Although Powell River winters can sometimes be dark and gloomy, rainy days on the Sunshine Coast are a cause to celebrate for one local backcountry skier.
Davis Briscoe moved to Powell River in 2006, taking up backcountry skiing soon after and learning about the particular weather patterns of the Coastal Mountain Range.
“When it is five degrees and raining in Powell River, I get excited,” said Briscoe, “because I know it is snowing on the mountains.”
After a childhood of ski racing in Alberta and extensive hiking in Nepal, Briscoe said he made the transition to the “last frontier” of skiing in Powell River and hasn’t looked back.
“Powell River has everything you could want,” he said. “I’ve never skied anywhere where you can be up on a mountain peak at 6,000 feet and see mountains extending far to the north east, and then see ocean to the west.”
Briscoe said it has been an unbelievable ski season so far, with over three feet of snow established on Powell River’s backcountry peaks from early December. An incredible showing, he said, especially considering last year’s non-existent snow pack.
Snow levels across BC’s south coast had only 15 per cent of normal accumulations last March, while on Vancouver Island, Mount Washington closed in early February after a mass of warm, wet air melted much of the snow on the mountain’s runs.
“Last year we only had about 76 centimetres at around 5,000 feet,” said Briscoe. “This year there is already a 350-centimetre base at the same elevation.”
Briscoe’s area of choice is located in the Triple Peaks area of the South Powell Divide, which features several peaks nestled in the area running east to west between Powell Lake and Jervis Inlet.
“It is just phenomenally immaculate terrain,” he said. “We have the terrain here to have the best ski hill.”
With no direct road access, the terrain is sometimes immaculate because it is so difficult to get to, a feature which Briscoe said makes skiers here a breed apart.
“We are pioneers,” he said. “We go hours up a logging road and then bushwhack and hike up mountains. I’ve taken out backcountry skiers from California and they just can’t believe it.”
While Briscoe’s ski days consist of long climbs punctuated by euphoric downhill runs, he said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s such an endorphin rush,” he said. “I feel like a five year old, skiing powder.”
After all the long days hiking in and out in the dark for an outcome of three to four runs at most, Briscoe said it would be nice to see ski cabins similar to those in Smithers, BC, erected in Powell River’s backcountry.
“When those went up they got a lot of attention,” he said. “We have better skiing here, but just don’t have the numbers to get that going.”
Briscoe said local backcountry skiing is becoming a growing sport, with more and more joining every year. Skiing here, however, doesn’t come without risks, he said.
“Now more people are getting excited and want to go where they don’t know the terrain,” said Briscoe, “but even 30-year ski veterans can perish in the snow.”
While snow falling on the Coastal Mountain Range is comparatively stable compared to inland hills, avalanches are still a concern, according to Briscoe.
“We try to make it safe and fun, but you have to be obsessive,” said Briscoe. “You have to have the right training and knowledge to make the right decision in avalanche terrain.”
Avalanche Canada forecaster Joe Lammerf said vigilance is crucial because the snow pack can change day by day.
“Although instabilities [on the Coastal Mountain Range] tend to fix themselves and stabilize,” he said, “there are exceptions that depend on the weather.”
Climate change and this being an El Niño year, said Lammerf, makes his job of predicting snow fall and snow stability more difficult.
“With climate change, persistent instabilities [in the snow pack] can develop,” he said, “and in an El Niño year there can be colder temperatures at the beginning of the season heading toward warmer patterns and longer periods without snowfall.”
While Lammerf said the snow pack is secure for now, that can change quickly. To be safe, backcountry skiers should check daily bulletins at avalanche.ca, he said.
Lammerf said forecasts do not take the place of avalanche training. “You need the right tools and education, through training, mentorship and experience,” he said.
Briscoe said that while he’s trained in avalanche safety, schools that run the courses seldom make their way to Powell River and those wishing to learn must head to Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland.
Avalanche training is not impossible for those in remote areas such as Powell River, said Lammerf.
“If I lived there I would start a network of backcountry skiers,” he said. “I’d get enough to fill a course and bring the instructor out or get on a ferry and go get training.”
With front country cabins along the Sunshine Coast Trail to snug into and snow belts around Spring Lake, Powell Lake and Lois Lake, skiing is not the only way to get out in the snow, according to Powell River All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Club president Mario Gusola.
Although a frequent summer ATVer, this has been Gusola’s first year going out in winter when there has been a lot of snow.
“It’s a different atmosphere, there is no dust,” he said. “It is nice scenery and the birds will just feed right off of your hand, but you have to dress warm and bring shovels to dig yourself out, just in case.”
Like backcountry ski gear, which can cost thousands of dollars, Gusola said putting snow tracks on an ATV can also be expensive, although the experience of heading out in the snow is worth it.
“It’s an expensive sport,” he said. “The payoff is that it’s gorgeous with blue sky, views and beautiful scenery.”
According to Briscoe, backcountry activities are growing in popularity and it used to be quite common for locals to get out in the mountains to enjoy the snow.
“The logging roads used to go right out there and the old-timers would go out quite a bit,” he said. “There was even a ski hill with a tow rope up E Branch.”
Now that many logging roads have been deactivated, Briscoe explained that even with better equipment skiers find it hard to directly access areas that people used with ease in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
With the best ski country in remote, backcountry areas, Briscoe said it has been difficult to pass his love of the sport on to his children.
“I’ve had to teach my young kid to ski in the snow on Duck Lake Road,” said Briscoe. “Maybe one day we could get something set up so kids could learn to ski here.”
