Kicking Horse Magazine Issue 6 WINTER 2012

WINTER 2011/12

Free

SIXTH ISSUE

Go lde nB C

Good Call ISSUE

Locals Abroad // Rad Zones // Shredder Profile // Photo Gallery // Business Listings // Recipe

Theory of Gravity P rov i n g g ro u n d s

Last year was practice. This year is serious. It’s another La Niña winter season and things are gonna get deep. There’s over 2,800 skiable acres, 4,133 vertical ft., 4 bowls, 128 runs and 85 inbound chutes that you don’t wanna miss this year.

Help us harvest snow and prove the theory of gravity. Your adventure awaits.

1.866.SKI.KICK | www.KickingHorseResort.com

It’s your turn to learn.

NEW! LEarNiNg CENtrE, now located in the heart of the village.

What will you discover? The perfect turn, the perfect run or will you simply turn over a new way to ride?

Our Leaning Centre offers guidance and training for everyone. Get the kids happy in saddle with lessons on how best to tame the horse.

1.866.SKI.KICK www.KickingHorseResort.com

Life needs vacation time...

Ta k e T H e vac aT i o n o f a l i f e T i m e .

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort offers the experience of a lifetime. Out here, it’s not “What to do?”, it’s “What to do first?”. Let us create the vacation of your dreams. Call our Vacation Experts today!

1.866.SKI.KICK | www.KickingHorseResort.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

06/ Editor’s Note 08/ Curbside Recycling 09/ KHMR Improvements 10/ Best Ski Movie Ever?

11/ Radzones: Rogers Pass 12/ Shredder Profile: Trevor Gavura 13/ Recipe 14/ The Good call vs. Bad call 16/ The Truth about Sled Skiing 20/ Resorting to Basics 23/ Green Light in Tiger Country 25/ Photo Gallery 30/ Locals Abroad : Norway & Kashmir 33/ Mountain Top Weddings 35/ Business Listings 04

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

WHO WE ARE KICKING HORSE COUNTRY is defined as extending north to Mt. Columbia, south to the Howser Towers, east to Mt. Stephen and west to Mt. Sir Donald. The Town of Golden is smack dab in the middle of this amazing mountain paradise.

COVER: Mark Abma emerges from the deep in Chatter Creek. Chris Christie photo.

CONTENTS: Tim Haggerty, Icefall Lodge, Golden.

Ryan Creary photo.

LAYOUT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN: Summit Communications.ca

EDITORS / PUBLISHERS Tim & Jessica Grey sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Steve Crowe, Stephanie Van de Kamp

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Crowe, Mike Nixon, Stephanie Van de Kamp, Jon Walsh

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Graham Austick, Dave Best, Chris Christie , Ryan Creary, Claire Dibble, James Martin, Alan Maudie, Mike McPhee, Chris Messervey, Steve Ogle, Eric Oxner, Amy Sharples, Ian Tomlinson, David Walker, Jon Walsh, Andrew Wexler, Geoff Wilkings

ART DIRECTION Nick Marks

DISTRIBUTION To distribute KH Magazine contact Jessica Grey sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com

CONTACT/ ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL Kicking Horse Magazine Box 1767 Golden BC, VOA 1H0 Tel 250 344 5586 www.kickinghorsemagazine.com sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The mountains have a way of not being easy. Yet every once in a while, circumstances come together and click in perfect harmony. This could be the ultimate powder turn on a blue sky Tuesday, or conquering a black diamond run in Super Bowl you were afraid of, or snowmobiling over a mountain pass that you were always wondering about. These are the moments that we live for—when everything goes right. So often we don’t arrive at these perfect moments by ourselves.

Rather, the perfect moment involves other people along the way who guide us in the right direction. These people can be a mountain guide keeping you safe, a friend picking the north side of a ridge instead of the south, or following a family member to Kicking Horse Country on vacation. It is when you are enjoying the afterglow of a great moment that you KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

06

become aware of how one alternate decision could have made it not come to pass, and that is when you are enlightened about what the ‘good call’ is.

Awarding a partner with a ‘good call,’ and exchanging a smile is one of the best destinations at which we can arrive. That is what this issue is about: celebrating the decisions and holding up examples of the moments of joy that the mountains give us. So welcome to our latest issue. What a journey it has been. To be honest we had our doubts we’d get here but here we are nonetheless. Is success measured by longevity? Maybe. I think success, just like life, is fleeting and you have to enjoy it when you can.

That may be the best call you can make.

We wish you a winter full of good calls. A winter where you find yourself at the moment of joy that comes from making a fulfilling decision.

Tim Grey

Dave Best Photo, Skier: Tim Grey Location: Chatter Creek

Choice is the dilemma of the new millennium.

Modern living seems to shackle us with the freedom to constantly choose what we want and how we want it, who we want it for, what colour we want it, what size we want it, oh, and would you like that toasted? This barrage of liberty actually defines the constraints of our lives because nobody gets all these decisions right. Often times we are left with discontentment because we didn’t follow the exact right course of action even though it was available to us.

It’s amazing how one simple decision can have such a big impact. Just choosing the right pair of socks can be the difference between a great ski day and one that ends early and painfully in defeat. Every snowrider deals with thousands of decisions on their way to arriving at the perfect moment.

It is at these precarious forks in the road when ‘good calls’ are made, but ‘bad calls’ are as well. Indeed it would seem that choice can be a daunting gift.

An education as spectacular as the mountains that surround us . . .

www.cotr.bc.ca/ATBO www.cotr.bc.ca/ATBP

Adventure Tourism Business Operations Diploma ATBO_halfpageSept2011_#2.indd 1

9/6/2011 2:10:54 PM

My life is better than your vacation. photo: Jubilee Cacaci

Your one-stop source for business and investmest information. www.goldenbritishcolumbia.com | 250.344.2420

BILL USHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KICKING HORSE CULTURE, GOLDEN CBT supports efforts by the people of the Basin to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being and to achieve greater selfsufficiency for present and future generations.

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make the most of us

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Get On-Side:

Curbside

D

ear Golden, welcome to 2011 and curbside blue bin recycling. Yes, the days of carting recyclables to the big green bins or shamefully hiding plastics in your garbage are over. Golden residents can now put most plastic and paper materials in their provided blue bins, which will be collected every second week. The only “no-no” is glass, which for the foreseeable future, will not be accepted. The program was launched in early summer of 2011 and the citizens of Golden have responded enthusiastically.

“We’re gathering approximately 2.5 tons of recycling materials a week,” said VP Waste Solutions Director, Parker Vaile. VP has the contract to collect recycling for Golden and are pleased to announce that the quantity of materials collected thus far are well above forecasted predictions. “The compliance level has been quite high in terms of what’s being put in the bins,” explained Vaile, “the biggest concern has been over glass products and we’re just not set up to package glass, so it’s not included in the program.

Leading the charge for curbside recycling was mayor Christina Benty, who believes this is “a great step forward for Golden in doing the right thing.” Benty feels that this initiative is a convenient, curbside service at a very reasonable rate and complements something Golden residents already excelled at.

She’s right. Golden’s participation in the pre-existing centralized bin service was greater per capita than any other community in the regional district! “By sticking to rigid bins only, we’re also avoiding both animal problems and cutting down on plastic bag use,” Benty explains. As far as pricing goes, Golden’s program will follow the “price per unit” format, so no annoying “tag a bag” system or permits required. Instead, costs for residents are charged on a “per bin basis” by household. And if you need another bin, just ask! Now that’s service with a smile.

According to the Recycling Council of British Columbia (rcbc. bc.ca) over 93 communities in the province of BC have curbside recycling. Golden wasn’t included on this list but it should be added soon.

-By Steph Vandekemp

Summit Photo

Our community is committed to arts, culture and heritage, which fuels a deep sense of pride and makes Golden a better place to be. CBT understands our vision and has helped us restore and enhance the Golden Civic Centre—a community dream come true.

Improvements at KHMR had landscaping crews hard at work in the late summer creating solutions for two terrain problems, both aimed at bettering the skier experiences for beginners and intermediates. In the big scheme of things these are small steps, but as the saying goes, the difference between good and great is attention to detail.

Wailer 112RP Pure: Carbon + Nano Also available in Hybrid: Fiberglass + Carbon + Bamboo

A new groomed entrance to Feuz Bowl has been constructed on Redemption Ridge. This 500m traverse trail allows easier and smoother access to challenging Kicking Horse terrain, Weibe photo along with opening the spectacular scenery of Feuz Bowl to skiers who The new excavated prefer to explore the mountain on groomed trail on Redemption trails. From the same traverse trail, the Ridge will make it grooming team will be exploring additional easier to access terrain grooming options on the south-facing Crystal in Feuz Bowl. Photo taken on September 3, 2011 Bowl side of Redemption Ridge. This new project will help provide fresh grooming options from the top of the Stairway to Heaven Chair leading into two alpine bowls.

Summit Photo

The brand new learning centre located in the resort plaza will provide a new beginner-friendly experience. This area will be dedicated for beginner and novice skiers. The first phase of this project includes extensive slope work in the base area and relocation of an existing Magic Carpet lift. This improved slope will provide a new area for first timers to get saddled up and make those first turns.

Located close to Canyon Creek New beginner terrain at the base of the Outfitters and mountain. Photo taken on September 17, 2011 the Mountain School meeting place, the process of getting geared up and on the slopes will be faster than ever before. This slope will also be the new home for the tube park, providing a central location for après ski action, close to the patios and restaurants in the plaza.

“The improvements for winter 2011/12 continue to demonstrate our commitment to improving the overall mountain accessibility for all ability levels of skiers and riders,” states Steve Paccagnan, President and CEO of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. “Our new learning area, in the plaza, will provide a comfortable slope for first timers, in a centralized location, close to all the plaza services. And the Redemption Ridge access trail includes new groomed access to classic Kicking Horse terrain.”

AVAILABLE AT

GOLDEN 420B 9TH AVE NORTH 250 344 7980 HIGHERGROUNDSPORTS.CA STEPHAN DRAKE P: OSKAR ENANDER

BEST SKI MOVIE EVER? Someone had to do it. The standard formula for ski movies has become about as tired as those confounded reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. So Sherpas Cinema made a good call and decided to shake up the game with their latest full feature film, All.I.Can. They did the same thing three years ago with The Fine Line, a ski and snowboard movie that had an underlying message of avalanche safety that was driven home by the four avalanche training films that they made and included on the DVD. Staying true to form, the Sherpas used All.I.Can to address the global environmental situation and encourage the ski community to do what they can to make a better world for future generations.

It’s not an easy message to deliver, and the naysayers are quick to point out the film’s ecological footprint, what with all the helicopters and travel that made the film what it is. But the Sherpas handled the seemingly impossible conundrum with great poise. Between offsetting their carbon footprint and delivering a message that will actually get through to people, it’s fair to say that they’re putting their money where their mouth is.

The film definitely makes you think about your own choices in regards to the environment, and great things will come out of that. But what kind of effect will the film have on the ski industry and the media it produces? Will the long-standing tradition of putting a barrage of tricks, lines and scenics to a cool soundtrack be put to rest? Probably not, but hopefully it starts a trend of putting out movies that actually mean something.

All.I.Can’s an absolute must-see whether you’re a skier or not; it

By Mike Nixon

watches more like a moving piece of art than it does a ski movie.

Timelapses of the shifting ice pack in Greenland, pow slashes that start on barren summer slopes and transition into winter are just a couple of the things that have ESPN.com calling it the best ski movie of the season. The soundtrack takes notes from Quentin Tarantino, and directors Dave Mossop and Eric Crosland drew inspiration from works outside of the ski industry, notably Baraka and the BBC Planet Earth Series. This has given them some clout from outside the ski industry. David Suzuki even hand-wrote a note wishing them luck with the whole endeavour.

Golden residents will be stoked to see a segment from our own backyard in there. The Freshfields are 45 minutes northwest of Golden by way of helicopter and served as the location for one of the strongest segments of the film.

Represent!

Of course I’m anything but objective. These guys are my boys and I watched them sacrifice two years of their lives to make All.I.Can. into the gamechanging masterpiece that has some of the more established film companies biting their fingernails as it rolls across the screen. Seeing it blow the minds of the over-sold crowd at the Whistler premiere was one of the proudest moments of my life.

The Sherpas made the call to move forward, and they’re asking the rest of us to do the same thing. So if you see it and you like it (which you will), show it to your friends. It might just start a revolution…

All.I.Can. is available on Itunes , or you can order the DVD through www.sherpascinema.com

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zones

Rogers Pass: Ski Touring Mecca

In the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, protected by the boundaries of Glacier National Park, is a steep valley known as Rogers Pass. It’s known to be the epicentre of deep, dry, adventure powder skiing / snowboarding in BC, and the growing number of dedicated users in its immediate vicinity are testimony to this. Its easily accessible roadside terrain, just 45 minutes from either Golden or Revelstoke, is famous for the copious amounts of snow it receives from Pacific storms that unload onto the steep slopes of the Selkirks. Although there is not a lot of beginner terrain, the intermediate to advanced options are almost unlimited. 5000 foot descents off spectacularly glaciated summits are commonplace, and in times of poor visibility, the trees hold some of the deepest snow imaginable. Even on the fattest of skis, I’ve been amazed at the unrelenting deepness and monstrous faceshots flying about my head.

However, before you get to shred, you have to earn your turns.

Breaking trail when the snow is above the knees isn’t easy. It is, however, a fantastic full body workout: outside, in nature, and very real. Gear up and embrace it – you will be rewarded.

Seemingly endless switchbacks can often demoralize those who are new to the area, but it does get easier every time you go. Some lightweight gear and proper technique help a lot too.

At the top of the pass, the Canadian Avalanche Centre, one of the most recognized bodies for avalanche research in the world, has been at it for over 50 years, collecting data and forecasting danger levels. Checking their forecasts before venturing out for some freshies is mandatory. These are available at the pass, or online at Avalanche.ca. Taking a basic course from them is highly recommended too, as well as a great way to get some backcountry experience and insight in to how to stay out of trouble. A typical day out involves a lot of decision making, which, if done correctly, is what will keep you alive. If you’re not comfortable with making your own decisions, there are many certified guides nearby for hire who can ensure your safety. Check the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (acmg.ca) website for more info. As for guidebooks, Chic Scott’s Summits and Icefields covers many of the classics, and Murray Toft’s map Touring at Rogers Pass is a good resource to have. A new guidebook called Chutes and Ladders by Douglas Sproul is due out this winter and will shed some light on some of the more extreme endeavours possible at Rogers Pass.

Skier nearing the top of Avalanche Peak and surrounded by amazing skiing options.

by Jon Walsh Check out Alpinestyle.ca to see more work by Jon KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Early season on the ‘7 Steps of Paradise’ Jon Walsh Photo

11

James Martin photo

Come springtime, the tree skiing quality tends to decline but longer and warmer days allow for more time to be spent in the alpine, and avalanche cycles become more predictable.

The steeps start to come into shape and it’s a time for ski and snowboard mountaineers to test their nerves on some of the more challenging, classic couloirs that snake down these peaks.

Striking lines are in abundance here and coveted by the local diehards.

Shredder Profile: Name: Trevor Gavura Years snowsliding: 34 Years in Golden: 10 Notable Certifications:

American Mechanized Ski Guide, Alaska CASI level 4 Examiner CSIA level 2 CAA level 1 AAIRE level 2

Scott Photo

Age: 36

Guiding in Alaska

You’ve been shredding around Golden for a long time. How do you choose

Skiing Mt. 7 with daughter Mikaia

where to go on a powder day?

that can only sustain one descent. When the resort is quiet I want the most uninterrupted fall line vertical and prefer lines you can’t beat it. Otherwise, I like to go to places I can skin to.

You were mostly a snowboarder for a long time but now we see you on the

skis a lot. What are the advantages of doing both sports?

call it. Snowboarding is the best way to understand the They complement each other. It’s all just “la glisse” as the french around and get into the lines a little easier sometimes. fall line and develop flow. Skiing allows the freedom to poke

Is the snowboarder vs. skier vibe dead?

in scene anyway. I think that was more of a resort vibe.

It is in my world. It was never really that heavy in the mounta today.

Without snowboarding, powder skiing wouldn’t be where it is

You’re out on a split board a lot these days, what board do you use and why?

I was back on skis because production snowboards didn’t A Jones Snowboard with Karakoram bindings. For a lot of years has worked really hard at building boards that work for agreally hold up to the performance I was looking for, but Jeremy gressive freeriding.

Will you be taking the ACMG Ski guide course/exam on the split board or I’ll probably mix in a little of both.

skis?

You’re now a dad of two beautiful girls, how does being a father impact how

you ride?

lines but am more patient about getting to them. I also I think I ride better and stronger. I feel more confident on bolder from my girls needs to be purposeful. tend to back away from more of the everyday stuff. Time away

You’ve been skiing and guiding in Alaska’s Chugach for several years now. a spring in AK?

How would you recommend a rider from Golden to train for

overwhelming at first. Get snow smart. Spend time in large The magnitude of the icefields, bergshrunds and crevasses is steep high speed slough management nd vertical feet of thousa 3-4 hill. glaciated terrain and burn top to bottoms at the is way more exhausting than one would think.

Words to live by: You can always rest later.

Props and Shoutouts?

ol, Jones My wife and girls, Scott eyewear for 12 years of support, Rossign , a friend and Snowboards and Higher Ground Sports in Golden. To Guy Lacelle mentor, probably Shredding in Alaska best known for his in nts lishme accomp ice climbing, During our years of working together his values and perception on life had a huge impact on my direction. RIP Guy.

Training and being a dad.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Heli guiding

Recipe

Charred corn, black bean & Toasted barley salad By: Sue Duncan

If you’re looking to change up your packed lunch for skiing, biking or kayaking, look no further. You can scoop this nutrient dense salad straight into a container or wrap it up in a tortilla - either way it’ll see you through your day. You can switch it up if you like too - there are a thousand delicious combinations that involve barley and black beans.

This one has a bit of a Mexican slant, so it’s also great made with cooked, cooled rice instead of barley. Or you can try substituting quinoa or couscous. Warm it up with a bit of chipotle powder or sauce in the dressing, or try topping it with some quickly sautéed shrimp or a piece of grilled chicken.

•1⁄2 cup (125 mL) pearl or pot barley •1 1⁄2 cups (375 mL) chicken or vegetable stock or water •Canola or olive oil, for cooking •2 ears fresh corn, husked (or 1 cup/250 mL frozen or canned kernel corn) •1 cup (250 mL) cooked black beans, or half a 19 oz (540 mL) can, rinsed and drained •1⁄2 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped •1 small tomato, diced •1 ripe mango, peeled and diced •1⁄4 purple onion, finely chopped •1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup (60 to 125 mL) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (minus stems) or cilantro (optional) Dressing: •1⁄3 cup (80 mL) canola or olive oil •1⁄4 cup (60 mL) lime juice •1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin •1 tsp (5 mL) honey •1 garlic clove, crushed

In a medium saucepan, toast the dry barley over mediumhigh heat for a few minutes, or until golden and toastysmelling. Pour in the stock or water, bring to a boil, turn the heat down, cover, and cook for about 40 minutes, until tender. Transfer to a bowl to cool completely.

In a heavy skillet, heat a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. Scrape the kernels of corn from the cob and sauté for 5 minutes, or until starting to turn golden. Set aside to cool.

In a small bowl or jar, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk or shake to combine. In a large bowl, toss together the cooled barley, corn, beans, pepper, tomato, mango, onion, and parsley (if using). Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a few hours before serving.

Sue Duncan is the co-author of Spilling the beans.

Ch

16 ROUNDS

U

nless the fight is rigged, every time a boxer steps into the ring the outcome is undetermined. Putting on the gloves that night might be a good idea or a bad idea, but the fighter won’t know until either he struts back out with his arms thrust in the air or his bleeding and battered body is scraped off the mat.

That’s kind of how it is for all of us in every situation in which we find ourselves. Really, we don’t even know when we wake up each morning if we are going back to sleep that night in

the same bed or in a coffin. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get out of bed. In fact, when we are conscious of the thin wedge we exist on, we get up with more enthusiasm, throwing jabs at fate, eager to make all the moments count. So we do things like explore the mountains in the dead of winter in order to affirm we are among the Not Yet Dead. Sometimes the results can be catastrophic and we’re forced out of that group. But usually we get away with a bad call or two, learn a few things and end up with a funny story for the grandkids. Getting out of bed, still alive and maybe a bit stupid, is always a good call.

by Steve Crowe

hoto

tie P

hris ris C

Making the decision to go winter touring for a day in the mountains with some friends, GOOD CALL.

Bringing snowboards and snowshoes for an early December, baseless snowpack, BAD CALL.

2

Packing a compass, GOOD CALL.

Not having any practical experience with the compass and therefore unwilling to trust it in a tense situation,

3

Seeking fresh powder and experience in a new area,

4

Picking a line through cliff bands, GOOD CALL.

Encountering that line when you don’t remember seeing any cliff bands from an earlier reconnaissance mission, yet still choosing to descend, BAD CALL.

5

Pulling out the compass to try figure out why we are seeing things we shouldn’t be seeing if we are going in the right direction, GOOD CALL.

Deciding to ignore the compass reading and instead rely on our group’s innate sense of direction, BAD CALL.

6

Setting forth with youthful determination to reach our goal (the car), GOOD CALL.

Setting forth in a snowpack with such little density that it cannot support even a snowshoer, in the wrong direction,

BAD CALL.

8

Packing a headlamp, GOOD CALL.

9

Bringing along a big dog because dogs love running around in the hills, GOOD CALL.

10

Carrying a utility knife with scissors to cut off the globs of snow and hair, GOOD CALL.

Carrying a really small utility knife with really small scissors

11

Finally stopping at three in the morning to rest and start a fire GOOD CALL.

Not stopping hours and hours earlier to rest and start a fire, BAD CALL.

12

Buying everyone a doughnut and not throwing away the paper bag so we have fire starter, GOOD CALL.

Choosing the boston cream over the apple fritter,

13 14

Knowing where to find dry wood even in a snowstorm,

Hiding in the trees when we hear a helicopter because now we know where we are and don’t need expensive rescuing, BAD CALL.

Realizing that they won’t stop looking if we hide, and instead walking into a clearing and waving, GOOD

15

Buying the heli pilot a bottle of scotch to say thank you,

GOOD CALL.

Telling the media our real names and looking like dumbasses, BAD CALL.

16

Telling my girlfriend where we were going and when we should be expected to return so she could arrange a rescue if we got in trouble, GOOD CALL.

Not protecting my stomach from the unexpected punch she aimed there after worrying through a sleepless night, BAD CALL.

GOOD CALL.

TOTAL

GOOD CALL

Dibble Messervey

Not wearing the watch in a fog that obscures the passage of the sun and gives no hint that everything is going to get black really soon, BAD CALL. Only one guy out of three packing a headlamp,

BAD CALL.

Creary

GOOD CALL.

BAD CALL.

Bringing along a big, hairy dog that collects huge clumps of wet snow on his legs, chest and belly that then chafes and causes the dog to whine, suffer and lag, BAD CALL.

BAD CALL.

Creary

Owning a watch in order to keep track of time,

Seeking fresh powder and experience in the dense fog and falling snow, BAD CALL.

Mcphee

GOOD CALL.

BAD CALL. Laughing at our situation the next morning that brightens clear and sunny, shaking off the stress of the previous night, GOOD CALL.

CALL.

BAD CALL

Summit

7

Best

1

Dave Best Photo

T

he hunger for fresh lines has always given rise to new ways of reaching them. Chairlifts, touring bindings, helicopters, snowcats and snowmobiles have all been harnessed as a way of getting to the top of an untouched powder shot.

Each snowrider has to choose which one of these is best for them. For the largest majority of skiers/boarders, chairlifts and gondolas are the means by which they conquer gravity. This is not a bad thing, especially around here, because one lap on the Golden Eagle Express can give you more vertical than an inexperienced sledder is likely to get in a whole day.

However, more and more people are considering if snowmobiles are right for them to pursue their powder dreams. We see snowmobiles glorified in the movies and magazines and for many who are without them, it’s hard not to see having a truck and sled as the height of luxury. The old saying that ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ might just be in play here and before you re-arrange your whole life so you can get the coveted set up, you should consider the options, so you can figure out if getting a sled is a ‘good call’ for you.

The reality of sled skiing is that, when it works, it is amazing. It’s otherwise known as the poor man’s helicopter and 16

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

the freedom you can experience from a snowmobile is amazing. Day access to far away valleys, full of untouched snow is within your grasp and sled-skiing is basically the only mechanized way of gaining vertical that you’re allowed to do on your own, without a guide telling you what he/she thinks is right and allowed.

This is all very freeing, assuming of course, you know what you’re doing.

First let’s cover a couple basics. Here’s how sled skiing, or sno’mo’boarding, as the snowboarders call it, works. The basic concept is quite simple. Two people ride tandem (side by side) on one sled to the top of a mountain. One guy/girl gets off, puts their board(s) on and rides down the slope while the other person drives the sled back down. The rider and driver then meet at a pickup spot and do it again.

Sounds simple, right? Well sometimes it is, but a lot of times it isn’t. Unfortunately, to get to the point where you are getting multiple laps in a day, there is a huge learning curve and it doesn’t come without paying some dues. Driving a snowmobile properly requires the perfect combination of power and balance. The power comes from the use of the throttle and the balance comes from applying your weight and muscles. These skills take a while to

learn and the difficulty is multiplied when you have two people on the sled.

The bottom line is that if you’re dedicated to mastering the art of sled skiing then you should go for it. One should just keep in mind that this is a serious commitment and it will require a lot of time, energy and finances (otherwise known as blood, sweat and tears). If you stick with it, the rewards are worth it. However, if there are any reasons why you won’t or can’t be 100% committed to this way of accessing the goods then you should do yourself

‘If you stick with it, the rewards are worth it’ a favour and plan on using a different medium like touring bindings or by booking a cat or helicopter skiing trip. You may just find that these options are better for you. Nothing is worse having not made the ‘good call’ about how to get it good in the mountains.

The Alternatives For active people, SKI TOURING probably represents the most logical alternative to sled skiing. Most people don’t understand

In the end, everyone is trying to capture a great day in the mountains and finding the right medium for you is what it’s all about.

Sled skiing can bring a lot of joy but it can also deliver anguish and frustration just as quick.

In the long term, it’s a good investment in getting good skiing/boarding but it would be foolish to think that you can drop right in to it and get it good immediately. Like all good things, sled skiing takes time before you can do it right.

-Written by Tim Grey

Dave Best

It’s amazing how many people will pay thousands of dollars for their sled but won’t fork over a few hundred for a good board(s) rack. You just shake your heads at these people when they are picking up their junk as you whip by them in the zone. There are two Canadian companies with options for a good rack system: local Golden BC company Knight Rider Racks (knightriderracks.com) and Pemberton based Cheetah Factory Racing (cheetahfactoryracing.com). Yeah, it may hurt a bit in the pocket book but you’ll never regret having a bomber attachment system. You have other things to worry about.

2. Get Good Partners

Mcphee

Sled skiing is not an individual activity, rather it’s a team sport, which means that one person can screw it up for the whole posse. You need no fewer than two people to go out in a day, but often four is the perfect group size. No matter how many people in your group, everybody needs to have their programs dialed. Being the weakest link can come from having lesser abilities, gear or knowledge. If you’re too scared to go up and over a mountain pass, or your sled breaks down, or if you’re too slow, you can ruin the day for your partners. Often, it takes several trips together or even years to build trust with each other.

3. Have a Budget Be honest with yourself about your means, because let’s just face it, sled skiing is expensive. It’s only economical when you compare it to heli-skiing and high altitude expeditions. Spending money on a sled and truck is just the beginning because you need to put gas and oil in both and then you need to pay for trail fees, insurance and repairs among other things.

The bottom line is that sled skiing is a luxury and it’s better to have a budget for the season that you can rely on. If you don’t think you can afford it, just buy touring bindings (or a split board).

4. Get educated about snow safety Snowmobiles can get you in trouble remarkably quickly and if you don’t know about how to protect yourself from hazards in the mountains, you’re gambling with your life. Snowmobilers represent the highest group of avalanche fatalities, in the last 5 years, in Canada and that’s because there are a lot of people out there without a clue. There’s really no excuse for being a part of this group. There are several good avalanche education options for sledders.

Locally you can check out Hangfiretraining.com, Avalanchesafety.ca or Adrenalindescents.com. You can also train your beacon search skills at Quartz Creek’s Beacon Basin.

5. Workout Your Core

Dave Best

HELI-SKIING is a different animal altogether than cat skiing or ski touring. Here, the cost issue skews heavily in favour of the sled.

The people that pick heli-skiing trips want everything provided for them and they are willing to pay for it. They also get more vertical than either sled or cat skiers. Whether they can beat the resort skiers on vertical depends on a day to day basis but it’s really the quality over quantity equation that favours the blades. The heli-ski trip is basically out of range of consideration for the average skier because of costs but it is possible to do daylong heli trips or if you’re clever, arrange heli-drops. Chances are, heli-skiing is on your bucket list and maybe this is the year to do it. People will always ask you if you’ve ever been heli-skiing and it’s nice to say ‘yes’ to that question.

SLED SKIING GOOD CALLS 1. Buy A Rack

Summit

CAT SKIING is the next logical alternative to sled skiing, especially for a skier who thinks mechanized access is the way to go. The major advantage of cat skiing is that it’s hassle free. You book your trip, you pay your money and you get your powder. It’s that simple (especially if you book at Chatter Creek).

There’s no truck to buy, no sled to store, no learning curve to overcome; cat skiing is turn key. Booking cat trips only becomes more expensive if you are planning on spending a lot of time doing it. A few days a year in a cat and you’re probably still ahead in costs over sledding. The major downside to cat skiing is that when operations are closed, you’re out of the game. Sometimes the late spring days on the sleds are the most incredible of the season.

5

Dave Best

that you can basically get it just as good by ‘earning your turns’ by hiking up mountains.

Remember the old story about the tortoise and the hare? This tale could be compared to ski touring and sled skiing. Yes, you can do basically everything faster with a snowmobile, including wasting your energy. Many times in the mountains, slow and steady wins the race.

There are also almost no restrictions on where you can ski tour: sledding is not the same.

When you factor in the slackcountry out-ofbounds at KHMR and Rogers Pass, ski touring has a lot to offer in Golden (and those are just the popular zones). Perhaps saving your money and going touring is a better option for you?

Snowmobiling requires a lot of heavy lifting. Did you know that back aches are second only to headaches as the most common health ailment in America (sorry no Canadian stat available)? Relieving back pain is a $50 billion industry. A simple tip is to flex your stomach muscles before attempting any heavy (‘1-2-3’) lifts. It’s even good advice to flex before yanking on a pull cord.

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“I view this place first and foremost as an investment for my family”

Story by Tim Grey

Photos by David Walker & Tim Grey

Resorting to Basics

D

avid Walker always had a dream to have a ski chalet of his own. From his growing up years ski racing and instructing in Southwestern Ontario to his ski travels around the world, he was always searching for a piece of mountain life that he could call his own. What he needed was something that fit with his life and budget. As a young man, he married a ski enthusiast, with whom he raised a skiing (and boarding) family of four active children. Based in Calgary, the family has been making regular forays to the mountains for decades; but recently, they have purchased a unit in the Aspens, a new development at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Now the Walker family enjoys their evenings soaking in a hot tub instead of driving back to the city after a day of skiing. For David this is the culmination of a dream. He finally has his piece of mountain paradise to call his own and he’s loving every minute of it.

“My kids always groan when I start going on and on about 20

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Kicking Horse but honestly, when we take the gondola up for First Tracks (a once a month home-owner treat that features breakfast and early skiing) I like to stop mid-run and soak it all in and shout, ‘Life doesn’t get any better than this.’

The kids have heard me say this a thousand times but it’s really true. We’re loving our life up here and our place in the Aspens.”

The Walker’s place is not wildly extravagant. ‘The cabin’ as they call it, is a 700 square foot, two bedroom, one bathroom suite with a kitchen, a small living room and a spacious back deck (with a hot tub). It’s a ski-in location in mid-winter that also features heated underground parking and a ski locker.

The place sleeps 4-6 comfortably, but as is often the case, their kids will bring friends with them on the weekends and the suite ends up sleeping 8. While owning a ski-in skiout townhouse is certainly a luxury, the Walker’s are still a working family and conscientious about their finances. The

couple, who have owned since 2009, still put the townhouse in a rental pool, run by Lush Mountain Accommodations, who rent the place out in the peak weeks of Christmas and New Years.

“We’re very selective about who we are willing to rent our cabin to,” says David, “and Lush Mountain Accommodations is aware of this; it’s a very flexible system to join a rental pool.

You can pick and choose what best works for you.”

In the end, however, the rental income is just an economical means to fill blocks of time when the Walker family isn’t using their place and not the reason they bought it. The bottom line is the Walkers are skiers and they are using their ‘cabin’ the way it was intended, as a place to stay while on a permanent ski trip.

you often have to wait a lot longer to get on a lift.”

The draw of KHMR for the Walkers happened over time.

David was uniquely introduced to the resort in the early years while working for his life-long employer, the Canadian Pacific Railway. In the winter of 2003, while working to promote the Royal Canadian Pacific, a luxury train service that custom caters to wealthy guests, he ended up spending a week parked in Golden with US talk show host Montel Williams. Montel loved the fact that he could more or less go about his ski vacation in Canada uninterrupted by fans and it was during this trip that David felt he had discovered a unique place to ski. Years later when he stopped by the Discovery Centre at the base of the ski hill and met Mike Macklem and Hans Nieuwenhuis, he began to inquire as to

“Life doesn’t get any better than this” “I view this place first and foremost as an investment for my family,” explains David. “It’s a place that unites us and keeps us active. It acts as a central place that we all can share and enjoy. I’m finding the drive from Calgary, which is much safer these days due to the highway improvements, is a time when we have an opportunity to talk as a family. It’s where decisions get made about holidays and birthday presents and all the little things that enhance life. And really, the drive is pretty amazing. It’s not like driving the 401 in Ontario to Blue Mountain—that is very congested. It’s an enjoyable and scenic drive through the majestic Rocky Mountains that visitors travel from all over the world and pay thousands of

dollars to experience, and I get to do it every weekend.”

The Walkers are a prime example of the customers that KHMR serves in an outstanding way. Much effort has been made lately to make Golden/KHMR more enticing to soft adventure seekers who can’t handle the extremeness of our terrain but the Walkers don’t seem to mind things the way they are.

“I like that KHMR is a mountain resort,” David tells. “I live for the challenge that Kicking Horse offers. I enjoy skiing fast and at times a little radical. I’m not a powder-hound but like to ski a bit of glade powder; I skied Super Bowl a couple times last year but honestly my favorite run is Stairway To Heaven [the groomer from the top chair]. I love to ski long radius carve turns and that run is most conducive for that type of skiing. The scenery is incredible at the top of Stairway to Heaven. It also blows me away how short the line-ups are up here. It’s nothing like the other resorts in Alberta, where

what it would look like to be a part of the KHMR story as a unit owner. The fit, it would seem, was meant to happen.

While it is early in the relationship, the Walkers are pleased customers. They have golfed repeatedly at the Golden Golf Club in the summer of 2011 and are starting to enjoy the summer season almost as much as the winters. They feel well taken care of and appreciated by the resort’s management and are still glowing about the opportunities available to them now.

“Overall, and at the prices right now, making an investment at KHMR is great value for a skiing family. I feel good about

our decision and I am already thinking about what an upgrade looks like. We’ve purchased at the entry level and are really satisfied but the next level of the dream is to potentially live here.”

If anything can be learned from the Walker’s experience it’s to keep it true to who you are and enjoy the process. Their story just begs the question in all of us: what’s your ski chalet dream?

Those who are interested in learning about investing in a ski chalet of their own should visit the Discover Centre at the base of the Mountaineer Lodge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort or you can contact Kicking Horse Realty at 1.866.745.5425 or at www.kickinghorserealty.com.

Alternatively, and if you’re curious about options beyond the resort, you can contact the Bob Tegart Realty team at 250.344.7663 or bob@remaxgolden.com.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

21

Green Lights in Tiger Country Today is one of those days—the sun is out and the stability is favourable. So a few trustworthy friends and I decide to hit the slackcountry outside the ski area boundary. On our first ascent, we make our way past a crew of idiots who are making the worst backcountry call of them all: they are not prepared. None of them have the shovels, transceivers and probes essential to carry out an emergency self-rescue. They do not heed our warnings and carry on with their witless venture into Tiger Country. It’s a fairly typical sight and sometimes, I suppose, you have to let people make their own decisions. Even these morons.

At the top our first run, we reminisce about a poor decision made by friends of ours in the same place a few years previous. The end result for their group was a huge avalanche in a thin snowpack that sent one of our friends over not one, but two cliffs and left him buried to his neck with a busted femur. That was a bad day.

Today is different. Much different. It is late March and we are blessed with a fat snowpack that has begun to consolidate nicely because of relatively warm temperatures in the day and deliciously cold ones at night. A storm from the Northwest has deposited a cool ten centimeters onto the strengthened snowpack, and better yet, it came in with nary a breath of wind.

In other words, we potentially have the green light to get onto steep, aggressive terrain today. Still, we double check with a hasty

By Mike Nixon snow pit and a few strategic ski cuts at the top of our chosen couloir. The line seems good to go, so we make a regroup plan and spot one another as we float through the perfect snow, one at a time, blinding ourselves with face shots. Each person kicks up roostertails as we blast out onto the fan at the bottom of the chute.

Safe, regrouped and ready for more, we prepare for our next ascent.

Relatively speaking, the slope we’re now climbing is mellow, but we still space out to limit our exposure and reduce the stress we put on the snowpack. At the top, we discuss our options. Collectively, we know the area well, which means we won’t be dropping into one of the many lines that end in impassable, flesh-hungry cliff bands. There are so many options. This is God’s country after all.

We decide on a line that’s usually guarded by a gargantuan cornice.

But the cornice calved off a couple storms ago, so the drop in is easy today. A ski cut at the top makes me confident that the rest of the slope will hold. If not, I have three sets of eyes watching my every move. If the worst case scenario occurs—an avalanche—the runout is clean and the slide won’t take me over any cliffs. Four turns later and I’m at the bottom, posting up in a safe area so I can keep an eye on the rest of the group. There’s no better feeling in the world than watching your friends safely pick lines through steep terrain, submerging on every turn, sending airs and blasting out the bottom like they were filming for next year’s ski movie. But it takes a certain number of green lights and good calls to make those days happen.

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Gallery

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Photos by 01. Steve Ogle 02. Jon Walsh 03. Andrew Wexler 04. Dave Best 05 Dave Best 06. Ryan Creary 07. James Martin 08. Steve Ogle 09. Chris Christie 10. Jon Walsh

Location Icefall Lodge NE Face of Mt. Victoria Bugaboos Chatter Creek Rogers Pass Icefall Lodge Avalanche Glacier Icefall Lodge Chatter Creek Banff National Park

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Gallery Darcy Keller soars over Lang creek. Chris Messervey photo.

Scott Heale drops in on a steep one at Icefall Lodge, Golden, BC. Photo by Ryan Creary.

Gallery

Aaron Bernasconi ripping and rooping at Hope Creek. Photo by Dave Best.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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Sunrise on a cold January morning in the Dogtooth range of the Purcell Range. Photo by Ian Tomilinson

Late afternoon on the Columbia Icefields. Looking south east, Mt. Bryce is the prominent peak in the foreground on the left. Photo by Dave Best

Mid-Day overlooking Rogers Pass in the Selkirk Range. Mt. Sir Donald is the dominant peak on the left hand skyline. Photo by Jon Walsh

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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LOCALS ABROAD

By Tim Grey

Scan this code to see the video from Lyngen Lodge – Norway

photos by Graham Austick

n May 2010, I made one of my best ‘good calls’ ever when I traveled to northern Norway to go ski touring in the Lyngen Alps. On my trip, I linked up with an outfit called Lyngen Lodge and was treated to six unbelievable days of ski touring in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

I

use an 11 metre, 500 horse power, 14 passenger boat to run day trips from the lodge to ski locations among the nearby fjords. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that this combination works flawlessly and creates one of the most authentic ski-touring experiences on the planet.

My trip started as I arrived in the city of Tromso, which you can fly directly in to via their international airport. At 71 degrees of latitude, this ocean city of 70,000 people has an authentic northern culture that is both gritty and modern.

Its nickname, the ‘Paris of the north,’ rang true and I walked the streets and sampled the many cafés with fashionable people milling around. From Tromso, the good people of Lyngen Lodge picked me up and we traveled via passenger van across roads and two ferry rides to the comfortable Lyngen Lodge. The proprietors of Lyngen Lodge, Graham Austick and Elisabeth Braathen have thought through their product to every last detail.

Typically, ski guiding in Lyngen has been from operations based out of sailboats, which roam the fjords and shuttle skiers to different islands and locations. However, Graham and Elisabeth felt that the level of comfort that one experiences on a boat could be greatly enhanced if guest accommodations were on shore. Therefore, they decided to create a different program by building Lyngen Lodge to house their guests and then to

Lyngen Lodge’s slogan is ‘Summit to Sea,’ and it’s the perfect description of the product.

Almost everyday we would take a boat out to a destination and then ski tour up to a peak and then ski back down to the boat. Sometimes we would get dropped off on an island, climb up and over it and get picked up on the other side. On weather days or when it’s snowing, the lodge has a large variety of great touring right out their back door, so you’re never stuck in the lodge for a day if you don’t want to be. It was a wild experience to start your ski day walking over seaweed as you storm the beaches with your ski gear. These same beaches were occupied during WWII by German Nazis, now they represent great freedom.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

The nature of the Lyngen Alps is inspiring to say the least. There’s a lifetime worth of skiing there ranging from wide-open glacier and tree runs to high intensity big lines. By early May, the midnight sun is up and never sets below the horizon. It’s something to behold to be up there. I would recommend this experience to any coinsurer of ski touring.

LOCALS ABROAD

Story by Steph Vand

photos by Amy Sharple

ekemp

s & Eric Oxner

Coming from the orange smog clouds of Delhi, the snow-capped peaks were a sight for [literally] sore eyes – and they were as beautiful as she remembered them. Indian pilgrims of ancient times experienced a similar response of awe, calling the mountains “Himalaya”, a Sanskrit word meaning “Abode of Snow”.

W

hen Amy Sharples, a Mental Health Nurse based in Golden, BC, did the backpacking thing in India a few years ago, she just happened to set eyes on the Abode of Snow. Hungry eyes. “I felt so connected with the Himalayas. I knew I had to come back with my skis.” Sharing her passion for skiing and culture, partner Eric “Ox” Oxner, was easily convinced. “We decided to go with zero expectations and just soak everything up, like sponges,” Eric explains. When February rolled around, they packed their touring gear, picked up some just-in-case prescriptions and left their expectations behind.

Amy and Eric were welcomed to the Kullu Valley by a twentyyear storm, 400 centimetres in 10 days. Since most people in India don’t have the 800 Rupees (about $18 CDN) to pay for a day ticket, nor the ability level to ski from it, the multi-million dollar gondola at Solang Ski Resort is used mainly for summer sightseeing. Amy laughs as she explains how the lift attendant was literally turning the gondola on and off for them. A private gondola, 15,000-foot peaks, bottomless, untouched lines; sounds like a dream we’ve all had.

Back at the base, a crowded carnival atmosphere prevails, a mishmash of people skiing down, walking up, chatting on cell phones and of course, a few zorbing or paragliding randomly into the crowd. “You see every fluorescent one-piece you’d ever hope to have in your tickle trunk,” Eric recalls, laughing. “People are having such a good time, they make North American Ski Resorts look boring!” The Kullu Valley is the honeymoon capital of the Himalayas and Amy and Eric enjoyed watching the Indian people blissfully interact with snow, many standing in it for the first time ever.

Leaving behind the carnival chaos, Amy and Eric made their way back to Delhi, catching a flight to the less popularized – and more militarized – Kashmir Valley. If you think LAX is bad (and it is), try six security checkpoints, including pat downs! And

these dudes aren’t interested in your passport; they’re looking for explosives. With half a million Indian troops patrolling the valley, Kashmir is the most militarized zone in the world today. “We became very aware of the fact that we come from a privileged part of the world,” Amy admitted. “You can see the effects of violence and the ravages of war everywhere you look.”

In the midst of mayhem, rises Gulmarg; 4000 feet of vertical, 40 degree descent, uninterrupted alpine. After dumping the first night, a highpressure system rolled in, creating optimal touring conditions.

Everyone here is a self-proclaimed “guide”, although most of them have minimal training and zero avalanche equipment. And while there are some talented Indian skiers, there’s not a female skier in sight. “We had tea with one guide in his home and his wife was sitting there weaving a cloth out of yak wool. It was like stepping back in time 200 years,” Eric explains. Amy, a talented skier, was an anomaly here, perhaps because the local women are too busy for such luxurious activities (making clothing from yak wool is far more time consuming than buying your underlayer from MEC’s website).

From Gulmarg, Amy and Eric set out to ski Sunset Couloir (14,000-feet), which sits smack dab on the line of military control. “It was kinda creepy,” Amy explains, “especially since the ‘shoot now, ask questions later’ policy in still in effect.” For these Golden residents, it’s all part of the adventure: using ski poles to fend off vicious guard dogs, touring in a military zone and hearing the Muslim call to prayer while skiing a sweet line.

Yep, if you like skiing and have a taste for culture, then you’ve arrived. Welcome to the Abode of Snow.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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Geoff Wilkings Photo

B

rianne Howard and Corey Lynham decided to ‘I do’ at 7,700 feet in the dead of winter. Most of us don’t associate long underwear, minus 36 degree temperatures and hot chocolate with weddings, but for this adventurous couple, the summit of Kicking Horse Resort was the perfect destination for their unique celebration. We caught up with Brianne and asked her about why choosing KHMR was a good call for her special day.

I gather you’re a skier. Did you and your guests stay and ski?

Yes! Corey and I love to ski and get out as much as possible each winter. We both grew up skiing with our families, so for us, combining our wedding with a ski vacation was the ultimate dream! We rented a ski cabin at Purcell Woods and spent four days skiing at Kicking Horse. After our ceremony it snowed for three days straight, so we had fantastic conditions. It was an incredible way to celebrate!

What is the best memory of your wedding day?

Corey and I have so many wonderful memories from our wedding day, it’s hard to know where to begin. For me, I would have to say that my favorite memory was stepping off the gondola at the top of the mountain when we were heading to the Eagle Eye Restaurant for the ceremony. That was an incredibly emotional moment. And, what an entrance!

Geoff Wilkings Photo

I think if you’re going to plan for a wedding in the middle of winter on top of a mountain, you have to throw away all your expectations about weather. The weather can be unpredictable on the best of days in winter. While we had incredible blue bird skies on our wedding day, we also had minus - 36 degree temperatures to deal with. Luckily, Corey and I had purchased matching down jackets, mine in white to wear with my dress and his in black to match the tux!

Needless to say, they came in handy, as did the extra layers (I even wore long underwear under my dress!). We also had a back-up plan for the ceremony, in case there was a blizzard, for example. Knowing it was our first choice to have the ceremony outside, the staff at Kicking Horse and the Eagle Eye Restaurant were very accommodating. If the weather did not cooperate, we could have had the ceremony inside by the fire, which would have been just as amazing.

Alan Maudie Photo

Were you worried about the weather not co-operating?

Hit the slopes after the reception!

Had you visited Kicking Horse before your wedding?

Yes, I had been to Kicking Horse before and was so blown away by the terrain, and the views! It quickly became my favorite place to ski. Corey had never been before, but trusted my reviews. I’m pretty sure Kicking Horse is now his favorite spot to ski as well!

What made you choose Kicking Horse Mountain Resort?

When we originally decided that we wanted to “elope” with our immediate family, we were drawn to the idea of having the ceremony at a destination. We just couldn’t decide on a place that was really “us”. Then we came up with the idea of having a winter wedding at a ski hill and it felt right; it felt like “us”. Right away we knew that Kicking Horse was the perfect place; – where else can you access a view like that?

Eagle Eye Restaurant sits right at the mountaintop! When we initially talked to the staff at Kicking Horse about the possibility of having our wedding up there, they were so unbelievably friendly and accommodating that we knew it would be the best choice for us. We made the right choice!

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

33

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If you enjoy reading Kicking Horse Magazine, we would encourage you to go the extra mile to support the businesses listed here.

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kickinghorseriverlodge.com info@khrl.com 250.439.1112

Food, Beverage & Catering •Apostoles Greek Restaurant apostoles.ca 901-10th Ave S, Golden 250.344.4906 • Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza 519 A 9th Ave N, Golden 250.344.7241

• Canyon’s Edge

thecanyonsedge.ca 1416 Golden View Road, Golden 250.344.3693 • Kicking Horse River Lodge kickinghorseriverlodge.com info@khrl.com 250.439.1112

Grocery Stores • Overwaitea Foods

overwaitea.com 1020 10th Ave S, Golden 250-344-5315

• Sobeys

sobeys.com 624 9th Ave N, Golden 250.344.2361

Hair & Beauty • Mary Kay Cosmetics

marykay.ca/ehatlevik ehatlevik@gmail.com 250.344.4799

• Personal Touch Hair & Body Day Spa personal-touch.ca 902 - 9th St S, Goldem 250.344.6413

• Reflections Hair Studio

828- 10th Ave, Golden 250.344.5766

Home Furnishings • The Brick

thebrick.com 912 15th Street S 250.344.2486

• Countrywide Home Furnishings countrywidestores.com/ 801 - 9th Ave South 250.344-2728

Movies, Music, & Entertainment, • Bizarre Entertainment

824 10Ave South Golden, BC 250.344.6633

Massage & Yoga • Balance body works

balanced-bodyworks.ca kristi@balanced-bodyworks.ca 250.272.0141 • Golden Lotus Ayurveda www.goldenayurveda.com 250.344.8685

• Golden Valley Massage

goldenvalleymassage.com book@goldenvalleymassage.com 250.439.7090

Realtors • Marlon Chambers- Century 21

Golden Realty century21golden.com marlonc@century21golden.com 250-344-0735 • Kicking Horse Realty kickinghorserealty.com 1549 Kicking Horse Trail- Gondola Plaza 1-866-Ski-Kick (754-5425) ext 4.

• Remax Real Estate Team

Bob Tegart – 250.272.4321 bob@remaxgolden.com Dan Veselic – 250.344.1435 dan@remaxgolden.com bcmountainproperties.com

Recreational Activities • Dogtooth Climbing Gym dogtoothgym.com 806 9th St N, Golden 250.344.6444

• Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Kickinghorseresort.com 1500 Kicking Horse Trail, Golden 1-866-Ski-Kick (754-5425)

Services • College of the RockiesGolden Campus cotr.bc.ca/adventurecentre 250.344.5901

• Golden Area Initiatives

goldenbritishcolumbia.com 250.344.2420

Snowmobile Rentals & Tours • Snowpeak Rentals Ltd

snowpeakrentals.com 1416 Golden View Road, Golden 1.888.512.4222

• Golden Snowmobile Rentals Ltd goldensnowmobilerentals.com 910 9th St N, Golden BC 250.344.6100

Sporting Goods • Golden Gear Exchange & Higher Ground Mountain Sports goldengearstore.ca 420B 9th Ave N 250.344.7980

Tires & Automobile service • Ok Tire & Automotive Service Oktire.com 905- 10th Ave N 250.344.2239

If you would like your business featured here in the next issue, please contact us at 250.344.5586 | sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com

ROLL OUT OF BED AND

ONTO THE LIFT.

KHMR REALESTATE

Authentic mountain lifestyle – own a ski-in/ski-out home at the foot of one of the most stunning and incredible ski areas in North America. Discover your fresh adventure with some of the best skiing and riding in the world right from your doorstep.

ON-MOUNTAIN CONDOS

RESORT TOWNHOMES

LUXURY MOUNTAIN HOMES

HOMESITE BUILDING LOTS

$179,900 — $490,000

$215,000 — $785,000

$995,000 — $2,350,000

$160,000 — $595,000

For more information, visit the Discovery Centre at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, www.KickingHorseRealty.com or call 1.866.SKI.KICK (754-5425) ext. 4.