strict regulations are in place to limit the amount of chlorine in municipal water sources. This is where a Brita filter can come in handy.

Brita uses an activated charcoal filter to further purify odd tastes and smells that can be a problem with tap water. It is also a great option for people who want to limit single-use plastic consumption.

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC Bottled water is actually just sourced from municipal water sources. It’s then put through an additional filtration process, bottled and sold to the consumer at a higher price. Bottled water companies like Nestlé have been known to deplete municipal water sources or outbid local government’s for access to underground water sources. Not to mention the plas-

Participants were given a sample of directfrom-the-tap water (as a constant), and then one other water sample to com“Out of 49 people who participated, pare. We asked each what sample they only 10 correctly identified the tapwater. preferred. Then we Out of those, half said they preferred it asked them to idento the one they were comparing.” tify the tap water.

AnD THE RESULT? Two participants said they disliked the taste of bottled water (before it was even revealed to them that it was bottled).

Three-quarters of people given a sample of Brita-filtered water, said they preferred the taste of it to tap.

The City of Revelstoke and its residents have access to clean drinking water primarily sourced from Greely Creek. It is treated using a microfiltration mem-

tic waste associated with bottled water…

While doing the taste challenge, one guy came up and said: “I’m a water-taste expert. I tell all my buddies that Revelstoke has the best tap water.” We tried to make it difficult for him by placing a sample of all four options on the table to choose from. After smelling, tasting, swirling and swishing the water like a sommelier, he identified the tap water. Truly, a connoisseur. However, most participants were surprised they couldn’t differentiate tap water from bottled water.

18 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

In My Educated Opinion

What makes the water go up and down — AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE? After 20+ years of ecosystem observations and research, here is what I know about the Columbia River at Revelstoke >> Francis Lewellyn Maltby

T

he Arrow Lakes Reservoir (ALR) is a “regulated” reservoir, which typically fills during the summer. It stores melted winter snowpack for use later in the year for power generation. It also reduces flood-risk downstream, both in Canada and the US. And it’s used for irrigation in the US. The ALR was a creation of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT). However, the Revelstoke Dam is a “non-treaty” dam, meaning it’s not included in the CRT. That’s the easy part.

The cultural, social, economic and ecological effects are more complicated and not as easily explained.

COuPLA MAJOR FACTORS The Revelstoke Dam is a “hydro-peaking” facility, meaning it regulates the river’s waHistorically millions of cubic yards sediment was delivered every year to our area by the Columbia River. According to studies done by one local ter-level. So, discharge (or “flow”) is based on fluvial geomorphologist, that has stopped due to the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. In the absence of that sediment a process called “channel how much water is needed to generate power incision,” meaning the river channel erodes deeper and deeper over time with no replacement sediment. at any given hour of the day or night. With some seasonal exceptions, the river-level is constantly changing. That’s the primary impact of hydro-peaking.

In our area, the effects of ALR water levels and the Interestingly, we also risk having the opposite happen: wetlands effects of Revelstoke hydro-peaking plant combine seasonally dewatered and riparian areas subject to drought... forces, creating the environmental impacts of both hydro-peaking and reservoir flooding.

Solving the problems of these two impacts is a challenge, which can be understood and mitigated. incision process has been ongoing. With the addition opportunities do not exist for the “Non-Treaty” RevIt’s not easy, but possible. of two new generators, Units 5 and 6 at the Revelstoke elstoke Dam, not included in CRT negotiations. The Dam, the risk of harm is even greater. BC Hydro’s chan- fact that the dam is not a CRT dam is a very important A DELICATE BALANCE nel erosion and water-level monitoring on the Colum- consideration for local Columbia River conservation bia River helps us understand this, and other impacts to efforts.

Fail to balance a floodplain ecosystem and hydro-elec- the river and floodplain.

What can we expect post-CRT negotiations, regarding tric operations, and our area will continue to degrade future improvements with the Arrow Lakes Reservoir incrementally over time. This includes loss of riparian and Columbia River at Revelstoke?

WATER-USE PLANNING areas caused by increased channel erosion along the It all depends if local residents get involved. If they get Columbia River and short-term flooding of wetland arinvolved in the Columbia River Treaty re-negotiations, Years ago, during a Water-Use Planning (WUP) proeas. Interestingly, we also risk having the exact opposite and ask for a formal “Cumulative Impact Assessment” happen—wetlands can become dewatered and riparian cess, two local residents, Janice Jarvice and Sue Hall for Rev Dam Units 5 and 6. That will help decide the asked that in the spring and fall, local wetlands should future of our river system and all the living things that areas subjected to drought because of channel incision. not be flooded. This allows little critters such as toads, depend on it.  Historically, millions of cubic yards sediment was deturtles, songbirds and waterbirds to use them during livered every year to our area by the Columbia River. important parts of the year. That good idea was incorThat stopped after construction of the Revelstoke Dam. porated into the WUP under soft-constraints. (“Soft” as Francis Lewellyn Maltby has lived in Revelstoke since In the absence of that sediment, a process called “chanin flooding can still occur if deemed essential.) It is not 1979. (“Not that long,” he says.) His science-based hobnel incision” occurs, meaning the river channel erodes the best, but better than nothing. bies include physical and behavioural ecology, grounddeeper and deeper over time. water analysis, fluvial-geomorphology, walking outAs the river’s channel gets deeper, adjacent ground wadoors and paddling on rivers and lakes. He was involved ter in the floodplain drops as well. In other words, if AND THE CRT SAYS ... in the public consultations regarding Water-Use Planthe reservoir is too low, you risk drought conditions in certain riparian areas and potential draining of some What does all this mean with the current CRT rene- ning, Non-Treaty Storage and the Rev Dam Units 5 and 6 wetland areas. gotiations? Opportunities exist in CRT renegotiation Environmental Assessments.

Since completion of the Revelstoke Dam in 1984, this to improve the situation for the ALR. However, those

Perfectly good little ad space here.

Just saying.

Contact editor@reved.net

Summertime Getaways A WALK IN THE WOODS New riverwalk to blow y’mind

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 19

GETTIn’ OUTTA THIS POND? Ang here can help you

The BC Interior Forestry Museum is getting set to open a living exhibiton—a Riverside Forest Walk outside of the museum.

>> GLEN WESTRUP

B

y the time you read this, the BC Interior Forestry Museum Society will have commenced building trails from the Forestry Museum, down through the land on the knoll, overlooking the Log Sorting Yard, down to our 11-hectare riverside property.

The Riverside Forest Walk will consist of over three kilometres of gentle walking trails aimed and young families, senior adventurers and those lacking time for a full-day walk. We want to get people out walking and enjoying the outdoors as well as providing an educational opportunity for those who are new to the forest.

These trails will provide an outdoor experience within city limits that is open before and after mountain trails are closed by snowfall.

We will also have a 200-metre-long dog-walking trail on the knoll and a carpark with easy access to light hiking. This is a lovely open forest on simple trails following along the edge of the Columbia River.

It is very pleasant to hear the sound of the running river and the sunlight filtered through the trees with glimpses of the snowcapped peaks while walking through the moss covered forest.

In the future we will look at establishing a wheelchair-accessible loop, (hopefully with the help of the Rick Hansen Foundation.) The trails are designed to be flat or gently sloping with no creeks or wet areas to deal with. We hope to have the work complete by late-summer for community use year-round.  This project would not be possible without the support through generous grant

funding from The Columbia Basin Trust and the Resort Municipality Initiative

>> PETER WORDEN

E

ver make a flight, car or hotel reservation on one of those travel “dotcom” sites? Then, say you need to change something small, or need to talk to someone at that company—well, welcome to hell.

“I honestly thought it was a robot,” explained Angela Mobray about one such experience. “I was like, can you please acknowledge that I am having this conversation with you? I thought I was being punked—that this was some sort of super high-tech reservation system using algorithms.”

These days, whether it’s computers programmed to be more like humans, or humans programmed to be more like computers, it pays to have a travel agent nearby. Think of Angela as a travel stock broker. She knows who’s who and what’s what. She says it’s a myth that custom travel with an agent needs to cost more. At the end of the day, more often than not, she saves her clients money.

Another myth, despite what you may think, travel agents aren’t a dying profession. And it’s not all old people who use them “In fact, the fastest growing market are millennials.”

Angela helps customizes your travel plans, and is with you before, during and after. No algortithim, just good, old-fashioned human service. Travel Escapes is a new full-service travel agency in Revelstoke. See Ang’s 5 Water “Wetaways” on page 10.

Pirate’s Cove is a tree fort a father built for his son. It’s accessible along the Eagle River.

ARRR! YOU LOOKING FOR A PIRATE ADVENTURE? ... You’ll need three ships and 50 stout men

A

hoy, matey!—next time sailing the mighty Eagle River, drop yer anchor here at Pirate’s Cove.

‘Tis a fine place to scrub ye barnacles off yer rudder—whatever that means—with your favourite wench or coxswain. You may be married to the sea but you can have a thing on the side with this lagoon west of Revelstoke.

Navigating the river looking for this treasure is as pirate-y as it gets. And a nice alternative from sailing ‘round the Horn for spices and silk.

Jeff Erwood built the hideout as a

treehouse for his son, Andrew. The crowsnest tops out at 56 feet. “He is some kind of a dad. He can do anything,” said Jeff’s dad, Gary. “He is a pirate-y pleasure himself and a friend to all,” says Heidi Bryant-Gannon.

Yarrr!...you into minigolf? Maybe a cannonball into the chilly fresh water—shiver me timbers!

But a word of caution to ye rotten scallywags who loot Pirate’s Cove: “Respect our property and you can hang out at the beach all day,” says Andrew. Aye! Aye! 

In Pictures

20 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

CHARISE FOLNOVIC has been collecting trash by the riverside. She first noticed broken glass in the rocks while walking her dog. Not wanting Maddie to cut her feet (as she had), Charise started picking it up.Then, she noticed the plastic. Bags. Straws. Tarps. Basins. Pellets. Then, rusted car parts, tin cans, paint and oil cans. She started bringing trash bags on her walks to pick up anything she could carry, including, a bike. She has collected over five litres of glass pieces and shards. Bike parts, toys, scrap metal—you name it—it’s endless. She took this photo (left) last Earth Day.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE: A LOVE STORY Ever go for a riverwalk and notice all the railway, highway or hydro-electric remnants tucked amid the rocky shore? Like, Charise (above) who may or may not have left this heart shape of broken glass , I too, began picking up (or at least photographing) river junk that bordered on beautiful such as this rusted spoon  and bike frame.

Other items aren’t so easily plucked from the sands of time. Tires and rims are embedded in the shore. As are industrial components to old cable ferries and bridges, long since flooded by the Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Some is rail waste —out of sight out of mind. Some of the largest industrial waste—if you’ve ever wondered—are vestiges of the city’s old dam on the Illecillewaet River: a surge tower and flood gate . The dam was removed by BCHydro as part of the Revelstoke Dam project. Some river junk is too big or annoying to remove. Tanks and shopping carts may some day find a new home with an enterprising individual who can transform it into a flower bed or maybe a barrel smoker(—ideas!) Some garbage is fated to remain forever in plain sight—a reminder of a simpler time when cars were driven to the river’s edge and dumped . Dumping old cars was allowed on the north shore of Centennial Park (near the boat launch) between the 40s and 60s.

Sam Olynyk was the Public Works Superintendent from 1979 to 1993, and explained that BC Hydro Hydro was responsible for shoring up the river edge with riprap before the Arrow Lakes Reservoir came into being in 1967—car parts and all.

PHOTOS BY PETER WORDEN

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 

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



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Pheature Photos

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 21

PHEATURE PHOTOG: RYLEE ROSENBERGER Rylee is a Grade 8 student at Revelstoke Secondary School.

She shot this portrait of her sister, Sonia, at the Martha Creek boat launch. “What I enjoy most about photography is that I can capture a moment, and keep it or share it with others. It’s always a great feeling when you look back at your photo and see that you captured that perfect single beam of light, speck of detail or fleeting moment that would not have been seen otherwise. I also love baking, music, art and volleyball. My favourite summer water thing to do is tubing. It’s especially fun when the driver of the boat tries to flip you into another dimension, and you end up face first in the water.” PHOTO BY RYLEE ROSENBERGER

PADDLIN’ PALS THE DAVID THOMPSONPADDLESPORT CLASSIC was born last summer. At 125 kilometers—from Mica Creek to Revelstoke Dam—with six portages over three days, it is the longest paddle race in British Columbia. It is a feat of logistics, organizing, wrangling and marketing for its 82-year-old founder Bill Pollock (see following page). Register now for the second annual David Thompson Paddlesport Classic, August 1719, 2018 at www.paddlerevelstoke.ca.

PHOTOS BY ROB BUCHANAN

CHEESEBURGERS IN PARADISE ANDY DOG sometimes goes for happy meals by the river. But happiness is fleeting, and when nature calls, Andy answers it ... sometimes also in the river. PHOTOS BY PETER WORDEN

Oldest & Wisest

22 Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

PADDLIN’ BILL POLLOCK Bill has paddled more than 3,000 kilometres in his life >> Cassidy Randall

W

hen I grow up, I want to be like Bill Pollock.

He paddles whitewater on little-known Canadian rivers and guides canoe and cross-country ski trips. Last year, he spearheaded the founding of the Revelstoke Paddlesport Association (RPA) to bring the dispersed paddling community together, and organized the first-ever David Thompson Paddlesport Classic on Lake Revelstoke.

Oh yeah, and he’s 82 years old. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what the word “old” means.

BOATIN’ BILL I first met Pollock at the launch of the Revelstoke Paddlesport Association last June at Martha Creek, where I learned that he’s something of a canoe legend. The compact, white-haired man took up residence on a log on the shore between leading canoe clinics, gracing the long line of people who came to share his company with the merry light from his bright blue eyes.

He invited me out to boat with him at the end of the afternoon. Between practicing the speed-paddling tips he tossed me from the stern of his lightweight racing canoe, I started to learn a little about what makes him tick.

A YOUNG CANOEIST

They spent the first day of the race taking in scenery, stopping now and then to cool down in the clear water. They were astonished when the results posted the morning of Day Two showed them in first place in their class. They dialed it up, and won with a 15-minute lead over the other boats.

All in all, he would race the Adirondack Canoe Classic twenty times, placing in class fourteen of those years, along with racing the Raisin River, Jock River, and the General Clinton, and paddling dozens of rivers all over North America.

BIG BEND IN THE RIVER OF LIFE He relocated to Revelstoke in 2015 to be closer to his daughter and her family here—and because he hates cities.

“They cut you off from nature’s sights and sounds,” he says. “Cities isolate people from their biological and evolutionary home, and we deteriorate when we lose touch with planet Earth.”

Revelstoke was the antithesis of a big city. It helps keep him connected to his beloved outdoors, so much so, that and upon moving here, he saw the opportunity to pay homage to the race that had shaped his passion for the magic formula of canoeing, adventure and community.

Bill in ship-shape

Pollock grew up with a paddle in his hands. Canoe trips on Lac Brule, north of Montreal, were a central part of his upbringing. He spent his first stint in a canoe organizing, wrangling, and marketing ensued for the in his mother’s arms on the water. “My family was very 82-year-old, until, eventually, there was no more to do A RACE THROUGH TIME outdoorsy, between fishing, hunting, and boating.” but head into the day of reckoning at the inaugural race Bill met his wife Diane when he was 10. Her father Bill spent his first summer here paddling the length of launch last August, with the hope that it would all go worked for the Pollock’s next door neighbor on his Lake Revelstoke, floored by the landscape with its tow- without a hitch. property. “I would pull her around on a wagon. She was ering glacial peaks, waterfalls, and the sublime solitude. Pollock invited me to participate, lending me his beonly three years old. She’d fall off and run to her mother, He was particularly intrigued by the crumbling vestiges loved racing canoe. Early the first morning, my partand I thought I was so funny. But, of course, I wasn’t.” of the old Big Bend Highway punctuating the shore- ner Nathanael and I paddled out to join a loosely arPollock went off to boarding school and eventually uni- line—the original Trans-Canada route that was flooded rayed start line of 14 other racing boats just below Mica versity. One year, when he came home, she made the along with this expanse of the Columbia River.

Creek. The first wave of recreational boats and SUPs first move and invited him to her staff Those glimpses of road, had launched a half-hour earlier and were dots on the Christmas party for Bell Telephone. rising from the waters horizon.

They’re still married all these years I am one with my paddle and one with my canoe for brief stretches before Pollock stood onshore, his white hair haloed by the late I am one with the water later, and have raised two children plunging back into their summer sun. He’d been awake since long before dawn, and one with Mother Earth in canoes, exploring waters all over frigid depths, sparked an driving from Revelstoke, organizing the final details at and one with all that is beautiful the country on both short jaunts and the start line and greeting participants. People came idea in his mind.

For we are all alive. multi-day adventures. “There was an“I started to wonder if from Manitoba and Washington D.C., mingling with other family or two that would always I am paddling hard against the cold north wind it was feasible to do a ca- locals from Kelowna and Golden. Bill’s dream had been in the half-light that is today’s dawn. come with us, and we’d go paddling for noe race along the length realized. The teams that showed up were now poised to I glance toward a loon’s lonely cry two weeks during our vacation time. of the lake using the old race his course. and see the big rock pounded by waves.

We used to put all the kids in one tent roads as portages. I looked He blew his whistle into the quiet morning air and boats I have seen this rock before and let them do whatever they want- in sunlight, moonlight, mist, wind, rain and snow. at maps, and I had paddled jumped through the water. We paddled our hearts out, ed. If there were rapids we’d have them A spirit rock, surveying my progress. the whole of it—and real- just like Pollock and his crew had all those years ago portage, depending on how old they Motionless and timeless. It suffers endlessly. ized it was a possibility. I on the Adirondack. We sprinted the portages on the I want to be that rock today. were.” developed it from there, old stretches of highway, and took flying leaps into our Then he got a glimpse of speed, and a and modeled it after the boats on the other side to the cheers of the small army I am the whole dream of all these things taste for competition. In 1987, a longof volunteers supporting the event. We gathered at the Adirondack.”

I am a part of all that is beautiful time paddling friend asked him to finish line each day for congratulations and commiserI am a part of Mother Earth compete with her in the Raisin River ation on sore shoulders. Many of us camped along the Because I am alive CLASSIC Race near Ottawa in Ontario. Withcourse, sharing meals, beer and communal dives into out even training, they came in sev—Bill Pollock The result: The David the cold lake. The sun set and rose on glaciated mounenth out of 50 boats. Pollock bought a (Inscribed on his canoe paddle.)

Thompson Paddlesport tains like sentinels of our progress. faster canoe and lightweight paddles, Classic—a 125-kilometer At the end, it became clear that it was as much about and dove headfirst into a lifelong affair paddle from Mica Creek the adventure and the people as it was about the comwith paddle racing. to Revelstoke Dam. Six portages. Three days. The lon- petition. Which, really, was Bill’s intention all along.

After seeing an ad for the famous Adirondack Canoe gest paddle race in British Columbia. A feat of logistics, It’s a legacy fit for a canoe legend.  Classic, a three-day 140km race in New York State, he *Bill is by no measure the oldest in town. Compared to 98-year-old John Augustyn, whom Reved profiled last issue, became enamored with the vision of adventure in the he's practically a kitten. However, he's full of wisdom beyond his years. If you know someone who is the oldest and/or wisest rolling mountains the eastern US. He convinced a friend person in your life, and should be featured in this section, please contact editor@reved.net. to join him, entering solely for the joy of the journey.

REVVVVERYTHING

YOUR GUIDE TO

YOUR

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR...

YOU WILL FIND IT AT ...

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018

23

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GRIZZLY PUB—314 1 St W ▪ 250 837 5576 The Griz has liquor store delivery and wicked daily specials.

CHUBBY FUNSTERS—114 MacKenzie Ave You may leave feeling fun and/or chubby.

A PANZO THAT COULD KILL A MAN

THE VILLAGE IDIOT—306 MacKenzie Ave ▪ 250 837 6240

A SMOKED BRISKET MANWICH

BIG EDDY PUB & LIQUOR STORE—Alllllll the way at 2108 Big Eddy Rd. It's totally worth the drive all-l-l-l the way over the bridge.

DONAIRS AND/OR PIZZA

PADRINO’S PIZZARIA—200 1 St W ▪ 250 837 3300

Jess and Dave sell pizza by the slice or by the pie.

POUTINE AND/OR PIZZA

NICO'S PIZZERIA­— 112 1 St W ▪ 250 837 7117

Nico has the squeakiest cheese curds.

STEAK AND POTATOES WITH ALL THE FIXINS'

ZALA’S STEAK & PIZZA—½ block off Hwy 1 ▪ 250 837 5555

Rick offers a courtesy limousine service.

INDIAN/GERMAN/THAI FUSION

PARAMJIT’S KITCHEN—116 1st St W ▪ 250 837 2112

Everything Goldie makes is incredible. You gotta eat here.

ANTARCTICA-THEMED MEN'S ROOM

WOOLSEY BISTRO—600 2 St W ▪ 250 837 5500

That's a weird thing to go to a restaurant for.

You can get espresso poured over your gelato but affogato what it's called.

They have loads of live music and open mics (Wed).

They have lotsa beer and make a signature Moscow Mule.

A NEW VIETNAMESE PLACE MINH TUYET'S BISTRO— 414 MACKENZIE CRT ▪ 250-814-3772

They make the BEST Vietnamese coffee.

A KILLER MAC N' CHEESE

CRAFT BIERHAUS— 107 2nd St E ▪ 250 805 1754

Trev also has board games, regional beers on tap and a patio mister!

SWISS CHALET MOTEL

1101 Victoria Rd W ▪ 1 877 837 4650 Eric offers free breaky and Aquatic Centre passes.

THE STOKE MOTEL

1911 Fraser Dr ▪ 1 877 837 5221 Fully reno’d motel with a million-dollar view of the river (and good rates!)

THE CUBE

311 Campbell Ave ▪ 250 837 4086 The Cube is cool, clean and comes with an Aquatic Centre pass.

POWDER SPRINGS

200 3rd St W ▪ 1 800 991 4455

Clean, comfy, affordable rooms. Pet-friendly + wifi avail.

MY COUCH

Near Courthouse Inn ▪ 867 222 4556

My actual couch. (Great rates!)

BODYLOGIC THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

250 837 3666 ▪ Suit 103-103 1st St E

Karen and her fellow RMT Sarah are miracle workers.

REVELSTOKE MASSAGE THERAPY

250 837 6677 Offering: Deep tissue, manual lymph drainage, somatic release, etc.

HALCYON HOTSPRINGS

1 888 689 4699 ▪ Hwy 23, Nakusp

BIRCH & LACE

250 814 2508 ▪ 113 2nd Street E

B&L features clean, green Canadian product lines.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

250 837 2344 ▪ 300 1 St E

They make the BEST coffee while you wait :)

Relaxing hot springs just a short, magical drive and ferry trip away.

SHAMPOO ALLEY 250 837 4551 ▪ 101 1 St E This is a hidden lil’ gem inside the plaza specializing in nail and hair-removal...stuff.

MANE ATTRACTION 250 837 5522 ▪ Corner of Mackenzie and 1st ST W This hair studio w/ “hairapists” takes walk-ins and appointments.

HEART TO HEART HEALING NAMASTE YOGA & WELLNESS CENTRE JADE WELLNESS BALU YOGA & WELLNESS

250 837 3724 ▪ with Frieda Livesey 250 832 3647 ▪ www.yogasalmonarm.com 250 847 3900 ▪ jademountain.ca ▪ 204 1 St E 250 837 3975

Guided energy work, soul counseling and soul awareness writing. Freida is an inspiration.

Thinking about YOGA TEACHER TRAINING? Namaste offers 200hr Yoga Alliance International Cert.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine with reg. traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Erin Potter.

All types of yoga for all levels at all times of the day and week.

TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GUIDE TO REV-ERYTHING CONTACT ME, PETER EDITOR@REVED.NET

Ohm...

Bzz ...

Ahh...

Zzz...

Mmm...

GUIDE TO

GOOD FOOD, A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP & JUST FEELING GOOD.

Essay

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 25

Wild Goose Chase Listening to the rocks, guided by geese and finding oneself on the water >> MICHELLE COLE

N

estled between jagged mountain ranges in the heart of the Sinixt territory, lies a crescent-shaped body of water.

The local myth is that Slocan Lake is bottomless. A mirror of uncertainty. A window to an unknown energy below.

Along its outer curve runs a clinging stretch of highway that groans with trucks gearing down night and day.

Hamlets are strung along the eastern shore like a necklace of freshwater pearls. To the west, the lake is a preserved wilderness accessible only by watercraft.

Beneath the sounds of highway traffic and waterfowl is a more subtle undertone: water, itself.

On a sunny day, it hums.

On a windy day, it howls a cataclysmic symphony. For me, this canoe trip was a an interlude in the orchestra of my life journey.

LAUNCHING OUT Last fall, my younger sister Jackie and I decided to push our luck and paddle the length of Slocan Lake.

We are descendents from a long line of explorers, slaves, immigrants and the Indigenous women who welcomed these settlers. Grandfathers and grandmothers, Bahmahmaadjimiwin, Jean Nicolet de Belleborne, Caeser Paul and Edith Johnson, among many other. Each a contributor to our DNA. Each a story unto him or herself.

When we moved to the Slocan Valley as kids, there was no representation of First People. We were told “Slocan” was taboo and Indigenous people did not live there.

This felt foreign as we had always lived in other towns in British Columbia with large native communities.

We matured and became educated. We started families and the story changed.

We learned the Sinixt were declared extinct by the federal government—and, yet, still existed. The Sinixt people returned to rebury their ancestor years later. It was with them in our hearts we decided to journey by canoe.

Paddling a canoe is a complex endeavor. While the lake’s surface appeared serene, currents below churned. The wind seemed to hit our canoe with deceiving breezes, improbably from all directions.

We are two middle-age women. Even though my sister lives with a debilitating

illness, she was still better at steering a canoe. She understood the intricacies of the water and the wind. I could steer a canoe in calmer weather, but I needed her to survive—to see us through. I have a new appreciation for how hard she worked on this journey to keep us on the right course.

One day, we hiked to Nemo Creek Falls.

The falls are across Slocan Lake from Silverton. In reality, they are in another world. The rocks were crafted by millenia of never-ending water. The creek, an incision through the skin of moss and trees, laid bare the earth’s anatomy.

CANOER HIGH I felt a sense of connection beyond me.

Now this was survival! Middle-aged women survival—our dignity at stake.

A powerful instinct to persevere makes me who I am. It turns my thoughts more vivid. It gives me flashes of inspiration. It may have also have been a little delirium from paddling …

GUIDING GEESE On the last night, a flock of Canada geese flew up the river valley from the

south where Jackie and I grew up.

Our journey felt like reliving a part of our youth and the waterfowl were our welcoming committee. In Indigenous spirituality, the medicine of Goose—a “creature teacher”—demonstrates cooperation. Geese take turns being the leader. We acknowledge that we all have gifts. Jackie and I found one of ours in a canoe. We reacquainted with each other and explored family heritage. We listened to the echoes of rocks and the wisdom of the water, and felt the pull of the river’s currents, forming and drawing us into the outflow of Slocan Lake.

Michelle Cole is a Revelstoke-based travel writer whose first love is water and second is walking.

Trained as an elementary social studies school teacher, she seeks to connect with the spirit of the places she explores. Help her along her journey by visiting www.patreon.com/MichelleCole

There on the path, a glint of silver caught my eye. It was a pewter earring in the shape of a goose mid-flight. In animal totem books, geese are often harbingers of travel to mystical places. (Also, interestingly for me, the totem of writers.) I pocketed it, as I was both travelling and journaling.

Occasionally, Jackie and I held our paddles. We were awed, sensing the sacredness as we floated. We strained to listen to ancestral voices in the rock, watching closely for the lake’s famous pictographs.

One was the size of a building mural lining the water’s edge. It whispered to us.

The images in time-painted ochre told us how people lived on the lake long ago. It spoke to vision quests. Rites of passage.

We sat and imagined how it came to be; its meaning maybe only ever be known in dreams.

On the second-last night, we set out to Indian Point, a campsite in Valhalla Provincial Park, with our voyageur-like urgency to make camp before dark. Our arms ached. Our legs cramped. I pictured our ancestors paddling. I needed their intrinsic stamina, their genetic muscle memory. And so, I put my paddle in the water over and over again, as Jackie and I gave all within earshot a full concert, complete with, naturally, the Canoe Song:

“.... Our paddles are keen and bright, Flashing like silver!

Swift as the wild goose flight, Dip, dip, and swing! …

CATSIFIED ADS  CATSIFIEDS

Reved Quarterly SUMMER 2018 25

CHECK OUT THIS CAT!

Neil, owner of Trans-Canada Fitness, has got the eye of the tiger.

DEAR STOKE FM The Revelstoke Humane Society currently has no kittywitties for adoptionwoption right meow. To view animals, report a stray pet or if you’re looking for a lost pet, call (250) 837-4747

Please play more Cat Stevens.

I mean, Yusuf Islam.

PAWLINDROMES

SEX AND THE KITTY DID’YA KNOW: A single unspayed cat can produce 470,000 offspring in just seven years. Don’t litter! Get your kitty spayed right meow. www.spca.bc.ca

COOOOOL CAT...

Sherri Mcewen I was reading Reved in her hammock. When she finished it, she noticed her cat Murph was a fan as well. Reved is good summer reading­ —but it’s also good shade, too!

MEOWSSED CATNECTIONS

Matt, I saw you walking your cat. Call me.

THIS IS CAILA. She likes cats because they’re pur-r-r-fect.

WANTED!

More cats in these here catsifieds.

#SHOTGUN KITTY HOW REVY CATS ROLL

This young bear needed to cool off last summer at Mount Revelstoke National Park. PHOTO KELLI JAMESON

PRITTY KITTY SHIRTS!

The perfect prezzie for the feline lover in your life. ONLY AT Selkirk Graphics.

110 1st ST W (250) 837 4009.

Catsifieds Free.

Beer (or milk) also accepted.