BC Outdoor Adventure Ideas, September 2009

• Explore Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, Sea to Sky
• Kootenay Rockies Film Festival Reels 'Em In
• BC's Thompson Okanagan has Sol
• Adventurers Angle for the Big Catch in Northern BC
• In the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, a Provincial Park shelters Outdoor Play

Explore Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, Sea to Sky: Along British Columbia's scenic Sea to Sky Highway, stretching north from Vancouver to the mountain playground of Pemberton, there's plenty to tempt in the great outdoors. For adventure, by sea and sky, start in Squamish, situated halfway between Vancouver and Whistler; once a booming logging town, the community is revered as Canada's outdoor recreation capital. Make waves this winter with pros from Vancouver Kiteboarding School (adventurists begin the tutorial in Vancouver before hitting the spray in Squamish), or take in a bird's eye view of the scenery via plane or helicopter with Squamish's Glacier Air (tip: ask about their U-Fly program). For insight on additional outdoor play – not to mention the inside scoop on what and where – make the Squamish Adventure Centre a must-stop. Further north in Pemberton, land lubbers rejoice when the snow flies; adventurists whisk into the Coast Mountain Range, courtesy of Coast Range Heliskiing, to earn their turns on ski or snowboards, or make their way via snowshoe into powder-packed forests and meadows. Nearby in Whistler, suit up with Canadian Snowmobile Adventures, and make a few tracks of your own through pastoral pretty landscapes. Or, for a mountain adventure of a different sort, head to Whistler Blackcomb, site of the alpine skiing events at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. On these slopes, you're bound to find plenty of powder, not to mention an ideal setting to soar. www.tourismsquamish.com; www.vancouverkiteboardingschool.com; www.coastrangeheliskiing.com; www.canadiansnowmobile.com; www.whistlerblackcomb.com

For more destination story ideas related to the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.destination2010.ca or to read more story ideas from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, visit www.hellobc.com/vcmbcmedia.

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Kootenay Rockies Film Festival Reels 'Em In: In Rossland, winter promises a flurry of skiers and snowboarders not just on the slopes, but on the big screen as well. Cued to roll November 19 - 22, the 10th annual Rossland Mountain Film Festival will usher locals and visitors alike into screening rooms throughout town for four days of film, visual arts, music and multi-media productions. Screening work from up-and-coming Kootenay filmmakers, photographers and visual artists (think: reel upon reel set to immortalize a region where powder is king), this marquee event kicks off Thursday with cool beats and plenty of libations during a gala gathering in the town's Old Fire Hall. Friday follows with screenings for all ages, and late night festivities for the older set, complete with feature films and a live band. Saturday and Sunday promise to draw crowds with filmmaker workshops, guests speakers, viewings of archival Rossland ski footage, free showcases of photos and film, entertainment, and, of course, a rocking festival projecting over 20 original features. A celebration of emerging talent and mountain culture, this festival has drawn wicked footage from big names like Teton Gravity Research, Freeride Entertainment (New World Disorder) and Poor Boyz Productions, along with cutting edge flicks courtesy of local Rossland artists. Popcorn included. www.rosslandfilmfest.com

To read more story ideas from the Kootenay Rockies region, visit www.hellobc.com/krbcmedia.

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BC's Thompson Okanagan has Sol: Situated in the wilds of British Columbia's Monashee Mountains, Sol Mountain Lodge promises an all-season sojourn geared for the great outdoors. While summer sings with leisurely hikes along wildflower-strewn meadows and multi-day alpine treks to high peaks and pretty lakes, winter promises its own share of prime pursuits. Just south of Revelstoke, Sol Mountain Lodge acts as home base for touring in Monashee Provincial Park; here, summits soar and countless alpine descents ensure winters are wild. Making tracks in early December, the lodge offers ski packages with three-, four- and seven-night getaways, and with certified mountain guides taking the lead, the backcountry is sure to be anything but one-dimensional: guests can snowboard, cross country ski, or hit the snowshoe trails, mere steps from the lodge. Should you wish to leave all logistics in the hands of your hosts, sign up for the Sol Serve Experience, a fully guided and catered BC backcountry adventure that blends hearty meals, quality touring and cool company (the lodge houses up to 18 guests; book as a group, or come meet
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