Nothing beats a ski and soak at Radium Hot Springs

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I was pumped to head to the Purcell Mountains in southeastern B.C. It would be a fitting end to my ski B.C. ski tour. The last time I was in the area, I was way up in the sky paragliding from the summit of Panorama Mountain. I remember the rolling cliffs and spectacular views of the Rockies. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to get back here, but this time with something much more down to earth and relaxing.

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Panorama will always have a sweet spot in my heart

I have a cool connection to this place because Panorama Mountain is where I learned how to carve on my snowboard. A decade ago, I’d been snowboarding for a season and hadn’t perfected the infamous ‘carve’ yet and instead spent time catching both of my edges, and crashing. Then I went to Panorama for a weekend and on the last day of my trip I carved like the wind. I will never forget it. So, revisiting this mountain on a board again was like being back in that moment 10 years ago. But this time I also I had someone with me to make my trip memorable in a different way. His name is Karl, and I’d like you to meet him. Read more: http://bit.ly/2ljZFKG

Meet Karl

When I arrived at Panorama Mountain I met with a long-time local legend, Karl Fahrni. Karl arrived here in 1974 from Australia via Switzerland and missed the Alps. That’s when he discovered the Radium area and has never left. Karl loves hang-gliding and being on the mountain. In summer, you’ll find him hiking or fishing in the backcountry lakes. “You have to have a connection and love mother nature to live out here. It is very special.”

Karl and his daughter Karen skied with me for the day and I learned just how much this place means to them. Karen was born and raised in the Radium area, but went to school in Calgary then travelled the world for a year. Then she returned to her hometown. “I keep getting drawn back here, I love being with my dad in the outdoors. He … taught me the essence of hard work. I have no regrets.” Read more: http://bit.ly/2ljZFKG

Soak it all in while surrounded by winter’s icy beauty

An overwhelming sense of relaxation surrounded me as I entered the Radium Hot Springs. The pools are a comfy 39 C, and people speak in hushed tones knowing this is where we all come to chill out. But as a landscape photographer, I was struck by beauty of the ice and snow encrusting the trees, creating magical ice sculptures surrounding the hot springs. Read more: http://bit.ly/2ljZFKG

Meet a “headbanger”

After leaving the hot pools, I was wondering if I was going to get chance to meet the local wildlife, the big horn sheep, known as ‘headbangers. Karl told me stories of these curious yet protective creatures, known very well to the locals. They get the name for their fall mating ritual, in which they literally butt heads to see which will win the mate of their choice. They roam the hills – and even the streets – making themselves one of the highlights of visiting this area. As if they knew I wanted to photograph them, they appeared on the side of hill, off the main highway. I pulled into a rest area, jumped out of the car with my camera and began shooting. I had their attention now, and these not-so-shy creatures seemed to love modelling for me.

I can honestly say I found physical and emotional exhilaration in Radium. Chilling out in the steamy hot pools and then having the local wildlife pose for me; it just doesn’t get better than that. Read more: http://bit.ly/2ljZFKG

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2ljZFKG

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Kimberley isn’t just for families, it’s for powder enthusiasts and explorers, too

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Kimberley Alpine Resort is well known as a family oriented ski hill, so naturally I didn’t anticipate anything too crazy. It seems my perceptions of places get completely altered when I visit, because once I start talking to people they shape the identity of these places in unique ways.

After skiing with the locals, I discovered terrain for all levels, a friendly vibe and, also found out, that although this place is super family friendly, it’s not just for families.

Kimberley’s nickname might give you a clue about the place – ‘The Bavarian City of the Rockies,’ – but that certainly wouldn’t be telling the whole story. As always, you need to scratch the surface when you’re checking out a new place. With a population of 7,600 and loads of winter sport activities, I’d spent some time exploring the Purcell Mountains and Columbia Valley region, but Kimberley was new to me.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lXKBQ4

Myth-busting Kimberley

I came here to do a bit of myth-busting about the fact that Kimberley isn’t just a family mountain. Sure, it’s got something for all kinds of activities for outdoorsy families, but what I found out is that Kimberley is more like a community mountain – for all ages.

I was struck by the fact that there appears to be no age gap. People seem supportive of all ages. I saw young kids who looked up to the “cool teenagers” and 30-year-olds, with lots of encouragement between everyone. I didn’t see any judgment, just people having a good time together doing what they love. To me, that’s priceless. Read more:  http://bit.ly/2lXKBQ4

Meet Steve

Steve Black is 100 per cent in love with anything alpine. He and skiing are totally dating – in fact he has been downhill skiing for 77 months straight without missing a month!

He works in the pro shop at Kimberley. I’ve now discovered this is where the locals share stories of powder and pleasure. And, they all know their way around all kinds of terrain. Steve grew up here and although he has visited other places and hills, there’s no way he will leave this mountain. He and a small clan of renegade powder-heads have invested countless hours creating a huge gathering area around one of the runs. It’s been dubbed “The Pit.” It’s like this cool outdoor snow patio, that can fit up to 200 people. Some years the walls have been 10 feet high. It is the place to relax and hang out with like-minded ski enthusiasts when they’re skiing Kimberley. Read more:  http://bit.ly/2lXKBQ4

A hill for explorers

After skiing the mountain with Steve, I found out how this entire area is ripe for exploration and discovery. Ski the mountain and you’ll find new terrain all day. Or, throw your skis on your back and go on a search for untouched, deep powder. That’s what Steve taught me. Even though he’s been here for a long time, he can still go and find new gnarly terrain to shred.

One thing I learned is that just one day at Kimberley is not enough. If you’re lucky enough to visit, be sure to ask Steve to take you up to ‘The Pit.’ Read more:  http://bit.ly/2lXKBQ4

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lXKBQ4

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Steal away to this village for unexpected moments

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My first visit to Sun Peaks, Canada’s second largest ski area was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, and for reasons you would never expect.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

Meet ‘Red’

I had one of the most beautiful experiences of my life here. I came face-to-face with a wild red fox on my very first run down the mountain. We carefully and cautiously approached the animal which I named ‘Red.’ I was in sheer amazement the entire time. I can’t explain the feeling, but I couldn’t look away because I felt connected to something real and alive. Thank you Red, for bringing a tear to my eye when I least expected it. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

Live, eat and breathe alpine culture

Deep steeps, long cruisers, gladed areas, powder stashes and corduroy groomers can all be found within this 4,270 acres of terrain. Three mountains surround a European-style, ski-through village filled with quaint shops, cafes and eateries. Sun Peaks has so many activities and events on and off the slopes. You’ll be left wishing you had for more time to spend here. Each mountain is easily accessible from the village, so it’s easy to ski all three peaks in the same day. Or, stick to the area that you love the most. Sun Peaks gets, on average, six metres of snow annually, and is blessed with light, dry powder conditions. Sun Peaks is more than a ski resort, it’s also a vibrant mountain resort municipality with no shortage of passionate and involved local residents who commit countless hours of volunteer time in dozens of community groups, clubs, and associations. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

Meet Nancy

Who would ever expect to meet a Canadian ski legend skiing at a resort? Not me, but that’s exactly what happened. Unfortunately, I met Nancy Greene (also a Canadian senator!) on my last day at Sun Peaks, and for only a short time. In the 10 minutes or so we spent talking, I was impressed by her love, passion and commitment to the sport of skiing and ski racing. Nancy is known for a long list of achievements – she was Canada’s top ski racer through the 1960s, winning gold and silver medals at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 68. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

Meet ‘Koach’

Kent ‘Koach’ Thiessen, is a Kamloops local who calls the mountains of Sun Peaks his home. Koach likes his powder deep and is always sporting a mile-wide smile. “Sun Peaks is one of the funnest hills to ride and the community welcomed us with open arms in 1995 when we came here to start Oronge Boardshop.” Since he and his business partner opened the doors, they’ve been involved in the community and have been spreading the spirit of snow-loving sports. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2keSDI1

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Shredding the slopes and meeting new friends amid Big White’s snow ghosts

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I’d heard that Big White Ski Resort was known for having the ‘Best Snow in North America”, well at least according to the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. That’s a pretty big statement, so I set out to see for myself what makes this place a powder heaven.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lCdvGg

Snow ghosts like I’ve never seen before

I didn’t even know what a “snow ghost” was until about half-way up the chairlift at Big White Mountain Resort. You know how you see some trees dusted in snow and it looks spectacular? At Big White I saw for the first time trees completely draped in snow. Fields of them. I couldn’t help but take lots of pictures to document these beautiful yet somewhat haunting creations. To me, snow ghosts are the signature of Big White. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCdvGg

The bad-ass ‘Bluebirds of Big White’

I expected that when I met up with Kelowna local Jeff Willard to snowboard for the day, it would be a nice and casual afternoon. Instead, on the first run he sprayed me with powder as he flew above my head! The rest of his renegade crew, consisting of six boarders, showed up and wowed me with their spectacular jumps. They made my day and my first time photographing and doing video of snowboarders. I’ve coined them the “Bluebirds of Big White.” These people really know how to shred it up on the slopes. But what made it even more spectacular was perfect bluebird conditions all day with snow that exceeded all expectations. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCdvGg

Challenge your body and mind on the ice climbing tower

After a day on the hill, I still had enough energy to check out another cool feature of Big White – the ice tower. Within the Adventure Park at Big White is a 60-foot tower constructed of four telephone poles with three-foot thick ice, that gleams in the sunshine.

This was my first-time ice climbing, so I needed to be shown the ropes. Half way up I got the photo I was looking for – and I was totally ready to come down. Being that high up on ice is a strange feeling, and using the tools, not to mention trusting them, was intense. “Ready to come down!” I yelled. I was out of my comfort zone and this is when the amazing Amber and Neil, who work as guides in the adventure park, told me, “GET UP THERE! YOU CAN DO IT MAN!” Their encouragement kept me going, giving me confidence. From that point on, my climbing tools somehow gripped the ice and I felt I could really do this. I dug in hard and pulled myself up and moments later I was near the top. Hell yeah! I saw the cowbell and I rang it furiously. I overcame my fears and dug in to conquer my body and mind. I’ll never forget this experience. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCdvGg

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lCdvGg

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Troll Resort steals my heart with fresh snow and friendly people

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When I heard I was going to ski a mountain resort mysteriously named “‘Troll,” I knew this place was somehow different from the other ski hills. It became my mission to find out what made it so unique.

As the story goes, a man named Lars Fossberg and his wife Astrid built this place from the ground up in 1972. It’s no wonder Troll has pretty deep roots in the Quesnel region. To this day, the resort is still run by the family. Lars’ daughter Hildur and her husband Lars Sinclair, operate the hill that has 527 metres (1,729 feet) of vertical and reportedly, the world’s second largest T-bar. It’s always so cool to find out facts like this!

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lCp7ZA

Meet Hildur

Hildur Sinclair was the first person to greet me at Troll as I walked in but I was also greeted by smiles and a warmth of this tight-knit community.

“What we do is create joy for people…create a space for them to come and experience joy,” Hildur tells me. “Troll is a special place in a lot of people’s hearts and it’s where they have a lot of fun, laugh and play. I think that’s super important nowadays – to be able to get out and just experience nature and fall in the snow and you’re not plugged into anything. That’s what we do here.” I couldn’t agree more. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCp7ZA

A hill full of life

I instantly noticed the connection between people and the mountain. The collective passion for getting people and kids on snow was one of the highlights of my trip. And about that name ‘Troll’? Originally it was Hildur’s aunt who suggested the name to Lars. In traditional Norwegian and Scandinavian folklore, the Troll is a mystical and mythological creature. Lars loved the idea of calling the resort Troll. For Hildur, it fits the ski hill’s philosophy that skiing should evoke be fun and put a little magic in every day. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCp7ZA

Meet Beat

You might “know” Beat from the TV series Timber Kings. I was fortunate enough to get to meet him face to face and ski some fresh lines with him. Riding up the T-bar with Baet, we struck up a conversation and I asked him why he loves Troll and what he’d miss if he had to leave.

“You wouldn’t get me out of this place. I would miss the people the most, as well as the ability to completely disconnect. Here. I can truly disconnect from the world and the internet and even cell service is tough. That is what I love. I love what I do and I love the people surrounding me and this is a small community we all love to call home.” Read more: http://bit.ly/2lCp7ZA

To the people of Troll Mountain, you have my heart. XO

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lCp7ZA

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Discovering the Cariboo Region of British Columbia

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As we drove into the region of Quesnel I had no idea what to expect. It was my first time here, but I had I heard that it was rich in both winter outdoor activities and history. Quesnel is a small city of roughly 10,000 people (with 13,000 in the surrounding areas) and is part of the Cariboo District of British Columbia. Located nearly evenly between the cities of Prince George and Williams Lake, Quesnel acts as a central outdoor playground of the North Cariboo, offering unlimited recreational opportunities for families, adventurers and people looking to enjoy an expanse of pristine wilderness.

I spent the days exploring the region, meeting new people and trying new winter activities.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2keHI0V

A haven for winter sports: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat biking and trail running

You know what makes me extremely happy? Waking up, strapping on snowshoes, and exploring vast landscapes. This is how I first got to know Quesnel. Upon arriving at Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park I was awestruck by the rolling hills and fairy-tale winter views. The sun was rising as we were snowshoeing the trails of Quesnel. We then headed to Hallis Lake to visit and cross-country ski with the Cariboo Ski Touring Club. Formed in 1975, the CSTC was created to facilitate and further all aspects of cross-country skiing in the Quesnel area. Meeting members of the club I was struck by their passion for cross-country skiing. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keHI0V

Relax here: Barkerville Brewing Co.

Wind down from a day of winter activities at the Barkerville Brewing Co. Located in the centre of City of Quesnel, the local brewery true après spirit. Apart from an amazing array of local brews, we spent the evening sharing bites and reminiscing about our snow-filled day.

Barkerville Brewing Co. sets itself from many other breweries because it pays homage to the historic region’s mining past, telling stories through its award-winning beers. With names like 18 Karat Gold and White Gold, well you get the picture. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keHI0V

Explore History

Quesnel is located at the start of the Barkerville Highway, or Highway 26 as you might find it on the map.  Rich in mining history, Quesnel and the famed Hwy 26 pays many tributes to those who founded this region, including characters like Billy Barker. As you’ll read from Doc Pow’s story on Barkerville Barker in 1862 stuck gold in the region, so much gold, it was named one of the riches scores in gold rush history!  You’ll find Barker’s name in a few places and your time here can include a stay in the Billy Barker hotel.  It’s a unique spot to hang your hat, as it is built like a river boat, which back in the day was used to haul all kinds of goods and services up and down BC’s longest river, the Fraser that weaves is way through this region and right down into Vancouver. Read more: http://bit.ly/2keHI0V

Troll Resort full of surprises

From the instant, we arrived at Troll Resort we were greeted with open arms. It was a place I never expected to visit but it surprised me more than any other place, like meeting Hildur and Len Sinclair, who are a treasure trove of stories. Read more about Troll Resort here.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2keHI0V

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Hudson Bay Mountain cabin community leads an enviable life

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After witnessing and shooting one of the most stunning sunrises of my life from the peak of Hudson Bay Mountain, I was intrigued by the small mountain community I saw on my way up. It turns out there’s a handful of people who live on the mountain and whole-heartedly embraced this place.

I could instantly see why. I spent the rest of the day skiing iconic mountain lines and talking with the cabin-living locals to find out a bit more.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lgjoLA

Meet cabin locals: Jason and family

Jason Krauskopf and his family live in a cabin on Hudson Bay Mountain and can literally jump off their back deck into a couple of metres of fresh powder. The amount of snow on this mountain is incredible and I can see why Jason’s two boys Toan and Tosh love growing up here.

Jason is the co-owner of Local Supply Co., a gear shop for outdoor enthusiasts in Smithers. You can tell he’s is woven deeply into the outdoors lifestyle of this community. Read more: http://bit.ly/2lgjoLA

Finding joy in the alpine culture

At the core of this mountain is the community. After skiing with Jason and his family, I got a chance to do a little exploring of my own. Nearly every person I talked to said they would never leave because they have a deep love for the mountain and close bonds with each other. One snowboarder told me, “You can let your kids run wild on this hill with their friends; it’s safe. All of our families look after each other.” Read more: http://bit.ly/2lgjoLA

Meet Kelly

Nearing the end of the day, I was ready to relax and enjoy the sun setting from Kelly McCormack’s cabin. We literally skied to her front door. I felt like I’d just walked into my aunt’s house because we instantly hit it off. The skies were drenched with colour and over a hot chocolate I talked to Kelly about what she loves about this mountain.

“My husband and I drove around the province and looked all over … and couldn’t find anything that spoke to us more,” she says. “We were drawn here.” Read more: http://bit.ly/2lgjoLA

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2lgjoLA

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Three snowy days in Smithers and I’m a convert

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This leg of our SkiNorthBC expedition brought us to a little place called Smithers, located in northwestern B.C., halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers has a small but mighty population of just more than 5,400. I did a little digging and discovered that it was founded in 1913 and eagerly adopted a strong Alpine culture. A town bylaw even requires businesses in the downtown area to construct buildings in an Alpine style. I wanted to kick off my time in Smithers by meeting and skiing with some residents, locally nicknamed ‘Smithereens. Little did I know that I would become smitten with the town and its people. I discovered this place has the whole package, generous people and a warm alpine attitude. After spending time with the people and views of Smithers, I could easily live here permanently.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

Meet Taylor Bachrach, Canada’s powder-shredding mayor

Taylor Bachrach is not your typical mayor, but that’s probably because of where he lives. He grew up on skis and has lived here for about 12 years here with his family after falling in love with the place. “We moved here for the mountain,” Bachrach says. “My wife and I wanted to be in a mountain ski town with a great community. We felt signals from the universe that this was the place to be to raise our family. This place has a generosity of spirit like nowhere else.” Read more: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

Eat & drink: Aspen in the Riverhouse Lounge

You can keep your ski boots on and settle into this local institution for the warm fire, some pub fare and cold beverages after your snowy adventures. The huge menu caters to all appetites and each night has a food theme. Read more: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

Meet Alex Cuba

Alex Cuba is one of Smithers’ most famous residents and I had the opportunity to meet the multi-award winning musician while I was there. Aside from his music sung in English and Spanish, I learned his other big love is his family. He ended up living in Smithers after marrying his wife Sarah who is from Smithers. You can tell he loves this community and that it has become his escape from touring and the music industry. What’s more everyone around town seems to have immense respect for him because of his dedication to his family. I heard from more than several people that he can often be seen playing outside with his kids. Read more: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

Unreal views on and off Hudson Bay Mountain

I had the pleasure of teaming up with talented videographer Chris Wheeler for a sunrise photo and video shoot at Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers. It’s an experience I’ll never forget – for a number of reasons. It was my first snow cat ride. It was pitch black and we were on the side of a mountain. And the other was that we didn’t have matches or a lighter to spark up the wood stove in our cabin. But that was OK. We huddled in and talked, thankful to see the first golden rays of morning as we headed out for the first tracks shoot. We watched the sun come up and then skied down the mountain. What an exhilarating start the day with no one else around us. I bet you could hear us whooping it up for miles getting to experience this amazing alpine experience. Read more: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2kGvjiC

For more information on our journey visit: http://bit.ly/2lAOb2l and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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