Over at SnowSeekers they are still in ski mode and will be until the last deck party and the last slush cup has been awarded. They love the snow and the culture that surrounds it.
SnowSeekers sent their correspondents to the big and the small to discover the history behind many of our beloved resorts. The stories are astounding, interesting, heart-warming and sometimes tragic. Meanwhile other writers found cross-country ski gems like Wells and places to soak it all in. Check out the links and decide where you will go spring skiing.
SnowSeekers BC Snow Stories for March 2016
From coal towns to town dumps, BC is based on them all
Fifty years ago pioneers wearing skis scoured the back-country of BC looking for the perfect slope for the burgeoning ski industry. Standing at the base or the peaks of mountains they’d excitedly wave their arms at what they envisioned. If only they knew what they were creating!
Whistler from a town dump, Kimberley from an abandoned ore mine and Fernie from a coal tow. Who would have believed it! Check out the history of your favourite BC mountain resorts here.
Alberta has mountains but coulees work too
Who says you need mountains to ski? Sometimes you just have to be creative. Sure – Alberta has great mountain resorts like Lake Louise, Nakiska, Castle and Marmot but they also have canyons and coulees to create their own snow sport oasis.
Find out how tar, trucks, bricks and lands missed by glaciers have all contributed to the history of skiing in Alberta.
Whistler Blackcomb offers chance to break world vertical record
It’s going to be tough to beat the vertical record set by Pierre Marc Jette of Whistler. He amassed 1,857,812 vertical metres of skiing last year in his quest to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. With the WB+ tracker system we can all track our stats like he did and maybe just maybe – pass his record.
Check out the fascinating story here about his exhausting efforts to break the vertical ski record.
Powder nirvana isn’t always on the slopes
Trust “Powder Matt” to find the fluffy stuff – be it on the slopes or at the end of a highway. Follow Matt to the town of Wells deep in the Cariboo Mountains where sledders and cross country skiers can all find space to pursue their snow-covered passion.
Check out the powder hound nirvana story here.
The hot and the cold of the Columbia River Valley
It’s the last run of the day and your body is begging for mercy. You’ve carved and skied until the burning is unbearable. The only thing getting down that last pitch is the thought of sinking into a big beautiful naturally heated hot pool. Ahhhhh – dreamy.
Find out from Leigh McAdams how you can ski at Panorama then soak in Radium Hot Springs in the Columbia River Valley.
Life-long buddies are up for the challenge
What would it take to get you to ski every resort in BC and Alberta? For Ted Allsopp and Greg Scott it was just a simple challenge. The life-long buddies accepted the challenge while on a chairlift but took it one slope further….they challenged each other to ski all of BC Alberta, and well, heck…all of Canada! Did they ski them all? Can you?
Check out the story of lifetime pals and the SnowSeekers Challenge here.
Longer days means more time on the slopes for beautiful spring conditions. Follow SnowSeekers.ca on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news, updates, inside tips, and information about how adventurers of every kind can enjoy the snow in BC.
On Thursday, March 10, 2016, Dining Out For Life returns for its 22nd year in support of individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses in BC.
Dining Out for Life
With over 100 participating restaurants, from Whistler to White Rock, Dining Out For Life is British Columbia’s largest hospitality fundraiser. A full list of participating restaurants is available online, with all donating 25% of proceeds from breakfast, lunch and/or dinner sales to the cause.
Friends For Life and A Loving Spoonful offer wellness programs, support services and home-delivered meals free of charge to people living with HIV/AIDS and other, co-existing illnesses. They both offer nutritional counselling and meal planning, as well as 60+ support therapies including therapeutic massage, naturopathy, music therapy and yoga.
Enter to win During @VanDOFL
One lucky social-media savvy diner will win $500 at Dining Out For Life 2016. To enter to win, simply dine at a participating restaurant; post a photo of your dish on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram; tag the restaurant and @VanDOFL; and use the tag #DOFL. Each social media platform gives you another chance to win.
Follow Dining Out for Life on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
One of my favourite pieces of jewellery is a necklace pendant that is shaped like the state of Iowa, where my husband is from (and where he left in order to move to Vancouver and be with me). Forever thankful to the Hawkeye State, I wear it close to my heart. As for Vancouver-themed pieces, I have some beautiful Coast Salish designs but I am always on the lookout for more ways to show my love for this city by way of bling. Here are 6 Pieces of Vancouver Jewellery That Show Your Love for The City:
I Heart BC
In the same vein as my Iowa necklace, you can get a cutout BC necklace from truche on Etsy. The heart, while not exactly over the Lower Mainland, shares a thoughtful sentiment. There’s also a Canada Map Necklace with a heart along BC’s south coast from sudlow on Etsy.
Silver Cedar
While they don’t scream “Vancouver”, they do remind me of a walk through Stanley Park. These earrings are cast from actual cedar using an old jewelry technique similar to lost wax casting and are available via Justine Brooks.
Sitka and Waves
Again, not a literal Vancouver piece but these sitka spruce pendants from Ugly Bunny in Kelowna also remind me of our parks and beaches.
East Van Cross
The East Van Cross Project began with the iconic Monument for East Vancouver sculpture created by Ken Lum. Developed from a graffiti symbol that has circulated for several decades, it is an expression of hope and defiance. Inspired by this meaningful piece of public art, designer Susan Fiedler conceived a fund raising initiative to benefit Pivot Legal Society. The crosses are currently sold out online but you may find some at espace d in Gastown.
You can also get an East Van Cross necklace through Benee Rubin in support of the YWCA’s Crabtree Corner.
YVR Necklace
Simple and to the point. This faceted geometric necklace from local designer LanaBetty comes in brass, rose gold, or sterling silver with a snake chain.
YVR Ring
One more from LanaBetty, and this is probably my favourite: LanaBetty’s YVR ring. It comes in variations of steel or brass and its elegant simplicity is a show-stopper for me.
Do you have any favourites that I missed? Leave a comment below and I’ll check it out!
Related: Vancouver T-Shirts, Where to Buy Aboriginal Art in Vancouver, 5 Cool Vancouver Maps, 10 Vancouver Gift Items on Etsy.
As the first snow started to fall last autumn, John and I got to experience the rugged beauty of the Rockies (along with its culinary and craft beer culture) in between end-of-season adventures. Now as the ice thaws and the snow melts, the Rocky Mountains come alive once more with activities just waiting to be experienced from Calgary and Banff, to Jasper and picturesque places in between.
Springtime in the Rockies
Johnston Canyon. Photo by Paul Zizka. Banff Lake Louise Tourism.
Re-Discover Banff
We’re big fans of exploring a region in a variety of ways: On the coast it’s about the mountains and the sea, and in the Rockies it’s about how many ways you can get out and about for your adventure. In the air (in a helicopter) on trails (on snowshoes) or traversing the alpine (on horseback), and much more.
Banff Trail Riders starts their Bow River Ride (1 hour tour) on April 30th and the rest of their trail ride options start first week of May. Sleigh rides are running now until the end of the season.
Discover Banff Tours host the Johnston Canyon Icewalk and their Snowshoe tours until April 10th. The Discover Banff and Wildlife tours continue year-round with viewings of elk, deer, grizzlies, and coyotes. White Mountain Adventures offers a Sunshine Meadows guided snowshoe tour along with heli-snowshoeing until the end of the season.
Alpine Helicopters and Rockies Heli offer sightseeing tours above the valley, the village, and glacial peaks. John and I enjoyed a sunrise tour with Alpine when we were in Canmore and it was pretty incredible.
Don’t give up on the slopes just yet! Spring Skiing continues straight through until May. Combine your day of skiing with unique food and drink pairings: There’s the popular Sushi & Ski at Lake Louise Resort and over near Marmot in Jasper you’ve got Jasper Brewing in town where John and I fell in love with their Dark Sky Dark Rye Lager during the Dark Sky Festival. High Rollers in Banff is also serving up craft in their beer hall & bowling alley for apres enjoyment.
Spring in Jasper
The Jasper SkyTram will be opening earlier this year on March 25th. It’s the longest and highest guided aerial tramway in Canada! After your 7 minute flight, you’ll reach an altitude of 2277 metres (7472 ft) with a mountain top experience that the whole family will cherish. There are endless views of six mountain ranges, glacially fed lakes, rivers and of course the mountain town of Jasper.
In March there’s also the Jasper Pride Festival — and it will be the biggest yet! Running from March 17th to March 20th, there are already 24 events confirmed.
New in Calgary
We an eager, thriving and growing culinary and craft scene in Calgary when we were there in October so I’m thrilled that a Calgary Beer Tour has been launched this year. This is the first and only multi-brewery tour in Alberta. Each tour showcases the local breweries, eateries and distilleries in the Calgary area and the locals who share their passion for quality ingredients and a craft experience.
Finally, springtime in the Rockies really warms up with the hottest music in Canada being showcased at the JUNO Awards and JUNO Week celebrations in Calgary March 28th to April 3rd.
The 45th Annual JUNO Awards will be broadcast on CTV from The Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, April 3, 2016.
Enjoy more music in Calgary this spring when Studio Bell opens up at the National Music Centre downtown. It will feature five floors of exhibitions space telling the story of music in Canada, as well as workshops, classrooms, recording studios, bookable event/function space, a 20,000 sq. ft. museum, and more.
To plan your trip and to find out more about what’s happening in the Rockies this spring, follow Travel Alberta on Facebook and Twitter.
The Grouse Grind is closed for the season so if you’re looking for an after-work workout that involves climbing hundreds of meters in the air, with a reward of having a unique view from a Vancouver attraction at the top, then the Urban Grind is for you!
The Urban Grind
While it can’t replace trails that twist between evergreens, you can climb up 553 feet at Harbour Centre and check out the view from the Vancouver Lookout at the top when you do the Urban Grind.
Every Tuesday in March Vancouverites are invited to climb the stairs to the top of the iconic Vancouver Lookout, where you will be met with a beer, live DJ, and 360º aerial views. New this year, Shawn Adair, a Powerlifting and Calisthenics Strength Coach, is on board to lead a stretch and climb and provide techniques to our climbers. He will be leading a climb at 4:00pm each Tuesday.
- Where: Start in the Harbour Centre lobby 555 West Hastings St)
- When: Every Tuesday in March (1, 8, 15, 22, 29) from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
- Admission: $5 (includes unlimited circuits between 4:00pm to 6:00pm)
Includes one beer and DJ entertainment.
Climbers will also receive a $5 Harbour Centre Food Court voucher.
Follow along on The Vancouver Lookout on Twitter and Facebook along with Harbour Centre on Twitter with the tag #UrbanGrind for more information.
