THE MT.WASHINGTON YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT'S UP ON MT.WASHINGTON Volume 12, #1 • Winter 2001/02 Play safe and World Class Raven enjoy your visit to Lodge opens for Mt.Washington! Winter 01/02 Nordic skiing is taking the Spring break at Mt.Washington spotlight at Mt. Washington had been a glorious holiday for the this year. And it has every- family. Sunshine washed the slopes thing to do with the state-of- every day and the snow was deep the-art Raven Lodge. and rich. Six-year-old Lesley had just completed her second week of “The building we’ve developed is ski lessons and was eager to try a world class,” Mt. Washington General Manager Peter Gibson said. New challenge... nordic terrain has also been developed After all, she’d graduated from keep- as part of a 600-acre expansion proj- ing her skis in pizza wedge formation ect. to the all-important French-fries. Her The lodge opened in mid-December turns were a series of slow, calculated after two summers of building. The curves as she traversed, in complete post-and-beam construction, soaring control, from one side of Linton’s Loop Newly completed Raven Lodge features spectacular post and beam construction. windows on the main floor and use of to the other. There was no ominous warning cultured stone on the exterior has cre- A few feet above her, Rick called out Announcing the Second ated an ambience in the lodge that that the man was coming. There “Turn! That was great! Okay, Lesley, Phase of Parkview Place! blends well with the natural surround- turn again!” in a voice that resounded was no shout, no earsplitting ings, he said. over the crunch and swish of fellow scream, no sound at all. Just the Now is your opportunity to purchase Some of the wood used in the finish- skiers and snowboarders whisking gentle whoosh of his snowboard a townhome in a location second to ing construction was milled on site, happily by. Higher still, her mother shooting right past the huge, none! Located directly across from the too. The upstairs features a huge stone and older brother were enjoying the fluorescent orange warning signs Green Chair and a snowball’s throw fireplace with a seating area, a cafete- from Strathcona Park. There will ONLY ria, retail space and spectacular view leisurely pace set by the youngest and over the snowy lip with a member of the group. They shared be six of these prime mountain homes of Strathcona Park. blinding flash of sun glinting off giggles and laughter as mother and son available so call Rick Gibson today! Continued on page 22 stopped at the crest of the last lip to the razor-sharp edge of his board. survey the slope below. Time froze for Lesley’s mom and Rick Gibson In his bright red and black jacket, brother as they watched helplessly, THE INSIDE Rick was easy to spot. At over six feet unable to cry out fast enough to stop www.rickgibson.ca tall and weighing somewhat more than the disaster. Their world shifted into SCOOP 250-334-3124 (24 hours) the average scarecrow, he was a big slow motion as the airborne snow- P. 2 • Herb Bradley Honoured man. Lesley was just as visible in her boarder hurtled straight toward little P. 3 • Cross Country Renaisance brilliant turquoise and purple ski suit Lesley. P. 4 • Comox Valley Profile and the black helmet she’d kept on her A thunderclap rent the silence as the P. 6 • Profile: The Three Marketeers! head after her official lessons were snowboard smashed into the back of P. 9 • Exclusive to the Marmot done for the day. her helmet and sent her tiny body fly- Winter 01/02 Accommodation “Turn!” Rick called and Lesley’s ing in cartwheels through the air. In a Guide, winter 01/02 Events, mom and brother poked each other moment it was over and Lesley lay Village & Trail Maps and bragged about what a great skier unmoving, facedown in the snow. P. 25 • Mt.Washington Lesley was becoming. Continued on page 21 Real Estate Guide Published for your convenience by Rick Gibson & Julia Perrie of Royal LePage in the Comox Valley www.rickgibson.ca If you are looking for more information, wish to advertise, or want to submit information for future issues please contact us at (250) 334-3124. Page 2 THE MT.WASHINGTON MARMOT • WINTER 2001/02 Herb Bradley Honoured for a New Development Hinges on Lifetime of Community Service the Success of Holiday Season Herb Bradley folded his everything goes according to plan, hands on his walking cane construction will proceed next summer and bowed his head, resting on a new chairlift that will open up new terrain. The lift line was cleared in it on his hands, as the room summer 2001, as was one new ski run. around him erupted in a “We’re strongly leading towards a standing ovation. detachable six (seater),” he said. A lift company has been chosen, but Gibson The sold out crowd at the Florence wouldn’t reveal who it was because Filberg Centre had come to honor the the choice hadn’t been run by the consummate volunteer: Bradley, the board, yet. man who has made so much differ- The new red chair will eliminate a ence in so many lives, in so many major congestion area at the top of the ways. red chair; it will unload where the The Herb Bradley dinner in Raven run comes off Westerly, and will November attracted a who’s who of be one lift longer than the Eagle the Comox Valley history books, as Express, Gibson said. Bradley’s former students and fellow “The new lift will cater to all levels volunteers came from all over of skiers and boarders,” he said, with Vancouver Island to applaud him. an emphasis on giving novice skiers Since he arrived in the Comox Valley To disabled skiers, Herb Bradley is the man who made it possible for many of some higher terrain to work with. in 1947, Bradley has been instrumen- them to have the opportunity to experience the excitement of skiing. The west side project started last tal in teaching kids how to swim and year with construction of Raven Lodge, ski, and has helped bring the pits teams of skiers, including disabled A solid Christmas season a first-class Nordic skiing facility that Vancouver Island Skiing for the skiers, against each other in a fun race opened in mid-December. Two park- Disabled Society a national reputation will spell the difference on the Green Chair run. The race ing lots have been cleared and set with for the calibre of skiers it trains. habitually attracts some big-time between new development or gravel, to accommodate Raven Lodge Amid all the stories that the packed names, like the B.C. Lions, who pro- no development on the west visitors. house told at the “open mic”, and the mote it by doing live appearances as side of Mt.Washington. Construction of one of the parking songs that Bradley — known for lead- well as participating in the race itself. lots meant moving the biathlon range ing a ski class or two in song — led, Bradley was born in Bonnie Doon, a If numbers are strong through the that the Strathcona Nordics Cross- everyone paused to hear the big news. suburb of Edmonton. He was one of early part of the season, Mt. Country Ski Team had developed. A The disabled skiing race traditionally seven boys and three girls, and at Washington Resort will continue new range has been constructed about held in February at Mt. Washington Rutherford school he was always one developing 600 new acres on the west a kilometre farther up the road. Next has now been renamed the Herb of the top athletic performers in all side with construction of another high- year, a new trail head will be devel- Bradley Coca-Cola Classic. fields. “His activities were many and speed chairlift. oped to welcome guests to Paradise “This is one of the events that’s near varied, but in all fields his tremendous “Everything’s subject to board Meadows. Gibson said the trail head and dear to our hearts,” said Peter natural ability and strength of charac- approval and affordability. So we have location has yet to be determined, but Kupiak, Island manager for Coca-Cola, ter and sheer determination always to have a strong start to the year,” it will give people access either in announcing the name change for Resort General Manager Peter Gibson Continued on page 23 through the lower parking lot or from the popular VISD fund-raiser. The race said prior to the season opener. If the lower level of Raven Lodge. Victoria 1 TOLL FREE 1-888-898-991 Dealer #59 THE MT.WASHINGTON MARMOT • WINTER 2001/02 Page 3 Welcome To Cross Country Skiing! Shafts of sunlight glint off one-day trail passes plus a coupon for crystalline snow as it hangs 50% off your sixth visit. As an added bonus, Mt Washington has included tremulously from gnarled one free Alpine Lift Ticket for each fingers of soaring, ancient High Five package purchased! cedars. Icicles drip lazily Season passes can also be purchased making random pockmarks for Cross Country skiing. An adult sea- son’s pass purchased prior to in the glittering paradise. September 30 is a low $145.00. Nestled under the canopy of Purchased after November 1st, the drooping boughs two small, price rises to $179.00.