Friday, December 30, 2011

pulpit zone and getting up early.

Another adventure in that fantastic pulpit zone today. This place has been sort of in the quiet for the last few years but that doesnt seem the case now, and for good reason! Today there were 20 or so people enjoying the fruits, fine by me - always good to run into mountain kin and besides, getting up early pretty much always ensures first turns ;-). I have just shared the only trick I have!

On the approach through 40 cm of storm snow..
Ty and Zach, great friends and partners in crime. Taking repose after a valiant trail breaking effort.
Uh huh...
Yup...


Well maybe we will have another 'Canadian Rockies Selkirks" kind of year as it is sure shaping up that way...warm storms, minimal PWL's and no -30!

Enjoy ski friends!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

storm skiing

I love storm skiing. There is simply something magical about it. The static quiet of the storm, the childhood wonder of a snow filled night and maybe most important - the deep powder turns.

Last winter the best of such trips was with Craig, 'stuck' in Rogers Pass for a few days while we skied our brains out. Always the first out and usually the last back we would string together big days of glorious powder skiing, trail breaking and synapse firing.


Criag at the top of 8812, Bruins Pass. We decided to go high the first day..we could feel the coming storm and knew it would be good..if we were lucky the highway might just close..
The RAV after 3 days..we stayed for 5 and logged about 30000 feet of vertical...man oh man its good. Godspeed and happy storm skiing to all!

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

going coastal

I have been pleasantly immersed in a very focused work effort on the coast lately. All night drives, emailing till 1 am and back to back meetings has been 'de rigour'. This trip has seen me in kelowna, Nanaimo, Victoria, Squamish and now Vancouver to the fantastical Granville Island Hotel. All has not been work however, I have made an effort to clear the weekends to connect with friends for some great ski touring. The ski quality can only be described as 'marginal' but the views, travel and company has been all time. Here is a small taste of the last while..
glacier markings - Spearhead Glacier en route to Phalanx Mtn

Husume on right, Corona bowl on left.
All's well that ends well.

Cori breaking over the top of the blackcomb glacier en route to the classic pitch, Husume.
The eyes have it..
Julian and Martin during the final bootpack to the top of the little diamondhead, Garibaldi Park.
Same..

Thursday, December 01, 2011

the powder and the glory

Yesterday I was not planning to go skiing at all, in fact I was planning on a focused driving session to Vernon to setup for a couple of days of work. I actually made a mental note "don't go skiing" the night before. For no other reason than I was booked into an unfamiliar space in Vernon and so with that, uncertainty weighed in as to the set up time involved. I have definitely been pummeled by this feature in the past. Going skiing meant a potential all nighter of set up followed by very energetic presentations the following day - doable but approaching full-on. Not skiing meant no skiing and well....no skiing..


Long story short, I went skiing.

When I turned the bend at the pass I pretty much had my mind made up. I sped into the visitors center, grabbed a permit for the Griz, changed out of my Levi's and into my ski gear and soldiered up at a rugged pace.

I reached the alpine and could hardly believe my eyes, 500M of un tracked POW lay before me...did I say U N T R A C K E D? Yup.

I wasn't expecting much but man o' man Ullr was there to help me wit this mission..





I shroped the main path like Han Solo, hooting and hollering past others on the up track, others skiing down and who knows what else. I was too busy tapping into my power animal's leg strength and enjoying the moment, laughing and giggling all the way down.

At the Modern Cafe in Revelstoke I enjoyed a great espresso/panini combination and settled into the idea of driving once again..