Popes Peak and the Cardinal

Today we skied up to the col of Popes peak and summited the minor un-named peak immediately east, which this day we elected to call cardinal peak. Some great folks teamed up for this one and it was a pleasure logging about 1800m during two laps of this great ski region. We were very throttled by the amount of snow in the zone and it being pretty much a green light, we were able to ski a couple of non-traditional lines. Thanks ski friends.

El' Presidente Traverse

Yesterday I had a fantastical time with Craig on a tour that I have been wanting to do for years, circumvent the president from Emerald lake. It starts with a 1600m climb (skin and bootpack) up to president pass via emerald creek basin, down to the stanley mitchell meadows than hook back around to Emerald Pass and enjoy a 1400 m descent back to the basin and soon after, the lake and your car. Craig and I have been waiting for the right conditions for a month or so and besides a punchy (read: waist deep posthole) bootpack in a couple of places, they were perfect- including two great shots you just have no choice but to ski the heck out of. One of the best days of skiing I have had.

Climbing to President Pass
Craig in "tiger country" on the headwall
President Pass, with Craigs Canada flag that has been everywhere with him. Might as well whip it out on Prez pass.
Nice knee deep conditions on the Prez glacier, just ridonculous. No wind and crowds today.
Oh the joy of it all.
Craig feeling the burn on the way back up to Emerald Pass
Day glo thoughts and caviar dreams, Emerald pass.
The 5600 foot shot down to Emerald Basin
Traverse for about 800 m and discover this baby- about 1000 m of dreamboat fall line- and you're the captain.

Water was a precious commodity on this sojourn. Very elated after a good mission.

Thanks Craig for a great day and thanks for wanting to do this for a second time!

Dog Park Direct AKA Miners Gully

Early this AM Zach, Mike and Jeff were nice enough to help me take chief to the dog park.

Thanks for the walk yo!

Field Trip

Another great day on Mt.Field was had today by people wearing patagonia. Thanks ski friends.

The Bonnington Sessions

I had the chance to join some great friends over the last week on a tour through the backcountry of the Bonnington Range near Nelson, BC. Connecting 4 huts all within tree line, this tour has the makings for a classic. From each hut there is amazing tree skiing that you can hit from the front door and be back in time for an argument on who was in which movie or maybe a discussion on: "is it coffee or tea this afternoon?" Highlights included but were not limited to; powder skiing, great hut conversations, hundreds of "thats what she said's", getting to break our own trail for half of the time, amazing dinners courtesy of G (more on that another time), great coffee, views and especially the company of close friends for which I am always grateful.

Jono on dish duty, Copper Mtn Hut.
Bootpact to Empire Peak, It was all down hill from here. Through haunted ridges to a simply stellar run around old growth timber to a lake.
The adventure is there.
The start of the trip is the crux, a few hours on a logging road with humming high voltage cables over your head. Start dirty deeds done dirt cheap on your walkman for full effect:"HIGH VOLTAGE!"

Typical terrain on the B.
When I was a kid I had crazy dreams about flying, swimming underwater for days in the ocean and going to space. Now they are a bit more subdued but I remember a lot of them with revelry. These trees brought back some memories of those dreams. Twisted and laboured under the hard packed snow these things become almost human in form as they greet you anywhere above 1900 m on this tour.
The Grassy Hut, day 2.

I remember thinking more than once how lucky we are to be able to do these kind of trips. Thanks G, Jon and Zach for a memorable week.

Rockies Days

Had a great morning skiing to the top of and off the summit of my favourite local peak. It has rewarded us over the years with blower powder, brilliant views and amazing memories on the up-track. When you ski at a place enough, it becomes like a friend. I recall an outing last year during an impressively dry few weeks where the conditions were just atrocious for skiing: 1'' ice lens over facets. Although I felt bad for taking my friends out for possibly the worst skiing they had ever had, I actually remember feeling content and happy. Its just great to be out with friends on a beautiful mountain.

Wonderful uptrack through old burns..This morning I did not enjoy my usual 2 x espresso shots and on account was moving at a bit of a slower pace, allowing me to look around a bit more and use my "brick" (DSLR) a bit more.
As mentioned, today we got to ski right off the summit for 14oo m of fall line right to the valley bottom. Just great conditions in the Rockies right now..
Craig pushing some snow to the right
I like how this turned out even though I didn't get the exposure right at all, Craig is shown again with the snow to the right..

I hope everyone is out enjoying these great conditions right now!

K Country Days

Sometimes you are just grateful for a simple and wonderful day in the mountains...

Hector

Sometimes it only takes one photo to capture the feel of the day. Searching for answers on Mt. hector.

the perfect day of skiing?

How would you describe the perfect day of skiing? Is it a perfect up track? a lone pair of tracks on a perfect sun blessed shot? Does the perfect day even exist? Well? Does it?

For me the perfect day starts and ends with subtlety. The great coffee on the drive into the mountains, conversations with friends, a great lunch, the glow of first light, the wall of an approaching storm, perfect stellars falling onto your gloves, etc etc (you get it). Today on the icefields parkway, everything came together to form one of these days..

Wonderful supportive snow makes for great travel, here Zach enjoys some special time with the fabled snow goose. Both were unharmed.
Excellent travel approaching the alpine. Yes, we get to ski this in a few minutes.
Zach "Shropehawk" Cohen
Zach had to take a collect call from glory, he accepted the charges.

The perfect day is all of those things and so much more. It is a unique set of things for everyone.

When you grow up in a range of mountains they become an important place for your soul, when the conditions are right its borderline overwhelming. Its good to see the rockies coming around.

Thanks to Zach for another good one.

old school ski movies

There is something to be said for old school skiing. Knees together, apres ski schnapps, skinny ski kind of stuff, you know?. For some reason, and it can't be nostalgia because I never lived through these golden days, I just love the atmosphere and feelings you can see in theses old days of skiing. Maybe it was just the 50's through the 70's mentality that made this happen.

Watch this...

A Year In Photos

Looking through photos today made me realize a few things: The importance of friends, the importance of family and the importance of doing things that are good for your soul.

Here are some photos from the last year that help me reflect on the above. I hope that you all can think about important moments from this past year and be grateful in some way, enjoy.

Hayden, my nephew. I have had the chance to spend more time with my family since this little guy was born and it has been wonderful. I love this guy.
Craig and Catherine's wedding.
Drew on the way to Mt. Gimili. This was one of favourite trips of the summer, thanks to the great company and great surroundings and of course, outstanding choice of route.
Zach, North Wapta. Zach has been my best ski partner over the last couple of years, always keen to get out and do whatever is in shape. This trip to the N. Wapta was such a trip, we had intentions on a bigger objective but with a 48 hour window of weather we headed to this familiar place. We skied off the summit of Mt. Collie and had some time to relax in camp in T shirts. This is why I like spring touring so.
The boys on the way to california. G, Jon and I went to Cali on a fantastic road trip. This was one of the best trips I have ever had, we climbed everything we wanted to do and had a lot of fun doing so. We missed our friend Mike immensely and spoke of him a lot.
Erin. We travel, eat wonderful food, have great conversations and laugh for no reason at all.
Mike was my best friend. So long brother.
In the airport in Ottawa after seeing Mike for the last time, we needed to unwind. Jon always has something that will make us all laugh.