Date post: | 13-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | point-roberts-press |
View: | 227 times |
Download: | 6 times |
Shredding Safely IN THE BACKCOUNTRY
Local rider NICK ENNEN brings lsquorapidrsquo progression to boarding
Remember
BIGFOOT
2 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 3
Welcome to the Mount Baker Experience the quarterly recreation guide for and about the Mt Baker area pub-lished by Point Roberts Press Inc Locally owned and operated the company also publishes The Northern Light AllPoint Bulletin Pacific Coast Weddings and Waterside in Blaine Washington Point Roberts Press is a member of theWashington Newspaper Publishers Association chambers of commerce in Whatcom County and the BellinghamMtBaker Convention and Visitors Bureau
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and are offered for the general interest of readers We wel-come your letters however the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor For circulation and rateinformation or to send your letters please address to Mount Baker Experience 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230fax them to 360332-2777 or email infomountbakerexperiencecom
Address 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230Tel 360332-1777 Fax 360332-2777Email infomountbakerexperiencecomWeb wwwmountbakerexperiencecomNext edition February Ads due January 21PublisherManaging EditorLayoutPatrick GrubbAssociate PublisherAdvertising ManagerLouise MugarAd Design Charlie Hagan Ruth LaumanContributors Ty Mitchell Grant GundersonGrady McCombs Dylan Hart Tara Nelson JeremySchwartz Rylan Schoen Rhys LoganAdvertising Sales Molly Ernst Janet McCall Office Manager Heidi Holmes
XMOUNT BAKER
e periencePrinted in Canada Vol XXV No 1
This is where
wwwmountbakerexperiencecom Read the current issue of Mount Baker Experience here and find all the archives as well wwwmtbakerus Find the latest information about the Mt Baker Ski Area including snow reports events and classeswwwmtbakerchamberorg wwwglacierchamberorg Discover the arearsquos businesses wwwweathercom Get all the weather you needwwwwsdotwagovregionsnorthwesttrafficbordercams Need to know about border delays Find out here
find it online
contents4 Sleds Mountain machines
Whatever you call them theyrsquore one helluva lot offun Herersquos how you can find out for yourself
6 Show me the love babyMBSArsquos Gwyn Howat says itrsquos all about the lovethatrsquos created and keeps the ski area going strong
8 Now thatrsquos sickOld school would say Nick Ennen has a death wishWe say hersquos rapidly progressing
10 Heavenly shotsIf these pics by local photographers donrsquot get yourheart pumping you need to buy yourself a new defibrillator because you are DOA
146 Where to eat shop amp stay
15 Economics 542When the going gets tough the local sporting establishments get even smarter at what they do
20 Remember BigfootJust because we donrsquot hear much about the big guyanymore doesnrsquot mean people arenrsquot out there look-ing for him
23 Regional Map
it all HAPPENS
On the coverAdam Uuml teleskiing in the MtBaker ski area backcountry by Grant Gunderson
wwwfacebookcomMountBakerExperience
Rory Savatgy on the hunt for more powder Photo by Tyler Mitchell
4 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Ever wonder where all those mas-sive pickup trucks hauling snow-mobiles are headed this time of yearWant to feel what itrsquos like to rideone of those mechanical beasts firsthand
Cisco Rodriguez owner of Bak-er Sleds in Bellingham may be justthe man yoursquore looking for
Opened in October Baker Sleds
offers both beginner and expertsnowmobilers alike the chance tohit some of the most beautiful snow-mobile trails in the Mt Baker areawith guidance from experiencedriders
The company rents some of thebest snowmobiles availableRodriguez said These snowmobilesreferred to as mountain machinesare designed for challenging ter-rain with multiple ascents and
descents he said They can reachspeeds of 80 mph and are equippedwith two-stroke 800-cc engines Forcomparison a common size formotorcycle engines is 250 cc
ldquoItrsquos the equivalent of riding adirt bike on snowrdquo Rodriguez said
Baker Sleds rents their mountainmachines for $250 per day eachwith trailers to haul them costing$50 If two sleds are rented at thesame time Baker Sleds will throw
in the trailer for free The compa-ny does not rent helmets or snowgear Rodriguez said
Though that might seem a littlepricey Rodriguez said itrsquos a lot bet-ter than buying a snowmobile andusing it infrequently Snowmobilesalone can cost as much as $12000not including the trailer and truckpowerful enough to tow it he said
ldquoWhat I tell people is the machineis the down paymentrdquo Rodriguez
By Jeremy Schwartzsays laughing ldquoTherersquos so muchother stuff that goes with itrdquo
Baker Sleds also offers guide serv-ices for anyone from a first-timerider to an experienced snowmo-biler The services start at $100 perday Rodriguez said
A slew of avalanches and acci-dents in recent years has meantsnowmobiling has had its share ofbad publicity points out Rodrigueza member of the Whatcom Coun-ty Snowmobile Club Thatrsquos one ofthe reasons Rodriguez started Bak-er Sleds Rodriguez said he wantsto show how exciting it can be whendone safely
Though the experience can beexhilarating Rodriguez said theimportance he puts on safety can-not be underestimated
ldquoIt can be a dangerous sportrdquo hesaid ldquoWersquore not out here to get peo-ple hurtrdquo
Rodriguez explained the firstthing anyone interested in snow-mobiling should know is his or herown limitations Recognizing howfast to go and how rough the ter-rain is can be the difference betweena fun ride and serious injuries Snow-mobiling is a physically demand-ing activity and Rodriguez said hehas come across many people whosimply donrsquot realize how exhaust-ing a day out snowmobiling can be
Continued on page 5
360-676-4096 wwwmtbakermotocom
3950 Home Road Bellingham(Located behind Jerry Chambers
off Northwest Avenue)
BAKERSLEDSr e n t a l s amp g u i d e s
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS
OFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSOFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURS
wwwbakersledscomor email contactbakersledscom
360-410-6032
0 ndash fun in 13 seconds
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 5
Another lesson for beginners tolearn quickly is the importance ofa group Rodriguez said No one inthe Whatcom County SnowmobileClub ever goes out alone he saidRodriguez suggested beginners getinvolved with a snowmobile clubso they will always have someoneto go riding with
ldquoWhen a machine gets stuck inthe snow itrsquos 500 poundsrdquo he saidldquoYoursquore not going to pick it up byyourselfrdquo
Baker Sleds is the only companyin Whatcom County that offersrental snowmobiles and guide serv-ices for traversing the countyrsquos sno-parks Rodriguez said Sno-parksare areas specifically designed for
use by snowmobilers WhatcomCounty has more than a dozen sno-parks each maintained by the Unit-ed States Forest Service Rodriguezsaid he mostly frequents CanyonCreek Glacier Creek and SchrieberrsquosMeadow during the season
Canyon Creek and Glacier Creekare located near the town of Gla-cier on the Mt Baker Highway (stateroute 542) Canyon Creek is reachedfrom US Forest Service road 31north of Glacier while Glacier Creekis just south of town on forest serv-ice road 39
Schrieberrsquos Meadow is part of theMt Baker National Recreation AreaIt can be reached by taking stateroute 20 to Baker Lake Road head-ing north for 12 miles and then weston forest service road 12
Each sno-park offers maintainedtrails and numerous areas with
breathtaking scenery Sno-park per-mits are required for all sno-parksduring the season Permits can bepurchased from Cross Roads Gro-cery in Maple Falls
For more information on snow-
mobiling in Washington visit theWashington State Snowmobile Asso-ciation website at wwwwssaus
To learn more about Baker Sledsvisit their website at wwwbaker-sledscom or call 360410-6032
SnowmobilingContinued from page 4
s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power speed and reliability
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
2 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 3
Welcome to the Mount Baker Experience the quarterly recreation guide for and about the Mt Baker area pub-lished by Point Roberts Press Inc Locally owned and operated the company also publishes The Northern Light AllPoint Bulletin Pacific Coast Weddings and Waterside in Blaine Washington Point Roberts Press is a member of theWashington Newspaper Publishers Association chambers of commerce in Whatcom County and the BellinghamMtBaker Convention and Visitors Bureau
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and are offered for the general interest of readers We wel-come your letters however the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor For circulation and rateinformation or to send your letters please address to Mount Baker Experience 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230fax them to 360332-2777 or email infomountbakerexperiencecom
Address 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230Tel 360332-1777 Fax 360332-2777Email infomountbakerexperiencecomWeb wwwmountbakerexperiencecomNext edition February Ads due January 21PublisherManaging EditorLayoutPatrick GrubbAssociate PublisherAdvertising ManagerLouise MugarAd Design Charlie Hagan Ruth LaumanContributors Ty Mitchell Grant GundersonGrady McCombs Dylan Hart Tara Nelson JeremySchwartz Rylan Schoen Rhys LoganAdvertising Sales Molly Ernst Janet McCall Office Manager Heidi Holmes
XMOUNT BAKER
e periencePrinted in Canada Vol XXV No 1
This is where
wwwmountbakerexperiencecom Read the current issue of Mount Baker Experience here and find all the archives as well wwwmtbakerus Find the latest information about the Mt Baker Ski Area including snow reports events and classeswwwmtbakerchamberorg wwwglacierchamberorg Discover the arearsquos businesses wwwweathercom Get all the weather you needwwwwsdotwagovregionsnorthwesttrafficbordercams Need to know about border delays Find out here
find it online
contents4 Sleds Mountain machines
Whatever you call them theyrsquore one helluva lot offun Herersquos how you can find out for yourself
6 Show me the love babyMBSArsquos Gwyn Howat says itrsquos all about the lovethatrsquos created and keeps the ski area going strong
8 Now thatrsquos sickOld school would say Nick Ennen has a death wishWe say hersquos rapidly progressing
10 Heavenly shotsIf these pics by local photographers donrsquot get yourheart pumping you need to buy yourself a new defibrillator because you are DOA
146 Where to eat shop amp stay
15 Economics 542When the going gets tough the local sporting establishments get even smarter at what they do
20 Remember BigfootJust because we donrsquot hear much about the big guyanymore doesnrsquot mean people arenrsquot out there look-ing for him
23 Regional Map
it all HAPPENS
On the coverAdam Uuml teleskiing in the MtBaker ski area backcountry by Grant Gunderson
wwwfacebookcomMountBakerExperience
Rory Savatgy on the hunt for more powder Photo by Tyler Mitchell
4 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Ever wonder where all those mas-sive pickup trucks hauling snow-mobiles are headed this time of yearWant to feel what itrsquos like to rideone of those mechanical beasts firsthand
Cisco Rodriguez owner of Bak-er Sleds in Bellingham may be justthe man yoursquore looking for
Opened in October Baker Sleds
offers both beginner and expertsnowmobilers alike the chance tohit some of the most beautiful snow-mobile trails in the Mt Baker areawith guidance from experiencedriders
The company rents some of thebest snowmobiles availableRodriguez said These snowmobilesreferred to as mountain machinesare designed for challenging ter-rain with multiple ascents and
descents he said They can reachspeeds of 80 mph and are equippedwith two-stroke 800-cc engines Forcomparison a common size formotorcycle engines is 250 cc
ldquoItrsquos the equivalent of riding adirt bike on snowrdquo Rodriguez said
Baker Sleds rents their mountainmachines for $250 per day eachwith trailers to haul them costing$50 If two sleds are rented at thesame time Baker Sleds will throw
in the trailer for free The compa-ny does not rent helmets or snowgear Rodriguez said
Though that might seem a littlepricey Rodriguez said itrsquos a lot bet-ter than buying a snowmobile andusing it infrequently Snowmobilesalone can cost as much as $12000not including the trailer and truckpowerful enough to tow it he said
ldquoWhat I tell people is the machineis the down paymentrdquo Rodriguez
By Jeremy Schwartzsays laughing ldquoTherersquos so muchother stuff that goes with itrdquo
Baker Sleds also offers guide serv-ices for anyone from a first-timerider to an experienced snowmo-biler The services start at $100 perday Rodriguez said
A slew of avalanches and acci-dents in recent years has meantsnowmobiling has had its share ofbad publicity points out Rodrigueza member of the Whatcom Coun-ty Snowmobile Club Thatrsquos one ofthe reasons Rodriguez started Bak-er Sleds Rodriguez said he wantsto show how exciting it can be whendone safely
Though the experience can beexhilarating Rodriguez said theimportance he puts on safety can-not be underestimated
ldquoIt can be a dangerous sportrdquo hesaid ldquoWersquore not out here to get peo-ple hurtrdquo
Rodriguez explained the firstthing anyone interested in snow-mobiling should know is his or herown limitations Recognizing howfast to go and how rough the ter-rain is can be the difference betweena fun ride and serious injuries Snow-mobiling is a physically demand-ing activity and Rodriguez said hehas come across many people whosimply donrsquot realize how exhaust-ing a day out snowmobiling can be
Continued on page 5
360-676-4096 wwwmtbakermotocom
3950 Home Road Bellingham(Located behind Jerry Chambers
off Northwest Avenue)
BAKERSLEDSr e n t a l s amp g u i d e s
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS
OFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSOFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURS
wwwbakersledscomor email contactbakersledscom
360-410-6032
0 ndash fun in 13 seconds
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 5
Another lesson for beginners tolearn quickly is the importance ofa group Rodriguez said No one inthe Whatcom County SnowmobileClub ever goes out alone he saidRodriguez suggested beginners getinvolved with a snowmobile clubso they will always have someoneto go riding with
ldquoWhen a machine gets stuck inthe snow itrsquos 500 poundsrdquo he saidldquoYoursquore not going to pick it up byyourselfrdquo
Baker Sleds is the only companyin Whatcom County that offersrental snowmobiles and guide serv-ices for traversing the countyrsquos sno-parks Rodriguez said Sno-parksare areas specifically designed for
use by snowmobilers WhatcomCounty has more than a dozen sno-parks each maintained by the Unit-ed States Forest Service Rodriguezsaid he mostly frequents CanyonCreek Glacier Creek and SchrieberrsquosMeadow during the season
Canyon Creek and Glacier Creekare located near the town of Gla-cier on the Mt Baker Highway (stateroute 542) Canyon Creek is reachedfrom US Forest Service road 31north of Glacier while Glacier Creekis just south of town on forest serv-ice road 39
Schrieberrsquos Meadow is part of theMt Baker National Recreation AreaIt can be reached by taking stateroute 20 to Baker Lake Road head-ing north for 12 miles and then weston forest service road 12
Each sno-park offers maintainedtrails and numerous areas with
breathtaking scenery Sno-park per-mits are required for all sno-parksduring the season Permits can bepurchased from Cross Roads Gro-cery in Maple Falls
For more information on snow-
mobiling in Washington visit theWashington State Snowmobile Asso-ciation website at wwwwssaus
To learn more about Baker Sledsvisit their website at wwwbaker-sledscom or call 360410-6032
SnowmobilingContinued from page 4
s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power speed and reliability
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 3
Welcome to the Mount Baker Experience the quarterly recreation guide for and about the Mt Baker area pub-lished by Point Roberts Press Inc Locally owned and operated the company also publishes The Northern Light AllPoint Bulletin Pacific Coast Weddings and Waterside in Blaine Washington Point Roberts Press is a member of theWashington Newspaper Publishers Association chambers of commerce in Whatcom County and the BellinghamMtBaker Convention and Visitors Bureau
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and are offered for the general interest of readers We wel-come your letters however the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor For circulation and rateinformation or to send your letters please address to Mount Baker Experience 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230fax them to 360332-2777 or email infomountbakerexperiencecom
Address 225 Marine Drive Blaine WA 98230Tel 360332-1777 Fax 360332-2777Email infomountbakerexperiencecomWeb wwwmountbakerexperiencecomNext edition February Ads due January 21PublisherManaging EditorLayoutPatrick GrubbAssociate PublisherAdvertising ManagerLouise MugarAd Design Charlie Hagan Ruth LaumanContributors Ty Mitchell Grant GundersonGrady McCombs Dylan Hart Tara Nelson JeremySchwartz Rylan Schoen Rhys LoganAdvertising Sales Molly Ernst Janet McCall Office Manager Heidi Holmes
XMOUNT BAKER
e periencePrinted in Canada Vol XXV No 1
This is where
wwwmountbakerexperiencecom Read the current issue of Mount Baker Experience here and find all the archives as well wwwmtbakerus Find the latest information about the Mt Baker Ski Area including snow reports events and classeswwwmtbakerchamberorg wwwglacierchamberorg Discover the arearsquos businesses wwwweathercom Get all the weather you needwwwwsdotwagovregionsnorthwesttrafficbordercams Need to know about border delays Find out here
find it online
contents4 Sleds Mountain machines
Whatever you call them theyrsquore one helluva lot offun Herersquos how you can find out for yourself
6 Show me the love babyMBSArsquos Gwyn Howat says itrsquos all about the lovethatrsquos created and keeps the ski area going strong
8 Now thatrsquos sickOld school would say Nick Ennen has a death wishWe say hersquos rapidly progressing
10 Heavenly shotsIf these pics by local photographers donrsquot get yourheart pumping you need to buy yourself a new defibrillator because you are DOA
146 Where to eat shop amp stay
15 Economics 542When the going gets tough the local sporting establishments get even smarter at what they do
20 Remember BigfootJust because we donrsquot hear much about the big guyanymore doesnrsquot mean people arenrsquot out there look-ing for him
23 Regional Map
it all HAPPENS
On the coverAdam Uuml teleskiing in the MtBaker ski area backcountry by Grant Gunderson
wwwfacebookcomMountBakerExperience
Rory Savatgy on the hunt for more powder Photo by Tyler Mitchell
4 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Ever wonder where all those mas-sive pickup trucks hauling snow-mobiles are headed this time of yearWant to feel what itrsquos like to rideone of those mechanical beasts firsthand
Cisco Rodriguez owner of Bak-er Sleds in Bellingham may be justthe man yoursquore looking for
Opened in October Baker Sleds
offers both beginner and expertsnowmobilers alike the chance tohit some of the most beautiful snow-mobile trails in the Mt Baker areawith guidance from experiencedriders
The company rents some of thebest snowmobiles availableRodriguez said These snowmobilesreferred to as mountain machinesare designed for challenging ter-rain with multiple ascents and
descents he said They can reachspeeds of 80 mph and are equippedwith two-stroke 800-cc engines Forcomparison a common size formotorcycle engines is 250 cc
ldquoItrsquos the equivalent of riding adirt bike on snowrdquo Rodriguez said
Baker Sleds rents their mountainmachines for $250 per day eachwith trailers to haul them costing$50 If two sleds are rented at thesame time Baker Sleds will throw
in the trailer for free The compa-ny does not rent helmets or snowgear Rodriguez said
Though that might seem a littlepricey Rodriguez said itrsquos a lot bet-ter than buying a snowmobile andusing it infrequently Snowmobilesalone can cost as much as $12000not including the trailer and truckpowerful enough to tow it he said
ldquoWhat I tell people is the machineis the down paymentrdquo Rodriguez
By Jeremy Schwartzsays laughing ldquoTherersquos so muchother stuff that goes with itrdquo
Baker Sleds also offers guide serv-ices for anyone from a first-timerider to an experienced snowmo-biler The services start at $100 perday Rodriguez said
A slew of avalanches and acci-dents in recent years has meantsnowmobiling has had its share ofbad publicity points out Rodrigueza member of the Whatcom Coun-ty Snowmobile Club Thatrsquos one ofthe reasons Rodriguez started Bak-er Sleds Rodriguez said he wantsto show how exciting it can be whendone safely
Though the experience can beexhilarating Rodriguez said theimportance he puts on safety can-not be underestimated
ldquoIt can be a dangerous sportrdquo hesaid ldquoWersquore not out here to get peo-ple hurtrdquo
Rodriguez explained the firstthing anyone interested in snow-mobiling should know is his or herown limitations Recognizing howfast to go and how rough the ter-rain is can be the difference betweena fun ride and serious injuries Snow-mobiling is a physically demand-ing activity and Rodriguez said hehas come across many people whosimply donrsquot realize how exhaust-ing a day out snowmobiling can be
Continued on page 5
360-676-4096 wwwmtbakermotocom
3950 Home Road Bellingham(Located behind Jerry Chambers
off Northwest Avenue)
BAKERSLEDSr e n t a l s amp g u i d e s
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS
OFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSOFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURS
wwwbakersledscomor email contactbakersledscom
360-410-6032
0 ndash fun in 13 seconds
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 5
Another lesson for beginners tolearn quickly is the importance ofa group Rodriguez said No one inthe Whatcom County SnowmobileClub ever goes out alone he saidRodriguez suggested beginners getinvolved with a snowmobile clubso they will always have someoneto go riding with
ldquoWhen a machine gets stuck inthe snow itrsquos 500 poundsrdquo he saidldquoYoursquore not going to pick it up byyourselfrdquo
Baker Sleds is the only companyin Whatcom County that offersrental snowmobiles and guide serv-ices for traversing the countyrsquos sno-parks Rodriguez said Sno-parksare areas specifically designed for
use by snowmobilers WhatcomCounty has more than a dozen sno-parks each maintained by the Unit-ed States Forest Service Rodriguezsaid he mostly frequents CanyonCreek Glacier Creek and SchrieberrsquosMeadow during the season
Canyon Creek and Glacier Creekare located near the town of Gla-cier on the Mt Baker Highway (stateroute 542) Canyon Creek is reachedfrom US Forest Service road 31north of Glacier while Glacier Creekis just south of town on forest serv-ice road 39
Schrieberrsquos Meadow is part of theMt Baker National Recreation AreaIt can be reached by taking stateroute 20 to Baker Lake Road head-ing north for 12 miles and then weston forest service road 12
Each sno-park offers maintainedtrails and numerous areas with
breathtaking scenery Sno-park per-mits are required for all sno-parksduring the season Permits can bepurchased from Cross Roads Gro-cery in Maple Falls
For more information on snow-
mobiling in Washington visit theWashington State Snowmobile Asso-ciation website at wwwwssaus
To learn more about Baker Sledsvisit their website at wwwbaker-sledscom or call 360410-6032
SnowmobilingContinued from page 4
s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power speed and reliability
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
4 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Ever wonder where all those mas-sive pickup trucks hauling snow-mobiles are headed this time of yearWant to feel what itrsquos like to rideone of those mechanical beasts firsthand
Cisco Rodriguez owner of Bak-er Sleds in Bellingham may be justthe man yoursquore looking for
Opened in October Baker Sleds
offers both beginner and expertsnowmobilers alike the chance tohit some of the most beautiful snow-mobile trails in the Mt Baker areawith guidance from experiencedriders
The company rents some of thebest snowmobiles availableRodriguez said These snowmobilesreferred to as mountain machinesare designed for challenging ter-rain with multiple ascents and
descents he said They can reachspeeds of 80 mph and are equippedwith two-stroke 800-cc engines Forcomparison a common size formotorcycle engines is 250 cc
ldquoItrsquos the equivalent of riding adirt bike on snowrdquo Rodriguez said
Baker Sleds rents their mountainmachines for $250 per day eachwith trailers to haul them costing$50 If two sleds are rented at thesame time Baker Sleds will throw
in the trailer for free The compa-ny does not rent helmets or snowgear Rodriguez said
Though that might seem a littlepricey Rodriguez said itrsquos a lot bet-ter than buying a snowmobile andusing it infrequently Snowmobilesalone can cost as much as $12000not including the trailer and truckpowerful enough to tow it he said
ldquoWhat I tell people is the machineis the down paymentrdquo Rodriguez
By Jeremy Schwartzsays laughing ldquoTherersquos so muchother stuff that goes with itrdquo
Baker Sleds also offers guide serv-ices for anyone from a first-timerider to an experienced snowmo-biler The services start at $100 perday Rodriguez said
A slew of avalanches and acci-dents in recent years has meantsnowmobiling has had its share ofbad publicity points out Rodrigueza member of the Whatcom Coun-ty Snowmobile Club Thatrsquos one ofthe reasons Rodriguez started Bak-er Sleds Rodriguez said he wantsto show how exciting it can be whendone safely
Though the experience can beexhilarating Rodriguez said theimportance he puts on safety can-not be underestimated
ldquoIt can be a dangerous sportrdquo hesaid ldquoWersquore not out here to get peo-ple hurtrdquo
Rodriguez explained the firstthing anyone interested in snow-mobiling should know is his or herown limitations Recognizing howfast to go and how rough the ter-rain is can be the difference betweena fun ride and serious injuries Snow-mobiling is a physically demand-ing activity and Rodriguez said hehas come across many people whosimply donrsquot realize how exhaust-ing a day out snowmobiling can be
Continued on page 5
360-676-4096 wwwmtbakermotocom
3950 Home Road Bellingham(Located behind Jerry Chambers
off Northwest Avenue)
BAKERSLEDSr e n t a l s amp g u i d e s
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS
OFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSOFFERING NEW M8 SNO PROrsquoSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURSFOR RENT OR GUIDED TOURS
wwwbakersledscomor email contactbakersledscom
360-410-6032
0 ndash fun in 13 seconds
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 5
Another lesson for beginners tolearn quickly is the importance ofa group Rodriguez said No one inthe Whatcom County SnowmobileClub ever goes out alone he saidRodriguez suggested beginners getinvolved with a snowmobile clubso they will always have someoneto go riding with
ldquoWhen a machine gets stuck inthe snow itrsquos 500 poundsrdquo he saidldquoYoursquore not going to pick it up byyourselfrdquo
Baker Sleds is the only companyin Whatcom County that offersrental snowmobiles and guide serv-ices for traversing the countyrsquos sno-parks Rodriguez said Sno-parksare areas specifically designed for
use by snowmobilers WhatcomCounty has more than a dozen sno-parks each maintained by the Unit-ed States Forest Service Rodriguezsaid he mostly frequents CanyonCreek Glacier Creek and SchrieberrsquosMeadow during the season
Canyon Creek and Glacier Creekare located near the town of Gla-cier on the Mt Baker Highway (stateroute 542) Canyon Creek is reachedfrom US Forest Service road 31north of Glacier while Glacier Creekis just south of town on forest serv-ice road 39
Schrieberrsquos Meadow is part of theMt Baker National Recreation AreaIt can be reached by taking stateroute 20 to Baker Lake Road head-ing north for 12 miles and then weston forest service road 12
Each sno-park offers maintainedtrails and numerous areas with
breathtaking scenery Sno-park per-mits are required for all sno-parksduring the season Permits can bepurchased from Cross Roads Gro-cery in Maple Falls
For more information on snow-
mobiling in Washington visit theWashington State Snowmobile Asso-ciation website at wwwwssaus
To learn more about Baker Sledsvisit their website at wwwbaker-sledscom or call 360410-6032
SnowmobilingContinued from page 4
s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power speed and reliability
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 5
Another lesson for beginners tolearn quickly is the importance ofa group Rodriguez said No one inthe Whatcom County SnowmobileClub ever goes out alone he saidRodriguez suggested beginners getinvolved with a snowmobile clubso they will always have someoneto go riding with
ldquoWhen a machine gets stuck inthe snow itrsquos 500 poundsrdquo he saidldquoYoursquore not going to pick it up byyourselfrdquo
Baker Sleds is the only companyin Whatcom County that offersrental snowmobiles and guide serv-ices for traversing the countyrsquos sno-parks Rodriguez said Sno-parksare areas specifically designed for
use by snowmobilers WhatcomCounty has more than a dozen sno-parks each maintained by the Unit-ed States Forest Service Rodriguezsaid he mostly frequents CanyonCreek Glacier Creek and SchrieberrsquosMeadow during the season
Canyon Creek and Glacier Creekare located near the town of Gla-cier on the Mt Baker Highway (stateroute 542) Canyon Creek is reachedfrom US Forest Service road 31north of Glacier while Glacier Creekis just south of town on forest serv-ice road 39
Schrieberrsquos Meadow is part of theMt Baker National Recreation AreaIt can be reached by taking stateroute 20 to Baker Lake Road head-ing north for 12 miles and then weston forest service road 12
Each sno-park offers maintainedtrails and numerous areas with
breathtaking scenery Sno-park per-mits are required for all sno-parksduring the season Permits can bepurchased from Cross Roads Gro-cery in Maple Falls
For more information on snow-
mobiling in Washington visit theWashington State Snowmobile Asso-ciation website at wwwwssaus
To learn more about Baker Sledsvisit their website at wwwbaker-sledscom or call 360410-6032
SnowmobilingContinued from page 4
s Snowmobiles have come a long way in terms of power speed and reliability
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
6 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
South Fork Valley
Highway Nine
meaning that people who come hereare at the mercy of nature By andlarge thatrsquos what most people comehere for and those people appre-ciate that the ski area is managedin a way that encourages the natu-ral atmosphere As Howat puts itldquoWe do these things because whensomeone comes to Mt Baker theywant to feel like theyrsquore at a specialplace and not at a city plopped downon top of a mountainrdquo
This philosophy is a traditionthat reaches far back in time Aes-thetically the region is an exemplarof the great Northwest forests andhas the majestic geographic featureof the Mt Baker volcano Edmund
Despite Mt Baker Ski Arearsquos rep-utation for deep snow and gloriouspowder days Gwyn Howat opera-tions manager for the ski area saysthat some of the best days that stickwith her and the people she has metover the years are the days when theconditions are bad or those rainydays when you feel like you are theonly one on the mountain
Itrsquos when you have that feelingof just being happy to be in a cer-tain place with friends she explains
that you know you are somewherespecial Being born into a familythat has helped build the ski areafrom the ground up and beenemployed at the mountain for over19 years Howat literally has thisfeeling in her blood
That authentic and special feel-ing the outdoors produces is whatmany people in the Mt Bakerfoothills find unique and so reward-ing Mt Baker Ski Area is one of thefew ski hills not offering high-speedquad chairs big screen tvs plushlodging and other amenities com-mon at most ski areas
Here at Baker ldquothe mountainmakes you be realrdquo says Howat
Do it lsquocause you love it
By Grady McCombs
Best Deli in the Pacific Northwest
bull Fine Winesbull Fresh amp Organic
Groceriesbull Jewelry bull Gifts bull BooksWhole Town in a Store
wwweverybodyscom
EST 1898 bull HWY 9 ACME
Gas amp Diesel bull GroceriesEspresso bull HardwareGeneral Merchandise
DVD Rentals bull Copies amp FaxWi-Fi bull Notary Public
Open lsquotil 8 pm bull 7 days a week
595-2146
d
ddd
e
Breakfast Sat amp Sun 8am-noon
A Destination Always Worth the Drive
974 Valley Hwy Acme bull (360) 595-2200
Open at 11amMon-Fri bull Lunch amp Dinner
Fuel Up on your way to Mt Baker with gas snacks and espresso at the Nooksack Market Centre
Wind Down on your way home at any of Nooksack Casinorsquos restaurants including the Club 542 Sports Bar
5048 MOUNT BAKER HW Y DE MING WA8779359300 W W WNOOKSACKC ASINOSCOM
Wind Down Fuel UpFuel Up on your wMt Baker with gas sand espresso at the
Fuel U
way tosnacks e
pU
Nooksack Market C
wnind DoW on yohome at any of Noo
s restaurantsCasinorsquoincluding the Club 5
Sports Bar
entre
our way ksack s
542
EAT BO8 M050039539778 WW W
AGNIM DER EMOSNOISACKCASKONO
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 7
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2010 7
Coleman who in 1868 along withthree local settlers were the firstmen known to summit Mt Bakercreated a scrapbook of the area andused it to encourage Congress tocreate a National Park designationfor the area It took 40 years but in1908 the Washington National For-est was created
In 1928 a lodge was built in theHeather Meadows area created asa destination for nature lovers Thismassive cedar lodge burned downfour years later just as the area wasbeginning to be recognized as a pre-mier spot for the new recreationalsport of skiing
As skiing gained popularity inthe rsquo30s and rsquo40s people began todrive the road to Heather Meadowsto reach the slopes in what wouldbecome the Mt Baker Ski ArealdquoHikers these days just think theyare hardcore but those guys werethe true hardcore skiers of Bakerrdquosays Howat adding that they wouldactually side-step all the way up theAustin slope in order to make itlsquogroomedrsquo and ridable
One adventurous engineer cre-ated the first lift at Mt Baker ldquoTheDonkeyrdquo which consisted of a sledgeand winch system This dangerouspiece of machinery operated untilit and its creator were taken outin an avalanche
Faced with a threat by the high-way department to close the roada group of early die-hards recog-nized that in the absence of the
lodge there would need to be a rea-son for the mountain road to bemaintained and pooled theirresources to form the Mt BakerRecreation Company which even-tually became the Mt Baker SkiArea
They did it because they lovedthe mountain and wanted to pre-serve it for all people to enjoy ldquoDoit rsquocause you love itrdquo says Howatldquoitrsquos the same principle that guidesthe management of the ski areatodayrdquo
The last of the original board ofthe company just recently passedaway but the stake in the compa-ny has been passed down with thestakeholdership remaining in manyof the original families today Every-one involved still understands theoriginal purpose for the companywhich is the reason you wonrsquot beseeing advertisements plastered allover the ski area or developmentcrowding every possible square foot
This founding story is similar tomany Western ski operations theirorigins found in the frontier-mind-ed skiers of those early days MtBaker Ski Area however has man-aged to hold onto that ethos whenthe vast majority of ski areas havetransformed into consolidated win-ter theme parks
During the rsquo90s when snow sportsand the economy in general boomedmany ski areas invested in upgrad-ed equipment and expansion thatbegan a cycle of debt and sponsor-
ship As ski areas began to go fur-ther into debt more and more beganto rely on sponsorships andincreased ticket prices to pump outmore and more revenue As the econ-omy tightened many ski areas wereforced to sell to larger corporationsin order to survive
Mt Bakerrsquos original philosophyprovided insulation from this cycleof debt and loss of independenceWhile ski areas blew out their budg-ets to market themselves as the ulti-mate winter theme park Mt Bak-er Ski Area used its profits tomaintain what they had and slow-ly upgrade its facilities When timeswere tough they hunkered downand waited for better days
ldquoWhen people call to find outwhatrsquos newrdquo Howat says ldquowe tellthem we are what we are which isa ski area at the end of the roadPeople come here for the skiing not
for a plush destinationrdquo Throughall this Mt Baker has gained thereputation as a premier ski andsnowboard destination while main-taining one of the lowest prices forlift tickets and season passes
They have also become an impor-tant and stable mainstay for thesurrounding community This isimportant to the company to bean interactive part of the commu-nity Howat points out that every-thing about Mt Baker is grassrootsThe music the artwork marketingpublications and even some of thefood items are all locally made
The ski area provides free lift tick-ets to more than a thousand stu-dents who participate in their 5thgraders ride free program Thesekids who according to Howat arethe only people she has met whocould possibly be as hardcore asthose original Mt Baker skiers arealso provided a free breakfast bythe mountain and local baker ErinBaker ldquoMt Baker Ski Area is com-
munity-based with a worldwideapproachrdquo says Howat adding ldquoweunderstand that itrsquos not the peoplecoming in from out of town whosustain usrdquo
Responsibility to the communi-ty and to nature are driving forcesthat derive from the companyrsquosfounding philosophy of doing whatyou love Itrsquos the understanding thatMt Baker Ski Area is reliant on itsenvironment and its communitythat guides its actions
In an economic environmentwhere this line of thinking goesagainst the grain it can often bevery challenging and requires a lotof energy Howat says For herthough ldquoseeing the familiar faceswho are up there early in the morn-ing is a very tangible benefitrdquo Itrsquosone that will keep Mt Baker oper-ating as it is for a long long time
s Gwyn Howat in the backcountry
Gwyn Howat said the newest thing at Mt Bakerisnrsquot high-speed quads or wi-fi access in the lodge
ldquoOne thing that goes on under the radar is whatis happening at the ski area on a day-to-day basisrdquoshe said Howat is talking about several new pro-grams at Mt Baker aimed at providing youth greateraccess to nature ndash something she thinks is increas-ingly lost from American life As each generationbecomes more connected to cell phones computersand the internet Howat said youths are becomingincreasingly disconnected from nature
And according to Richard Luvrsquos new book ldquoLastChild In The Woods Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorderrdquo Howatrsquos observations are not faroff the mark
ldquoYouth not only in the Mt Baker community butin American society in general seem to be develop-ing a different relationship with nature than any gen-eration before themrdquo she said
Q At least half of Mt Bakerrsquos pass-holders areunder the age of 18 What specific things haveyou noticed among that demographic
A Wersquove noticed it starting with something assimple as dressing inappropriately The kids take forgranted their environments are artificially controlledthey just think the lights are always going to be onand therersquos always going to be heat You see it whenyou see kids waiting for the bus in the snow in a t-shirt The other is navigation and route planning anda sense of time Many youth in our Ski Bus programseem to have a difficult time correlating route plan-ning with time frame They seem to have a differentawareness around it It seems to be much more chal-lenging for them
Q Why do you think itrsquos important for kids tohave access to wilderness
A We are living in an increasingly technologicalsociety and the mountains are a great place to pro-motes these skills that are being eclipsed by tech-nology But therersquos also a sense of freedom kids getfrom being in an outdoor place without having ateacher or a parent around A few weeks ago I askedsome third graders where they like to play and theiranswer was they liked to play indoors because thatrsquoswhere all the electrical outlets are
The whole concept of recreation means to re-cre-ate But theyrsquore also finding a direct connection tocreativity Our sense of wilderness in America mdashwhich is very unique in the world mdash has spurred aparticular type of creativity thatrsquos directly connect-ed to our culture to our music industrial designand art than other industrialized societies which havebecome more focused on efficiency and interactionTherersquos a creativity that comes with simply havingaccess to open spaces
Therersquos also a huge body of evidence that chil-drenrsquos development and a huge part of their creativityand self-assuredness comes from being in natureElectronics wonrsquot give that the ldquopiecesrdquo nature pro-vides like the dirt the trees branches rocks andsnow The only toys that come close to that is Legosand maybe thatrsquos why theyrsquore so popular There is acertain creativity that comes from having to con-struct things out of nature If children are only sur-rounding by plastic toys and electronics theyrsquore miss-ing this other element that is not replicated anywhereelse yet Part of why we donrsquot have a day care isbecause we want to encourage parents to interactwith their kids in nature to help make the experi-ence as rich as it can be This is not like going tothe mall itrsquos a rugged environment with special con-siderations (Please turn to page 16)
The War Against Nature Deficit DisorderInterviewed by Tara Nelson Between Milepost 20 - 21
Mt Baker Hwy Deming Ph 360599-BEER (2337)
wwwnorthforkbrewerycom
H GasH GroceriesH Movie Rentals
Beer H Wine H Ice
1706 Mt Baker HwyBellingham WA3607343000
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
8 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
ldquoWith sports there will always beprogression For wakeboarding the winchhas allowed us to go places we neverthought were possiblerdquo Nick Ennen
Professional snowboarder NickEnnen grew up in Bellingham andhas lived most of his life in What-com and Skagit counties Althoughhe has traveled extensively acrossthe US and the world this is stillthe place he wants to call home
ldquoItrsquos got everything that I needrdquo
he said ldquoHere itrsquos all a step up fromother places You can go ride yourbike in Florida but yoursquore not goingto find any hills to air off of InWashington ndash especially Belling-ham ndash everything is so close I cango out my front door and in 10 min-utes be on a mountain bike trailthree different lakes or salt waterItrsquos also got tons of snowmobilecountryrdquo
Ennen also a longtime pro wake-boarder recently launched Agua
Please a new web series on Fueltvwith the help of local filmmakersJeremy Dubs and Scott Studach ofWild Card Movies (How The North-west Was One and Saturday NightRide ndash two other films he also starredin and helped direct) The weeklyseries follows local wakeboardersas they fly over raging river rapidslog rides and waterfalls in locationsranging from the Nooksack RiverSan Juan islands to Florida andbeyond
The September 30 debut episodetitled ldquoNick Ennen versus EagleFallsrdquo features the 30-year-old dare-devil traveling to Eagle Falls on theSkykomish River famous for itsunique rock structures waterfalls
Nick Ennen
ldquoA laugh-inducing board-destroying machinerdquo
Story by Tara Nelson photos by Dylan Hart
Alpine Tele amp Snowboard
Waxes
25 Years
ExperienceScott Peterson
Glacier WA
Open Thurs-Mon 730am-6pm(closed for ski break in middle of day)
360-599-WAXXwwwscottsskiservicecom
Tunes Repairs amp Binding Mounts
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 9
Maple Falls - Shop amp DineMaple Falls - Shop amp Dine
and phenomenal water volume ndash aplace that friend and photographerMike Yoshida called ldquonerve-rack-ingrdquo But Ennen nailed it on his firsttry and a photo of the ride was sub-sequently featured in an OrsquoBrienadvertisement
Ennen and his friends were ableto pull off this adrenaline-drenchedstunt using a winch At one pointas Ennen came off the second water-fall and hit the turbulence belowhe landed a little sideways and theimbalance sent him tumbling downthrough a chute flanked by boul-ders on each side Luckily he shotout of the rapids unharmed
ldquoIt was pretty scaryrdquo he saidldquoThere could have been some hardconsequences but I was OK Withall that power therersquos not much youcan do but just go for a riderdquo
Another episode showed Ennenand his friends wakeboarding downan old cement chute in WhatcomFalls Park in Bellingham
ldquoWe kind of got in trouble forthat onerdquo he said ldquoWe got a reallypolite letter in the mail asking usnot to do that againrdquo
Other riders featured in AguaPlease include Bob Soven MikeyEnnen Kevin Henshaw DustinOrsquoFerral Kyle Walton and CollinHarrington
Fellow rider and photographerDylan Hart calls Ennen a ldquolaugh-inducing board-destroying machineHanging out with Nick is a sure wayto have a good timerdquo Hart said ldquoHersquosput time into wakeboarding andsnowboarding and his talents con-tinue to see him progressing andpushing the boundaries of what ispossiblerdquo
Ennen plans to compete in the2011 Legendary Banked Slalom atMt Baker Ski Area in February
What makes this area specialIn the Mt Baker wilderness you
can really get to your own play-ground versus waiting in line at theski area Itrsquos pretty amazing to have360 degree views from Canada allthe way to Seattle with water andfarmland in between and a beauti-ful sunset I often find myself stop-ping and just being amazed at whereI live and what we have around usIrsquoll often stop and be like ldquoHeyeveryone lookrdquo
Irsquove done a lot of backpackingtoo so thatrsquos given me a lot of respectfor the wilderness and beyond
You are also starring in Satur-day Night Ride your second filmwith Wild Card Movies How hasthat been
We just premiered Saturday NightRide in Seattle where it brought inabout 1500 people and in Belling-ham where it brought in about 300to 400 people
Jeremy (Dubs) is super chill Hewas actually the guy who broughtme into the filming and videogra-phy side of things And I had beeninvolved in wakeboarding films sohe and the rest of us were all kindof doing the same thing and whenwe decided to collaborate and evolve
into Wild Card Movies we were real-ly able to make it professional Welike using funny plots and try toput a lot of humor in our films aswell Therersquos a lot of funny lines andone-liners
How has your snowboardinginfluenced your wakeboardingstyle
Irsquom trying to progress wake-boarding in ways that havenrsquot beendone before and also showcase oth-er local riders and show theiradvancement Irsquom taking (wake-boarding) to a different level withthe snowboarding influence I kindof have an eye for things like linesand cool obstacles or logs to jib Itrsquoskind of human nature to push your-self and the sport ndash otherwise itmight get boring
What do you eat when you arein the backcountry
Irsquom kind of a chef out there Inthe winter I like to take two of every-thing to cook in my muff pot adevice that heats food by attaching
to the exhaust pipe of your snow-mobile You can wrap a burrito orsome leftover spaghetti in tin foiland throw it in there and drivearound for a little bit and it getsreally hot
I probably eat twice the amountof food when Irsquom in the backcoun-try because you burn a lot of calo-ries between snowboarding stay-ing warm hiking and getting yoursnowmobile unstuck
What else does Nick Ennen dofor fun these days
I like to barbecue with friendsride my bike and mountain bikeGalbraith is really fun and Whistlerand Glacier have some pretty amaz-ing places to mountain bike Irsquovealso been playing tennis ndash like I saidI never stop doing things ndash go boat-ing in the San Juan islands and hangout on the beach looking for agatesor crabbing and fishing and cook-ing them over a fire on the beach(Agua Please can be viewed atwwwaguapleasecom) s Nick toe-sliding away
Good food and good timesFamily friendly
Homemade chili burgers to NY SteakNightly dining themes
FreeWi-Fi and Sports TV
PEANUTS ON THEHOUSE
7471 Mount Baker Hwy Maple Falls WA 98266 (360) 656-5833
Mon-Thurs Noon to 10 pmFri-Sat Noon to 11 pm Sun 10 am to 10 pm
SHELL GASOLINEPropane bull Air bull Water
Oil bull Diesel
STOREOrganic Foods bull Candy
Health amp Beauty AidsMeat bull Produce bull Beer amp Wine
Cold Drinks bull Phone Cards bull LottoHardwarePlumbingMagazines amp Books
CampingFishing Gear
DELI amp ESPRESSO SHOPMountain Size Deli Sandwiches
LAUNDROMATFAX amp COPY SERVICE
ATM CASH MACHINE bull FREE WI-FIEBT ACCEPTED
Become a loyal Fuelie Customer
Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases
Corner of Silver Lake Rd amp Mt Baker Hwy360599-2222
Maple Falls WashingtonwwwmaplefuelscomFind us on Facebook
Harvest Moon BakeryServing breakfast amp lunch everydayTake-out dinners
Offering the freshest ingredients as the seasons change We support local farmers
Serving Fresh baked goods daily bull TonyrsquosCoffee bull Gourmet sandwiches amp wraps bull Betsyrsquos famous biscuits amp gravy bull Soups ampsandwiches bull Fresh baked artisan bread
Let us make that special pastryor cake for any occasion(24 hours notice)
7466 Mt Baker HwyMaple Falls bull 599-1347
harvestmoonbakerynet Open everyday 6 am - 6 pm
bull Fresh organic producebull Best beer amp wine selection east of Bellinghambull Gluten free products bull Vitamins amp Herbal Supplements
bull International foods bull Bulk Foods bull Over 1600 DVDsbull USFS Recreation Passes here
bull Sno-Park Permits here
THE BEERCAVE
NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from
WIC Checks EBT amp Quest
Accepted
At the crossroads of Mt Baker Highway amp Silver Lake Rd7802 Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls 360-599-9657
Open 7am-10pm Everyday bull wwwcrossroadsgrocerycom
Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY
spend $25 eligible for drawing
grass-fed beef
Bennett Farms
Organic Milk amp Belgian
Beers
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Nate Lind snowboarding deep pow in the backcountry Grant Gunderson photo Ollie tap rider unknown Rhys Logan photo
Matt Edgers pulls off an indy tree tap Dylan Hart photo
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Cheers the new film by People Creative The crew responsible for last yearrsquosldquoNice Tryrdquo has teamed up with JP Walker and Jeremy Jones Joe Sexton andZac Marben offering variety of talent terrain and locations
Riders include JP Walker Jeremy Jones Seth Huot Joe Sexton Aaron Bit-tner Lauri Heiskari Mikey Rencz Eero Niemela Shaun McKay Curtis CiszekZac Marben Simon Chamberlain and a special appearance by Bryan Fox
Light The Wick$2795 DVD $2995 Blue-RaywwwtetongravitycomtourlightthewickThe award-winning producers at Teton Gravity Research recently launched
their newest ski film ldquoLight The Wickrdquo The film takes viewers on a gravitydefying visually stunning tour of some of the worldrsquos steepest and most dan-gerous terrain ldquoLight The Wickrdquo fea-tures jaw-dropping footage of some ofthe worldrsquos best athletes blasting offnever-before-skied peaks of Alaska aswell as deep pillows in Italy CroatiaBC and free-riding at Ripley Creek andNorth Cascades heli-skiing The filmfeatures a special 3D segment of Sam-my Carlson at Stevenrsquos Pass and morethan two hours of extras
Riders include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Seth Morrison Kye PetersenIan McIntosh Dana Flahr Dylan HoodSammy Carlson Rachael Burks
Revolver$15 download $2995 DVDwwwpoorboyzcomPoor Boyz Productionsrsquo newest film
ldquoRevolverrdquo focuses on the progressionof skiing The 80-minute film show-cases todayrsquos raw talents of skiing ina high action retrospective yet pro-gressive look at what things are push-ing the sport today It was filmed onlocation in three Canadian provincessix states and Europe and Japan
Riders include Simon Dumont TimDurtschi Dane Tudor Sammy CarlsonJossi Wells JP Auclair Bene Mayr PepFujas Andreas Hatveit TJ SchillerCharles Gagnier Riley Leboe Matt Walk-er Mike Henitiuk LJ Strenio JulienRegnier Josh Stack Alexis GodboutJohn Spriggs Brandon Kelly amp LeighPowis
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 11
5 themed sleeping rooms with sinksAbundant common areas in and out
Large kitchen amp TV WiFiDVDCDiPod players
Wonderful bamboo radiant-heat floor yurtLarge hot tub bonfire circle spa servicesOn Mt Baker Hwy near wineries amp outdoor activities4 scenic acres of Cedar creek amp lawn 10 mins to town
360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom360-676-2300 wwwCedarTreeLLCcom
24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort24 Stay in Beauty and Comfort
By Tara NelsonWhat was originally meant to be
an alternative to the increasingly-slick annual Warren Miller ski filmshowing the Mt Baker Film Festi-vals has become something of a leg-end in the world of skiing and snow-boarding
Each year the filmf festival hostsa line-up of local national and inde-pendent films ndash some gritty somepolished ndash for a crowd hungry forsnow
The festival started out 11 yearsago as a fun way to provide localamateurs a way to submit footageof their friends on the slopes buthas now attracted the attention ofsome of the industryrsquos biggest play-ers such as Teton Gravity Research
Poor Boyz Production and The Peo-ple Crew
ldquoIt was originally meant to be analternative to Warren Miller whichup until 10 years ago was the onlygig in townrdquo ski area operationsmanager Gwyn Howat said ldquoWewanted a venue to show independ-ent snow and skiing filmmakersNow wersquore a nationally recognizedfestival within the industry Thisyear Warren Miller had two showsand their combined attendance wasless than the attendance at our onesell-out showrdquo
Hosted at the 1500 seat Mt Bak-er Theatre organizers turned awaymore than 150 people at the doorHowat said ldquoIt was one of the bestline-ups wersquove ever hadrdquo she said
Here are a few highlights
Saturday Night Ride$1995 $2295wwwwildcardmoviescomLocal film collective Wild Card Films
(How The Northwest Was One) is at itagain this year with more ridiculous-ness and humor
Their ldquoSaturday Night Riderdquo is thecamped-up story of a ex-pro snowboarderrecently released from prison for a crimehe didnrsquot commit who returns to a worldin which snowboarding and pro wrestlinghave become a hybrid sport
Big backcountry booters huge cliffslines and technical rails are the train-ing grounds as the riders take each oth-
er out and a man seeks his former glory as well as his revenge for his unjusttime behind bars
Featuring local riders Patrick McCarthy Nick Ennen Andy Bergin-SperryKurt Jenson Tim Carlson Manuel Diaz Andy Stern Temple Cummins ShaunMcKay Forrest Burki Joe Bosler and Austen Sweetin
Cheers$2495wwwthepeoplecrewcomA creative dozen of snowboardingrsquos most dynamic riders come together for
Mt Baker Film Festival
From Mountain Chalets to Waterfront Lodges Luxury Getaways offersovernight accommodations in newly built homes located at the heart of the Mt Baker Recreational Area Whether yoursquore here to relax and
unwind or are gearing up for a weekend of hitting the slopes our homes are equipped with all of the amenities you could wish for
Your extraordinary vacation awaitshellip
Just Because You Are In The Wilderness Doesnrsquot Mean that you Have to Rough It
Browse our Chalets and Reserve Online
wwwstayatmtbakercomToll Free (877) 90-BAKER
Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and
HumansFull Breakfast
Cooked to OrderWinter Creek
Bed amp Breakfast9253 Cornell Creek Rd
Glacier WA
(360)599-2526
wwwWinterCreekBandBcom
For reservations amp availability call 3605992507
Soothe your soul Refresh your spirit
Cascade Cabin Rentals offers Cedarnook Lodge for your private retreat family reunion romantic getaway birthday party or corporate event
Reconnect with nature while sitting in the lap of luxury in this 6140 square foot home set on 20 scenic acres
wwwCascadeCabinRentalscom
20 scenic acres in the foothills of Mt Baker
Soothe yoRefresh
our soul o r spirit
Refresh y
20 scenic acres in thfoothills of Mt Bake
your spirit
heerr
For resercall 360
edartals offers Cabin Renascade CCthda bir yyawtic getaomanreunion r
t wonnecRec0141in this 6
Cawww
vations amp availability r5992507
tene evtaorpor or c yyty para
e while sitting in the lap of turwith naenic ace foot home set on 20 sc squar
ascadeCabinRentalscom
fteaetre rtaour privodge for yrnook L
yluxurescr
family
onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Matt Bowen snowboarding in the Mt Baker backcountry Grant Gunderson photo
Graham Clark skiing in the Mt Baker backcountry Rylan Schoen photo
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Andy Stern Dylan Hart photo
Tyler Chorlton performing a backflip Mt Baker Dylan Hart photo
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
14 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
MAPLE FALLSBaker Accommodations7425 Mt Baker Hwy888695-7533 360-599-1017bakeraccommodationscomA new office in Maple Falls provideshassle-free customer service for bothcabin and condo rentals in Glacier andMaple Falls Available for weekly andnightly rentals $109 and up
Misty Mountains Realty8193 Kendall Rd 360599-2200mistymtsrealtycomMisty Mountains realty offers vaca-tion rentals of all types including skicabins condos and private homesOffice hours Mon-Fri 9 am- 5 pmSat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 12-5 pm
Mt Baker Lodging7463 Mt Baker Hwy800709-7669 360599-2453 mtbakerlodgingcomMt Baker Lodging offers cabin cot-tage condo chalet and executive va-cation home rentals Walk-inreservations and one night stays avail-able Office open Friday and Saturday 9am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday 9am - 5 pm $149 and up
GLACIERThe Inn at Mt Baker360599-1776 theinnatmtbakercomNoted in ldquo1000 Places to See BeforeYou Dierdquo This quiet bed and breakfastmountain retreat has uninterruptedviews of Mt Baker and the NooksackRiver Valley European style bed andbreakfast service featuring featherbeds with down comforters and out-door hot tubs Spa services and skipackages available $155 and up
The Logs at Canyon Creek360599-2711 thelogscomSituated on Canyon Creek and theNorth Fork of the Nooksack River TheLogs Resort offers cozy log cabinswidely spaced along the creek andamong the trees for the ultimate inprivacy and relaxation $125 and up
Mt Baker View Guest House360599-2155mtbakerviewguesthousecomGuest house is conveniently locatedin downtown Glacier Also offer se-cluded accommodations at CascadeRetreat that sleep up to 15 peopleFully furnished fireplaces fullkitchens No smoking or pets $125+
Luxury Getaways877-90-BakerstayatmtbakercomMountain chalets and waterfrontlodges Newly built vacation homesin the heart of the Mt Baker recre-ational area Your extraordinary vaca-tion awaits
Winter Creek BampB360599-2526wintercreekbandbcomWinter Creek offers two bedroomswith double beds two living roomswith fireplaces sauna and Wi-Fi in-ternet access Pets welcome evenhorses with additional charge $100per room per night and includes fullbreakfast
IN THE AREACascade Cabin Rentals360599-2507cascadecabinrentalscomCascade Cabin Rentals offersCedarnook Lodge for private re-treat family reunion or corporateevent Reconnect with nature whilesitting in the lap of luxury in this6140 sf home set on 20 scenicacres in the foothills of Mt BakerCedar Tree House360676-2300cedartreellccomBeautiful northwest accommodationsfor up to 24 Indoor common spacesin a cedar forest near the NooksackRiver
Suite Paradise360599-1075suiteinparadisecomOffers four poster bed with masterbath and sitting room Lowest ratesin area $55 and up
The weather might be cold but barand restaurant owners in the Mt Bak-er foothills are gearing up for one oftheir busiest seasons The followingis a list of places to hit after a day ofplaying in the snow for a hot mealgood music and beer or just a placeto thaw those numb fingers and toes
Blue Mountain Grill974 Highway 9 Acme595-2200The menu features burgers steaks
and other classic road food but witha hand-made approach that has wonover many locals hereBlue MountainGrill is open Sunday - Thursday from11 am to 8 pm and from 11 amto 9 pm Friday and Saturday
Everybodyrsquos StoreHighway 9 Van Zandt360592-2297Check out their selection of unusu-
al wines cheeses and sausages as wellas their amazing sandwiches that offera ridiculous number of fillings mdash 18different cheeses is just the begin-ning mdash from which to choose
DEMINGIl Caffe Rifugio5415 Mount Baker Hwy 360592-2888Il Caffe Rifugio is a full service Ital-
ian caffe that specializes in qualitycomfort food coffee beer amp wineSignature dishes include The Dem-
ing Mile High Burger Rigatoni amp SweetItalian Sausage and Our House Frit-tata Open 6 am ndash 8 am for thoseheading up to the mountain early onFriday Saturday and Sunday Tuesday- Wednesday 11 am ndash 4 pm Thurs-day - Friday 11 am-8 pm Saturday8 am ndash 8 pm Sun 8 am ndash 4 pm
MAPLE FALLSHarvest Moon Bakery7466 Mt Baker Hwy360599-1347Harvest Moon Bakery serves break-
fast and lunch daily Dinners can beordered for take-out Fresh bakedgoods and artisan bread prepared dai-ly Inside the cafeacute is warm and cozywith a rustic deacutecor Harvest Moon Bak-ery is open from 6 am to 6 pm
Frosty Inn Restaurant and Lounge7461 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2594New owner Karen Grafwallner wel-
comes customers to this family friend-ly restaurant for breakfast lunch anddinner The popular breakfast menuwhich includes Steak amp Eggs EggsBenedict and Belgium Waffles isextended on Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 1 pm In addition to the regu-lar dinner menu of burgers steakspasta and pizza Karen has introducednightly specials such as Taco Tues-days $1 each Chicken Enchiladaswith side salad on Wednesdays for $7and on Sundays she serves up hergrandmarsquos recipe for homemade chick-en and dumplings Happy Hour 4-6pm Open 8 am to 9 pm
Slide Mountain Bar and Grill7471 Mt Baker Hwy 360656-5833Also new this season Slide Moun-
tain has completely renovated theformer Joowanarsquos site and created abright warm and welcoming atmos-phere with a full menu that will pleaseevery member of the family Top qual-ity ingredients and reasonable pricesNightly themes include Mountain PotRoast on Mondays and Surf and Turfon Fridays The Take lsquon Bake supernachos feeds five Free wi-fi and sportsTV Opens at noon
Maple Fuels7797 Silver Lake Rd 360599-2222There is nothing small about this
fuel station in Maple Falls Featuresan expanded deli that includes soupssandwiches breakfast items locallyroasted organic coffee a new seat-ing area and wireless internet Opendaily 6 am to 9 pm
GLACIERGrahamrsquos Restaurant9989 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1964wwwgrahamsrestaurantcomCheck first but chances are this
Glacier cultural epicenter has livemusic on weekend nights But the realreason to visit Grahamrsquos is the greatfood (try the Phish Tacos) pool tableand microbrews on tap or just towarm up next to the raging infernothat is their blazing cast-iron woodstove Grahams is open for their win-ter dinner hours from 3 pm to 9pm and for lunch on weekends fromnoon to 9 pm The bar is open untilclosing
Wake lsquon Bakery6903 Bourne StThe masters of coffee and fresh
baked goods have moved from theporch of Glacier Ski Shop to their owndigs around the corner by Mt BakerSnowboard Shop Courtrsquos daily bak-ing continues to impress with sconesmacaroons cookies NutBars coffeecake and other delectables Open dai-ly at 730 am
Chair 910459 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-2511New this season Chair9 is located
on the former Chandelier site justpast the town of Glacier on your wayup the mountain Specialty pizzaswith names like The Chute (roastedgarlic olive oil tomatoes fresh basiland mozzarella) are baked to perfec-tion in the Woodstone oven Alsoserving burgers salmon steak andribs Open daily at 11 am Music onweekends
Milanorsquos Restaurant9990 Mt Baker Hwy360599-2863Offers the best Italian food in the
county possibly in the state Mon-day - Friday 9 am to 830 pm Sat-urday and Sunday from 9 am to 9pm
Where To Stay Where To Eatamp
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 15
If yoursquore looking for an enthusiastic overview of the ski andsnow business drop into the Glacier Ski Shop and have a talk withJohn or Drew Adams the brothers who own the place Theyrsquove justfinished the expansion of their building and it wasnrsquot that old tobegin with
Drew seen below with some major league fatties attributes thesuccess of the shop to a number of fac-tors not easily duplicated
ldquoWe specialize in top-quality brandsthat are hard to findrdquo he says Pick-ing up a pair of gloves he says ldquoLookat these These are Hestra gloves fromSweden Fourth generation glove mak-ers and they know what theyrsquore doingNo frills just lots of quality Feel thatgoatskin on the Lobster glovesrdquo TheLobster Gloves ($110) have an unusu-al split hand that retains dexterity whilestill being as warm as a glove
Walking over to the ski selectionhe points out some of theboutique brands that areleading the industry ininnovative designs such asMoment Icelandic andArmada
ldquoEvery ski we bring inwe bring in for a demo andthen for a rental Peoplecan try all of the skis beforethey buy themrdquo
He doesnrsquot pause ldquoLookin here this is our expand-ed ski repair area We cando anything now Wait aminute Have you seen ournew boot dryer This driesout the wettest rental bootin under 30 minutes Itrsquosincrediblerdquo
Like I said the Adamsare enthusiastic
Economics 542You would think itrsquos pretty tough to be a local retailer
these days especially if yoursquore in the sporting goods busi-ness Especially if yoursquore in the ski and snowboard business
Not only do you have to contend with big box and inter-net competition yoursquove got an economic recession the likesof which havenrsquot been seen since the Great Depression Eventhe weather can have an impact And you thought farmershad a tough go of it
But look around The road from Bellingham to Mt Bak-er is home to some of the best sports stores in the businessTheyrsquove come through some tough years and theyrsquore stillgoing theyrsquore still the best at what they do The big box storescame (remember GI Joes) and they went Compare their pricesto internet stores and what do you find Yoursquoll see pricesthat are damn close if not better right here in the store downthe block from you
How come For one thing these guys are close to theircustomers and theyrsquore close to the sports they specialize inThey offer personalized service and if yoursquore not satisfiedtheyrsquore not satisfied They are the experts you never can findat a big box store or through your computer monitor Notonly are these people surviving they seem to be thrivingTheyrsquore expanding theyrsquore moving theyrsquore taking chancesand who benefits You got it We the customers
Fairhaven Bike amp Ski 1108 11th St Bellingham 360733-4433
Sportsman Chalet2420 James St Bellingham 360671-1044
Glacier Ski Shop9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier 360599-1943
Mt Baker Snowboard Shop 9996 Forest St Glacier 599-2008
Owner John Hauter uses a sports metaphor when he talks about how his business has survivedand prospered ldquoWhat I dordquo he says ldquois respond quickly In 1971 the pace was a lot slower Nowthe ski business is all about change Irsquove learned to be very agile on my feet I can weave and dukerdquo
He praises the knowledge of his employees as being key to the storersquos success ldquoShoppers canexpect a level of expertise that is second to none You knowrdquo he points out ldquowe have an interest-ing demographic here Wersquove got three guys around 60 and the rest are all enthusiastic young gunswho are core users of the productsrdquo The old guys arenrsquot sitting on the bench either Theyrsquore stillout there riding skiing and competing in their fields
Hauter also cites their focus on particular niches ldquoWersquore selling a lot of Fischer skating skis andboots these days A lot of our road riders are switching over because itrsquos a good cross-over fitnessactivity Wersquove got a very exclusive line of skis called SkiLogic Theyrsquore high-end fat skis with woodveneers We have a narrower focus No one in the area comes close to us in Nordicrdquo
Boot fitting repair and ski tuning are a big part of the storersquos business ldquoThe repair shop is always buzzing I wouldnrsquot have myskis tuned anywhere elserdquo Hauter says ldquoAnyone here can size your boot and 80 percent of our customers will be happy For the oth-er 20 percent we have Eric Pfitzer (left with SkiLogic) When you have a problem you make an appointment with himrdquo
Sportsman Chalet owner Noel Lemke has owned the busi-ness for nine years and worked over 30 years in the sportinggoods business and says ldquoI would like to think Irsquove learned athing or twordquo Looking around the new location of the Sports-man Chalet a visitor soon realizes thatrsquos a pretty safe thingfor him to say
Asked about internet competition Lemke gives a noncha-lant shrug and says his store is very competitive with onlineretailers He adds ldquoIn the odd case where wersquore not I canrsquotmatch it if the customer doesnrsquot ask Irsquom happy to do sordquo
Lemke gives no ground when asked about the storersquos employ-ees ldquoOur main emphasis is on ski and snowboard We have the best roundedknowledgeable staff in town We test all of our products so we know what wersquoretalking about We have the best selection of skis and snowboards And mostimportantly our custom boot fitting skills are second to none We guaranteethe fit of our bootsrdquo And looking around he grins and says ldquoWersquove got a greatselection of clothes and other gear toordquo
Itrsquos been quite a ride since the Mt BakerSnowboard Shop opened its doors in 1989 butlast month Marcella Dobis and mother BobbieDobis decided to concentrate on their onlinesnowboard business and lease the Glacier retailshop to long-time employees and snowboard-ers Joe Trotter and Ginny Wilson
Trotter who has worked at the shop for thepast 12 years wants to keep the same feel andcarry it forward with energy ldquoWe just want tokeep it going get people stoked and have somefunrdquo Trotter said
The shop will continue to sell full snowboardgear and clothing and offer rentals and repairsAnd as significant as ever you can still pick upthe inimitable red black and gold logo stickerthatrsquos spotted on the backs of cars across thenorthwest and beyond ldquoThe shop that grewwith the great northwestrdquo
By Pat Grubb
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
16 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Q What programs are you offer-ing to help combat NDD
A We have our ldquoDads Moms andGromsrdquo program (groms is a term forlittle skateboarders) which helps pro-vide a social environment for childrenages five and six and helps give par-ents skill building tips on how to teachtheir kids
We also have our ldquoKomo Kidsldquo pro-gram a six-week program thatrsquos beenaround for 45 years and gives kids achance to progress with the sameinstructor At the end there is a racewhere everyone gets a participantmedal
We also have the ldquoWinter Riderdquo pro-gram a sliding fee program whichbuses in 1000 to 1300 kids through-out the season to the mountain Itrsquosa phenomenal way to introduce kidsto snowboarding and skiing We real-ly try not to have the monetary com-ponent be a real prohibiter for a kidwho might not otherwise be able toafford to go
Nature DeficitContinued from page 7
The other thing is wersquove been work-ing with Bakerrsquos Breakfast Cookies todonate free breakfast to all 1200 kidsand also provide an educational pro-gram along with that We did an infor-mal survey a few years ago and werealized that at any given day on themountain about half of the kids had-nrsquot eaten breakfast and if they hadit was basically sugar or energy drinks
Lastly my mom who was a fifth-grade teacher at Harmony elementaryschool helped us implement the fifth-grader ride free program in which wegive between 600 and 800 fifth-gradersunrestricted access to the mountainas long as theyrsquove had at least oneyearrsquos experience on the mountain
The program is worth about $50000to $80000 a year The reason we chosefifth grader is because by that agetheyrsquore strong enough and physical-ly able enough to handle it and theyare also a little more mature The oth-er thing we found was it was a greatway to get their parents who used toski or snowboard [the program requiresan adult presence] back on the moun-tain
s Karen Grafwallner tends to the fire a welcoming focal point at the FrostyInn Restaurant in Maple Falls Since taking over the lease she has been busysprucing it up to get ready for ski season Her goal ldquoI want to provide consis-tently good food at a good price A family should be able to go out and not breakthe bankrdquo
Chefproprietor Tim Moore serves a Slide Moun-tain steak burger smothered in chili and cheeseto Christian Sumner who was combining pleas-ure (snowboarding) with business (Portland-basedSoft Icon) The work part was made easier by thefree wi-fi offered by Slide Mountain Bar and Grilllocated in the former Joowanarsquos in Maple FallsS
t Court amp Rebecca Anderson of Wake N Bakeryare now located on Bourne Street in Glacier (turnleft at Milanorsquos)
Beyond what Everybodyrsquos Store proprietor JeffMargolis left calls ldquothe exotic grocery whereupscale meets downhomerdquo he has created anemporium of gifts from around the world Itrsquos def-initely worth the few miles south on Highway 9from the Mt Baker Hwy His favorite holiday shop-ping include cashmere and silk scarves jade ear-rings African beadwork ceramic kissing salt amppepper shakers baking stones and pizza paddlescedar flutes and harmonicas 50 internationalcheeses and 15 off when you buy three or morebottles of wine Alexis Zahary on rightt
Glacier Creations is an art and craft cooperative located in downtown Glacierbehind Grahamrsquos Store Officially six to seven artist members run the gallerybut another 45 other artists contribute to the offerings It is open on weekendsbut more frequently during the holidays Pictured are mittens made from recy-cled sweaters by Pamela Dopp hanging from a coat rack created from a burl ofblack locus by Jack Wilson Other offerings include stone carvings from Brazil-ian steatite by Jim Wilson while his wife Kathy makes the best pot scrubbers Nat-ural soaps made by Brown Snout Farm (Dave and Jen Halliday) and a white glazedceramic collection created by Diane Gilbraith t
s Nancy Jacobsen and Carol Kilgore have cre-ated a lovely light space at Mountainside Gar-dens Gallery amp Gifts one mile east of Kendallwhich features the handcrafted work from over65 county artisans jewelry pottery woodenbowls and boxes quilted wall art batik special-ty food items natural personal care prod-ucts and in season display gardens to browseand nursery stock Take a look at the Christmastree set up with gift ideas for $25 or less Theyalso hold workshops conducted by artists in jew-elry making painting and other works Check thewebsite for schedules wwwmountainsidegar-denscom
FLU SHOTSnow available
Refill your prescriptions online atwwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull We bill all prescription drug plans for youbull We transfer your prescriptions for you
360-685- 4242
Locally owned and operated
Mon-Fri 8-630 bull Saturday 10-51313 E Maple St BellinghamBehind Boomers Drive-in on Samish Waywwwcustomrxshoppecom
bull Customized medications for everyone including your pets bull Wide variety ofover the counter meds and home equipment bull Over 15 immunizations available
We SYNCHRONIZE your prescriptions to be ready on
the same day and DELIVER to your door FREE
Another First for Mt Baker Ski AreaHowat said this year the Mt Baker Ski Area is first ski area in all
of North America to offer 100 percent biodegradable and com-postable products in their food service area Howat said that includescoffee cups straws ketchup mustard beer cups and utensils
The ski area also initiated a full recycling program and has workedto incorporate locally sourced products fair-trade organic coffee breadbowls from Breadfarm bakery in Edison and beef not purchased fromconfined animal feeding operations
neweats
HolidayShopping
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 17
The big question this La Nintildeaseason is how big is it going to bePrevious lsquoLa Nintildearsquo winters have typ-ically but not always resulted inphenomenal snow seasons the mostnoteworthy being the record-break-ing rsquo98-99 winter in which morethan a thousand inches of snow fell
Ski areas across the country areseizing on these expectations hop-ing to lure the ever migrant herd ofpowder hunters When it comes tothe hunt for deep powder thoughitrsquos usually best to find an area youlike and stick with it
Why One very important rea-son is that you will become a saferrider In terms of backcountry safe-ty experience and knowledge aboutthe local weather and terrain arethe most important preventativepieces of information you can haveSkiing similar gradients in Wash-ington and Colorado are completelydifferent in terms of safety
Riding in the Northwest espe-cially during and immediately fol-lowing storm cycles usually meansdealing with deep snow Heavy anddeep snow can be hazardous to peo-ple riding both within ski areaboundaries (in-bounds) and in thebackcountry (out-of-bounds)
When the Cascades are gettingthe snowfall typical of a La Nintildeastorm it is going to be falling inhigh amounts and it will general-ly be fairly heavy This type of stormcreates all kinds of hazards by bury-ing all the pockets of the terrainunder a large loose mass of snowTree wells are the typical trap which
iare created by snowfall filling inthe wells that form around the basesof trees These large pockets ofunconsolidated snow act as a kindof quicksand trap Rocks creeksstumps and simple undulations inthe terrain can also form this kindof hazard As an in-bounds rider itis still important to not be tempt-ed to go exploring terrain you areunfamiliar with for this reason
Recent winters have seen a hugeincrease in the number of skiersand snowboarders going into thebackcountry This is largely due tothe increasing ease of access to infor-mation and gear targeted at off-piste riding Avalanche safety class-es snow science books the internetand backcountry-specific gear havemade it seem much easier to go outof bounds
However even though equipmentsuch as avalanche transceivers areimportant tools they are always alast resort Safety is all about pre-vention in the backcountry ndash thegrim reality is that many accidentscan occur where a personrsquos life maybe in jeopardy even if they are locat-ed quickly
Preventing accidents and mis-takes in the backcountry is all aboutknowledge and experience This isespecially true in the Northwestwhere the storms that occur andthe snow that is produced can varygreatly in terms of the moisture ofthe snow that falls This has all kindsof effects on the stability of thesnowpack and these differencesare best learned through observa-
tion There is no information morevaluable than consistently being inthe mountains observing thechanges in the snowpack andorconsulting someone who has been
By constantly riding and assess-ing the snowpack you gain knowl-edge not only about what the moun-tain is capable of but also yourcapabilities as a rider This infor-mation is what every backcountryrider should be using when assess-ing any ski run
Consulting with experts is alsoa great way to increase your safetyawareness At Mt Baker the skipatrol posts sentries at every accessgate to the backcountry to ensureall riders are equipped with bea-cons and are otherwise preparedInstead of just waving a transceiv-er at them pick their brain regard-ing recent storm cycles and snow-pack conditions
The most important thing toremember is that every day is a newday on the mountain and in factevery hour is a new hour Snowpackstability can change rapidly andvary widely so always be on the look-out for changes and warning signs
It is up to each individual riderto be aware and responsible for theirbehavior in the backcountry whennovices or people unfamiliar withthe area hazard into the backcountryrelying on the knowledge of othersit puts everyone at risk
Hopefully everyone keeps safe-ty in mind the La Nintildea predictionshold true and we all have a safe andpowderful winter
The Siren
of the
Backcountry
Staying safe during La Nintildea winter
Story amp photo byGrady McCombs
For avalanche class information turn to the next page
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
18 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Avalanche amp Winter ClassesWant to access the backcountry safely Up
your game Yoursquore in luck as this area offersplenty of courses that will help you do exactlythat
AVALANCHE SNOW SAFETY amp BACKCOUNTRYMt Baker Ski AreaThe Mt Baker Ski Area offers introductory
and advanced avalanche and snow awarenesscourses ranging in length from 1 - 3 days induration Classes are held December throughFebruary and costs from $35 - $170 Visitwwwmtbakerus for info and registration
American Alpine InstituteAmerican Alpine Institute offers a wide vari-
ety of guided mountaineering trips in 16 statesand six countries around the globe from SouthAmerica to Africa and Antarctica Most wintermountaineering courses require participants tohave a minimum of one overnight backpackingexperience under their belt but others suchas the level I and level II avalanche safety cours-es are taught in the classroom and during daytrips within the Mt Baker Ski area to anyoneregardless of their skill level
Backcountry SkiingLength 2 to 4 days
Experience Beginner intermediate Location North CascadesDates December ndash AprilCost VariesThis class helps students develop a good
working knowledge of backcountry skiing andsnowboarding equipment techniques and ava-lanche safety
Guided Ski Ascents and Tours in Washington
Length 1 day and longer Experience Beginner to Advanced Location Washington Dates December through MayCost VariesJoin an expert ski guide on an ascent of one
of Washingtonrsquos volcanoes or take a ski tourin the North Cascades These private coursesare open to skiers and snowboarders of all lev-els depending on the tour
Snowshoeing Mount BakerLength 1 day and longer Experience None Dates offered January through MarchCost $100 and upSnowshoeing is a great way for beginning-
level winter wilderness to access Mount Bakerrsquosbackcountry terrain Follow trained AmericanAlpine Institute leaders to a nearly 11000-footvolcanic summit lined with glaciers and panoram-ic views of Mount Shuksan
For more information or for a complete listof AAI programs and guided expeditions visitwwwaaicc or call 360671-1505 Their officeis located at 1515 12th Street in BellinghamTheir equipment rental and gear shop is avail-able online at wwwguideschoicecom
SKI amp SNOWBOARD LESSONSMt Baker Ski AreaThe ski area offers a number of options for
children and adults of all skill levels Studentscan take individual classes or sign up for mul-ti-week courses Private lessons are also avail-able Therersquos even a Senior Thursdays for inter-mediate and higher skill levels for skiers 50 andolder Other classes include
Freeride CoachingDates Starts Saturday January 8Length 8 weeksCost $125 does not include lift ticket The Freeride program is offered for interme-
diate riders and skiers ages 13 and up who are
interested in improving their all-mountain skillsThe package includes on-snow training in eighttwo-hour sessions and a focus on simple effi-cient steps to improve freestyle and freeridingskills
Racer Development ProgramTimes 845 am for Sunday sessions and
9 am for the race campCost $125 and upThis program offers youth ages 10 to 18 a
way to further their personal and competitivegoals with highly trained coaches over 14 weeksParticipants are also encouraged to join theKomo Kulshan ski clubrsquos Mt Baker Race Team
Adaptive ProgramLength Six weeks or two hoursCost $300 or $60 for single lessonDates Call for dates This program offers current and specific train-
ing in adaptive techniques for those with visu-al or hearing impairments or individuals whocannot effectively use one or more of their legsfor skiing The program was developed by DSUSAand the Professional Ski Instructors of Ameri-ca
For more info call 360734-6774
A Division of Whatcom County Farmerrsquos Co-op
2 Great Stores 1 Great Location
102 Nooksack Ave Everson WA360966-4193 bull 360966-4782
Country Store Hours Mon-Sat 8-6 amp Sun 10-5Energy Hours Sun-Sat 530 am-10 pm
(360) 966-4800105 Baker St bull Everson WA
Transmission Service Special $99 (Reg $129)
Wersquore Here for You 247 bull Protecting Your Financial Future Today
DODSONS IGA
OPEN DAILY7 am - 10 pm
We accept Visa bull Mastercard bull Discover
Where Friends Meet Friends at Nugentrsquos Corner
FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKETStop in for ALL Your Items
Fresh USDA Choice Quality Meat bull Fresh VeggiesBaked Goods bull All Your Basic Home Repairs
Organic Fruits amp Vegetables
THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS3705 MT BAKER HWYNUGENTrsquoS CORNER360-592-5351
Complete Foreign amp Domestic Auto amp Truck Repair
Quality full service automotive repair for all makes and models
208 Nooksack Ave bull Nooksack WAwwwServiceProNooksackcom(360) 966-4664
Gas amp Diesel Specialists
Hours Mon-Fri 730am-6pm
Better Business Bureau Member
Ending December 31 2010We accept all competitorsrsquo coupons
Complete inspection including brakes plus up to 5 qts of oil Must have coupon Synthetic oil extra
$2595Oil amp Filter Special
NugentrsquosCorner
Everson and
Nooksack
Tyler livesfor the out-doors Hes anavid climberbicyclist snow-boarder andsplitboarderHes made anotch for him-
self as a wedding photographer butloves taking pictures of his friendsin the backcountry on a powder dayCheck out some of his work atTMitchellPhotocom
One of theski industryrsquosmost talentedphotographersGrant has shotfor every majorsnow sports andoutdoor publi-cation worldwide including
ESPN Outside Powder FreeskierSkier Skiing and Ski In additionto his editorial work Grant sup-plies many of the worldrsquos top brandswith images that set the bar for anew level of creativity that definethe culture of action sports
Recently he won the Ski Salt LakeCity Photo Shoot Out and has beenrecognized as one of the worldrsquos topaction sports photographers Heskis close to 200 days a year andmakes a high-quality (and high-octane) homebrewed ale He cur-rently serves as The Ski Journal pho-to editor while working withhigh-end commercial and editori-al clients Go to wwwgrantgun-dersoncom or email granttheski-journalcom
s Grant Gunderson
s Tyler Mitchell
The Photographers
Please turn to page 22
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 19
SumasSumas
From the time it took its firstbaby steps back in 1977 a local com-pany has grown to become an inter-national powerhouse in footgear
In fact you could say the com-pany has become Superfeet
Ferndale-based Superfeet designsand manufactures sport-specificinsoles for skiers snowboardersrunners and most every kind of ath-lete However their products arenrsquotjust for those heading off to theHindu Kush or the backside of theMatterhorn Anyone on their feetfor long periods of time or out fora walk will appreciate the fit andcomfort they achieve when slippinga pair of Superfeet insoles into theirdress shoes or walking flats Forgood reason members of the mil-itary have become enthusiastic fansof the companyrsquos products
Lack of proper foot support canhave a wide range of effects on thebody none of them good Foot struc-ture is the foundation on which thebodyrsquos skeletal system rests Mis-aligned feet can lead to pain andinjury from the foot up the legthrough the hips to the spine andshoulder and neck Improperly sup-ported feet also prevents the bodyfrom achieving a full range of move-ment and power
Despite the current economichard times Superfeet spokesper-son Susie Rickerts said the com-panyrsquos sales are up over last yearPeoplersquos health concerns are unre-lated to the economic climate shesaid and Superfeet sells productsthat enhances peoplersquos health andcomfort
To accommodate the boomingbusiness Superfeet will be movingto a larger facility near Hovander
Park in Ferndale The company isscheduled to move in around theNew Year
The new facility will replace threeseparate buildings they now occu-py with just one Rickerts said Thenew building totals 45000 squarefeet of workspace for warehouseand distribution services and offices
According to Rickerts the newfacility allows more office and dis-tribution space as well as dedicat-ed classrooms for employee train-ing The building should besufficient to accommodate the com-panyrsquos growth over the next five toten years
Superfeet was spun off fromNorthwest Podiatric Laboratory inBlaine in 1977 by ownersdoctorsDennis Brown and ChristopherSmith two experts in podiatric med-icine At that time Superfeetrsquos focuswas providing high-quality insolesfor skiers Rickerts said Now withmore than 35 insole patents Super-feet has expanded to provide cus-tom-fit and trim-to-fit insoles forall manner of athletes and non-ath-letes Brown and Smith still over-see design and production of all ofSuperfeetrsquos products
Superfeet is popular with skiersand snowboarders because of theenhanced performance and stabil-ity provided by the insoles Ridersmaking turns with improperly sup-ported feet can stress their feet lead-ing to pain and possible injuryInsoles allow the feet to be sup-ported and properly aligned result-ing in greater control and balanceon the slopes
For more information on Super-feet and how to find a retailer inthe Mt Baker area visit wwwsuper-feetcom Superfeet products arewidely available in shoe and spe-cialty stores in Whatcom Countyand beyond
By Jeremy Schwartz
The Superfeet difference Riding high-style
s The company has an employee stock ownership program to reward staff fortheir service and commitment to the company and its products
s Let the Baker Bus be your own carbon offset plan Baker Bus offersround trips to the Mt Baker Ski Area from Bellingham for $10 with addi-tional stops along the way For more information check out the scheduleat wwwbakerbusorg or call 360599-3115
We are yourcomplete plumbingamp electrical service
company
360-988-9631910 W Front St
Sumasvalleypandemsncom
SERVING ALL OF
WHATCOM COUNTY
SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER
bullbullbullbullbullbullbull AAA bullbullbullbullbullbullbull
120 3RD ST bull SUMAS
360-988-470224 HOURS
wwwbromleysmarketcom315 Cherry Street Sumas Washington
1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721
STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER
$
Home Dairies Milk1 2 Fat Free
Limit 1With a purchase of
$25 or more Not to be used with any other
offer Expires 2-10-118918
Apply today
50cent
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
25th
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2011
Locally owned created and produced
Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest
Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching
customers from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA
OVER 350 LOCATIONS
including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels
Celebrate with usReserve your ad space
by January 21
All ads appear online with direct links atWWWMOUNTBAKEREXPERIENCECOM
Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience
JOIN THE
PARTY
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
20 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mention the name Bigfoot tosomeone and the reaction you getwill range from a snort of derisionto a wide-eyed ldquoItrsquos real Irsquove seen itmyselfrdquo
Bigfoot Sasquatch Both referto a large ape or man-like creaturethat supposedly inhabits the forestareas of the Pacific NorthwestldquoSasquatchrdquo is derived from the Sal-ish word sesqac meaning ldquowildmanrdquo
Sasquatch is commonly describedas bipedal and ranging in heightfrom 7 to 8 feet It is covered near-ly head to toe in brownish or tanhair and is said to resemble a largehuman Its reported encounterswith people range from harmlessand inquisitive to aggressive Theirfootprints reportedly measure upto 20 inches in length and they areusually described as odoriferous across between a skunk and a deadanimal
Hunting for Sasquatch By Jeremy Schwartz
Get your complimentary issue of Pacific Coast Weddings 2011
at these wedding shows
January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham
wwwbridalinspirationsinfo
January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett
wwwnwbridalshowcasecom
January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom
February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor
360679-4567 ext 299
Your local wedding resource guide
wwwPacificCoastWeddingsinfo
SUNDAY JANUARY 9 2011 12-5 PMBest Western Lakeway Inn 714 Lakeway Dr Bellingham WA
Over 45 exhibitors and the Northwestrsquos largest fashion show at 4 pm
Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563
18thAnnual
ampPresented by
Nothing Over $99
JUST IN Fun Layering Thermals
Winter Coats amp Sweaters
Designer Items Included
Large selection of menrsquos amp womenrsquos swimwear
MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New
Something for Everyone XS-3X
Right Price
Right Service
Right Style
3603933190 | findyourfashioncom
Open Mon-Sat 10-7 (Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 11-5)Located in Ferndale Station near Sonic
visit us onlinemountbakerexperiencecom
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 21
The earliest reported sighting bya white man took place in 1811 nearJasper Alberta but Bigfoot has longoccupied a place in Native Indianmythology Sasquatch most recent-ly re-entered the public imagina-tion in 1967 with the famous Pat-terson-Gimlin film The short filmclip allegedly shows a Sasquatchwalking along a dry lake bed in SixRivers National Forest in northernCalifornia The two men responsi-ble for the film Roger Pattersonand Robert Gimlin have histori-cally maintained its authenticitybut even the Sasquatch believersdonrsquot always agree
While not much is heard aboutSasquatch in the mainstream mediathese days a lack of press coveragewithin the last few years has notdetered numerous amateurresearchers and investigators forwhom Sasquatch in one of twothings A mysterious being withsupernatural powers or a livingflesh-and-blood creature
Peter Spawn an EMT living inTulalip is a Sasquatch investiga-tor of the latter category When notdriving an ambulance for 24-hourshifts two days a week Spawnspends his days in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest look-ing for a group of Sasquatches hebelieves is living in the area
ldquoFor me I know they existrdquoSpawn said ldquoTherersquos no doubt inmy mindrdquo
Washington state has beenSpawnrsquos home since about 2005Since then he has made numeroustrips to the national forest inattempts to better understand theSasquatches he believes live thereUnlike others Spawn doesnrsquot wastetime trying to prove the creatureexists but focuses on learning moreabout their movements through-out the forest
Spawn has come away from hisinvestigations with two main obser-vations The creatures appear to beintelligent and curious and seemto communicate with each otherSpawnrsquos first piece of advice for abudding Sasquatch hunter mdashbesidesknowing how to be safe in the for-estmdashis simply to go out and lookfor them
ldquoThey will seek you out if youseek them outrdquo he said
The national forest has offereda few places where Spawn believeshe has had genuine encounters withSasquatch He still vividly remem-bers his first trip three years ago toa spot near the small town of Ver-lot Washington where he said heheard a Sasquatchrsquos possible com-munication attempts
Spawn was camping near a smalllake at an elevation of about 3000feet The lake is surrounded on threesides by steep rocky cliffs coveredin dense undergrowth and boul-ders
During online research ofSasquatch Spawn came across aYouTube video of another investi-gator clacking rocks together inorder to communicate with aSasquatch Rock-knocking andwood-knocking are methodsSasquatch investigators believe thecreatures use to communicate witheach other Interestingly one Indi-an name for Sasquatch translatesas ldquotree-strikerrdquo
At the lake Spawn set up his videocamera and recorded himself knock-ing rocks together After three hourswith no response he decided topack it up for the day About 20minutes after shutting off his cam-era Spawn said he heard rock-knock-ing high up on a ridge to the left ofhim
The knocking he said was fol-lowed by small rocks rolling downthe slope as if a creature higher up
was walking along the ridge Whilehe did not see anything Spawn saidhe is doubtful a person would climbthat high up just to spook him
In addition to the lakesideencounter Spawn said he has hadseveral other experiences where hethinks Sasquatches have respond-ed to him with wood-knocking andeven followed him and a friendthrough the woods
While Spawn and others are cer-tain of the Sasquatchrsquos existencethe scientific community is skep-tical Professor Joan Stevenson abiological anthropologist at West-ern Washington University saysthere has been no credible scien-tific evidence to support the crea-turersquos existence
Further Stevenson doesnrsquot believethere is enough food or otherresources in the national forest tosupport a breeding population ofanother family of the primate orderThere has been no evidence thatany large primate other than humanshas ever populated the North Amer-ican continent
ldquoIt just doesnrsquot make senserdquoStevenson said ldquoWe donrsquot have aproblem with [the idea of] findingthis thing and showing that it existsbut to me [researchers] just donrsquothave sufficient evidence to showthat it existsrdquo
Spawn said he knows how out-landish his views on Sasquatch mayseem to those who havenrsquot had hisexperiences but he remains unfazedHis goal is not to prove Sasquatchexists but only to learn more aboutthe creature
The Sasquatch community hasa saying when it comes to the lackof scientific evidence for the crea-ture Spawn said ldquoWe have enoughevidence to convict Bigfoot of mur-der but not to prove it exists sci-entificallyrdquo he said with a laughMost of the Sasquatch communi-ty has long thought there is enoughphotographic and DNA evidencesuch as scraps of hair to show thecreature exists
But as long as the scientific com-munity requires more evidence thancourts of law the existence ofSasquatch in the forests of theNorthwest will remain in doubt Inthe minds of Sasquatch believersBigfoot lives on in hairy splendor
s Bigfoot
PH
3607158585 bull FX 3607150067 bull H
OURSMON-FRI10AM-7PMSATampS
UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO
ADBELLINGHAMWA98225bull
Mount Baker Interiors Inc
Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson
Owner Lic MONTBI983NHPO 777 Maple Falls WA 98266
360-410-0006 cell
ldquoTraditional Service Meeting Modern Needsrdquo
Since 1947
Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit
Island and Snohomish Counties
Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471
Mount Vernon360-424-4471
Celebrating 63 years
wwwPioneerPostFramecom
Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom
6214 Portal Way Ferndale
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
Mount BakerMount Baker
RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery
$425000 - Maple FallsSmall town appeal where the food is made fresh each dayFabulous mountain views and access to all Mt Baker recre-ational activities Great opportunity for the young at heart
Sandra Mulhern 360-961-5977wwwSandraMulherncomSERVICE you can count onhellip RELATIONSHIPS you can TRUST
Janette Owens amp Nanette Lloyd
9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington
360599-1900360599-1135
wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom
REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes
ski cabins recreational property amp land
8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls
360-599-2200 mistymtsrealtycom
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Specializing in residential amp ski cabins Full-time and
seasonal rentalsTyrel Jackson Bret VanLant
Marty Kutschbach REALTOR
Whatrsquos Important is You
Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
100 Kiln Dried Timber on all homes
6045346050 ask for Len
wwwWildLogHomescom
LOWER IN COST THAN A STICK FRAME HOMESCANDINAVIAN Design bull Artistic CARVINGS at NO EXTRA COST
Get a spec home or a custom built
home at a REDUCED PRICE
Be theFIRST in your
area to receive this special
offer
Whatcom County Inc
BEAUTIFULLog Home on a wooded 13955 sq ft lot3 BR 175 BA soaring ceilings
eye catching fireplace two awesome decks and matching
2 car log garage Only $ 229900
Rick Meyer 360-410-1213wwwmeyermaxcom
RELAX HERE
CALL TODAY
MLS123608
RELAX HERE
Garth Kooy360-319-6673wwwgarthkooycom
PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000
7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier
MLS150793
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Stunning Whistler inspired chalet wprivate coveredpatio amp picnic spaces in SnowlineExquisite vacation property withcustom features Generates an excellent return as a vacation destination rental property
Whatcom County Inc
Area Real
Estate
Area Real
Estate
You canfind RylanSchoen mostpowder daysshooting atMt Baker andin the sur-roundingbackcountryin betweengetting his
own face shots of course Rylan prides himself on being
able to ski every line he shoots Whentraveling in the backcountry withonly one or two partners it is a neces-sity to be able to ski a line eitherbefore or after the shot is takenWith a laid back attitude aboutwhich direction to ski but with safteyalways in the forefront Rylan ishappy to work with anyone on theslopes
His passion for photographydoes not limit him to the moun-tain-side though Rylan is availableto hire for anything from com-mercial shoots to family portraitsand everything in between
You can reachRylan through hisbusiness wwwopticflowscom orcall 3607040013
Dylan Harthas over adecade of expe-rience shootingsnowboardingand skate-boarding (aswell as gappingledges andsmashing plen-
ty of powder pillows himself) In recent years his friendly atti-
tude and consistantly high qualitywork has won him gigs in otheraction-sports Skiing wakeboard-ing and rock climbing are just afew Art and social media are hisdriving forces wwwdylanhartcom
Rhys Logandecided hismountainproblem couldbe solved by MtBaker and hiscollege problemat WesternWashingtonUniversity To
keep the moss from growing toothickly on his brain and to keep hisfridge full of cake he spends hissummers in north central Wash-ington working for a Forest Serv-ice research lab in Wenatchee andshooting weddings Rhys enjoyspushing buttons one in particularNow 23 years young Rhys hopes topursue a life of shredding shoot-ing and shuffling across continentsand call it a career wwwrhys-tomahawkcom
s Rhylan Schoen
s Rhys Logan
s Dylan Hart
The Photographerscontinued from page 18
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011 23
Mt Baker Highway Mile PostsMile 1 Junction of I-5 and Mt Baker Hwy SunsetDriveMile 3 View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left)Mile 8 Whatcom County Parks amp Recreation Dept (Right)The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables rest-rooms and a view of Mt Baker elevation 10778 feet 360733-2900Mile 9 Deming Logging Show ndash second weekend in JuneTwo-day show log rolling tree climbing and axe throwing Nooksack River Bridge ndash great fishing spots can be foundMile 10 Community of Nugents Corner Groceries gas bank(ATM) bakery cafe crafts and other servicesMile 11 U-pick berry farms (right and left) Strawberries inJune raspberries in July and blueberries in August Christmas tree farms (right and left) Mount Baker Vineyards (left) Tasting roomgift shop openWednesday ndash Sunday Grape Stomp Festival in SeptemberMile 12 Community of DemingStewart Mountain ndash elev 3087 feet (right)Sumas Mountain ndash elev 3430 feet (left)Mile 14 Highway 9 South Junction (right) South to Van ZandtAcme Wickersham and Skagit Valley Attractions BampB gen-eral store mushroom farm and train rideNooksack River Forks (right) Nooksack River forks into threesegments the North Fork which Mt Baker Highway parallelsthe Middle Fork which heads southeast to the southern faceof Mt Baker and the South Fork which heads south into theSkagit Valley Hwy 9 follows the South Fork
Mile 16 Mosquito Lake Road ndash Bald Eagle Viewing Spot (right)Dec ndash Feb Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road drive to thefirst bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack Park on leftshoulder of Mosquito Lake Road Look for eaglesMile 18 Community of Welcome (left) Grocery store fire sta-tion senior center and other servicesMile 21 Kendall Creek Hatchery (right) Turn right onto FishHatchery Road The hatchery raises chinook coho and chumsalmon as well as steelhead rainbow and cutthroat trout Mile 22 Slide Mountain ndash elevation 4884 feet (right) Namedfor a landslide on its north face that may have dammed up theNooksack River in ancient timesHighway 547 North JunctionKendall Road (left) North toKendall peaceful Valley Paradise Lakes Columbia and SumasGas groceries golf tavernMile 23 Community of Kendall Grocery store and gas (left)Mile 25 Community of Maple Falls post office pay phonescabin rentals lodging restaurants gas groceries liquorlibrarySilver Lake Park Silver Lake Road 35 miles north (left) Parksits on 411 acres around Silver Lake Mile 27 Farm stand (right) Fresh produce gourmet foodstuffsMile 29 View of Nooksack River (right) Highway ascends aledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack RiverMile 30 Mt Baker Scenic Turnout (right) Mile 33 Glacier ndash elev 932 feet Last community along thehighway Fire department post office library general storerestaurants snowboard shop lodging phonesMile 34 Gallup Creek Picnic Area (right) Picnic tables and
trash cans no restroomGlacier Public Service Center (right) Open Memorial Day toOctober Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning andissues permits Restrooms picnic area 360599-2714wwwfsfedusr6mbsMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National For-est Scenic Byway Glacier Creek Road (Rd 39) to Mt BakerVista (right) Mostly paved 95 mile road leads to Mt BakerviewMile 36 Douglas Fir Campground (left) National forest campbuilt by the CCC in the 1930s Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovHorseshoe Bend Trail (right) Access for guided river raftingtoursWashington State Sno-Park (left) Permit required for snowmobiling or cross-country skiingMile 37 Church Mountain ndash elevation 6245 feet (left) Highelevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in thearea to open for summer hikingTurnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right)Mile 40 Excelsior Group Camp (right) National Forest Camp-ground No water Fee charged Reservations only1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovNooksack Falls Wells Creek Road Road 33 (right) Take WellsCreek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced view-point Fall plummets 100 feetMile 41 Excelsior Pass Trail (left)Mile 43 North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left)Established in 1937 this is a 1400-acre preserve of old-growth
Douglas Fir Hemlock and Western Red CedarMile 44 Nooksack River Viewpoint (right)Mile 46 Twin Lakes Road (Road 3065) at Shuksan HighwayMaintenance Sheds (left) Twin Lakes is not accessible untilearly to mid-August Hannegan Pass Road (Road 32) (left) Popular cross-countryskiing area in winterShuksan Picnic Area ndash Hannegan Pass Road (left) Tables arestroom Nooksack River views Mining cabin nearbySilver Fir Campground (right) Fees charged Reservationsaccepted 1-877-444-6777 or at wwwrecreationgovMile 47 Goat Mountain ndash elevation 6891 feet (NE) Summergrazing range for one of four bands of mountain goatsMile 49 View Mt Shuksan ndash elevation 9038 feet (East)Mile 50 View Mt Sefrit ndash elevation 6015 feet (Southeast)Mile 52 Mt Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left)Mile 53 Entrance to Heather Meadows Mile 55 Picture Lake (road forks ndash stay to the right) PictureLake ndash elevation 4100 feet provides a postcard view of MtShuksan ndash elev 9038 feet Vista picnic area (right) Picnic areano restrooms Mile 56 Austin Pass Picnic Area (right) CCC-built area sits ina bowl-shaped valley with glorious viewsHeather Meadows Visitor Center (right) Open mid-July to Sep-temberMile 58 Artist Point ndash elev 5140 feet (End of highway) Park-ing lot surrounded by Mt Bakerrsquos peak (south) Mt Shuksan(east) and Table Mountain ndash elev 5628 feet
Map Directory 8 NORTH FORK BREWERY6186 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 599-2337
9 MISTY MOUNTAINS REALTY8193 Kendall Rd Maple Falls bull 599-2659
10 SUITE PARADISEGolden Valley Dr Kendall bull 599-1075
11 MOUNTAINSIDE GARDENS GALLERY amp GIFTS6900 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2890
12 BAKER ACCOMMODATIONS7425 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1017
12 FROSTY INN RESTAURANT7461 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2594
13 MT BAKER LODGING7463 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-2463
14 HARVEST MOON BAKERY7466 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 599-1347
1 BLUE MOUNTAIN GRILL974 Hwy 9 Acme bull 595-2200
2 ACME GENERAL STOREHwy 9 Acme bull 595-2146
3 EVERYBODYrsquoS STOREHwy 9 Van Zandt bull 592-2297
4 CASCADE CABIN RENTALSVan Zandt bull 599-2507
5 DODSONrsquoS IGA3705 Mt Baker Hwy Nugentrsquos Corner bull 592-5351
6 KELLEY INSURANCE103 W Main St Everson bull 966-3732619 Cherry St Sumas bull 988-2462
7 IL CAFFE RIFUGIO5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming bull 592-2888
22 GLACIER SKI SHOP9966 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1943
22 HAIRSTREAM9970 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2443
23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658
23 MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP9996 Forest St Glacier bull 599-2008
24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863
25 GRAHAMrsquoS STORE9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2665
25 GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1964
26 CHAIR 9 WOODSTONE PIZZA amp PUB10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2511
27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER
15 SLIDE MOUNTAIN BAR amp GRILL 7471 Mt Baker Hwy Maple Falls bull 656-5833
15 MAPLE FUELS WASH-A-TONCorner of Mt Baker Hwy amp Silver Lake RdMaple Falls bull 599-2222
16 CROSS ROADS GROCERY amp VIDEO7802 Silver Lake Rd Maple Falls bull 599-9657
17 INN AT MT BAKER8174 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 877567-5526
18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711
19 WINTER CREEK BampB9253 Cornell Creek Glacier bull 599-2526
20 SCOTTrsquoS SKI SERVICE9935 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-WAXX
20 MT BAKER HOMES amp LAND9937 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-1900
21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington
24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011
SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES
9996 Forest St Glacier WA (behind Milanorsquos)360599-2008 bull 888466-7392
Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom
Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am
New Location
Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove
7577 Canyon View Dr(Glacier Springs) Glacier WA
360599-2711wwwthelogscom
Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens
Mid Week
SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE
Ask about our large vacation homes
View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6
Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna
Full kitchen bull Sleeps 15Reservations 360-599-2155
wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom
Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse
GLACIER WASHINGTON
Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in
gift
Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available
Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm
NEW
360599-2863
Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway
Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus
MILANOrsquoS
Est 1990
bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli
bull Daily Specials bull Espresso bull Catering
bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts
bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines
bull Grilled Pannini Sandwiches
R E S TA U R A N T amp D E L I
Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker
As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE
amp BEST PLACESNORTHWEST
8174 Mt Baker Hwy 360599-1776 between Maple Falls amp Glacier mile post 28
wwwtheinnatmtbakercom 877567-5526
Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt
SpecialPackagesAvailable
HOT SHOTS BIG SCOOPSEspresso bull Ice Cream bull Groceries
Bagel Sandwiches bull Videos bull Local Crafts amp More
Glacier WA bull 599-2665
STORE
GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT
f Rotating Taps
e Winesf Pool
Table
e Steaksf Burgerse Phish
Tacos
Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964
Music calendar at wwwgrahamsrestaurantcom
ldquoAt Grahamrsquos you get whatrsquos coming to yourdquo
World famous restaurant amp tavern at the foot of Mt BakerFamily Friendly Dining
CHAIR 9 Family Dining | Pizza | Bar
10459 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier Washington
360599-2511
wwwChair9com
New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy
18886957533BakerAccommodationscom
Glacier W
ashingtonGlacier W
ashington