Okanagan

I just came back from one of the most spectacular regions in the world. If anybody has gone up to the Okanagan (just 5 hours east of Vancouver), you know what I'm talking about. Surrounded by fresh water lakes, this semi-arid area is home to award-winning wineries, stunning valleys, snow-powdered mountains, numerous farming communities and some of the best customer service ever!

Day One - Okanagan Lake

That'd be Okanagan Lake...

This particular area of the lake is called Okanagan Landing,
and it just so happens to be where my dad grew up...


Those that live here are so very lucky...


Day Two - Silver Star

Once upon a time, my dad used to be caretaker up on Silver Star, a fantastic ski resort in Vernon. Before webcams and the internet, snow and weather conditions had to be radio transmitted down to the town below. This was one of dad's tasks, and not always was he truthful about the conditions, especially if there was a layer of fog preventing the town from seeing what was actually happening up on the mountain. He would do this so he could sneak in a few good runs before the crowds caught on that it'd be a super day to go skiing!

Because of him, I got sucked into skiing and became groomed as a fair-weather skier. Over the years, it became tradition to not take photographs on ski trips so that it will be forever imbedded in our minds - moments only shared by dad and myself. Alas, the time has come that I find myself skiing more and more alone, and figured that it can't be such a bad idea to share (what I consider) my most personal moments with family and friends.

Silver Star Village...


My ski guides for the day!

I have got to write a few words about these two people, as I honestly had so much fun with them. We enjoyed each other's company so immensely that what could have been a quick tour of a few runs soon turned into a full day of carving up the mountain. It was my first time up on the hill this year and so I felt the burn in my legs early on in the day, while this nearly 80 year old man had the endurance of a teenage boy! In response to my, "I'm so out of shape" cry, he said, "Don't cry! Just Do!", and that's exactly what I did and plan to do!

The two of them even treated me to lunch, when it really should have been the other way around! I am so grateful for their outstanding hospitality and plan to reconnect with them again soon. I guess the reason why we connected so well is that like me, they live in two places. They are originally from Europe, and live on Silver Star during the winter, and during the rest of the year, they live on an island on the Danube river. Looks like I will forever being going back and forth from Vancouver and Tel Aviv!

The Monashees off in the distance...


Posing for the first time while on skis!


Silver Star at its best...


Another great run...


I was so distracted by the view!


Such perfection...


Many trees are infected with pine beetle...


Ok!!! I know this is blurry, but forgive me
as it's the only photo I've got
that captures the amazing night sky!


Day Three - Part One: A Winter Wonderland

I woke up to find that the entire region was covered in mist and hoar frost. Every single thing was covered in radiating water crystals and the fog made it seem like I went back in time for just a day. I had honestly never experienced or seen anything more beautiful, mysterious and magical in my life.

A tree with red berries in the yard...


Funky trees that lined the driveway...


Vineyards can be a little creepy...


The most perfect example of hoar frost...


Ice sculpting for the Winter Festival...


Polson Park reminds me of a backdrop for the Snow Queen...


Another amazing example of hoar frost...


Hints of blue sky...


A scene straight out of Hanzel and Gretyl...


Farmliving at its finest...


Is this a dragon claw willow?
If you can identify, please let me know!


Day Three - Part Two: A Walk To Remember

I decided to go for a walk around Coldstream, just outside of Vernon. I had no idea what was in store for me!

The neighbour's driveway...


The neighbour's yard...


In the middle, you can see the lake...


Another property off the road...
(two horses are off to the right)


More hoar frost...


A frozen staghorn sumac tree...


A priceless shot...


At the right place, at the right time...


Blades of white grass...


I tried so hard not to step into the
horse droppings when taking this photo,
only to find that they were frozen anyway!


Another perfect moment...


I just had to get a close up of this...


The last shot of the evening...


All of these photos were taken within an hour's walk!


Day Four - Kalamalka Lake

Unfortunately, I had to return to Vancouver at some point. On route to the airport, my most generous host stopped at Kalamalka Lake, known as the Lake of Many Colours due to the intense turquoise and blue tones that often appear and sweep across the lake (google it). Close to 15 years ago, I went to a Jewish summer camp situated right on the lake. Some of you may know it as Camp Hatikvah. I suffered from the social activities involving mean little girls and boys, but thoroughly enjoyed all the water activities, particularly waterskiing with the camp leaders!

View from the lookout spot,
which is also the makeout spot too!


As dad puts it, "This is God's Country"...



...and I couldn't agree more.

VANOC

Below is an article (that I wrote) about my encounter with VANOC, Vancouver's Olympic Committee, up on Cypress Bowl Mountain. The Vancouver Sun (our local newspaper) was initially interested in doing a write-up about it, but seeming as there have been no follow-ups, I feel it's okay now to post it up on my blog. Enjoy!

______________________________

On January 18, 2010, I accompanied a busload of BCIT’s Architectural and Building Engineering students on an organized fieldtrip to Cypress Bowl Mountain. The educational purpose was to have the students visit the newly constructed Cypress Creek Lodge and sketch detailed renderings of the heavy timber construction. Instead of receiving a warm welcoming, VANOC and Cypress Bowl Mountain’s on-site staff treated us like a security threat.

The idea of going to Cypress Creek Lodge was initiated by the students’ professor, Mr. Mineo Tanaka. Mr. Tanaka has been teaching at BCIT for 20 years and is known for taking his students to view various sites in the Greater Vancouver area (i.e. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby, and Burnaby 8 Rinks Arena, Surrey). In his opinion, not only do these fieldtrips raise his students’ spirits, but they also give the perfect opportunity for them to apply what they have learned in class to existing structures. He states, “Cypress Creek Lodge would have been a great example to show, especially with the Winter Olympics just around the corner.”

The BCIT instructor made arrangements with Cypress Bowl Mountain’s Administration weeks prior to Monday, and double-checked confirmation last Thursday. With the go-ahead from Administration, he arrived with his students Monday morning. The first line of VANOC security was unaware that three fieldtrips were to take place that week, with the exception of one Cypress Bowl Mountain employee, who came up and said that he knew about these fieldtrips, but had wished that more people were informed by those in the ‘know’.

With his seal of approval, the students settled into the lodge and were about to start sketching when VANOC security came to take the professor aside for a chat. According to VANOC, Cypress Bowl Mountain’s Administration did not inform them of BCIT’s fieldtrips and that subsequent fieldtrips would be cancelled because Cypress Creek Lodge would be closed from henceforth. At this change in events, the instructor decided to take his students and leave.

BCIT students were supposed to sketch these timber structures,
but instead got the good ol' boot from VANOC!

While the students waited for the bus in the lodge, an on-site employee came to evacuate the students off the premises and gave patronizing orders to the Teaching Assistant. He stated, “What I need you to do is to gather all the students and leave as a group. Do you know what I mean by ‘leave as a group’? It means you must leave as a group.” What this young employee did not realize is that the students were about to leave anyway, and that the instructor had left only moments earlier to retrieve the bus, parked 20 minutes away by foot, in hopes that the students would not have to wait in the cold. Instead, the students were forced to wait outside in the cold until the bus arrived, during which, the same employee continued his power tripping, which was completely unnecessary. Perhaps this would be the highlight of his entire day.

Thank you, Mr. Bus Driver!

I asked all the students to gather around for a group picture in front of the waterfalls (i.e. melting snow). Instead of saying “Cheese”, the group chorused “VANOC sucks”, hence the thumbs-down.

Click on picture to enlarge

It was undoubtedly miscommunication between Cypress Bowl Mountain’s Administration and VANOC that resulted in the cancellation of the fieldtrip, but it was both VANOC’s and on-site employee’s discourteous behaviour and uncalled-for power tripping that left a bitter impression. What happened to being polite in this city? All of this could have been avoided had there been proper communication. In the end, it was the students who lost out. On a lighter note, it looks like the students’ presence gave VANOC the perfect opportunity to test out their emergency security threat procedures for the upcoming Olympics free-of-charge!

Some unofficial Olympic photographs!


The only run on the mountain that has snow
due to the 50 truckloads of snow per day
generously being donated by Whistler!

I can't believe this guy actually gets paid
to stand around and do nothing...

Good luck getting some snow!

Gotta love VANOC's lastest antics: 1) closing the seawall; and 2) asking the public to refrain from using umbrellas and rain coats, and instead, wearing "heavy winter clothing" as soon as the cameras start rolling to make it appear "cold" in Vancouver. Good one!

Thanks VANOC!!

Capilano

The Capilano-Pacific Trail runs from the foot of Capilano River, up along the west side of the river canyon, until it reaches the water dam. Lucky for me, the beginning of this trail is less than 10 minutes away by foot from where I live.

The other day, I hiked this trail with a friend. Although it rained non-stop, it was a fun outing. I even got to try out my new rainproof outfit!

Christmas lights are still up...


One of many creeks...


The wet environment provides
perfect conditions for mold & fungus...


Meet the river...


Giant ferns are plentiful along the trail...
(Sorry, the photo is out of focus!!)


Mud...


Mud? Clay? It felt rubbery when I touched it...


One of the very few Giant Firs left...


Looking up at Cleveland Dam Falls...


Looking down Cleveland Dam Falls...


The water just came roaring down...


The calming serenity of Cleveland Dam
with Grouse Mountain as the backdrop...

Close to the dam is a Chinese Restaurant called 'Capilano Heights'. My family has been going to this restaurant for close to 30 years. We have been coming so often (paricularly, when I was still in elementary/high school) that we actually have our own table - in the corner - and the waitors already know that there is no need to give us menus, as they already know our "usuals", right down to adding cashew nuts to my favourite snow-pea, vegetable and prawn stirfry. I am also knicknamed "Princess" by a particular waitor, who will aways remember me as the brat who refused to sit in any high-seat other than the pink one. For years, this pink high-seat haunted my every visit until one day it was gone! To this day, the waitor gives me advice on how to spend as much of my father's money as possible and how to be successful in life (i.e. marry a rich man like himself). At the end of every meal, I steal a couple of maraschino cherries on the way out; it's tradition!

After hiking all the way up, a well-deserved bowl of pea and egg swirl soup was consumed before making the trek back down the river!