SPRING 09 Winter Fishing The Mighty Tantalus Range Palestine/Israel Squamish Deep Freeze 7 Winter Flu Fighters MOUNTAINLIFEMAG.CA TOU RISM SQUA MISH choose your own adventure… get o the beaten path this winter… experience Squamish’s spectacular backcountry eagle viewing | snowshoeing | backcountry & nordic skiing | shing | ight-seeing | horseback riding and so much more… Nordic Skiing in the Callaghan Valley Eagle Viewing Photo: dcs.biz Fishing One of 9 Rivers Photo: Christie-images.com Photo: Backcountry Skiing in Garibaldi Park Photo: Christie-images.com Winter Adventure Packages starting from $70.50 person* (*Published pricing based on 1 night accommodation & 1 day pass pp for Nordic Skiing, subject to taxes & availability at the time of booking, based on double occupancy). ALSO AVAILABLE Whistler Blackcomb Lift Tickets Whistler Olympic Park Nordic Day Tickets 1.877.815.5084 Airport Shuttle Tickets | [email protected] www.tourismsquamish.com Contents p26 p14 p38 p33 p42 p60 Editor's Message Call for Education p10 Features UpFront Winter Fishing p14 Electric Fun p18 Backcountry Tips p20 Legend The Tantalus Range p26 World Ski & Snowboard Fest p22 Epic Trip Israel/Palestine – Crossing the Wall p38 Arts Tom Hjorleifson & the Seven Artistic Sins p33 Mini Adventure Frozen Delight – Ice Climbing in Squamish p42 Mountain Life Map p36 Wellness Capoeira p47 Mountain Home Green Future p50 Food Hot Drinks p54 Food Dining Guide p59 Gallery Winter's money shots p60 PHOTO credits FROM TOP TO BOttOM, LEFT TO RIGHT Paul Morrison, Brian Hockenstein, Jia Cordon, Key Gear p64 Davidmauricesmith.com & Blake Jorgenson Events Guide p67 COVER PHOTO p68 Photo by Crispin Cannon. Rider Matt Beardmore. Back Page Location Coast Mountains mountainlifemag.ca 8 MountainLife Spring 09 errellcanada.com CARBON merrell.com LINEAR EXCESS SPORTS WHISTLER VILLAGE SPORTS Ski & Sport 4557 - 104 Blackcomb Way T 604-932-2224 4254 Village Stroll T 604 932-3327 Backcountry 4251 Village Stroll T 604-932-6409 FUN FOR KIDS CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES WILD WILLIES (KIDS FOOTWEAR ONLY) BUTHANBUTHANN 7017 Nesters Road T 604 938-8036 203-4293 Mountain Square T 604 932-2115 Pan Pacifi c Mountainside Hotel T 604-938-9836 MERRELL STORE SPORTSTOP SOURCE FOR SPORTS 4295 Blackcomb Way T 604 905-1220 4112 Golfers Approach T 604-932-5495 INTERCEPT Editor's Note phoTo By ChrIS ANkENy “Life always gets harder toward the summit – the cold increases, the responsibility increases.” - Friedrich Nietzsche I’m not sure how much time old Nietzsche spent in the backcountry because they’ve never been there and don’t backcountry but, taken literally, he nailed it there. The Coast understand why the rest of us ‘crazies’ would ever venture Mountain backcountry is a magical and beautiful place, but it into a wild, untracked area that’s full of danger, cold fingers, can also be cold and dangerous. It can kill you. soupy meals and frozen boots. They have never heard the The nature of the publishing business means that we’ve snow squeak under a pair of skins or marveled at the struc- been planning this backcountry issue for many months. What tural magnificence of hoar frost. They’ve never had the cozy we didn’t plan for was a current snowpack that’s the least satisfaction of waking in a snow cave, or laying down the only stable the Coast Mountains has seen in perhaps 30 years. set of ski tracks for miles. But we have, and we will again. Slopes are sliding that usually don’t slide, and stuff you The backcountry comes with risk, and this season, so would never consider dangerous on a regular year is suddenly far, the risk is very high – the lack of early snowfall gave us dangerous. Even the longtime locals are staying inside the a rocky unstable snowpack that will slide more easily and ropes this season – one run is not worth your life right now. more often than usual. All the danger signs are there; you This is a good year to listen to the ski patrol and do what just need to know what to look for. they say. It’s a good year to take an introductory avalanche So education, not long-term regulation, should be the course, or to practice those transceiver searches you talk focus this season. The backcountry will still be here in the about every fall but never get around to. It’s a good year to spring, and next season. Let’s make sure we’re all still here use your better judgment. as well. Much has been said in the media this season about the – Feet Banks ‘killer’ backcountry. A lot of people are looking for more regulation or some sort of ban in an attempt to ‘save lives.’ For avalanche bulletins, conditions and training courses go to This is not the answer, rather it is a knee-jerk reaction avalanche.ca made by a society that has distanced itself from the awe To watch a good movie about the dangers of avalanches check and wonder of nature. These people are calling to close the out The Fine Line available at rockymountainsherpas.com 1012 MountainMountainLifeLife SpringSummer 09 08 EVOLUTION IN ACTION INNOVATION PERFORMANCE ARRAKIS 40 ARCTERYX.COM EDITOR feet BANKS [email protected] PUBLISHER GLEN HARRIS [email protected] ASSOciate PUBLISHER JON burak [email protected] creatiVe DIRECTOR amÉLIE LÉGARÉ [email protected] MANagiNG EDITOR NED MOrgaN [email protected] PROductiON directOR amÉLIE LÉGARÉ [email protected] CIRCULATION JON BURAK [email protected] webmaster malachite multimedia malachitemultimedia.com FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Ida GIBSON [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Richardson, Brian Hockenstein, Dave Barnes, Andrew Bradley, Eric Pehota, Bryn Hughes, Chris Ankeny, Julian Sallenave, Chris Winter, Dave Steers, Matt Mallory, M.J. Castor, Chris Christie, Damian Cromwell, Colin Field, Cooper Saver, Les Anthony, Julia McCabe, Brian Finestone, Rich Glass, Mark Gribbon, John Haines, Julien Sallenave, Crispin Cannon, Dave Humpheys, Blake Jorgenson, Todd Lawson, Ace Mackay-Smith, G.D. Maxwell, Jim Martinello, Paul Morrison, Bruce Rowles, David Maurice Smith, Eric Berger, Steve Fishcer, Dave Norona, Anne Macbeth, Jia Condon, Will Edmundson, Natalie Langmann and Lorne Warburton. accOUNT maNagers JON Burak 604.815.1900 [email protected] KATIE WEISS 604.902.6665 [email protected] JOshua craNE 604.902.0975 [email protected] NOrth AND WEST VaNCOUVER RYAN HOLDAWAY 778.968.7979 [email protected] PUBLISHED by MOUNtaiN LIFE PUBLISHING INC. Copyright ©2009. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40026703. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Mountain Life Magazine, #20 1821 Willow Crescent, Squamish, BC V8B 0L9. Tel: 604.815.1900 Mountain Life Coast Mountains is published every February, June and November by Mountain Life Publishing Incorporated and circulated throughout Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor from Pemberton to Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. To learn more about Mountain Life, visit www.mountainlifemag.ca. To distribute Mountain Life in your store please call 604.815.1900 To send feedback or for contribution guidelines email [email protected] Mountain Life is printed on paper that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. FSC is an international, membership-based, non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. 12 MountainLife Spring 09 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: SOMETIMES IT’S A STEEP, ICY LEARNING CURVE. Where we work, some people like stairs. Others prefer the elevator. Then there’s Andrew McClean. Shown here in the Southern New Zealand Alps, he skis down what other people rappel. His exploits have taught us a thing or two about designing parkas, packs, tents and gear for those who Many Mountain Hardwear routinely challenge nature’s worst. Like Andrew, we never styles feature GORE-TEX® take the easy route. But some of us see no shame in waterproof/breathable fabric for optimum performance pushing the ‘down’ button. in extreme conditions. GORE-TEX® SELECT RETAILER British Columbia GORE-TEX®, GORE® and designs are 604.253.2685 Photo: Chris Figenshau trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. deakin.com CLIENT: Mountain Hardware PRODUCT: Skier/Gore-Tex Coop DESIGNER: CM DOCKET #: 236-017C DATE: Oct 9, 2008 MAT. DEADLINE: Jan 10, 2009 ACCOUNT REP.: RT PUBLICATION: Mountain Life (Coast): Winter/Spring 2009 SIZE: 8.375”W x 10.875”H + .125” bleed COLOUR: CMYK NOTES: When placing this AD in your document, please ensure H&J’s are turned off and copy flow, line breaks, fonts and colour are consistent with this proof. The Marketing Department 457 King Street, London ON N6B 1S8 T: 519 439 8080 F: 519 439 8081 Production: [email protected] UpFront FREEZIN’ YOUR CASTOFF Winter fishing in the Sea to Sky combines scenery, solitude, and the joy of landing a big one. phoTo By dAvIdMAurICESMITh.CoM 14 MountainLife Spring 09 By david Smith Like most worthwhile winter activities, fishing starts way too early for my lik- ing. It doesn’t make evolutionary sense to get up before the sun – too much risk of predation. But most fishermen, predators themselves, seem too hopped up on caffeine to notice the time. And as they say, the early fish gets the worm. In reality, the brave souls who take to the rivers in the Sea to Sky during the winter are a dedicated group courageous enough to endure sub-zero tempera- tures and dark mornings in search of solitude, beautiful scenery and wild fish. According to pat Beahen, lead guide at Whistler Flyfishing and a pillar of the lo- “There are no gimmies. But this makes it more satisfying.” cal fishing community, the camaraderie brought about through winter conditions adds to the allure. “The Sea to Sky fishing community is a lot like the mountain community,” Beahen says.