Best KePt seCret: move here to find out where.
photos: Graham GenGe
WhiteWater LoWDoWn
terrace can lay fair claim to the title Creeking
Capital of the north. Massive snowmelt and
lofty mountains create a plethora of creeks
and falls—some classics, many still awaiting
first descents. one such classic is shames
Creek—or “boulder garden on steroids” to the
local paddlers—which originates up the valley
in the frozen slopes of the local ski area and
melts into six kilometres of amazing class iV-V
whitewater. other wicked steeps just 10 min-
utes from town include Kleanza Creek, a tight
class iV-V canyon run, and Williams Creek,
home to an annual downriver race. not just
a creeking Mecca, terrace is also central to
a fine selection of class ii-iV river runs, ideal
for decompressing after a gnarly day on the
steeps. try the easy Kitimat or the high vol-
ume Kalum, which hosts a near perfect wave
at flood levels (both 30 minutes away). Butze
rapids—tidal rapids that resemble a smaller
version of the famous skookumchuck—provide
year-round saltwater playboating near Prince
rupert (1hr. 45 min.).
Cross-training
MoUntain BiKinG: rip four kilometres of sin-
gletrack steeps like Lucky seven and Big
sCary steePs at
easy at Copper Mountain, then swap your
downhill bike for a cross-country steed and
sweat it out on the not-to-be-missed ter-
Terrace
race Mountain Loop. this 1½-hour ride is
a super smooth blend of climbs, technical
rocks and roots that starts at the base of
terrace Mountain.
roCK CLiMBinG: squamish’s granite crags
bY grahaM genge
may be better known, but terrace has
the same rock and none of the gumbies.
Chalk up and head to extew—a 5.8 mix of
I
n the heart of the Skeena Mountains, 15 hours north of Squamish and 145 kilometres east of
single-pitch trad and a seven-pitch bolted
Prince Rupert on the lonely Yellowhead Highway, Terrace is the commercial hub of northwestern route—near the onion Lake ski trails.
British Columbia. The town was founded in 1905 by entrepreneur George Little, who happened
sKiinG & snoWBoarDinG: terrace is home
to some of the snowiest winters anywhere
upon the site while snowshoeing south from the Yukon on the Kitimat Trail. Subsequently a port for
in north america. the skeena Mountains
Skeena River paddlewheelers linking the interior with Prince Rupert fisheries, as well as a booming boast heli-skiing in deep, dry powder,
logging and mill town, Terrace has long attracted hardy outdoorsmen. While the steamboats, mill
serviced locally by northern escapes heli
skiing. shames Mountain ski area (30 min)
and thriving economy are gone, the snowy peaks of the Hazelton and Kitimat Ranges, lush temperate
has 111 acres of glade skiing, 1,600 verti-
rainforests and crystalline rivers remain. Today, quad-biking, hunting and an 11-month salmon fishing
cal feet (488 metres), 40 feet (12 metres)
season are big draws for local roughnecks, but the town also attracts a few of the pedal-and-paddle ad-
of annual snowfall and $42 lift tickets.
venture-seekers who flock to Squamish—the self-proclaimed “outdoor recreation capital of Canada.”
grub, Pub and hubbub
So what is Terrace’s distinction over Squamish and other B.C. boating Shangri-Las? It’s home to the
Big, bold and tasty burritos are the specialty
hardest of the hardcore—the local whitewater has been featured in TGR’s (Teton Gravity Research)
at the hot house, a great place for a quick
kayaking films, and the town’s paddling scene includes world-class rippers like Corey Boux.
feed after a day on the river. the Back eddy
8
Pub offers basic pub fare in the heart of town
and is home to the world’s largest (stuffed)
BEST CREEKING TOWNS
Chinook salmon at 92 pounds. Get your early
morning, pre-paddle caffeine fix at one of
1 terrace, british Columbia
terrace’s several little cafés, two tim hortons,
2 hood river, oregon
or even that West Coast staple, starbucks.
the Williams Creek downriver race in late
3 thunder bay, ontario
June is a great place to hook up with local
4 asheville, north Carolina
paddlers. For a river festival of a different
5 Jasper, alberta sort, check out riverboat Days, a weeklong
6 Lake Placid, new York celebration of terrace’s steamboat heritage
7 revelstoke, british Columbia
that features music, paintball tournaments, a
8 nevada City, California
24-hour mountain bike race and much else.
factoids
» population: 11,320 » average house price: $150,091 » average rent: $600
» number of gear shops/guide outfitters: 5+ » McDonalds: yes
www.rapidmag.com 2
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