TheColumbia Valley - Columbia Valley Pioneer

2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer April 28, 2006
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Interior World (250) 342 4406
CANAL FLATS
This is a very comfortable and
clean single family dwelling
with 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
and a fully fi nished basement
including a cozy modern wood
stove.
$239,900 MLS#116701
COLUMBIA RIDGE
360 degree views in the lakeside
community of Columbia Ridge
Country Estates on Columbia
Lake. Lot slopes to the east, for
primary views in that direction,
and is perfect for a multilevel
walkout home.
$164,900 mls#116672
BARRY
342-5245
PAUL
341-5300
It is with great happiness we
announce the engagement of
Lacey Eldeen Goldien,
daughter of Linda Stewart and
the late Elwood Godlien to
Kenneth William Hatt,
son of Ken and Linda Hatt.
Wedding to take place in July 2006.
WINDERMERE
Beach property in Windermere.
Renovated, and updated, this
charming beach cabin has 2
bedrooms, family room, living
area with fi replace, and very
private yard. Just 2 blocks to
one of the best beaches.
$459,900 + GST mls#116666
CANAL FLATS
1.06 acres unique property with
commercial/residential zoning
and a 17,000+ square foot
building. Live in the residential
part and use the other part
of the building to create your
entrepreneurial dreams.
$899,000 mls#116606
PAT
342-1262
BILL
341-5168
www.rockymtnrealty.com
Great rates, products and service
www.meridianmortgagesolutions.com
Step by step, professional
mortgage support.
Bill Rainbow Mortgage Broker
(250) 342-3453
ERIC
342-5914
BARRY
342-5809
INVERMERE
Located on the Fort Point of
Invermere. Lake and mountain
views from every window, family
room with Napoleon wood
stove, tranquility garden, decks,
gazebo, hot tub, 4 bedrooms
– each with private bath.
$729,000 mls#116686
CANAL FLATS
The home features a country
kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
and bright living room
with new fl ooring. Enjoy the
gorgeous view and the stars on
your large deck with your own
private hot tub.
$259,900 mls#116664
BEVAN
341-1950
MARLENE
341-5600
Fairmont Village Mall,
Fairmont
Phone: 345-4000
Fax: 345-4001
Main Street, Invermere
Phone: 342-6911
VALLEY NEWS
Martin Cullen resigns
By Adrian Bergles
Pioneer Staff
Regional District of
East Kootenay Area F director
Martin Cullen has
resigned, eff ective April
30th.
“I was being inundated,”
said Mr. Cullen, 56,
in a telephone interview
from High River, Alberta. “Th e regional district has
created such a workload.”
Mr. Cullen was re-elected to a third term during
provincial municipal elections in November. Shortly
after the election, Mr. Cullen sold his home in Dutch
Creek and moved to Alberta, where he is working fulltime
as an accountant. However, he said it was the
workload that caused his resignation.
“It’s not a shock,” said regional district Area G director
Klara Trescher, who calls herself a “good friend”
By Adrian Bergles
Pioneer Staff
A Banff National Park warden calls a climbing accident
that claimed the life of one Washington State
man and left another with two broken legs “an incredible
story of survival.”
Charles Harrison Borgh of Mt. Rainier, Washington
was killed in the accident.
Th e survivor, whose name hasn’t been released, is
recovering in Foothills Hospital in Calgary after lying
outside, exposed for three days and nights, said warden
Gordon Irwin.
Th e avalanche occurred on the Kootenay National
Park side of Mt. Deltaform on April 20th as the two
American climbers descended from the mountain’s
summit ridge, said Mr. Irwin.
Th e mountain sits along the B.C. and Alberta border.
Mr. Irwin, who was among the rescue personnel
who found the accident victims, said as the American
climbers descended they triggered the avalanche. Th e
avalanche pushed the climbers down a 45-degree slope
and over a precipice.
Th e two men fell almost 950 metres before coming
to rest in the snow, said Mr. Irwin. Th e survivor
lay in the avalanche’s path for two days, said Mr. Irwin.
On the third day he used his arms to drag himself
a few hundred metres across the mountain side,
of Mr. Cullen’s.
“I think he was overwhelmed,” she said.
Regional district board chair Greg Deck said since
his move to Alberta, Mr. Cullen has not been neglecting
his constituency.
“He’s been attending half the meetings,” he said.
In Mr. Cullen’s absence Ken Innis has served as
acting director. Th at will continue until a byelection
can be called. No date is set for the byelection.
Mrs. Trescher said that Area F, from Invermere to
Canal Flats, is the busiest of all the regional district areas,
accounting for about 80 percent of work done by
the regional district’s planning department. Th e area
has seen many new developments proposed.
Mr. Cullen was an outspoken opponent of the
proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort and development on
a piece of land known as “Lot 48” on the east side of
Columbia Lake.
In November he made a motion to have Lot 48
rezoned agricultural, against the wishes of the land
owner, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Climber survives 950-metre fall
“because he thought there may be more avalanches,”
said Mr. Irwin.
Th e man survived on less than one granola bar,
and melted snow for drinking water.
When the two climbers did not contact a friend in
the U.S., the park warden services in Jasper National
Park was called on Sunday. Jasper was the men’s last
known spot.
Wardens throughout Banff , Kootenay and Yoho
National Parks were alerted, said Mr. Irwin. A search
for the pair’s vehicle, a minivan, was begun at the
heads of trails in each park, said Mr Irwin.
“We had some luck in that the vehicle was located
near Lake Louise,” he said.
Th e wardens narrowed their search to three
mountains in the Valley of the 10 Peaks, a well-known
mountain climbing area, said Mr. Irwin.
Th e three mountains were searched by helicopter.
Th e man and the body were found almost 2,300 metres
up the mountain.
Five park wardens attended the rescue scene.
Mr. Irwin said the men were very experienced
climbers and that the climb - up a route known as the
“Super Couloir” route on the mountain’s north face
- was “well within their abilities.”
Th e number of people seeking thrills through
sports like climbing and backcountry skiing and snowboarding
is increasing. Wardens in the three national
parks attend 150 rescues a year, said Mr. Irwin.