“High Voltage” raises nostalgia and funds

The old High Voltage run is a local’s favourite. Photo SPIN.

A sign from a “golden oldie” ski run at Sun Peaks is being auctioned off to raise funds for a local charity.

The Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) Slopes Department donated the sign—formerly used to direct skiers and snowboarders to High Voltage—to Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society (SPMRS) after the run was decommissioned. The sign is now being sold on the SPMRS Facebook page to raise funds for emergency response equipment and training in the community.

The now-defunct High Voltage followed a string of power lines down lower Burfield. It offered a continuation of Rollercoaster after hitting 7 Mile Road, with an ever-changing fall line through power poles that “was tempting to the frisky skier and a deterrent to the less adventurous,” explained Barney Mouat, outside operations director for SPR.

The run was recognized as an official black diamond ski run during a period of expansion at the resort, though it had likely been skied for many years previous, according to Mouat.

“It was named by an anonymous patroller in 1997, who had spent many hours of his own time clearing vegetation off his preferred winter line,” he said.

“Rumour has it this anonymous patroller once grew his hair for an entire year and shaved his locks in the fall. While clearing vegetation, he tied his hair to the branches of trees as high as he could reach. He was challenging the snow gods to bury his hair in natural snowfall so that his line would be covered in powder all winter long.”

The locks certainly worked their charm, with High Voltage becoming a favourite among more intrepid locals for its hidden stashes.

“The run on a good day is some of the most fun you’ll have on the mountain,” enthused Chris Mark, SPMRS president.

The sign will be up for bidding until March 22. Photo Supplied.

In recent years, the bottom section of High Voltage was roped off due to overgrowth and variable conditions. Eventually, it was decided to remove it from the map; it was last featured in 2014-15.

“We were not maintaining it to our regular standards, so we felt taking it off the trail map, to not encourage guests to head down that way, was a good direction,” said Aiden Kelly, chief marketing officer for SPR.

Now unmarked, High Voltage has become an area skied mostly by locals who knew the terrain prior to its decommissioning. Mark said he believed nostalgia is inspiring a surge of bidding for its old sign.

“Being such a classic, we knew it might tug at some heart strings,” he said.

An old sign for Highway 22B—the former name of Ralph’s Reach—was auctioned off for $1,600 at the Sun Peaks Firefighters Society Gala in 2017 for the benefit of the Sun Peaks Education Society and Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association.

Mouat said he understands the appeal of owning resort memorabilia like this.

“Having old signs of runs that don’t exist anymore is a bit like having a piece of history. It will prompt many stories to anyone who cares to ask, ‘Where was that run?’”

Bids on the High Voltage sign close March 22. Go to Facebook.com/spmountainrescue.