Hip deep in champagne powder
After writing about the Okanagan’s glorious “champagne powder” last weekend, the Ski Sheriff had a chance to check it out first-hand on Family Day.
The Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen repeated our favourite loop at Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club, both on Saturday and again on Monday: Jackrabbit to Riverside to Upper Meadow and back on Upper Meadow, Meadow and Log Cabin.
As we headed for the Upper Meadow Cabin on Riverside Trail, we heard the unmistakable sound of the groomer behind us, so CCC went right and the Sheriff went left to get off the groomed trail.
However, as soon as the Sheriff was off the packed surface, he was in more than a metre of the softest snow you can imagine. His skis went straight in and his upper body followed.
Groomer/club president Ryland Garton stopped and when he stopped laughing, he grabbed the Sheriff’s arm and pulled until the Sheriff was somewhat upright again. As soon as you step off the trail, warned Ryland, the powder snow is unbelievably deep, thanks to recent snowstorms and frigid temperatures. No backcountry skiing for the time being.
Further down the trail, the Sheriff couldn’t figure out why an earlier skier kept putting his pole tips in the ski track since that collapses its vertical sides and makes the track bumpy. The errant poling went on and on until a clear area where there were prints in the middle of the groomed trail. One giant print had the distinctive shape of a moose hoof which left wisps of moss behind. And not a small moose either. Oh my!
Fortunately, the prints pointed down the trail to our rear although it would have been a thrill to see him (or her) doing a moose laugh as the Sheriff ended up in the deep powder for the second time that day. The first race in the four-race Elevation Series, sponsored by Hoodoo Adventures of Penticton, was held on Saturday at Apex Mountain Resort west of Penticton. The second annual Ullr’s Winter Triathlon involved competitors on mountain bikes, Nordic skis and snowshoes. Photos and results were promised.
The next race is Ullr’s Winter Triathlon at Big White Ski Resort next Sunday, Feb. 26, with fat bikes, Nordic skis and snowshoes. The Ski2Tree, from Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club to Tree Brewery in Kelowna, is on March 11. This reincarnation of the popular Ski2Sea race involves Nordic skiing, a snowshoe run, road biking, running, mountain biking and paddling, descending 3,000 feet in 88 kilometres over six stages.
The sixth annual Elevator Race, Penticton to Apex Mountain Resort, is on March 25, and involves paddling, road biking, running/snowshoeing, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding, ascending 6,000 feet in 52 kilometres over six stages. For more information or to register, go to: elevationseries.ca.
The 2016 Annual Review of the Regional District of Central Okanagan not only covers the past year but looks ahead to this year.
“The 49-page full-colour publication outlines the wide variety of services and programs that we provide throughout the Central Okanagan. The Annual Review showcases department-by-department highlights for 2016 while outlining the initiatives planned for 2017,î said communications officer Bruce Smith.
Among the proposed initiatives for this year:
* Trail and infrastructure improvements in several regional parks including Glen Canyon, Goats Peak, Kaloya, Kopje, KLO Creek and Johns Family Nature Conservancy. More detail is expected in the coming months.
“Our Annual Review is one of the popular downloads on the regional district website throughout the year in part because it chronicles the diverse services and programs provided by the regional district. Not only are we the local government for those living in the Central Okanagan East and West electoral areas but we provide efficient and effective services such as animal control, recycling, regional parks and the regional emergency program to those in Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna as well as specific services through agreements with the Westbank First Nation, î said Smith.
The 2016 Annual Review is available online at regionaldistrict.com or printed copies can be picked up at the regional district office, 1450 KLO Rd. in Kelowna.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is an Okanagan Sunday reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. His column appears every weekend. You can contact him with your outdoor news at his new email address: jp.squire@telus.net.