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Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10
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24
Shredding Safely IN THE BACKCOUNTRY Local rider NICK ENNEN brings ‘rapid’ progression to boarding Remember BIGFOOT?
Transcript
Page 1: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

NEW

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

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MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines

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Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker

As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE

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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

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360599-2511

wwwChair9com

New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy

18886957533BakerAccommodationscom

Glacier W

ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 2: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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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

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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

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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

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Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom

Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am

New Location

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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

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

NEW

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

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MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

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Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker

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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

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wwwChair9com

New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy

18886957533BakerAccommodationscom

Glacier W

ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 3: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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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

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Pick up your Loyalty card andearn 1 on all purchases

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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)

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Mt Baker Season Pass GIVEAWAY

spend $25 eligible for drawing

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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

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Bed amp Breakfast ~ Glacier WAFor Horses and

HumansFull Breakfast

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Glacier WA

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For reservations amp availability call 3605992507

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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

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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

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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

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Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

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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

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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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

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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

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24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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e Steaksf Burgerse Phish

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ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 4: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom

REAL ESTATEArea experts amp sales leaders for homes

ski cabins recreational property amp land

8193 Kendall Road Maple Falls

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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

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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

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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

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Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens

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Ask about our large vacation homes

View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6

Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna

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wwwmtbakerviewguesthousecom

Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse

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Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

NEW

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus

MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

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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

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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

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New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy

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ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 5: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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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

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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

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360-988-9631910 W Front St

Sumasvalleypandemsncom

SERVING ALL OF

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360-988-470224 HOURS

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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

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25th

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Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching

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OVER 350 LOCATIONS

including recreation retailers visitor centers amp hotels

Celebrate with usReserve your ad space

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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

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at these wedding shows

January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham

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January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett

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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

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Pioneer Storage ComplexwwwPioneerStorageComplexcom

6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery

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Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK

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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

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PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000

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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

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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

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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

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Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse

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Mention ad1350 for a specialcheck-in

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus

MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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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

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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

Page 6: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience

JOIN THE

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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

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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

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UN11AM-5PMbull4159HANNEGANRO

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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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

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Whatcom County Inc

Area Real

Estate

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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

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Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens

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Ask about our large vacation homes

View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6

Cascade RetreatSpacious bull Hot tub bull Sauna

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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

Page 7: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom

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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

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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

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9937 Mt Baker HighwayGlacier Washington

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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

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Wild Log HomesLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

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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

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Area Real

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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

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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

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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

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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

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines

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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

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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

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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

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New Office in Maple Fallsat 7425 Mt Baker Hwy

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Glacier W

ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 8: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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THE BEERCAVE

NEWOver 200 kinds of COLD BEERto choose from

WIC Checks EBT amp Quest

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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

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Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience

JOIN THE

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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

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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Area Real

Estate

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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

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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

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Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove

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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

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

NEW

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus

MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines

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Panoramic Views of the Nooksack River and Mt Baker

As featured in SUNSET MAGAZINE

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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

Page 9: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Locally owned and operated

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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

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360-988-9631910 W Front St

Sumasvalleypandemsncom

SERVING ALL OF

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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

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50cent

25th

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FEBRUARY 2011

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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

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Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563

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MEN | WOMEN | GIFTS - All New

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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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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360-410-0006 cell

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Since 1947

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Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471

Mount Vernon360-424-4471

Celebrating 63 years

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6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK

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7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier

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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

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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

Page 10: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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25th

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FEBRUARY 2011

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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

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January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom

February 20 bull Whidbey Wedding InspirationsBest Western HarborCandlewood Suites Oak Harbor

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Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563

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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

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360599-1900360599-1135

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Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK

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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

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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

Page 11: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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SUMAS AUTO CARE CENTER

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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

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25th

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FEBRUARY 2011

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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

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January 15-16 bull Northwest Bridal ShowcaseComcast Arena Edward D Hansen Conference Center Everett

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January 30 bull Ultimate Bridal FaireSkagit Valley Casino Resort Bowwwwnorthwestspecialeventscom

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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

Page 12: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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360-988-9631910 W Front St

Sumasvalleypandemsncom

SERVING ALL OF

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1 block south of the border bull 360988-4721

STOP BY AND SAVE ON YOURNEXT TRIP TO MT BAKER

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Limit 1With a purchase of

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Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching

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OVER 350 LOCATIONS

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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

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at these wedding shows

January 9 bull Bridal Inspirations Wedding ExpoBest Western Lakeway Inn Bellingham

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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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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Since 1947

Proudly Serving Whatcom Skagit

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Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471

Mount Vernon360-424-4471

Celebrating 63 years

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6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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7131 Cougar Gap ndash Glacier

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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

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PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000

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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

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Whatcom County Inc

Area Real

Estate

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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

Page 13: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Sumasvalleypandemsncom

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Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching

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OVER 350 LOCATIONS

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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

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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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471

Mount Vernon360-424-4471

Celebrating 63 years

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6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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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

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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

Page 14: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Sumasvalleypandemsncom

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25th

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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

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Celebrate with usReserve your ad space

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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

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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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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Since 1947

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Island and Snohomish Counties

Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471

Mount Vernon360-424-4471

Celebrating 63 years

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6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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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

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PAYS FOR ITSELFThe Shuksan $419000

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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

Page 15: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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RUSTIC CHARMING CHALETEstablished DeliBakery

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wwwmtbakerhomesandlandcom

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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Office (360) 647-6432Cell (360) 319-0695Visit propertiesJohnLScottcomMartyK

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER

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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

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Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom

Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am

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Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens

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SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE

Ask about our large vacation homes

View bull 2 BedroomsFull Kitchen bull Hot Tub bull Sleeps 6

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Walk-in reservations and 1 night stays available

Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

NEW

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Open 7 days a week9990 Mt Baker Highway

Glacier WawwwMilanoRestaurantus

MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Soups amp Salads bull Homemade Desserts

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Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt

SpecialPackagesAvailable

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e Winesf Pool

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e Steaksf Burgerse Phish

Tacos

Hot Fire Cold BeerThe Apreacutes Ski is here9989 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier WA bull 360-599-1964

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ashingtonGlacier W

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Page 16: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Sumasvalleypandemsncom

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Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching

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OVER 350 LOCATIONS

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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

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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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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Lynden bull Ferndale360-354-4471

Mount Vernon360-424-4471

Celebrating 63 years

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6214 Portal Way Ferndale

22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

Mount BakerMount Baker

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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

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Whatcom County Inc

Area Real

Estate

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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

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27 LUXURY GETAWAYSwwwstayatmtbakercom Glacier bull 877-90-BAKER

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24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

SnowboardRentalsBEST PRICES

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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

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Cozy LogCabinsFireplacesKitchens

Mid Week

SpecialStay 2 nightsthe 3rd is FREE

Ask about our large vacation homes

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Mt Baker ViewGuesthouse

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Expanded office hours - Fri - Sat 9am - 9pm Sun - Thurs 9am - 5pm

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MILANOrsquoS

Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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bull Wide Selection of Beer amp Wines

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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

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SpecialPackagesAvailable

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Glacier WA bull 599-2665

STORE

GRAHAMrsquoS RESTAURANT

f Rotating Taps

e Winesf Pool

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Tacos

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ashingtonGlacier W

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Page 17: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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25th

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FEBRUARY 2011

Locally owned created and produced

Celebrating 25 years of adventures in the great northwest

Best VALUE and EXPOSURE for reaching

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Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience

JOIN THE

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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

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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

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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

Page 18: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Register amp pay online today at wwwbridalinspirationsinfo or call Aliciarsquos Bridal at 3607332563

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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

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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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

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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

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23 WAKE rsquoN BAKERY6903 Bourne St Glacier bull 599-1658

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24 MILANOrsquoS RESTAURANT9990 Mt Baker Hwy Glacier bull 599-2863

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18 THE LOGS7577 Canyon View Dr Glacier bull 599-2711

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21 MT BAKER VIEW GUESTHOUSE6920 Central Ave Glacier bull 599-2155

24 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom

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Est 1990

bullFresh Pasta Dinners All Day bull Full Deli

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Gourmet breakfast bull Hot Tub bull Heli Pad bull Lap PoolAdult only facility bull Registered Massage Therapist by appt

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ashingtonGlacier W

ashington

Page 19: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Celebrate with usReserve your ad space

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Call Janet or Louise at 360-332-1777 salesmountbakerexperience

JOIN THE

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Page 20: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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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

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Open everyday 8-6 bull Shop online at mtbakercom

Turn left just before Milanorsquos bull Open everyday at 730 am

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Wendy amp Tom Cosgrove

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Mid Week

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Page 21: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

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Specializing in new homes interior fi nish work amp remodelsJack Wilson

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22 Mount Baker Experience bull Winter 2011

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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

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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

Page 22: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

Page 23: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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

Page 24: Mount Baker Experience Winter 12-10

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


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