How The World’s Most Amazing Crutches Saved The Snowshoe Tours

The night I was released from hospital, I Googled “snowshoeing with crutches” – zang! A company called SideStix showed up followed by a video list of crutching snowshoers exploring Coastal Mountain ridges and creeks. I threw my head back – “What? is this for real !?” Maybe that remnant morphine from the knee operation was playing on my hopes, fears and imagination.
I scanned through videos and stories of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts snowshoeing, hiking, playing soccer and more from Italy, South Africa, the US and other countries. But, where are these from? “Hey Roseanne, it’s the www. You can order from anywhere,” I skeptically thought as I clicked through contacts.
“Sechelt? Sechelt BC? OMG, this is so BC!” I laughed.
Well that was it, “I’ve got to try these!” I started dreaming of crutching through the snowghost forest of Silver Star, then imagining all the walking compromised people who could now get out and explore the magical, winter wonderland that so many others are just beginning to love. This is an adaptive snow sport revolution!

http://www.sidestix.com/

Follow this blog to find out how these SideStix perform.

A Bird In The Hand

Jestyn with Pine Grosbeak on Snowshoe Safari

It’s spring and the birds know it!  They’re flitting and chirping all around us on the Snowshoe Safaris lately.  It’s been quite a show.

Last Friday, we got so close to a Pine Grosbeak, we could pick it up.  It was laying on the snow dead, recently blown out of a tree in a sudden spring gust.  It was perfectly preserved, so we had a good look and returned him to his resting spot.

We often find squirrel and bird nests blown out of the trees in spring, but this was the first bird I’ve seen knocked out.

Pine Martens on Silver Star

Pine Marten on Silver Star photo: Walt Duncan

Pine Martens (AKA American Marten, Martes americana) have been creating quite a stir at Silver Star lately. Generally solitary, two Pine Martens were recently observed darting across a cross country trail. Chances are one was chasing the other out of its territory. Although a Mountain Host assured their American guest who saw the incident that it was just two cats in pursuit, the guest wasn’t convinced.

On the same side of the mountain, Grandview residents Walt and Linda Duncan, watched a Pine Marten and caught some great photos. Peggy Kassa absolutely adored seeing one near the top of the mountain just recently, too.

Pine Martens are common weasels on Silver Star, but are rarely seen as they camouflage up in the tall trees. We sometimes follow their tracks on the Snowshoe Safaris. They’re one of four weasels in the resort area, but the biggest and the only one that remains brown through the winter (the others turn white). They’re mostly carnivorous eating squirrels, rodents, birds and insects, but also eat fruit and seeds.

 Why have so many been observed recently? It might be that they’re frequenting bird feeders that are popping up all over (I’m not a proponent of feeding wildlife) and I’ve observed them escape down trees when helicopters fly low overhead. Or maybe people are just taking a greater interest in the wildlife around them at Silver Star – I hope.

Don't mess with carnivorous Pine Martens. Don't even try to catch or pet one. photo: Walt Duncan

Have you seen wildlife on Silver Star?  I’d love to hear your stories or send photos.

Email me from www.OutdoorDiscoveries.com

 

“Snowshoes On Hares And People” & February Special Events – Snowshoe Tours on Silver Star

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Here’s an article recently written for Silver Star’s “My Magazine”:

You can float down a powdery slope on downhill skis, glide along perfectly groomed tracks on cross country skis or slide down a run on a tube, but can you sneak around a snowghost or pause under a lucky snow-arched tree?  Well snowshoe hares and snowshoers can as they effortlessly find their way through the glittering, winter forest.

 Sometime ago our First Nations ancestors watched snowshoe hares bound through the forest and thought “eureka!” we’ll get around on puffy snow, too.  So snowshoes were invented.  Well folks, as all good inventions go, they’ve evolved.

 Today, snowshoeing is the fastest growing winter sport in North America, and possibly all around the world.  Just as skis came to the “New World” with immigration; snowshoes are showing up in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Japan and anywhere tourists take them for snowy discoveries.

 There’s no better a way to slip into solitary wilderness or on top of the snowy world to discover the absolute beauty of snowy trees, getting to sunset viewpoints or strolling by starlight or moonlight on a wintery night.

 At Silver Star Mountain Resort, beginners can discover the joys of snowshoeing and experienced snowshoers can join a group to discover Silver Star’s unique nature adventures on one of our Snowshoe Tours.

On the afternoon Snowshoe Safaris we follow hare tracks along with squirrel, coyote, mouse, lynx and whatever Silver Star wildlife is hidden in the snowbound winter forest. As spring arrives, the mountain birds become more visible and noisy.  February is the month of love and the wildlife knows it.  We’ll see way more tracks as the weeks ahead heat up.

 February brings longer, lingering sunsets.  So we journey out to a viewpoint to celebrate spring’s upcoming arrival on the Sunset Snowshoe Adventures. 

 Night treks through the winter wilderness are shear magic. On the Starlight Cabin Rendezvous,’ snowshoers don headlamps and snowshoes to experience the silent, glittery forest enroute to the Wild Horseman’s Cabin for a scrumptious warm dinner and sleighride back to the village.  Be prepared to wear moonglasses on full moon nights around Feb 4-7 and March 6-8 as the reflection is astounding (just kidding about the glasses).

 Two special event snowshoe tours in February are always popular.  The Ladies Day Snowshoe Tour & Lunch on February 7 (and again on March 6) and the Sweetheart’s Chocolate Dreams on Valentine’s Day where starry-eyed couples venture out to the cabin for an exquisite chocolate fondue and snuggle up for a romantic sleighride back. 

 Come to the Village Ski Shop on Silver Star for more details and bookings or call 250-558-4292.  See www.OutdoorDiscoveries.com   

 Join award winning naturalist, Roseanne Van Ee, as she leads you on an unforgettable backcountry style snowshoe adventure in the comfort and safety of the resort. Discover the natural wonders of winter and explore the subalpine wilderness.  A uniquely Canadian experience for all ages and abilities.  Just don’t forget your camera!

A 2011 Highlight – Local Naturalist Guides California/Hollywood Celebrities

Roseanne & John Lasseter

One of my highlights this year was planning and guiding a full day tour in October called “Wild Mushrooms and Salmon – a Pre-Thanksgiving Feast for the Eyes” for John Lasseter, animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, his wife Nancy and about 24 of their best friends including talk show host Bonnie Hunt, Country star Brad Paisley, his wife actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Olympic medalist skater Scott Hamilton and more.

Good thing I’m such an outdoors enthusiast who barely has time for TV or movies, let alone following celebrities. I couldn’t even get star-struck. They were exceptionally nice folks, very interested in our environment and lots of fun.

While on the bus back to their Royal CP Heritage Train, I told the group how Disney influenced my life. John really enjoyed that!
The tour had been booked a year in advance and I couldn’t tell anyone ahead of time.

Eco-friendly Christmas with Snowshoe Tours At Silver Star

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas up at Silver Star.  There’s so much snow decorating the forest that the full  schedule of Snowshoe Tours on Silver Star have started. 

 There’s plenty of great Christmas reasons to participate in a tour:

 Are you looking for a unique Christmas party  venue or a fun and adventurous New Year’s Eve?   Staff parties and family groups love the Starlight Cabin Rendezvous, or a custom-designed group tour, to celebrate their comradery and kinship.  The Wild Horseman’s Adventure, a unique New Year’s Eve extravaganza, is a big hit and always sells out.  Locals should book early. 

Are you planning on giving snowshoes for Christmas?  Let Roseanne Van Ee, the “snowshoe lady” at Silver Star, advise you on sizing and types.  Snowshoeing’s the fastest growing winter sport with different types emerging: walking or recreation for leisurely social strolls, snowshoe running for joggers or racers, and backcountry adventuring for avid hikers or mountaineers.  The tours are easy backcountry style adventures in the comfort and safety of the resort.

Each tour includes snowshoes (or bring your own) and a learn-as-you-go lesson with tips and hints for enjoyable winter outings.  Within moments, you’re deep in the forest having a ball with old friends or new!  The new smaller, lightweight snowshoes with gripping  crampons enables a normal walking stride.

 Snowshoe Tour gift certificates make eco-friendly Christmas gifts!  Why not give yourself a Christmas present and discover the fun of snowshoeing?  

Photos and details at www.OutdoorDiscoveries.com or phone the Village Ski Shop (formerly Valhalla Pure) at Silver Star 250-558-4292. 

This winter, snowshoe tour participants will need to bring their Silver Star Nordic Pass or a Snowshoe Trail Pass.

The Snowshoe Tours On Silver Star Have Started!

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The Snowshoe Tours on Silver Star are up and running — well, adventuring through the forest, really. These tours are popular with locals and tourists, but this year there’s a new trend to the reason people are participating in the adventures — birthdays. Silver Star’s snowshoe tour guide, Roseanne Van Ee told us, “Moms and dads, spouses and best friends are bringing their kids and partners on a snowshoe tour to celebrate their special day.”

“The reasons for this kind of a present,” Van Ee explains, “vary from wanting to try snowshoeing as a new experience or as part of a plan to add more exercise, or as an inexpensive but fun activity to spend time together”.

So far, birthdays, anniversaries, a marriage proposal and Christmas parties have kept the tours busy since the they started this December. The holiday crowd is yet to come. There’s still spaces available for the annually sold-out New Year’s Eve celebration, The Wild Horseman’s Adventure, and gift certificates are available by calling Valhalla Pure on Silver Star at 250-558-4292.

Snowshoeing is the fastest growing winter sport because of the new, lightweight, swivelling cramponned snowshoes. Snowshoes are included in the tour packages, but people bringing their own get a discount. Check out OutdoorDiscoveries.com for photos and details about the prescheduled daily tours and special events. Joining a tour is the safest, most interesting and fun way to discover the joys of snowshoeing.

Photos on banner by: Roseanne Van Ee and Laurie Carter
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Guided Back-Country Style Snowshoe Adventures
In The Comfort And Safety Of Silver Star Resort
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Guided Back-Country Style Snowshoe Adventures