Kicking Horse Magazine Issue 4 – WINTER 2011

free FO U RTH ISSUE

W I N TER 2011

The

Anticipation Issue

Delicious Visits

Journey To SuperBowl

The NOT so Slack Country Buying Fields & Building Dreams KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 01

Rad Zones Locals Abroad Shredder Profile What’s New BROKEN DOWN SUITCASE Steve Crowe’s Consciousness Photo Gallery

KICKING HORSE. STEEPED IN MOUNTAIN CULTURE.

Golden has always been the ideal setting for a ski resort of epic proportions. It’s no wonder that Swiss guides were drawn here, at the turn of the century, to the meeting place of three of the continent’s most majestic mountain ranges, the Rockies, Purcells and Selkirks. Passion for the mountains continues and can be seen in the residents of Golden’s enthusiasm for this alpine lifestyle.

For 10 years, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has been fostering the passion for mountain culture. The beautiful rugged terrain, combined with champagne powder, creates ideal conditions that will never cease to draw expert skiers from all over the globe.

Come and take our gondola up 7,700 feet and enjoy the view of six national parks, with the resort village nestled in the valley below. When you’re this close to heaven, with such a spectacular view and billowing powder at your feet, you might actually think you’re dreaming.

Call 1-866-SKI-KICK for more information.

KickingHorseResort.com 02

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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Contents 08 What’s New

26 Glorious Blades

10 Shredder Profile: Drew Wittstock

28 Buying Fields & Building Dreams

12 Rad Zones: Mt. Columbia

35 Unique Building Stories

13 Local’s Abroad: Antarctica

38 Delicious Visits

15 Powder Day Anticipation

43 Gallery

16 Journey To Super Bowl

48 Rad Zones : Ice Fall Brook

20 Working Super Bowl Into Your Pow Day

49 Broken Down Suitcase

22 The Not So Slack Country

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

About Us LAYOUT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN: Summit Communications.ca EDITOR IN CHIEF / PUBLISHERS Tim & Jessica Grey sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ross Prather CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ross Prather, Chris Brazeau, Steve Crowe, Jon Walsh, Barry Cox, Dave Tokaruk, Rachael Oakes-Ash, James Knoop, Eric Larocque CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Best, Ryan Creary, James Martin, Jordan Manley, Ian Coble, Malcom Sangster, Dave Mossop, Ian Tomlinson, Yves Garneau, Wally Randall, Mike McPhee

ART DIRECTION: Ryan Thibault, Devon Williamson 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

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: Dominique Doyon shreds Super Bowl North in March. Ian Tomilinson photo CONTENTS: Sled skiers imagining lines. Chatter Creek.

Ian Coble photo.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: KHmagazine BE A FAN ON FACEBOOK: www.kickinghorsemagazine.com

WHAT’S THIS? 1. Download the free ScanLife app on your smartphone at 2dscan.com. iPhone users can find the ScanLife app in the store.

2. Scan EZ codes in KH Mag and your phone’s browser will direct you to relevant content at KickingHorseMagazine.com

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 05

With its diversity of people and enterprise, vibrant community spirit, and abundant resources, we know the Basin is a place like no other.

There is a secret feeling shared by those of us who live here. The uniqueness of the Basin connects us – we experience a commonality and sense of community that is envied.

Photo: Freya Rasmussen

myBasin.ca highlights that connectedness.

Come and say hello. Submit a photo or thought to the myBasin collection.

Columbia Basin Trust works with communities and residents to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of this region. Together, we are shaping our future; together, we are creating a legacy.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE Submit your photo to the myBasin collection. myBasin.ca

06

Editor’s Note The root inspiration for the anticipation theme came from a valued lesson that I learned the hard way in the mountains. It took me a while to understand this lesson as it spawned from the most disappointing ski day of my life. I’m much better off now however, because it’s changed the way I place my expectations on a day out and even my entire mountain town lifestyle.

I was in Alaska, with a good crew and we had all ante’d up, what was a lot of money for us all, to go heli-skiing for the day. Our levels of anticipation couldn’t have been higher but were wildly out of sync with the conditions. We were finally in the place we had all dreamed of being for years but the problem was that things didn’t go quite like we had imagined. Due to several circumstances, the day ended up being mediocre at best and I was devastated to have blown a month’s play budget on a one-day trip that wasn’t even close to an average day for me in Kicking Horse Country.

What I’ve come to understand is that first, you have to really appreciate the days when everything goes right. When the sun shines and the powder’s deep and the friends are plentiful. You have to really take the time to appreciate those moments when they come.

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to predict when these kind of days will happen and they are not necessarily related to how much money you spend. In one week you can have several epic days and then it may take years to get it that good again.

The second lesson, is that setting your levels of anticipation properly will have a major impact on how you enjoy the day and your lifestyle. In winter, I’m constantly asked how the conditions are at Kicking Horse. Whether it’s buddies from out of town or any number of different media venues, they all seem to call me and ask me how things really are? It’s an answer that I always have trouble with because since that day in Alaska, I’ve realized that the performance of the day is completely dependent on your beforehand anticipations of it. “How are the conditions,” they ask. We’ll it depends on what you’re expecting more than how much new snow there is. If you think you’re going to float effortlessly in untouched powder all day when it hasn’t snowed in a two weeks, then you’re going to be disappointed. However, on that same day, if you’re appreciative of the surroundings and the fact that you’re sliding on snow for the day, then you’re stoked, and what’s better than that?

The bottom line is that there is a lot to look forward to on any day of the ski season and in Kicking Horse Country in general. Whether it’s an afternoon lap on groomers or a week long trip to a lodge, the anticipation of the moment is the thing that swells our spirits and helps us experience joy. This joy, makes us want the feeling on a longer term scale too. The idea of taking the plunge and buying a piece of land, where you can build a dream home can fill you with anticipation. Or perhaps choosing to move here or to stay here fills you with anticipation. For me, the chance to escape urban sprawl and rush hour traffic combined with raising my kid(s) as skiers is what fills me with anticipation.

I hope you can catch a little of our anticipation through out this issue. Not only in the pictures and the writing but also in our product. As you may notice, this is our biggest issue ever and our first winter specific publication. We’ve made the decision to move to two issues a year and if all goes well, you’ll be hearing from us again in June with the second part to our Anticipation themed issues. We’ve got a lot to look forward to and we hope you do too. So here’s to enjoying your ski season: may you have anticipations of the good days, the great days and the days you choose to see the best in.

Tim Grey

Ian Tomlinson Photo. Super Bowl, Dec 28, 2007

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 07

What’s New In Kicking Horse Country College of the Rockies Just Went Up a Degree COTR has big news this year in that it is now a degree granting institution.

The college is pleased to announce their first program as the Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices.

So now the question begs, if you can get your entire degree program in a mountain town, why would you spend your time stuck in a city?

Learn more at www.cotr.ca

Kicking Horse Connected The Town of Golden has just received a screaming fast fibre optic network in its downtown core thanks to NanoFibre Networks. No longer are businesses and residents stuck with that old copper line that struggles to provide television and internet at the same time. This impressive new technology can literally handle one million telephone calls all at the same time. While the individual user waits one-and-a-half days to download a DVD movie on dial-up, or 21 hours on DSL, the power of glass through fibre optics means you can download an HD movie from Apple iTunes in just seven minutes!

Originally initiated by Golden Area Initiatives (GAI), bringing the network to fruition represents a partnership be-

08 KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

tween the Town of Golden and Area A. The plan is for the network to facilitate business transactions involving large volumes of data, attract a knowledgebased economy, and also to provide for better government services and health care. Doctors will be able to send x-rays to specialists in other parts of the country in a matter of moments, while video producers will gain the capacity to send uncompressed files. Even rural areas outside of Golden will benefit through a new broadband internet connection that hooks into the service.

Davinci Broadband Inc. has set up wireless antennae to begin offering high speed internet services over the greater Golden area.

With Kicking Horse Country connected, a two-year process of establishing the network comes to life. The Town of Golden will now assess the market for the possibility of expansion, while in the meantime business, government and rural residents enjoy faster, reliable service.

Mike McKnight Honored In honor of a man who was instrumental in establishing of Whitetooth Ski Hill and then years later in brokering the deal for turning the hill into Kicking Horse Resort, KHMR has recently named

a ski run after Mike McKnight.

Mike passed away on October 22nd at the age of 61. He is survived by his wife Merle, son Dale, daughter Kathy, their families, and a community of mountain people who are forever grateful for all of the good things that Mike brought to their lives.

“Mike was a big man; over six feet tall for sure, but that’s not the kind of big I’m talking about. Mike was a builder in every sense of the word. He was a brilliant mind, selfless community activist, a smart and hard worker and a tireless contributor to the organizations that he was a part of.” - Clair Israelson Big Ol’ Bear, will be the run named in his honor. It is accessed from the Pioneer chair. Just don’t make a lot of turns

if you’re skiing there. The last thing Mike would have wanted is moguls on his run.

New Beacon Basin at Quartz Snowmobilers make up 38 percent of the total avalanche deaths that have occurred in the last 10 years. This is second, only to backcountry skiers (source: http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/about/ media). The 2009 winter also marked the highest snowmobiler fatality rate ever, which led to calls from many that more had to be done. The Golden

Snowmobile Club has responded with a new initiative at Quartz Creek. In partnership with avalanche safety manufacturer, Back Country Access (BCA) the club has dedicated space and volunteer hours in setting up and maintaining a beacon basin in the popular sledding area. The beacon basin is similar to others around the province (KHMR also

has one at the bottom of the Stairway To Heaven chairlift) and allows users to turn on or off up to eight different beacons hidden under the snow. Users can now practice their searching skills right inside the zone, near the cabin at Quartz before they venture into more dangerous terrain. It’s not the total solution but it’s part of it.

A New Dawn As this publication went to press, work was proceeding furiously to complete a new day lodge at the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre in time for the start of the upcoming ski season. The project was delayed due to complications arising from the site’s soggy location at

the edge of lush subalpine wetlands.

Early last summer a new access road and parking lot were excavated for the day lodge, but weeks passed before the ground dried sufficiently enough to finish them. Wet subsoil conditions also compounded geotechnical work.

More than 40 custom screw piles were required for the foundation, and their unanticipated fabrication and installation added more than $30,000 to the project’s total cost.

To help defray the unbudgeted expenses, the Golden Nordic Ski Club launched an innovative fund-raising project called Adopt-a-Log. For a $50 donation, each donor’s name will appear on one of the many logs used to construct the day lodge. The structure requires more than 300 eight-foot-long square logs milled from beetle-killed pine. Donations are still being accepted and can be made at The Golden Gear Exchange.

The new day lodge is being built by Horizon Construction, directly adjacent to the stadium area that was completed last year. The parking lot and trail head

have been moved next to the day lodge so users and spectators alike can drive directly to the site via the new access road.

The mountain chalet styled day lodge will have three levels. A workshop, washrooms, and storage will be on the lower floor. A large lounge and kitchenette comprise the main floor. Two bedrooms plus an additional lounge and kitchen will be located on the upper floor. With completion of the new

day lodge, the Golden Nordic Ski Club takes a giant step forward in achieving its ultimate goal of attracting a future World Cup Nordic ski race to the Dawn Mountain Centre.

To view plans and photos of the new day lodge and to keep tabs of construction progress, visit www.goldennordicclub.ca/dawn-mountain-daylodge.

Submit News to info@kickinghorsemagazine.com

Shredder Profile: Name:

Drew Wittstock

Age: 22 Website: drewwittstock.wordpress.com Comp Results: I don’t need a judge to tell me I’m the best.

Starring In: Ride Guide TV Hipster Status: I do wear tight pants... but hipster is so last season, right?

Why KHMR? Most fun, accessible, beautiful place I’ve had the pleasure to shred! Plus when somewhere allows you to experience something new everyday, and ski with some amazing people you have to embrace it!

parts of skiing, lines, hucks and airs... and beers Why was Wrangle The Chute awesome? It throws together all the best no stopping... no friends on a pow day.

What’s the plan of attack on a pow day at the Horse? Top to bottoms, .

Are there lots of skier chicks in Golden? We import from Scandinavia

ate styles... plus when they’re doing up their Opinion on Snowboarders: Love ‘em, you can learn a lot from altern bindings you can steal their turns. ds on the live music, I guess I start at the River It’s a Saturday night mid-winter. Where do you party? Toughie, depen ater for a show. Home for entertaining though, I House for some shafts and then mosey on over to the Rockw throw a mean dinner party. about it and experience new lines. We’re Spend much time in the backcountry? Try to, I’m hungry to learn more blessed with amazing access living in Golden. am I crip?

Ever rocked a dew rag (did we even spell that right)? A do-rag? no, what Do you own a sled? Not yet...

Words to live by? No words, just actions

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Creary Photo

THE STORY OF E.J. HECTOR What’s in a name? If you are as lucky as I am then a lot. It all started many a year ago with Sir James Hector, the man who discovered the Kicking Horse Pass and ultimately the site for the current town of Golden. If it weren’t for him and his spooked steed who knows what that pass and ultimately this resort would be called? Next came Kicking Horse’s annual Wrangle the Chute competition. After the competitors rip their line and huck off the booter I destroy what’s left of their dignity in a few short seconds, that’s where the E.J comes from. Say it with me E.J. Hector, now say it fast Ejector, and that’s what I do, it takes the term get off my back to a whole new meaning. So this February 4th to 6th, 2011 make sure you come out and cheer me on!! - E.J. Hector 10

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Wally Randall. Courtesy of KHMR photo: Wallyphoto: Randall.

Courtesy of KHMR

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a i b m u l Mt. Co 3747M

Summit on Colum

bia. Jon Walsh Phot o

zones

Ryan Creary Photo

Mount Columbia straddles the B.C. / Alberta border, about 90 kilometers north of Golden. At 3747 meters, it’s the second-highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, the highest point in Alberta, and the hydrological apex of North America, with waters flowing off its flanks into three different oceans. On a clear day, Columbia’s pyramidal shape is easily recognizable from many summits in Kicking Horse Country. The higher you climb, the more likely it is that you will see Columbia dominating the northern horizon. Since it is the highest point nearby and has a 600-meter 40-degree “ski run” off its summit, Columbia is popular with ski-mountaineers and peak-baggers alike. However, don’t be surprised if it takes you more than one attempt to reach the top. It’s a huge undertaking for one day from the car, and is more commonly done as a two or three-day excursion. Hire a guide if you’re not confident on big glaciers, and be prepared for whiteout navigation, crevasse rescue, and all the other challenges associated with big-mountain terrain.

Mount Columbia can be accessed from either the Bush River logging roads north of Golden or from the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper. There are good route descriptions in various local ski and climbing guidebooks. With jaw-dropping views, lots of exposure, and an aesthetic route, Mount Columbia is a classic that should be on everyone’s tick list.

-Jon Walsh

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ANTARCTICA IN THE FALL OF 2009, LOCAL SKI GUIDE SCOTT BELTON AND I MANAGED TO GET OURSELVES HIRED ON A KENN BOREK AIR CREW BOUND FOR A REMOTE CORNER OF THE EASTERN ANTARCTIC PLATEAU. New and Experienced Gear for all Your Adventures

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OUR MISSION was to help maintain a field camp for eight airplane mechanics repairing a turbine DC-3. The aircraft had sustained a crash landing, though technically it was listed as a CFIT—Controlled Flight Into Terrain.

Our journey took us through South Africa, where we boarded an Illushyn 76 heavy cargo plane going to the Russian-operated Antarctic ALCI runway base. From there, we launched our expedition to the remote crash site located at an attitude slightly higher than 12,000 feet. We spent the next 25 days living in cramped tents at the field camp while the team repaired the DC-3. A pilot was flown in and he successfully maneuvered the plane out of the crash site, back to the ALCI base, and eventually all the way back to Calgary.

It is impossible to do justice for this story in such a small amount of space, so if you want to learn more, please visit KickingHorseMagazine.com/AntarcticTrip for additional information and a video.

We were gone from Golden for two and a half months on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was a trip that neither of us will ever forget, and yes, we did see penguins. -Tim Grey

During our stay we experienced ambient temperatures from -15 to -45 degrees Celsius as well as a major Antarctic “blow.” Among other things, we spent countless hours cooking, cleaning dishes, maintaining heaters and shoveling snow from around the plane.

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Stream Of Consciousness

Powder Day

Anticipation

Ryan Creary Photos

by Steve Crowe

Check forecast one more time. Turn off computer. Look out window. Set alarm. Early. Pull up bed covers. Close eyes. Turn off brain.

Turn off shrill alarm. Look out window. Phone snow report.

Turn on coffee. Turn on computer. Check snow report to compare with phone report. Shake head at discrepency.

Turn off computer. Wake girlfriend. Put bacon in the pan. Call buddy. Confirm pick up time. Add eggs. Prepare gear. Gulp coffee. Swallow breakfast. Check watch. Visit toilet. Put snacks in pocket. Perform poor yoga stretches while looking out window for headlights.

See them. Dash outside. Run back in for ski pass. Run back out. Jump in buddy’s car. Grin. Hit the road. Discuss snow report. Talk about less important stuff. Pick up any cute hitchhikers.

Arrive. Put boots on first before feet get cold. Put on the rest of clothes. Unload gear. Double check. First one ready gets in line.

Scan for friends to slip in with. None? Evaluate choices: north entrance, south entrance or singles. Make decision. Commit.

Hold girlfriend’s skis while she goes to the toilet. Jostle forward. Protect exposed flanks. Keep position. Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Choke on some jerk’s cigarette smoke. Keep cool.

Keep warm. Stamp feet. Make idle conversation. Avoid eye contact with peripheral acquaintances looking for a pretend friend to line crash. Unless she’s cute. Don’t look at clock.

When lift starts to load, join crowd “wahoo”ing. Immediately shuffle forward. Eye other lines suspiciously. They seem to be moving faster. Unzip jacket to show pass. Sense relief that it is there. Elbow the guy in the singles line out of the way. Smile at liftee. Not too much. Give mild sense of sympathy with eyes.

Enter lift. Settle in. Anticipate.

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journey to:

BOWL

Yves Garneau photo

SUPER

by Steve Crowe

E

very night during the ski season, the last thing I do before I go to bed, is look out the window to see if it’s snowing.

Even during a drought, when it hasn’t snowed for weeks, I look. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is look for flakes. It’s a routine, hard-wired into me from living in Golden, because new snow means fun is on the way.

After a century of surviving on an economy based mostly on resource extraction, Golden was experiencing economic malaise by the end of the 1990s. Cutting trees wasn’t cutting it anymore. People were getting nervous about the future of their little mountain town. But many residents knew that Golden had another resource that wasn’t being fully exploited: the powder snow high above the top lift at Whitetooth Ski Hill. Then along came Oberto Oberti and Ballast Nedam, 16 KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

It just wasn’t happening very often.

Whitetooth was open only three days a week—Friday to Sunday—and it was mostly a volunteer operation. From the top of Whitetooth’s Pioneer lift, a few skiers would tour to the peaks high above. They knew a skiing paradise was up there, and recognized that a offering to build a world-class ski resort, gondola to the top would be a good and shift the economy to one based thing. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, on tourism rather than timber. All they as the new development was named, needed was the approval of community would offer up this amazing terrain to residents. Golden responded by voting anyone willing to pay for a lift ticket. By 93.8 percent in favour of selling the local an overwhelming majority, the people club-owned ski hill to the international of Golden chose to put their faith developers. They weren’t sure what they and season-pass money into the new were getting into, but they figured it venture. had to be better than what they were So did Golden get what it was trying to get out of. expecting? You can never please It’s not like the mountains above everyone. Some would say the pace of Golden weren’t already being skied. development has been too slow or the

terrain is too difficult, or it’s too quiet, or too busy.

Yet many, with wide grins and face shots, would argue that it’s just about perfect. Over the last decade, the skiing here has been good. Really good. When it snows a lot, it’s unbelievable. The high-quality powder lasts a long time in the cold and dry mountain air, the variety of demanding chutes and length of top-to-bottom runs can blow your mind, and amazing backcountry access is as good as it gets. Maybe there aren’t a lot of people in Golden getting rich from tourism-related jobs, but there’s no doubt that the resort has pumped new life into the community and now, t’s about to get even better.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary year, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is expanding into Super Bowl. Through a remarkable feat of excavating, an access road was carved from the top of the gondola around Terminator Peak to the Super Bowl saddle.

This allows KHMR to open 15 new black diamond and double black diamond alpine chutes at just a fraction of the cost of building a new chairlift.

journey to:

SUPER

BOWL

Ryan Creary photo

Mike Mcphee photo

To be sure, locals have mixed feelings about the opening of Super Bowl. Most welcome it. Others, with a touch of selfishness, would prefer to keep it a place where riders have to earn their turns. Just as the original opening of Kicking Horse created easier access to more backcountry, so too will the opening of Super Bowl. Rarely ridden areas south of the resort will now see more skiers and snowboarders. From the Super Bowl saddle it’s a beautiful, but attention-demanding hike, to the top of Terminator 2 (T2) with T3 and T4 looming beyond. From these peaks the skiing is complex and finding a route back to the resort base can be challenging. Hopefully, along with resort expansion there will also be an increased awareness regarding avalanche hazards among the snow-play public.

Whether it’s for the inbound chutes or backcountry access, skiers and boarders are coming to Kicking Horse and the resort will continue to expand to attract more of them. With its 40-year master plan recently earning government approval, KHMR is gearing up for the long run to create an international playground only a 15-minute drive from Golden. The ski touring areas of today will be the inbound chutes of tomorrow. For most people that’s okay, because just over the next ridge is yet another empty field of play. When I wake up in the morning and see snow falling, I’m glad that only minutes away is a gondola ready to whisk me to the mountain’s crest where the future stretches out in all directions.

From The Horse’s Mouth

Working Super bowl Into Your Pow Day! Every snowrider knows that there’s serious payoffs in being in sync with how Ski Patrol stages openings on a powder day. Now, things just got more interesting with Super Bowl becoming inbounds terrain and you may need to change your patterns. Here’s the lowdown straight from the horse’s mouth, from KHMR’s Safety Manager and Qualified Avalanche Planner Mike Rubenstein, explaining how patrol will approach opening Super Bowl when it dumps.

Will there be stages to how you open Super Bowl?

Well, we open the mountain in stages for sure. Bowl Over and Crystal Bowl open immediately and even within those, there’s stages. Sometimes CPR North won’t be open first but that’s the next priority once we have Crystal and Bowl Over bowls open.

Then Redemption Ridge South as part of Crystal Bowl is next so we can get the Stairway to Heaven chair open. The next priority is to work North and open Fuez Bowl. After that we work on the bonus material, like White Wall, Truth, Dare and Consequence and Superbowl will rank in priority with those.

Watch for a course line-up spring 2011. College of the Rockies, Golden Campus will be offering a brand new option for the adventurist, recreational user in outdoor training!

By visiting the web site: www.cotr.bc.ca/adventurecentre outdoor enthusiasts will find a variety of training courses and programs to choose from! Courses will range from beginner level moving water courses to the extreme in rock climbing and white water kayaking!

T he

For more info phone the Golden Campus 250 344-5901

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

re nt

The Adventure Centre will be offering many training options as well: n Response and Communication Protocol course for emergency responders n MPHIA Basic Interpreter Course for the Purcell/Selkirk Mountains n Navigation and Terrain use for Guides and Hikers. n GPS Navigation venture Ce n Rock Rescue Ad n Learn to Lead Advanced Rock Climbing n Moving Water Canoe Skills @ COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES n Introduction to White Water Kayak Golden, British Columbia n Intermediate White Water Kayak n Assistant Sea Kayak Guide

On a pow day it’s quite often that Fuez opens late in the day. Do you think it’ll be common to have to wait until the next day for Super Bowl?

Yes, but potentially no. Fuez is for sure higher priority than Superbowl, so we will try to open it first. That being said, we are hiring more staff this year to help deal with the increased terrain. There will be 3 more patrollers per day and 1 more trail crew per day. So it is more than possible, that a late, same-day opening in Super Bowl will happen. There will be more than one avalanche safety team cycling on the mountain so work will be happening in concert.

So it could be possible that two different sides of the mountain like White Wall and Super Bowl would open at the same time?

Yeah for sure. And depending on the storm cycle, it may be easier to open the Terminator South side of Super Bowl before Feuz bowl even. If we get a lot of loading on the NE chutes and they require a lot more ski cutting, then it may be that Superbowl would open before Fuez.

It will be interesting to see how it works out this year. The philosophy for us is that open terrain is safe terrain and so we’re trying to get things open as soon as can.

What if people want to go to T2 and beyond before the inbounds Super Bowl opens?

If T2 north [or any area that is with in the resort boundary] is closed, you’ll still be able to hike out to T2 and beyond via a small corridor. We don’t want to limit people from being able to access the boundary. It’ll be similar to how it was when Truth, Dare and Consequence were still closed, but people could still hike to Terminator peak.

So you’re not going to use the new cat road as a gate to keep people out.

Nothing is set is stone and I’m sure rope lines will be adjusted as needed. The road will be closed is if we have to do avalanche control on Terminator west.

You think we’ll see some big road gap airs over that new cat road?

[Laughs] Yeah probably. Choose your runouts carefully is all I can say. left: Dave Treadway smiles while looking into an

untouched Super Bowl. Photo: Mcphee There’s a lot more valuable info in this interview.

Check it out the extended version on:

KickingHorseMagazine.com

The

n o t so s lack

By Da ve Tok a

ruk

coun

A

s expansion continues at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, so do the options for local backcountry skiers and snowboarders. With minimal effort, backcountry enthusiasts can access world-class riding just minutes from the resort’s boundaries. The tongue-in-cheek name for this easily reached terrain is “slack country” and we’re lucky to have more of it than just about anywhere else in North America.

Before Kicking Horse, Whitetooth reigned as the local ski hill. The inbounds alpine areas of today—Crystal Bowl, Feuz Bowl, and Bowl Over—were slack country in those days. Locals took the Pioneer chair to its top, then 22

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

try

put on climbing skins to reach the pristine powder above. When KHMR opened, diehards grumbled about the loss of “their” terrain. However, it didn’t take long for riders to realize that they had gained a lot more slack country than they lost. What previously required a full day of climbing to attain can now be ridden several times in a single day. The mountain usually funnels skiers and boarders right back to the gondola, resulting in a fun-to-effort ratio that is considerably higher than a typical backcountry tour.

Now you can hop off a chair lift, strap your skis or board to your back, and hike up a short and well-established trail leading to unbelievable terrain. Unfortunately, this

“There’s lots of places where a wrong turn can get you into trouble fast.”

Ryan Creary photo

3rd

annual

also means that inexperienced riders can easily get in over their heads. There are huge avalanche chutes and slopes that seem good until you get halfway down and find yourself surrounded by cliffs. There are lots of places where a wrong turn can get you into trouble fast. Indeed this has happened too many times over the last few years, sometimes with very unfortunate results.

It is all too common to see a group of skiers or boarders or worse yet, a lone rider, in hazardous surroundings without so much as a backpack, much less the survival gear that

should be carried inside. These days there’s no excuse. It’s easy to get the necessary gear and training to travel safely out of bounds.

The more knowledge you arm yourself with, particularly regarding avalanches, the more likely it is that your decisions will be sound ones.

Serious chutes, open bowls, and lots of vertical await you in the Kicking Horse slack country. Once you’ve got the appropriate gear and know-how you can explore these incredible places, too.

Andrew Wheelhouse photo

Ma rc h 26 , 27 , 20 11

Ski Mountaineering Race Events March 26th & 27th, 2011 Presented by the Golden Ski Mountaineering Club KickingHorseResort.com

Advertisement

What’s New

With The Town Of Golden?

Golden Civic Centre Redevelopment

Over 60 years after its original construction, our grand dame of community heritage buildings is getting a refit. Our local project committee has secured nearly $1.5million of the $2.1million we need to not only bring the building up to current mechanical, environmental, and safety standards, but give her a facelift with a new multifunctional layout in the basement, a marquee front, stage improvements, and landscaping.

Town Council has recently approved moving forward with the $1.5million plan, but we are going to need your help Golden to get us further. Our committee is still applying for grants, and watch for a local fundraising campaign in the coming months. Project construction will start this fall, with the centre targeted to re-open October 2011.

Affordable Housing

Golden’s Housing Committee is turning talk into action. This innovative group has been experimenting with ways to expand Golden’s housing stock and improve housing affordability, accessibility and adequacy.

The Housing Program is now in full swing and looking for applicants who are interested in owning a home for less than market value. The Town’s first two affordable units under the Housing Program are being built this fall and will be available to eligible local applicants. Check out our website for more info.

A recently completed Housing Needs Assessment Study identified the housing challenges in the community. Now the Town is working towards a long-term vision for addressing those challenges by transforming a municipally owned block of land into a unique and innovative residential development.

Zoning Bylaw Rewrite

We are in the final stages of Golden’s draft new Zoning Bylaw. Zoning Bylaws regulate the use of land (residential, industrial, commercial, park etc) and the nature of development that occurs on the land. The philosophy and direction of the new Zoning Bylaw stems from the Official Community Plan so look forward to sustainability measures that allows for diverse housing types, encourages mixed-use development, higher densities and buildings and promoting green building technologies. The document’s increased clarity and usability could open new development opportunities for you and your property. Keep your eyes on the paper for public consultation events surrounding the reconstructed Zoning Bylaw in the Fall.

What’s in a Sign?

Everything – from the information it has to the way it looks. Our restyled banners have been uniquely designed to reflect Golden’s own heritage and chic. Our new community sign program will get some limited roll-out this fall to “test drive” some new designs before we start full implementation. Watch for new kiosks and markers on the Rotary Trails, some building identifications, parking lot entrances, and a directional sign at the end of 7th Street North. When they’re up, call or email us and tell us what you think before we head into 2011 with more.

Green Parking Lot

Parking on the grass is exactly what you do at the Town of Golden and the United Church’s new public parking lot. The construction method is a grass paving system that includes a foundation of compacted gravel, overlaid by a grid of connected cylinders. Sand fills the cylinders and grass is sown on the top to complete the attractive surface. The system allows rainwater and snowmelt to percolate through the surface back into ground water supplies.

The system allows for the natural filtration of water, is a green technology and looks great too.

Community Bikes and a Green Gym

We have begun ordering the components for these two very cool programs to be implemented next year. In 2011, the Community Bike program will include 2 bike racks and 15 bikes available for use by anyone in Golden for traveling around town. This is our entry into an increasingly popular initiative around the world. Recently, Paris bought 20,000 bikes for its own program! Also in 2011, you’ll see some outdoor gym equipment spring up somewhere in town (haven’t quite figured out where yet!) for anyone’s use – another very popular thing to have in communities next to running trails and bike routes. Paid through the Resort Municipality Initiative, it’s all about being an Active Community and having attractive amenities for both locals and visitors alike.

For more information visit www.Golden.ca, find us on facebook, or call us at 250.344.2271.

. SINCE 1882 .

Final touches have been added to Spirit Square, and the community hub is gaining popularity as a favourite congregation area for residents and visitors alike. Whether eating lunch, taking in a Summer Kicks concert, or marvelling at the beauty of the rivers, the mountains, and the spectacular natural setting, the community square has something for everyone.

Check out the 400 community painted tiles that are in the square, and tell me this isn’t community building. More tile painting opportunities will be coming soon. Spirit Square has come a long way from the dusty parking area and street it used to be. Check it out!

ADVENTURE

Spirit Square

Glorious Blades My heart beat louder than the whirling blades as I waited for my first chopper of the day, adrenaline already creating a soundtrack in my ears. There’s something about flying over river valleys, knife-edge ridges, and sweeping open powder bowls into the depths of the Selkirks that gets the blood flowing.

It’s almost as exciting as when the chopper departs and all that is left is the deafening silence of nature, when there is nothing but you and the mountains for miles. A swell of anticipation taps me on the shoulder as I view hundreds of thousands of hectares of untouched terrain dripping in powder snow and just begging for my mark.

All those peaks you view from the top of the resort that spread out to the horizon can be yours for the taking when you have the keys to a heli in hand. Whether you choose a multi-day experience in a remote heli lodge with gourmet meals or a heli-assisted ski touring week where the chopper drops you off and you earn your turns, the selection of trips possible can fit any type of skier and budget.

There is skiing and there’s rock-star skiing and just one day in a chopper can ruin you for life. I am like a kid in a candy shop jumping up and down with joy, over stimulated on too much sugar and high fiving my fellow skiers. All this before we’ve taken our first run.

Then there’s the snow, pure untouched powder that tickles the cheeks with each turn as it sprays skyward above the knees, the thighs and on a good day over the head. My first virgin turns have my heart in my throat and my stomach doing somersaults with joy. Yes, I know I am gushing but words alone can honestly not describe the rush of helicopters when combined with untouched snow.

When the chopper returns for our final run of the day I am already addicted to the whoomf whoomf of the whirling blades as we rise and fall with the wind, swooping through the skies like an eagle, suspended impossibly in the air.

Slipping into the hot tub, beer in hand, with my fellow skiers back at the lodge at the end of the day I can still feel the sway of the chopper and the sound of my heart moving to the beat of the blades. I could get used to this.

by Rachael Oakes-Ash

26 KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Photo: Jordan Manley Location: Great Canadian Heli-Skiing Athletes: Dave and Dan Treadway Photo: Greg Porter, GCHS

www.chattercreek.ca real mountain experience

1-877-311-7199

There are 4 heli-ski operations and 9 heli-accessed ski touring lodges within Kicking Horse Country. To learn more visit KickingHorseMagazine.com

Buying

Fields & Building

Dreams Golden and outlying areas offer some of the best recreation-based lifestyle opportunities anywhere.

When compared to other resort communities, it’s also far more affordable. Combined with the selection of property options available here, Golden represents a field of opportunity where you can still find your own dream home.

Written by Chris Brazeau. Photos by Dave Best

Golden and area has a lot going in its favor. Continued investment

from the federal government to twin the Trans-Canada Highway ensures that driving between Golden and Calgary will be safer and quicker than ever before. Approval of KHMR’s 40-year master plan guarantees that a world-class resort will continue to grow and thrive nearby. Golden’s recent Resort Municipality designation makes additional funding for resort-based infrastructure available, and the advent of Tourism Golden means that the area is being effectively and professionally marketed. It’s no longer a question of ‘if’ Golden will take off; it’s simply a matter of ‘when.’ Local realtor Marlon Chambers says, “I believe the area still has not seen its boom. There’s too much going in Golden’s favor for it not to continue to grow in value.”

Local property values have taken a 10-20 percent slide off 2007 prices. People are even selling below these levels once an offer is made. If you can afford to make a move, now may be the best time to get in. Whether you’re considering buying in town, purchasing acreage on which to build, or investing in a ski-in/ski-out mountain chalet, the opportunities are plentiful. The odds of finding a place with a great view are even good because they are stunning in every direction. If you’re searching for a piece of paradise, here is a brief snapshot of what’s currently available.

In Town The town of Golden still holds a few choice lots. Even though they are becoming scarcer, a couple of new developments in town provide additional options.

The advantages of living in town include great views, designated parks and green spaces, and having everything within walking distance. Paying a higher price for in-town property is offset by the convenience of having power, water and septic immediately available. Rural buyers are often faced with significant expenses bringing power to their property as well as digging wells and septic systems. Another reason people want to live in town is to be where the action is. The new water spray and skate parks are attractive to kids of all ages. The Civic Centre will soon undergo a major renovation to help attract more cultural, arts, dance and music events.

The downtown core continues to thrive through the efforts of community and business leaders as well as committed volunteers. The recently created Confluence Park is just one example of what the town has to offer.

However, Golden is in need of more rental properties.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 29

Fields & Dreams

An influx of construction workers and professionals including doctors, nurses and teachers, require short-term accommodations. They demand high-quality rental options and currently have slim pickings from which to choose.

BLAEBERRY Heading north from Golden along the North Bench, the Upper Donald Road links to the beautiful Blaeberry Valley that reaches deep into the Rocky Mountains. Where the Blaeberry area officially begins is subject to debate, but many consider the Moberly Mountaineer Pub as the sentinel of this community. Big peaks, ranchland, immense wilderness, privacy, and endless recreational opportunity characterize this broad open valley. Properties range from lot-sized to several acres.

Some depend upon small streams as their water source, but most require that a well be dug, often up to several hundred feet deep. The good news is that sellers have to demonstrate reliable water availability before their property can be sold.

If you have kids, another consideration is the distance from town as shuttling them back and forth for school and extracurricular activities can get old. The Blaeberry also receives substantially more precipitation than Golden, making for a more lush environment in summer and more snow in winter.

KICKING HORSE MOUTAIN RESORT Rising west of Golden is Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and the small but vibrant community that is slowly growing and evolving there. The architecture is impressive, with big timber frames and striking stonework being the distinguishing features. Open-concept plans, vaulted ceilings, and large decks to enjoy the magnificent views are also common. Strict guidelines ensure that home designs remain consistent

within the development. The ski-in/ski-out luxury is the biggest attraction, but access to the groomed Dawn Mountain Nordic ski trails is also a big draw. Proximity to the golf course with its summer fairways and winter cross-country ski trails appeals to others. Sushi, pub food, and frequent live music are all within easy walking distance. A few prime lots are still available for purchase at the resort. Many early buyers were from the U.K. and some now want to sell to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate.

SOUTH OF TOWN The small hamlet of Nicholson is reached seven kilometers south of Golden along Highway 95. The community enjoys stunning views of both the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, easy access to the Columbia River wetlands, and proximity to the superb Moonraker Trails for hiking, biking, and skiing. Another five kilometers south is Campbell Road, where the valley broadens to gain extra hours of direct sunshine.

Conditions become noticeably warmer and drier here – just the place to cultivate your green thumb. Several developments are currently underway offering fabulous views, services direct to the lots, and dug wells. Building guidelines stipulate “Mountain Style� designs with log or timber frame components. As with KHMR, these guidelines usually require that construction be completed within a specific time frame.

Still farther south is the small settlement of Parson, where logging roads lead to secluded fishing lakes, campsites, and mountain trailheads. Raw land and acreages are numerous all the way to Radium Hot Springs.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 31

HORIZON UNLIMITED

Fields & Dreams

carpentry & construction

GOLDEN: New Contruction Renovations

Prices: Lots (50x130’) from $129,900. Very few available.

Two subdivisions offer lots from $115,000 to well over $200,000 for larger lots and better views. Building guidelines, restrictions in place.

Full ICF Builds

Perks: Park your car for days. Walk to the farmers market and music events at Spirit Square or stroll along the Kicking Horse River. Enjoy some of the best water out of the tap anywhere in the province.

Timber Hybrids

Downer:Train noise. Frequent inversions in winter.

Fine Finishing

Skid Steer & Mid size Excavator

Anticipate: Whitewater play park on the Kicking Horse River. New and improved Civic Centre for community events.

Ecoflo Septic Systems

BLAEBERRY Prices: Lots from $120,000. Acreages available.

250 344 1324 ff_kicking_horse_mag_007.pdf 1 18/09/2010 4:19:44 PM

Perks: Privacy. Great access to hiking, hunting, fishing, etc. Stunning views of the Purcells, Kicking Horse, and the Rocky Mountains farther north.

Downer: Winter driving. Distance to town.

Anticipate: New overpass for more convenient access from town.

A growing community.

KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN RESORT Prices: Lots from $189,000. Good availability. Building guidelines, restrictions in place.

Perks: Ski-in/ski-out to world-class skiing and snowboarding plus the expanding Dawn Mountain Nordic ski trails. Après-ski. Walk to the only sushi joint nearby. Snow, snow, snow.

Downer: Snow, snow, snow to shovel.

Anticipate: More terrain on the mountain. More amenities at the base.

SOUTH OF TOWN Prices: Lots from $100,000. Several stratas being developed with lots from $135,000.

Perks: Astounding views of Purcells and Columbia wetlands. Long growing season. Easy access to water, hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails.

Downer: Driving back to town to pick up milk.

Anticipate: Nurturing your green thumb. Bird watching in the wetlands.

Paddling on the Columbia River.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

TEAM CHAMBERS

Century 21 Golden Realty Ltd. Black Bear Resting

Tea Mountain Biking

in e Al p

Hik

o Visit Bo

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Kicking H orse Bridg e

Paragliding

off Mt 7

Water Falls

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mC ham

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iing

u may o y t i s i v u o y e c On ... … e v a e l o t t n a w never

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www.century21golden.com

marlon@century21 golden.com 512 9th Ave. North, Box 109, Golden, B.C., V0A 1H0 (250)344-0735 / (250)344-2214 Marlon Chambers

Realtor

* Only available at participating CENTURY 21 offices. Each office is independently owned and operated. ® and ™ Registered trademarks of Century 21 Real Estate Corporation used under license. ®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by Loyalty Management Group Canada Inc. and Century 21 Real Estate Canada Ltd.

Wendy Chambers

Assistant

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 33

Jake AD

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Unique Building Stories Community Oriented Developments, Progressive Designs and Cabins in the Woods

by James Knoop and Jessica Grey

Resort mountain communities face unique challenges maintaining a healthy housing market. In such an epic and beautiful location, it’s easy for an influx of outside forces to overwhelm a local economy, while intense real estate pressures emerge because of the surplus construction of elaborate vacation homes. Within Golden, other factors come to play as well. The transition from a resource-based economy to a service-based economy over the last ten years has seriously affected the ability of an average person to afford a quality parcel of property. Each and every resort community faces the same challenges. Kicking Horse Country however, is taking steps to overcome these obstacles.

With the goal of creating a winning solution, town planners, developers and builders have teamed up with innovative ideas to generate a more sustainable and progressive housing market. Sometimes it’s a rule change that can make the difference, other times it’s the originality of the builders.

Often several players working together create the recipe for success. Check out the following housing stories to learn about some of the newest and most exciting building projects in town, out of town, and way out into the backcountry.

Vista Mountain Lofts on 11th This spring, Golden Key Developments held a groundbreaking ribbon-cutting party that featured the Mayor of Golden digging the first shovel full of dirt with a back-hoe. This new project of 20 stylish and affordable condominiums represents significant collaboration. It achieves several goals of the Official Community Plan, the ultimate guide for managed and responsible community development produced by the Town of Golden.

One collaborative aspect to the project is the fact that these three-storey lofts utilize brownfield land: underused or abandoned commercial and industrial sites. This transforms an unproductive area into a living space for residents. Another aspect to the project is that Golden Key Developments has set aside two units for the Town of Golden to be managed under its affordable housing initiative. This represents a happy partnership between the municipality and developers while at the same time meeting the pricing demands of the market. Offering an urban motif in a mountain setting, construction will also commence under the Canadian Home Builders Association’s “Built Green” program to Gold Seal standards for energy efficiency. Vista Lofts promotes a vision for an ethical and sustainable, yet affordable community project with units starting at $200,000. www.vistalofts.com Toll Free: 1.877.344.5525

Subdividing on 10th Street Heading west down 10th Street South, modern townhomes and duplexes are sprouting like mushrooms after a forest fire.

In 2008, the Town of Golden passed new zoning bylaws that permit subdividing lots. Jake Wetzel, who developed three unique homes on 10th Street was instrumental in working with the town in making these changes. In the past two years

alone, a total of nine units have been constructed under the new rules, achieving the twin goals of affordable housing and diversification of the housing stock. Two such developments on 10th Street are striking modern-style duplexes, designed with butterfly trusses to withstand the weight of snow and large windows on the second floor offering panoramic views of the valley. These projects have progressively pushed both the architectural boundaries and the availability of living units when compared to single-family dwellings common in Golden Dogtooth Log and Timber Products constructed three of the new innovative homes on 10th Street, incorporating stylish big-timber façades and modern open concepts. Special design features include a funky skewed entranceway and galvalume tin for both roofing and siding. Another progressive unit incorporates multiple levels on a small footprint with high ceilings, a large deck and patio, timber stairs and framing, and a big backyard. By building close to the maximum allowable height, Dogtooth designed a brand-new home built for $50,000 less than the average market price. www.condorventures.com www.dogtoothlogandtimber.com KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 35

Green Chalet at The Cedar House Restaurant Built on a foundation of recycled concrete blocks, the new Green Chalet showcases a variety of sustainable building features. The 1800-square-foot building incorporates a hybrid passive/active heating and cooling system that utilizes building materials to absorb, store, and slowly release heat. A concrete floor that lies on top of two-inch foam boards and a Trombe wall that uses convection to heat the building’s interior are key components of the design. A 240 square foot solar furnace room or ‘solarium’ also helps reduce energy costs by transferring heat to the whole room. In fact, owner Darrin De Rosa expects to generate at least 50 percent of his heat using green technology over the winter. With help from local businesses like Timeless Concrete and Full Circle Environmental Consulting, this green chalet is another example of the forward-thinking that is going on by local contractors. www.Cedarhousechalets.com 250.344.4679 info@cedarhousecafe.com Prefabricated Cabins - one of the region’s best kept secrets Deep in the woods along the Blaeberry River, a modern cabin is under construction that is far from ordinary. Form and Forest have created a series of prefabricated cabins that utilize

modern concepts to embrace the natural environment in which they are built. One design even incorporates a living tree growing right in the middle. These one-of-kind cabins were designed by D’arcy Jones Design of Vancouver. This past year, one of the models—The Cowboy Cabin—received an Award of Merit from Canadian Architect Magazine. There are a variety of sizes from which to choose, ranging from 6351559 square feet. The cabin designs are thoroughly modern and minimal with generous amounts of glass resulting in beautiful structures that blend into the natural landscape.

These cabins are readily available to be delivered and built in the Golden area. www.formandforest.com

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Sentry Mountain Lodge - Golden Alpine Holiday’s Flagship Deep in the remote northern Selkirk Mountains, the new 4300-square-foot Sentry Lodge could not have been built without the use of precision-flown helicopters. More than 200 long-line loads of building materials were flown to the site

with a Bell 407 helicopter. The use of a crane was not possible, so the chopper was also used to place trusses and timberframe components with speed and incredible accuracy.

International Timber Frames served as the general contractor for the entire project. They provided extraordinary preplanning, logistics, scheduling, construction drawings, and building partners. Lock-up was completed in just six weeks, something of a necessity given the area’s short building season. Crews of six rotated weekly, working schedules of 1114 hours per day, seven days a week. Many partners helped make this a successful building project. Construction was done by Dogtooth Log and Timber, geotechnical engineering

by Onsite Engineering, structural engineering by Cascade Engineering, plumbing and heating by Kardash, electrical installation by Platinum Electric, insulation and drywall by Prime Drywall, and micro hydro and solar by Middle Earth Solar.

Crews had to endure heat, bugs, rain, sleet, hail, snow and windstorms to create this 40-foot-high structure, built at an elevation of 6,900 feet, and designed to withstand incredible snow loads. However, the beautiful scenery, along with fantastic food from Golden Alpine Holidays and nightly campfires provided some nice perks for the job. Occasional after-work hikes, during which the long-lost art of trundling was practiced also helped. www.itimberf.com www.dogtoothlogandtimber.com www.gah.ca

For a complete list of builders in Golden, visit the Golden Chamber of Commerce website. http://www.goldenchamber.bc.ca/

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 37

Delicious Visits stories and photos by Barry Cox

O

nce upon a time, the Canadian Pacific Railway needed a staging post to hammer a line through the mountains. And so, Golden was born.

Today, the desire to travel continues to pump life into the town’s veins. My own journey through seven of the town’s eateries revealed that travel, in a variety of forms, is still the key ingredient flavouring our local cuisine.

Cedar House Starting in 1899, the CPR employed Swiss guides to lead tourists into the nearby mountains. Their legacy continues as a mainstay of the town’s soul. Darrin De Rosa, owner of the Cedar House Restaurant and Chalets, is also a ski guide. He is a go-to restaurateur and his guiding spirit is evident in the way he runs his business. Converted from an old house, the restaurant consists of three intimate rooms. Every table has a period-style lamp, while a central wood furnace crackles with warmth. From behind the chunky bar overlooking the kitchen, the sizzle of duck breast placed skin-side-down on a hot skillet blends with the jazzy background music. “I hope people can slow down and take in the surroundings as well as enjoy our carefully prepared organic food,” says De Rosa. Slicing into the beautifully cooked Brome Lake breast, I concur entirely.

Whitetooth Bistro Juxtaposing the development of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort with the community ski hill of the 1980s, the Whitetooth Mountain Bistro’s Duke red walls are decorated with prints depicting the mountain’s history. A bar at the far end of the restaurant laden with vodkas infused in-house and a wide assortment of wines and cocktails adds to the bistro ambience. Shawn Carr, the restaurant’s managing partner, explains that the seasonal menu combines classics with a distinctive Rocky Mountain twist. The meal I was served presented a Canadian take on French and Italian cooking. Elegantly sliced Bison carpaccio was followed by a rich and hearty elk bourguignon.

This was topped off with a selection of creamy and smoked Canadian cheeses. The meal had me fueled up enough to walk out into a -30 degree blizzard in my tee shirt.

The Island A hundred paces down the road and across the Kicking Horse River is The Island. The newbie on the block, it opened its timber doors in December, 2009. Ironically, the cozy upstairs dining room feels like it has already hosted countless merry soirees. The nostalgic spirit is created by a bric-a-brac interior and tasteful selection of antique furnishings by co-owners Aaron Cundliffe and Petra

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Nott. There is some history here, as Cundliffe is Golden-born and his childhood home is directly behind the restaurant. The Island’s menu is inspired by his many years of travel, and he’s a purist. The lamb in the burgers is sourced from his sister’s farm and ground on-site, the rosehip that infuses his crème brulee is plucked locally after the first frost, and the pasta is prepared from scratch.

Apostoles If the passionate strumming of a bouzouki, the scent of lemon wafting from the kitchen, and Mediterranean seaside paintings don’t transport you to Greece, the food at Apostoles will. Zesty kefalotiri cheese flambéed table-side, tender calamari rings with garlic-rich tzatziki, lamb chops grilled to perfection, and superbly balanced moussaka and crisp Hellenic beer comprised my meal at the restaurant run by Nico Tsantilas. “As a young man and sailor I traveled the world,” he explains, his melodic accent still evident after more than 20 years in Golden. “When I got back to Greece, my girlfriend suggested we go to Toronto and I agreed. But I had friends in Calgary, and after a month I said, ‘goodbye girlfriend.’ I got a job in a kitchen in Golden and never left.” Thank goodness for that. His uncompromising demand for authentic fare has put Apostoles on the map. Lifting our shots of ouzo our host says, “I’m from Volos, but I feel more Canadian now.”

Kicking Horse Grill & The Fire Pit Another accidental Goldenite is Chris Duijts, who left Amsterdam 10 years ago.

“The plan was to buy a beachside place somewhere exotic, but I seized an opportunity here and now I ski over 100 days a year,” he says. The inspiration for his famed Kicking Horse Grill buffalo ribs comes from an organic bison ranch where the livestock is fed cranberries, sage and blueberries. “The ideal base ingredients for a marinade,” he says. “I headed straight back to my kitchen and hours later perfected it.” Duijts and his business partner, Martijn, opened their second restaurant in June, 2009. The Firepit BBQ Smokehouse on Highway 1 posed a steep learning curve for the Dutch duo, but they’re determined to create barbecued specialties that will rival anything found in Texas.

Eagle’s Eye From highway to skyway, the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at 2,410 meters is an experience in itself. On a typical day, the spectacle of the surrounding mountain ranges and the dizzying combination of altitude and alcohol leaves most guests breathless. On other days you’re literally dining in the clouds.

Manager Michel Durocher spent almost a decade in Vancouver.

He regrets that many restaurants there, as well as others with outstanding views, often lack the epicurean finesse to complete the experience. “The Eagle’s Eye strives to delight in every way,” he says. I was served sesame-encrusted albacore tuna, frozen at sea and delivered as fresh as the day it was caught.

Complemented with grilled lemon, spinach, and curly endive dressed with paprika oil and followed by an herb-encrusted rack of lamb, wild mushroom risotto, and panko-coated Parmesan and fennel cake, the Eagle’s Eye hit the spot.

I’ve often puzzled over the definition of Rocky Mountain cuisine, but visiting these seven local restaurants taught me that it is the vision and style of the proprietors and their very personal journeys that matters most.

Apostoles Greek Restaurant 250.344.4906 www.apostoles.ca BBQ Fire Pit Smokehouse 250.344.5222 Cedar House Restaurant and Chalets 250.344.4679 www.cedarhousechalets.com info@cedarhousecafe.com Eagle’s Eye at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort 250.439.5413 www.kickinghorseresort.com/resort/dining/eagles-eye.aspx Kicking Horse Grill 250.344.2330 www.thekickinghorsegrill.ca The Island 250.344.2400 www.islandrestaurant.ca info@theislandrestaurant.ca Whitetooth Bistro 250.344.5120 www.whitetoothbistro.com info@whitetoothbistro.com

For all these links and numbers scan this code

Apostoles Greek Restaurant

250-344-4906 Voted 2009 Golden Business of the Year & Culinary Excellence Award Winner

101 Gould’s Island, 10th Ave., Golden, BC 250-344-2400 www.islandrestaurant.ca

Apostoles Guest Apartment 2 Bedroom - 2 Double Beds Full Kitchen Satellite TV / Internet Connection

www.apostoles.ca

Located in Golden at 901 -10th Ave S Hwy 95 at the lights

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 41

GET READY TO BE BOWLED OVER. INTRODUCING SUPER BOWL. MORE EPIC TERRAIN. MORE CHAMPAGNE POWDER.

Photo: Ryan Creary

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’ve opened a 4th alpine bowl. Super Bowl is just a short traverse away from the Golden Eagle Express Gondola and opens up an extra 300 m of vertical with 15 new challenging chutes. This year, experience some fresh lines and even more champagne powder.

Call 1-866-SKI-KICK for more information.

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KickingHorseResort.com

Gallery

This Dave Mossop shot showcases what he does best: get amazing angles of cool stuff in outrageous places. The Freshfield Icefields provide skier Callum Pettit a unique opportunity to make this shot a banger.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 43

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Gallery

A classic, early winter, pillow air in the Selkirks by Dave Treadway is framed beautifully by photographer Jordan Manley during a trip to Great Canadian Heli Skiing.

Gallery Although this photo is in a popular zone, most would be hard pressed to find where this jump was built.

Photo: Dave Best Rider: Justin Baun Location: Gorman Lake

Gallery

Gallery

Ryan Creary captures what is basically an every (blue-bird) day occurance in the Dogtooth range: people getting rad in the slack country.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 47

zones

ICEFALL BROOK S

ixty kilometers north of Golden as the helicopter flies, tucked away between soaring peaks, is a magical little canyon known as Icefall Brook. It’s actually a 15-kilometerlong creek that drains into the Valenciennes River, but at its head is a truly spectacular gorge. Averaging about 600 meters deep, the gorge is barely 150 meters wide in places. The Lyell and Mons Icefields line the rim of the south-facing pear-shaped canyon. Dozens of impressive waterfalls plummet down the gorge’s limestone walls, creating a spectacle of rainbows in summer and a frozen playground coveted by ice-climbers in winter.

Although some of the canyon’s frozen waterfalls were first climbed in the early 90’s, the area has just recently become a destination for both local and international climbers. For those seeking a true Canadian wilderness experience, Icefall Brook is one of the most impressive and concentrated ice-climbing venues in the world. Guides are bringing their more intrepid clients here, as winter camping and ice climbing with helicopter support is a very unique outdoor adventure.

The Icefall Lodge is just around the corner, about four hours away by skiing or hiking. Located in a backcountry skiing and summer mountaineering paradise, the lodge offers potential 2000-meter ski descents as well as access to some of the highest summits in the Canadian Rockies, including Mt. Forbes at more than 3600 meters.

Logging roads lead to the mouth of the canyon in summer, where a faint trail can be found on the west side of the creek starting at the first switchback of an overgrown spur road. The trail weaves through groves of ancient cedars to bypass a short, but difficult, slot canyon. It takes about an hour to hike to the back of the main canyon. In winter, access is primarily by helicopter, although it may be possible to use snowmobiles early in the season before avalanches bury the Valenciennes River Road.

Simply put, Icefall Brook is a stunning place with abundant recreational opportunities that is well worth the time and effort required to get there.

-photos and article by Jon Walsh

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Broken Down Suitcase

I

magine this: You just had an epic day skiing with some of your best friends, then had an amazing dinner with them, and now are considering your options for a night out listening to some funky new music. Your luck abounds. Golden has far more options for live music than most towns its size. Whether you fancy going to a club and dancing, listening to folk music in an intimate cafe, or just hanging out in a pub enjoying bar tunes, Golden’s got it. Due to its inspiring location and appreciative audiences, Golden is an attractive place to perform for all kinds of musicians and artists.

As a musician myself, I was drawn to Golden because of its freedom and natural beauty. Located on the Trans-Canada Highway, it is easily accessible, yet seems cut off from the rest of the world. It is this environment and supportive populace that allowed me to foster my creative side more than I ever imagined.

Since forming my first band in Golden, I have traveled across Canada, the UK, Scandinavia, and other European countries. At every stop I was proud to say that we, the band [Broken Down Suitcase], were from Golden, British Columbia. It may not be where I was born and raised, but it is where my life as a musician began. It is to this town and its people that I owe a debt of gratitude.

by Eric Larocque

photo: Adrian Marcoux - Stellar Radio Choir (Broken Down Suitcase ‘electrified’ + bassist) jams on 11th St. during a block party

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 49

Anticipating Summer?

So are we.

Stay Tuned for The Anticipation Issue part II Coming in June 2011

Face shot from the Melt Freeze Cup during the Sun Splash Funk Fest at KHMR James Martin photo.

presents

details @ www.biglines.com/superbowl Cash and Gear Prizes for best Pro and Am categories.

Extra points for humor.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

creary photo

IL NIDO COUNTRY INN

GOLDEN SNOWMOBILE RENTALS

Relax in a gorgeous log home in the mountains, surrounded by wilderness. Three private suites with kitchens, plus a sauna and hot tub to enjoy.

Starting at www.ilnidocountryinn.com $ $ 250.340.8544

We offer snowmobile rentals, guided trail tours, a retail shop and full time mechanics. We look forward to making your vacation the best yet! Located beside the Hwy 1 off ramp.

Rentals starting at www.goldensnowmobilerentals.com $ /day 1.888.SLED NOW (753.3669)

AUBERGE KICKING HORSE B&B

MISTAYA LODGE

Located in a quiet neighbourhood, the Auberge Kicking Horse B&B offers cozy rooms with private bathrooms, outdoor hot tub, central wood burning fireplace and a deluxe continental breakfast included.

Starting at www.aubergekickinghorse.com $ 250.344.3997

Helicopter access only. A skier’s, hiker’s and naturalist’s paradise! All trips include heli transfers, guiding and hearty gourmet meals. Intro backcountry ski weeks available.

Packages starting at www.mistayalodge.com $ 1.866.647.8292

ALEXA CHALETS ~ TIMBER INN & RESTAURANT

PURCELL MOUNTAIN LODGE

Relaxing country setting with spectacular views. Lodge rooms, family cabins & group chalets. Close to Silent Pass snowmobiling area and 30 min to the Ski resort. Licensed restaurant.

Starting at www.TimberInn.com $ 1.877.348.2228

Purcell Mountain Lodge is a luxury Mountain Lodge. Surrounded by the unspoiled wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park. Hiking and Ski packages available.

GOLDEN MUNICIPAL CAMPGROUND

CANYON RIDGE LODGE

Now open all year round, RV camping with all pull throughs unserviced. 30 amp & 15 amp sites. Amenity hub with hot showers. Self registration.

This beautiful timber frame lodge has 3 exceptional en-suite B&B rooms. Also featuring the Purcell Suite, a king size, self-catered suite for up to 4 people.

Starting at www.CanyonRidgeLodge.com $ 250.344.9876 + taxes

95- 195

110

69

www.goldenmunicipalcampground.com 1.866.538.6625

$

25-$30

ADVENTURE CENTRE AT THE

Ad

venture Ce re nt

T he

COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES GOLDEN CAMPUS The Golden Campus offers a brand new option for the adventurist, recreational user in outdoor training! Courses will range from beginner level moving water courses to extreme in rock climbing and white water rafting! Watch for upcoming winter courses.

@ COLLEGE OF THE

ROCKIES Golden, British Columbia

www.cotr.bc.ca/adventurecentre 250.344.5901

235

1,400

www.purcellmountainlodge.com 250.344.2639

90

BEAR PAW LODGE Wonderful mountain sanctuary only a short drive from Golden BC & Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Fully equipped self catering, sleeps 10, hot tub & mountain views.

Starting at www.bearpaw-lodge.com $ + taxes +44.1722.744909

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MOUNT 7 LODGES Beautiful log built lodges in 68 acres with spectacular mountain views, private hot tubs, full kitchens, TV, DVD and wireless internet. 10 minutes from town.

Starting at www.mount7lodges.com $ $ 250.344.8973

200- 395

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 51

RELAX AT HOME WITH A BOWL

OF FRESH POWDER. The epic mountains, the beautiful wildlife, and of course, the intense skiing.

It’s been 10 years since we opened our doors to the stunning Golden outdoors. Now, you can open your own door to the same surroundings through affordable real estate at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. And with many ski-in/ski-out properties to choose from, there’s sure to be one that will exceed your expectations.

Photo: Ryan Creary

On-mountain Condos

Resort Townhomes

Luxury Mountain Homes

Starting from

Starting from

Starting from

Up to

Up to

262,500 + HST $ 465,500 + HST

$

235,000 + HST $ 825,000 + HST

$

750,000 + HST $ 2,100,000 + HST $

Up to

Building Lots

Starting from

190,000 + HST $ 380,000 + HST $

Up to

For more information, visit the Discovery Centre at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, KickingHorseRealty.com 52

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

or contact us at 1-866-SKI-KICK (754-5425) ext. 4.