Kicking Horse Magazine Issue 3 – Winter 2010

Rad Zones Climbing Trip Report Fashion Updates Golden Groove Highway Improvements Spirit Square Speed Flying Sustainability Awards Lower Canyon Champions Needed

Free

The Smear is Here

New ski designs open the door to new techniques and new terrain

Play Safe

Keep these nine steps in mind whenever you venture off the beaten track

Will the World Cup come to Dawn Mountain?

Upgrades to cross-country ski trails usher in the dawn of higher competition

The De·fin·ing Issue

Stick Rock

KHMR Bike Park’s Signature Trail KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 01

Order your free guides and maps at www.TourismGolden.com

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www.tourismgolden.com | 1.800.622.gold (4653) KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 03

Mt. Columbia

CONTENTS

Kicking Horse Country

08 The Smear Is Here: New ski designs open the door to new techniques and new terrain.

Banff National Park

10 Rad Zones: Freshfields

11 Play Safe: Keep these nine steps in mind when-

93

ever you venture off the beaten track.

Kinbasket lake

12 Life vs. Vacation Combining work and play

comes with tradeoffs and happiness lies in the balance.

13 Not Dad’s Plaid

Yoho National Park 1

14 Will the World Come to Dawn Mountain?

Upgrades to cross-country ski trails usher in the dawn of higher competition

Glacier National Park

16 The Golden Groove Locals rejoice in their winter-long dance with Mother Nature.

Mt. Stephen

GOLDEN

1

Mt Sir Donald

18 Portal To Adventure How will recent highway improvements define Golden?

95

20 A Little Spirit Goes a Long Way 24 Stick Rock KHMR Bike Park’s Signature Ride 28 KHC Sustainability Awards 29 Trip Report: Baffin Island Climbing

Bugaboo Provincial Park

31 Speed Flying

Howser Towers

32 Rad Zones: Moonraker Trails 32 Running the Lower Canyon 33 Champions Needed: How Badly Do We Want a Whitewater Park?

EDITOR IN CHIEF / PUBLISHERS Tim & Jessica Grey sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Ross Prather, Megan McKinnon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ross Prather, Pat Garbutt, Matt Cote, Megan McKinnon, Steve Crowe, Miro Micovsky, Jon Walsh

ART DIRECTION: Ryan Thibault DISTRIBUTION To distribute KH Magazine contact Jessica Grey sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com CONTACT/ ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL Kicking Horse Magazine Box 1767 Golden BC, VOA 1H0 Tel 250 344 5586 www.kickinghorsemagazine.com sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: CONTRIBUTING KHmagazine PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Best, Damian Cromwell, Ryan BE A FAN ON FACEBOOK: Creary, James Martin, Brandon www.kickinghorsemagazine.com Peterson, Miro Micovsky, Chris Brazeau, Dave Duncan, Bill Pitcher 04 KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2010

LAYOUT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN: Summit Communications.ca

SUMMER 2010

KICKING HORSE COUNTRY is defined as extendig North to Mt. Columbia, South to the Howser Towers, East to Mt. Stephen and West to Mt. Sir Donald. The Town of Golden is smack dab in the middle of this amazing swath of land.

Riley Suhan on Mt. Seven

by Dave Best

Chris Rubens in the northern Selkirks by Damian Cromwell

www.kickinghorsemagazine.com

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KICKING HORSE Café Our café, roastery, bakery and store all in one. Killer food, great vibe, Kicking Horse Coffee apparel, and conveniently located next to truckloads of freshly roasted coffee.

Turn in from Highway 93/95 to Invermere; at the stoplights go right, towards the airport.

Keep going until the stop sign, then straight ahead and find us on the right-hand side.

Buy ONlINE! Secrets revealed, stories told, and convenient coffee ordering for all you java junkies. Start kickin’? Get clickin’.

250.342.3634 | 1.888.287.5282 | www.kickinghorsecoffee.com

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 05

Columbia Basin Trust supports efforts by the people of the Basin to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations.

Columbia Basin Trust: Supporting People & Communities CBT serves the residents and communities of the Columbia Basin by delivering a range of programs, including business counselling, environment, scholarships, community development, and arts, culture and heritage. In addition, CBT supports regional initiatives such as literacy, climate change, affordable housing, water stewardship, land conservation and youth engagement.

CBT also assists communities in addressing their needs by: • providing resources and funding; • focusing on local priorities and issues; • bringing people together around key issues; • providing useful, credible, accessible information; • encouraging collaboration and partnerships; and, • seeking ongoing input from Basin residents.

Connect with one of our four Community Liaisons in either Cranbrook, Castlegar, Nakusp or Golden to learn more about how CBT can support your community. Tell us you saw this by emailing “KHM CBT Ad” to info@cbt.org and win one of 10 unique prizes.

06

1.800.505.8998

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

•

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Editor’s Note

Momentum is a power that causes things to happen.

It carries you in the direction that you’ve initiated and forces you to respond to the obstacles that come your way. If you’re mid run and the powder is thigh deep, then momentum is your friend. If you’re flying over your handlebars, then momentum can be your enemy. Either way, it’s momentum that will define your moments.

Golden is a town bustling with energy. It has momentum. This small blue-collar municipality is morphing into a ‘resort town’ and the results are becoming material. The newly improved highway, the Spirit Square, the 40-year plan at Kicking Horse, new bike and cross-country trails, and the Bridge to Bridge project are only a few things that are currently revitalizing our little area. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, these passionate visions are now gaining traction in a tangible way.

One thing we know for sure is that we will never run out of stories to tell. There are so many interesting people and places in Kicking Horse Country that we’ll always be hard pressed to find space for all the good stuff. We tried to get as much in as we could this time ‘round. So welcome to another edition of Kicking Horse Magazine! We invite you to join us on a ride as we explore all the great adventures to be told.

(Ella)

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 07

Tim Grey on Mt. Athabasca by Dave Duncan

As publishers, we’ve nicknamed this edition, “the defining issue”. As you read, search for the clues that define this area. Each story has been selected to draw you into what makes this part of the world unique. As we go to print, there is a sense of anticipation to expand this magazine from one to two issues a year, a move that would allow us to focus on greater detail for each summer and winter season. For this year, however, we are settling for two different seasonal covers with identical content inside. It’s a way to get the ball rolling.

These days, the variety of board shapes and sizes you’re likely to Written by Tim Grey see in the lift line is unprecedented.

Photos by Dave Best There’s no such thing as a standard Athlete: Jeremie Duchaine-Haley ski anymore. Recent design smear (smēr) v. to daub a sticky substance on or over. innovations are keeping the sport New ski designs open the fresh, making it possible for riders door to new techniques to discover new and different ways and new terrain. to enjoy the snow. The emergence of rockered skis and boards is the latest development and it’s particularly useful here in Kicking Horse Country.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Relax with a drink at the handcrafted bar or sample delicious local game presented with an Asian and European twist.

Essentially, rockered skis and boards have raised tips and tails, and therefore have less traditional balance points and contact surface with the snow.

On hardpack, these designs allow spring-loaded take offs and smoother landings without seriously compromising carving ability. Spend any time on Blaster at KHMR and you’re bound to see the kids “butter” its many “jibs” in this manner.

Another technique made possible by rockered boards is the smear turn, a.k.a. the power slide. This is especially useful in big mountain riding because it means you can dump speed without losing your flow. With tips and tails curved upward sooner on their running surfaces, you can now turn your boards sideways without actually stopping. This means you can slow down enough to regain composure, but still keep the momentum needed to make high speed turns on the run-out fans.

The Dogtooth Range (where KHMR is located) is riddled with steep couloirs well suited to the power slide technique. Numerous runs have tight entrances or middle sections that cause a rider to accelerate to an uncomfortable level within them.

To make matters worse, these spots often hold the worst snow of the entire run. The natural instinct is to come to a complete stop immediately after these hair-raising tight spots, thereby losing all momentum for the bottom section that is most often open. On rockered boards, you can smear in your edges in the deeper powder that is often beyond these difficult constrictions and keep your inertia while slowing down. With a well-executed smear turn, you can keep your confidence so you can charge the runs of the Dogtooth Range and beyond.

To get up to speed (pun intended) with the latest gear visit the Big Mountain Centre at KHMR.

Nestled on Gould’s Island in downtown Golden, the Island is also the perfect venue for your wedding, party or other special occasion.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 09

zones

Freshfield Icefields photo by Brandon Peterson

A trip to the Freshfield Icefields is not for everyone, but if you’re into multi-day, steep skiing adventures on remote glaciated terrain, then this may be the raddest ski mountaineering zone anywhere in Kicking Horse Country. The selection and variety of perfect ski descents for the bold and knowledgeable is amazing. The Freshfields start at the Mummery Glacier, which can be viewed approximately 32 kms down the Blaeberry Forest Service Road. It is also visible from the top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. There are a number of different glaciers that join together to form the Freshfield Icefields where there are no huts and almost no traffic. The majority of the terrain is within Banff National Park, which means that access to the heart of the zone is by ski touring only (no helicopters). Helis are permitted on the fringes of the area, so it is possible to get dropped off and/or picked up. The Freshfields offer a remote wilderness experience and are a must-do destination for any proficient big mountain skier. You can easily spend five days exploring the many outstanding objectives up there, so plan a long trip if possible. Get after it!

Recommended Prerequisites:

MinimumRequirements:

Freshfields stats:

• Proficient skiing ability on 40º terrain in the backcountry • Several nights logged setting up and moving camps in winter conditions • History of multi-day glacier travel trips

Experienced group with avalanche, glacier, self-rescue and winter camping skills

• Incredible views • Amazing steep ski terrain • Very remote

Watch a video about a Freshfields trip on www.kickinghorsemagazine.com

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

photo: Ryan Creary

Play Safe safe·ty (sāf’ tē) n. Freedom from injury or risk.

Keep these nine steps in mind whenever you venture off the beaten track.

The backcountry is a precious gift. We are blessed in Kicking Horse Country to have an abundance of wilderness available at our doorstep. This resource provides unlimited recreational opportunities, but also demands good judgment from those who explore beyond road’s end. All too often people ignore this responsibility and venture into remote areas unprepared. Sometimes this results in tragedy. Every time this happens there is an increased likelihood of more regulation, more scrutiny and more litigation.

There are some obvious steps you can take to ensure that you don’t become the next high-profile disaster.

Even if these seem like no-brainers, it never hurts to be reminded.

• Tell people where you are going and when you will return. If you don’t show up when expected, they can notify authorities to initiate a timely search in the right place.

• Have a means of communication. These days cell phones work from the top of many peaks. Satellite phones and VHF radios are also useful in emergencies.

For traumatic injuries, minutes matter.

• Know how to navigate. Getting lost in the mountains is easier than you think. With a map or GPS you can turn a disorienting situation into a joke over beers rather than spending a miserable night shivering.

• Take extra clothing. Even though it may be sunny and warm in town, that’s no guarantee it will be pleasant in the alpine. It’s a different world above 2000m. If you are exposed to hours of alpine cold and wind, an extra layer is worth its weight in gold.

• Check the weather. Know the forecast and what to expect. This goes for avalanche conditions as well.

Things don’t always cooperate with your days off.

Sometimes it’s better to stay home and be safe, postponing your outing for a better day.

• Pack the proper gear. Going into the backcountry in winter requires taking a shovel, probe and transceiver and knowing how to use them. If you’re not sure, don’t go.

• Take extra food. Even if you don’t need it, someone else in your group might in case an emergency arises.

• Carry matches. An unplanned night out in the mountains is a lot more bearable with a toasty fire.

• Choose wise partners. If you’re new to the wilderness, make sure the people you go with aren’t.

Nothing beats experience.

These are basic considerations, please exercise good judgment and return for many more happy days of safe backcountry adventure.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 11

LIFE vs. Vacation bal·ance (băl´ ūns) n. A state of equilibrium or harmony.

It’s a simple fact: the more time you spend in the mountains, the greater the likelihood is that you will end up doing something you love as work. Whether you like to ski, climb, boat, sled or take pictures, it’s inevitable that a chance to make a little money doing something close to your passion will arise. At first it seems like a great option, the best of both worlds, but soon reality sets in that work is work, no matter how good it gets and it never seems to pay nearly enough. Yet in the end, the lifestyle is usually worth it.

The goal, of course, is to achieve a happy balance. If your work is not in the mountains, you have to force yourself to get out on your vacation time. If your work is in the mountains, you have to struggle to remain stoked and focused when your life is about going out again after a patch of work.

Aaron Bernasconi, Ryan Johannesen, and Dave Best are three Golden locals balancing work and pleasure. They’ve combined their talents to create a mountain-only sledding community website called www.sledshot.com.

Inspired by the need for more online content about mountain sledding from both the Golden area and in Western North America the three have made a strong effort in filling this niche. If you spend much time sledding around Golden, you’ll probably bump into these guys ‘working,’ which entails riding lines with their cameras rolling. Poor them, right?

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

Photo by Adrian Marcoux, Rider: Sean McCaig, Location: Silver Mines

Combining work and play comes with tradeoffs and happiness lies in the balance.

1

Golden isn’t a town for Jimmy Choo high heels and Prada purses! It’s a town more suited for functional clothing like Carhartt pants and Sorel boots. But this winter we can still get a piece of the runway action thanks to a new trend of outerwear clothing in plaid. Vivienne Westwood, couture queen of plaid and wife of the Sex Pistols manager, is the leading source for this punk-inspired plaid movement. This year, most major outdoor retailers are following suit. Be seen in these hot styles and you’re sure to be considered a rebel, just like prominent pro skier Seth Morrison.

2

1 Sorel Boots: Slushy streets are no place for tiny pumps. Stay warm, dry and look trendy with these plaid boots from Sorel.

2 BD Seth Pack: Forget an expensive handbag from a NY fashion house. The mountains are more appropriate for this Seth Morrison pro model plaid backpack from Black Diamond. You’ll look good and its avalung might save your life.

3 4

3 TNF Trixie Plaid Jkt: Rock the rebellion on your ear buds and show it off in this punk-inspired plaid from The North Face. In this jacket you represent attitude and ability.

4 Level Gloves Bliss: Sipping a cold beer on the patio during après? Don’t chill your digits. Wear these rocking gloves from Level.

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5 Burton Commander Jkt: Burton sets the trend and this year’s plaid Commander Jacket is no exception. Pick one up at Golden’s own Darkside before they’re all gone.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 13

Kicking Horse

Will the World Come to Dawn Mountain? dawn (dôn) n. To begin to be perceived.

Upgrades to cross-country ski trails usher in the dawn of higher competition locally, including perhaps World Cup races.

New and Experienced gear for almost any outdoor or backcountry adventure.

25 0 -344 -798 0 w w w.k ick ingh orse ge ar.c a

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Anyone who has ever skied at the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre knows what a fantastic cross-country skiing resource we have right here in our own backyard.

The trail network includes gently rolling beginner loops like Beaver and Chickadee, as well as longer, more challenging tours such as Raven and Hawk Owl. No matter the difficulty, all trails have an authentic wilderness character and exceptional mountain scenery. Within the next few years, a lot more skiers are going to know about them, too.

It has long been a goal of the Golden Nordic Ski Club to attract World Cup cross-country ski races. The Canadian National Ski Team have already trained here and raved about the site’s potential. Thanks to a recent $400,000 federal grant and $132,000 in regional and provincial grants to the club, the goal of hosting a World Cup event is now within reach. The grant funds are being used to expand and upgrade the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre in order to bring it up to the standards required for international competition.

One of the first steps, begun last fall, was the construction of a start/finish stadium area. This entailed excavation to lengthen and widen a section of the existing sprint loop trails to 130 x 45 meters. This permits multiple lanes to accommodate mass starts of up to 80 racers, as well as exciting side-by-side sprints for the finish line. A new yurt was also installed near the stadium to serve as a warming hut for club members and visitors. Eventually, a full-service day lodge will be built to replace the yurt, and the parking lot will be relocated nearby providing a totally integrated trailhead facility.

In addition to these infrastructure improvements, the Dawn Mountain ski trails will be expanded from the current 32km to 40km. The first 5km of new trails to be added are race loops conforming to International Ski Federation (FIS) standards. In March 2010, the Western Canadian Masters Championships will be the largest event to date held here. This will put the recent venue upgrades to the test and put the Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre on the radar screen of international racers and race organizers alike.

For more information, visit GoldenNordicClub.ca

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Written by Tim Grey

groove (gr큰v) adj. slang. A state of being highly stimulated.

Photo: Dave Best. Rider: Justin Baun

Locals rejoice in their winter-long dance with Mother Nature.

The beat to the Golden Groove thumps loudest in winter, when snow blankets the horizon and skiing becomes objective number one. We dance in the three mountain ranges and countless valleys that surround us. Like disco lights, storms swirl about in haphazard patterns, setting the tempo for the season. We keep pace by making the right moves, at the right time, with the right people.

The weather is our constant partner in this fitful boogie, and we have to respond to her many moods. If she throws a Pineapple Express, we head 16

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

to the Rockies where cold smoke becomes stable and our lungs are filled with exhilaration. If she dumps in town, the game is on at the Horse, where the vertical we log is rivaled only by helicopters. When she backs off and high pressure arrives, we choose between sledding or heading to Rogers Pass. Our sleds take us over passes to hidden terrain where we ride the lines and jump the airs of our dreams. At Rogers, we simply wallow in the deep and plentiful richness.

Epic trip reports add rhythm to the stories of heroics between band

sets at the Rockwater. Over beers, the weekly winners and wannabes are revealed. The tales of scoring big or getting shut down lead to even more plans for even greater glory.

We smack talk with skiers visiting from distant nations and compare adventure strategies with other local die-hards.

The Golden Groove is an obsessive salsa. It arouses intense passion and satisfies with a distinct flavor. Season after season we practice its moves, hoping to master the performance of our lives. Care to dance?

PORTAL TO ADVENTURE

Written by Megan McKinnon

How will recent highway improvements define Golden? por·tal (pōr´ t l) n. A doorway of imposing appearance.

Golden is now classified as a resort town. The implications of this designation mean that catering to tourists is a major priority. Despite the diversity of activities that are possible in Kicking Horse Country, the common variable for most visitors is that they arrive and depart on the Trans Canada Highway east of town. In the past, the reputation for this section of highway has not been stellar. Trucks moving at glacial speed on steep grades and tight corners caused vehicle congestion and potentially unsafe conditions.

Thanks to $340 million dollars worth of recent highway improvements, those days are gone forever.

A 4-phase plan bringing dramatic upgrades to the 26-kilometer stretch between Yoho National Park and the Highway 95 intersection in Golden is roughly 75 percent complete. Phase 1, which was finished in 2006 at a cost of $64 million, included upgrades to the Yoho Bridge, highway realignment, and an award-winning cantilevered structure built over a bend in the Kicking Horse River. Phase 2 was completed 21 months ahead of schedule in 2007 at a cost of $143

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

million. Its crowning feature is the 405-meter long and 90-meter high Park Bridge. Driving between the towering rock cuts that lead to the lofty elevated span, your car seems to accelerate on its own knowing that Golden lies just ahead. The project won multiple awards and features the highest piers of any steel girder bridge in the province.

Phase 3 was completed in two sections at a total cost of $134.5 million. The west section widened the highway and reduced its grade into Golden. The 18-kilometer east section to Yoho Park widened the highway to four lanes and added wildlife crossings.

What remains is the much-debated Phase 4, that will twin the last 4 km of highway through Kicking Horse Canyon into Golden. Studies have been completed for this phase, but no final decisions have been made regarding the combination of bridges, tunnels, and other structures required. In all likelihood, this section will be the most challenging yet.

Because of these projects, travel to and from Golden has taken a muchneeded turn for the better. In terms of driving time, Golden is now no

farther from Calgary than Lake Louise was 20 years ago. Combined with other improvements to the TCH between Castle Junction and Lake Louise, driving from Calgary to Golden in less than 2.5 hours will soon be a reality. Equally as important as the time factor is the safety issue. Even in poor weather, the drive is now far safer and more manageable for motorists. As a result, day trips from Calgary and Banff will become routine.

Tourists are not the only beneficiaries of these improvements. In an increasingly urbanized society where the city center represents economic and social vitality, Golden locals now have more options available with a quicker and safer route to Calgary.

A daily 2-3 hour commute is not unheard of these days, and while most who go back and forth to the city are not daily commuters, a growing number of people do business in Calgary or go to school there while still living in Golden.

Recent highway improvements have created greater opportunity for tourists and locals alike. More than ever before, there’s an increase in travel in both directions.

photo: James Martin KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 19

A Little Spirit Goes a Long Way spir·it (spir’ īt) n. A dominant tendency or feeling, a vigorous sense of membership.

construction crews hard at work: Fall 2009

Written by Matt Coté Fall in the mountains always hosts a dramatic transformation as the yellow glow of the aspens turns into thousands of twiggy fingers pointing at the sky. This metamorphosis happens season after season and during this time we’re left passively awaiting the hustle and bustle of winter once again. The fall of 2009 is different for Golden though, because the town has also transformed with the opening of the new Spirit Square.

The laneway along the Kicking Horse River, behind Golden’s downtown core, has long held the potential to be the premier gathering place in town for outdoor cultural activities.

While previous events simply made due in this spot, the space has now been reconstructed specifically to embrace those activities. The Spirit Square now boasts a public performance space, skating rink, beautiful mosaics, and cobble that will be graced only by the soles of our shoes and not by tires. Located conveniently beside the pedestrian bridge the square also adds to the experience of walking through downtown.

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

As a space that’s been danced upon and shared in communion for many a summer and winter, the spirit of the locale’s physical form is filled with natural contours, public art, and an inspired purpose. From now on, generations of Golden locals and tourists alike will be watching concerts, gathering by the river, and altogether sharing a space inspired by the community it’s been designed to foster.

It’s exciting to think that at a time when the world’s economy is shrinking, Golden (one of about a dozen resort-communities in B.C.) is growing. “The Spirit Square is part of a long-term re-orientation to take advantage of the river and the fantastic bridge we have there,” says Caleb Moss, council member and local business owner. Likewise, the move is also indicative of a new focus on Golden’s culture, something locals are being encouraged to embrace and grow more than ever.

The square was made possible only by the calculated efforts of a progressive town council and forward think-

ing town planner—a position that, until recent years, did not exist in Golden. The move to build the square is emphatically a recognition that Golden’s most important resource is its history and people and that is why the investment has been made in a revitalized downtown.

To say that there is a paradigm shift embodied in the mosaics that make up the square would be an understatement. The river, long thought of as a utilitarian laneway, is now an architectural feature of the town. Cleo Corbett, the town planner, is nonetheless quick to correct the notion that there is any kind of disinterest in Golden’s industrial history. “Golden is proud of its diverse economy,” she says, “and not afraid to reflect that in its new architecture.”

As a community with a growing ability to show itself off, Golden is poised to take the stage as a proud cultural centre within rural B.C. While the primary beneficiaries of the square are the coming generation of Golden locals, the vibes that it emits will likely be felt long and far.

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We Won! Congratulations Golden for taking home this year’s Leadership and Innovation Award for small communities at the 106th annual convention of the BC Union of Municipalities. The prestigious award recognizes Golden’s commitment to environmental excellence in their community programming, policies and plans. It turns out this “sleepy, mountain town” has gained widespread attention for its pioneering initiatives that have made Golden a healthy and vibrant community.

If the following two pages don’t convince you that Golden is both a starting point for your next adventure, or an idyllic place to plant some roots, then I don’t know what will. And for locals – just a few more reasons to feel good about your community and the place you call home!

Seeds from the Official Community Plan…

Sure, we’ve been barking about this one for a while, but hey – when you’ve got a plan that engaged over 1000 locals including 300 youth in its making, was guided by a citizen based steering committee of ages 12-85, had help from BC’s Planner of the Year, and set some pretty bold commitments forward, it’s worth talking about. Only out of the gate in 2008, the plan is in full action – here’s what’s up: Affordable Housing – On it!

First we said we’d set a policy that 15% of new housing developments must be “affordable”. Then we formed an Affordable Housing Committee to define what that meant and developed an application and approval program to get people into the program. We just got our second set of two committed units that we hope will be under construction this spring. Now that’s action on affordable housing. And with our innovative approach to “density bonusing”- permitting developers to build extra units for sale in return for affordable housing or other public amenities – we think this is just the start in getting back to a balance of home affordability in our community and creating win win solutions.

Next, we saw an old unused campground caretaker house owned by the town as an opportunity to fill a housing gap for those most of us don’t think about – students! The College of the Rockies (COTR) is ramping up enrollment and we saw a way to help. Presto, we’ve got COTR House - with the help of the college and the Columbia Basin Trust, we’ve got 6 students living full time in fully furnished rooms, complete with full kitchens, internet, and cable TV. Real Zoning for Real People OK, we all know small town history is based on the single family home and this is still a housing development mainstay. But let’s face it, the younger generations don’t have the money, time, or headspace to get into one of these. But a smaller land chunk, a smaller size building…now you’re talking. And we delivered. We’ve now got the Small Lot Zone and a Duplex Zone that allows subdivision of larger traditional lots. This is Smart Growth at its best – getting more people on less land, encouraging more diverse neighbourhoods and using existing town infrastructure rather than adding to it and building more.

Making Garden History You gotta team up with those cool societies in your town that deliver. So when Ruth Wixon bequeathed her historic house and lot to the town, we inherited a nearly 100 year old huge organic garden that couldn’t just go to waste. Now we’ve got virtual production facility operated by the Golden Food Bank that showcases healthy eating, encourages local food production, and adds to the sustainability and resiliency of the community.

Getting Active…

Of course Golden’s got an Active Transportation Committee – that means we’re committed to getting this town a better set of self propelled trail networks. The formal plan is in the works, and with a blog in place getting all kinds of feedback, this one’s moving forward.

Using Tourism Money More than Ours….

Check this, only 12 other communities in the province besides us get some of that hotel tax back from the Province. The catch? We have to have a plan (we do) to spend the money over 5 years (we are). Here’s a couple things: Oh Spiritus Squareus…

Well, we won’t talk about our fantastic public square being built right now, rumour has it there’s an article about it somewhere else in these pages. But this community focal point is going to change the face of Golden’s downtown forever, and set a precedent for social, environmental and economic sustainability and help turn our focus to the Kicking Horse River in our downtown.

The Rise of the HUB… The Province really liked our name “Whitewater Amenity Hub” -so it stuck. We now have a building that actually could be in line to be the smallest LEED Platinum building in Canada – OK that means it’s super green. Geothermal heating, solar hot water heating, solar power augmented, water saving and elimination fixtures, LED lights, bat houses, recycled cloth insulation – you know the gig. This amazing building is our new campground registration office, general store, laundry facility and public washrooms all in one. We wanted a showcase for green building to show what could be done. You really need to see it. Hopefully someday soon it will live up to its name and be the launch site for our Kicking Horse White Water Park. Stay tuned.

Gee, What Else Can we Do…?

Well, we’ve got a wood stove exchange program to get better quality lower emission wood stoves in homes, a toilet exchange program to get rid of those old water hawgs, and we recently became a Fair Trade Community.

What’s next?

If you don’t live here, you’ve got to be thinking about it now. Check out our community website at www. golden.ca to get the low down on us. Give our friends at Golden Area Initiatives a call at 250.344.2420 – they’re our community economic development office – and they’d love to talk to you.

Thanks for taking the time to get to know a little about this fabulous community.

A new double black diamond trail is making its mark at Kicking Horse Bike Park. signature ('sig n ch r) n. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.

Written by Steve Crowe. Photos by Dave Best A signature is an identity, a way of signaling to the world a brief message about your personality. It’s a unique mark you get to make yourself. Every bike park has a signature too; a trail that defines the park. There are obvious ones, like A-Line at Whistler and Rock Star at Silver Star. At Kicking Horse Bike Park (KHBP), Stick Rock is quickly emerging as the signature trail.

Stick Rock is a one-of-a-kind trail. It is the lovechild born from the union of slab-rock geology and a desire to create something awesome. Baptize this match with a heavy dose of passion and the result is truly unique.

There are stunts combining rock slabs and woodwork at other bike parks, but no place else has anything quite like Stick Rock.

If a signature gives a glimpse into the soul of a person, then Stick Rock reveals the evolution of downhill mountain biking at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Built by hand in 2000, the original KHBP trails went straight down the steep mountainside, providing the longest vertical of any bike park in North America (3,700 feet or 1200m). One of these trails— Roadrunner—linked several rock slabs in a long straight line. The rock of course did not erode, but the dirt in between was slowly washed away by runoff and speed-dump braking until the trail became unsuitable for riding.

By 2007 Roadrunner was toast.

That autumn, KHBP trail crew members Chuck Gorton and I sought a solution. We wanted to retain the rock slabs, but had to figure out a way to connect them in a way that minimized erosion and maximized fun. As luck would have it, we had just completed Spiral Tap, a stunt made entirely of wood, on another trail. Most of the lumber used to create Spiral Tap was “high-graded” from the construction division of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. We were selective in our salvaging

however, taking only the material we figured would not be used elsewhere.

With Spiral Tap construction and lumber procurement techniques fresh in our minds, we figured out how to build a new replacement for Roadrunner. Upon close examination, we discovered that Roadrunner’s rock slabs extended into dense trees and brush alongside the decommissioned trail. We then determined the best routes on the three longest slabs and linked up the first half of the trail. Once this top section and Spiral Tap proved to be popular with lots of ticket buyers, manna from management rained down upon us. Some 20-odd lifts of dimensional rough-cut lumber was delivered expressly for trail crew use. In 2008, with considerable help from the rest of the crew, Chuck and I finished etching Stick Rock across the mountain’s navel.

After its first full season, Stick Rock became a favourite with local downhill riders. It is a trail with a playful, yet edgy, personality. It demands total focus. The consequence for inattention is significant. Much of the trail is on elevated bridges with numerous gap jumps where there is no trail at all, just air. However, when ridden with confidence and skill, a bubble of euphoria steadily builds within the rider’s mind until it exuberantly bursts after landing the last triumphant high-speed jump.

Stick Rock is the only double-black diamond run at KHBP, but it isn’t as difficult to ride as you might think. While good skill is mandatory, what is needed most is simply the confidence to stay off your brakes in the right places. The gap jumps are what give Stick Rock its double-black status. If you hit your brakes right before a gap jump, you will be cursing your stupidity during KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 25

your entire hospital stay. At most bike parks there are “gate-keepers” or filters at the tops of the most difficult trails. The idea is that if a rider is intimidated by the gate-keeper feature, then he or she will wisely choose to avoid that trail and its even scarier sections that lurk below. We were fortunate that a gate-keeper was already carved into the first slab at Stick Rock. Halfway down, a natural knuckle rollover keeps the bewildered newbies off and convinces the committed to concentrate.

Once over the knuckle and onto the first boardwalk, you are set. What lies beyond is a bounty of joy and challenges. Every time you ride Stick Rock your skills will progress.

To those who have never ridden it, you first need to master the other gap jumps located elsewhere throughout the bike park. Only when you’re comfortable on these, including the intentionally progressive Spiral Tap, should Stick Rock be considered. Then, tackle it with gusto and style. Like a signature, Stick Rock is designed to flow.

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Profile: Riley Suhan Golden produces a lot of hard-core kids who are good at the many disciplines of mountain sports, but every once in a while there’s one who shows potential to be the best. Riley Suhan is only 16 years old, but he’s already turning heads with his exceptional talent and down-to-earth attitude. Despite his age, he regularly beats the top pros on the BC Cup mountain biking circuit, and he’s starting to attract film crews as well. It may have something to do with the fact that he raced Psychosis (Golden’s former world-class downhill event) at age nine, or that his dad has taken him sledding as long as he can remember. Keep an eye on Riley. The sky’s the limit for him. It’s our pleasure to feature him on the summer cover of KH Mag. Age: 16 Sports: Downhill Biking and Mountain Snowmobiling Years Biking: 8 — Years Sledding: 16 2009 Comp results: Mt. Washington BC Cup won his category by 19 seconds beat the fastest pro by 7 seconds KHMR BC Cup won his category by 12 seconds beat the fastest pro by 8 seconds 2nd Overall in BC Cup Standings (2009) Youth 17 Category

Elegance

Sophistication

Unique Style

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KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 27

Kicking Horse Country Sustainability Awards Kicking Horse Country has amazing natural features and resources and by living in a sustainable way we will protect them as much as possible. We wanted a way to recognize some of the businesses and/or organizations in the valley that we think are making a concerted effort to conduct themselves in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

Kicking Horse Coffee- KHC has great certified organic coffee and is also Canada’s largest fair trade roaster. Located in Invermere, just down the valley from Golden, the folks at KHC are national leaders in the coffee market place.

Town of Golden- The Town of Golden gained the Fair Trade Town status in June 2009. We are only one of five Fair Trade communities in Canada. This means that we meet the requirement of stores and restaurants that carry fair trade products.

Suddwick Homes- Suddwick Homes has just completed the largest Net Metering Solar array in the Columbia Valley located in Nicholson ( Net metering is the act of generating electricity and selling it back to BC Hydro ). They also built the Whitewater Amenity Hub ( located at the municipal campgrounds ), this building is a LEED NC building and utilizes Geothermal, Solar thermal, and Solar PV. Genuine Organics- Genuine Organics pioneered organic food services in Golden over six years ago and they are still going strong. They are now located on Main Street in the heart of Golden.

Cedar House Restaurant- The Cedar House is Golden’s best organic dining experience and they serve locally grown organic food as much as possible. Enjoy the meals in a cozy atmosphere and take a stroll around in the organic garden.

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Locals Abroad

Trip Report: Baffin Island Climbing Written by Jon Walsh

Chris Brazeau and I spent four weeks this summer in Auyuittuq National Park, climbing the granite walls and ridges of the Weasel Valley. We left our homes in Golden with some inspiring photos, vague beta, and a lot of excitement. In the small fishing village of Pangnirtung, we met some Belgian friends and together we hired a boat to take us to the trailhead at the end of the fjord.

The main goal of our trip was to climb Mt. Asgard, Baffin’s most famous and arguably most beautiful peak. Getting there requires a 42-kilometer approach up the valley on rugged trails for the first 32 kilometers and moraines and glaciers for the final 10.

These approaches would involve ferrying many loads of gear and food, as well as climbing whatever other peaks inspired us along the way. As the Weasel Valley is stacked with amazing mountains, the objectives were plentiful and the views always mind-blowing.

To sum up our 28 days in the park, 7 were spent climbing, 11 schlepping loads, and 10 were spent resting. We did all our routes in light and clean style, always trying to find challenging, aesthetic lines. Our two most significant climbing achievements were: * Asgard’s South Tower, south face (5.12-, 600m).

We thought we were on an entirely new route until we found a bolt at the route’s crux, on the second to last pitch. It’s hard to say for sure, but we probably climbed 50 percent new terrain and 50 percent the “Italian Route” (Defrancesco-Leoni-Luca-Manica, 1988) on the south face. Our route went in nine amazing, 60-meter pitches of mainly 5.10, with the second to last going at 5.12-. It was probably the first free ascent of the South Tower, and it took about 16 hours round-trip from a camp on the side of the Caribou Glacier.

Asgard’s North Tower, east face (5.11+ C1, 800m).

Hard to say whether the first half had been climbed or not, but we climbed about 10 nice pitches up to 5.11- to reach the headwall. We then followed an obvious crack system to the right of Line of Credit (Condon-EastonProhaska, 1998) that provided the highlight of the trip. Eight 60-meter pitches, six of which were 5.11, and often involving run-out, delicate face climbing that linked the cracks, on some of the best quality stone we’ve ever touched! Our camp-to-camp time was 22.5 hours, with the approach being at least two hours.

Photo: Jon Walsh climbing on the south face of Mt. Asgard, possibly making the first free ascent of the South Tower. Photo by Chris Brazeau.

All said and done, we had a great time, great weather, and the entire expedition unfolded smoothly.

We climbed more than we anticipated we would, and the adventure was everything and more than we could have hoped it would be. A huge thank-you to Arc’teryx, Moutain Equipment Coop, Scarpa, and Sequel Naturels for the support.

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE 29

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SPEEDFLYING Written by Pat Garbutt photo: Dave Best. Pilot: Scott Watwood. Location: Mt. Seven

As if it weren’t hair-raising enough, two local men push the sport of paragliding to new limits.

Speed (spēd) n. Rapidity of motion.

I’ve been called crazy. That’s often the response I get when I tell people that I love paragliding.

Sure, flying a piece of fabric through the air might seem overly risky to some, but do you know what I think is crazy? To live in Golden, a town with

Adventures Tandem Paragliding, have pioneered speed flying at Mount Seven. Not long ago I had the opportunity to observe the two men maneuvering their mini canopies down the peak of Mount Seven and through its canyons. I heard

THEY RIPPED THROUGH THE AIR, BANKING AND WHEELING THEIR WAY DOWN THE FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN. IT WAS DELIRIOUS JUST WATCHING. a world-class flying site like Mount Seven, and never take the plunge from its lofty heights.

Sure, it’s scary as hell, and that’s not for everyone. But do you know what is really scary? That would be speed flying, the adrenalin-pumping offspring of paragliding. A speed glider is only half the size of a regular paraglider, yet travels nearly twice as fast. Speeds of 60km/h are not uncommon. When its pilot is really cranking the turns, a speed glider can even reach 100km/h.

Two local pilots, Scott Watwood and Hugo Tschurtschenthaler, co-owners of Altitude

the gliders screaming overhead before I could spot them. They ripped through the air, banking and wheeling their way down the face of the mountain. It was delirious just watching.

If that’s not enough to turn your face insideout, how about strapping on a pair of skis at the same time? That’s what Scott and Hugo are contemplating next. Leave it to them to slay the mountain in yet a different way. That 100-foot cliff coming up fast? No worries. Chances are the daring duo will touch down at the bottom as light as feathers.

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RUNNING THE LOWER CANYON — Written ­by Pat Garbutt can·yon ('kan y n) n. A deep valley with steep sides.

The last section of the Kicking Horse River Canyon is an ever-changing challenge.

If you want to experience the best of the Kicking Horse River, head no farther than its Lower Canyon. This section of continuous class IV water has all the elements of a classic run neatly tucked into one stretch, conveniently placed close enough to town for a post-workday or spur-of-the-moment run. Big holes, wave trains, ledges, boulder gardens, and even a few play waves are just a short shuttle away. Adding to the variety, the natural ebb and flow of the paddling season with its ever-changing water levels makes each run unique.

In the early season, the river reflects the slow pace of a world awakened from its long winter slumber. Shallow, sluggish water weaves its way downstream through bony channels, and so must the paddler. By June, however, the technical rocky sections are flushed over by massive volumes of gritty, chocolate runoff, littered with debris.

At that time of year, only the most committed and experienced paddlers choose to square off against the Lower Canyon. When the water peaks, you had better know the line and stick to it. Holes and ledges such as Townhouse and Otter Slide can turn into massive keepers. Meanwhile, the river rages on like a freight train out of control, taking you along on a white-knuckle ride.

There’s not a lot of time to pull out your map to consider what lies ahead.

During the summer months of July and August, the Lower Canyon changes yet again. The breadth of the river is a paddler’s playground.

Kayakers choose to style it as they see fit. Rafters typically take the line that ensures the loudest cheers. Big hits in Wavetrain and Riptide are common at this time of year.

zones

Whatever floats your boat, it’s all right there for the taking.

The Moonrakers

Written by Miro Micovsky. Photo by Bill Pitcher A vision of sweating blood during an upcoming 24-hour race in Canmore kept me nervous all spring. I had to get in shape and the Moonraker mountain bike trails were just what the doctor ordered. The Moonrakers are a great combination of old roads, railway bed, and single track connecting Cedar Lake, Canyon Creek, and Sander Lake. They are mostly intermediate in difficulty, with plenty of ups and downs forming a variety of loops. If you want a good workout, there’s nothing better than tackling a long roller-coaster ride like North Star, Cedar Snag, or Bear Claw. Long, fast, and empty, they are guaranteed to keep your heart pumping.

You’ll want to take it a little easier on the premiere trail in the system, Canyon Creek. It descends 4km alongside a giant chasm and sometimes you are on the very brink of a gaping 200-meter-deep drop. It’s one of the most dramatic and inspiring views in Golden. On long summer days, you can hit the Moonrakers for a few hours after work. Some people live for mountain biking and it becomes a single-minded obsession.

Regardless of your level of interest, whether you’re looking for a good workout like me, or simply want to explore another gem right here in our backyard, the Moonraker Trails are something you have to do. Be sure to pick up the Golden Bike Trail Map first.

Moonraker stats:

Recommendations:

• Easy access

• Sturdy cross-country mountain bike

• Intermediate terrain

• Previous single-track experience

• Nice variety and good views To watch a video about the Moonrakers, go to TourismGolden.com/Moonraker.

stepping up to the plate to make it happen. It won’t come easily. At this point, there has been no official plan How Badly do we Want a Whitewater Park? set forth by the Town of Golden, the Written by Ross Prather entity that needs to be the biggest player regarding any future park within its boundaries. While the Town may support the idea, there have been no official motions raised by town council, let alone passed, to set aside municipal tax dollars for such a project. This is because the town is currently focused on the Bridge to Bridge (B2B) project, a significant undertaking, which requires the Kayaking on the Kicking Horse dyke between the pedestrian bridge

by Miro Micovsky and the Highway 95 traffic bridge to be raised to meet the 200-year Most people agree that a whitewater Last year, Gary Lacy—president of flood level. This is a critical project as park on the Kicking Horse River Recreation Engineering & Planning protection of the downtown core is in downtown Golden would be a in Boulder, Colorado—was hired by at stake, but the Town wants to turn great addition to the community.

Golden Area Initiatives to conduct this into far more than a simple dyke The features installed would make a feasibility study for the White by creating a “seawall”, conceptualized every commercial raft trip that Water Park (WWP) project. Lacy as a concrete promenade with floats the river each year even more has designed 80 whitewater parks steps down to the river, buried fun. Besides being a quality-of-life throughout the United States, hydro lines, and public seating. The enhancement for local whitewater including the highly successful $1.5 idea is to combine a serious flood enthusiasts, it would be a major million Reno Whitewater Park on protection project with a downtown draw for visiting kayakers, wave the Truckee River. That project has revitalization plan connecting to the surfers, and others who would revitalized the downtown river new Spirit Square. delight in action close to town. corridor in Reno, Nevada, and But we’re talking some big dollars Additionally, the park would provide has attracted some of the premier here – millions – and to weave an exciting attraction for viewers on competitive kayaking events in through the quagmire of higher level the pedestrian bridge and also help the country. government approvals and permits, to improve fish habitat.

Lacy completed a technical B2B needs to come before the WWP However, while many can engineering and design analysis on does. The intricacies of applying for appreciate the vision, it’s going to the Kicking Horse that identified crucial provincial and federal funding take one or more champions to the best slope gradients of the river make joint application extremely turn the dream into reality. While as well as the kinds of features best difficult. That said, the process and it may cost around $150,000 per suited for it. He recommended that eventual design of B2B could assist installed feature in the water, the the park should be situated between WWP in becoming a reality. required planning, permitting the 10th Avenue vehicular bridge and As formidable as they are, the and engineering costs will dwarf the timber frame pedestrian bridge. obstacles are not insurmountable. this. Even more challenging than It may be possible to extend the park What is needed is a dedicated public raising the funds is negotiating farther upstream, perhaps to the focused on actively pursuing the the labyrinth of required studies, aptly named Whitewater Amenity goal. Every interested party needs approvals, assumption of Hub near the campground. to get involved in the discussion liabilities, and other assorted red However, Lacy’s study is just the and process. All that is needed is a tape required by higher levels of beginning of what is ultimately dedicated champion. Maybe that government than the town. The needed to see the project through champion is you? Maybe it’s all of us. obstacles to overcome may prove to fruition. The future of the to be even harder than running the park, including capital sourcing Respond to this article on: river’s class IV rapids. and timing, depends upon others www.kickinghorsemagazine.com

Champions Needed

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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Trail Map T O TA L V E RT I C A L : 4 1 3 3 f E E T

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