By Steve Hubrecht
It’s been almost a year since the Columbia Valley lost one of its most well-known residents. Her husband, inspired by her ultra-active lifestyle, will mark the occasion by planning a day full of busy outdoor fun in her honour.
Penny Powers passed away on Feb. 1, 2024, leaving a legacy of a life well lived, not to mention very actively lived. She was friends with practically everyone in the Columbia Valley; she volunteered with too many groups to count; and she was endlessly skiing, paddling, hiking, camping, and paragliding.
At a celebration of life for Penny last winter her husband Max, daughter Katia, son Erik, and many more friends and family described her as a hummingbird — seeming to be constantly in motion.
This year on February 1 Max is organizing an informal Penny Powers Inspirational Day as a way of keeping her spirit alive. It will be exactly the kind of weekend winter day Penny loved: nonstop recreation and activities from first thing in the morning until night. All those wishing to participate (in either a small part of the day, or all of it —if you have the stamina) are welcome to join in.
Max recently posted on Facebook about the day, saying “it’s a chance to share our memories of Penny, support each other, and celebrate the impact she had on our lives.”
The day will start with an “early morning quickie” — a fast nordic ski at the Panorama Mountain Resort’s Greywolf Nordic Centre to the Hale Hut, and possibly around some other nearby cross country ski trails. There’ll be a stop for breakfast and coffee, and then on to catch the first chairlift of the day at Panorama for some mid-morning ski-slope paragliding flights.
Around noon people can meet at the summit hut for lunch, and then a ski down the iconic View of 1000 Peaks run to Founders Ridge. A stop at the Elkhorn cabin for a drink will follow, and after people will ski back down to the nordic centre for another spin on nordic skis at 3 p.m.
After all that there’ll finally be a bit of time to unwind with more drinks and some snacks, a dip in the Panorama hot pools, and then on to the T-Bar and Grill for socializing.
“Penny loved to socialize after an active day. If there is still enough energy left, we can party at the T-Bar until you are really tired,” wrote Max.
As the new year rolled over and February 1 approached Max had been feeling heavy of heart. But he explained to the Pioneer that he’s felt Penny’s presence lately, taking it as a sign that she is reminding him not to dwell too much in sadness.
“It was like she was giving me a knock on the back of the head, saying this (being active) is what you should do to remember me,” Max told the Pioneer. “So that’s what we’re going to do.”
