Mount Washington Alpine Resort

The Comox Valley Regional District is conducting an update to the Local Area Plan that includes the Mount Washington Area.

The main intent of this planning exercise is to build upon and update the current Mt. Washington Local Area Plan with recent CVRD strategies and policy direction and complement it with public input. The CVRD Regional Growth Strategy for the Valley has recognized the Mount Washington area as a new settlement node.As such, many policies must be updated or created to address important matters such as land use, community services, infrastructure, transportation, the environment, design guidelines and the need to adapt to climate change.

The consultants for the project are seeking the public’s feedback through an online survey.

More information about the project is here : http://www.mountwashingtonircp.ca/

The online survey is available here : SURVEY

Welcome to Raw Element

Looking for a vacation house for mountain biking in the Comox Valley, skiing at Mount Washington or just vacationing? Cumberland’s newest guest house is now open for business.

Hosts Kim & Blair will happily welcome you to Raw Element Guest House.

This fully self-contained guest suite with a kitchen and private entrance located in the picturesque Cumberland on Vancouver Island, BC. It is located on a 1/2 acre in the heart of town and is walking distance to restaurants, pubs and shopping. The area is also well known for fishing, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding with Mount Washington Alpine Resort only minutes away.

What Is Included:

• Kitchen with fridge, stove and microwave
• Coffee/tea making supplies
• Wireless Internet
• Telephone, TV, DVD player and movies to choose from
• Queen sized bed with feather duvet
• Double futon couch
• Private bathroom
• Private backyard access overlooking forest and gardens
• Hot tub and pool access
• Fire pit
• Secure bike and sport equipment storage/wet room
• Welcome basket filled with fresh local goodies included with each stay
• Full breakfast available upon special request

Comfortable living space

Ready for a good nights sleep

For more information, to make a reservation and more check out their website at http://www.rawelement.ca/

2012 Rocky Mountain Bikes

They have arrived! In stock now..2012 Slayer 70′s, 50′s and Flatline Pro and Park. Also a ridiculous deal on 2011 Slayer 30′s. We have 3 of them. Regular price was $3000 and we are blowing them out for $1999.

Come on in to check them out and find some stocking stuffers for the cyclist on your list!

“Our crews are still putting some final touches on our new Magic Carpets in the Easy Acres learning area,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “We’re almost there but the weather is going to make things very interesting this week.”

Interesting indeed. With over 40cms already on the ground, a major La Nina-like weather pattern is taking aim at central Vancouver Island. Mount Washington is expecting to see anywhere between 50 and 100cms of new snow by the end of next weekend.

Mountain staff get some of the first rides up the new Magic Carpets last week.

The Magic Carpet lifts, four in total, have all been installed over the last three months. Final tweaks are being done to the entrance and exit areas of each Carpet and final preparations are being made to the covered canopies that will protect skiers and boarders from the elements.

“We added covered canopies to make the learning experience as memorable and comfortable as possible for people new to the sport,” adds Curtain.

The Magic Carpet lift installation, with a projected budget of close to 3 million dollars, was one of the missing pieces of the puzzle for Mount Washington’s resort development plans.

“The old Green Chair was the hub of our learning area since 1979 and it was definitely time for a change,” says Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations. “We removed the Green Chair at the end of last winter and re-contoured the slopes in our beginners area. With the addition of the Magic Carpets to the new terrain, we are now one of the easiest places to learn to ski and snowboard in North America.”

To lure new skiers and boarders to the mountains, Mount Washington is offering a full range of daily Discover Ski and Snowboard lessons and a new three-day program called Learn to Turn (LTT). With LTT, you can prepay for three lessons at a heavily discounted rate, book the lessons any time during the season, and as a bonus receive a free lift ticket to use in the month of April. All beginner lesson packages come with a lift ticket, lesson and rental skis or snowboards.

“With the combination of new ski and snowboard technology which makes turning easier and our new Easy Acres learning area, there’ll be no better time to learn to slide on snow than this winter,” adds Sharpe.

In addition to Easy Acres, Mount Washington has been working hard to enhance their alpine experience. Here’s more of what’s new for the 2011-12 season:

For those who like to ride nights, the mountain has added Sunday nights to their already successful Thursday through Saturday Night Skiing program. Night Skiing begins Thursday, December 15th.

The Gold Rush continues this winter at the Gold Rush Glades with two new lines off the frontside of Little Washington peak. Look for two new black-diamond gems named The Miner and Midas.

The Vancouver Island Mountain Centre, an Olympic Legacy project spearheaded by the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society, opens in early December and features meeting rooms, weight-training facilities, dorm-style and private room accommodations, and some of the best views on Vancouver Island.

The Stomping Ground Terrain Park received five new features for the park groms this winter which include: two new Street Bars, a Kicker Box, a Flat Deck, and a Rainbow Deck.

From beginners to experts, day skiers to night skiers, there’s something new for everybody this winter at Mount Washington Alpine Resort.

And don’t forget if you like deals, the early bird deadline for 6ixPack tickets is November 30th. “They make the perfect Christmas gift so pick one up at any Thrifty Foods location or check them out online at mountwashington.ca,” says Sharpe.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens for winter operations on Friday, December 9, 2011. The resort is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, and Island Express service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). To find out about accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 250-338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including our live snow cam.

Ride from Mountain City Cycles, to Blacks then back to Billy D’s for the after party. Enter to win a bicycle courtesy of MCC.

Sponsors:

Mountain City Cycle
Blacks Cycle
Billy D’s
Kevin Reid Remax
Primetek IT Solutions
iBalance Fitness Training

Facebook Event Listing

Recent news on removal of the Dayliner Cars

Many discussions have occurred on creating new formats of rail travel on the south island. Question should be, is there a benefit over bus travel on the same routes? In many cases the rail travel would likely be slower than the highway counterparts thus reducing the argument for rail. More information can be found on the Island Corridor Foundation’s website.

The corridor was built in the days of steam trains and would not be comfortable for high speed commuter traffic such as the West Coast Express. The passenger capacity on the bud cars is not much different than modern double length commuter buses.

Others will argue the historic joy of rail travel, but the lines are overgrown, the views have been lost and it’s time to move forward.

What’s next?

Cost estimates for repair and replacement of the required rail parts would exceed 15 million dollars. This would only repair existing, and not provide for new or increased capacity or realignment for commuter train travel.

Rail and other components of rail lines have a reasonable value on the used or even scrap market.

Instead of spending 15 million to repair, let’s move forward to development of a rails to trails corridor like nothing seen before.

Removal and sale of existing track materials, regrading of the line with light crush materials and signage / pedestrian crossings would be relatively cost neutral.

Existing buildings and parking infrastructure would provide on and off points for cycle tourism and local recreation, and an ongoing maintenance contract for grading and foliage control would be passed on to local service clubs or even included in the recovery costs.

Cycle rail trail routes would provide additional sources a of travel revenue, offer opportunities for local communities to become involved in the project and could be extended to all former sites to provide the most extensive network of recreation trails in North America.

A review of existing networks of rail trail would easily show with minimal costs, tourism and recreation opportunities would be extensive and benefit a broader range of businesses and services on Vancouver Island. Linking with existing structures of the Cowichan Valley Rail Trail and the recently restored Kinsol Trestle, the opportunities for a prosperous future is great.

Rail to Trail projects have created success stories in other parts of the province.

• La route verte – 4,000 km’s of pathways and shared roads designated for cycling.
• I-90 corridor – Route of the Hiawatha Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes (pdf)
• Kettle Valley Railway
• Spirit of 2010 Trails – Includes Cowichan Valley Rail Trail

It’s a sad day indeed to lose the sound of trains on Vancouver island, but maybe a new opportunity will show itself through Rails to Trails.

For more information on the Cumberland Community Forest Society, please check out www.cumberlandforest.com

By Scott Stanfield – Comox Valley Record
Published: October 27, 2011 6:00 PM
Cumberland Coun. Gwyn Sproule was somewhat dismayed to discover an historical structure has become part of a biking trail behind Chinatown.

Last weekend, she noticed a mountain bike jump had been constructed at the concrete structure that once served as a coal-fired steam generating plant. It is located on land the Cumberland Community Forest Society had donated to the village with a covenant, “almost like a book that says what can happen,” Sproule said.

The moss-covered structure is about four-feet high with a water pipe and arches with chambers. It operated for about 11 years in the early 20th century.

“It’s really unfortunate,” Sproule said. “It’s not well delineated. There’s no sign. I’m not excusing them but I could see how they would not know what it was.”

The three covenant holders — the Comox Valley Land Trust, the CCFS and the Village — will soon meet to discuss the situation.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Anthill Films and the Coastal Crew present, From the Inside Out.
Check out the video teaser!!

From the Inside Out – Official Trailer on pinkbike.com

Date – NOVEMBER 18 2011
Time – 2 shows
6PM ALL AGES, DOORS OPEN AT 5:30,
8 PM ADULTS ONLY, DOORS OPEN AT 6PM
Venue – RIDING FOOL HOSTEL
City – CUMBERLAND
Tickets All ages = $5 Adult only = $10

What is a Lab Assessment?

A fitness assessment is a method of measuring your body’s specific response to exercise; it is a snapshot of your current fitness level. Many types of assessments exist, however, not all of them provide the individual information necessary for proper exercise training. Predictive equations, estimation charts and perceived exertion levels provide no direct information regarding your current individual fitness level, and also fail to track fitness improvements over time.

At the PEAK Centre, we offer only direct assessments to measure your individual response to exercise. These assessments precisely determine your current level of fitness, as well as allow us to track your rate of training improvement over time. Each analysis is specific only to you and how your body responds to exercise.

Why Choose Peak Centre?

The Peak Centre is nationally accredited by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). This means that we meet all the standards required for validity, accuracy, and reliability in all our assessments. To you, it ensures that the money you invest in your health and fitness is providing you with results that are valid, accurate, reliable, and more importantly, applicable.

What tests are available on Nov 19th & 20th?

Staff from Peak Centre will be doing blood lactate and VO2Max assessments.  This is your opportunity to evaluate how effective your training has been over the past few months and set some new training intensities to get you to the next performance level. Brent Armstrong of Rehab in Motion has offered to host us and we’ll be set up to offer testing on both the bike and run.

Schedule for weekend

Saturday Nov 19th 

• Testing – 8am – 5pm
• Each test takes approx 1 hr

Sunday Nov 20th

• Consult – 8am – TBA
• Consults range from 90 – 120 minutes depending on testing options

To Confirm Your Testing Slot

Please contact Peak Centre toll free number at 1-877-299-7325 with the following information:

1. your name and contact information
2. what type of assessment you would like to do (bike, run or both),
3. whether you would like to do lactates or lactates & VO2max & Energy Usage Analysis
4. what time of day you would prefer (either morning or afternoon). We will do our best to accommodate your wishes but will work on a first come first served basis.
5. Arrange the deposit details.

Feel free to give Mike a call toll free number at 1-877-299-7325 or send me an email to mike@peakcentrevancouver.ca if you have any questions about any of the weekends activities.

Peak Centre Hours Are:
Monday – Friday: 9am – 8pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm

Mike McIvor

Tel: 604-299-7959
Peak Centre for Human Performance
Burnaby | West Vancouver @ Different Bikes
Web: www.peakcentrevancouver.ca