Thursday, January 28, 2010

Black Prince to Sawmill Ski Traverse

Another good day out today enjoying the solidifying conditions in the Rockies. Next week I am off to "Lost Wages" for some climbing so it was a fitting last day of skiing for a while. Aaron had the idea to traverse across some excellent country in Kananaskis starting at Black Prince and Ending at Sawmill. Approx 9km with about 1200m total elevation. Along the way we skied excellent NE facing shots and skinned up in the wonderful spring like temperatures. A great and highly recommended outing if the conditions allow.



Zach and Amitai on the approach above Black Prince. I've never skied the Prince and it was great to finally check it out. This place gets hammered by skiers probably every day of the winter.
Ascending towards an unnamed col leading up and into the "James Walker Creek" basin. Critical decision making time.
Excellent run down with 20cm of powder atop a hard crust.

Aaron contemplating the surroundings.

Big thanks to Zach, Amitai, Aaron and Megan for a great day. Nothing beats just looking at a map, figuring out a line and going skiing.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Whats In Your Bag?- Ski Touring

After a great trip with Marc yesterday to Mt. Nibloc, the coffee is flowing this morning and the gear is drying on the floor beside me. For some reason I want to tell you what goes into the pack for an average tour in the backcountry without glacier travel:
1) Pack: Deuter Guidelite 32- One of the best packs I have ever used because it can haul loads and is super light.
2) Big Jacket: Patagonia Das Parka- The best
3) 3 Pair Gloves: Light, medium, Damn Cold!
4) Goggles: I prefer one with a low light lens
5) Skins: G3 Alpinist- Still gathering an opinion on these..
6) Insulated Water bottle carrier: Keeps tea warm all day, is much lighter than a thermos
7) Sunglasses, headlamp, TP, Sunscreen, lighter, thermometer
8) Emergency Bivi Bag, First Aid Kit
9) Snow/Wood Saw: Allows not only snow work but emergency fire building
10) Probe: I like one that you can clip to your harness to drag behind on a glacier
11) Shovel: G3- I love this shovel
12) Beacon: D3- Its good at most things
13) Licorice: Never leave without it

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Mt. Nibloc

Today with Marc- Andre a classic ski trip was had. Mt. Nibloc is a true Rockies ski classic. 1100m of ascent to a wonderful high col and a quick scramble to an easy summit where the great divide opens before you. Pointing the skis downhill sometimes means an outstanding descent almost right to the car door, today was like that. All photos taken with my new Canon G11.
Approach.
Alpine glory.
Mussels?
Wonderful alpine turns
Black and White in the alpine halls.

A great day with M.A.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Waptacise- Mini Wapta in a day

After a good 10 days or so of focused work, travelling to the mighty city of Abbotsford for a regional trade show and Patagonia line viewings, I was really itching to get outside for an aerobic day in the mountains. Mike Trehearne has been in New Zealand for the past couple of months doing some guiding work and seeing how he is enrolled in the ski guide training program, he was quite keen for a similar "huck a lung" adventure. Well I must say that this is not the FULL wapta traverse but only the "mini" as advertised in Chic's book, Peyto glacier to Bow Lake and out, a fairly straightforward trip when compared to the full wapta traverse- more than double this length. I could share tales of the "bow summit" approach to the peyto glacier whuch shaves an hour off the traditional approach, canyon side hill gouging, dusk hitchhiking and mid winter accosting by warm hut and coffee but instead I will leave you with a few photos of the day, enjoy.
ACMG and Patagonia
Rip em and grip em.
What its all about.
Hut art, I forgot this was up here but it needs to be preserved.
North Wapta glory.

At one point during the day we stopped at a small rise on the otherwise flat icefield and started talking about something, (worlds worst chuckwagon crashes or best family guy quotes-Cant remember) after a few minutes I stopped and said, "dude, there is NO wind right now". Alone as we were up there that day, with the low sun outlining the peaks with crisp backlighting- there was also no wind. Something that is not common in these high places and something to stop talking about family guy for and let slowly digest.

Thanks Mike!

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Off the Grid

Another great day in the local backcountry ski-touring with my friend Craig. Craig is a local skier from way back and its always great to hear the many stories of big traverses, epic lines and blue bird days that he has up in his noggan. We enjoyed a truly great morning ourselves as we fired up a great ridge and dropped into a run that brings grimaces to all involved. All before a stellar coffee and an afternoon in the office.

Craig and Chief, savouring the wonder.
Craig pushing the snow to the left.
Wonderful up-track.

Burns on the approach. There is always somewhere to go in these Rockies of ours.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Emerald Peak Slidepath

Well today Zach, Amitae and I ventured up into one of my favourite spots in the Rockies, Emerald Peak for some deep deep powder skiing. We were fortunate enough to hear about the amazing conditions from my friend Martin "The Real Beal" Beal and so it was this in mind that we awoke at an early hour and sped up towards the alpine for our little chance at glory.


I must say that after re-breaking trail over the previous days up-track and noticing that we were in fact breaking trail in 30 cm of new storm snow over the last 40 cm that fell the day before it was rather tempting to just point em down and ski all the way down with large grimaces. We eventually went up to a rock face near the top of a side gully and got ready to enjoy a snow sandwich. The first turns where all-time as the snow piled up against our stomachs and flew over our shoulders until we landed at our up track, indeed with grimace intact. After 3 good laps, the crews of skiers started to show up en masse and it was time to head to The Trailhead cafe in Lake Louise for a bean and donair fix.

Thanks guys for a stellar stellar day.

Thanks to Martin for the inside scoop!