California and Times

Well I just got home from another jaunt to California for meetings with patagonia. Apart from seeing the coolest assortment of technical apparel I have seen in many years, highlights included spending time with the two other Canadian reps, Denis Delorme and Melissa Trudel. We enjoyed amazing dinners (pretty much everything I ordered was braised, my favourite) with Melissa and Denis as well as many other great patagonia folks as we enjoyed the hospitality of Ventura and the environs.

As usual, Rob and I managed 3 days of climbing after the meeting- this time we set our sites once again on that fab so-cal climbing mecca- Joshua Tree. The climbing is honest and so is the vegetation which can only be described as "sharp". We had a great time getting schooled in the art of balance.
We stopped at Trader Joes, the most amazing grocery store in the lower 48. You can find bargains here that will blow your mind: Almond Butter 3.99, Penfolds Malbec 7.99 and much much more. At J Tree we enjoyed some TJ's coffee.
Rob on "figures on a landscape" 10b. Rob had wanted to do this 3 pitch route for 15 years. This trip I was not in top form and I declined the offer of joining him on this heady route. My shoulder injuries have sidelined my brain as well as my right arm extension prowess. Suffice to say I felt bad about turning this dream upside down especially since we had hiked here just to do this route. Being a good friend, Rob came down happy as a clam and we figured out a new plan for the day.
After a good trip it is time to spend some quality time with Erin, getting our place ready and planning our 3 weeks while I am in town. There is talk of La Nina again this winter and I am vibrating with the thought of skiing, as I ski more seasons I am realizing that there will always be something out there to do with skis on foot, bad conditions or good- being out in the real environment is all I need.

Cheers all, happy Autumn.

Middle Earth Gully, Andromeda

Cascade Mountain

Last week it was good to get up high and feel alive, an added bonus was hanging with my friend Zach as well as chief- his first summit of the summer after an injured shoulder from having a fight with some un-seen force in the bushes back in June. Back to Cascade for a second, I have always looked up at it and thought how nifty it would be to be up there looking outward, the views were reported as legendary, as is the walk back there. So it was finally time to go. Zach had wanted to go to so with the promise of a coffee/pastry combination from the acclaimed WildFlower cafe in Banff afterwards, we set out...

Frost had the forest and trail in grips as we padded up the very well worn corridor leading into the alpine, my favourite part of any day is the early morning; so much potential and so much time ahead to explore and enjoy the day.
Chief- It was very hot for an Octobers day and so wearing a fur suit was not the most appropriate attire, lingering snow made up for the heat by providing an excellent AC option. Chief is looking down at Canmore right now thinking "what the %^&$ am I doing up here?". I always find it kinda perversely funny how dogs just follow along for the day, even if it is for a 20km scramble or one of the countless 8 hour ski days Chiefy has been on. As long as he can do it I will take him, he loves it.
Summit shot. Interestingly, we were not the only ones here on this idle Thursday, some nice Korean folks were there also, very friendly I might add. Willing to share their large bin of boiled eggs with us, all I had in return was some dry pita bread (yuck) and some expired Humous (2X Yuck).

We had a great day hiking, sometimes it is just nice to be out in the mountains enjoying some conversation, checking out the views and wondering how you were made to be.

Cheers friends.

Put the Halibut into the taco...do it.

The last couple of weeks were spent travelling through the mountains, fields and highways of BC for work. I count myself lucky for having such a great place to work and although the hours spend on the road add up into frighteningly large numbers, I would do nothing else right now. It has taken me to places that I would never travel to on my own accord, a good by-product!

Tofin Wharf. Hours can be spent wandering Wharfs, looking at boats and inter-tidals- wondering how it all works.
Beaver in Tofino- The long standing heavy hitter of the bush plane community. In Alaska, after getting dropped off on a glacier by one of these beauties we watched as a Cessna 180 Power Wagon endoed into a crevasse. With the tail sticking out like legs from a barrel, our pilot and also owner of said crashed plane looked at me and said "Well, we just bought that plane- didn't even pay for a tank of gas yet". I could tell it was not a good day for Paul.
Erin at "Big Daddy's fish fry", amazing soup here and pretty OK halibut wraps. Big Daddy was mysteriously missing this trip but I do remember him from last time I was in Tof, a large man suitable for the name. Instead, momma was manning the stand- all smiles.
A great coffee shop. I have zeroed in on some of the best coffee shops on the coast, this trip I had the pleasure of enjoying many a good cup with my friends.
Behind the Tofitian lies the Tacofina, probably the best taco's I've ever had. I haven't been to mexico for taco's but Erin has...she thought these were pretty damn good taco's. I believe her.
Hayden a few weeks back.

You might notice that my posts of late are void of activity of any kind. Well, after a minor shoulder injury a few months ago I have been laying low, cooking and bike riding. Just enjoying life's simple rewards. Ski season is on the horizon and I want to be tip top for that, I don't mind a little rest sometimes. Listening to good music, having good conversations with friends and drinking some great wine is good too.