Monday, November 30, 2015

the unbearable lightness of skiing

 The last couple of months have been hectic. Back to back weeks of steady work with nary a day off in between, my busiest season yet of work was in full swing from Sept to...well...now. The odd run here and there sprinkled savory flakes of sanity on the meal but for the most part, it was head down and squint your eyes as the light at the end of the tunnel is faint, work times. When things became more manageable in the last two weeks I was struck down with a cold that made anything but the daily work tasks quite low on he fun scale. Not that I am complaining (although it seems like i am), in fact, I love my job and I am acutely aware of how fortunate/lucky I am to be able to work at all, let alone do a job I love and live in a place that people go to on their holidays. Ya, ya. All that said, at the end of the 'period of unfortunate immobility', I was keen as mustard to get that hell out of the house at the first opportune moment and just FEEL ALIVE for F^&#'s sake!

So, this last weekend a plan was hatched to spend a couple of days in the Duffey Lake environs to shake off the cobwebs and see how things were coming along in the snow dept. Nothing planned, but given the group, bigger days were likely and good times were ensured. In a word, perfect.

Day one we made our way to the summit of Mt. Rohr, were we found not a breath of wind, a pleasant lack of the 3000+ M freezing levels and surprisingly good preserved pockets of powder in sheltered zones, even to ridge top in the nebulous N/NW facing aspects which are not that common in terms of ski features in this area.
Felix feeling the stoked of an approaching ski day.

The group ascending
The Author. Photo courtesy Felix Jauvin

Just so so good.
Up, up!

Summit of Rohr. Photo courtesy Felix Jauvin

Surprisingly good snow in this zone, buts its all schralped now.   

Day 2 we ventured into the alpine on the W shoulder of Vantage Ridge. Usually a protected safe haven for powder, things weren't quite as preserved but somehow we all had a great time.
Who wants a cookie?

John approaching sub peak on Vantage Ridge.
photo courtesy Felix Jauvin

Photo courtesy Felix Jauvin

Still pretty fun if the angle was low.


All in all a great trip. Thanks for Felix, John, Linda, Greg, Mike and Allison for the awesome times and especially Mike for opening up his cabin in Pemberton to a bunch of sticky skiers!