Freshfield to Wapta Ski Traverse

Well, just got back from a great ski tour with friends over some big Rockies real estate. We flew from Golden with Don at Alpine Helicopters where he dropped us off at the high col between Mts Nanga Parbat and Gigit at about 3000m. We skied a few runs, climbed a couple of cols, summited a minor peak and generally enjoyed the winter conditions and snow before exiting out the Freshfield drainage to the Howse river valley and soon after, taking a turn to the west to the Blaeberry valley. From here it was a jaunt up Wildcat creek to Mistaya Lodge and soon after- the familiar Wapta icefield. An amazing adventure with great folks.

These are all in reverse order, coming down from Bow Hut- Almost done.
done.
Mistaya Alpine, Day 5
Creek fun in the Blaeberry Valley
Good melt freeze travel in the Howse Valley
Dry out in BC
Good isothermic fun
Wonderful turns down the lower Freshfield Glacier

Jeff, a great fella
Down the serac to the lower Freshfield
Johnny O
Sweet turns, upper Freshfield Glacier

Jason, cant wait till next years big tour!!
Mt. Mummery
Flight In

Crowfoot Mountain

Well today I had a great time with my good friend Marc for a day of ski touring to Crowfoot Mountain. After skate skiing across the lake in 5min! M-A set his usual pace and we were up to the glacier in just a couple of hours. The skies opened up before us to unveil the spectacle at hand, amazing views for miles and miles as well as the great peaks that we were to ski this day. We skinned up the chute leading to the top of Crowfoot Col, ripped the climbing skins off and enjoyed the great spring snow down to the glacier, happy for more we launched up the second peak to the west and enjoyed similar conditions down to the lake where more skating was in order. A great day topped off with a coke classic in a can from the grocery. Thanks dude!

Crowfoot Pass

On Saturday we joined our friends John and Laura for a nice tour to Crowfoot Pass near Bow lake. Beautiful weather and great travel conditions led to a spectre which is savoured by all mountain enthusiasts, perfect visibility for miles and miles and no wind to speak of. Nice preserved powder met us on the way down as we hooted and hollered down the winter scene, dogs in tow. A nice beer at Num Ti Jah lodge to finish the day and the promise of more spring skiing.

Mt. Nestor

A great day was had with the boys on Friday in Kananaskis, a great uptrack up an amazing ridge and a drop into a big gully back to the lake....Awesome. Photos Jeff MacPherson

Mt.Field

The Open Road

North Wapta

Wow, what an outstanding 3 days out on the Wapta in the cold temperatures and crystal clear skies! Niall, Marc, Jeff and I went up to Peyto Hut and over to Bow with a couple of nice peaks along the way. We had a great time all in all with highlights being Chic Scott singing aloud to everyone in the hut, no wind and endless views on top of St. Nicholas peak, drinking some nice coffee's in the hut with friends and each of us having a body part to complain about while it freezes. 

Marc on the final 20m hike to the summit of St. Nic in splitter weather.
Endless views in the -40 weather + Windchill.

St. Nic with Chic Scott on top with his friends.

Niall Harris.
Map study at the Peyto Hut.
En-route to Peyto Hut.

Emerald Lake Slidepath

So today my good old friend Mario was in town and we wanted to head up high into the mountains and find some reasonable skiing. After deciding to check out the Emerald Lake "zone", we coffee'd up and shot down the road and started up the main slide-path, eyes open and ears perked ready for signs of instability. The day was amazing and after digging around in the snow and finding the surface hoar that is raking the Rockies, we ripped off the skins and enjoyed a surprisingly good run back down to the lake. As we descended we couldnt believe that we were as luck as we were with the day, the weather and the ski conditions- despite the spooky basal facets and surface hoar layers. Great to be out with my good old friend!

Chief getting a good look at the snowpack, this dog loves skiing.
Near the Alpine on the Slidepath.
Mario reaping the sweet rewards.


Enjoying the Sun. Soon after, Mario parted ways back to Revy and I went over to the Truffle Pigs cafe in Field for a double americano and apple strudel to go. Happy and content.

The Jazz Man, The Jazz....

Well yesterday was the 50th birthday of one of my favourite albums of all time, heres to Miles Davis for giving us Kind of Blue. Play it loud and often.

Hidden Bowl

The last couple of days marked the return to skiing and the first spring like days I have had all year in the mountains. Thursday, Niall and I went to the Bow Summit area north of Lake Louise to lay some fresh turns in the 50-80 cm of fresh storm snow from the previous days. For sure the best turns of the season with perfect, forgiving powder. Outstanding. Yesterday it was time to head up high and I joined my friends Simon and Jeff on a tour to the Lake Louise back country, namely Hidden Lake and its en-compassing bowl and peaks.

The tour starts by skinning up the Lake Louise ski hill to temple lodge, hanging a left and following the trails to Skoki Lodge. At the halfway hut, turn left again and you can witness the beauty of the Hidden lake area.

We headed up into the alpine and skied some nice slopes in the sunshine.
Jeff savouring a rarity in 2009, perfect powder...in the Rockies!

Weeping Wall Weekend

A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed great weather for a couple of days based out of the Rampart Creek hostel. I had the pleasure of joining the company of Marc and Niall for a climb of Melt out and weeping wall. A great time was had as we climbed and climbed, ate some great dinners and climbed and climbed again. Over the last month or so we have been busy with orders, trade shows  and spending time with our new dog so it was great to have a full weekend to just get out there and be in the mountains. I am looking forward to more ice climbing this year as I probably wont be skiing until march or later. Its great to have so many options.

Marc after some steep ice, ready for more
Marc amidst the "sea of ice"

Niall, a classic guy and a classic route.

Christmas Goodies

Well the last few days we were in the fruit-full lands of Edmonton and Viking Alberta to visit out great families and little nephews, as well as to eat a large portion of Turkey and fixings. We had a stellar time for a few days staying with my sister and Terrance in Spruce grove where we ate a nice dinner of scallops, beef satay and vegis that my Mom prepared so well. The next day we enjoyed a great turkey feast, hugged everyone good-bye and shot over to Viking where the same holiday traditions were enjoyed. Thanks to all for being good cooks and better company!

Muriel Walker's turkey, this is not a small bird in case you are wondering
Muriel doing her magic
Thats one good looking family!
Graham and Kirsten, notice the super-structure that G and I built in the foreground
Hayden T, the future of hockey and a great little guy. Thanks again!

The Deep Freeze

Well the last couple of weeks have been cold. Did I say cold, I meant step inside your deep freeze and remove your pants cold. Yup, thats right- Cold! With the shop being in Christmas mode, now is a time to work hard and stay indoors. Jamie and Sharon threw us an amazing party as usual last week where we could all enjoy great food and company over at Treo resteraunt followed by the usual epic ping-pong and dart games while sampling a variety of nice beers over at the boss's place afterwords. 

We did manage to assemble a posse to go skiing on the weekend though. Mike, Chris and Myself went up to Helen Lake near Bow Lake on Friday for a turn inside the winter simulator. The temps were cold but we made our way up without any problems until the cold turned us away, we shot down the luge track to the car ad the awaiting coffee/Baileys combination over at Num-ti-jah lodge. Saturday saw Michelle, Chief and I go up to Chester lake for an easy day of excercise and fun. Now its back to work as the mercury drops and the coffee machine is in a constant state of being on!

Mt. Wilson and Guiness Gully

What a great two days out in the mountains with friends this past Thursday and Friday. With the new gear box on the car we loaded up and shot north towards the hulking mass of Mt. Wilson and the routes Lady Wilsons Cleavage and Wilson Major. Bad roads to the wayside, we unpacked and cramponed up the frozen creek and the wonderful steps of Lady Wilson. Staying dry from the few deep water wells under the steps required panache and we realized that our boots are water-proof except for the hole on top.
Racking up on the highway, a truly great thing. We enjoyed nice temperatures and constant stand up comedy routines.
Mike firing the meat and potatoes of Wilson Major, a great lead on great ice in a great setting with a great coffee waiting at Laggans. More on the coffee, we actually did not enjoy the beverage because we ended up on the route until about 9pm. Yup thats right, with two out of four headlamps no less. I guess thats what you get when you have an accumulated climbing experience between us of 20 years? A great day and such a nice place up there. Dinner at the Lake Louise hostel followed by the log impersonation in bed.

Zach and I walking up to the last pitch on Guiness Gully in Field, BC. Another great climb .

The first pitch of Guiness in thicker than normal shape taking pretty good screws the whole way. After this we rappelled off to the delights of the Siding cafe and its great coffee and proper cappuccino skills as well as baked goods. Soon after we slid our way home on the trans-canada back to Canmore. Awesome. This ice climbing as of late has been really good, cant wait till the next time. Thanks to Amitai, Zach and Mike Treetops for a stellar weekend with good company as usual.

All photos courtesy of Amitai Gat.