POWDER DAY IN GOLDEN - A Travel Memoire

POWDER DAY IN GOLDEN - A Travel Memoire

Words & photos by Cindy Savard and Bruno Leest

My heart has gone mad... The call of the mountain was heard loud and clear. It’s been screaming ever since last summer. Sitting on the Greyhound bus, my neighbour to the front of me’s head keeps knocking on the window yet I am astounded. Eyes wide opened, speechless, overwhelmed with the greatness of the Rockies. This spectacle is real, this spectacle is free, and happens to be smiling at me from Highway 1 in Alberta.

There are plenty of reasons why one would want to cross the country from coast to coast. When wintertime strikes, it’s paradise for powder junkies. The coach bus is letting people off as miles go by. As we stop in Banff, AB, young, fresh and green kids are getting ready for an epic season full of surprises.  Older, seasoned ski bums hold on to their seats, confident about their further western destination. About 2 hours later, always depending on road conditions, those who agreed to make it to BC, enter the holy land of mountain goats, elks and snowmobiles (amongst others).

 

 

Welcome to the not quite so-called town of opportunity, Golden, BC. The muted sound of choppers flying above our heads reminds me of the fatal danger potential in avalanche country.

Not for the faint of heart, this wild town has an enormous rideable terrain. Home of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Gourman Lake and Mount Seven, G-town is where it’s at to taste the finest fresh champagne powder.

For those bumper stickers lovers out-there, get ready. Your typical pick up truck/winter beater's message may be rude, but it is honest and speaks volumes about the town:

-I love big dumps
-I love Golden Showers
-My life is better than your vacation
-S/L/E/D/N/E/C/K

With a 762 cm of annual average snowfall, the once-names WhiteTooth ski area, or now simply the Horse, is a no brainer go-to destination for adrenaline and thrill seekers. (Year ‘round)

 

 

Local souls are always eagerly awaiting that time of year when rain changes to snow, while crazy, curious and cocky seasonal workers, week end warriors and long term tourists start slowly overflowing the quiet town of Golden.  Canucks, Aussies, Brits, Kiwis, « Québécois » and « Newfies » all come together.

Show respect. Keep a low profile. This place doesn’t give a *%&? about anything, especially about putting on a fashion show. Duck Tape is everyone’s best friend here. Hometown riders are recognizable by their laid back attitude, laced with a hard-core twist. Go big or go home is a way of life.

The hill is part of the Kootenays mountain range. It’s rocky, big, steep and deep. Keep your eyes open, and your balance low. Stumps, cliffs, drops, pillows, gullies and mushroom tops are everywhere. Many inbound chutes. DO NOT TRAVERSE.

 

 

When it gets dry, one rookie might be tempted to go « hors-piste », « outta bound », « back/slack country ». Take a 2 hour hike, climb up, head off the beaten path to find pristine virgin pow. A waking life’s wet dream. Tracks don’t make it ok. « Québecois » have a long-standing reputation for being a bit rebellious, sometimes avoiding any avalanche awareness precaution. This is not a joke. It’s avalanche terrain.

So there you have it. It’s Monday night, sitting at the bar at Smitty’s. Cheap wings (0.09$), anyday from 2-8pm. Alternative music from the 90s are playing, along with Country music and good old Classic Rock. The Keno gaming machine is calling out my name. The NHL lock out is on everyone’s mind. I pay my bill and walk back to Pinewood Trailer Park.

Kickoff my snowboard boots and relax my socks, start a fire and hang my gear by the fireplace (one lucky mobile home with an operating chimney on a cardboard ceiling) and salute Ular.

 

 

The snow forecast is on everyone’s lips. We’re expecting 25 cm in the next 48 hours. Turn on the tv, start looking for a movie. VHS. I travel back in time with « The Empire Strikes Back », « Back to the Future » and fantasize with « All I Can! » I call it an early night; I’m super stoked about tomorrow.

Remember, no friends on powder day…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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