The Jasper Local June 1, 2017 by The Jasper Local

a lt e r n at i v e +

LOCAL + independent

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thejasperlocal.com

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thursday, june 1, 2017 // ISSUE 98

TROUBLE BRUIN // THIS HEALTHY MAMA GRIZZLY CAUSED QUITE A SCENE NEAR OLD FORT POINT AS SHE AND HER 2-YEAR-OLD CUB SNIFFED AROUND FOR FRESH GRUB MAY 30 // SIMONE HEINRICH

Traffic cameras to capture transportation data The Municipality of Jasper will soon have an eye in the sky.

As part of its transportation master plan development, Jasper is installing traffic cameras at a number of locations in the coming weeks, with the purpose of collecting data at key intersections and parking lots. “We have these questions about speed zones and parking and just in general,” said Legislative Services Manager Christine Nadon. “There’s recognition we need to have a fully integrated plan before we start making ad hoc decisions on bits and pieces of our traffic system.” To build that plan, consultants need to gather data about traffic patterns and how residents and visitors use the current infrastructure. By starting the project in June, MOJ hopes the consultants will have information on

traffic patterns pre-and-post peak season. Pedestrian and cycling traffic, as well as vehicle movement, will be analyzed. Nadon said there are no privacy concerns as the cameras don’t have the capability for facial recognition or license plate identification. “It’s really about numbers and movement,” she said. In a related matter, council recently approved the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of Miette and Turret. Nadon said that reconfiguration is to address safety concerns; school kids frequent that intersection and it is quite wide, she said. Information on the number of traffic cameras and their locations was not available by The Jasper Local’s press time. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 98 // thursday, june 1, 2017

editorial //

Local Vocal Springtime in Jasper sees our community transform; not only are visitors piling in, but new residents are arriving, too. We see the welcome mats rolling out for guests: attractive patios, newly-renovated hotels and myriad other “signature experiences” on which you can venture forth, or beyond, or beside. And to Jasper’s credit, there is a concerted effort to welcome the new recruits, as well. While we’re at it, parents and kids have it pretty good in this town. Our schools are beautiful, our sports and activity programs are first class and we’ve got a highly-lauded community outreach program designed to respond to the needs of people at risk, all in a town of less than 5,000 residents. What’s missing? Who are we not serving adequately? While there will always be cases of individuals and families who slip through the cracks, I’d argue that our seniors are by far our most forgotten community members. June 5-11 is Seniors Week. Although I dislike committing a specific time period to a specific group, believing it suggests it’s ok that we don’t honour these folks during the rest of the year, on the other hand, having fixed dates is a good way for groups and governments to get organized. The problem is, even during Seniors Week, groups and governments aren’t doing enough for our elders. We’ve got buckets of cash for bikers (of which I am one, thank you), flags being flown for LGBT members and their allies (of which I am one, thank you) and infrastructure designed for dog owners (of which I am not one, thank you). However, what do we provide for our seniors? A room with a TV and a shuffleboard set? A tea party once a year? A bus that they have to fundraise for themselves? Do we need seniors to lobby on their behalf? If that’s the case, I’ve got news for you: Ain’t gonna happen. Seniors may be the ones who built this community, but you won’t hear them toot their own horns. What we do need, is to show our seniors how much they mean to us. For the municipality, we could start by following other Alberta communities’ lead and declaring Seniors Week 2017. For groups and businesses, we could try harder to see the value seniors provide to our organizations. And for individuals, it doesn’t have to be overly complicated: offer a hand in delivering groceries or cutting the grass; give support to those who’ve recently lost a spouse; or simply introduce yourself to a senior in your neighbourhood you haven’t met before. Seniors Week is a time for the community to honour our elders. If you neglected to do that since last June, now’s your chance, as my Nana would have said, to smarten up! bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Mountain Pine Beetle Dear Editor: This past week, I attended a mountain pine beetle (MPB) seminar in Jasper. The place was filled with scientists and forest health practitioners from across Canada, and especially from western Canada. Also attending were elected council members from Edson, Hinton and Yellowhead County. The notable and glaring absence at the event was anyone who had anything to do with Jasper National Park (JNP). As many people know, MPB has crossed the Rockies and is attacking stands of pine around Jasper and in neighbouring communities, including Hinton. At the event, much was learned about what needs to occur. We were also exposed to an outstanding critique of the failures on the part of Jasper National Park to deal with the issue.

Attendees learned that Banff National Park (BNP) had a similar MPB problem more than a decade ago, when beetles were spreading outside of the park onto provincial and private land, thereby threatening neighbouring communities. The Park, acting in cooperation with the federal government, was able to conduct aggressive control treatments along the leading edge of the infestation, thereby adopting what was dubbed a “good neighbour policy.” Attendees also learned from the many scientific experts that prescribed burning is not considered an effective control technique for the pests, especially in the midst of an infestation. Yet this is the approach primarily used by Jasper National Park. We learned that prescribed burning, over time, can change the tree species composition of a forest, without actually controlling MPB infestations.

The Jasper Local //

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// Local cycling

thursday, june 1, 2017 // issue 98 // the jasper local// page A3

Five Questions for Ryder Hesjedal This past weekend, recently retired pro cyclist Ryder Hesjedal was in town to promote the ATB Tour of Alberta and to give a select group of riders an unforgettable experience: Two days of road riding in Jasper National Park with elite cyclists while base-camping at Jasper House Bungalows. Hesjedal is Canada’s most decorated cyclist, having won the Tour d’Italia in 2012 as well as a host of other road and mountain biking championships since he broke out on the scene in his late teens. Recently, the 36-year-old answered a few questions for The Jasper Local. The Jasper Local: Congrats on your recent retirement. Looking back on your career, what are your most cherished takeaways, memories or highlights? Ryder Hesjedal: Especially with the 2017 Giro [d’Italia] ending a couple days ago, that’s the big one you think about. It was the culmination of a lot of years. In mountain biking, you always remember the first time you represent your country in the World Championships. Going to the Olympics for the first time is something you make as a goal when you’re young. Going to the Tour de France for the first time is also a big moment for a cyclist. JL: What do you think it will take to grow the sport in Canada and in your opinion, are those things happening right now? RH: Cycling in Canada right now is the most exciting and healthiest I’ve seen it, on all sorts of levels. The amount of events that exist for biking, be it road or mountain; the competitive scene at the

STAR STRUCK // PRO CYCLIST RYDER HESJEDAL (MIDDLE) FINALLY GOT TO MEET BIKE SHOP OWNER CHRIS PEEL. //

world level; the mass participation events like the Gran Fondos…there’s just so much to choose from. When I first started there was cross country mountain biking and that was it. JL: What do you remember about the Tour of Alberta in 2015? RH: I knew I was going to be retiring and it was going to be the last time so I was trying to appreciate it, just to enjoy the race. JL: Tell me about the Jasper National Park Training Camp this past weekend. RH: It was amazing. We were gifted with the weather, the northern lights on Saturday were epic. To be able to be out there riding in that way was something I had looked forward to since November. It was great to be in the real Canadian mountains again. JL: Had you spent any time riding for fun in Jasper National Park before? RH: No I’d only been there for the races. It was amazing, I definitely need more time, I think you could spend a lifetime exploring around there. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Letter cont. //

The final thing we learned at the event is that Jasper National Park may well be basing its MPB management program on faulty science. The Jasper Park has also claimed that the MPB infestation in the Hinton Area was coming mostly from the Grande Prairie region, rather than Jasper National Park. This

allegation was strongly refuted by professionals at the seminar. After attending the event, there is no doubt that many who were there began to ask questions. First, why did two different national parks respond so differently to the same problem; and second, why did the Banff Park possess and implement a good neighbour policy while

the Jasper Park doesn’t even show up at a major event where professionals and elected officials were discussing, amongst other things, the impact and cost of the Jasper Park’s policies on surrounding communities? - Stuart Taylor, Member of Hinton Town Council, Hinton, AB

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Local legend //

Jasper’s Peter Amann to be honoured as ACC’s Mountain Guides Ball patron Peter Amann doesn’t have a bucket list. The 62-year-old mountain guide doesn’t have a catalog of peaks he needs to climb to feel like he’s been successful in the mountains. He doesn’t concern himself with all the 11,000 foot summits, for example, and he doesn’t care much about what others regard as the “classics.” Nor is he in any particular rush to top out on Mount Athabasca for the 100th time (he does know he’s at 95, however). Amann just isn’t competitive like that.

for his contribution to the mountain community over a lifetime spent in the alpine. “The selection committee made a great choice in tapping Peter, and everyone is really psyched that he accepted to the role,” said Zac Robinson, vice-president for mountain culture of the ACC. Forty-two years ago, Amann came to Jasper from Toronto with friends and picked up a job washing dishes at the Jasper Park Lodge. Soon he was exploring the mountains with “hippies and free-campers,” as he put it, gradually improving his skills as he gained experience in the alpine. At one point, he took a guides’ course—and promptly failed it. But Amann chipped away at learning the trade and by the mid-1980s, he had a handful of certifications under his belt and was working part time with the Canmorebased Canadian School of Mountaineering and Yamnuska. “I loved climbing,” he said. “It was the only thing I ever did that I never got sick of.”

Amann carved his own mountain path. He had to; JASPER’S PETER AMANN HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE ALPINE for many years, CLUB OF CANADA TO BE HONOURED AS THE 2017 PATRON OF THE MOUNTAIN GUIDES BALL IN OCTOBER. // SUPPLIED after veteran Jasper guide Hans Schwarz He never has been. In fact, that’s the retired, Amann was the only whole reason he got into mountain fully-certified guide in town. climbing in the first place. He was happy to take clients “I’ve never been a charger,” he said. “I up local, well-known peaks don’t necessarily have big objectives.” such as Athabasca and Cavell, but the trips that truly made Call it humility, call it nonhim feel alive were the ones competitiveness…whatever it is, it’s of more of an exploratory the reason why being selected as the nature. He liked ridges, Alpine Club rather than crags. He of Canada’s “I’ve never been preferred adventures honorary over goal-oriented patron for the a charger, I don’t missions. upcoming necessarily have Mountain “We took a rope and a big objectives.” Guide’s Ball rack and just went,” he was never recalled. on Amann’s But Amann was no climbing radar. bum. He volunteered tirelessly “I almost felt like they had the wrong for the Alpine Club. He helped person,” he shrugged. found the local section and was the Jasper/Hinton section But it wasn’t a mistake; the ACC has chair for nearly 20 years. He selected Amann as the 2017 Patron of had a lead role in the 2000 the Mountain Guides Ball. Like Chic Mt. Alberta Project and today, Scott, Pat Morrow and Don Vockeroth before him, Amann is being honoured he works with the ACC’s

safety and leadership committee.

“There comes a time when everyone feels they want to put back into the club and the association,” Amann said. Amann has occupied other important alpine posts: he was the head avalanche forecaster at Marmot Basin for 22 years; he has spent most of the past few decades training the Canadian Military Search and HAVE ROPE, WILL TRAVEL // LOCAL MOUNTAIN GUIDE PETER AMANN HASN’T CONCERNED HIMSELF WITH ALPINE CHECKLISTS. Rescue Technicians; HE JUST LIKES TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE. // SUPPLIED he teaches ACMG courses for Thompson that consistent in that period of time?” River University and since 1988, he The answer is: the men and women has helped guide the ACC’s storied who have led them—of whom the 2017 general mountaineering camps. Patron of the Mountain Guides Ball, “These camps have gone on in Peter Amann, is wholly among. Canadian mountaineering for 110 years,” he said. “What else has been

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

monday, may 15, 2017 // issue 97 // the jasper local// page B2

Local learning //

Recipe for success: Rolled out childcare meal program gets 63 tiny thumbs up

MADE FROM SCRATCH // GLENDA MACDOWELL DOES THE COOKING FOR 63 HUNGRY MOUTHS AT THE WILDFLOWERS CHILDCARE CENTRE. SHE SAYS SHE FEELS “ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD” WHEN SHE ARRIVES WITH FOOD FOR THE KIDS. // FERN YIP

“Glenda’s here!” Glenda MacDowell rolls a lunch cart into the main foyer of Jasper’s Wildflowers Childcare Centre. On the cart are trays full of fresh food. The mouths calling out MacDowell’s name are the same ones which will soon be happily devouring her bounty of fresh food: those belonging to the children at daycare. “I walk into the room and get all the love in the world,” MacDowell says with a satisfied smile. The Wildflowers Childcare Centre’s breakfast and lunch

BON APPETITE! // JULES SALISBURY, CHRISTIAN MAYRINA, ALEXIS LAHAIE AND MIKHAIL MEHARI SIT DOWN FOR LUNCH WITH WILDFLOWERS CHILDCARE CENTRE WORKER JESSICA JACKSON. THE DAYCARE’S BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM HAS SEEN A SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT, ACCORDING TO PARENTS AND STAFF. // FERN YIP

program is only a few months into operation, but the transition from homemade food to centresupplied meals has been smooth, according to director of the centre, Lisa Daniel. Parents have told her not only have they been

“I walk into the room and get all the love in the world.” pleased with the nutritious meals, but that the program has been a big time-saver. “That means more time with the kids,” Daniel said. Today’s lunch is sure to be a crowd-pleaser: pizza, with

strategically-hidden zucchini and red peppers. There’s also a side salad with boiled eggs; most of the children seem to be eagerly munching away. On other days, MacDowell might whip up tofu breakfast scrambles with fruit, or tuna cakes with green beans. Impressively, there are very little repeat meals for the 63 children enrolled. MacDowell herself has been pleasantly surprised by the meal program’s reception. “At first some thought ‘the kids aren’t going to eat this,’” she said. “But the kids are taking a liking to the food. What was once icky is now yummy.” That the children have been swayed by chef Glenda is verified

when they all shout cheerfully as she arrives with their meals. Taste and time aside, the program’s main thrust has been to level the playing field when it comes to supporting healthy learning and development for the children. Jessica Jackson, a childcare worker, has seen first hand a huge difference in the children’s behaviour. The low-sugar menu means that kids are not prone to sugar highs and crashes; balanced nutrition helps sustain them throughout the day. That means they are better able to regulate their emotions. That’s a recipe for success everyone can get behind. fern yip // info@thejasperlocal.com

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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FEATURE // STORY BY BOB COVEY

SOM LIKE HO

WEDDING BE EVACUATION AN AUSP COMBIN

On May 23, a 575 hectare forest fire just outside of Mount Robson Provincial Park, B.C., threatened facilities, homes and infrastructure. Meanwhile, my fiancé Nicole and I were in mad-planning mode for our impending wedding, due to take place four days later, almost exactly where the fire was burning. A raging inferno less than two kilometres from the spot where we were supposed to conduct our wedding vows in front of 150 people, some of whom were travelling from as far away as New Brunswick? What could go wrong?

thoughts formed in my mind. The first was: Will the rain in the forecast slow the flames enough to spare Mount Robson Shadows, our friends’ homes in the Robson Valley and our wedding plans? And two: if we can’t have the wedding, how much money are we likely to save?

Since the second question was moot until I knew the answer to the first, I reached out to my friend and the host for our big day, Terry Cinnamon. Cinnamon, who helps run his parents’ business at Mount Robson Shadows Campground and “F Lodge, is no stranger to being at the mercy of Mother Nature. In no the winter he operates Cariboo nea Cat Skiing and knows that an snowfall can be a fickle friend. River rafting, his other trade, is also weather dependent (although much less so), as are tourists’ general impressions of the place he calls home. Be it rain, snow, smoke or mosquitos, Cinnamon is used to putting a positive spin on the elements. For that reason, it was with measured relief that I responded to his optimistic message regarding the wedding while 100-foot flames licked at his property’s doorstep. “It’s pretty crazy…but we’ll be all good for the big wedding,” he said, adding some thumbs-up emojis to help put me further at ease.

// BECKY STOESSER

“Forest fire happening right now in Mount Robson, located near Rearguard Falls. I am safe and so is my house…for now.” That stressful Facebook post was made by Chef David Grant of Valemount’s Funky Goat Eatery and Food Truck. Grant, also known as Cowboy Dave, made the post at 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23 and as I read the post, two

That was at 8:36 p.m. on Tuesday night, and while a big rainstorm was heading east towards the fire, officials weren’t out of the woods yet. In fact, they could hardly get into the woods; due to the difficult, mountainous terrain, air tankers were unable to action the fire safely. The fire started when a tree fell on a power line. It then spread quickly under aggressive

ME E IT OT

ELLS AND N ALERTS, PICIOUS NATION

// BC FIRE SERVICE

winds. As a result, electricity in the area was knocked out. Cowboy Dave, who had thousands of dollars worth of food stock at his home, elected to defy the province’s evacuation order and instead make sure his generators kept his food cold. A portion of

rescinded and residents of Howard Road, including Cowboy Dave’s family, got back to their normal lives. On May 27, with helicopters flying overhead, chainsaws buzzing from the forest and many of our friends and family watching

// ASHLEY KENNEDY

Forest fire happening right w in Mount Robson, located ar Rearguard Falls. I am safe nd so is my house…for now.” that food stock was for our wedding—I had arranged for Dave and his food truck to greet guests at Mount Robson Shadows on the night before the ceremony—and so while part of me wanted to urge him to think of his own safety, another part of me was grateful for his cowboy spirit. Speaking of heroes, more than 90 firefighters from the Prince George Region, as well as two helicopters, were involved in suppression activities. Choppers bucketed the fire from the air and ground crews created a guard on the west, east and south flanks. Thanks to those efforts, the fire didn’t grow larger that day, or for the remainder of the week, even though the daytime temperatures were back up to 25 degrees Celsius and there was talk of potential flareups. Evacuation orders were

// DAVE GRANT

// ASHLEY KENNEDY

on, Nicole and I joined in marital union. Mount Robson’s Emperor Face gleamed in the background and the odd puff of smoke punctuated the air. After the sun went down, before the northern lights came out in full effect, we could see orange hotspots glowing on the mountainside. The next day, with the fire’s official status as “being held,” Cowboy Dave felt it was time to post an all-clear. “We dodged a bullet,” he said via Facebook. Mrs. Nicole Covey could only be so lucky! bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local leisure //

Come on and take a group ride “You’ll have to get a mountain bike this summer.” This piece of advice— passed on to me from friends whose bikes were already paid off— flashed through my mind as I rode down Jasper’s Sawridge Switchbacks recently. The thought was competing with two other notions: the first was to keep pace with local mountain biker Steve Brake; the second was whether or not the two bears we had just encountered at the top of the slope were giving chase. Less than a minute earlier, a small black bear had shuffled down the trail ahead of us. Brake hissed and heehawed to encourage its amble and

RIDE GUIDES//PARTICIPANTS OF A RECENT SOURCE FOR SPORTS GROUP RIDE STOP TO TAKE IN THE VIEW OF THE ATHABASCA VALLEY.// BOB COVEY

it soon scurried away. Immediately following this encounter, however, another, somewhat more troubling vision greeted us: a grizzly stepped out of the bush, 100 meters behind us and 50 meters in front of the third member of our group! As the big bruin started walking in our direction, while some of the group retreated uphill, I began the swiftest descent of the Pyramid Bench I’ve ever been a part of.

Not that I’ve been a part of very many It’s the opportunity to share the trail with two-wheeled adventures. My mountain people of varying experience and skill biking career began approximately one that give Group Rides their relaxed and month ago and, even then, only as a sort inclusive feel. As local newlywed and of grudging acceptance of the inevitable. drop-in hockey aficionado, Bob Covey, “If you’re going to get the most out of put it: “Group Rides are the Jalopies of Jasper in the summer,” friends told me, Mountain Biking. The more beginners “you’ve got to have a bike.” that show up, the more fun it is.” I could accept that my familiarity of the This is especially true because so many local trail network would be greatly enexperienced riders are there to help hanced by being able to experience it via guide newbies like myself up the climbs, bicycle, but the bear factor had down the switchbacks and into the pubs. my hackles up. If local stories Yes, pubs. Several of the local Group are anything to go by, mountain biking seems “If you’re going to get the most like a great way to set up the out of Jasper in the summer, kind of surprise face-to-face with you’ve got to have a bike.” ursus arctos we’d all like to avoid. For much of the winter, I remained unconvinced Rides have designated post-ride meet-up about mountain biking. spots, some offering discounted food And yet, just a few weeks into and drinks. The rides I went on with what could properly be called Freewheel Cycle were sponsored by the spring in the Rockies, I stand Jasper Brewing Company and included before you a convert. The instru- a free pint at the brewpub for all parment of my conversion? The ticipants. Source for Sports’ Group Ride Group Ride. meets up for complimentary post-ride Organized Group Rides nachos at the D’ed Dog. Vicious Cycle developed in Jasper as staff caps their ride off with beverages and members in the community’s pizza on their deck. These meet-ups offer various bike shops assembled a great chance to chat with fellow mounto explore the local trail network tain bikers and mine them for useful tips. on weekday evenings. Local One of those tips is to holler a robust mountain bikers began meeting “heeyyyy-oh!” to let any bears in the area regularly to head out under the know you’re approaching (one should leadership of experienced riders try to yell, I’m told, with a friendly tone). with intricate knowledge of If, like me, the Church Climb leaves you Jasper’s incredible trail system. unable to muster anything more than a The original Group Ride was in whisper for a good 15-20 minutes, Group fact the popular Ladies Ride—an Rides are a great way to ensure you have activity formed to fill a bikesomeone to yell on your behalf. support gap left by participants’ So far, my friends’ advice to enhance my male friends and partners. In Jasper experience by getting a mountain recent years, both the genderbike is ringing true. However, I’d add specific and the co-ed versions one thing: If you really want to get the have become Jasper summer most out of Japer in the summer, go on a institutions. Group Ride. Today, Group Rides stay true Group rides happen several to both maxims: leaders share times a week and begin from trail expertise while aiming to different bike shops: support all levels of mountain Mondays: Jasper Source for biking. That kind of low-presSports Group Ride at 7pm. Meet sure guidance into the sport is outside the shop, 406 Patricia exactly what appealed to me Street. about Group Rides. Tuesdays: Freewheel Group Sure enough, the roughly 25 Ride at 7 p.m. Meet behind gloved-and-helmeted crankFreewheel Cycle, 606 Patricia ers I encountered behind the Street. bike shop before my first ride Thursdays: Freewheel Ladies split up into three units, each Ride at 7 p.m. Meet behind according to experience and/ Freewheel Cycle, 606 Patricia or ambition. Peddling along Street. with the “relaxed” group, I was happily surprised to find myself Saturday: Vicious Cycle Group Ride at 7 p.m. Meet outside the in the company of several very shop, 630 Connaught Drive. experienced riders who dispensed advice and encouragedoug oltholf // doug@thejasperlocal.com ment freely.

monday, may 15, 2017 // issue 97 // the jasper local// page B6

Local nutrition //

Your travelling plan to prevent constipation As a few of you may already know, I am gearing up for a trip to Belgium and France! I love to travel, but I absolutely hate struggling to keep my bowel habits regular while I am away from my typical routine.

STEP 5: Make your mornings count. Take some time to finish your cup of coffee, relax, and let it settle. Coffee can help promote bowel movements because it stimulates the muscles in the colon to move. Also, being active in the morning can get your bowels going and set you up for the rest of the day. Talk a walk to that coffee shop. Do a little yoga. Dance to your new favourite song.

The most common causes of constipation are a lack of fibre, fluids and movement…do these ring a bell? I don’t know about you, but my vacations typically include a jam-packed itinerary and non-stop socialization where fibre-rich foods and water often take the back seat.

STEP 6: Enjoy a cup of prune, pear, peach or cherry juice in the evening before bed. These fruits are all high in sorbitol, a sugar-alcohol that acts as a natural laxative. Enough said. STEP 7: Do not, I repeat, do not ignore the

So, after way too many uncomfortable and anxietyridden travel days, this girl finally bit the bullet and designed a 7-step travelling plan to prevent constipation:

urge to have a bowel movement no matter where you are. The museum tour can wait. And no coffeeshop line-up is too long.

FIBRE TOPPER // KIRSTEN OILUND, JASPER-NUTRITION.COM

BUT FIRST, A QUICK FYI: Fibre is the part of plant foods that your body cannot digest or absorb. There are two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble, that help to soften and bulk up your stool to keep things moving along.

STEP 1:

Before you leave on your next adventure, concoct a fun ‘fibre-topper’ to pack along in your purse or daypack and sprinkle on literally anything. A good ‘fibre-topper’ should include a mixture of nuts, seeds, and pulses – with or without flavour-boosters. The recipe for my favourite mixture is included at the end of this article. Try adding it to smoothies, mashed sweet potatoes, soups and stews, hot or cold cereals, salads, or to top a nut-buttered toast or sliced banana. Aim to eat 2-4 tbsp, daily.

power of trail mix - nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are all fibre-rich, and trail mix can last all week at the bottom of your suitcase.

STEP 3: Eat at least 3-4 times a day. Your bowels are more active after eating, so try to eat smaller more frequent meals instead of just the 2 large restaurant meals that are etched into your itinerary. STEP 4: Don’t forget to pair all this extra travel-fibre with enough fluid to help your bowels use it effectively. Aim for 2-3 L of fluid daily. A good habit to get into is to drink 2 cups (500ml) of water before each meal, and then bring a water bottle or tea thermos with you to sip from for the rest of the day.

FIBRE-TOPPER RECIPE: (MAKES 4 CUPS TOTAL) • canned lentils (398ml, drained) or pre-cooked lentils (1 cup) • coconut oil (1-2 tbsp.) • chia seeds (1/2 cup) • hemp seeds (3/4 cup) • slivered almonds (3/4 cup) • unsweetened coconut (3/4 cup) • wheat bran or buckwheat (1/2 cup) If using canned lentils, rinse and pat dry first, toss with coconut oil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread lentils in a single layer. Bake for 12 minutes at 400F. Stir, and bake for another 12-15 minutes, until crunchy. Let lentils fully cool. Add the last 5 components and mix together. Store in an airtight container, use 1 cup of the mixture per week of vacation.

STEP 2:

Include other fibre-rich foods at meals and snacks. Need some ideas? Have a piece of fruit with breakfast or for an afternoon snack. Make sure at least one of your daily meals is loaded with veggies (no skimping – make if half your plate!). Try choosing a vegetarian protein at meals like beans, lentils or chickpeas (instead of meat, which has no fibre). Opt for the whole grain option when you can. And, finally, do not overlook the

Service Directory

Kirsten Oilund is a registered dietitian and the owner of Jasper Nutrition Counselling. She is an avid runner, boot-camper and adventurer. She has been known to plan an elaborate campfire spread. Email her at kirsten@jasper-nutrition.com