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May 30/2007, Canada.travel online , Subject: Rockies Winter Adventure

Story and photos: Michelle Pentz Glave and Judy Waytiuk
Story located at http://www.corporate.canada.travel/en/ca/mediacentre

 

Uphill skiing: sweat equity makes all the difference Get a new perspective on the Canadian Rockies from your own backcountry skis. By Michelle Pentz Glave We’re into a good groove when we spot him. Sssss, ssssss, crunch, crunch, our waxless cross-country skis slip through the sticky powder as our poles punch through gleaming mounds of fresh spring snow. We’re weaving through the forest in Banff National Park, AB. The sky is blue, the sun is hot and the only other sound is the occasional whump of snow tumbling off a branch—‘til one of us breaks the reverie. “Ooooo! He’s so cute!” A pointy-nosed, foxy face twists around a spruce trunk and peers at us through a beard of dark lichen. It’s a pine marten, an elusive and nocturnal cousin of the weasel. What he’s doing up at this hour—I don’t know. But we all stop and stare. It’s one of those moments when you appreciate the simple wonders of life—a gentle breeze, a wisp of cloud hanging on a glacial peak, a day of heart-pumping uphill skiing with a sauna, pork roast and glass of merlot waiting at the top. “This is my new spoooort!” I yell to the trees blurring past as my snowplow spins out of control and I face-plant into a heap of granular powder, perilously close to rushing Paradise Creek, which emerges intermittently between sparkling sugar domes. Did you ever climb up on the roof to think things through when you were a kid, and everything suddenly seemed not so bad? There’s something about seeing things from a new perspective that makes familiar terrain look new and shiny (a leisurely tour on bicycle, a view from the water, a horseback sojourn, an old-fashioned road trip). Though the Canadian Rockies are far from ordinary. Today, we’ve joined an elite tribe, Canada’s 873,000 Nordic skiers*. These folks have figured out there’s no better way to commune with nature, cut fresh tracks and mix the thrill of downhill with a butt-kicking workout. “Many ski for the lyrical quality—the taste of clean air, sighing wind, hardwood forests, frozen waterfalls, weathered barns, open prairie, sandstone canyons, alpenglow on snow-mantled peaks and the miracle of skiing beneath the full moon,” observes the US-based Cross Country Ski Areas Association. “Nordic” means any kind of free-heel skiing—classic XC, skate skiing, telemarking, randonnée, ski touring and the like. “Backcountry,” our guide says, is essentially anything off-track. Various kinds of goopy wax are involved for glide, kick and klister (grip), though new waxless skis work wonderfully for casual skiers (read: me). Layers are essential as XC uses every major muscle group and incinerates around 700 calories an hour. It’s cheap (from CAN $15 a day to free), easy to learn and doesn’t require endless awkward lugging of paraphernalia. Grandpa can do it and so can your five-year-old. Norwegians exported it to North Americans; both Euros and Canadians embraced it. And now the sport’s popularity is on the rise in both Canada and the US, according to the Cross Country Ski Areas Association, which calls XC “natural Viagra.” Soon an image of future frolics forms in my mind. Forget long lines, tedious lessons and expensive lift tickets! We’ll click in and glide. I picture me, my hubby and the kids taking in pristine, winter-wonderland Canada on touring skis. We’re deep in the backcountry. Of course we’re all wearing colourful, hand-knit wool sweaters and pompom-ed toques, laughing and zipping along with rosy cheeks like fresh-faced Norwegians…. Five hours, 14 km and 457 vertical m later, guide Gord Stermann of White Mountain Adventures leads our sweaty, scraggly group out of the woods and into a pretty alpine valley of snow-dusted fir. We’ve been rained on, had near-misses with trees, fallen into under-snow air pockets, suffered blisters and steep icy inclines (“Time to walk”). We’ve learned about varying grades of ski wax in fickle temperatures (“It’s hard to get off your BlackBerry,” Stermann notes). I’m thinking the honeymoon may be over. But then, the mist clears and majestic Mount Ball, straddling the Continental Divide and British Columbia border, appears behind Shadow Lake. An old 1930s Canadian Pacific Railroad log cabin puffs smoke from its chimney. A hearty dinner is cooking inside the cabin next door. My cozy shack even has a rack to hang my wet clothes and a goose-down comforter that feels like a cloud. “It’s different when you have to work to get here, isn’t it?” says Stermann, grinning in the glow of the fire. We’ve got Hudson’s Bay blankets, glasses of wine and Canadian Geographics from 10 years ago. “You have this sense of privilege, a sense of being away from the rest of the world and what everyone else is doing. All of a sudden, you’re in a special place.” * That’s according to the Canadian Ski Council in Mississauga, ON, www.skicanada.org. There are an estimated two million Nordic skiers in the US, according to the Winchester, NH (US)-based Cross Country Ski Areas Association, www.xcski.org. www.whitemountainadventures.com www.shadowlakelodge.com www.banffnationalpark.com www.banfflakelouise.com www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_e.asp www.travelalberta.com

 

Banff Company Offers Unique Team Building in the Canadian Rockies and Calgary

White Mountain Adventures is an active travel and adventure company based in Banff in the heart of Canadian Rockies with a strong commitment to learning and the outdoors.

Banff, Alberta, April 18, 2007 - The effectiveness of any group’s meeting depends as much on theevents that take place outside of the meeting rooms as they do inside. Activities that participants take part in helping build team work, co-operation, trust and friendship. White Mountain Adventures has spent the past 20 years building on this philosophy and developing programs and activities that are uniquely designed to meet each client’s expectations. Whether it’s a short breakout session, a ½ day guided excursion, or a team-building activity, White Mountain Adventures adds another dimension to a group’s meeting.

The building blocks of White Mountain Adventures’ team building eventsare the unique “Mountain Madness” games that are incorporated into each event. These short, fun and challenging games provide the opportunity to really see how well teams work together. Each game is built around a concept of getting teams to work together to overcome a physical or mental challenge. White Mountain Adventures has more than 20 of these games and is constantly scanning the horizon and brainstorming with program leaders and with customers to develop new ones.  

By developing new games that incorporate Calgary’s western heritage with its modern city culture, White Mountain Adventures’ Calgary team building events all have a distinctive “made in Calgary” flavour”.

White Mountain Adventures’ goals over the next 3 years include developing a complete Calgary based team building and corporate event portfolio that meets the variety of different needs that groups and organizations are looking for. This includes team building events as well as active programs including   hiking, biking and interpretive nature walks in and around the city.  

Whether it’s a Super Scavenger Hunt, an Amazing Race, a mini-Olympics event or a Rocky Mountain Challenge, White Mountain Adventures’ team building events are proving to be just as much fun in the city as they are in the mountains!   

 About:

Located in Banff, Alberta White Mountain Adventures has been leading people in guided activities and corporate team building since 1987.  All of their programs embody a focus on nature and ecology and on gaining a better understanding of the world around us.  Their primary goal is to stimulate not only your body but also your mind – and to leave you with a lifetime of positive memories.

January 1 , 2007, MAGAZINE ARTICLE GERMANY - Subject: Hiking and Walking Tour in Southern Alberta. In German.
Thema: Wandern und Trekking in den Rocky Mountains von Alberta

Published in January, 2007 in the DAV Panorama Magazine, (German Alpine Club) this 11 page photo story describes a nine day hiking tour taken by DAV journalists Georg Hohenester and Joachim Chaszcza in September, 2006 with company owner Gordon Stermann.

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Sample photos by Georg Hohenester

February 8 , 2007, MAGAZINE ARTICLE EDMONTON SUN - Subject: Grotto Canyon Icewalk with White Mountain Adventures

 

By BOYD ENGLAND, Special to the Edmonton Sun

Boyd England along with his wife, Laura discover the frozen waterfalls and pictograms of Grotto Canyon, located near Canmore, AB. Photo supplied

Sometimes life throws you an unexpected opportunity too great to pass up. Such was the case a few weeks ago. On this particular Sunday morning, I received a call from Snow Scene editor, Barb Martowski, who was still suffering from a fall on a ski trip nearly a year ago.

After taking satisfaction in jarring me out of a deep slumber at the Lake Louise Inn, she asked me to fill her boots on an ice walk up the Grotto Canyon, just outside of Canmore. Following a millisecond of consideration I agreed, but her boots would not do, so it was off to the store to get a pair of my own.

It was quite surprising to find a sport shop in Lake Louise that opened at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning - especially such a well-stocked one. But then the Village does look after its visitors.

A couple hours later we met with Kristi Beetch, a guide with White Mountain Adventures and were whisked away to the trail head of the Grotto Canyon at the base of Grotto Mountain. French botanist Eugene Bourgeau named the mountain while on the 1858 Palliser Expedition of the region.

Experienced guide

It did not take long to feel at ease with Beetch as her spirit radiated with her smile. Beetch has been with the company for about eight years, starting as a part time guide and when she turned 40, decided it was time to “do something she really loved,” so she started guiding full time.

I have spent many hours over the years on creeks and rivers in the summer but have never walked upstream in the winter with a pair of icers strapped to my feet. With my wife Laura and our two girls Kasey and Lucy in tow, I don’t know who was more excited, us or the dogs. This is truly an adventure for the whole family.

Not a cloud in the sky, this was as Beetch said, “A pinch-me day.”

As we walked into the canyon she pointed out various nature facts, such as white spruce needles whch were once used by the First Nations people as talc for babies’ bottoms, or rose hip seeds which could be used as itching powder for your best friends’ sleeping bag.

Deep inside the canyon, faded almost beyond recognition, are pictograms believed to be created by the Hopi people of Arizona many thousands of years ago. Possibly remnants of North America’s first adventure company?

Though that company may be long gone, today we were happy to be with the Bow Valley’s longest operating adventure company. White Mountain Adventures has been operating since 1987 and its success has a lot to do with the experience of its guides.

Winding our way up the creek bed, we rounded a corner to see three spectacular waterfalls, including two named His and Hers, each extending up the canyon walls to a height near 50 ft. A favourite spot of local climbers, our visit was no exception as several climbers took advantage of the beautiful spring-like day to hone their skills.

As we trekked further up the canyon, it opened up into a wide valley filled with hoodoos, remnants of a glacier that once extended down the canyon. After a rest including hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies (my favourite) it was time to start back.

The hike back confirmed why it was important to have an experienced guide as it is entirely downhill, on ICE! Beetch said the only time she has had to use first aid was in the canyon, helping individuals that ventured out on their own.

Though the area is open to the public, you will benefit from the guides’ vast knowledge of local history, nature and answers to all your questions – and where the safest places to walk are.

Fun and educational

If it is a family trip you are interested in I can attest to the fact that kids will remember the things the guide will tell them. I was able to recall facts like the usage of lichen and moss by the First Nations that I was told on a nature trail almost 30 years ago.

The trek takes anywhere from two to three hours, depending on the conditions – so dress warm.

If you are just too sore for another day on the ski hill and want to see more of what our national parks have to offer before heading back to the grind, be sure to call ahead and book a private ice walk tour in the Grotto Canyon at 1-800-408-0005, or check out the website at www.whitemountainadventures.com