Rosslander's cartographical masterpiece gets backcountry skiers and boarders to the goods, faster and safer
By Contributor
British Columbia, like nowhere else in Canada, is blessed with a seemingly infinite playlist of backcountry skiing and snowboarding lines, among the best on the planet. Every year their siren song lures powder hounds into high altitude wilds, occasionally at the peril of the under-prepared. On December 11th, Rosslander, Trevor Campbell will unveil the result of eight years hard work and a lifelong passion for human powered powder days that will make help get backcountry riders, in the Kootenays, to the goods faster and safer.
No matter what is going on in your life or in the world, when you are out there on that summit, surrounded by nature’s beauty, with powder, blue sky and nothing but the sound of the raven’s wing and friendly laughter disturbing the silence, there is this intense feeling of well being, and that everything is going to be Okay. — Trevor Campbell.
Having grown up in the shadow of the world’s deepest snowpack at Mt Baker, the beauty, solitude and unique experience of backcountry travel has fuelled a lifelong journey to explore and share what drives him.
Inspired by pro-snowboarder and Mt. Baker phenomenon ,Craig Kelly (the first snowboarder to be accepted into the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides program) whose passing in a tragic avalanche affected him deeply, he set out on a mission to make a career out of backcountry travel.
Facing wall after wall, the uphill battle to become an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) as a snowboarder (of which there have been only two) he ventured in a new direction.
Studying Physical Geography at the University of the Fraser Valley, and later Geographical Information Systems at Selkirk College, Campbell has since launched Rangifer Cartography. One of just two cartographers in Canada doing this type of backcountry map and guide creation (and the only one doing so on a snowboard) his lifelong dream is about to be realized with the launch of Mighty Bighorn Maps.
Enjoying perhaps the most scenic mobile office in the country, Campbell–dubbed “The Human Bombardier” by Skier magazine–spent eight years exploring, skinning, photographing and charting the powder paradise that is Kootenay Pass. Most recently, in the spring of 2011, he powered his way up every summit in the Rossland Range in a period of three weeks, discovering and detailing the premiere backcountry routes the two ranges provide.
The result has been two unique, all-inclusive map systems for each of the popular zones that is about to change the local ski-touring game.
Combining a currently unmatched level of accuracy, doubling the scale from 1:50,000 down to 1:25,000, the map incorporates high resolution photographs of over 30 routes in each range, further enhancing the understanding of the terrain. Taking it a step further and hiring local avalanche experts ACMG Guide Josh Milligan and Wren McElroy of the Whitewater ski patrol, the map also includes detailed avalanche exposure scale ratings for all routes. While ultimately each skier’s responsibility is paramount, these three tools combined into one weatherproof document, dramatically increase each skier’s decision making knowledge base.
Adding Mighty Bighorn Maps to their arsenal, locals and visitors to the hallowed slopes of the West Kootenay alike will now be able to get to the goods safer and faster thanks to Trevor’s passion for peaks and powder.
There is a lack of information out there right now to inform people about where they can ski, and the popularity of backcountry touring is increasing exponentially. This information makes the potentially dangerous sport that much safer and easier to get out and enjoy the spectacular snow, scenery and smiles our backyard playground has to offer. – Trevor Campbell
Event: Mighty Bighorn Maps launch Date: Sunday, December 11th Time: 3:00 to 6:00 pm Location: Cafe Books West. Check out the website.
