In praise of powder snow
Powder, soft sweet powder. There is nothing quite like what we dedicated snow enthusiasts call “champagne powder.” It’s so light and soft that it’s forgiving, and you have to laugh whenever you fall deep into it. Standing back up, on the other hand, can be energy-taxing.
As a kid, the Ski Sheriff always thought water would be soft when you are waterskiing. The reality is that it is like you are skipping across the water like a flat beach stone. And falling at high speed can hurt because magically that water seems to have turned solid.
Then the Sheriff learned how to snow ski and discovered powder snow was like the soft water he had imagined. And it can flow just like water, reminscent of university discussions on the properties of light. (In a new experiment reported in November 2012, researchers observed light photons acting like both particles and waves simultaneously. The idea is called wave-particle duality, and is a fundamental tenet of the theory of quantum mechanics.)
Back to outdoor activities, the Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen donned snowshoes to climb through powder snow to the top of Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park in Kelowna last weekend. There had been considerable foot traffic, but we were the first snowshoers since the last significant snowfall.
Although the skies still had low valley cloud, all of that white frosting on everything was a joy to behold. Remember in little less than three weeks, it will be March and in the valley bottom, we’ll be tempted to replace winter activities with hiking, cycling and kayaking, especially on sunshine days. Get out and enjoy the winter conditions while you can.
*** In other outdoor news, Constant Companion Carmen received her free Parks Canada Discovery Pass this week. The back says: “Valid for entry to all national parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites administered by Parks Canada. Display with this side facing in.”
So the Sheriff, who didn’t think you needed a free pass for free admission and didn’t apply for one, asked: What is it good for: an individual, you and your partner, you and your immediate family, you and all your friends, or even a carload of people?
There was no explanation on the back, on a colourful brochure and a letter from federal Minister of Environment Catherine McKenna which accompanied the pass. The minister responsible for Parks Canada went on and on, in French on the other side, about the Government of Canada’s gift. Blah, blah, blah.
So the Sheriff figured he’d better get one too in case it was a pass for an individual. Sure enough, on the Parks Canada application page, it says:
“Please note: You only need to order one pass for your group or family if you are all travelling together. A 2017 Discovery Pass is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site. The Discovery Pass is only accepted at national historic sites which are operated by Parks Canada.
“Activities such as tours or parking that normally carry a separate fee may not be covered by the Discovery Pass. Camping fees are not included with the Discovery Pass. Validity Period: January 1st 2017 to December 31st 2017.
“Display: The 2017 Discovery Pass must be hung from the rear view mirror of the vehicle facing forward or it can be placed on the front driver side dashboard facing up. If you have questions regarding the above information, please contact our National Information Service at 1-888-7738888 or information@pc.gc.ca.”
That’s what everyone wants to know: who is covered by the pass, what does it cover and where do you “display” it (for those who have never had a parking pass with rearview mirror slot)? Virtually no one is going to read McKenna’s blah, blah, blah unless they too think the practical aspects would be explained.
At column deadline, there was still no response from Parks Canada’s media communications department about why the practical aspects wouldn’t accompany the pass two-three weeks after not reading all of the information on the application website.
*** Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre held another successful Jess4Kids day on Saturday. This Vernon Winter Carnival event featured the longstanding and highlyanticipated Tips Up Cup (a race with costumes encouraged) and the new corporate challenge pledge relay (a four-person race with two on skis and two on snowshoes; carnival-themed costumes were encouraged).
The mandate of the Jess4Kids Fund is to provide cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities (busing as well as cross-country ski or snowshoe rentals and instruction) for children and youth who would not otherwise have that opportunity.
When it was established in 2012, just months after the sudden death of its namesake, Jessica Eaman, organizers hoped the fund would give a few youth the chance to experience the winter sport she was so passionate about: cross-country skiing.
Five years after she died in a vehicle collision on Highway 97 between Vernon and Kelowna, the Jessica Eaman Ski Scholarship has brought dozens of young people - from new Canadians to the children of families in need - up to the magical place where she spent so much time racing, coaching and working - Sovereign Lake.
Thanks to generous corporate sponsorships and community donations, Jess4Kids has also supported the training and travel costs of Vernon Nordic skier Hannah Mehain, a member of Canada’s national junior team. In turn, Mehain recently became the first Jess4Kids Ski Ambassador.
*** It’s not too early to begin making plans for Spring Break.
Registration is now being accepted for this year’s Nature Detectives Spring Break Camps at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin roads, in Kelowna. Indoor and outdoor activities for children age five to seven, and seven to 10, will run from 9 a.m. to noon on March 21-23 and March 28-30.
“All camp participants will engage in nature play, crafts and games that will bring out their inner naturalist as they make new friends,” said communications manager Bruce Smith. “Each morning during the camps, they’ll discover park trails and ponds, and listen to stories about animals and our environment.”
You can register in advance at the EECO. The cost is $75 per youngster for each three, half-day camp session.
For more information, go to the regional district website: regionaldistrict.com/parksevents, contact the EECO at 250-469-6139, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or drop into the centre at 2363A Springfield Rd. in Mission Creek Regional Park.
*** The 14th annual World Community Film Festival on March 2-5 will have more than 25 documentaries from around the world with a focus on environmental, social justice and human rights issues, films sure to entertain, educate and inspire.
The festival begins on Thursday, March 2 at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre in downtown Kelowna with a Friday evening grand opening at Okanagan College followed by films all day Saturday and Sunday at the college.
Admission to the films is free but donations will be accepted for the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre and Inn from the Cold as well as to support the ongoing film festival.
Meals and baked goods are available both Saturday and Sunday at the college but bring your own cup and popcorn container.
For news and updates, check out the Facebook page.
BTW, the festival is no longer sharing the weekend with the Kelowna Community Seed Swap which will be held in March in West Kelowna.
*** You can let your creative juices flow during Eco-Art at the EECO.
Every Saturday morning at 11 a.m., every member of the family can create a work of art using recycled and natural materials at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan located in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin roads. There’s no need to pre-register for this free program; just drop into the EECO a few minutes early. All ages are welcome.
*** Students of all ages are welcome to join the EECO After School program, a perfect activity for students to have fun after classes are done for the day. The program continues on Feb. 23 with free, hands-on learning activities that explore the ‘wild’ in regional parks.
The one-hour program begins at 3 p.m. in the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan located in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin roads, in Kelowna. Pre-register by dropping into the EECO, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or phone 250-469-6139.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is an Okanagan Sunday reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. His column appears every weekend. Contact him at jp.squire@telus.net.