Michael Becker News Editor mbecker@nsnews.com COLIN Cannon’s enthusiasm for snow- shoeing is effervescent. He has every reason to be feeling good about the activi- ty: the winter sport is the sec- ond fastest growing snow- play option behind snow- boarding. Cannon, who grew up in West Vancouver, oper- ates Sun Peaks Snowshoe Adventures at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. Much of the reason snow- shoeing has become so popu- lar can be attributed to changes in technology. Wood, sinew and the relatively cum- bersome snowshoes people once strapped to their feet have made way for light- weight aluminum, metal hybrid and plastic ones. Another major breakthrough has been the introduction of pivot-mounted metal cleats that grip the ball of each foot. Regardless of the angle of slope, there’s lots of grip underfoot. Today’s snowshoes make for nimble fun in any winter wonderland. “Snowshoeing has really taken off in the last 20 years because of the modern design change. We've gone from those beautiful big wooden ones to a much smaller, lightweight one that’s totally maintenance free,” said Cannon. “It’s made the whole sport snowball, We tend to thank the snowboarders, because if they want to go out: back country with a snowboard, chances are they need snowshoes. Strap them on the back, ski or . board down and then put them back on your feet, hike back into the powder and away you go. It real- . ly has catapulted the sport along.” ... Cannon offered snowmobile and ski tours at Whistler before settling at Sun Peaks to rent snow- . shoes and lead tours. ».: He also did a stint in Eurcpe as a ski and snow- mobiling guide, but snowshocing has been a con- stant since childhood. The North Shore mountains offered plenty of terrain to explore. ; A LAWYER FOR ONE REASON wake. They understand the paperwork and the evidence to be collected -,- They have the knowledge and experience to assess the value of the claim They have the ability to collect a fair settlement ". ‘THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON TO. “SEE A LAWYER... YOU NEED ONE Friday, February 25, 2000 — North Shore News - 23 SPORTING LIFE Sun Peaks Resort is attracting visitors from all over the world. Now in his third winter of opera- tion, Cannon is there to put them in snowshoes. The youngest he has had out on snowshoes was three years old. The oldest — 70- and 80-year-olds. Said Cannon, “It’s an ideal sport for someone push- ing the age. You can do it at your own pace. You can make it as athletic and non-athletic as you like. It’s so simple. The learning curve is almost instant. You can walk, you can snowshoe — it’s the motto.” Cannon has developed two sets of trails. The valley trails at six kilometres are the least challeng- ing. He enjoys the tranquility and peacefulness of the sport as well as the fact that you can literally go anywhere. “Hikers who have been stuck in an alder slash or stuck on a trail because it’s so bushy will ‘appreciate that with snowshoeing you just pick ARDAGH HUNTER | TURNER 986-4366 AFTER HOURS 926-3181 Criminal matters only, 7 #300-1401 LONSDALE Ave. NORTH VAN. "(Reus yppees Roma barb Gallon come iene ite stut Photo submitted COLIN Cannon (foreground) rests with a friend in a snow cave at Sun Peaks Resort. The former West Vancouver resident operates Sun Peaks Snowshoe Adventures near Kamloops. where you want to go and you go. You just walk over anything,” Cannon said. He’s set up bird feeding stations at points along the way. If you’ve got Cannon along as a guide he'll stop at the bird feeders and pull out his Audubon bird whistle and call in some visitors. red-breasted nuthatches (Sitta canadensis), and mountain chick- adces ( Parus gamueli) arrive to gorge themselves on the offerings available. Cannon serves up hot cider and maple cookies for the human guests watching. He’s built a snow cave at another stop. Snowshoers are invited to crawl inside and learn what it takes to build one. Another six-kilometre route takes the more adventurous out to a lake and back. “You’re going io be working on that one,” said Cannon. Contact Cannon by e-mail at . Wet & windy on weekend BB Weekend weather Today: high 11, cloudy /showers wind; 90% probability of precipitation Saturday: low 3, high 11, periods of rain/windy; 90% p.o.p. Sunday: low 5, high 11, peri- ods of rain /windy, 90% p.o.p. Calt 664-9010 for updates @ Ski/snowboard area depths : Cypress Bowl: 208 cm Grouse Mountain: 340 cm Mount Seymour: 283 em Whistler /Blackcomb: 247 cm @ Tides at Pt. Atkinson Today: 1.8 m low @ 16:15 ; 3.7 m high @ 23:00 Saturday: 3 m low @ 03:50; 4.1 m high @ 09:40; 1.7 m low @ 17:05 Sunday: 3.3 m high @ 00:25; 3.3 m low @ 05:05; 3.9 m high @ 10:10; 1.7 m low @ 18:00 Mi Sunset/Sunrise Today: 07:04/17:48 Saturday: 07:02 /17:50 Sunday: 07:00/17:52 & Moon phases last 1/4: Feb. 27; new: March 6; Ist 1’: March 13; full: March 20 :