Browsing “Unplugged”

Location: Where we live Well, I haven’t done this for a while! Four months to be exact. I had a baby in September and thought at the time that I’d take a few weeks off from doing the weekly Flickr Pickr (not that it’s a huge job by any means, I just didn’t want to have anything to think about other than my new little person). Turns out that I took more than a few weeks off but I thought about the Pickr every Friday, which is when I would usually write it, but just couldn’t bring myself to sit down and get it done. I decided today that it was time to either pass the torch or just suck it up and write a post, so here I am. Just because I stopped writing for a while doesn’t mean that folks stopped sending in their beautiful photos so I decided to compile a selection of my favourites from the last four months. Thank you all so much for continuing to share your talent and images!

September – Made it #elfinlakes #fireballtuneout2 by Kim Ridgewell

October – almost home by Miek

November – Larger than life by Jianwei Yang

December – Snowy Hike by Michael Rogers

It’s that point in your consciousness where you can feel at one with nature, escaping the trappings of the day-to-day to an almost dream-like place where nothing else seems to exist besides you and your natural surroundings. It is our opinion here at VIA that Vancouver holds a unique place in the civilized world in that reaching this state often requires no more effort than simply pulling off to the side of the road, pocketing your keys and taking a few steps into the forest

SILENCE FALLS UPON THE DESCHUTES FOREST. The gentle sound of snow falling on Hemlock and Pine trees, and the faint scurrying of wildlife. The full moon shines brightly, accented by the clouds of an encroaching snow storm. Central Oregon is a nature-lover’s haven in both winter and summer. About 10 hours from Vancouver by car, this is the perfect four-day road trip adventure.PLACE: Deschutes National Forest and Mt. Bachelor LOCATION: Bend, Oregon

Oregon is the crown jewel of the West Coast and its beauty is often overlooked for the more flashy neighbour to the south. The rugged coastline, Cascade mountains and deserts of Central Oregan make this a nature enthusiasts’ heaven.

Bend, Oregon – which has been named the best trail running spot in the United States – is (realistically) a 10-hour drive away from Vancouver and a little bit less via an Amtrak/coach combo.

The town is a quaint gateway to nature’s playground. During the winter, outdoor lovers spend their time skiing and riding on Mount Bachelor – which has had over 17 feet of snow this season. Summer boasts mountain biking in desert single track, hiking and canoeing trips.

Outside of snow sliding, there are a ton of other winter activities to experience, including tours of the many craft breweries the region is known for.

Opting for an adventure to increase our heart rates, we embarked upon a full moon snowshoe tour with Wanderlust Tours. The trip took about 3 hours and transported us onto the slopes of Mount Bachelor and through the Deschutes National Forest, which has some of the last old growth trees in the area.

Donning head lamps and our snow gear, we followed our guide through the silent forest; running in knee deep snow and learning about the subnivean world that thrives beneath the snowpack. Our group tracked animal prints in the snow, following their journey from snowy forest floor to tree well to tunnels under the snow. We learned that lichen is a great insulator and fire starter should one ever need it for winter survival. All the while, we barely noticed the -10C temperature; our bodies accustomed to the chill-to-the-bone damp cold of Vancouver.

A weekend get away from Vancouver transported us into a whole other world of frontier towns and the wild west, set against the backdrop of snowy mountain vistas. While we were 750 km from Vancouver, strangely, we didn’t feel so far away from home after all.

TOP TIPS FOR BEND: 

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WATER. IT’S SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED HERE IN THE WESTERN WORLD. Until we are faced with a circumstance where this precious resource is undrinkable. People in developing nations know this all too well. That’s why Vancouver-based company Twothirds Water has developed a handy gadget that makes filtering water a cinch – both for outdoor enthusiasts and developing nations alike. Their Indiegogo campaignwill help finance a revolutionary new product that can benefit everyone. This is their story.

Photo Credit: Tapp

Did you know that over 50% of the world’s hospitalizations come from easily preventable water-born disease?  Kevin Reilly and Bradley Pierik of Vancouver-based company, Twothirds Water, have seen the effects first-hand through their work on water projects in countries like Ethiopia and Haiti.

“When I was in undergrad I spent a summer drilling wells in Ethiopia, to find out if this is a field I’d like to work in,” says Bradley. “I fell in love with the work, and now for about 7 years I have been taking every possible opportunity to work with water in developing countries, and learn more and more about the relevant technologies and deployment strategies.”

The pair has made it their mission to help bring clean, safe water to the world with their new water filtration device, Tapp.  Simple and versatile, this water filter can make any water drinkable – even in the most challenging circumstances. Whether it be a remote hiking excursion, a kit filled with survival equipment or a village in the third world, Tapp is simple and effective.

Photo Credit: Tapp

Learn more about the project in this video:

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THE OCEAN HAS HER SECRETS. THE FORESTS ARE FULL OF MYSTERY. British Columbia’s temperate rainforest, which runs along our stunning coastline, is full of magic, wonder and beauty. It’s not something you can describe. It’s something you feel. A group of local surfers and paddle boarders has decided to create a documentary about our threatened coastline and are currently running an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for the post production of the film. This is their story.

From Bella Bella to Haida Gwaii and into the Great Bear Rainforest, STAND film has captured the energy and mystique of one of  the most beautiful areas in the world. The Great Bear Rainforest was even recently rated as one of the must see places for 2013 by National Geographic Traveller.

But, the entire region is under threat by the proposed Enbridge pipeline and subsequent oil tanker project. STAND raises the profile of the area by focusing on the wildlife, incredibly beautiful coastline, and amazing First Nations people.

Instagram Photo: Norm Hann

Norm Hann, a stand up paddleboarder who has done expeditions, guiding and conservation work in the Great Bear Rain Forest for many years, completed a 350-kilometer stand up paddleboard trip to raise awareness about the cultural and natural treasures that will be drastically affected by the proposed Enbridge pipeline.

STAND film also spent time with a group of First Nations youth in Bella Bella, who are building their own paddleboards in order to venture out and explore their own traditional territory. There are many heritage areas that are important to the First Nations peoples of this region, who have called the area home for more than 10,000 years.

The third storyline focuses on Tofino-based pro surfer, Raph Bruhwiler, who has spent his life out on the ocean. The STAND team follows Raph on a surfing journey along the Northern coast of British Columbia, where he is introduced to the rich culture and diverse wildlife of the area.

Instagram Photo: Norm Hann

B4Apres is a production team behind the film project. Comprised of Sea to Sky photographer and storyteller Anthony Bonello and action sports photographer Nicolas Teichrob, the team is a powerhouse of visual storytelling, with many accolades and award-winning works under their belts.

“The entire coast from Haida Gwaii to South Vancouver Island is so incredibly amazing,” Teichrob explained via email from a tiny patch of reception on a Vancouver Island beach during filming on a new project. “Getting a chance to visit the North Coast was great, as it has always seemed slightly out of reach. I’m always blown away by what BC’s coast delivers: so much diversity and always beautiful.”

STAND is due to debut in Spring 2013 and the crew is keen to enter it into global film festivals. The Indiegogo campaign runs through to December 24 – the perfect Christmas present for your environmentally conscious friends. Learn more about the project and donate by visiting them at indiegogo.com/standfilm.

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THIS THURSDAY, COAST MOUNTAIN CULTURE MAGAZINE brings together the big guns of the Pacific Northwest outdoor film and photography scene into one booty-ful night. Backyard Booty Film Fest will take the audience on a journey through Northern B.C., Haida Gwaii, Portland, Bend, Van Isle, and the Olympic Peninsula. PLACE: District 319 LOCATION: Vancouver, BC

“We’re particularly interested in how the culture of the coast plays into the sports and lifestyle we indulge in,” says Mike Berard, editor of Coast Mountain Culture Magazine. ”Because, as cool as snowboarding and surfing and mountain biking are, it’s the stories behind the people involved that readers actually care about.”

The Backyard Booty Vancouver roster is jam-packed  with talent, including never before seen content from Vancouver photographer, Jordan Manley, Salomon Freeski TV, Scott Serfas, Sherpas Cinema, and surf writer  Malcolm Johnson. If you’re looking for the calibre of talent we’re about to see this Thursday, look no further than the teaser for Sherpas Cinema 2013 feature length film, “Into the Mind”:

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THE WAIT IS OVER AND SHRED TIME IS HERE. The winter doldrums that include boredom, depression and longing for the slopes, has subsided. Skiing and riding season has officially begun, and the North Shore mountains as well as Whistler are now open. I had the opportunity to whet my shred-petite last weekend. Read on for a full report. PLACE: Whistler Blackcomb (CLICK FOR MAP)  LOCATION: Whistler, BC. Photos by Neil Foster (@NeilFostersArt)

Photo: Neil Foster

What’s better than fresh, crisp alpine air filling your lungs on a beautiful day in the mountains? Not much! Whistler Blackcomb is now officially open for the winter and I had a chance to test out the goods last weekend, finally relieving me of my nasty shred fever. The early season conditions are in fine form – producing better than expected snow coverage. Last week’s storm cycle dumped more than 150cm on the slopes in just 7 days. The base is now at over 100cm with more snow at higher elevations in the long-range forecast.

The terrain park on Blackcomb offers up Small to Large sized jib and jump features. The ski outs aren’t quite ready yet, but with the cold air this week, the snow guns will ensure that it’s not far off.

Photo: Neil Foster

It’s about to get nice and deep this winter. Whistler-based film crew  Switchback Entertainment (lead by freeskiing royalty, Mike Douglas) captures the powder slashes and tree exploration that make West Coast storm riding so much fun. Watch the shred-spirational fourth installment of Whistler Blackcomb’s Wonder Reels film series:

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