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With a current base of 489 cm, it should come as no surprise that Mount Washington has been rockin’ all season. With school out for Spring Break, this is definitely the mountain’s most exciting and action-packed week. The week-long Chek News SnoJam event kicked off with the After Dark Invitational as riders from the Island, Lower Mainland and Whistler amped up the slopes under spotlights hoping to ride away with $3K.

Photo: Antonio LaFauci/LMount Washington Alpine Resort

You don’t want to miss the rest of the coming week – it’s jammed full with the Barq’s Root Beer Snowtube Festival, the Beavertails Eating Contest, Dairyland Crazy Cards and the Old Dutch Mini Olympics. A full detailed listing can be found here, but this is only a sliver of the fun that Mount Washington has planned for those interested in checking out what a 5-metre snowbase looks like. As always, the nordic and alpine trails are open – including the legendary Boomerang Outback and both snowboard terrain parks.

For more information on the mountain, snow reports and stay-and-play packages, visit Mount Washington’s website or call the mountain toll free at 1-888-231-1499.

Two years ago, when I brought Rebecca to Mount Washington Alpine Resort with me for a girls’ snowboarding weekend, she had told a friend or two about our pending trip. A few of the comments she got in response included: “I thought Mount Washington was in Washington State,” or “There’s a mountain on Vancouver Island?”

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

The answer to the second of those questions is an unequivocal “yes”.

Map: Comox Valley World Cup Organizing Committee

Half-way down the spine of mountains that runs north to south along Vancouver Island, towering majestically over the Comox Valley, outdoor enthusiasts will find the home of British Columbia’s deepest snowpack. In fact, the current base reaches a depth of 391cm (that’s more than 13 feet)!

Mount Washington Alpine Resort – A History of Logos. From left-right: 1979; 1981; 1996; 1998; and 2002

Named for Rear Admiral John Washington of the British Royal Navy, construction on the resort was launched in 1977 before the lifts at Mount Washington first whisked skiers to the peak in December of 1979. The powder-laden resort was an instant success, giving nearby Forbidden Plateau some serious competition.

Photo: ai.dan on Flickr

Photo: bmann on Flickr

In its 31-year history, Mount Washington has expanded to more than 1,600 acres of skiing and snowboarding thrills, nine high-capacity lifts, extensive nordic terrain, a condominium and chalet village, tasty eateries, slippery snow tubing and a legendary backcountry area.

Trail Map: Destination Snow

One might argue that Mount Washington’s greatest value is found in the stunning vistas, stretching out across the entire Comox Valley, the Georgia Straight and rugged peaks to the south.

Needless to say, it’s not been difficult to convince Rebecca to return with me. The cold beers at Fat Teddy’s Grill in the lodge may have had something to do with that.

Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr

Don’t let the copious snowfall at Mount Washington fool you. The resort is also a paradise for those who seek sunshine in the summertime. With winding hiking paths, frisbee golf, BBQ events, an epic network of mountain biking trails, an annual wine festival and even some shopping, there’s no shortage ways to fill your days.

Photo: mattdil on Flickr (used with permission)

Aside from the obvious attractions, Mount Washington is also home to the endangered Vancouver Island marmot . This species is native only to the sub-alpine meadows of Mount Washington and, thanks to tireless recovery efforts, the wild marmot population has been increased from 25 to 100 since 2001. Keep your eyes open – they aren’t easy to spot! However, you may also find yourself face-to-face with bears, cougars or elk amongst the woodland.

With glistening snow and crisp air, these pictures do more than speak for themselves. Next time you find yourself visiting Vancouver Island – or exploring your own backyard – you owe it to yourself to discover the crown of the Comox Valley.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is accessible by car at the top of an entirely paved parkway; chains are encouraged (and sometimes mandatory) throughout the winter months. From the inland Island Highway (Highway 19), take exit 130 onto Strathcona Parkway – the resort is located at 1 Strathcona Parkway. For more information, call the resort at 1-888-231-1499 or visit their website. You can also follow the resort’s updates on Twitter.

…British Columbia has more than lived up to its reputation of being the “Wet Coast” in recent weeks. While this means puddles and downpours on the streets, it’s equated to incredible amounts of snowfall on the mountains.

Nowhere is this more prevalent than on the slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort. While at this time last year the mountain saw nothing more than a fresh dusting, this year’s snowfall has been smashing records like never before!

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Crews have been scrambling to groom the more than 440 centimetres that have fallen in the last three weeks, paving the way for beyond stellar riding conditions. “Our old record for November snowfall was 300 centimetres in 2006,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “Needless to say, this month we’ve seen unprecedented amounts of snow up here. We received 300 centimetres in the last week alone!”

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Load up your iPod, wax your board (or planks) and dig out your toque – it should come as no surprise that Mount Washington is gearing up to hit the green button on all lifts two weeks earlier than planned for the 2009/2010 season. Operations begin this Saturday, November 28, 2009. Happy birthday to me, indeed! Rebecca and I are more than ready to “Go For Gold” as soon as we can.

For more information, directions, lift pass pricing, accommodations and more, head over to Mount Washington Alpine Resort’s website. Be sure to check out their blustery snowcams for a preview of what’s to come. This is a great time to grab a Six-Pack of lift tickets for yourself or for friends as Christmas gifts! Don’t forget to follow Mount Washington on Twitter.

With 2010 around the corner, news outlets are reporting that bookings have increased at ski resorts in BC’s interior. With the crowds and chaos expected during the month of February on the North Shore and in Whistler, it really comes as no surprise. While our interior’s small towns may boast some tasty snow, may I instead suggest something with a view as well?

I know me and my favourite gal are looking forward to it…

While the deadline for early bird season passes has come and gone, that doesn’t mean you can’t still hit Mount Washington for a fantastic day rate (considerably less expensive than comparable mountains in the interior) once the snow starts falling. Here’s hoping that the dusting that fell last week is just a preview of what’s to come.

Crews have been scrambling over the last month to clear brush, bushes and trees to make for expertly sculpted runs on some of the best snow BC has to offer. Also new for the 2009/2010 season is extended night skiing.

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

It’s bright lights, big mountain with twilight riding operating from 3:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. – that’s a lot of skiing or snowboarding in a 24-hour period. Hungry bellies and beer cravings can still be satisfied at a number of Mount Washington’s dining establishments that are also gearing up. And remember that you don’t need to go far to get a good night’s sleep (only to get up and do it all over again the next day) – tons of gorgeous condos and chalets dot the side of the mountain.

For more information and to plot a winter escape to Vancouver Island, visit Mount Washington’s website. I’m pretty sure that the winter packages will blow your mind.

After months of planning, preparation, anticipation and tireless fundraising efforts, the BC-SPCA’s Paws For A Cause finally arrived. While these walks were simultaneously taking place in communities all across British Columbia, Jordy, Charley, my mom and I found ourselves at Marina Park in Comox.

The sunshine decided to take a day off, but rain clouds didn’t damper the excitement everyone felt. Dozens and dozens of beautiful, amazing, playful dogs turned out to support their fellow animals.

I’m still waiting to hear the final tallies regarding how much money was raised both Province-wide and in the Comox Valley, but I have no doubt that the goals of $950,000 and $20,000 respectively were reached.

My readers have been completely awesome! Many contributed funds and many more offered supportive words of encouragement – both of which kept giving me the drive to keep up with the efforts I had undertaken to make. I’d like to take a minute to offer a huge thank you to my financial sponsors for their generous donations: Katrina Mellis, Danielle Ciavarro, Marda Mischa-Miller, Tyler Ingram, Tania Morrison, Sixty4Media, Madeline Lagden, Lindsay Davis, Phil Ogynist, Buster the Dog, Jennifer Stoddart, Mikis Manolis, Duane Storey, Tanya Martin, Winnie Sung, Nicole George, Colleen Brown, Blain Sepos, Erin McConnell, Dom Richards, “Jenn,” Sarah Dawson, A.M. Chalupa, Marlee McConnell, Craig Jangula, Eileen Henderson, Sea To Sky Network Solutions and Double S Sales (Courtenay Sears).

Between all of you, $1,590 was donated to help many grateful animals!

One of my favourite things about events like this is not only the socialization they provide for dogs – which is crucial to their well-being – but it’s also a lot of fun to watch the animals play and interact together. Anyone who doesn’t believe that dogs are loving, intelligent and communicative creatures is completely nuts.

A last hearty and huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated, encouraged and cheered all of us on around British Columbia. It’s classic cheese to say, but you’re the true heroes for giving of what you have for the betterment of another creature. One friend who donated told me that she did so because “there’s an animal out there that needs food more than I need a new shirt or a couple drinks at a pub!” That’s hitting the nail on the head and then some.

Stay tuned to my Twitter for final totals! (And don’t forget: just because this event is over doesn’t mean the need is gone. If you’d like to support, donate to or volunteer at your local shelter, please visit the BC-SPCA’s website.

After yesterday’s sneak preview, I thought it only fair to end the suspense and tell you all about my adventure at The Big Time Out. You can check out the photos my mom took on her Flickr.

What surprised me most about the festival was the inclusiveness. Not only was it a family-friendly event with artistic and creative outlets for children, but the music was as varied as it was fantastic. While it may be cliché to say that there was something for everyone, that fact couldn’t be more true. And for this someone, there were three performers that were must-sees on the bill.

I arrived just in time to see Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin. Back in March, I caught them during the Juno street parties on Granville Street, but was pretty pumped to watch a full set.

As expected, D2D’s intense energy got the entire crowd jumping, dancing and waving their hands in the air. Fusing together deep Bhangra, Celtic and Dub roots with a taste of hip hop, D2D have an incredibly distinctive sound that’s all theirs.

What makes D2D truly their own is the fact that the group lacks any sort of cookie-cutter sound. Their range of sound is as large and far-reaching as the variety of instruments incorporated to create the music they do. I found it next-to-impossible to take my eyes off the stage because D2D are every bit performers as they are musicians.

With hours to kill until Mihirangi hit the stage, I did a bit of exploring, eating and dancing. The crowd had a great vibe the entire day through.

When I caught a glimpse of this gourmet burger booth at the Filberg Festival earlier in August, I was tempted by it but opted for veggie rice rolls instead. However, after hours of dancing and walking, my stomach was hungry and the only cure was a yamburger.

Made from local ingredients and supporting Comox Valley-based businesses, the yamburger was every bit as delicious as I’d hoped it would be. However, with a 40-minute wait between the time I ordered to the time I actually got my burger, I may opt for something else next time.

Local DJs were dropping the needle between sets, so we were jamming to Snoop Dogg, Bob Marley and Justin Timberlake under the hot sun. I’m quite sure I’ll never again be able to hear “Could You Be Loved?” by Bob without thinking of this day.

No girl in her right mind passes up ice cream, but after these monster cones, Bethany had just about had her fill. “Wouldn’t it be funny if I just tossed it over the fence?” would’ve been funnier had her ice cream glob not actually gone flying. 10-Second Rule, right?

Or is it the Dump-Your-Ice-Cream-On-Your-Husband Rule?

By 8pm I was ready for more moneymaker-shaking, which worked out perfectly because that’s the time Australia’s Mihirangi hit the stage. This mesmerizing one-woman show (with the back-up of DJ Katch) came out in full force, singing in both her native Maori and English.

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What I love – love – so much about her sound is that it’s multi-layered. Much of what you hear is recorded through beatboxing, and each song builds upon itself.

Crowd favourite? Oui.

With a near-perfect blend of tough and tender, humour with all seriousness, Mihirangi is set for world domination in this girl’s opinion. And if any of that won’t hook you, the infectious giggle she seems to end each song with is living proof that she loves what she does and lives what she loves.

I found this video on her YouTube, which shows her entire song-building process. Amazing stuff.

What would a festival be if they didn’t save the best for last? After energetic performances from Mother, Mother and a number of belly dancers and silk aerials, Sam Roberts Band hit the stage around 10:30pm. Needless to say, the crowd went insane.

The Montreal-based band may not have made any promises, but they certainly delivered. Entertaining us all with tunes both old and new, Sam Roberts and his band commandeered the stage with drive and and enthusiasm right to the end.

There’s always something exciting about hearing a song live that you’ve been listening to on your iPod for years. In truth, I may have even listened to his older material on my Sony Discman. And somehow, Sam always seems to ask the right questions in his music:

Memories of the day? Too many to name. Regrets of the day? Not buying more merchandise – and I never buy merchandise at concerts.

I think it goes without saying that I’m already counting down the days to next year’s festival. A tip-to-self for 2010: I’ll leave my blanket and backpack at home. They only serve to inhibit dancing in the mud…

(A huge thank you to Cumberland Village Works for organizing and holding this awesome community event!)

Being that I didn’t get back to Vancouver until after 10pm and because I filled my entire memory card, it’s safe to say that I won’t be wading through all my pictures from this summer’s The Big Time Out until Monday evening. Until then, a teaser.

I arrived just in time to catch Delhi 2 Dublin’s set. Their energy and entirely unique sound got the whole crowd jumping – literally.

Video: tempest_kat on Flickr

The festival’s headliner and cherry on the sundae was none other than Sam Roberts Band. Excuse the poor video quality, but it’s clear to hear that Sam and his band kick some serious ass on stage. The show was unreal.

I can promise you that the photos are of much better quality than the videos. Look for those tomorrow morning!

Two weeks from today, I’ll be waking up to this…

Photo: Magnus. on Flickr

Months ago my mom and I decided that, instead of heading to Hornby Island this summer, we’d head to Tofino. Believe it or not, despite the fact that she’s lived on Vancouver Island since the mid-1960s, my mom has never been. Ucluelet, yes; Tofino, no. We booked one of the gorgeous beachfront suites at Middle Beach Lodge and will spend three days dining, exploring, sunbathing, drinking Island wine, surfing (well, I will), wandering and snapping photos. And no, I do not plan on bringing my MacBookPro. Pictures will come after.

I look forward to my summer holidays every single year, and they’ll start at 3:00 p.m. on July 31. As usual, I’ll be heading home to Vancouver Island to spend time relaxing out of the city. However, unlike last summer, this one will be filled with family and I am beyond excited to spend time with my incredibly adorable niece.

Not only that, but I have so much else to look forward to such as the annual Filberg Festival, BBQing, running on the beach with Jordy and Charley, dragging my mom to Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, sleeping in, short jean shorts every single day, gathering tasty goods at the Coombs Old Country Market, tanning my legs (finally!), Nautical Days at the Comox Marina and whatever other fun surprises pop up along the way.

Now that July is running out and our summers are half over, what are you looking forward to doing in August?

I was still in diapers when my family moved from Port Hardy to the Comox Valley in 1982. The Valley has always been and will always be home and, as such, has also always been an immense source of pride. Today I feel shame.

It’s a community comprised primarily of three towns – Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland – and is a community born out of a vibrant history. Though, like any community with deep roots, the stories are often marred. When Cumberland was a booming mining town in the late 1800s, it was also home to North America’s second largest Chinatown as well as a substantial Japanese population. These immigrant workers were brought in simply to risk their lives doing the most hazardous of mining jobs that others would not do. Countless immigrants died in doing so.

Much of Cumberland’s Chinatown was destroyed in a fire in 1936 that originated in a chop suey house; the area was never rebuilt. And further, in 1942 amongst the shadows of World War II, the entire local Japanese population was ordered to be shipped to internment camps in the interior of British Columbia.

Neither population recovered from these decimating events. One could say that these were the first examples of blatant racism in the Valley’s history.

As I grew up, the Comox Valley’s population was predominantly comprised of Caucasian people of European descent. Being that the Island is still home to many First Nations reserves, there has also always been a sizable native population. In junior high I had one girlfriend who had immigrated with her family from South Korea, and went to high school with a brother and sister from Pakistan. The number of black families in the community could be counted on one hand.

While the diversity of the Comox Valley has certainly increased over the last decade, what has always been apparent to me, however, is that none of this ever seemed to matter. We all had our respective backgrounds, history and ancestry, but that was just a matter of fact – not a matter for tact. The idea of any form of racism in the Comox Valley seemed entirely outlandish to me.

There are still numerous men who drive their trucks around the Valley with Confederate flags emblazoned in the front license plate holders, but I always assumed they were paying tribute to The Dukes of Hazzard rather than knowing what it symbolizes. It would seem that I am incorrect. A recent event in the parking lot across from the Courtenay McDonald’s restaurant has changed what I thought I knew in an instant.

Last Friday a 38-year-old landscape artist by the name of Jay Phillips was accosted, cornered and both verbally and physically attacked by three young men between the ages of 19 and 25. In broad daylight, Phillips was bombarded with fists, kicks, racial slurs and threats of lynching. What his cowardly attackers did not expect, however, was that the man well-versed in mixed martial arts was prepared to fight back – and he did.

“If nobody says anything or does anything, they’re going to do this again,” Phillips stated in a local news interview. The attack, which was caught entirely on video and subsequently posted on YouTube, was the silver lining. “Otherwise it would have been three or five guys’ word against mine,” he said. “I don’t want this shit to ever happen ever again.”

The three men have been identified, arrested and charged with assault. The RCMP are currently investigating and further charges of a hate crime are pending.

I applaud Jay Phillips for standing up, for using his voice and for fighting back against such a disgusting display of ignorance and hate. The kind of behavior perpetrated against Mr. Phillips simply cannot – and will not – be tolerated. It is my hope that by his brave example, more people will be strong enough to resist backing down and instead fight for love and acceptance.

During my training to teach pre-school, we were told a story of a group of 15 pre-schoolers that were engaged in a sharing circle together. Each child was instructed to say something about the other children that makes each of them different or unique. One child was permanently bound to a wheelchair, and when it came to his turn, his classmates took turns praising his artistic skills, his fun laugh, his willingness to share and exclaiming that he always had the best snacks. Not one single child noted that his wheelchair made him different or unique.

Perhaps we can all take take our cues from the uncorrupted.

It recently struck me how The Big Time Out couldn’t be a more perfect name for exactly what it is – a day-long break from the ordinary all in the sake of fun and community. Did I mention there will be music and dancing?

Photo: Zoe52 on Flickr

Though The Big Time Out is only a handful of years old, the annual festival has been steadily and quickly picking up steam. Held each summer in Cumberland’s Village Park, 2009’s festival promises to live up to its stellar reputation. Live music is only one element as attendees will also be entertained by collaborative dance pieces, acrobatics and aerialists.

Photo: burnthatsucker on Flickr

Having hosted the likes of Metric, You Say Party! We Say Die! and De La Soul in previous years, this summer’s headliner is none other than Montreal’s Sam Roberts and his band.

Photo: tammylo on Flickr

A girl can only hope that he’ll sport his Jack Burton tank for the festivities – after all, August days do get rather hot in the Comox Valley. Concert-goers will also be impressed with this year’s line-up of Mother Mother, Delhi 2 Dublin (check out Raymi’s video here), The March Fourth Marching Band, Jets Overhead, Sex With Strangers, Mihirangi, LAL and the Island’s own Vince Vaccaro.

It wouldn’t stun me to find a few fun surprises along the way…

The event is family-friendly and all kids 12 and under are welcome free-of-charge with a ticket-holding adult. Be sure to bring a whole lot of food in that picnic basket, a comfy blanket and tons of energy. The festival runs from noon until midnight with non-stop music and amusement. For those of you that forget your provisions, concession stands will be on hand and entry is by bracelet, so be sure to check out some of the great food from local eateries in Cumberland.

Photo: Zoe52 on Flickr

The Big Time Out 2009 will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Cumberland Village Park in the Comox Valley. There will be limited parking available within the village, so please consider carpooling or taking advantage of local transit. Early bird tickets are no longer available, but advance tickets are being sold for $55 each (still a fantastic deal!) until July 21. After July 21, tickets are $65. For more information, please visit The Big Time Out’s website.

I’ve got my ticket – who of you will I see there?