Spearhead Day

Had one of those perfect weather days up on the Spearhead Traverse with fellow rep Jim Sanford along with a couple of his buddys, Paul and Bob. We did this variation of the trip: From East col, over and up the N shoulder of Decker, across the Pattison Glacier down and around the N side of Tremor, down the S Mac Beth Glacier to the Fitzsimmons Glacier Basin, up onto the Overlord Glacier then up to Whirlwind Peak, down to Singing Pass and out. Pretty classic and along with good company, made for a great day in the high mountains. 32.6km and 5600 feet of elevation climbed. Conditions were perfect, preserved powder on N facing slopes and decent coverage on the glaciers, skin track the entire way. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

The Glacier lodge stop in..

On the Pattison

Jim and Bobby.

Paul and Jim

Down to the Fitzsimmons Basin, we climbed the shaded slope in the background and continued on to Whirlwind peak.

Sweet powder turns down into the Fitz.

Cresting the highpoint on the Overlord, en route to Whirlwind Peak.

At the crest of Russet Ridge, about to remove climbing skins for the last time and luge it to the car on the Singing Pass trail.

dawn patrol

 "Bleepbleepbleepbleep" - I hit snooze and look towards the window and the dark sky, the residual night hangs still and the stars linger, time to get up. Truth is I've been up for about an hour, truck sounds broke the silence at around 4am and heart racing with the thought of the morning ahead, skiing - I couldn't fall back asleep. I am used to that though, this process: that of the dawn patrol.

the fruits of your dawn patrol labor

Rule #1 of dawn patrol (herein called DP) : You'll never regret waking up early, you'll only regret sleeping in.


The rule above seems downright rude as I shuffle through the dark house, this part is wired though. Shut the bedroom door so the coffee maker doesn't wake Erin, it and the grinder cause a racket. Clothes are already laid out, this is way simpler then trying to figure out where your socks are when your eyes are pea sized and your brain still near slumber.

Rule # 2 of DP  Caffeination - "I like it when I start to vibrate" -Peter Croft

Silvia (the espresso maker) purrs to life, it is a good day for her. The bean in use is heavily tested in this house, Galileo's Howe Sound Espresso has become 'de rigour'. Perfect espresso globs out of the filter head, sweet to the nose and almost chocolate like. A travel cup is filled and placed on the bench by the door along with a pack and large grocery bag filled with boots, skins and two different gloves, one for putting on tire chains and one for the soon to be aerobic pace that will bring me into the alpine. Everything fits into two hands and on shoulder and back, off to the car.

Low volume hip hop sets the stage for the uptrack, the Kia has made it up the road, an uncertainty, and has arrived in the parking lot amidst decaying 4 x 4's, hero like mini vans and the ubiquitous Subaru forester, that perfect mountain car. Up up up! The light is low now, the sun not quite up but enough to move without headlamp, the track is only slightly beaten and I go over the mornings plan - there is no plan! Once in the alpine the sun is splashing the west facing peaks in beautiful alpineglow, I make my way up, no other thoughts in my head except mountains, skiing and snow. My thoughts trace the distant peaks, Alpha, Tantalus, Serratus - so good.

the process

At the top of the run I am a bit nervous but the snow has felt great and I know the terrain well. I will ski conservative lines today and just enjoy the process of skinning and skiing, the slopes below are un touched and I am ecstatic, a feeling that is the same now as it has always been - time to slide on snow! "Click, click" and its go time, some shnooldy turns down the low angled approach then left into the bowl. Perfect preserved north facing powder - untouched as it had snowed a good 50cm a few days ago and the weekend is not yet here. I feel like a kid and laugh aloud to no one in particular.

The second lap yields the same quality snow down a slightly steeper shot, turn, turn, turn, turn - so good! The surface is covered in surface hoar, glass like and it fills the air with a swooshing sound which trails behind me..

uptrack thoughts

At the bottom I regroup and climb out of the basin, headed for home. At ridge crest I check the time - 9am. Erin has made these awesome little energy bars, all natural and super healthy and full of goodness. I scarf one and wash it down with bengal spice, the best of the teas. I have seen no one yet today but there on the ridge are a few skiers, I make my way over and swap howdys before wishing happy trails and heading out. The luge track is exciting to the car, by now hammered into hardpack by about 15 snowshoers en-route to the hut, in 15 min I am at the car.

Rule # 3 of DP back to work for a full day.

first lap

oh the glory

At 10 I am in the office, coffee in hand and working through the days tasks. The fact that I am wearing long underwear doesn't change the fact that I am getting it done! At around 3pm it seems like a normal day at work but thoughts drift back to the alpineglow, the uncertainty of the early morning and the mystery of the dark sky...

The Balance.

We are always trying to achieve the balance of work and play....lately the balance has been restored as skiing time is permitted, conditions are great and the stoke is high..

Garibaldi Park Sunset.

Patagonia DS rep, Joel Oberly setting the slope on fire, Pauls Ridge, Garibaldi. Joel was visiting from Reno and despite doing more walking then skiing, he was a pretty happy camper.

Ryan, making it all look easy.

Joel sporting the latest in patagonia's colour palette - Aquamarine.

Ryan.

On one uncertain weather day, we traveled the Duffey lake road as you do, looking at the peaks and trying to make a decision, the forecast showed springlike snow squalls and a low ceiling/visibility..We debated but inspired by the then beautiful skies, shot up into the Alpine and ended up on Cayoosh Mtn's summit in perfect weather, finishing with a ski of its 1200m armchair glacier.

Jamie and Simon were visiting from Canmore and it was great to see these guys and get a couple of memorable days in.

Joel and Ryan - Cayoosh Summit.

Simon, Cayoosh.

Cayoosh.

Joffre Group.

Ottoman/Burned Trees Run, Cayoosh Creek.