mount baker experience winter 2011

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Winter 2012 | mount baker experience 3

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4MOunt baker experienCe publisher patrick grubb, point roberts press, inc. CO-publisher / advertising Manager louise mugar Managing direCtOr kathy mcgee staff Writers kitty bond, Jeremy schwartz, carissa Wright publiCatiOn design charlie hagan advertising design charlie hagan, ruth lawless advertising sales kitty bond, molly ernst, Janet mccall, april miles OffiCe Manager carissa Wright COntributOrs molly baker, gene Davis, ryan Duclos, shayah fox, Jay goodrich, Dawn groves, grant gunderson, Dylan hart, susan cottrell hindman, Jason hummel, Justin kious, sam lozier, sue madsen, tyler mitchell

©2011 pOint rOberts press 225 marine Drive, blaine, Wa 98230 tel: 360/332-1777 fax: 360/332-2777 eMail: [email protected] Web: www.mountbakerexperience.com faCebOOk: www.facebook.com/mountbakerexperience

If you can see Mt. Baker, you’re part of the experience. mount baker experience is a quarterly rec-reation guide for and about the mt. baker area, published by point roberts press, inc. locally owned, the company also publishes the northern light, all point bulletin, pacific coast Weddings and Water-side and area maps in blaine, Washington. Vol. xxVi, no. 1. printed in canada. next editiOn: february 2012 | ads due: January 18, 2012

Winter 2012

adrenaline 4 Wild and untamed two intrepid skiers traverse the picket range

dining & lOdging 19 brewed in bellingham two breweries offer distinctly different beer

22 Where to eat a guide to highway 542’s dining

22 Where to stay a guide to highway 542’s lodging

essentials 6 Moonstruck snowshoeing under the stars

10 gliding and schussing cross-country skiing adventures abound

12 snow night experience the magic of winter camping

14 shape up! simple exercises for peak performance

26 eagle eye Witness the annual bald eagle migration

28 events What’s going on around mt. baker

30 Map a guide to mt. baker

gifts & gear 8 Winter gear a guide to the season’s best

24 Where artists Come together glacier creations and mountainside gardens

lOCal 23 raven hut a new mt. baker lodge opening this season

21 Winter ready snow plows tackle mt. baker highway

peOple 16 get stoked! local ski photographer grant gunderson talks about his craft

10

abOut the COver

Zach giffin carving first tracks at mt. baker.

photo by grant gunderson

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TWOSHOWS

4 mount baker experience | Winter 2012 Winter 2012 | mount baker experience 5

Wild and untaMed

two intrepid skiers traverse the picket range

story anD photos by Jason hummel

i awoke cold and shivering, wondering where I was. Looking up, I saw the stuff of nightmares – the Picket Range looming overhead, her ridges and slopes beguiling but terrifying at the

same time. I tried to fall back asleep, but slept fitfully realizing that I was indeed in the Pickets and scared as hell they’d keep me forever entombed in moonlit fingers of snow and ice.

Just the Monday before, I was reading an email from a guy I didn’t know. It said, “I’m headed to the Pickets for a ski traverse, and I’m looking for a partner.” Forest McBrian turned out to be one test away from becoming a certified American Mountain Guide Association guide – one of a handful in the country to receive all three certifications. Having completed his alpine and rock climbing requirements, he had one remaining – ski mountaineering – and I knew he wouldn’t have much difficulty passing. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner on our adventure.

It took six days for Forest and me to cross Stetattle Ridge, head down into McMillan Cirque, climb over Mt. Fury, down again into Luna Cirque, up and over Mt. Challenger, down Perfect Pass, then out via the Mineral High Route to Hannegan Pass Road. We completed a high tra-verse of the Picket Range in the middle of winter, crossing perhaps 50 miles of some of the most wild and remote mountains in the lower 48.

In May 1985, Jens Kieler, along with brothers Carl and Lowell Skoog, pioneered a ski traverse through the Picket Range. They were the inspiration for our trip. In the quarter century since, no one to their knowledge has repeated the feat. Lowell chronicled their adventure in the March 1986 issue of Rock and Ice magazine and wrote “… As we plodded slowly down the steep trail to Diablo, our legs were wobbly, our hands and faces sunburned, and our feet aching. But our mountain souls were soaring. We had skied the Pickets, and in so doing had found the climax of the North Cascade high routes.” My hope was that our mountain souls would also soar and stay aloft by avoiding any number of failures that could beset us and force an early retreat.

days 1 & 2: Leaving Diablo Lake with skis, boots, overnight gear and a healthy dose of opti-mism, Forest and I, joined by my friend Kyle, began our climb through thick woods to Stetattle Ridge, near where beat poet Gary Snyder spent the summer of 1953 as a fire lookout. His story is featured in the book, “Poets on the Peaks.” As we climb high enough to put on our skins, and higher still where we could peer over the ridge top, I could understand why vistas such as these would inspire poetry.

In the following day and a half, feet and skis reach forward and then pull back, forward and back, over and over again. Terrain rolls away and looking deep into the mountains, I notice not just peaks, but arms and legs, torsos and heads; where one mountain begins another peeks out. Within this tightly bound range there are at least 21 summits over 7,500 feet high. Overhead, up beneath McMillan Spires, a spine of rock and snow bristle with trees. It’s amazing where a tree will gain purchase.

Night grows out of shadows like ninjas crawling up from the valleys, forcing us to our bivvies or, as I joke to Kyle, “our ice coffins.” Stoves roar and cooking takes an hour. Stars tumble from the moon’s glow as the night goes on and on.

day 3: An early start brings warmth as our bodies begin to move. A few hours tracking and we look down into McMillan Creek Cirque, our three brains firing off the same thought. “Oh my God, I’m going down there? I am committed!”

Kyle finds conditions too risky, so Forest and I bid farewell as he turns back the way we came. It only takes a moment. I turn around and he is gone.

So close to the drop, I can feel the cold breath of wind sucking me in. The edge of McMillan Creek Cirque, where we perch, is plastered with cornices. They reach over the edge and present unknown dangers. Forest drops in with a push and I follow onto the slope and slide down into the valley.

With the north cirque walls an hour behind us, the sun breaks out from behind Mt. Terror and splashes the few hours of sunlight this valley receives each day. Sitting on rocks next to a gurgling stream our gear scatters, boots come off and not much is said. Satisified, I pull up another bottle of clean, crisp water and watch light roll over the landscape like ocean waves.

day 4: “It’s time,” Forest mumbles. He knows I’m already awake and once again we sub-mit ourselves to the morning cold. Skoog and party had climbed over Outrigger Peak before descending into McMillan Cirque. A direct route made more sense in winter, so we begin by ascending through trees to a place marked “waterfall” on the map, which jolts a laugh – how many receive no mention at all? Without a rope, we wonder, can we climb over? The answer is an ecstatic, “Yes!”

Upper snowfields pass by quickly. Signs of softening snow aren’t visible yet, and Forest asks, “Do you want to climb Fury?” Worried about avalanches, I simply say no.

The descent and climb up to Luna-Fury Col passes smoothly. Between cornices, we drop into powder laced with wind board. This is perfection all the way to the bottom

where I follow Forest on a high traverse. With skins attached, we climb until we both look down

into Luna Creek Cirque covered in snow and trees that march up valley walls like lines of ants from their nest.

Before our descent, Forest pauses between bites of cheese and matter-of-factly predicts, “These will be the best turns of my life.” As we glide over the top and drop in, I know he is right.

Deep beneath the north face of Mt. Fury, we climb over avalanche debris for hours before escaping onto Challenger Glacier. Ahead is camp, a relief after a day spent climbing for 8,000 feet. As I flatten out my bivvy site, I find I have excellent views of the northeast face of Mt. Fury. Seven years ago a group of good friends and I had skied it in very poor spring conditions; it had been one of the scariest descents of my life. As night blossomed, I pull out my camera and spent an hour trying to get that one shot just the way I wanted it – a mountain’s restless night.

day 5: Early morning wakeup reminds me that it’s winter. Between shivers I laugh, “How can I be warm and freezing at the same time?” These are awfully long nights I could do without but everything has a price. To be here, a spectator in such a place, discomfort is required.

An hour later we climb over Mt. Challenger’s broad glacier shoulder where the core of the Picket Range will begin to recede from view. Looking back, I consider the wild and untamed vista that lies before my eyes; how cultivated and tame I am compared to this place! Creaking, my skis continue their journey forward.

After navigating across crevasses and through terrible snow, we arrive at Perfect Pass. The names of the Pickets suit the terrain well. We wrangle beyond Imperfect Impasse onto the laid back Easy Ridge. Later, we have a choice – we can drop to the Chilliwack Trail or continue

on the Mineral Mountain High Route. The only reason to drop to the lowlands would be for weather reasons. With all-encompassing blue skies and not a germ of white puffiness in sight, off we go to the Mineral Mountain High Route.

The next 1,800-foot climb takes an hour and ten minutes, the descent even longer. Like many of the Cascade Mountains, challenges lie deep in the valleys. Fangs of cliff on Mineral Moun-tain’s northwest face force us to sidestep treacherous terrain, each step further committing us. “Forest, have you found a way?” I ask. He warns me, “Stay high!” Finally, a small couloir, no wider than my skis, grants passage to the slopes below and to Chilliwack Pass. Here is where we will spend our final night.

day 6: Our last morning we’re out of the trees onto the upper slopes of Ruth Mountain. The climb takes us from shady, powder-filled slopes onto a sunlit landscape that stretches out before us. Inevitably, the traversing ends as we round Ruth’s west face. In a cold breeze we eat the last scraps of remaining food. We’re in no hurry, knowing that our journey will soon be over.

An hour later, our skis shudder to a stop on the last patch of snow near a rock-strewn trail. They soon lay on weary shoulders as we hike out. They are no longer racing uninhibited through the unforgiving Picket Range. And unlike Forest and I, they are unafraid. No matter how often I visit, I will always awaken fearful of travelling these mountains. To me that’s what makes them so extraordinary.

For more information and spectacular photography see www.cascadecrusades.org/Ski Mountaineering/pickettraverse/pickettraverse2010/pickets2010.htm and www.alpenglow.org/skiing/pickets-1985/index.html. X

Jason hummel has been pioneering steep ski descents, extended ski traverses and kayaking rivers since his teens. Visit him at www.cascadecrusades.org and www.alpinestateofmind.com.

I slept fitfully realizing that I was indeed in the Pickets and scared as hell they’d keep me forever entombed in moonlit fingers of snow and ice.

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MOOnstruCksnowshoeing under the stars

by sue maDsen


p icture the moon rising behind Mt. Shuksan into a sky of cobalt blue, with pink and red fingers of

sunset and alpenglow lighting Mt. Baker to the west. Add the glitter and silent stillness from a layer of fresh snow, broken only by the crunch of footsteps. Moon-light snowshoe trips are one of the Mt. Baker area’s truly delightful secrets. And what better way to make the most of our short winter days?

My first moonlight snowshoe trip was with the Bell-ingham Parks and Recreation Department. An excited bunch of snowshoers with skills ranging from novice to expert gathered in the late afternoon for the trip up to the mountain. While the slopes may be overrun with skiers and snowboarders during the day, at night they are open and lonesome, shared only by the night-owl grooming crew and a few intrepid souls willing to ven-ture out into dark. Our group arrived at dusk, strapped on snowshoes and headlamps, and headed out into the evening. It was one of the most magical moments in my life, and since that time I’ve returned dozens of times, either solo with my trusty snow dog Dante or with friends who are always up for a new adventure.

Snowshoeing is one of the most accessible winter sports – if you can walk, you can snowshoe. All you need is your current hiking gear, appropriate cloth-ing and boots, and snowshoes. With a little care and common sense almost anyone can enjoy a safe and fun adventure, even at night. You also gain the additional benefit of getting a tremendous aerobic workout, which will help you keep in shape for the coming spring.

Before hitting the trail you’ll need the right clothes. Dressing in layers is critical, particularly at night. As you heat up through physical activity you can open or shed layers to prevent sweat buildup. Protecting your feet, hands, face, neck and head are extremely important – have a hat that covers your ears, a scarf or balaclava to cover your mouth and nose if it’s windy, gloves to wear when you’re snowshoeing, and for extra warmth, mit-tens to cover them during rest stops. A headlamp is also important, although you’ll find that it is seldom needed on clear nights when the moon is full.

Experienced snowshoers should have no problem extending their activities to night trips. As for any backcountry sport, a map and knowledge of the terrain is critical. This is particularly true for nighttime outings. When starting out, it is probably best to stick to clear open forest roads or a well-used area such as the ski area.

Some of my favorite moonlight routes are from the Heather Meadows Lodge to Artist Point, or along the Ridge Road/White Salmon Road trail system main-tained by the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club (www.nook-sacknordicskiclub.org/snowshoe.html). The Anderson Creek Road to the Anderson Butte/Watson Lakes trailhead southeast of Mt. Baker is also top notch. Re-gardless of the destination, pay attention to the weather report and avalanche conditions.

Weather in the Northwest can change rapidly, and people have been killed or injured by avalanches within the Mt. Baker area. Stay alert and tailor your trip for the current conditions. Always check the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center website before each trip (www.nwac.us).

Those with less experience or who are a bit more cautious can give snowshoeing a try with Recreation Without Borders (www.recreationwithoutborders.com). Recreation Without Borders is an adventure-based busi-ness in Mount Vernon offering moonlight snowshoe trips either directly or through several local parks and recreation departments.

For more information on snowshoeing, check out these Mountaineers books: “Snowshoeing: From Nov-ice to Master” by Gene Prater and Dave Felkley, and “Snowshoe Routes: Washington” by Dan Nelson. X

sue madsen is a fluvial geomorphologist who moonlights capturing photos of rare carnivores and assisting with volcano research. When she’s not furthering those interests, she likes to climb, ski, backpack, sea kayak and generally bum around in the pacific northwest’s wild places.

snowshoeing is strenuous exercise and requires much more energy than hiking. keep your mileage goals small, turn around when conditions are beyond your skill or your energy level is low. the Washington trails association offers the following tips for snow-shoeing:

1. always pack the ten essentials – topographic map, compass, extra food, extra clothing, fire starter, matches, sun protection, pocket knife, first-aid kit, cell phone and flashlight.

2. it’s very important to have:

• Extra clothing – plenty of layers made of materials such as wool or polypropolene that wick sweat and moisture away from your body.

• Headlamp – extra batteries are especially important in the winter, since days are short and night comes quickly.

• Plenty of extra food – you burn a lot of calories, so bring along plenty of extra food to keep your energy level high.

• Plenty of water – keep hydrated by drinking often. • Emergency shelter or sleeping bag – in case you have to

spend the night out there.• Portable shovel – a critically important winter survival

tool, for digging snow caves or digging someone out of an avalanche.

• Avalanche beacon – carry one and know how to use it. for more information, visit www.wta.org/hiking-info/ basics/winter-safety-tips.

if you want to try before you buy, the following local stores rent snowshoes:

backcountry essentials www.backcountryessentials.net 360/543-5678

fairhaven bike and ski www.fairhavenbike.com 360/733-4433

glacier ski shop www.glacierskishop.com 360/599-1943

Mt. baker snowboard shop www.mtbakersnowboard shop.com 360/599-2008

rei www.rei.com 360/647-8955

sportsman Chalet www.sportsmanchalet.com 800/600-1044

yeager’s sporting goods www.yeagerssportinggoods.com 360/733-1080

6 mount baker experience | Winter 2012

photo by Jay gooDrich | WWW.JaygooDrich.com


atOMiC savage ti“Designed for those of us who know from experience that skiing along-side the cliffs (not off them) gets you 10 to 15 more turns,” said Moun-tain to Sound shop owner Greg Whittaker of the Atomic Savage TI. Based in West Seattle, Mountain to Sound offers everything from ski to stand up paddleboard gear.

“Atomic has brought together the best elements of camber technol-ogy and underfoot width and shaped it into a poppy wood core frontside ski with stiffness,” Whittaker said. Featuring a wood core and layer of titanium, the Savage TI is the widest ski in Atomic’s No-mad line. It’s an all-mountain pair of sticks that like to go off piste, perfect for that guy in your family who still loves to ski, but keeps them on the ground.

Where tO buy: Mountain to Sound Outfitters www.m2soutfitters.com | 206/935-7669

Winter gear a guide to the season’s best by molly baker

salOMOn Quest ski bOOt “This is the perfect boot for folks who don’t hike exclusively, but dabble in the backcountry and still ski the lifts,” said Drew Adams, co-founder and owner of Glacier Ski Shop. “Salomon put out the Quest so people could have a great performing downhill-type boot with a walk mode and sturdy rubber boot sole.”

Offered in a variety of flexes, from 110 to 130, the Quest range is one of the first in the market to achieve

inbounds skiing capability and comfort for hiking and skinning. With sizes from a 5.5 to 12, Adams claims that Salomon boots fit about 80 percent of their customers and the Quest is quickly becoming a top seller, especially among women. Adams has seen a trend toward gear that combines ski performance and backcountry capabil-ity – the Quest is the answer to the market’s demands.

Where tO buy: Glacier Ski Shop www.glacierskishop.com

360/599-1943

bCa alp 40 paCk “The Alp 40 pack from BCA is great for long tours, even for an overnight trip if you can pack light,” said Thierry Werderits of Fairhaven Bike and Ski. “It has a roll top closer, like a dry bag, allowing you to take off the lid for shorter day trips.”

With a lean profile (and option to remove the lid), excellent zippered shoulder-strap hydration tube hide-aways and a ski carrying system, the pack can be used for everything from winter adventures to summer hiking missions. Compared to other models, the Alp 40 is a

smaller volume pack made of light materials, but with nifty little belt loop stash pockets and the roll top closer, all your gear will fit inside organized and easy to access.

Where tO buy: Fairhaven Bike and Ski www.fairhavenbike.com | 360/733-4433

baCkCOuntry aCCess traCker 2 The folks at Backcountry Essentials specialize in new and used gear for backcountry skiing, snowboarding, climbing, mountaineering, camping and backpacking. And they have a cooler with roughly 99 flavors of craft beer. We trust their opinion when it comes to the things that matter to many outdoor enthusiasts – gear and beer.

For any inspiring outdoorsman who’s out in the backcountry more often than not, owner Chris Gearson recommends the BCA Tracker 2. “Backcountry Access released the Tracker 2 late last winter and it looks to be the avalanche transceiver of choice this year. Plus, it’s made in the U.S.,” Gearson said. “Three antennae, instantaneous real-time display and the same easy-to-use interface as the original Tracker DTS, it will help you find your partner faster. An intuitive mechanical search/transmit switch makes it even easier to use right out of the box.”

Where tO buy: Backcountry Essentials | www.backcountryessentials.net | 360/543-5678

JOnes sOlutiOn snOWbOard Jeremy Jones is one of the world’s most renowned snowboarders. He has been all over the world riding powder from a helicopter and hiking to the top of long, intimidating Alaskan spines for first descents. Last year Jones introduced the Solution Splitboard, an immedi-ate favorite for backcountry snowboarders around the world.

“The shape makes this board a huge seller for us. It gives you stability, but still floats very well in the powder. It is universal. The do-everything board,” said a Sportsman’s Chalet employee. The Solution comes in two sizes (164cm or 168cm wide) and offers Magne-traction technology. With directional rocker and cam-ber underfoot, it will handle any conditions you find out in the backcountry. It’s sturdy and surfy, a combo any experienced rider will appreciate.

Where tO buy: Sportsman Chalet www.sportsmanchalet.com | 800/600-1044

helly hansen sWift JaCket

Yeager’s has been selling outdoor gear since the 1920s.

They’ve seen many jackets, and this year they’re saying

it’s all about the Helly Hansen Swift.

It features a powder skirt, articulated arms,

adjustable cuffs, bottom hem, hood, multiple exte-rior and interior pockets, and a specially designed ski-pass pocket. Offered

in multiple colors, sports enthusiasts can amp up

their style while sporting this waterproof, insulated

and breathable jacket.

Where tO buy: Yeager’s Sporting Goods www.yeagerssportinggoods.com | 360/733-1080

garMin rhinO 650 gpsNot everyone carries a GPS and radio while out hiking, snowshoeing or skiing. For those who do, should, or would love to, consider the Garmin Rhino series. “It combos a two-

way radio into a GPS unit. It is the one product that does both for folks. Instead of having two devices, you just have to carry one,” said Pat Kennedy, who has worked at REI’s Bellingham location for the past five years.

On the 2.6-inch display with touchscreen, features include a built-in NOAA radio, FRS/GMRS radio (code for personal/

consumer radios), a tracking device for your partners, a 3-axis compass, a Barometric altimeter, satellite imagery options and

topographic detail comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps.

Where tO buy: Bellingham REI | www.rei.com | 360/647-8955

burtOn CustOM and MissiOn bindingsLesley Hunter has worked at Hidden Wave in Burlington for the past seven years. After nearly a decade of buying, selling and testing product (Hunter is a snowboarder who rides the Lib Tech TRS snowboards), she mentioned one product that stands out – the Burton Custom and Mis-sion snowboard bindings.

“They are a good mid-range price, but still have all the great signature buckles, straps and ad-justments of a Burton product and the heel cups have a lifetime warranty, so you are guaranteed to get some mileage out of them,” Hunter said. “They have always been our best seller.”

The binding’s hi-backs use Burton’s “Living Hinge” technology, allowing for less weight, adjustable forward lean and independent hi-back rotation.

Where tO buy: Hidden Wave Boardshop www.hiddenwave.net | 360/757-4998

What Would a ProfessIonal InternatIonal skIer choose for the Best holIday gIft ever? We asked MOlly baker … “i’d choose a day to ski with my dad,” baker said. “this past summer my dad met me in south america for two weeks, which is something i never imagined would happen. We toured and skied near some of

argentina’s glaciers and backcountry huts. in many ways, it was the best ski trip of my life. if i could have anything this holiday season, it would be a day en-joying the mountains and snow with my dad at mt. baker.”

photo: molly baker and her dad, charles baker

photo credit: Zack giffin

eleCtriC eg2.5 pat MOOre gOggles For the past 22 years, the Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop has outfitted pros and enthusiasts alike. Located behind Milano’s and across from the Wake ’n Bakery, the Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop is quintessentially Glacier and one of the staple businesses in town. They know snowboarding.

Among Gnu and Lib Tech snowboards, the shop carries one brand of goggles – Electric. Their rider-inspired series of goggles has brought the Electric EG2.5 Pat Moore model to Glacier. An ergonomic design that fits well with helmets, 100 percent UV protection, and anti-fog/anti-scratch hard coating lenses, the EG2.5 is a favorite of the shop’s customers. Designed from the standpoint of Pat Moore’s locally inspired “Live Free or Die” motto, the EG2.5 is a perfect fit for your favorite idiosyncratic snowboarder.

Where tO buy: Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop www.mtbakersnowboardshop.com | 360/599-2008

HiddenWaveBoardshop896 S BURLINGTON BLVD, BURLINGTON, WA 98233

360 757 4998 www.hiddenwave.net OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Rider: Brad Andrew Photo: Brandon Franulovic

Open 7 days a week! 1108 11th St. Fairhaven 360-733-4433

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For Serious Fun!We have the gear and the knowledge for all your winter needs!

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t hey held their course at Salmon Ridge, the local cross-country snow park. It was there that I fell in love with gliding and schussing. Being new to winter sports that year, I also

sampled the downhill ski scene. And even though I enjoyed its addictive, adrenaline-filled qualities, I never lost my taste for ungroomed tracks. Gliding without the crush and din of other skiers was and still is a true pleasure.

Recently, I asked Hindman about getting into the sport. His best advice? Always take a lesson, and make sure to have proper gear.

“Just like a bicycle needs to fit the rider, the skis must suit the body type, weight, skill and interests of the skier. Go to someone who specializes in skis and get properly fitted,” he says. “If you are buying skis at a ski swap or from an ad, make sure you’ve done your homework first.”

Hindman suggests preparing for winter sports by walking. “Start walking around the block and keep increasing your distance and speed,” he says. Working out with weights is also helpful. Your physical strength, stamina and comfort will rapidly improve with practice.

Todd Eastman, a colleague of Hindman and another local cross-country evangelist, has been racing, coaching and loving cross-country since 1972. Active in the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club, Eastman is adamant about learning to ski in the company of friends. “Ask your friends what they’d like to do on skis. Involve them. If you ski with special buddies, you won’t quit. You’ll keep increasing your fitness, having fun while doing it. There’s nothing better than laughing with a friend who’s fallen into a snow bank, especially after you’ve just done the same thing.”

“Cross-country has a reputation for attracting aerobic athletes, really fit people,” Eastman adds. “But that’s too limiting. It’s basically playing in the snow, and you can do that even if you’re not in great shape. Just pick the right places and don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

Eastman is right. In Hindman’s class so many years ago, I remember we were all victims of middle-age spread. (Except for the instructors, of course.) The good news was that it didn’t matter. We learned the basics of the Nordic stride and delighted in our clumsiness and budding skill. It was so much fun.

Cross-country skiing falls into stylistic categories based on terrain and technique. In the Pacific Northwest, we categorize cross-country skiing as follows:

baCkCOuntry skiing

Alpine Touring and Telemark Skiing. Backcountry skiers outfit themselves with alpine touring or telemark gear. Hindman says that backcountry requires heavier equipment for use on more vertical terrain.

“The steel-edged skis tend to be wider and used with sturdy boot/binding systems.” Telemark skiing refers to a free-heel form of turning with a flexed knee and raised heel on the inside ski.

It looks like the skier is kneeling on one ski and then the other.“It’s more like mountaineering,” Eastman adds. “It’s a higher risk endeavor in uncontrolled

territory. Anywhere you go, you’re on your own.”

Equipment includes the Mountaineers Ten Essentials, proper skis and skins (strips of material that attach to the undersides of the skis, providing traction for climbing), avalanche and self-rescue equipment, extra clothing and food. “It’s a lot like winter backpacking and should be treated with full regard for winter

travel safety,” Eastman says. “Skiers must be knowledgable in the use of backcountry equipment and well-versed in avalanche awareness.”

Backcountry courses are available through the American Alpine Institute in Bellingham (www.aai.cc) and the Mt. Baker Ski Area (www.mtbaker.us).

Where to go: Heather Meadows, a groomed cross-country loop near the ski area’s upper lodge, is a good starting point for backcountry skiers. The nearby parking lot offers convenient access to a number of possible tours. “The North Cascades are full of places to trek,” Eastman says. “Backcountry season is virtually unlimited because we have some of the deepest snow on the planet.”

Cross-Country Downhill. Cross-country downhill (XCD) skiing is a bridge between backcountry and cross-country. It uses metal-edged skis with free-heel bindings, skins, wax or a patterned ski base. The terrain is generally more moderate as the gear is better suited for dis-tance travel. It may or may not include avalanche terrain. XCD also has less extreme climbing.

“You can practice XCD skills in a ski area like Mt. Baker,” Eastman says. “Use the same down-hill runs as everyone else. XCD places the emphasis on technique, instead of relying so much on powerful equipment.”

Where to go: Backcountry logging roads and trails are great, although a highly skilled XCD skier can handle almost any terrain. “The Ptarmigan Ridge tour in the spring is ooh-la-la,” East-man laughs.

CrOss-COuntry

Tour Skiing. Touring involves skiing on fire service roads, snowmobile roads and trails that aren’t groomed for skis. “You’re skiing wherever the opportunity presents itself, making your own way,” Eastman says. You can use cross-country downhill, track or skate skis. “Before grooming came along, this is what a lot of people thought cross-country was – it often features trail breaking.” Touring isn’t common in lower elevations of Whatcom County because of the unpredictable freeze line, but when snowplows venture into coastal zones, it’s time to strap on skis and step out the front door.

Where to go: On snowy days, try Hannegan Road Trail, Twin Lakes Road, Chuckanut Ridge or any logging road. Hovander Homestead Park, Cornwall Park and Silver Lake are especially good for touring.

Light Touring/Track Skiing. Wide, groomed trails bisected by one or two pairs of set tracks define cross-country track skiing. (The tracks are used by classic Nordic track ski-ers.) Track skiing is striding in a forward motion, like running or walking with a forward glide phase. The skis are longer with a specific flex zone under the foot to accommodate kicking and

the best pieCe Of adviCe i ever reCeived On living in the paCifiC nOrthWest Was

tO learn a spOrt fOr every seasOn. sO, 15 years agO i tOOk a CrOss-COuntry

skiing COurse frOM ski guru steve hindMan and his eQually skilled Wife, susan.

gliding and sChussingcross-country skiing adventures abound

story by DaWn groVesphotos by susan cottrell hinDman

gliding. Track skis feature waxable or patterned bases.

If you’re skiing on the flat groomed surface on either side of the tracks then you’re in the skate lanes. Skating is a side-to-side mo-tion similar to roller-skating. Skate skis are generally shorter than track skis, more torsionally rigid, and they have a stiffer overall flex. Like downhill skis, skate skis use glide wax from tip to tail for maximum speed.

Where to go: The Salmon Ridge network, run by the Nooksack Nordic Ski club, maintains 25 kilo-meters of groomed ski trails across from the Nooksack River at the Hannegan Pass trailhead. (Sno-Park passes are required. For a list of places to purchase a Sno-Park pass, visit www.parks.wa.gov/winter/vendors).

Another good spot is Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver. It has 20 kilometers of groomed trails with full amenities, lights on the lower trails and track ski rentals. Further north, there’s world-class cross-country skiing at Callahan Valley (where the cross-country Olympics were held) and Whistler.

What tO Wear

With so many types of cross-coun-try gear available, the next obvious question is, “What should I wear?” Your attire depends on the weather, the type of skiing you’re doing and how hard you intend to exercise.

“Cross country skiers can wear basic jogging clothes with a jacket or other layers on top. If they’re working hard, they’ll get just as hot as when they’re jogging. Good gloves are necessary because of the

cold. Skiers who choose to trek into the backcountry must dress more thoughtfully with the variety of possible weather and terrain condi-tions in mind. Generally speaking, the faster a person goes, the less clothing they need, but everyone should be prepared for unforeseen problems,” Hindman advises. X

Dawn groves is a writer who’d rather be kayaking, cross-country skiing, practic-ing tai chi or eating sushi. Visit her blog at www.dawngroves.com.

if you want to try before you buy, the following local stores rent cross-country skis:

backcountry essentials www.backcountry essentials.net 360/543-5678

fairhaven bike and ski www.fairhavenbike.com 360/733-4433

glacier ski shop www.glacierskishop.com 360/599-1943 sportsman Chalet www.sportsmanchalet.com 800/600-1044

yeager’s sporting goods www.yeagerssporting goods.com 360/733-1080

cross-country ski rentals

nordic ski tipswww.nordicskitips.comsteve hindman’s website offers tips, tools and inspiration for cross-country skiers.

nooksack nordic ski Clubwww.nooksacknordicskiclub.orgthe nooksack nordic ski club maintains and grooms the trails at the salmon ridge snow park on the mt. baker highway. it also offers instructional classes for children and adults as well as overnight trips to other groomed trail destinations in Washington and british columbia.

Mt. baker ski area, heather Meadowswww.mtbaker.us this is a short groomed cross-country loop near the upper lodge. heather meadows is also the location for the cross-country leg of bellingham’s annual ski to sea race.

Cypress Mountainwww.cypressmountain.com/nordic-conditionscypress mountain is located in the mountains just above Vancouver, b.c.

local resources:

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befOre yOu gO. Good planning is the most important ingredient in a safe and comfortable winter camping trip. Don’t count on anything “just working out.” It might, but nature doesn’t tend to be accommodating in winter. Check the weather forecast before you go: Will there be precipita-tion? Wind? High or low temperatures? What is the current snow pack? A good understanding of the weather will help you decide what gear to bring, what route to take and what contingencies to prepare for.

Choose trip objectives that won’t stretch your limits – it’s important to have enough energy in reserve to deal with a potential problem. Leave enough time to get settled in camp before darkness and colder temperatures set in.

during the day. In the (relatively) warm Pacific Northwest, less is usually more when clothing is concerned. Dress in layers, and if you’re sweating and soaking them, open your jacket vents, roll up your sleeves or take your jacket off. If all else fails, go slower. Sweat is your body trying to cool off, and you need to stay dry to avoid getting hypothermic when you stop. If it’s snowing hard, as it often is, staying dry can be challenging, if not impossible. Have enough dry clothing to change into at camp. If you’re getting cold, put on a warm hat and add more layers.

You’re burning more calories and sweating much more than you think. Take the time to eat easily digestible food at regular intervals and drink plenty of water. You’ll stay warmer, have more energy and set yourself up for success later on.

at CaMp. Broadly speaking, two types of shelters are used in winter camping: tent-style shelters, which can include everything from the strongest four-season expedition tent to a simple tarp, and snow shelters, which include igloos, snow caves and everything in between. Tent-style shelters tend to be heavier and colder, but easier to set up and generally more convenient. Snow shelters don’t require anything more than a shovel to make, are typically warmer and more weatherproof than a tent, but can take more than an hour to build and require some practice to get right.

A 15-degree sleeping bag from a respected manufacturer should provide enough warmth for winter camping, but that isn’t the whole picture. When camping on snow, even in a high quality sleeping bag, you’ll lose a huge amount of body heat to the ground if you don’t have a good sleeping pad. A sleeping pad with an R-value of at least 4 should be enough to keep you warm in most situations.

Wear only the clothes you need to bed and bring everything that shouldn’t freeze into the sleeping bag with you. Water bottles won’t freeze overnight if you bury them upside down in snow, but put contact cases, batteries, boot liners and any damp layers from the day into the bag with you. Your body heat should keep them from freezing.

fOOd and Water. More than just a luxury in winter, a stove is an essential piece of safety equipment. You can melt snow for water, cook hot meals and prepare hot water bottles to warm your sleeping bag. Make sure you have a stove that

works in cold weather. Stoves generally come in two forms, those that rely on pre-pressurized canisters, such as the Jetboil, and liquid fuel stoves such as the MSR WhisperLite. Canis-ter stoves, though convenient and light, experience a huge decrease in performance as the temperatures drop or as the altitude rises. Liquid fuel stoves, on the other hand, are heavier and a little bulkier, but more reliable and effective in colder weather.

You’ll need simple, high-calorie, easy-to-prepare and easy-to-eat food. Save the Dutch-oven peach cobbler for your sum-mer camping. Even hot food gets cold fast – an insulated bowl or wide-mouth mug can ensure that you aren’t eating an ice cube by the time you reach the end of your portion.

No topic can be fully explored in a short article, and winter camping is no exception. For great tips and a more in-depth look at snow shelters, efficient movement through snow and the challenges of winter camping, check out “Allen & Mike’s Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book: Traveling and Camping Skills for a Winter Environment” written by Allen O’Bannon and illustrated by Mike Clelland and “Mountaineering: Free-dom of the Hills,” edited by Ronald C. Eng. X

sam lozier followed his dream and moved to the mt. baker area, where you can find him skiing, running, hiking, climbing, fishing, photo-graphing and writing. Visit him at www.famousinternetskiers.com.

snOW nightexperience the magic of winter camping

by sam loZier

photos by grant gunDerson

nothing is as magical as camping in the winter. often seen as a cold, wet, survival-only experience, winter camping is a perfect way to extend your ski or snowshoe trips an extra day or two. if you’ve ever backpacked or camped, you’re halfway there. you’ll just need to be prepared, and never underestimate how much energy

and focus it takes to stay warm and dry. if you’ve never tried camping in the snow before, staying close to the car is a good idea for the first trip.


shape up!simple exercises for peak performance

by molly baker | photos by shayah fox

Peak fitness should involve a variety of training. following are a few of my favs.

bikram yoga: following a series of 26 asanas and two pranayamas, bikram helps

prevent illness, injury and the effects of aging. allowing for intense blood flow, massaging of internal organs and overall muscle strengthening, it complements other training. Visit www.bellinghambikram.com.

Jogo Crossfit bellingham:for $60 get four, 75-minute ses-sions of crossfit basecamp training at Jogo. classes are restricted and

small, so it will be close to having a personal trainer without the holly-wood prices. Visit www.jogogym.com.

yMCa sports Circuit: focused on core strength, this class follows a circuit-training regimen, using equipment in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. Visit www.whatcomymca.org for info on all Whatcom county classes.

greater bellingham running Club (gbrC):With a schedule of trail runs and races all over Whatcom county, you can purchase an annual membership ($20 for singles, $40 for a family) to this running club and meet for any of their group runs. Visit www.gbrc.net.

fairhaven runners & Walkers:a favorite of local athletes and out-

door enthusiasts, fairhaven runners & Walkers is the ideal place to go for shoes. With a personal gait analysis and custom fitting, the shop has the ability to put you in the ultimate shoe for your foot. check out the website for trail descriptions too: www.fairhavenrunners.com.

5push-ups

5squats

5bicycle Crunches

Do you think of winter as your lazy time of year? With shorter days and grey weather, playing outside often gets trumped by movies, books and comfort food.

Don’t get too comfortable, though – late fall and early winter are the key times to start a fitness program that will last all year long. the following combination of exercises will increase stamina, stability and energy.

extra measures

WarM ups. Find a comfortable, flat space outside. You won’t need any equipment, other than a stopwatch, athletic clothing and plenty of motivation.

Set the timer and warm up with a short five-minute run or fast-paced walk. Jogging is one of the cheapest and fastest ways to get in shape. It only requires a good pair of running shoes and open space. Remember, the faster you run, the harder your heart works and the stronger it gets. In addition, you’ll improve bone and ligament vitality, better cartilage quality and flush toxins with a jog or walk.

After you’ve warmed up, do as many reps as you can in 30 seconds of each of the following exercises with ten seconds of rest between each set. Repeat three cycles with one minute of rest in between each cycle. As you struggle, think of your favorite powder run, reaching an iconic winter peak or snowshoeing that last mile of your weekend excursion. If this doesn’t increase your masochistic tendencies, do the set with a coworker and aim for a little “friendly” competition – anything that helps you push through the exhaustion. Count your reps and record them to watch your improvement.

push-ups. Place hands wider than shoulder-width apart and lower your chest to the floor. Push-ups will strengthen your arms, chest and back, and your core stability and strength will improve. If a regular push-up is too intimidating, try first with your knees on the ground, making sure to keep your back straight with no curves or sagging. When you are ready, move on to the regular Army-style version.

sQuats. With feet hip-width apart, bend your knees to 90 degrees without extending them past your toes, keeping your chest upright. Return to standing.

biCyCle CrunChes. Lie on your back, hands clasped behind your neck. Don’t pull on your neck – your hands are just there for support. Bring your right elbow toward your left knee while straightening your right leg, raised six to eight inches above the floor. Alternate sides. Keep your abs engaged and remember to breathe.

MOuntain CliMbers. From a pushup position, quickly alternate bringing your knees one at a time toward your chest. The stronger you feel, the faster this should happen.

sQuat JuMps. Do a squat, then jump as high as you can while throwing your arms up into the air, landing softly into another squat. When you land, keep your knees straight (not turning inward or outward) and behind your toes. X

molly baker, professional extreme skier, freelance writer, dancing freak and pastry aficionado, lives in the snowy rain-forest of glacier. she is featured in the film “Downhill affair: a love story,” a finalist at the 2011 banff film festival.

photo by Justin kious | WWW.kiousphoto.com

photo by ryan Duclos | WWW.bellinghamphotographer.com

byron bagwell hits the backcountry

Wes lemire hucks a cliff in the mt. baker backcountry

mark kogelman takes an early morning run in the backcountry


MBE: Tell us a little about yourself.Grant Gunderson: I’m 32, grew up in Yakima, Washington and went to school at Western.

MBE: How long have you been skiing? GG: Since I could walk, actually before I could walk. Growing up, my parents got me on cross-country skis before they would let me on a chairlift. I had lots of backcountry experience before I even got onto a lift.

MBE: How did you get into the business of ski and sports photography?GG: I kind of fell into it. I started shooting photos of friends in high school and once I entered college I got into it a whole lot more. I was lucky because the guys I was skiing with at the time were really good skiers and magazines wanted to buy photos of them.

MBE: How did it turn from you taking pictures of friends to magazines buying from you?GG: It pretty much happened overnight. One day we were hanging out and a film crew that was there started filming the guys I was photographing. They put me in contact with a couple of magazines that were doing a story, and it just happened. I got really lucky, I guess.

MBE: What other sports do you photograph?GG: I do some hiking and mountain biking photography but skiing is definitely my passion.

MBE: What did you study at Western, and what did your parents think about you becoming a ski photographer?GG: I took plastics engineering, and I’ve never used it. My dad was less than happy about it at the time. In fact, if it wasn’t every day, it was at least once a week he would call and ask me when I was going to get a job and quit being a bum. Then when he actually retired, he called up and said, “OK, now I get it. You went straight from going to school to being retired without the working part in the middle.” I think he’s actually jealous now.

MBE: You’re photo editor of Ski Journal, you’ve been published in Powder, Skiing Maga-zine, Ski Magazine, Patagonia catalogs and Canadian ski magazines. Where else can your work be found?GG: I do a lot of stuff for foreign magazines. In fact, I probably have more work published in Japan and Europe than I do in North America. I think skiing is a lot more popular in Europe and each country has its own magazine in its own language.

MBE: You’ve taken photos of skiers in pretty damn near unskiable terrain. You have to be positioned up there to take the shot. That seems even more difficult than what the skier has to do.GG: I think it goes both ways. It doesn’t seem that difficult because I came to it from a real strong ski background. Sure, some of it is steep but that’s one of the nice things about skiing in the Pacific Northwest, you can ski steeper stuff here than anywhere else.

MBE: How come?GG: The snow sticks to stuff here that it wouldn’t elsewhere. That’s why I love Baker crud. I’ll take it over Utah snow any day.

MBE: How do you pick your shots?GG: Instead of looking at one big mountain face I try to concentrate on details of the terrain that I think would showcase the peak action. Occasionally I’ll shoot a line to show the fluidity of the skiing, but mostly, it’s about the action.

MBE: What’s involved with setting up a shot?GG: Throwing lots of snowballs. Often when I shoot, it’s more like stunt work than what people would expect ski photography to be. The big air and the shots that look dangerous usually are. Both the skier and I have to be precise in knowing where the skier is going to go, making sure he or she isn’t going to land on rocks or hit me. It’s just like anything else, you don’t jump into shooting gnarly stuff, you definitely build up to it.

MBE: Had any close calls?GG: The closest call I’ve had was on Mt. Baker going out to an area called Old Man, which is usually a safe place to ski when there’s a high avalanche danger. There’s an area before you get to it called The Horseshoe, and on that particular day we were all kind of scared of it, more so than usual. None of us wanted to break it, and finally I said, “What the hell,” even though in the back of my mind I thought it was a horrible idea. I took four steps forward and the snow broke about three feet deep. Luckily, I stayed on top of it. But I turned and looked back past what was considered a safe place to stand when someone’s breaking it. It broke behind the guys and they got buried up to their waists. Definitely a good wake-up call – now any time I get a gut feeling that it’s a bad idea, I don’t do it.

MBE: Not only do you have to be a skilled photographer, you also need people to shoot. Is there a bar like the test pilot bar in “The Right Stuff ” where you find these daredevils?GG: I wish. The Taproom’s (the bar upstairs at the Heather Lodge) pretty close, I guess. Most of the guys I shoot are people who are friends of other people that I’ve shot before. The last thing I want to do is to shoot some unknown kid with Kodak courage who is going to go do something stupid and get hurt. There’s a really good group of skiers at Mt. Baker and in the Northwest.

MBE: What do you look for in skiers?GG: Rule No. 1 is we’ve got to have fun. It has to be someone I want to hang with. Being a good skier is a given. It has to be someone who has a lot of knowledge and enough respect for the mountain to be somewhat cautious. It’s nice to work with athletes who know when to say no. The last thing I want to do is work with someone who gets hurt. Being levelheaded is pretty key.

MBE: Anything else?GG: The biggest thing I want people to understand is my firm belief that in everything I do it’s at least 50 percent the athlete if not more. The truth is, you should be interviewing the athletes, not me. If it weren’t for the skiers I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.

MBE: What exercise regime keeps you in shape?GG: I mountain bike in the summer. That’s pretty much it. About five years ago, I decided to completely quit eating fast food. When I’m at home I never eat prepared foods – I cook it all myself. It’s made me feel amazing. I guess I could quit drinking, but that’s not going to happen.

get stOked!local ski photographer grant gundersontalks about his craft

by pat grubb

grant gundersOn, a bellinghaM-based ski phOtOgrapher, has been published in every MaJOr ski publiCatiOn WOrldWide, inCluding ski, skiing, pOWder, Outside and Many fOreign titles. pOWder Magazine desCribes grant “as One Of the WOrld’s tOp aCtiOn spOrts phOtOgraphers.”

Continued on page 20


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Open Daily thru Dec. 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 360-398-9187

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breWed in bellinghaMtwo local breweries offer distinctly different beerby carissa Wright

Chuckanut brewery 601 W. holly street, bellingham360/752-3377 | www.chuckanutbreweryandkitchen.com

boundary bay 1107 railroad avenue, bellingham360/647-5593 | www.bbaybrewery.com

i n the Northwest, you don’t have to go far for good beer. If there isn’t a craft brewery within a half-hour’s drive, you’ll probably be able to find

a bar serving a variety of local, handmade or hard-to-find brews.Bellingham is lucky enough to have a handful of such bars, along with

two craft breweries right in the downtown core.Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro and Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen

have at least one thing in common – the food they serve gets as much attention as the beer.

Both place a heavy emphasis on local ingredients, food made from scratch and pairing a good beer with a good meal. But outside the kitchen, the differences emerge.

ChuCkanut breWery & kitChen

Chuckanut Brewery recently received the Great American Beer Festival’s (GABF) small brewery of the year award, and during the 2011 festival in Octo-ber, four of their brews took home medals – two golds, a silver and a bronze.

Chuckanut Brewery’s focus during the warm months was on making light, drinkable lagers (and some ales) extremely well. But as the weather grows colder, a few darker beers start showing up – already a smoke porter has been added to the list.

One standout is their Kolsch – one of the 2011 GABF gold medal winners. The light-bodied, dry ale is a style from Cologne, Germany, and Chuckanut’s has a pleasant, malty complexity.

I enjoyed the session blonde ale – with its extremely refreshing character and low alcohol by volume, it’s perfect for quaffing on a sunny afternoon.

On the docket for release this winter are Chuckanut’s Alt Bier, full-bodied and hoppy, and the Dunkel lager, another award-winner for the brewery.

bOundary bay breWery & bistrO

The back of Boundary Bay’s signature T-shirts and hoods features the brewery’s slogan “Save the Ales.” The brewery is well on its way to accomplishing that goal itself – right now there are no lagers on tap, and none on the way.

Boundary Bay’s beers range from a lone blonde-style American ale to the imperial oatmeal stout, a boozy, black-as-night “meal in a glass,” as the menu calls it.

Only the blonde clocks in at less than 5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), while the stout hits 8.5 percent.

In between are the ESB (an English-style pale ale whose initials stand for Extra Special Bitter), an amber, an IPA (India Pale Ale) and my personal favorite, the Scotch ale. The Scotch has a malt flavor similar to its distilled cousin, with a smooth-ness that belies its ABV.

Each has a distinct brewing process and resulting characteristics; no two beers here could be confused. Hops here provide backbone, but are not the focus, except in the IPA and seasonal imperial IPA.

The IPA is touted as one of the brewery’s most popular, unsurprising in a hophead region like this. Its fresh hop flavor, however, sets it apart. Hops are generally added dried, and fresh hops are a seasonal luxury. Boundary Bay’s IPA has the flavor of fresh hops without the transience. X

carissa Wright is looking forward to heading further afield for her next beer adventure. homebrewing is still on the horizon, but so is ski season. one of the two will have to wait, and snow waits for no (wo)man.

visit the taprooms

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pat tolton blasting through deep powder at mt. baker ski area

New Years DaY

WHERE: Birch Bay Chamber Visitor Information Center 7900 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay - Parking Available behind the Visitor CenterDIRECTIONS: I-5 Exit 270 (west approx. 4 miles to the water)

COSTUME JUDGING: 11:30 AMIn Front of Birch BayVisitor Information Center

*Due to health concerns including, but not limited to; hypothermia, the Chamber of Commerce strongly recommends that participants do not remain in the water after the initial plunge. There are NO awards for length of time in the water. Swim at your own risk. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce and affiliates are not responsible for any adverse health effects wholly or in part due to the Polar Bear Plunge. By

www.BirchBayChamber.com www.facebbok.com/birchbaychamber

JUDGING CATEGORIES: Prizes* will be given for: • Most Years “Plunging” • Oldest Participant • Best Individual Costume • Farthest Traveled Participant • Best Group Costume Prizes Donated By Local Businesses

REGISTRATION: 9:30 AMRegistration is FREE. Get a FREE“I Took the Plunge” certificate & hot beverages

*There are NO Awards for Length of Time in the Water!

THE PLUNGE takes place at

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January 1, 2012

Signifying Hope For The New Year!Meet at 5 PM to get a flare (while supplies last) at the

Birch Bay Visitor Center / 7900 Birch Bay Dr.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn, 714 Lakeway Dr. Bellingham, WA

Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwest’s largest fashion show at 4 pm.

Register & pay online today at www.bridalinspirationsweddingexpo.com or call Alicia’s Bridal at 360.733.2563

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Winter readysnow plows tackle mt. baker highway

J ust call her La Niña’s twin sister.Weather experts say heavy

snowfall is on the way for the Northwest with another La Niña system moving in.

With this in mind, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews are getting their rigs ready to fight their way through state routes blanketed with snow.

WSDOT has a 30-person team ready to react to any snow and ice event that may threaten Whatcom County, WSDOT maintenance manager Ric Willand said. Snow plows and salt spreaders have been installed on the 14 trucks that keep the state highways in the county clear of the white stuff, and seven strategically placed supply sheds have been stacked to the rafters with ice-fighting materials, such as liquid deicer, salt and sand.

“We want to be ready before the snow hits,” Willand said. “Some of this equipment has sat for several months in the garage; we’re getting it out and dusting it off, making sure it still works and is ready to go.”

For Whatcom County specifi-cally, WSDOT runs four trucks on the six state highways east of I-5 on specific loops based on need, WSDOT spokesman Dave Chesson said. On the Mt. Baker Highway, WSDOT has three trucks based out of the Shuksan area, near Twin Lakes Road, that clear the highway from Maple Falls east.

Though WSDOT’s use of deicing material depends on the severity of the weather, the department typi-cally uses 60,000 tons statewide of

salt per year, Chesson said. What material crews choose depends on the conditions, with some being ap-plied in advance of snow and others being applied during a snowstorm. Whenever WSDOT crews start work on ice control, they go big: Chesson said winter ice control is the department’s single most expen-sive maintenance activity, making up close to 20 percent of the entire WSDOT maintenance budget.

While it’s WSDOT’s job to keep the state’s highways clear, safe driv-ing still remains the responsibility of the individual. Chesson reminded drivers to prepare their cars for win-ter before the snow and ice hit by carrying a blanket, water, cell phone and snow chains at all times.

More information on safe winter driving can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter. X

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MBE: Where are some of the great places you’ve skied?GG: Outside of North America, I’ve skied in Iceland, Norway, Japan, Chile and Argentina. Mt. Baker’s my favorite, I really like the interior of B.C. and Japan is pretty good. In fact, Japan might be the one place that gets more snow than us. Japan doesn’t do any avalanche control. Technically, you’re not allowed to ski out of bounds, but you can do what you want as long as you’re faster than the ski patrol. That’s usually not a problem.

MBE: How long is your ski season?GG: I typically ski 200 days a year. I generally ski a month in South America every summer.

MBE: What kind of camera equipment do you use?GG: I use Canon. I carry two Canon EOS-1D Mark IV bodies and Canon lenses – 15mm f/2.8, 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 and 400mm f/4. I also have two Nikon SB-28 flashes and assorted PocketWizard transceivers. My pack weighs around 65 pounds. I make the athletes carry the flash packs, which weigh another 60 pounds apiece.

MBE: Are you hard on your camera gear?GG: I’m pretty tough. Last season I went through four camera bodies.

MBE: How about skis?GG: I’ve got 30-plus pairs of skis in my garage, so I’m good at having the right arrow from the quiver for the day. I don’t wear them out that often.

MBE: You’re single. With all this travelling it must be hard to sustain a relationship.GG: It’s difficult. It’s probably not the travel so much as it is that people don’t understand it’s a job. Sure, it’s fun and I wouldn’t want to do anything else, but I still have to work. They also don’t understand I have to be out every day. My goal is to get one photo a day, which I figure is a good average. But probably 99.9 percent of my income comes from two to three days. But I never know when things are going to come together perfectly for those days. It’s like working in an office job and your boss tells you he’s going to pay you $10 a day, but for three random days he’s going to pay you your year’s salary. He’s not going to tell you which three days it will be and they might be on a weekend. I don’t think most people would go for that.

MBE: How does the business of ski photography work?GG: I’m still figuring that out. Everything I do all winter long, the trips I go on, I pay out of my own pocket. I don’t get paid until the photo is published, hopefully the following winter but sometimes it’s two years out. You’ve got to be willing to finance the entire year, which is scary.

MBE: Have you ever tried filming? GG: When I first began, I started a production company named Theory 3 Media with a couple of buddies. I sold my share for a case of beer to my buddy Jeff so I could concentrate on photog-raphy. I’d rather be 100 percent at something than do two things half-assed. Jeff did a couple of other productions and eventually moved on to Salomon. Every time he’s gone somewhere, he’s brought me along with him. That case of beer was the best investment I’ve ever made.

With film, it’s all about the flow. If a skier makes a small mistake, probably no one other than the skier will notice it. With stills, it’s about that one-thousandth of a second peak action. It’s got to be spot-on. I’ll go out and shoot all day long; on the average day I’ll shoot 600 to 700 photos. My goal is to get one shot that’s guaranteed to get in a magazine. Every day.

MBE: How much time is spent taking photos versus back in the studio?GG: I’d estimate that for every hour shooting I spend eight hours on the computer. That’s not the fun part. I’m pretty much doing that 24/7 all summer long.

MBE: How do you improve?GG: I’m probably my own worst critic. No matter how much someone likes a photo, I can see something wrong with it that I can improve. I think what helps me most is that I always want to do something new, something that I haven’t seen in ski photography. I’m pretty driven.

MBE: Have you taken the perfect shot yet?GG: I wish. I’ve taken a couple that have come pretty damn close but they’re not perfect. There’s a project I’ve wanted to do for a while, it’s something that no one has ever done before. I

know it’s possible, but I’ve been waiting four years for the right combination of weather, snowfall, location, athletes and camera equipment to all work properly.

MBE: Want to tell us what it is?GG: I’ll let you know when I get it.

MBE: How many photographers like you are out there?GG: There’s a ton of people taking shots but as far as guys who are consistently getting published worldwide, there’s probably 10 or so of us who are really competitive. Every year there’s a get-together at Red Mountain in B.C., called The Gathering. I got invited there last year for the first time. It includes everyone from the guys who first started photographing skiers as well as everyone else in the industry. It’s not about shooting photos, it’s about hanging around with guys you wouldn’t ordinarily see because everyone is working. It’s pretty cool.

MBE: Any ski photographers you look up to?GG: For me, it’s the old-timers who got the whole thing started back in the day.

There’s a guy in Europe named Mark Shapiro who got it started in the 60s and 70s and two guys in Utah named Leo Cohen and Scott Markewitz. It’s kind of cool to follow in their footsteps.

MBE: The big question is, “Why do you do it?” There are easier ways to make money.GG: I’m sure there is no other surefire way to make less money than in ski photography. I feel I’ve struck the lottery because I’ve been somewhat successful at it. It’s extremely difficult. For me, it’s never been about making money, it’s about my passion for the sport. If I can get some-one stoked to go skiing or to get out and try the sport – if I can do that then I’ve been successful with the shot, and I will be successful in my career.

MBE: How long will you do this for?GG: Until the day I die. A friend of mine asked me the other day when was I going to give it up and retire. Man, I’m already retired. I absolutely love doing what I do. X

Continued from page 17

Often When i shOOt, it’s MOre like stunt WOrk than What peOple WOuld expeCt ski phOtOgraphy tO be. the big air and the shOts that lOOk dangerOus usually are.

“

”

visit grant at grantgundersOn.COM


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raven hut a new mt. baker lodge opening this winter

by Jeremy schWartZ

s kiers and snowboarders carving up the powder at Mt. Baker Ski

Area will soon have another place to rest their weary, boot-clad feet.

But don’t be too eager to unstrap those bindings just yet. Just like the old Raven Hut Cafe, the new Raven Hut Lodge will only be accessible by ski or snowboard.

Duncan Howat, general manager of the Mt. Baker Ski Area, planned it that way. Crews from Wellman & Zuck Construction and True Log Homes have been working on the new lodge since June. While the El Niña weather predicted for this winter is not expected to delay

construction, crews had to plow through 12 feet of snow last sum-mer just to access the building site.

Once the June snow was clear, crews started work on the lodge, which was inspired by mountain lodges of the 1930s. Howat said Cascadia-style architecture fits in much better with the lodge’s natural surroundings than would a more modern take on a ski lodge. “The building is absolutely spectacular looking,” Howat said. “It’s a warmer look and is more inviting.”

The Mt. Baker Ski Area wanted to incorporate as many local materials in the project as possible, and the

lodge will not disappoint in that re-gard. Most of the millwork is being done with reclaimed wood, using recycled gym floors for tabletops. The lodge’s two fireplaces are also built from local columnar basalt. Due to its retro design, Howat said the amount of real wood and logs that are used are immense.

“The logs are very large and make the ones in the White Salmon Lodge look like toothpicks,” Howat said.

The Raven Hut Lodge totals 10,000 square feet and is located mid-mountain at the bottom of chairs 4, 5, and 6. It will feature a full-service kitchen and bar with beer on tap and indoor restrooms. The lodge will be able to seat about 300 people, a welcome relief for skiers and snowboarders who often have a hard time finding places to sit in the White Salmon Lodge on the weekends. Construction, estimated at $3.5 million, is slated to wrap up mid-December.

For more information about the project, visit www.mtbaker.us. X

Jeremy schwartz is a 24-year-old reporter who’s curious about the lives of everyday people and became a journalist to help tell others’ stories.

the inn at MOunt baker 8174 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-1776 www.theinnatmtbaker.com The Inn at Mount Baker, located just west of Glacier, is an excellent choice for accommodations. A stay includes gourmet European-style breakfast, featherbeds and breath-taking views of Mt. Baker and the Nooksack Valley.

the lOgs at CanyOn Creek7577 Canyon View Drive 360/599-2711 www.thelogs.com The Logs is located in Glacier Springs, near Canyon Creek and the North Fork of the Nooksack River. Stay in the rustic two-bedroom log cabins or in the three-bedroom va-cation homes. The homes are widely spaced along the creek, allowing for private space and relaxation.

Mt. baker vieW guest hOuse 360/599-2155 www.mtbakerviewguesthouse.com Three secluded accommodations to choose from! Mt. Baker View Guest House sleeps up to six, Cascade Retreat sleeps up to 15 people and Greg’s Condo, which sleeps 2+ and features all condo amenities. No smoking or pets.

baker aCCOMMOdatiOns 7425 Mt. Baker Highway360/599-1017 or 888/695-7533www.bakeraccommodations.comBaker Accommodations offers cabins and condos in the resort de-velopments of Snowater, Snowline and Mt. Baker Rim, conveniently located just east of Glacier.

Mt. baker lOdging 7463 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2453 or 800/709-7669 www.mtbakerlodging.com Mt. Baker Lodging offers cabins, cottages, condos, chalets and execu-tive rental home accommodations. A number of selected units are pet friendly! Walk-in reservations and one-night stays available.

Where tO eat see Map On page 30 fOr lOCatiOns

Where tO stay in glaCier and Maple falls

aCMeblue MOuntain grill974 Highway 9www.bluemountaingrill.com 360/595-2200Fresh, homemade fare, including baked bread and desserts made daily, steaks, burgers and daily specials. Open for lunch and dinner, every day.

deMingil Caffe rifugiO

5415 Mt. Baker Highway www.ilcafferifugio.com,

360/592-2888Choose from a gourmet

menu with wine and beer, all at reasonable

prices. Owner Richard Balough is gearing up for a great winter season

to serve hungry mountaineers. All you can eat pasta on Thursdays and live music Fridays. Visit the Deming Homestead Eagle Park next door.

Open for lunch and dinner, breakfast on

the weekends. WiFi.

nOOksaCk river CasinO5048 Mt. Baker Highway

www.nooksackcasino.com 360/592-5472

This rockin’ casino offers two dining options – Canoe River Restaurant and Mount Baker Grill – to keep locals and mountain enthusiasts well-fed. Five widescreen TVs make the Mount Baker Grill an exciting place to throw back a draft beer and watch the game. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

the hungry bear4965 Mt. Baker Highway360/592-2396Known for their homemade cinna-mon rolls and Grizzly burgers, The Hungry Bear is open for breakfast and lunch daily.

the nOrth fOrk breWery and beer shrine6186 Mt. Baker Highway www.northforkbrewery.com360/599-2337 Whether you want to get married (yes, this restaurant is also a wed-ding chapel!), enjoy a toasty- sharp handcrafted Scotch ale or munch on a slice of spicy pizza, the North Fork Brewery is your destination. At this lively brewery, you’re sure to see a friendly face and have a great time. Open for dinner, lunch on the weekends.

xtreMe bean3706 Mount Baker Highway Nugent’s Corner 360/592-0902Extreme mountain sports necessi-tate coffee with a bite! This espresso stand offers hot coffee, cocoa, tea as well as a filling turkey club (among other delicious lunch items) to give you energy for the slopes. The sig-nature “Baker Blast” may give you some brain freeze, but this delicious hybrid between a milkshake and a blended coffee is sure to please. WiFi.

Maple fallsMaple fuelsCorner of Mt. Baker Highway and Silver Lake Road www.maplefuels.com, 360/599-2222 Fondly known to locals as the “Fu-elie,” the Maple Fuels deli offers a wide selection of fresh sandwiches, made with local Claus meats. Fuel up on gas, grab a coffee or pick up some groceries – and wash your clothes at the laundromat while you’re at it. WiFi.

slide MOuntain bar and grill7471 Mt. Baker Highway360/656-5833Located in the heart of Maple Falls, Slide Mountain features an afford-able menu using top quality ingre-dients and a full-service bar. Nightly themes, sports TV, live music and WiFi. Open for dinner, breakfast and lunch on the weekends.

glaCierChair 9 WOOdstOne pizza and bar10459 Mt. Baker Highway www.chair9.com, 360/599-2511This lofty bar is the perfect place to enjoy a great meal and brew after a long day on the mountain. Bands play on weekends, and the huge space offers plenty of dancing room. Be sure to try the “Canuck’s Deluxe,” one of the staff ’s favorite woodfire pizzas. Open for lunch and dinner. WiFi.

grahaM’s restaurant9989 Mount Baker Highway www.grahamsrestaurant.com, 360/599-3663With tasty burgers served up on Avenue Bread buns and Alaskan cod fish and chips, Graham’s res-taurant is a local favorite for both lunch and dinner and breakfast on the weekends. Try a breakfast slider made with free-range eggs.

grahaM’s stOre9989 Mt. Baker Highway 360/599-2665Conveniently located in the same building as Graham’s Restaurant, this store contains everything from bagel sandwiches and ice cream to

movie rentals, beer, wine and an ATM, as well as handmade hats and a selection of books.

MilanO’s restaurant9990 Mt. Baker Highway www.milanorestaurant.us 360/599-2863Known for their mouth-watering fresh pasta, succulent seafood, and homemade sauces, food at Milano’s is authentically “a taste of Italy.” The casual atmosphere is perfect for lunch and dinner, and breakfast on the weekends.

Wake ’n bakery6903 Bourne Street www.getsconed.com, 360/599-1658Wake ‘N Bakery is a favorite for those heading up and down the mountain, whether for an early-morning latte, delicious jalapeno cheddar scones or chocolate chip macaroons. The Wake ‘N Bakery has a new kitchen opening this win-ter, offering wraps and sandwiches. Open for breakfast and lunch.

van zandteverybOdy’s stOre5465 Potter Road, off Highway 9www.everybodys.com 360/592-2297This delightful, eclectic store features a wide array of gourmet meats, specialty cheeses and fine wines, many of which are made locally. Also check out their great selection of clothing, books and artwork.

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W ith the holiday season approaching, many of us are preparing our gift list

for friends and family. If you want to pur-chase a gift with a personal touch, Moun-tainside Gardens Gallery & Gifts offers an array of locally made crafts and artwork – all at reasonable prices.

Carol Kilgore and Nancy Jacobsen, co-owners of Mountainside, stress that although “gallery” is part of the name, they have many lovely gift items under $25. The shop contains work by more than 80 artists, most of whom are local.

Just past Kendall off Mt. Baker Highway, Mountainside sprawls over 10 wooded acres. The gallery provides a cozy space to get out of the cold and discover the art of Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Mountainside has been open since the fall of 2009, although plans for the shop had been in the works for years.

“I really liked the idea of having a place where local artists could have their work on display and so did Nancy, so that’s how the whole thing evolved,” Kilgore said.

The store is full of an assortment of holiday gifts and a number of tasty treats. Holmquist hazelnuts, Aldrich Farms gour-met jams, jellies and syrups, Backyard Bees

unprocessed honey and Henry’s Miracle Honey Stingers are all big sellers during the holidays, and make a great gift for out-of-towners who want a taste of the Northwest.

Cascadia Stoneware is another popular seller – the stunning pots are designed by the local McDougall family in Deming. Jew-elry artists create gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces using sterling silver, beads, natural hemp, crystals and gemstones, and most of the earrings in the shop average about $15 a pair. Other gift items include whimsical batiks, exquisite quilted wall hangings, and metal and stone garden art.

Mountainside also hosts workshops year round. For details on a few upcoming workshops, including classes on painting wooden angels and snowflakes and creating holiday wreaths, see the events listing in this issue.

“I like to know who has created the hand-made piece,” Kilgore said. “The workshops serve a two-fold purpose: an artist meet and greet, and a space to create your own work.” For expanded story and more information on Mountainside Gardens and the work-shops, visit www.mountbakerexperience.com. X

Mountainside gardens Gallery & Gifts6900 mt. baker highwaywww.mountainsidegardens.comThrough Christmas Eve: Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Closed Christmas Day through January 1January and February: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

t ucked away off the Mt. Baker Highway behind Graham’s Store is a cozy cargo

container transformed into Glacier Cre-ations, an art cooperative showcasing the work of some 40 local artisans.

Artists Ann Baker and Abby McKinley hatched the plan for the co-op while work-ing together at Graham’s Store. Fellow art-ists and friends Danielle Duffy and Evette Shelton also climbed aboard, and together they approached Gary Graham for permis-sion to use the space. Graham donated the space and shipping container in October 2007, and the women celebrated Glacier Creations’ grand opening in June 2009.

As soon as you step inside the shop, the everyday pressures of life melt away as the warm lights and pleasant fragrances hit your senses. The co-op’s offerings are a mixed bag – pottery, photography, draw-ings, knitted items, clothing, candles, es-sential oils, tea and more.

Currently, some 20 artists volunteer on the grounds (not just selling artwork), with six or seven spending a large portion of their busy weekends cultivating the shop. They fill the shop with a keen eye, aspir-ing to keep a diverse selection of goods available. The art comes from community members as young as 10, such as the cards made by a local elementary school student who donates all of her profits to Childcare Worldwide, an organization benefiting children in third-world countries.

Full-time volunteer Shannon Robert-son is excited about the upcoming winter season. In preparation for the holidays, Robertson is weaving Christmas-colored

baskets and said that a few of the other artists were planning on making Christmas shower scrubbies.

The co-op is meant to function as a com-munity space in addition to its retail mo-tive. The artists who spend their weekends nurturing the shop have dreams of sustain-able lifestyles for their community. Plans for the future include a communal garden, a farmers market and a space for live music. As one artist says, “It’s not just about art. It’s about teaching about community.” For more information on Glacier Creations, visit www.mountbakerexperience.com. X

glacier Creations9989 mount baker highwaywww.glaciercreations.netFridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

kitty bond is a recent graduate of Western Washington university. she enjoys hiking around the chuckanut trails, riding her wicked awesome specialized road bike, and planning her next travel adventure.

MOuntainside gardens local gallery gears up for winter

glaCier CreatiOnsartists’ co-op readies for the season

Where artists COMe tOgether story anD photos by kitty bonD

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eagle eyeWitness the annual bald

eagle migration

by DaWn groVes

photo by gene DaVis

a sure sign of oncoming winter is the annual Skagit and Sauk River bald eagle migration. One of the largest

concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states, the eagles come from Alaska and northern Canada to take advantage of fall salmon runs. The Skagit River in particular is known for its population of eagles perched in cottonwood, maple and evergreen trees along the river’s edge. Hundreds of eagles can be seen in just the eight-mile river stretch between Marble-mount and Rockport – the Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area. Eagle numbers peak from mid-December through mid-January, about two weeks after the height of salmon spawning, though many remain through the winter.

The arrival of the eagles also heralds a beloved annual tradi-tion among river canoeists and kayakers: The Skagit River Eagle Float. Rafting outfitters share in this tradition by offering commercial eagle float trips for interested birdwatchers from around the globe. On weekends in the high season of bird watching you’ll sometimes see four or five rafts quietly floating along, respecting the rules, cameras clicking.

In support of the ecosystem, the U.S. Forest Service has en-acted a voluntary river closure in effect from December 26 to February 28, until 11 a.m. daily. This limits the impact of boat-ing on the eagles during their prime feeding time. The forest service also asks boaters to avoid beaching anywhere between Marblemount Bridge and Rockport Bridge.

Adult eagles are easy to spot along the river. They can be seen perching in bare tree branches, on boulders near river banks, even on gravel bars at the river’s surface. Their bright white heads shine against a gray winter backdrop. Eagles can be skittery at the sight of watercraft but they seem to adjust as the season progresses.

My first eagle float occurred while snow was falling throughout the Cascades. I blanched at the idea of snow pad-dling but the potential for eagle sightings won me over. To fend off the cold, I wore plenty of polypropylene layers under my dry suit and stowed a thermos of hot tea in the cockpit. (It’s important to dress for potential immersion as hypothermia is a given with glacier-fed rivers, and always paddle with two or more friends, just in case of a capsize.)

I launched my kayak into icy water and began scanning for wildlife. My boat drifted in slow, lazy circles, carried easily by the river’s current. I often found myself facing an upriver pan-orama framed with sheer mountain cliffs and cumulus clouds billowing over the ridgeline. Kayak chatter rose and fell as we floated through the snowy wonderland, eagles everywhere. The trip took a few hours to complete and by the end, I was ready to warm up in a local restaurant.

As winter sports go, I’d rate the Skagit eagle float in my top five favorite activities. With proper safety precautions and warm clothing, it’s a welcome part of the season and an op-portunity to once again marvel at the beauty that is the Pacific Northwest. If you’re interested in participating in an eagle float, following are a few resources to help you plan.

Where tO gO. Put-in: Most floaters put in at the Mar-blemount boat launch across the bridge. The bridge becomes obvious as North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) takes a 90-degree turn at the east end of downtown Marblemount. Take Cascade River Road over the bridge and then turn right into an unpaved parking area. No services exist at the put-in except for a vault toilet located in the parking lot.

Take-out: Take out on the south end of the town of Rock-port at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park. Drivers will see the signs for the park. Be sure to paddle with someone who knows the area and can recognize the take-out when they see it.

kayak Clubs. Local kayak clubs often host Skagit Eagle float days. Check out Bellingham’s WAKE (Whatcom Associa-tion of Kayak Enthusiasts, www.wakekayak.org) and Seattle’s WKC (Washington Kayak Club, www.washingtonkayakclub.org), for starters.

vieW frOM land. If you prefer to view the eagles from land, start your day at Howard Miller Steelhead County Park, located on the Skagit River in Rockport. The park is home to the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretative Center, which is open Friday through Sunday every weekend during the eagle watching season. There you can find information about eagles, viewing sites, and even guided walks along the river. Visit www.skagiteagle.org for more information.

Pullouts along the highway provide eagle viewing oppor-tunities as well. At the milepost 100 for example, about two miles east of Howard Miller park, you will often see staff or volunteers from the Eagle Center with a spotting scope set up so that you can see the eagles up close.

For a viewing location further off the highway, go south across the Skagit River from Howard Miller Park on SR 530 and turn left on the other side of the bridge at Martin Road. Follow Martin Road until it takes a sharp turn to the right, and continue straight instead into a parking lot for the state owned Bald Eagle Natural Area. X

Dawn groves is a writer who’d rather be kayaking, cross country skiing or practicing tai chi. Visit her blog at www.dawngroves.com.

rafting trips

eagle viewing

if you don’t have the access or inclination to kayak or canoe, try rafting:

alpine adventures 360/863-6505 or 800/723-8386 (800/raft-fun) www.alpineadventures.com/skagit.html

blue sky Outfitters 206/938-4030 or 800/228-raft (7238) www.blueskyoutfitters.com

Cascades Flyfishing Expeditions 360/510-0483 www.cascadesfly.com

Chinook Expeditions 360/793-3451 or 800/241-3451 www.chinookexpeditions.com

pacific nW float trips 360/719-5808 or 866/967-8555 www.pacificnwfloattrips.com

Wild & scenic river tours 360/599-3115 or 800/413-6840 www.wildandscenic.com

COnCrete: the city of concrete, nine miles west of rockport, hosts the skagit eagle festival every weekend in January, featuring tours and educational programs, arts and crafts, and food and entertain-ment. a schedule of events can be found at www.concrete-wa.com.

deMing hOMestead eagle park: look for bald ea-gles along the trail by the north fork of the nooksack river. go east on mt. baker highway. near milepost 15, turn right on truck road. continue 0.7 miles to parking on right. Visit www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/trails/deming_eagle.jsp.

braCkendale eagles, british COluMbia: Just north of squamish, b.c., brackendale centers around the local arts community. the eagles draw interna-tional crowds and can be viewed from the tenderfoot creek fish hatchery in the cheakamus Valley. Visit www.brackendaleeagles.com.

fraser valley: the 16th annual fraser Valley bald eagle festival takes place the weekend of november 19 and 20. enjoy plenty of eagle viewing from mission to chilliwack. Visit www.fraservalleybald eaglefestival.ca.


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nOveMber32nd annual allied arts hOliday fes-tival Of the arts: starting Friday, Novem-ber 18, 3548 Meridian St. The festival runs until December 24, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Work by more than 100 artists. Info: www.alliedarts.org. fraser valley bald eagle festival: Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20. Including eagle viewing, exhibitors, infor-mative talks and guided walks. Info: www.fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca.

Winter CaMping basiCs: Monday, No-vember 21, 6 p.m., Bellingham REI. Learn the basics of snow camping, including what you need, where to go and how to prepare. Info: 360/647-8955.

deMing library hOliday exhibit: Tues-day, November 22 to December 30. Work of local artist Beth Margolis and Vicki Jackson on display. Info: www.wcls.org.

bizarre bazaar at Whistler: November 25 and 26, 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Whistler Conference Centre. More than 100 artisans. Live music, silent auction, dance and food. Info: www.arts whistler.com.

seyMOur super fun run: Saturday, No-vember 26, 8:30 a.m., meet at Bean Around the World Coffees, 1151 Mt. Seymour Road, North Vancouver. Approximately 27K loop. Sponsored by Club Fat Ass. Info: www.club fatass.com/events/seymoursuperfun.

MeC snOWfest vanCOuver: Saturday, No-vember 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., MEC Vancouver store, 130 West Broadway. Clinics, product demos, gear swap, guide info and more. Info: 604/872-7858.

paddle tO pOrtage island: Saturday, November 26, 10 a.m. launch from Goose-berry Point or Lummi Point. Lunch stop on southwest beach. For intermediate sea kayak-ers. Info: www.wakekayak.org.

OutdOOr phOtOgraphy presentatiOn: Tuesday, November 29, 6 p.m., Bellingham REI. Photographers Kious and Hummel will present a winter photography slideshow including skiing, snowboarding and winter landscapes. Info: 360/647-8955.

banff MOuntain filM festival: Tuesday, November 29, 7:30 p.m. Short films and docu-mentaries about mountain culture, sports and environment. Mount Baker Theatre, Belling-ham. Info: www.mountbakertheatre.com.

snOW & spire: Flights to Winter in the North Cascades: Monday, November 30, 7 p.m. Celebrate publication of photographer John Scurlock’s book with slide presentation and booksigning. Refreshments/dessert pro-vided. Mt. Vernon. Info: www.ncascades.org.

deCeMberMt. baker fOOthills ChaMber Of COM-MerCe annual general Meeting/pOt-luCk dinner: Friday December 2, 7 p.m. at the new East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, 8251 Kendall Rd. Meet local business people and hear about current and upcoming plans to promote the Foothills business com-munity. Info: www.mtbakerchamber.org.

32nd annual allied arts hOliday festival Of the arts: The festival runs until December 24, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Work by more than 100 artists. Info: www.alliedarts.org.

superherO bike light parade: Friday, December 2, 6 p.m., Bellingham Public Mar-ket. Info: www.everybodyBIKE.com.

deCeptiOn pass dash: Saturday and Sun-day, December 3 and 4. Two-day paddling festival with 6th Annual Deception Pass Dash, a six-mile race through the challenging waters of Deception Pass on Sunday. Info: www.rubycreekboathouse.com.

snOWshOe trail brushing WOrk party: Saturday, December 3. Meet at 8:15 a.m. at Whatcom Events office, 2227 Queen Street, Ste. 6, Bellingham or at 9 a.m. at Crossroads Grocery store in Maple Falls. The Mount Baker Club, Whatcom Events and REI are teaming up to establish more snowshoe routes near upper White Salmon Road. Lunch provided. RSVP: 360/746-8861 (days) or 360/392-1015 (nights).

girls On the run 5k: Saturday, December 3, 9:30 a.m. Everyone welcome to this fun run, out and back along South Bay Trail from downtown Bellingham. Info: www.whatcom ymca.com.

gOOse rOCk hike, deCeptiOn pass state park: Sunday, December 4. Meet at Sunny-land Elementary School, 2800 James Street, Bellingham; leave at 9 a.m. Share parking lot and transportation costs. More info: www.mountbakerclub.org.

hOliday WOrkshOp: Sunday, December 4, 1 to 4 p.m., Mountainside Gardens Gallery and Gifts, 6900 Mt. Baker Hwy. Paint and decorate wooden angels and beaded snow-flakes with artist Aly Brown. $35, includes two pieces and choice of paints and beads. Info: www.mountainsidegardens.com.

fanatik bike ladies’ night: Monday, December 5, 6 p.m. Enjoy an evening of festivities and holiday shopping, refreshments, prizes and specials. 1812 N. State St., Belling-ham. Info: www.fanatikbike.com.

snOWshOe basiCs: Tuesday, December 6, 7 p.m., Bellingham REI. Learn about snowshoe design, backcountry equipment and cloth-ing, places to go and basic techniques to get started with snowshoeing. Info: 360/647-8955.

intrO tO ski tOuring: Thursday, Decem-ber 8, 7 p.m., MEC Vancouver Store, 130 West Broadway. The Alpine Club of Canada’s Vancouver section presents the basics of back-country ski touring. Info: 604/872-7858.

the nutCraCker: Friday through Sunday, December 9 through 11, Mount Baker The-atre, 104 N. Commercial Street, Bellingham. With the Starry Night Orchestra. Tickets $15 to $24. Info: www.mountbakertheatre.com.

Jingle bell run/Walk: Saturday, De-cember 10, 8 a.m., 2- or 4-mile run/walk for arthritis. Bellingham High School. Info: www.bellinghamjbrw.kintera.org.

deCeptiOn pass 25k/50k: Saturday, De-cember 10, coastal single track trails through old growth forest. Info: www.rainshadow running.com.

artisan Cheese festival: Saturday, December 10, 1 to 4 p.m., Bellingham Public Market. Wide variety of hand-crafted cheeses, local and regional cheese makers on site to discuss their products and provide samples. Info: www.alliedarts.org.

CrOss COuntry ski COaChing: Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, 8 a.m., Cy-press Mountain. $16. Classic lessons Saturday, skate lessons Sunday. Info: www.theskiers.ca.

lOCal authOr bOOk signings: Saturday, December 10, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Two local au-thors – Photographer Mark Turner is signing copies of Bellingham Impressions and John Miles is signing Koma Kulshan and Impres-sions of the North Cascades. Village Books at Bellis Fair Mall. www.villagebooks.com.

hOliday Wreath WOrkshOp: Sunday, December 11, Mountainside Gardens Gallery and Gifts, 6900 Mt. Baker Hwy. Bring your own greenery; frames and wire provided. Info: www.mountainsidegardens.com.

avalanChe aWareness WOrkshOp: Mon-day, December 12, 7 p.m., Bellingham REI. Provides a basic approach to managing risk in the backcountry. Learn where to find local avalanche bulletins and weather reports, how to recognize signs and what to do to mitigate avalanche danger. Info: 360/647-8955.

ski and snOWbOard tuning basiCs: Tuesday, December 13, 7 p.m., Bellingham REI. Basic ski and snowboard maintenance, base cleaning, edge tuning, minor base repairs and waxing. Info: 360/647-8955.

eagles and salMOn On the skagit: Sat-urday, December 17. North Cascades Institute presents a six-hour excursion focusing on the intertwined biology of salmon and eagles, their migratory patterns and the impacts they have on other flora and fauna. Info: www.ncascades.org.

snOWshOe/CrOss COuntry ski event: Saturday, December 17. Meet at Sunnyl-and Elementary School, 2800 James Street, Bellingham; leave at 8:30 a.m. Somewhere in the local mountains; exact location to be an-nounced. Info: www.mountbakerclub.org.

birding Walk at kWOMais pOint park: Saturday, December 17, 9 to 11 a.m., Kwomais Point Park, Surrey, B.C. Improve identification skills and ask birding questions. Info: www.surrey.ca/naturecentre.

thriller CrOss: Saturday, December 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cyclocross races at Civic Field Complex, Bellingham. Info: www. cascadecross.com.

ChristMas eve MOrning hike: Saturday, December 24, 8:30 a.m. Hike mountain bike trails past the rifle range on Samish Way and return via logging roads. Info: www.mount bakerclub.org

Januaryannual pOlar bear sWiM at birCh bay: Sunday, January 1, 2012. Join the brave and hearty with a dip in Birch Bay to start the New Year. If you just want to watch, bring camera and offer to carry towels for the brave Polar Bears. Info: www.birchbaychamber.com.

resOlutiOn run and pOlar dip: Sunday, January 1, 11 a.m. Walk/run around Lake Padden followed by optional dip in the lake. www.cob.org/races. skagit eagle festival: Every Saturday and Sunday in January. Free tours, walks and educational programs

to learn about bald eagles and the Skagit River ecosys-tem. Arts and crafts, wine tasting, river rafting, music, dance and more. Info: www.concrete-wa.com.

full MOOn snOWshOeing at blaCk MOuntain: Sunday, January 8, meet at 1 p.m., Black Mountain, B.C. $40, trail dinner and showshoe rental included. Info: www.britanniacentre.org.

Mlk lOCals Qualifier: Monday, January 16. One-day, one-run event where the top 20 racers win spots in the 2012 Legendary Banked Slalom. Mt. Baker Ski Area. Info: www.lbs.mtbaker.us.

bike travel slideshOW: Wednesday, January 18, 7 p.m. Presentation on biking from Bellingham to Durango, and more. ReSources, 2309 Meridian St., Bellingham. Info: www.everybodybike.com.

a CaMera, tWO kids and a CaMel: Sunday, January 22, 3 p.m. National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths shares three decades of international travel with lavish photographs and touching stories. Mount Baker Theater. Info: www.mountbakertheatre.com.

february2012 legendary banked slalOM: Friday to Sunday, February 10 to 12. Mt. Baker Ski Area. Amateurs and professional compete in this world-class event. Info: www.lbs.mtbaker.us.

events around the mt. baker region

MOuntbakerexperienCe.COMVisit us online to find more events in your area!

Photo by Ryan Duclos

Events are subject to change. Please check with the event organizer for up-to-date information.

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Mile 1: Junction of I-5 and Mt. Baker Hwy.Mile 3: View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left).Mile 8: Whatcom County Parks & Recreation Dept. (Right). The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables, restrooms and a view of Mt. Baker, elevation 10,778 feet. 360/733-2900.Mile 9: Deming Logging Show. Nooksack River Bridge – great fishing spot.Mile 10: Community of Nugent’s Corner. Groceries, gas, bank (ATM), bakery, cafe, services.Mile 11: Christmas tree farms (right and left). Mount Baker Vineyards (left). Tasting room/gift shop open Wednesday through Sunday. Mile 12: Community of Deming. Stewart Mountain – elev. 3,087 feet (right). Sumas Mountain – elev. 3,430 feet (left).Mile 14: Highway 9 South Junction (right). South to Van Zandt, Acme, Wickersham and Skagit Valley. B&B, general store, mushroom farm and train ride. Nooksack River Forks (right) into three segments: the North Fork, which Mt. Baker Highway parallels; the Middle Fork, which heads southeast to the

southern face of Mt. Baker; and the South Fork, which heads south into the Skagit Valley. Hwy. 9 follows the South Fork.Mile 16: Mosquito Lake Road – Bald Eagle viewing spot (right). Dec. – Feb. Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road, drive to the first bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack. Park on left shoulder of Mosquito Lake Road. Look for eagles.Mile 18: Community of Welcome (left). Grocery store, fire station, senior center and other services.Mile 21: Kendall Creek Hatchery (right). Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road. The hatchery raises chi-nook, coho and chum salmon as well as steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Mile 22: Slide Mountain – elevation 4,884 feet (right). Highway 547 North Junction/Kendall Road (left). North to Kendall, Peaceful Valley, Paradise Lakes, Columbia and Sumas. Mile 23: Kendall. Grocery store and gas (left).Mile 25: Maple Falls, post office, pay phones, cabin rentals, lodging, restaurants, gas, groceries, liquor, library. Silver Lake Park, Silver Lake Road, 3.5 miles north (left). Park sits on 411 acres around Silver

Lake. Mile 29: View of Nooksack River (right). Highway ascends a ledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack River.Mile 30: Mt. Baker Scenic Turnout (right). Mile 33: Glacier – elev. 932 feet. Last community along the highway. Fire department, post office, library, general store, restaurants, snowboard shop, lodging, phones.Mile 34: Glacier Public Service Center (right). Open Memorial Day to October. Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning, and issues permits. Restrooms, picnic area. 360/599-2714, www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs.Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National Forest Scenic Byway. Glacier Creek Road (Rd. #39) to Mt. Baker Vista (right). Mostly paved, 9.5 mile road leads to Mt. Baker view.Mile 36: Douglas Fir Campground (left). National forest camp built by the CCC in the 1930s. Fees charged. Reservations accepted: 877/444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov. Horseshoe Bend Trail (right). Access for guided river rafting tours. Washington State Sno-Park (left). Permit required for snow

mobiling or cross-country skiing.Mile 37: Church Mountain – elevation 6,245 feet (left). High elevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in the area to open for summer hiking. Turnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right).Mile 40: Excelsior Group Camp (right). National Forest Campground. www.recreation.gov. Nooksack Falls, Wells Creek Road Road #33 (right). Take Wells Creek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced viewpoint. Fall plummets 100 feet.Mile 41: Excelsior Pass Trail (left).Mile 43: North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left). Established in 1937, this is a 1,400-acre preserve of old-growth Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Western Red Cedar.Mile 44: Nooksack River Viewpoint (right).Mile 46: Twin Lakes Road (Road #3065) at Shuksan Highway Maintenance Sheds (left). Twin Lakes is not accessible until early to mid-August. Hannegan Pass Road (Road #32) (left). Popular cross-country skiing area in winter. Shuksan Picnic Area – Hannegan Pass Road (left). Tables, restroom,

Nooksack River views. Mining cabin nearby.Silver Fir Campground (right). Fees charged. Reservations accepted: 877/444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov.Mile 47: Goat Mountain – elevation 6,891 feet. (N.E.). Summer grazing range for one of four bands of mountain goats.Mile 49: View Mt. Shuksan – elevation 9,038 feet. (East).+ View Mt. Sefrit – elevation 6,015 feet. (Southeast).Mile 52: Mt. Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left).Mile 53: Entrance to Heather Meadows. Mile 55: Picture Lake (road forks – stay to the right). Picture Lake – elevation 4,100 feet, provides a postcard view of Mt. Shuksan – elev. 9,038 feet. Vista picnic area (right). Picnic area; no restrooms. Mile 56: Austin Pass Picnic Area (right). CCC-built area sits in a bowl-shaped valley with glorious views.Mile 58: Artist Point – elev. 5,140 feet. (End of high-way). Parking lot surrounded by Mt. Baker’s peak (south), Mt. Shuksan (east) and Table Mountain – elev. 5,628 feet.

1 blue Mountain grill 974 Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2200

2 acme general store Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2146

3 everybody’s store Hwy 9, Van Zandt • 592-2297

4 nooksack river Casino 5048 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 592-5472

5 the hungry bear 4965 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 592-2396

6 xtreme bean 3076 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner 592-0902

7 dodson’s iga 3705 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner 592-5351

8 kelley insurance 103 W. Main St., Everson • 966-3732 619 Cherry St., Sumas • 988-2462

9 Il Caffe Rifugio 5415 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 592-2888

10 the north fork brewery 6186 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 599-2337

11 baker accommodations 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 599-1017

12 Mt. baker lodging 7463 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 599-2463

13 slide Mountain bar & grill 7471 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 656-5833

13 Maple fuels Wash-a-ton Corner of Mt. Baker Hwy & Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls • 599-2222

14 Cross roads grocery & video 7802 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls 599-9657

15 inn at Mt. baker 8174 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier 877/567-5526

16 the logs 7577 Canyon View Dr, Glacier • 599-2711

17 scott’s ski service 9935 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-WAXX

18 Mt. baker view guesthouse 6920 Central Ave., Glacier • 599-2155

19 glacier ski shop 9966 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-1943

19 hairstream hair services 9970 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2443

20 Wake ’n bakery 6903 Bourne St., Glacier • 599-1658

20 Mt. baker snowboard shop 9996 Forest St., Glacier • 599-2008

21 Milano’s restaurant 9990 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2863

22 graham’s store 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2665

22 graham’s restaurant 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-3663

23 Chair 9 Woodstone pizza & bar 10459 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2511

Map direCtOry

Mt. baker highWay MilepOsts

360-599-2008 • 888-466-7392 • 9996 Forest St., Glacier, WALocated behind Milano’s Restaurant

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Call Joelle 360-599-2443Walk-ins welcome

Home Base: 9970 Mt. Baker Hwy. Glacier, WA 98244 next door to Glacier Ski Shop

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HOT SHOTS � BIG SCOOPSEspresso • Ice Cream • Groceries

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World famous restaurant & tavern in Glacier, WA. Improved space, new menu, same classic bar.

Serving food 7 days a week from 2pm - 9pm. Breakfast Sat. & Sun. from 8am - 11am. 9989 Mt Baker Hwy. Glacier, WA • 360-599-3663 • www.grahamsrestaurant.com

RestauRant

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COMING SOON!Indoor Seating & BreakfastWraps

10459 Mt Baker Hwy., Glacier360/599-2511

www.Chair9.com

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Private room available for parties and events

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Upstairs GaMe RooM — with Free WiFi!shuffle board, pool tables, ping pong, darts & foosball

Live Music Friday & Saturday Check Facebook for schedule

HaPPY HouR - All day, Mon. thru Thurs.

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available!

Nov. 23rd - Mar. 31st • Sun. - Thurs., 9am - 5pm • Fri. & Sat., 9am - 9pm

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Open 7 days a week

9990 Mt. Baker Highway

Glacier, Wa.www.MilanoRestaurant.us

MILANO’S• Fresh Pasta Dinners All Day • Full Deli

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APRÈS SKI HAPPY HOUR, Sun-Fri, 2-5 pm

R E S TA U R A N T & D E L I

Est. 1990

Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt. Baker

As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE

& BEST PLACESNORTHWEST

8174 Mt. Baker Hwy 360/599-1776 between Maple Falls & Glacier, mile post 28

www.theinnatmtbaker.com 877/567-5526

Gourmet breakfast • Hot Tub • Heli Pad • Lap PoolAdult only facility • Registered Massage Therapist by appt.

SpecialPackagesAvailable

7577 Canyon View Dr.(Glacier Springs) Glacier, WA

360/599-2711www.thelogs.com

Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens

Mid Week

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Stay 2 nights,the 3rd

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New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy.

1.888.695.7533BakerAccommodations.com

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www.mtbakerviewguesthouse.com

Mt. Baker ViewGuesthouse

GLACIER, WASHINGTON

Alpine, Tele &SnowboardWaxes

25 Years

Experience

Scott PetersonGlacier, WA

360-599-WAXXwww.scottsskiservice.com

Tunes, Repairs &Binding Mounts

visit glaCier!

mount baker experience winter 2011

Documents

baker area

baker lodge

baker highway people

baker gifts gear

special publication

point bulletin

special offer

magic of winter camping