WINTER 2023/24
ON TOP OF HIS GAME
The career and curios of Jeff Patterson, legendary East Kootenay snowboard chronicler and Hollywood high-flyer.
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contents
Herd You Called
The Wycliffe elk herd, photographed by Mike McPhee on a classic East Kootenay February afternoon. Elk in the region are struggling as of late. Writer Dave Quinn reports in his story ‘Shot to the Heart’ that "poaching has always been a shady underbelly for wildlife managers in the Kootenays, but something seems to be shifting, and the shadow is darkening.”
On the Cover
Kimberley photographer/ cinematographer Jeff Patterson, profiled in this issue’s tale “Beyond and Above”, captured this late-day shot of rider Wollie Nyvelt at Baldface Lodge. Patterson is considered a pioneer in snowboarding media, park development, and collecting.
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14 MEDIA
21 MUSIC
Keating’s call to action, a holeiness of donuts, Koocanusa burning.
Kimberley’s Alberbash are all a-tangle in twigs and tunes.
15 CELEBRITY
23 HERITAGE
40
Kootenay tech legend Brian Fry is wired for speed — and the bright side of our cyber future.
Cranbrook’s World War II icon Jean Suey Zee, aged 99.
HOMEMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
17 BUSINESS
One hundred and thirteen days at the hill.
For Creston whiskey lovers, this joint is a go-go.
19 CONSERVATION Poaching, fencing, and highways are killing record numbers of East Kootenay elk.
25 ADVENTURE
27 PAST BLAST Horse loggers and their hauls of fame.
29 YOU FUNNY Trouble in the henhouse.
THE SAGE AND THE MACHINES
Meet some of the smooth operators who meld high-powered horsepower with our quest for the perfect wintertime glide, slide, and ride.
Go Cranberley picks a dandy dozen locally made, performed, or sold right-round-the-corner gifts for somebody special’s stocking.
42 A HIGH RIDER FOR THE HORNADAY
An Elk Valley cowboy, an American conservation pioneer, and the ties that bind.
50 BEYOND AND ABOVE
After 30 years travelling the globe, East Kootenay kid Jeff Patterson returns home as one of the snowboard world’s pioneer chroniclers and collectors. Today, with a new career flying high for Hollywood, the family man shares images and insights from his transworld transformation.
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 9
Meet Our ~
Crazy Bizy
CONTRIBUTORS
10
A rookie member of Canada’s National Alpine Ski Team during the reign of the legendary Crazy Canucks, Kootenay business builder Brian Fry was recently honoured for his accomplishments in BC’s tech sector. On page 15, he talks shop, speed, and success.
STEVEN THRENDYLE
JANNEKE GUENTHER
ERIN KNUTSON
Steven’s first trip to the East Kootenay was to learn how to telemark ski with Ptarmigan Tours. He’s the former editor of Coast: The Outdoor Recreation Magazine, and has twice won the Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism. Steve’s work has appeared in Dwell, Explore, Ski Canada, the Globe & Mail, and more. Here, he profiles the snowboarding media icon Jeff Patterson on page 52. Steve lives in North Vancouver.
Janneke is the art director and brand strategist at Tamarack Media. She lent her skills to some of this issue’s features, including our first-ever holiday gift guide (page 40) and a great tale on the groomers who maintain the region’s downhill, Nordic, and fat tire trails — The Sage and the Machines (page 32). Janneke is often playing outside, either sailing, paddling, skiing, or walking her dog. And sometimes almost all the above on the same day.
Erin studied Communications at the University of Calgary and Journalism at SAIT and now reports and edits for publications across BC. She’s the Executive Director at the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History and co-authored the book Forgotten Cranbrook. On page 23 of this issue, Erin introduces the only Chinese-Canadian woman in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. Erin loves the mountains, her cat Cherry, and living in the Kootenays.
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darren@kootenaymedia.ca jesse@kootenaymedia.ca Reproduction, in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved on entire contents. GO Cranberley Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes and is not responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors. GO Cranberley Magazine is published four times per year and is printed in Canada.
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A collective soul — Top: New East Kootenay resident Ramona Wildeman, illustration by Lou Dahl. Bottom: Author Keith Powell
MEDIA
Keating raises Treaty alarm, Powell’s four-fer, caller cluck-i-fication For East Kootenay residents, it’s an alarming tale of high stakes and low water. For East Kootenay residents, it’s an alarming tale of high stakes and low water. According to former CBC Radio Kootenay reporter Bob Keating, “there’s nothing more important going on in the Kootenays” than the high stakes renegotiations of the Columbia Basin Treaty. In October, Keating stepped out of retirement from the public broadcaster with a 30-minute documentary called A River Shared, which aired on the CBC’s national program, Storylines. The documentary, which quickly prompted a nationwide follow-up from The Canadian Press, updated listeners on the colossal resource-sharing agreement Canada inked with the United States in 1964. Although BC provided its list of wants a decade ago, talks are finally slated to conclude in September of 2024 with a new treaty binding both nations for the predicted dry years to come. “It’s a treaty like no other in the world,” said Keating when asked why he brought the negotiations to the CBC’s attention. “It’s about our water, so it’s a big deal. The Americans have great sway over it. They literally tell us ‘release this much water, at this time.’”
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Levels in two Kootenay water bodies impacted by dams built as part of the treaty — Lake Koocanusa and the West Kootenay’s Arrow Lakes — have endured unusually low levels this past year, while Washington State’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake has been far closer to normal depth. The Treaty arrangement is complicated, but crucial to the Basin’s economy. In 2022, BC earned roughly $420 million from Canada’s share of power generated by US dams along the Columbia. Created in 1995 with the help of East Kootenay power brokers Sophie Pierre and former chair Garry Merkel, the Columbia Basin Trust manages a share of the Treaty’s revenues. In 2022/23, the CBT distributed $82 million to 2,700 projects including new business and commercial loans, connectivity, housing, and environmental projects. Comparing the Columbia’s potential future to that of the dammed and diverted Colorado River — which now runs dry a few miles shy of the Gulf of California — Keating says BC’s water “is not inexhaustible.” “It’s hard to get your head around,” says Keating of the Treaty’s myriad details, “but I don’t think
we’re engaged enough.” The fourth time’s a charm for new East Kootenay resident and first-time author Ramona Wildeman and her artist cohort Lou Dahl. An award finalist three times for her illustrated kids’ title “Siege of Herons — Collective Nouns Alphabetically” (March 2022), the former Lower Mainlander won top-prize praise from the US-based Best Book Awards in the Children’s Picture Book category. The book is just what it sounds like — groupings of critters and such, and the names of their gaggles, herds, murders, or…whatever. “There’re a few new phrases like ‘a holeiness of donuts’, which everyone seems to love, or others like ‘an exaltation of larks’, which is from the 15th century,” says Wildeman. A chronicle of the Kootenay River’s damming marks a 2023 three-peat for Cranbrook writer, publisher, and historian Keith Powell. And almost a four-fer. In late 2022, Powell released Forgotten Cranbrook, along with the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History’s Derryll White and Erin Knutson, the latter a regular contributor to Go Cranberley. The
book is a 120-page photo chronicle with images from the 1880s to the 1960s. The prolific Powell has also taken the wraps off a historical novel exploring the impact of the Libby Dam — built in 1975 — which created Koocanusa Lake. The novel, Koocanusa Burning, delves into the impacts the dam had on the day-to-day lives of farmers, ranchers, bureaucrats, and society in general. Add to that tome, Powell’s third title for the year, Abandoned Kootenays, another 120-page coffee table book featuring full-colour images of old barns, cars, phantom signs, and derelict buildings from throughout the region. Lastly, just in time for the holidays, watch for Forgotten Kimberley, which headed to press in late November and was also put together by Powell, Knutson, and White. Just a quick clarification (maybe a cluck-i-fication)
on a possible telephone scam. Following writer/photographer Mike McPhee’s local food stories in Go Cranberley’s fall issue (“Crops, Stock and Peril”), Fort Steele rancher Tyler McNaughton dropped us a heads up. Tyler, who owns Cutter Ranch with his wife Sacha, had received a call from a woman claiming to be offering a prize on behalf of the magazine. The call came from somewhere in Asia via a Connecticut phone number. “It was comical,” Tyler says. “There was a rooster crowing in the background.” While the labour market has indeed been tough, the magazine is doing pretty well these last few issues, and so far, hasn't had to hire any roosters. Nothing against you, roosters. Leave your resumes with the hens. They run the place. –Darren Davidson
CELEBRITY
Wired For Speed Former national team ski racer and Kootenay tech sector guru Brian Fry on the Crazy Canucks, broken dreams, Blade Runner’s bad mojo, and Bitcoin’s brilliant future — in little ol’ Canal Flats, and far, far beyond. When Brian Fry, at age 19, shattered his femur in a ski race in the ‘80s, the break was so bad he says, “they didn’t have the know-how to fix it properly.” A steel rod implanted in his leg bent under the stress the former Rossland racer put on it while training to return to a team that included some of the world’s now legendary downhillers. A dream he’d had since childhood ended. But Fry found solace and purpose in his deep dive into the early days of digital technology. In the late ‘90s, he helped start an internet service provider while some in the East Kootenay were still on rotary dial. In 2001, Fry and his partner founded a company called RackForce, aiming to build a 30,000-square foot high-tech data center in the Okanagan. In 2015, RackForce — by then Canada’s largest cloud provider — sold for $33 million. Today, Fry and the team at Iris Energy have built a multi-hundred million dollar business mining Bitcoin, the world’s most well-known cryptocurrency. Publicly traded on the NASDAQ, Iris operates out of four centres in BC and Texas, including one in Canal Flats. Bitcoin mining is the process that gets the currency into monetary circulation. Groups of Bitcoin transactions form a block, then a chain. ‘Mining’ is the process of adding a block to the chain. And the rest, as
some say, isn’t history. Fry says it’s the future. Let’s wind the clock way back. In the ‘80s, you went from the Red Mountain Racers to the Canadian National Team, the Crazy Canucks. You skied with Ken Read, Steve Podborski — They were my heroes. (Laughing) Read had been at the top of the world, and Podborski had won the Downhill World Cup. Like being on a hockey team with Lemieux and Gretzky. You were treated like a superstar even just by being on the team. In Europe, racing was like hockey in Canada — all these kids would want your autograph. And I hadn’t even done anything spectacular. The Crazy Canucks were a globally famous team because they were racers who had the guts to push beyond what was reasonable to either win or crash very badly. Your racing career ended with a severely broken leg. How did that impact who you became? When my ski career ended, I was pretty lost. Fortunately I’d met my girlfriend, who’s now my wife, and she was my bedrock. The racing career taught me dedication, discipline, and all the skills I needed. Jumping forward a decade: in the late ‘90s, you co-founded a Kootenay
internet service company before many people understood the internet. Getting into the internet business was a chance to learn like crazy. I do consider myself somewhat visionary (laughs), but I’m a visionary based on a lot of data. We were seeing an opportunity for network effect on a scale we’d never seen before. Web hosting, searching data, hosting applications, storage in the cloud and all these things, the possibilities really showed how big an opportunity the internet was going to be. And that led me into building RackForce. Here we are 25 years later. In October, US President Biden issued an order aiming to safeguard us from artificial intelligence, ensuring bad actors don’t use AI for evil ends. The AI sector is currently worth a half-trillion dollars; huge companies like Google and Amazon are competing to lead the field. Is the government going to be able to reign in AI any more than it could the internet? (Hesitating) No. Relying on government to do this…they’re going to push the large tech players and a number of smaller players to think about how they can manage AI. I believe AI is going to be controlled by its ability to pay for the data it needs to do what it has to do. In other words, imagine if the people
who put out spam had to pay a portion of a penny for every bit of spam — They wouldn’t send out spam. So AI won’t do anything that wastes money, only makes it. Right. Based on a lot of what I’m reading, we’re going to put a price on data. But there’s a lot to figure out here. What about AI’s energy demands? Terry Etam, author of The End of Fossil Fuel Insanity, said this: “Machine learning (AI) is on track to consume all the world’s energy being supplied…a model that is costly and unsustainable. Major tech companies are expected to invest $1 trillion over the next five years, mostly to data centres.” I don’t think he’s got his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in energy and how you properly fund the build out of big power grids and micro-grids. For example, in Texas they have their own grid and their
own pricing. There are now an enormous number of bitcoin miners plugged into that grid with load balancing arrangements where they take all the available power — mostly from renewables — until the people of Texas need more of it. Say, during a heat wave. There’s a symbiotic ability for bitcoin miners to drop their energy load, hundreds of megawatts in about 10 seconds, and put it back on the grid. It enhances revenues and makes the grid very capable. It’s super exciting. And you believe AI can be powered the same way — You don’t have to run it all the time. (AI) will only do its job when the energy is available. It’s mind-blowing how powerful this is. And I really wish British Columbia — BC Hydro, Fortis, and our politicians — would understand this. It’s the biggest single innovation catalyst. Societies continued on page 16
Fry recovers from what would be a career-ending leg fracture.
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 15
CELEBRITY
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS SOMEONE WHO’S SELFMADE. YOU’RE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, YOUR PARTNERS, AND YOUR EDUCATION. that have their energy resources figured out are by far the most successful. You’re a big fan of Bitcoin, but not crypto. [Bitcoin] is going to have a big impact on all of this. They’re very different. Bitcoin is a technological revolution that’s going to play a big role behind the scenes in so many ways we do things on the internet. This technology is integral to our future…I see us moving towards a bitcoin standard. I really believe bitcoin fixes everything it touches. People can innovate on their own outside of bureaucracy. You have some ideas on how technology could move our mountain towns into new futures, particularly those with industrial pasts. What are some of them? If you’ve got an industrial past, often you have big power infrastructure in place. You want to capitalize on that. You don’t want it to sit idle. So, bitcoin mining is low hanging fruit at the moment. Put it in your town. Move towards AI and other workloads. It’s an incredible opportunity. And another opportunity is that if you've got a reasonable fibre supply — not raw logs. I’m talking about cleaning up forests, thinning them, managing them — you can now put that into what we’re doing [in Canal Flats] with what we call bionodes. They produce huge amounts of power and sequester carbon and produce biochar, which goes back into the land and helps things grow faster.
What’s the elevator pitch for what Iris Energy is doing in Canal Flats and elsewhere? It’s a very big player in the world of public bitcoin mining, the fifth or even the fourth biggest right now. If you want exposure to what’s going to happen in the bitcoin world, artificial intelligence, grid management, you want to be invested in a company like Iris. It’s all about green renewables. And it’s way under-valued right now. What’s the key to building a successful company, of any sort or size? Align your vision with demand. Your biggest success in tech is to aim to do things for humanity. The Elon Musk mantra. He inspires me to think the same way. And, of course, having brilliant partners around you. There’s no such thing as someone who’s self-made. You’re standing on the shoulders of giants, your partners, and your education. Blade Runner, The Matrix, or Orwell’s 1984. What movie or book will the future be most like? My vision of the future is so much more optimistic than those movies. What words — a line of poetry, a motto, a slogan — inspire you? I don’t know who wrote this…”There is no problem so great that it can withstand the onslaught of sustained thought.” It’s so true. If you zero in and hyper-focus on a problem, while you’re awake or asleep, it eventually falls. You’ll solve it. –Darren Davidson
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BUSINESS
For whiskey lovers, it’s a go-go
Resting Sourface. Raised Eyebrow. Cheeky Grin. A cosy cocktail haunt adds even more flavour to Creston’s changing face.
For Cori Karountzos, opening Frisky Whisky Cocktails and Kitchen was about more than serving stylish drinks and delicious tapas. It was an artistic expression based on her love of artisanal cocktails. “I’m not a huge drinker, but I love the taste and layers. It’s an art for me,” she says. Her creativity extends to naming her drinks — the list includes the Khacki Whacky, Resting Sourface, Raised Eyebrow, and Cheeky Grin — to creating a luxurious atmosphere in her new establishment. The plush velvet, moody lighting, black walls, and sparkling gold decor emulate a speakeasy of the 1920s, bringing a hint of that era’s glamour to Creston. “They drank great drinks and ate great food,” Karountzos says. “Even during Prohibition, they still managed to nail it. They had
so much fun dancing on the tables — literally.” For Karountzos, the fun nearly stopped before it started. With a stocked bar and a full staff ready to go, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly sidelined plans for a grand opening on April 8, 2020. The word “pivot” has become cliché, but it accurately describes what Karountzos needed to do to keep her dream alive. Instead of a grand opening, she launched take-home cocktail kits, including recipes, garnishes, and a full bottle of gin, bourbon, or champagne. To this day, the kits remain popular, especially at Christmas. “They're also a good summer thing because people take them to the lake,” she explains. Karountzos moved from Victoria to Creston in 2006 and ran Jimmy’s Pub and Grill with her now ex-husband. After nearly 30 years
in the hospitality industry, she wanted to create something unique. “What I wanted at the very beginning was a hole in the wall; an inner location where people would ask, ‘What? There’s a business there?’” She found the perfect blank slate: a narrow space with concrete walls and floors that was used for storage between two other stores. Martini glassshaped pillars inspired the design and months of renovations later — including seemingly endless days of drilling through the ceiling for the kitchen exhaust fans — Frisky Whisky finally opened its doors on July 2, 2020. That opening brought Karountzos to her next pivot. Unable to seat customers indoors, the Town of Creston allowed her to serve guests on a makeshift patio in the park next to the
restaurant. That location wasn’t suitable for evening dining, so she opened for lunch service. And with no lounge-style atmosphere, the original plan to serve small tapas-style plates evolved and was replaced with hearty options, including steak, burgers, and vegetarian dishes. “I designed the kitchen for tapas and appies,” says Karountzos. “The next thing I know, I have a full menu.” She has hosted live music every weekend from the start and a year later, opened an event room that is accessed from the lounge through a “secret” bookcase entrance — just in time for dancing and mingling to be temporarily restricted. Luckily, the community offered strong support for the hip new lounge, which recently launched its fourth cocktail menu containing about 80 items. The popularity is an affirmation of
Pour pro — Cori Karountzos, behind the bar at Frisky Whisky Cocktails and Kitchen.
I FEEL THAT CRESTON IS JUST ON THE CUSP OF GETTING A LITTLE TRENDIER — IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO STAY. Karountzos’ vision, which fits in well with other chic downtown boutiques and shops. “I feel that Creston is just on the cusp of getting a little trendier,” she says. “It’s a place where people actually want to stay.” –Brian Lawrence
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 17
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CONSER VATION
Shots To The Heart
Poaching, fencing, and highways are killing record numbers of East Kootenay elk.
“I have my hands totally full dealing with 24 illegal elk kills in the first 20 days of elk season,” explains Cranbrook Conservation Officer Reiker Krenz from his truck phone. September is so busy for Reiker and his team that there is little time for office niceties. “Four in the past 24 hours alone.” Poaching has always been a shady underbelly for wildlife managers in the Kootenays, but something seems to be shifting and the shadow is darkening. From an already dismal average of 15-18 illegally killed elk annually, autumn of 2021 saw 52 illegally killed bull elk, and 42 in 2022. As of writing, things are on a disastrous pace to surpass those numbers for the 2023 season. As they say, it’s gettin’ outta hand.
one side and five points on the other, but a five-by-five is not legal to shoot. This seems straightforward, and really, it ought to be. Count to six before you shoot. But some hunters have the false assumption that if an antler is large, it has six points (even though large five points are not uncommon), or that a certain shape of the antler top indicates six points. These hunters operate under a ‘shoot first, count second’ principle. When they walk up to their kill, they are often surprised to find they have made an illegal kill. It’s worth noting that BC is one of the only jurisdictions where any resident hunter can hunt bull elk with a rifle during the rut, a time when the elk are easy to find and easy
impressive trophy. Hunters also speak of un-enjoyable hunting experiences as they jostle for camping spots and a first chance on fewer bulls with what feels like every other hunter from the rest of the province. Fifty poached younger bulls means 50 fewer legal, mature bulls next year. Some poachers presumably bet on the very low likelihood of being caught. If they make an illegal kill, they just quietly smuggle the meat out of the bush without cutting their tag and then continue hunting for another legal elk. Only about half of illegal kills are “self-reported.” Hunting regulations are designed to protect a shared resource, and ensure that meat is not wasted and harvest numbers are
AUTUMN OF 2021 SAW 52 ILLEGALLY KILLED BULL ELK, AND 42 IN 2022. AS OF WRITING, THINGS ARE ON A DISASTROUS PACE TO SURPASS THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE 2023 SEASON. In order to legally kill a bull — a male elk — with a rifle, it needs to be a mature animal that has at least six points on one antler. This regulation is intended to limit the number of animals harvested, as well as ensure that male elk live long enough to pass on their genes so that the herd stays genetically robust. A legal bull can be a six-byfive, meaning six points on
to fool into stepping into the open with cow calls or challenge bugles. Most other jurisdictions provide this opportunity on a lottery or limited entry system, or they hold off on the elk open season until after the rut. It’s not a surprise that local hunters are often challenged to find large bulls with so many young six points being shot early on and missing the chance to grow into an
not exceeded. Regulations clearly state that hunters must immediately report any mistaken kill. Poaching fines can be severe, depending on circumstances, and can include confiscation of hunting gear, large fines, and a multi-year loss of hunting privileges. All of these rules and consequences are designed to help protect the wildlife we all share, and that most of
The loss of reproductive females like this roadkill cow elk on Highway 3 near Moyie is a major threat to overall wildlife population stability, but unlike poaching, roadkill numbers are relatively easy to estimate from Ministry of Transportation and ICBC claim data. Photo: Dave Quinn
us respect and care about. This is one of the reasons Krenz joined the CO service in 2019. “I always had a service mentality and wanted to serve my country or community in some way, either in the military or law enforcement. I also have a passion for fish and wildlife and figured the best way to marry the two was to become a game warden.” The career is not without its hardships, though. “The worst part of the CO job is seeing the abuse that our wildlife has to deal with,” Krenz says. “Whether that’s being injured or killed in vehicle collisions, poached, or shot and left, that stuff is super hard on me as I do really care about wildlife. On the other hand, the best part is being able to hold those people who are wildlife abusers accountable.” Krenz states that there is no common trend for an offender in terms of who illegally kills. It’s a mix of locals, non-locals, new hunters, and even hunters who
have been at it for 50 years. Given the geographical scope of their beats, COs really rely on the public information shared through the RAPP line (Report all Poachers and Polluters) to hold offenders accountable. “Take photos, write down specifics, and if you see something suspicious, don’t confiscate anything, and do not approach or confront the individuals. Just be a good witness: gather information and share it. The most important thing is to get a license plate and call RAPP as soon as possible. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will follow up.” What Krenz really wants to see is a reduction in these issues. “Ensure you take the time to make sure your animal is legal for harvest. If you have to let it walk, let it walk. Once you pull a trigger, you can't undo that.” The challenge in these times of ‘death by 1000 cuts’ is that our wildlife is facing more challenges from
continued on page 20
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 19
CONSER VATION
East Kootenay Conservation Officer Reiker Krenz and Major, the German Shepherd Photo: Jenny Bateman
more directions than ever before. Highway mortality is arguably the highest source of documented mortality, a growing challenge with increasing traffic volumes. ICBC claims and Ministry of Transportation statistics help document the number of large animals killed on our highways, and those numbers are staggering. An estimated 1600 large animal carcasses (bears, elk, deer, and moose) are removed by highways’ contractors annually. And some estimates claim that for every animal that dies on the highway, three more stagger off into the bush before expiring. Prevention measures are increasingly important, and they include fencing, underand over-passes, and driver alert systems, like those in place on Highway 3 near Elko and on Highway 93/95 near Radium, that flash lights to let drivers know when animals are near the road. All undocumented wildlife mortalities are not quantified or measured and wildlife managers are forced to guess what their impact might be. These mortalities include kills by carnivores, harvest by unlicensed First Nations hunters under traditional harvest rights, habitat loss, direct fence entrapment
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leading to death, cow/calf or doe/fawn fence separation mortalities, and rail fatalities. Additionally, poorly-built barbed wire fences kill an estimated one animal per kilometer in some jurisdictions, but there is no record of these mortalities in the Kootenays. It’s worth noting that ungulate kills by carnivores are not viewed as ‘losses’ by many conservation managers, as they are a part of the natural system. However, some hunters feel otherwise. Legal harvest by licensed hunters is generally well-documented and not viewed as a major source of wildlife mortality. However, unreported, unmeasurable poaching may well be starting to have a significant impact. Conservation Officers and wildlife managers urge all backcountry users to pay attention for it. Document and report suspicious activity, record license plates, and don’t be afraid to call in behaviours that impact the wildlife we all share and enjoy in our own different ways. RAPP: 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on a cell. –Dave Quinn
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MUSIC
Alder In The Family — Real jobs. And real musicians. From left, Alberbash is: Kurtis Myers (RCR Kimberley. Simply Kimberley. Bass. Vocals), Rich Krewenchuk (Musician. Photographer. Drums. Vocals), Heather Gemmell (Arborist. Lap Steel Guitar. Blues Harp. Vocals), Ryan Peterson (Environmental Scientist. Five-String Banjo. Vocals), Brian Morris, aka Sir-D (Water Technician. Electrician. Lead Guitar. Vocals).
Tangles. Twigs. Tunes. From Thanksgiven’r to Powder Poaching, East Kootenay act Alderbash riff it up. Somewhere, in a crowded attic above a wood-heated garage bordering a river in the Purcells, Kimberley’s Alderbash meet for their Thursday night jam. “We’re a little out of shape,” band lead Brian Morris says after a month of post-summer hiatus, “but nothing a few beers won’t help.” Clad in trucker caps and cowboy hats, leather vests, and plaid shirts, this ensemble of seasoned musicians crank out their signature Kootenay honky-tonk rock ‘n’ roll, inspired by artists like Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Marshall Tucker, and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. They’re as comfortable crooning ‘40s country as they are playing spontaneous audience requests like Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas” and Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades.” Their music is an eclectic cluster of
roadhouse country, ‘80s rock, metal, rap, and alternative bluegrass. But, regardless of what Alderbash is pumping out, it’s obvious what resonates most: they want you to have as much fun as they’re having. This is a group of friends making music and doing what they love. “It’s a way of life,” Morris says. “You know, there’s always somethin’ getting in the way, where ya just gotta lift your tips and thrash your way out.” Morris is the band’s poet, alternating between the thin line of literal and symbolic: “The band name has pretty much explained the last five years, cause there’s often been some sort of tangle up, like when ya hook a ski and you gotta power through it ‘cause it’s the only way down. You know what I mean?” The band formed in
2017 after previous incarnations — like Rich Krewenchuk and Morris’ 1998 band, Union, and the Alderbash precursor, Hot Muck — and to this day, they just love hanging out together. “It’s like Therapy Thursday,” band member Heather Gemmell says. They rip through town on Friday night e-bike rides and have regular potluck campouts like Thanksgiven’r. On the ski hill’s closing days, their crew has scavenger hunts, sunpit jam tours, and awards trophies for the Top Gun Powder Poacher, Sunpit Boss, and the Flapper Award, the trophy that, Morris says, “goes to the skier who messaged the most boastful chatter following a run, like gliding over frosted crème brûlée.” The band has played a variety of East Kootenay gigs, from drunken, crowd-surfing, late-night Julyfest stompers to twanging under tarps and stars up Kenmore Creek for a friend’s 60th birthday party. “This summer, after a windstorm cancelled
our slot at Flats Fest and wildfires sent Heather home from the Roots and Blues festival,” Ryan Peterson says, “we met up and played on a campground deck instead. We got paid in Budweisers and T-shirts, but forgot to get the shirts.” Tonight, the band’s scraping rust off their catalogue of 100+ songs. They’ve got a few upcoming gigs, like the fundraiser for the Kimberley volunteer ski patrol at the Elks Hall. When Morris ponders
the band’s future — which includes recording an album of longstanding original tunes — he’s optimistic but, as always, recognizes nothing worthwhile comes easy, and leans into metaphor. “We gotta go as far as we can go,” he says, squinting, in his baritone voice. “The alders can get pretty thick. We just gotta keep bashing our way ‘till we hit the glorious powder run.” –Jeff Pew
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S H O P, E AT A N D STAY LO CAL
This Holiday Season
Geeing yy thhe
hhe
K IMBER LEYCHAMB E R.CO M
Lest we forget her — Lee, in 1924. Chinese immigrants and their descendants could not obtain full Canadian citizenship until 1947.
HERITAGE
A Woman And A War Cranbrook’s Jean Suey Zee, age 99, was a standout amongst Royal Canadian Air Force members, and a daughter of the city’s Chinese-Canadian community. The path to women becoming modern-day combat pilots has a long and storied history — and a chapter of it began when Jean Suey Zee Lee was born in Cranbrook on July 26, 1924. Lee, who turns 100 years old in 2024, enlisted in the Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1942, becoming the first and only Chinese-Canadian woman to ever do so.
Jean's grandfather, John Lee, immigrated to Canada from China in the early 1900s, making the Lee family pioneers of the East Kootenay at the advent of the century. John Lee became a respected community member and a prominent figure in the local business community with the opening of his general store in Cranbrook. According to files from the Cranbrook History Centre (CHC), he was succeeded
in the realms of wealth, real estate, and business. Lee Chow Man passed away at age 49 and left a generation of notable individuals behind. He and his wife had nine children — three girls and six boys — and Jean Lee was among them. Jean Lee was an ambitious young woman who, at the age of 18, became one of over 17,000 non-combatant female officers in the RCAF. This was the first branch of the Canadian Armed Forces
LEE WAS AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG WOMAN WHO, AT THE AGE OF 18, BECAME ONE OF OVER 17,000 NON-COMBATANT FEMALE OFFICERS IN THE RCAF. “The military service of Chinese-Canadians like Jean Suey Zee Lee played an essential role in our nation's history,” says Daniel Le Bouthillier, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs, National Defence, Government of Canada.
by his son, Look Lee, when John passed away on May 2, 1925 at the age of 58. Look Lee was also known as Lee Chow Man. Having inherited his father’s work ethic and distinguished reputation, he worked hard to continue the family legacy
to invite women to serve. As the women's war movement sparked fires of inspiration on the homefront while a desire to see a gender-inclusive military grew, a cross-country media campaign to recruit women into the RCAF ensued. It
was complete with propagandistic images and slogans, and it was successful. These recruits were known as WDs (Women’s Division) and they played an essential role during the Second World War. The women primarily undertook operation support and clerical duties while their male counterparts participated in air combat. We Serve That Men May Fly was the motto of the RCAF's Women's Division. According to Jim Cameron's article Jean Lee of the RCAF, published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman on November 7, 2014, Jean enlisted after visiting a Mobile Recruiting Unit in Cranbrook. "She did basic training in Toronto and served until the war's end, mainly at the Eastern Air Command RCAF depot in Rockcliffe, Ontario,” wrote Cameron. “Along the way, she was invited to meet Canadian
Prime Minister Mackenzie King in 1943, and in June of the same year, was posted as a member of the honour guard of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (wife of Chinese President Chiang Kai-Shek) in Ottawa.” Jean served from 1942 to 1946 when the branch disbanded following the end of the war in 1945. It’s worth noting that Chinese immigrants and their descendants could not obtain full Canadian citizenship until 1947. Jean Lee was one of the first of her ethnicity to receive full citizenship after Canada signed the United Nations Charter of Human Rights. Jean’s brother, Wilson Lee, also served as a pilot officer in the RCAF during the war. Wilson fathered prominent politician Arthur John Lee, Jean's nephew, who became the first Chinese-Canadian to lead the Liberal Party. Arthur Lee represented Vancouver continued on page 24
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 23
HERITAGE
World War II propaganda aimed at recruiting women to the Allies’ effort. It wasn’t until 1988 that women could be pilot fighters.
East from 1974 to 1979 as the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament (MP) and then leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party from 1984 to 1987. According to CHC Board Member Sioux Browning, little is known of Jean following her departure from service, other than that she moved to the US and, as she nears 100 years old, currently lives in Washington, DC. "She has lived very much under the radar," Browning explains of the very private Lee. Browning is currently working on an exhibit with the CHC to feature prominent Cranbrook individuals. Jean has made the list, and the tribute is well-timed, as her hundredth birthday happens this July. People like Lee were instrumental in the evolution of women in the Canadian military who were not allowed into combat until much later. After the Women's Division of the RCAF 24
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disbanded in 1946, females were again invited to serve in 1951, but it wasn't until 1988 that women could act as fighter pilots. Over seven decades ago, the drive and determination of these young people in the WD, many of them just girls, influenced how history would eventually view and welcome women in combat. Many female fighter pilots are now active in the Canadian military, as well as globally. As for Jean, her bravery and patriotism paved the way for many women who came after her — the first of their kind — and who dreamt and continue to dream of taking to the skies. "Her work and many sacrifices helped make Canada a better place,” says Le Bouthillier. “We at DND/CAF are tremendously proud of her upcoming milestone and wish her the best.” –Erin Knutson
open Monday - Saturday 9am-4pm
Thanks, but I’ll pass — "I learned (the hard way) that two beers is okay, but three is almost certainly dangerous.”
ADVENTURE
Days and Consumed Go Cranberley's stalwart scribe and shredder reflects on his effort to beat his mom’s record of 113 ski days in a season. “Right on time!” I must have heard those three words nearly a hundred times last winter. It was tradition. Most mornings started the same way: groggy-eyed and sore, gliding lazily toward the North Star Quad chairlift, and hardly ever in a hurry to get up to the top. Partially because my body was often beaten and bruised and partially because rushing was never necessary. As most of us know, lift lines are usually nowhere to be found at Kimberley Alpine Resort. The lack of a line didn’t lead to a lack of company,
It didn’t matter whether my first run was at 10:42am or 3:23pm, Tom’s jab at my affinity for the snooze button was something I looked forward to. Interactions with people like Tom, and other friends that I’ve met at our ski hill, are the bread and butter of what made the 2022/2023 season so special for me. Roughly two weeks into the season, my good friend Lachlan McDonald, who is as Australian as his name suggests, realized neither one of us had missed a day. We laughed at the concept of skiing every day but beyond that, didn’t give the
The moniker ‘Coach’ comes from the fact that he is sickeningly skilled, always willing to impart some advice, and freakishly old (34). Despite his borderline decrepitness and his burdensome course load, Lachy rallied for a respectable sixty-nine days on his pass. He and I skied in nearly every type of weather you could imagine. I fondly remember the warmth of February, and going both skiing and fishing on the same day. I also recall, less fondly, the December day where the temperature was so cold that the only lift able to operate
I FONDLY REMEMBER THE WARMTH OF FEBRUARY, AND GOING BOTH SKIING AND FISHING ON THE SAME DAY ... though, thanks to the longtime liftie and certified good guy, Tom Scheurwater. Like clockwork, Tom would see me approach, look up at the large analog clock on top of the Polaris Building, point to his non-existent watch, and with the flash of a wry smile say, “Right on time!”
idea much initial thought. But what started as an innocent joke swiftly evolved into a bitter game of chicken. Lachy, who is warmly referred to as ‘Coach’ by our friend group, pushed me to 57 consecutive days before starting his electrical course at College of the Rockies.
safely was the T-bar — but we still skied more than ten laps on it. The return of Kimberley’s main chairlift, the North Star Quad, was something to be grateful for. However, we weren’t completely out of the woods. On one occasion — thanks to a malfunctioning
main chairlift and a lift line longer than those at Lake Louise — my partner Madeline and I found ourselves hiking toward the Tamarack chair on a thirty-centimeter Saturday morning. More than worth it, our effort was rewarded with first tracks and face shots. Another highlight was the time Lachy and I found ourselves listening to our own private Alderbash performance. Two band members loaded one chair behind us, instruments in tow, and played and sang the whole way up. It was also with Lachy, on Australia Day, that I first witnessed a grown man do a top-to-bottom lap without wearing either a top or a bottom. Lachy’s clothing that day was a form-fitting speedo, or as he refers to it, a ‘budgie smuggler.’ The spread eagles that I witnessed that afternoon are permanently burned into my retinas, likely never to be unseen again. But those images pale in comparison to the time we watched our friend Tudor Udroiu land on the edge of his already-ejected ski, lac-
erating his calf, severing his perineal nerve, and putting a dandy of a notch in the bone of his leg. (He’s okay now — shout-out to Ski Patrol!) Our friend Tudor wasn’t the only victim of tragedy this winter, however. I remember unloading from the main chair one sunny afternoon only to see a snowmobile billowing smoke twenty feet away. (What’s with everything on this ski hill being so flammable?… Too soon?) And that wasn’t even the most bizarre place I saw a fire. The fire that really shocked me was one I saw in the parking lot. Well, technically it was in the back of a Subaru Forester — and this one was there on purpose. A man named Dan frankensteined a woodfired stove into the back of his station wagon, chimney stack and all. Once Lachy began his semester at the college, I was already fifty-seven days into a perfect season — or, skiing every day the resort was open — and I had no intention of stopping. continued on page 26
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ADV ENTURE
STATS 114 Days skied 11 Double ejections 0 Backflips 4 Times in genuine pain 0 First chairs 8 Last chairs 12 Parking lot naps <100 T-bar laps 1 Hike to the backside 68 Orders of bagel skins Secret
Favourite Run
Twilight Second Favourite
It was also around then that I discovered if I skied every day, I could beat my mother's personal record of 113 days in one year, by one day. Game on, Heather. With Lachy deep in the books and my partner Madeline typically tied up doing something productive, I found myself riding the singles line more often than not during the latter half of the season. It’s something I learned to love because it forces you to talk to someone you might not have otherwise. The singles line gave me the pleasure of riding up with bums and business owners, geezers and groms. It was in doing so that I came to appreciate our mountain for what it really is: a place that anyone can enjoy. I learned our hill is exactly what you make it.
In the past, I’ve been prone to commenting on the lack of terrain or difficulty at Kimberley, but this past year I watched some kids do unfathomable things on the ski hill. It showed me that no matter how confident you are on your skis, this hill can challenge the best of them — so long as you have vision and creativity. And that’s not the only thing I learned over the course of 114 days. I learned (the hard way) that two beers is okay, but three is almost certainly dangerous. With that, I also learned that restraint is an asset and overconfidence is never your friend. I learned that Murray Edwards doesn’t rappel out of a helicopter and shake your hand when you complete a perfect season, and I learned never to trust John Wallace when he says he’ll throw
you a barbecue if you actually make it. (I hope you’re reading this, John.) I learned that even if you ski every single day, you still might not ski every single run — something Lachy, Madeline, and I plan on checking off the list this year. My most important lesson came long after the winter's snow turned to water and receded down the tributaries. The cold weather had passed, but the newly acquired pain in my knees did not. The click in my left shoulder and the pop in my right shoulder seem like they’re here to stay, and the stiffness in my lower back likes to constantly remind me of how much fun I had last season. This must be what it feels like to be Lachy. That ski season, more
than any before, taught me that your body doesn’t get any younger, and that it sure as heck gets older — especially when you deny it of the proper rest it requires. Skiing to the extent that I did taught me to listen to my body and take a day off once in a while. This year I might take some R&R away from Rosa, or maybe a vacation away from Vortex. I might even swap Stemwinder for some shuteye, or trade a day on Schoolhouse for a day in my actual house. One thing I know is that my eyes are fixated on the forecast ahead. I’m waiting in anticipation of precipitation, and even more so, waiting for the next time I get to hear the words, right on time! –Jesse Heinrichs
Celebrating 15 years of family-run business.
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160 Howard Street. Kimberley BC . 250 - 427 - 0502 . burritogrill. ca
Horses or oxen were widely used for logging through the early part of this century. The number of horses and mules in the US peaked in 1920 at about 26 million.
PAST BLAST
Hauls of Fame Back when it was all old growth and a new frontier. This idyllic postcard of a winter logging scene shows that snow roads were prevalent for transporting logs by teams of horses in the early 1900s in the Kootenays. Logging as a profession was a harsh and dangerous occupation. One pre-
dominantly undertaken in winter because of the ideal conditions for felling and moving trees with greater ease over snow. The lushness of the pine trees in the photo’s background reflects abundant resources, as do the teamsters hauling gener-
KIMBERLEY, BC 1142 304 Street 778.481.8084
ous loads of wood to the nearest mill in 1905. Manual labour was the method of the day, as man and steed worked together to make a living. Loggers burned through 7,000 calories a day, and according to Mark Kuhlberg's article "Lumberjacks,” mealtimes
were always a big event. This formidable way of harvesting and transporting wood required individuals with great skill, endurance, and strength until the 1920s when advancements in the industry eased some of the burdens for workers and animals alike.
FERNIE, BC
30 Shadow Road 250.423.9251
The arrival of the steam-powered donkey engine, which originated in the United States, assisted with the dragging and lifting of logs over rugged terrain. – Erin Knutson
jcpowersportsandmarine RideFernie
YOU FUNNY
Grin and Bear ‘Em Dump encounters, helpful poop, massacres in the chicken coop. They’re trouble for us, and we are for them. But Ursus arctos horribilis and its burly brethren aren’t so horrible after all. Growing up in Cranbrook, I bought into the rivalries between Kootenay towns. Haha, your town has only one streetlight. Haha, your town is full of hippies. I left the Kootenays right after high school and lived in a few different cities in Canada, as well as in other countries. In 2019, I found myself back in Cranbrook, somewhat unexpectedly. I got a job as a flag person and my work zone was the entire East Kootenay. This experience, coupled with my overseas travels, gave me a new perspective on the differences between the small Kootenay towns. There are none; we’re basically all the same! Different shades of the same mountain town. Walk into a coffee shop in any Kootenay mountain
school. I trained for this. Men have tried to impress me in the past with stories of their bear confrontations, but it doesn’t impress me. I’ve fought bears before. At the dump, over the good furniture. Well, okay, I should tell the truth. As a child, I actually did have an acute fear of bears. That moment at the provincial campground when the park ranger came by to let us know about an “active bear in the area” and remind us not to keep food in our tent would trigger a weekend of nightmares for me. Terrifying dreams of being chased through the campsite by a black bear. I refused to sleep in a tent. Everyone knows tents are just ziplock bags for bears! When I got older, I real-
thief, a grizzly bear is like a ruthless mafia boss. Black bears are committing pesky B&E’s and rifling through your picnic basket. Grizzly bears are committing the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in your chicken coop. Perhaps the comparison to gangland killers is unfair. Grizzly bears do serve an important ecological role. Yes, they will commit infanticide on little cubs.
THAT’S OKAY; I’M NOT AFRAID. I TOOK BEAR SAFETY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I TRAINED FOR THIS. town, pick up the local paper, and there’s a good chance that the front page contains a story about a bear. Leaf through that paper and you are likely to find three additional articles about bears. And that’s okay; I’m not afraid. I took bear safety in elementary
ized my fear of black bears was somewhat misplaced. I guess I shouldn’t say that I’m not afraid of bears. I’m not afraid of black bears. However, I recognize grizzly bears as one of the most terrifying creatures known to man. Where a black bear is like a petty criminal
But they also forage for tree roots and plant bulbs, which stirs up the soil causing nitrogen to be dug up from lower soil layers. This makes nitrogen more readily available in the environment (this is a good thing). Grizzly bears are also important seed distributors
in their habitats, and they achieve this simply by eating fleshy, fruit-bearing plants and then pooping. Studies have shown germination success is increased as a result of seeds being deposited along with the nutrients in grizzly poop. Imagine making the world a better place just by pooping. What a magnificent creature. British Columbia has the highest population in Canada of these ruthless executioners, who earned the name Ursus arctos horribilis for sometimes acting like horrible monsters. Luckily for us, these bears hibernate for seven months of the year. (I’d suggest that this is the origin of the phrase “Winter Wonderland” because it’s wonderful to be out in winter when you don’t have to fear for your life.) Longtime residents of the Kootenays will remember that in the early 90s, this
hibernation period seemed to have an “out of sight, out of mind” effect. A large development was proposed on the Jumbo Glacier, an area known as Qat’muk to the Ktunaxa. Qat’muk is a very special place where the Grizzly Bear Spirit was born, goes to heal itself, and returns to the spirit world. The Ktunaxa diligently fought this development for 30 years and ultimately, they succeeded in protecting this sacred land. Now the area is designated as an “Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area” and I, for one, am glad that it is. I’d hate to see what the Grizzly Bear Spirit is capable of when it’s angry. – Sarah Stupar
GO CRANBERLEY | Winter 2023/24 29
The Sage &
THE MACHINES CRAFTSPEOPLE OF WINTER’S FROZEN TERRA FIRMA, THESE ARE THE SMOOTH OPERATORS WHO MELD HIGH-ART HORSEPOWER WITH OUR QUEST FOR THE PERFECT CARVE, GLIDE, AND RIDE.
Photos & Story By Jeff Pew
CAN YOU PEEL IT? WHAT CAN YOU GET DONE WITH A SEVEN-TONNE SNOWCAT AND 80,000 TUNES ON YOUR THUMB DRIVE? RIDE SOME SHOTGUN WITH KIMBERLEY’S LEGENDARY GRAVE SHIFT GO-GETTER. Kevin Peel strides through a heavy snowfall, each flake lit by the flood lights outside the Kimberley Alpine Resort (KAR) groomers’ garage. Inside, he meets with fellow groomers. They sit around a small table surrounded by shelves of oil filters, bolts, and spare parts. Peeler, as his friends call him, is KAR’s grooming supervisor. He shares snow forecasts, satellite images, and upcoming events on the hill, then divides the hill into zones for each to groom. A dead-of-night calm surrounds the room as if they’ll wake the town if they speak too loudly. Between occasional murmurs of laughter, there’s a serious tone to what they do. KAR groomers have been known to possess some of the best grooming skills in Western Canada. Outside, moments later, they fill up with diesel and conduct exterior safety checks before climbing into their snowcats. Peeler adjusts electronic gauges with the precision of a pre-flight inspection. These are high-tech machines, costing north of $300,000 each. Once his safety check is complete, he shifts into gear and heads up the Main toward Stemwinder. He cranks the stereo loaded with his thumb drive of over 80,000 songs of metal, rap, electronic, country, and punk.
THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH’S EASIEST SNOW, CORDUROY. The material dates back to ancient Egypt, when it was known as fustian.
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Winter 2023/24
The corduroy we know today originated in 19th century Manchester; it was ideal for factory wear due to its heavy construction.
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Peeler, 51, is the epitome of a ski bum: two weeks after high school graduation, he fled towards the Rockies to ski and groom Lake Louise, where he also worked as a nightclub DJ. He lived in Lake Louise, Banff, and Canmore before moving to Kimberley in 2006, where he's been a KAR groomer for the last 17 seasons. Despite his rock-and-roll hair — and Glen Plake mohawk he wore for years — don’t confuse Peeler’s image for someone who doesn’t take his job seriously. He talks about grooming with the passion of an artist. “I love it,” he says. “I like perfection. When it comes down to it, if I don’t want to ski it, why should anyone else?” He listens to the sound of the engine and makes tiny adjustments. “I don’t leave turn-around track marks,” he says, taking the time to smooth his backtracks. Fueled by a pre-work protein shake, he’ll often skip lunch breaks. “Time flies while I’m doing this,” he says. “I’ll look at the clock and realize three hours have gone by already.” The anatomy of a snowcat consists of a climate-controlled cab powered by an engine that runs tracks of rubber and metal. A ski-resort snowcat is adapted to move and groom snow with a plough or blade pushing on the front, and a tiller on the
Cords’ popularity boomed again thanks to 1960s counterculture. Britain’s President of the Board of Trade even claimed The Beatles "saved the British corduroy industry.”
The Pearl Jam tune “Corduroy”, from 1994’s Vitalogy, was about the band’s fame and it not being what lead singer Eddie Vedder expected, and not really wanting it.
“ I like perfection. When it comes down to it, if I don’t want to ski it, why should anyone else?”
“Cordelia”, from the Tragically Hip’s 1991 album Road Apples, refers to Shakespeare’s character Cordelia, daughter of King Lear, who stuck by the king’s side when his other daughters tried to overthrow him
rear which churns the snow and then shapes it into corduroy. Peeler adjusts the blade for depth, flex, angle, and degree of scoop. “During the day, a lot of snow gets moved to the side,” he says. “It’s not any good pushed against the trees.” On his second pass of Stemwinder, he’s on the radio with Dave Erven, who’s grooming Bradfords. “We’ll do Twilight, Midget, Lower Caper, and Dinkum first,” he says, pushing snow from high to low spots. While the rest of us are sleeping, the KAR groomers maneuver snow from the run’s edges and even out ruts and grooves to make the hill smooth, so we wake in the morning to a safe hill and the perfect corduroy day. On Stemwinder, Peeler takes six passes up and down until the run looks perfect. “I never get bored of this,” he says. “It changes daily. There’s always something new: the weather conditions, the sunrises, and the wildlife like foxes, owls, deer, rabbits, bobcats, and lynx. It’s therapeutic.” Some steep runs, like Notre Dame and Flapper, require winch cats to anchor a cable to a concrete block or steel pole and groom the run, releasing the braided steel cable from the groomer’s secured spool. With Stemwinder completely groomed, he moves on to Rosa and Ego Alley, then cleans up the ramp area at the top of Main.
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Coffee House 7:30pm Home Grown Music Society
January 23rd
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February 22nd
Have Camera Will Travel Bicycling Through the Balkans 7:30pm
February 27th
LIGHT ‘EM UP
Live@Studio64 Allison Russell 8 pm
The term “snow cat” actually dates back to 1946, when Medford, Oregon’s Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation began making tracked vehicles specifically built for snowy conditions and expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. Tucker made a Sno Kitten too. Brands include Alberta’s Prinoth — the Bison model is seen here, valued at about $450,000 brand new — Quebec’s Bombardier, and Germany’s PistonBully, owned by Kässbohrer. The company makes beach cleaners, the world’s only electric snow groomer (so far), and the personal-sized groomer that Hurt Locker and Bourne Identity movie star Jeremy Renner was motoring around in when he ran himself over, but thankfully survived. (Top left and previous page) Kimberley grooming ace Kevin Peel and his Bison buddy. — Jeff Pew photos
March 2nd Coffee House 7:30pm Home Grown Music Society
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THE WIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED: LAKE WINDERMERE’S WORLD CLASS WHITEWAY TRAIL Twelve years ago, when Invermere’s Brad Kitching was managing Lake Windermere’s Indian Beach Estates, he had no idea that the simple task he performed — clearing an ice skating rink on the lake — would lead to a 2014 Guinness World Record for the world’s longest (29.98 km) ice skating trail on a naturally-frozen lake. In the winter of 2012, he used his sled to build a crosscountry track for residents and friends; it became so popular that locals began fundraising to expand the trail. The Toby Creek Nordic Club spearheaded the project, writing grant proposals, developing rules and regulations, and obtaining insurance for the club.
PHAT AND PHROZEN
Give winter fat biking a go on 30 km of groomed snow out at Cranbrook’s South Star zone. There’re three groomers ironing things out in Kimberley at Lois Creek, Trickle Creek, Forest Crown, and the Kimberley Nature Park, Radium’s Nipika Resort, an eight click network at Fernie Resort, and heaps more all around town. Visit the Fernie Fat Bike Facebook page.
The following winter, he began using his rusted Toyota Tacoma to plough what would evolve into the Lake Windermere Whiteway, a 20 km groomed track for classic cross-country and skate skiing, along with a cleared ice-skating track. “The Toyota left a pretty rough track,” Kitching says, “but it was the right truck if it was ever gonna fall through the ice.” Kitching, who operates a window-cleaning business during the off-season, is the head groomer for the Whiteway, as well as a few lakes closer to Panorama, all managed by the Toby Creek Nordic Club volunteers. For the Whiteway loop, Kitching uses a three-tonne
Kubota tractor with a front plough that acts as a shaver and rear eight-foot sweeper which, shines and smooths the ice. “It’s still kinda old school,” he says. “But we could never use an ice-rink Zamboni. There’s just too much sand and grit.” The Whiteway loop has become immensely popular with both locals and tourists. It has several entry points, the most popular being the Kinsmen Beach entrance, where users can find a heated bathroom and seasonal food trucks. Early season, when the ice hasn’t reached the minimum 12-inch thickness required to support the tractor, Kitching uses a sled and track setter for the cross-country trails, and a quad with a front plough for the skating loop. “We’ve only missed two Christmas seasons in the last 12 years,” he says, referring to the frequent Chinook winds that can warm the region’s temperature. With over 500 members and thousands of annual visitors, the Nordic Club is thriving and anticipating further growth with this year’s addition of groomed fat-biking trails. “I love my job,” Kitching says enthusiastically. “People bow and clap when I go by on the tractor. It’s crazy the appreciation they have for it.”
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“ You have to be a quick thinker. You’re never just sitting there.”
At 6am, Peeler heads to the top of Easter where he records the temperature and snowfall for the morning snow report. When he’s finished his shift, he’ll post enticing photos on his social media page. “Yes!! 18 cm of champagne pow up here and -6 at the top!” On big powder days, he’ll announce, “Bring a snorkel!” and post a video with a symphonic soundtrack, his plough turning snow like a wave in slow motion. Kevin Peel loves everything about snow and his job. “You gotta try and squeeze everything outta life,” he says.
NEWEL’S JEWEL A FORMER MOUNTIE AND HIS PARTNER DO JUSTICE TO ONE OF BC’S BIGGEST NORDIC CLUBS AND ITS HAPPY TRAILS.
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referencing the blade attached to the front of the snowcat, which cuts into high points and moves snow into holes or the low side of a trail. “That sloppy snow the other day caused us a little grief,” he says. “It’s melting during the day then freezing hard as concrete at night.” On the back of the snowcat is a tiller, which rototills the snow or ice and lays it down as corduroy, the perfect snow condition for skate skiers. Also on the rear are track setters, which cut into the snow to produce classic ski tracks. On most green and blue trails, Newel tills the trail, leaving smooth corduroy in the middle for skate skiers, then sets two tracks on the edges for classic skiers. On single-track trails and during fringe-season grooming, the Nordic Club runs two snowmobiles with Ginzu grooming implements attached to the back. “The snowcat needs a foot of snow to work properly,” Newel says, then chuckles. “You don’t want to bring any rocks up. That’s bad. You have to be careful at the beginning of the year.” Newel feels this job isn’t for everyone. “It takes real eye-hand coordination. You have to be a bit of a perfectionist. You really gotta think about what you’re doing and where you’re going. If I can’t make that corner, I’ll wreck it,” he says pointing towards an adjacent trail. “You want to produce a nice surface for the members. That’s important to me,” he says. “I could do it quickly and make a mess, but that’s not what we do around here.”
“ It takes real eye-hand coordination. You have to be a bit of a perfectionist.”
Photo Courtesy of Kimberley Nordic Club
Retired RCMP Sgt. Chris Newel loves his machinery. “I spent my teenage years running farm equipment,” he says from the cozy cab of a Prinoth BR350 snowcat, “then moved into landscape contracting, running bobcats and excavators. It takes real skill operating one of these snowcats.” It’s 7pm and Newel’s begun his shift at the Kimberley Nordic Club — one of the largest in BC, with 1800 members and a 28 km network of trails. Newel gets excited talking about nighttime grooming, which he’s done for the last three years. “I like working in the dark,” he says, smiling. “It’s quiet. I get into my own little world.” Newel alternates four-hour shifts every second night with his co-worker Wayne Hockley. “If there’s a snowfall in the forecast, whoever’s on that night will work the 3am shift so the tracks are fresh for the morning skiers. Otherwise, we do it in the evening so it sets up nicely for the next day.” During his shift, he grooms and tracks approximately 23 kilometres of trails. “I never get bored. I’m always thinking ahead, adjusting track setters, tillers, and the outside wings to clean up my edges.” On the Kimberley Nordic Club’s website, Newel hosts a Q&A page that addresses the multiple factors that impact trail conditions: things like temperature, wind, snow type, sun and shade exposure, frequency and amount of snowfall, the time of day grooming occurs, the type of grooming equipment, and the experience of the groomer. “So, I’m going to take out this little hump here with the blade,” he says,
Once he’s phoned in the snow report, Peeler descends the Main towards the garage. He notices a set of fresh rabbit tracks bordering the trees. “You have to possess intimate knowledge of every run and bump,” he says. “You have to be a quick thinker. You’re never just sitting there.” Back at the bottom, standing beside his cat, the sun is waking up above Kimberley. There’s just enough light to see the front side. “Man, I feel like skiing some groomers,” he says, laughing. “Sleep can wait a bit.”
Experience the best live entertainment in the East Kootenay! OUR WINTER LINE-UP:
Maktub: Ashes to Alchemy A Classical
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MARCH 6, 2024
MARCH 9, 2024
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Evening with Natasha Hall & Yoomi Kim
MARCH 13, 2024
BLACK RURAL
TWIN FLAMES APRIL 9, 2024
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Just in time to stuff your loved ones’ stockings, Go Cranberley makes a completely random selection of locally made, performed, or sold round-thecorner gifts to say hey-ho-ho!
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Gold Creek Gallery Jewelry
Elder Brothers Farm Liquor
Elk Ridge Snowbiking
Bootleg Gap Golf Sims
Sarah Miller Fused Glass
Support Local Farmers
Jewelry from Kimberley’s Gold Creek Gallery is forged from nuggets nabbed straight out of Perry Creek by prospector and bling-maker Cathy Sywulsky.
Award-winning Eurospirits from the wilds of Wycliffe. Hungarian craft spirits pros Attila and Neomi Lepsis brew up the world’s best elderflower liqueur, and an apple strudel hooch too.
Owner/operators Linnaea and Rustin Sandberg offer up good times on the backcountry’s newest moto-machines — snowbikes! Make sure you know your way around a dirt bike or motorcycle before you hop on. Brrapp!
Give it a slap at The ‘Gap. Work on your winter swing on the simulators at Bootleg Gap. Bar’s open. Grill too, Thursday to Sunday, $45-$50/hour, 5-hour punchcards for $200.
Artist Sarah Miller is putting some serious kaleidoscope colour into Creston’s art scene. Her love of textiles, and glass and textile art started back in the 1990s. Sarah teaches too.
bootleggapgolf.com
sarahmillerglass.com
There’s winter farmers’ markets and localfarm supporting stores like Cranbrook’s Pepper Grass and Morchella, Jaffray’s Corner Veggies, Kimberley’s Stoke and Save-On, Fernie’s Local or Creston's farms and fruit stands open year-round.
bcgoldgallery@me.com
elderbrosfarms.com
elkridgerentals.ca
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Kootenay Wagyu Beef
Cycling Apparel + Bear Spray Holder
Trailer from Runners RV
Key City GCs
See The Trees
Give & Give Some More
Owner Susan Scott and the Larsen family have been wrangling up some fine Wagyu beef and bison on the J2 Ranch for the last 12 years. The ranch has two store fronts — one in Canal Flats’ Ponderosa Place Mall and another in downtown Invermere.
Look good from up close (and through a bear’s eyes) from afar too. Activewear from Kimberley’s Brett Price and his company Kazoom Cycling Apparel plus a Bear Spray holder from Ghostrider Equipment make a dynamic duo.
Pack your bikes, four wheeler, cargo, and kidlets into the No Boundaries 10.6 trailer from Runners RV. All sorts of adventure add-ons available — queen bed, roof rack, or rooftop tent.
Call them keys to culture. Stuff a few stockings with gift certificates to Cranbrook’s Key City Theatre. They’ll save you a seat for this winter’s marquee mash-up, including Anne of Green Gables, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Great Canadian Roadtrip.
Snowshoe or winter hike out to some of the East Kootenay’s most towering timbers. Hit up Ka Papa Cedars Trail on the east side of Kootenay Pass, Creston's Corn Creek Cedar Trail, the western yews of Summit Creek Park, or Fernie’s Jeffy Dougy. Gift a copy of Terry Nelson’s Big Trees of the Inland Temperate Rainforest.
Help community who need a hand up. Clothing, shelter, food, a friend. There’s a list of organizations that can help us all remember the true reasons for the season. Compassion is only a click away. Try some of these:
j2ranch.com
kazoomcycling.com ghostriderequipment.com
runnersrv.com
keycitytheatre.com
bigtreesbc.square.site
cfkrockies.ca wildsight.ca bit.ly/crestonfbgroup
A High Rider for The Hornaday Writen by Dave Quinn Photographed by Jenny Bateman
An Elk Valley cowboy, an American conservation pioneer, and the ties that bind. Elkford’s Bill Hanlon is the kind of person you want to meet in the backcountry. Greying stubble and weathered cheeks tell the tale of a lifetime in the outdoors; his confidence and enthusiasm are revealed in his easy smile and efficient manner. You get the unshakeable sense that anyone who is that relaxed around horses, and so obviously at ease in remote wilderness, is capable of anything. Odds are also good that your boots only made the journey because Bill shared some priceless nugget of his Google-worthy knowledge of Rocky Mountain trails — and that the wilderness you’re exploring and the wildlife you see along the way are still there in part due to Bill’s tireless efforts to protect it.
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A retired high school teacher and woodworker, Bill is well-known for his co-discovery of Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi (Person Long Ago Found), a frozen mummy of a young hunter who died over three centuries ago. Bill and his hunting partners first noticed bits of bone and a walking stick melting from a glacier on a 1999 sheep hunt in Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park. They reported their find to the authorities, and discovered more remains and tools during subsequent hunts. Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi’s ground squirrel robe, beaver skin bag, weapons, and even his stomach contents — which included sea asparagus and other maritime foods — offered an unprecedented glimpse into pre-colonial life in what is now Northern BC. DNA testing has since located 17 of his living relatives in the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
To say that wildlife and hunting are passions for Bill is like saying Fisher Peak is sorta steep.
Knot on His Watch To say that wildlife and hunting are passions for Bill is like saying Fisher Peak is sorta steep. His love of wild places is matched only by the time he puts into protecting them. In 2014, Bill helped take the US-based Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) international by establishing the BC Chapter, which he chaired for 5 years. BHA advocates for wilderness and wildlife protection, as well as protecting non-mechanized hunting and fishing opportunities.
Is it true that diamonds are forever? Well, the one tattooed on Bill Hanlon’s left hand certainly is. Bill explains that one night his wife informed him of their scheduled appointment for tattooed wedding rings, happening the following day. He laughed and asked if he should have more time to think about what he wants. While Bill comes across as a man who takes his time, carefully considering all things of substance and importance, he seems to know what he wants. He had his finger tattooed less than 24 hours after he was told to. Today, on Bill’s left hand, you will find an inked diamond hitch. The famous cowboy knot is a fastening technique, mainly used in horse packing to secure pack bags. The knot requires a base
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to be equipped with at least two points of anchorage and a rope that lashes the object around the horse. Adventuring in the backcountry can be precarious and uncertain; if your pack animal takes a tumble, you want to ensure that the gear stays with them. The diamond hitch is said to be secure enough to withstand any fall. Once tied, a diamond pattern is created in the centre. This is not only where the name comes from, but is also what gives it the ability to compensate for load shifting. The knot is always located on the top of the pack, allowing for easy access at all times. Much like the diamond hitch, this cowboy and his tattooed knuckle seems an anchorage point for his family, and his horse too. — By Jenny Bateman
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A LAST RIDE INTO THE SUNSET FOR HORSES IN THE KOOTENAYS? Horses have a storied history in the Kootenays, but their place in the modern world is facing an uncertain future. Ktunaxa people were early adopters of the horse in everyday life, and horses were already a major part of everyday life when colonizers arrived here in the early 1800s. Thousands of Ktunaxa horses grazed Kootenay grasslands until the BC Government slaughtered them in the 1950s, citing overgrazing and environmental damage. Unlike these native grazers, our modern-day horses have sharp, single hooves and teeth on both upper and lower jaw. This means that instead of breaking grasses off to eat them, they often rip the entire plant from the soil. And gardeners who know their manure can attest that horses are notorious weed transporters, as any seeds they ingest can often germinate after their journey through the horse. Hikers recognize horsepacking camps and tether sites from the sea of invasive buttercups,
dandelions, and nonnative grasses in the vicinity, and often grumble about the quagmire left on wet trails from heavy horse traffic. For these reasons, horses are only permitted on the eastern slopes of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy, the largest un-roaded wilderness in southern North America. Nonetheless, there is simply no better tool than horses to carry large loads like camp setups, elk quarters, or cabin supplies into or out of wilderness. With the unregulated spread of roads into our formerly wild areas, horses have become less and less relevant, and horseman skills like Bill Hanlon’s are becoming a lost art. Knots, farrier skills, basic veterinary skills, leatherwork for saddles and tack, and all the experience that goes into packing balanced loads onto a string for a wilderness adventure are being kept from a last sunset ride by a dwindling but passionate group of horse people like Bill. — By Dave Quinn
In addition to a long list of wildlife, recreation access, and land management committees over the years, Bill currently sits on the Kootenay Regional Wildlife Advisory Committee, a Provincial test template for managing wildlife using local values and science, rather than Victoria-driven goals and guidelines that favour industry and economics over sustainability. These processes and meetings might be viewed as purgatory for an outdoorsman like Bill, but he simply sees them as a part of what we all need to do to protect what we love.
Hanlon laments the replacement of our traditional conservationbased backcountry attitude with a fun-first mentality. “Wildlife populations are continually affected by human activity and a loss of habitat,” explains Hanlon, who laments the replacement of our traditional conservation-based backcountry attitude with a fun-first mentality. “The Elk Valley is the most industrialized valley in BC. In addition to five of the world’s largest open-pit, mountaintop-removal coal mines, we bear the effects of three growing communities, an aggressive forest sector, a large private land holding, and a recreation destination all covered by industrial-strength recreational tourism.” Bill has witnessed the troubling recent trend of increased illegal and unregulated activity, including a free-for-all attitude towards off-road vehicle use encouraged by BC’s lack of enforceable regulations, and lack of enforcement capacity. Bill cites one obvious culprit in the subsequent decrease in Kootenay wildlife populations: roads. “These realities are directly related to the growing footprint of linear disturbances into our last wild places. Some recent road reclamation projects to reduce road density in critical habitat is encouraging, but we have a long way to go to address wildlife and habitat needs.”
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KOOTENAY YOUTH Marot Sammartino and Ben Gadd recreate an iconic photo of William Hornaday and outfitter Mac Norboe overlooking Phillips Peak in what is now known as the Hornaday Wilderness Area, still wild 112 years after the original photo, thanks in part to Bill Hanlon.
Dave Quinn Photo
PLAINS BISON: HORNADAY’S CONSERVATION LEGACY
Bison graze near Babb, Montana on June 26, 2023, part of a herd released into the wild by the Blackfeet Nation. Photo by Hunter D’Antuono/Flathead Beacon.
Before the arrival of Europeans and the Sharps repeating rifle, an estimated 30 to 60 million bison roamed the interior plains of what’s now North America, literally shaping the landscape with their continual movements in search of good grazing. Over a century after the last bison disappeared from the Canadian Prairies, you can still see deep furrows of their trails leading to good river crossings, and ruts from all points of the compass converge on erratic boulders rubbed to a sheen from millenia of beasts gettin’ their itch on. Just as they shaped the land, bison sustained people, which in the end was their downfall. The US and Canadian governments remorselessly enacted their plan to control powerful indigenous leaders like Sioux Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse: starve their people by eliminating their principal food source, the bison. By 1883, as few as 500 plains bison remained, and ironically it was one of the most prolific hunters of the time, William Temple Hornaday, who helped herd them back from the precipice of permanent extinction. Over the winter of 1872-1873, nearly 1.4 million bison hides were shipped on the three main US rail lines, leaving roughly 700 million kg of meat to rot. For every single hide, which fetched $0.65 to $1.15 per hide, an estimated three animals were wounded and left to die. 48
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“The Pacific Railroad, the Sharp’s rifle, and man’s insatiable destructiveness have done their work, and the noblest ruminant of them all has gone down before them,” wrote Hornaday in 1887 for Washington, DC’s Evening Star newspaper. As the first director of the New York Zoological Park, Hornaday acquired enough bison to start a captive breeding program, eventually building a herd 40 animals strong. He helped found the American Bison Society in 1905 with Theodore Roosevelt and Madison Grant. In 1907, they undertook the first reintroduction of a native animal in North America by shipping 15 bison to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, followed by habitat protection and bison releases in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Thanks to Hornaday’s foresight, today there are nearly half a million bison in North America, up from as few as 325 in the late 1800s. However, less than 1% of these are in wild herds, with over 475,000 in commercial herds bred for meat and conservation purposes. With the successful 2005 reintroduction to Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan — which now boasts a wild herd of 400 to 500 bison — just over 2000 plains bison remain in Canada, mostly in commercial herds and protected areas such as Elk Island and Grasslands. — By Dave Quinn
BISON VS BUFFALO Technically, there are no native buffalo in North America; just Plains Bison (Bison bison bison), and their larger, shaggier cousins, the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae), once found across the Western Boreal Forest but now limited to smaller herds in Northern BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NWT. Buffalo are native to Asia and Africa, are larger and have longer, curvier horns than bison, and lack the towering neck muscles that create that iconic bison profile. So that buffalo burger you ate last weekend at the pub? Make that a bison burger.
WILLIAM TEMPLE HORNADAY (December 1, 1854 – March 6, 1937) was an American zoologist, conservationist, taxidermist, and author.
CULVERT CREEK
Dave Quinn Photo
One of Hanlon’s projects has been protecting the Hornaday Wilderness Area, a rare swath of unroaded wilderness in the Rocky Mountains between Sparwood and Elkford, encompassing Hornaday Pass, Brule, Avalanche, Culvert, and Bingay Creeks. Hanlon is co-founder and present chair of the Hornaday Wilderness Society (HWS), a small but effective wilderness advocacy group. “Our mandate is to perpetuate
in the upper Bull River offers a glimpse into the rugged beauty that defines the Hornaday Wilderness Area.
and offering a glimpse into life in the Kootenays in the early 20th century. Looking to the future, Bill Hanlon sees the next frontier as an expansion of existing no-trace wilderness travel rules. “Leave no trace is still a solid mantra,” he says, “but it should now include social media posts about wild places. There are no secrets anymore; everyone wants to know and go everywhere.”
It’s people like Bill Hanlon who stoke the campfires of hope for the wildlife and wilderness that still remain. the conservation efforts of William T. Hornaday by managing and stewarding five non-motorized recreation trails into some of the wildest backcountry remaining in the Elk Valley for sustainable, low impact, public recreation,” Hanlon explains. In 1905, the American conservationists William T. Hornaday and John M. Phillips visited the area on an extended horse-pack hunting and big game specimen collecting expedition. Hornaday is well-known for helping save the plains bison from imminent extinction in the early 1900s by purchasing a small herd, captive breeding them, and releasing bison into protected habitat. He also wrote Camp-Fires of the Canadian Rockies, detailing his adventures
Hornaday’s words from the preface to his 1906 book ring ominous: “We dread the day of the ranch, the road, the railway, and the coal mine — anywhere near the Elk and the Bull Rivers…” While all these changes have since arrived to all but the deepest pockets of the Rocky Mountains, it’s people like Bill Hanlon who stoke the campfires of hope for the wildlife and wilderness that still remain.
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Beyond & Above He was born into Cranbrook’s 1980s era snowboard and skate scene — both deemed unsavoury to the status quo, and all but illegal. Thirty years after travelling the globe as a crusader for ‘boarding’s cause, photographer Jeff Patterson has returned to the East Kootenay as one of the sport’s pioneer chroniclers and collectors. Today, with a new career flying high for Hollywood, the family man shares images and insights from his transworld transformation. W: Steve Threndyle
fter a three-decade orbit away from his hometown of Cranbrook, professional photographer, snowboarder, terrain park sculptor, and drone pilot Jeff Patterson has touched down in the East Kootenay once again — and he’s still riding high on his creativity. Like many strapping Canadian lads, Patterson came from a hockey family: his Kimberley-born father has coached many of the NHL players who’ve come out of the Kootenays. Laughing, Jeff refers to himself as the ‘black sheep’ of the family for choosing professional snowboarding as a path to athletic stardom. Cranbrook’s local skateboarding and BMX scene offered a natural entrance into snowboarding. “A neighbour of mine lent me a 1984 Burton Performer which, in fact, I still have. It was a really small community and very few riders were on the mountains anywhere,” Patterson recalls. “I remember having a little sit-down with one of the ski patrollers about the jumps that we were building,” he adds, chuckling. At a time when snowboarders were banned at many resorts in Western Canada, Patterson and his posse worked with Kimberley Alpine Resort to properly create safe yet exciting jump lines. Patterson’s big break came when he was tapped to drive a snowcat up at Mount Norquay after one of the employees was fired for sleeping on the job. Now he could ride during the day and learn the basics of slope grooming at night. He took to his new 52
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tasks enthusiastically. And as snowboarding competitions progressed from racing to freestyle — first with half-pipe and then with slopestyle and big air — Patterson’s talents were increasingly in demand. “I was involved with the very first Cutters Camp at Mount Hood in the United States, an annual competition sponsored by Ski Area Management magazine,” he says. The Norquay gig led Patterson on an Antipodean Adventure to New Zealand and a job at the celebrated, and lamentably now closed, Snow Park freestyle training facility.
Board Bowse — Jeff Patterson with a collection of now vintage boards, and a tee-shirt who tells some story. “It’s from the second annual North American Snowboarding Championships at Sunshine in May of ’86. The comp was put on by Ken Achenbach.” Ken and his family owned The Snoboard Shop in Calgary — Canada's first snowboard shop. The Achenbachs are now legends in the snowboard world.
The Snowboarding Hall of Fame. In Kimberley? Cranbrook? Yahk? Why not? Any guy who hangs onto his very first snowboard — a hand-me-down, at that — for over forty years probably has a pretty robust collection of other historic snowboarding memorabilia. “I’ve always loved history and was lucky enough to witness snowboarding’s infancy,” says Patterson. He’s built up a collection of hundreds of boards, including some made by companies that no longer exist. Patterson wants to take the history of snowboarding to the next level and somehow find space to create some kind of Snowboarding Hall of Fame. He’s even registered the name as a non-profit in BC and has made overtures to potential sponsors for seed funding to get it up and running. The big challenge, he says, is that “people, even other snowboarders, think that the sport is too new.” But Patterson believes that there are enough outrageous stories in the sport’s punk rock past. “I’m worried that, with the aging and passing of some of the forefathers of the sport, that many of the stories, images, and equipment could become lost,” he says.
PREVIOUS | Earthbound and Down — An aerial view study of landscapes outside Drumheller, Alberta, which Patterson chronicled by drone while on location filming for Netflix movie "Lost in Space” BELOW | Cover Carver — Patterson’s 2016 Snowboard Canada Magazine shot of Eagle Pass owner Scott Newsome shot in Valdez, Alaska while on assignment for Eddie Bauer. OPPOSITE | Step It Up — A shot from 2007. Following random animal tracks, riders Garry Pendygrasse and Kirt Nielsen hiking a ridge line to Revelstoke’s Mt. McCrae.
Patterson might be onto something and indeed, Kimberley might be an ideal place for it. After all, other Halls of Fame are located in somewhat obscure towns. For example, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY and the US National Skiing Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, MI. Patterson is holding his vision steady. “One day, I hope to be able to get a brick-and-mortar location opened to share the history of what has now become an unbelievably huge Olympic sport.”
Sticks and Tomes 1983/84 Burton Performer — Look close at the shot of Patterson on the previous page. He’s holding the first snowboard he ever saw in person. “It belonged to a neighbour of ours in Cranbrook,” he says. Ordered from an issue of ActionNow magazine in the summer of ’83, snowboards weren’t allowed on any ski hills yet. The neighbour eventually gifted the classic ride to him. 1986/87 Kemper SL140 — Based in Ontario, pioneer Canadian board maker David Kemper created the SR 140, which had a P-Tex base, an ABS top sheet, but no metal edges, in 1986/87. Kemper handmade around 90 snowboards in the company’s first three years, before selling the business. 1983 Treeline Snowboard — This model was made by Bob Smith in Kelowna, who has since moved to Kimberley. 1984 Powderstick — Built in Calgary by Lindsay Rogers.
ABOVE | From the steep to the deep — Looking back into Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park during a two-week trip in 2009, with big mountain snowboarding maverick Jeremy Jones and riders Travis Rice, Jonaven Moore, Johan Olofsson, and Ryland Bell. The shoot was part of the filming of Teton Gravity Research movie “Deeper”. “We spent two weeks camping and splitboarding to shoot for the film and a feature in Snowboard Canada Magazine,” Patterson recalls. OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE | Patterson on the job in Alaska. | BC rider Kevin Sansalone in 2010, high above Squamish and Howe Sound. | Sunset in the Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, while drone-filming for the National Geographic project “Polar Obsession” in 2018. 54
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For ten years, Patterson went back and forth between Canada and New Zealand, doing whatever it took to carve a career out of the snowpack, and ultimately landing in the action sports industry. He moved his Canadian base from Banff to Whistler — ”where all the pros were,” he explains — to pursue photography and writing full time. He documented his buddies’ adventures around the globe, hustling to get his photos into the top magazines. By this time, his skills as a photographer were well-honed and in great demand. He travelled the world with Canadian crews, selling words and images to SBC Snowboard Canada, where he was on the editorial board, Transorld, and myriad adventure outlets.
Unfortunately, a serious back injury threw his riding career for a loop in 2012. “I realized maybe I should start looking for something beyond action sports,” he says. But by now, his body of work, both behind the lens and snowcat dashboard lights, had earned him decent paycheques, an industry-leading portfolio, and high praise. “He was one of the top snowboard photographers in the day,” says Jeff Pensiero, owner and founder of Nelson’s Baldface Lodge. “Up there with guys like Gallup and Pendygrasse. Jeff shot some of the most iconic ‘boarding photos ever,” says Pensiero, noting the shooter’s work with the world’s most prolific snowboard movie makers, Absinthe Films.
With an innately curious mind always seeking to find out how things work, Patterson ordered parts that would end up making some of the very first drones that were ever used in snowboarding movies. ABOVE | By Polar — Patterson shot this from the deck of the vessel
Hans Hansson ship while on assignment for the Polar Obsession project — a 360-degree movie experience and story for Nat Geo. OPPOSITE PAGE | "The Chariot" — an ATV vehicle built specifically for
the Netflix Lost in Space project, with these scenes shot near Kamloops. | Patterson at the helm of the RVRD Rapture Hex drone.
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Patterson worked at Baldface — with its distinct snowboarder bent, one of the world’s premier mechanized backcountry lodges — as both a photographer and cat operator over the destination’s 25 years. Road building, and more specifically, park building, were talents that rivalled Patterson’s photographic prowess. “He built some of the best super parks at Louise and in New Zealand,” Pensiero notes. “Not only as a photographer, but as an operator, he’s a legend.” With an innately curious mind always seeking to find out how things work, Patterson ordered parts that would end up mak-
ing some of the very first drones that were ever used in snowboarding movies. By this time, Patterson had moved to Squamish and started making inquiries about working in Vancouver’s booming film industry, which is now a vital part of his career. Most people who come up in the action sports world have no idea just how many people it takes to create a green-lit feature film for a major studio or streaming service. Patterson’s current job description (one of those ‘credits’ that roll at the end of a movie) is heavylift drone operator. He’s employed by Revered Cinema, a 22-person collective of
BELOW | Rolling Credits — The Raptor Hex on
duty in Machu Picchu, Peru during the filming of “Transformers Rise of the Beasts." The $150,000 drone, which can carry over 60 pounds on its airframe, was designed to fly at 12,000 feet or more. The drone’s normal payload for film making includes a Freefly Movi gimbal that holds cameras such as the Arri Alexa Mini LF or RED V-Raptor and almost any lens available within its weight capabilities. The cameras have remote motors for zoom, focus, and iris control, and an HD video transmission system. The drone and camera require two operators.
Air Apparently: Dawn of the Drone After his back injury, Patterson started playing around with aerial drones — none of which were commercially available at the time. “A lot of the angles we were shooting got stale,” he says. Even the most crudely-built drones at that time allowed for more innovative angles when it came to shooting pro snowboarders. // continued...
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ABOVE | Deal Sealed — Seals at play around an iceberg in Gerlache Straight, Antarctica. RIGHT | Jeff and his family in Kimberley
// continued...“When I joined the RVRD (Revered Cinema) crew, owner Jason Toth and I began soldering and building machines from parts acquired all over the world,” Patterson explains. RVRD’s drone fleet — known as “Raptor Hex” — were all designed and built in-house at their Vancouver HQ. Their custom-made systems combine the robustness required for National Geographic or Red Bull-sponsored assignments with compact, travel-friendly designs that pilots can fly all day long without needing a time-costly recharge. The list of recent streaming service movies Patterson has worked on includes Transformers: Rise of the Beast, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Last of Us, Ghostbusters: “Afterlife”, Paddington in Peru, The Stand, and five seasons of Lost in Space. One of Patterson’s favourite trips took him to Antarctica with renowned National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen and an A-list crew of environmentalists, filmmakers, and activists. Polar Obsession ran as a main feature in Nat Geo’s flagship print magazine and utilized state-of-the-art 360-degree ‘immersive’ video technology. “We were in Antarctica for 32 days and it was incredible to be around so many brilliant people,” Patterson says.
videographers and visual storytellers. Their impressive portfolio includes Togo (Disney Channel), SEE (Apple TV+), and Lost in Space (Netflix). “In making a snowboarding film, everyone has to be highly flexible,” Patterson explains. “You might be driving a snowmobile, or working a microphone, or getting behind the lens. Hollywood productions are much more structured and everyone has to stay in their lane.” Patterson used his creative flair in Peru while filming the new Transformers movie on the Inca Trail. “There was one spot where we were able to get a unique point of view — an ‘unscripted shot’ in movie-making parlance — by using a tiny drone to access a particularly tight space,” he explains. On these types of projects, the team does a tonne of filming, most of
which never sees the light of day, so it’s always a surprise when you get to see the final cut. “In this case, the clip ended up in the opening segment, which is pretty cool,” he says. Patterson’s family has re-settled to Kimberley, which he sees as the perfect basecamp. “My wife and I both love to travel and we want to expose our sons to more adventures,” he says of his new chapter. And as for his work, he explains, “The movie company that I’m a partner
in has an operation in both Calgary and Vancouver, and I can get onto a set pretty much anywhere in Western Canada within a day.” Patterson feels incredibly fortunate to be able to do the type of not-real jobs, as he calls them, that have defined most of his adult life. “I keep thinking about those Career Days. None of the jobs I’ve done even existed when I was in school.”
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Winter ~
EVENTS CRANBROOK + KIMBERLEY Nov. 18 – Dec. 24 CHRISTMAS ART MARKET Laundromat Art Gallery: 167 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. See artgallerykimberley.com for more info and daily times. Dec. 1 CAMP KOOTENAY COMEDY TOUR Kimberley Elks Club: 240 Howard Street. 8pm Dec. 2 & 3 KIMBERLEY FARMERS’ MARKET: WINTER EDITION Visit wildsight.ca/events for up-to-date location and times Dec. 2 WINTER MARKET Kimberley Francophone School: 8687, 95A Meadowbrook. 10am-3pm Dec. 5 A CHRISTMAS ROCK STORY Western Financial Place: 1777 2nd St. N, Cranbrook. 7pm Dec. 5 FALL CONCERT SERIES FEATURING AMY BISHOP Centre 64: 64 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. 8pm Dec. 8 TRAVEL TALK SERIES HIGHLIGHTING NEW ZEALAND Kimberley Public Library. 3:15-4:30pm Dec. 12 CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN CPKC Cranbrook Station: 25 Van Horne St. S, Cranbrook. 9-9:30pm Dec. 15 & 16 CHRISTMAS MARKET. Centre 64: 64 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. Dec. 15: 4:308:30pm, Dec. 16: 10am-4pm
Dec. 15-17 ADULT SKI RETREAT KICKSTART Classic & skate instruction and more. Kimberley Nordic Club. Visit kimberleynordic.org/adultskiretreat to register Dec. 16 BEADING WORKSHOP Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre: 7777 Mission Road, Cranbrook. 10:30am-2:30pm Dec. 16 & 17 KIDS' MEXICAN COOKING CLASS Dec 16: Ages 4-7, Dec 17: Ages 8-11. Burrito Grill, 160 Howard St., 11am-12pm Dec. 31, Jan. 12-14, 18-20 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-10pm Jan. 27 MEXICAN FIESTA 15 Year Anniversary. Live Music and kids' activities. Burrito Grill, 160 Howard St., 5-8pm Jan. 30 GREAT CANADIAN ROADTRIP Key City Theatre 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm Feb. 1–25 ART EXHIBITION “KOOTENAY CREATURES” Laundromat Art Gallery: 167 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. See artgallerykimberley.com for details. Feb. 2-4 KOOTENAY CUP CROSS COUNTRY SKI RACES Kimberley Nordic Club Feb. 4 WINTER CONCERT SERIES FEATURING DAVID FRANCEY Centre 64: 64 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. 8pm
Feb. 8 THE HIGH BAR GANG Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm
Mar. 9 LONGING DANCE SHOW Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm
Dec. 24 XMAS EVE SCAVENGER HUNT Adventure Centre: Panorama Mountain Resort. 3-4:30pm
Feb. 10 QUEEN CITY BURLESQUE: HARDCORE LOVE Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm
Mar. 14 RAINE HAMILTON CONCERT Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm
Dec. 25 CHRISTMAS VILLAGE Panorama Mountain Resort. 10am-2pm
Mar. 23 EASY AS PIE: PHYSICAL COMEDY ACT Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm
Dec. 31 NEW YEARS FIREWORKS 2000 Panorama Drive, Panorama Mountain Resort. 8:30-9pm
Feb. 10 & 11 WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE? Parents' and Kids' Mexican Cooking Class, Burrito Grill, 160 Howard St., 11am-12pm Feb. 22 BALLET JÖRGEN: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm Feb. 24 SOTK: BROADWAY Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm Feb. 27 WINTER CONCERT SERIES FEATURING ALLISON RUSSEL Centre 64: 64 Deer Park Ave, Kimberley. 8pm Mar. 1-7 FIS WORLD CRITERIUM MASTERS ALPINE SKIING Kimberley Alpine Resort. Starts 5pm Mar. 1, ends 12pm Mar. 7 Mar. 6 WOMEN WHO LAFF: JULIE KIM Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7:30-9:30pm Mar. 7 ZANIAC: PHYSICAL COMEDY ACT Key City Theatre: 20 14th Ave. N, Cranbrook. 7-9pm
CANAL FLATS Dec. 16 CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Canal Flats Civic Centre: 8911 Dunn St, Canal Flats. 10am-4pm
FAIRMONT
Dec. 3-31 SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER: WINTER ACTIVITIES Visit fortsteele.ca for details
INVERMERE Dec. 1 & 2 HOLLY JOLLY MARKET Columbia Valley Centre: 646 4th St., Invermere. Dec 1: 4-8pm. Dec 2: 10am-4pm
Dec. 8 PANORAMA OPENING DAY Panorama Mountain Resort. 9am Dec. 9 WINTER KICKOFF PARTY T-Bar & Grill, Panorama Mountain Resort. 10pm Dec. 15 & 16 HOLIDAY MARKET Pynelogs Cultural Centre: 1720 4th Ave., Invermere. Dec. 15: 2-7pm. Dec. 16: 11am-5pm
Jan. 7 BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR Columbia Valley Centre: 646 4th St., Invermere. 4:30-9:30pm Feb. 17 FAMILY DAY FIREWORKS 2000 Panorama Dr., Panorama Mountain Resort. 8:30-9pm Feb. 18 LANTERN SKI 1860 Greywolf Drive, Panorama Mountain Resort. 6-8pm Mar. 22-24 PANORAMA PRIDE AND SKI FESTIVAL 2000 Panorama Dr., Panorama Mountain Resort. Starts 6pm on Mar. 22 and ends at 4pm on Mar. 24.
CRESTON
Nov. 18 – Dec. 16 CRESTON VALLEY INDOOR FARMERS' MARKET Creston & District Community Complex: 312 19th Ave. N. 10am-1pm. Dec. 16 CHRISTMAS PARADE Downtown Creston. Hosted by Kemlee Equipment. 5pm
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2023 – 2024 Downtown – Kimberley Alpine Resort
5:00pm 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00
5:05 5:35 6:05 6:35 7:05 7:35 8:05 8:35 9:05 9:35 10:05
5:10 5:40 6:10 6:40 7:10 7:40 8:10 8:40 9:10 9:40 10:10
5:00pm 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30
5:05 5:35 6:05 6:35 7:05 7:35 8:05 8:35
Downtown: Shopper’s Drug Mart
8:40 9:10 11:10 4:10 5:10 5:40 6:10 6:40 7:10 7:40 8:10 8:40 9:10 9:40 10:10
— — 11:17 4:17 5:17 5:47 6:17 6:47 7:17 7:47 8:17 8:47
— — 11:15 4:15 5:15 5:45 6:15 6:45 7:15 7:45 8:15 8:45 9:15 9:45 10:15
— — 11:17 4:17 5:17 5:47 6:17 6:47 7:17 7:47 8:17 8:47 9:17 9:47 10:17
— — 11:20 4:20 5:20 5:50 6:20 7:00 7:20 7:50 8:20 8:50 9:20 9:50 10:20
8:50 9:20 11:30 4:30 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
5:15 5:45 6:15 6:45 7:15 7:45 8:15 8:45 9:15 9:45 10:15
5:17 5:47 6:17 6:47 7:17 7:47 8:17 8:47 9:17 9:47 10:17
5:20 5:50 6:20 7:00 7:20 7:50 8:20 8:50 9:20 9:50 10:20
5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
Dogwood Drive/ Dawnsview Place
8:32 9:02 11:05 4:05 5:05 5:35 6:05 6:35 7:05 7:35 8:05 8:35 9:05 9:35 10:05
— — 11:15 4:15 5:15 5:45 6:15 6:45 7:15 7:45 8:15 8:45
Northstar Mountain Resort to Downtown
Coming from Cranbrook? On weekdays, you can catch the KC Commuter bus for a worry free day of fun on the snow for $6 return trip. Find the schedule at www.bctransit.com
8:30am 9:00 11:00 4:00 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00
8:40 9:10 11:10 4:10 5:10 5:40 6:10 6:40 7:10 7:40 8:10 8:40
Purcell & Rocky Mountain Condos
Catch a ride downtown to explore the dining and shopping opportunities that Kimberley has to offer. The Peak to Platzl Downtown Shuttle is a free transportation service between the Kimberley Alpine Resort base area, on-mountain accommodations and the downtown shops, pubs and restaurants. Beginning December 27th until April 7th including statutory holidays.
8:32 9:02 11:05 4:05 5:05 5:35 6:05 6:35 7:05 7:35 8:05 8:35
Trickle Creek Lodge / Ski Hill Base Area
Free Downtown
8:30am 9:00 11:00 4:00 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30
Downtown: Shopper’s Drug Mart
Kimberley Transit
Downtown: Platzl at Howard Street
MONDAY TO THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
— — 11:20 4:20 5:20 5:50 6:20 7:00 7:20 7:50 8:20 8:50
5:10 5:15 5:17 5:20 5:40 5:45 5:47 5:50 6:10 6:15 6:17 6:20 6:40 6:45 6:47 7:00 7:10 7:15 7:17 7:20 7:40 7:45 7:47 7:50 8:10 8:15 8:17 8:20 8:40 8:45 8:47 8:50 Please allow 5 –10 minutes leeway Service may be cancelled without notice during adverse road conditions
8:50 9:20 11:30 4:30 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00
5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00
NOTE: Free 23 Peak to Platzl Ski Shuttle service will also be available on New Years Eve (December 31, 2023) - operate as Saturday, New Years Day (January 1, 2024) – regular weekday service, Family Day (February 19, 2024) – regular weekday service, Good Friday (March 29, 2023) – regular Friday service, Easter Monday (April 1, 2023) – regular weekday service.
basecamp of the kootenays