Gina Begin

Classic singletrack. Old-school downhill. Post-ride craft beer.

When talking bikes and beer, does anywhere in particular come to mind?

Worldwide, there are few places that fit the description like the region around Nelson, in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia.

If true downhill biking and local craft beer are the combo you’re looking for (along with some more recent flowy trails to cruise on), welcome to the West Kootenay area.

The nexus of ski, bike, climb, and coffee culture in Salt Lake might be Higher Ground.

Positioned on a corner micro-lot, it sits just minutes from the base of Wasatch Boulevard, a thoroughfare connecting Utah’s Cottonwood canyons on one end and spilling onto a freeway whisking tourists to the ski town of Park City on the other. Outdoor shops are sprinkled about its vicinity, catching Salt Lake’s active with last-minute needs before they tear free from the city to pound dirt or undulate through powder. All considered, it’s no wonder Higher Ground is frequented by a “crunchier” clientele.

If you say you live in an area where there’s nothing to do, you’re not looking through the right lens. Before you protest, know that you’re arguing with a girl from Florida. I once thought the same: the whole flat state is comprised of alligators and swamps; a land with no redeeming qualities for someone who loves exploring.

I was wrong. If you're on the same train of thinking, you're wrong, too. Read up.

Persecution. Upheaval. Religious Freedom.

From their Russian roots to their new home in Canada, this was a cycle that was destined to repeat itself over three centuries, following the Doukhobors from one continent to another.

I’d seen the buildings from a bygone era and heard the connected stories about a ‘radical’ group that had once inhabited the Kootenays. But despite having lived in the thick of their ‘new world’ cultural centre for four years, I knew very little about these people.

With 120 years under its belt, Nelson’s Hume Hotel and Spa has a number of decades to authentically pull from when seeking a party theme. So when the hotel’s team decided to host a celebration of local and international wines, spirits, and craft beer, there’s hardly a better decade to choose than the “Roaring Twenties.”
The 1920s were a big decade for the then double-decade old Hume Hotel. Not only had building said goodbye to its founders—the Hume family—just a few years earlier, but it was ...

From introducing mountaineering to our country to stopping the western border of Canada from creeping northward, railways have had a significant impact on our Kootenay-Canadian culture and life as we know it today.

Mother Nature is reminding us that she’s not done with ski season yet. And, since good children always listen to their mother, we’ll follow her wise example: We’re not done with ski season, either.

You may be starting to catch yourself looking longingly at your bike, but think back: Wasn’t it just a few months back that you were doing the same with your skis, chomping at the bit to get them out on even the first brushes of snow?

Powder, powder, powder. The Kootenay snowfall has put you into a one-track state of mind: getting as much of that whiteroom experience before heading home for the day. But as you sit on the chair for the umpteenth time today, you realize there’s another feeling arising: hunger.

After working your legs into a continual burn all morning, your stomach is telling you you’re running on empty. Lucky for you, Kootenay ski areas aren’t known for just their powder—we’ve got delicious ways to refuel, too.

We’re winter lovers in the Kootenay region. We look forward with anticipation for the first flakes to fall in autumn, rejoice in days upon days of snow-filled forecasts through winter, and, come spring, celebrate all the powder our mountains held.

This kind of love spurs traditions: traditions that pay tribute to our snowy skies, nudge the “powers-that-be” to continue blessing us with snow and provide a token of gratefulness in hopes that we can live it all again come next winter.

“Kootenay winters are the best because the snow is amazing, backcountry options are endless, and the mountains still blow my mind after eight years of living here,” says Andy Brown, a Golden, BC local.

"It’s true: If you need more white-capped peaks in your winter lineup, we’ve got a sea of them here—and they’re one heck of a playground for sledders."

You’re familiar with the skiers’ ultimate dream: a solid day on the mountain followed with relaxing with your ski buds in hot water.
In the Kootenays, we’ve obviously got the skiing portion covered. For the latter part, you just need to pick your fav: Do you want hot water in the form of hot tubs or hot springs?
We’ve got both here, too.
The following are hot tubs that have a unique twist to them as well as hot springs that invite a winter adventure.
HOT TUBS
"Hans Gmoser broke trail into an ...

I get outside because I’m in love.
I unabashedly declare that I want to be wrapped in the arms of fresh air, kissed by the sun and the rain, covered under the majesty of the Milky Way. It’s one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring, life-giving loves that I’ve found in this mortal life. I want to be consumed by it the same way it consumes my thoughts.
Getting outdoors might require falling asleep an inch or two above cold ground, protected only by the thin-walled barrier of a tent. It likely me...

Nelson is a town full of children.
When you come to this part of the world, observe the adults you come into contact with and you’ll see what I mean: our townspeople have a carefree attitude, a “do what makes you happy” approach to life, an acceptance of people who are different than one another, and the ever-present need for play.
Take note on that latter one. It’s as if Nelsonites have a job description for life and part of it is getting in a few hours of daily play time.

Want to prove to yourself that you won’t enjoy the slopes? Make sure you do the following on your first day skiing or snowboarding. For those who want to make the most of their ski day (and basically have an awesome Winter), you’ll find a “Rock the Slopes” tip included in each section.

Heat waves heralding the start of summer melt the ski bums off the hill, giving a ghost town feel to the mountain towns they once overran. Their evaporation from the slopes and bars, laundromats and libraries (for free wifi, of course) are an annual phenomenon, experienced by those who remain behind. Few question the exodus, but for those seeking out the seasonal lifestyle, the question is one worth exploring: Where the heck do ski bums go?