Norquay to Mosquito Cr in photos

Its already been a year since our last trip together. Jonny and G met me at the Helen Lk parking lot for the usual vehicle drop off. Seeing these guys is always the same, they bring out the best in me and I always cannot wait to spend time with them on these annual trips, as they have become.

According to Parks Canada, the booking levels for backcountry campsites had its peak in the 1970's. We are always amazed at how quiet it is, we have only ever seen a few people over the years and I think I can remember them all. There was Graham and his family hiking for two weeks from near Sask Crossing to Jasper: We encountered them in the lower reaches of Pobotken Crk and after us trying to swim accross the swollen Maligne river the day before and knowing that's what was in store for them, we wished good luck.  G gave the young kids his Chocolate stash as they seemed disenchanted with the 'add-water' hummus for likely the 8th or so day in a row. Their big eyes jumped out at G's outstretched hand, chocolate enclosed, then darted to Mom who nodded approval before graciously taking the sweets, smiling. I recall a few days later, after a few stream crossings and moving cross country over a higher pass, seeing a tiny boot print an wondering how the Maligne went, I am thinking that those kids will grow up to be pretty cool folk.

Its that quiet that I love......and simpleness..after the 2nd day a system is attained..sleeping, eating, packing and walking become a lesson in pragmatism. Stop when hungry, drink when thirsty..walk, walk. The mornings are my favorite, when the air is cooler and coffee has spiked your attention and the day is all ahead of you with a whole bunch of promise.

Trip notes: We packed light, under 12 kg each in total pack weight with food and water. Light sneakers and a ski pole each, we use ULW tarp tents made by Henry Shires.

We left Norquay and traveled up 40 mile creek, over Pulsatilla Pass, the Skoki area, the remote Pipestone, Molar Passes, Fish Lake and finally, Mosquito Crk. 120 ish KM.

I'd like to thank Jon and G for being stalwart attendees on these sojourns, good friends and rock solid mentors for me over the years. Till next year hombres.

Taseko Lake to Tyax

With much anticipation in the preceding weeks, the Chilcotin annual had finally arrived. We rode, pushed, bushwacked and carried our bikes over 100km and 4000m of elevation gain carrying food and supplies for 3 days. It was our most ambitious trip to date in the park and my favorite so far. The thing that always stands out the most with these trips for me is the camaraderie and friendship, I want to thank Jamie, Chris, Martin and Scotty for being great partners and friends on so many of these kinds of trips over the years - whether with bikes or on skis.

I will let the pictures do the talking...

The Galleon

Had a pleasant time recently with friends Julian and Chris, driving northward from our respective S Coast towns, drinking copious amounts of coffee, slinging hip hop sets on the ipad and generally trying to find good times en route to Smithers, BC for the annual Everest Challenge. The event was a huge success and comes highly recommended by these coastal coffee drinking travelers and vagabonds. While a rather large and looming undertaking if done solo, the 8848 meters in 24hrs is quite pleasant if done as a team, in our case this year, a team of between 5 and 7 that got together and disbanded quicker then the Fugees. Between laps we laughed it up, drank a few beers, danced to some sweet reggae and generally had a great time while our friend Chris went deep inside the pain cave for his solo voyage up and down the hill for a total of 19 laps...

Our strategy of course has a double prong, partying and jockeying for position near the snacks all night was fun and left a memorable impression on us and all, but we also wanted to save a little gas for some skiing in the area, where winter is still alive above about 1500 m..Our first day we manged a mid day departure and a short tour up the S summit of Hudson Bay Mtn just above Smithers. We cracked a beer in the sunshine after reaching the top and marveled at our cool surroundings...later, we hooted and hollered our way down, jumping sastrugi and enjoying the brief winter simulation en route to the days end.


On our second day, we were up for a longer day, namely a peak called The Galleon in the Babine Range - A classic tour in the Smithers area and highly recommended if you are into a nice tour to a beautiful valley and peak.

The NW face of the Galleon holds many really nice couloirs...

Some of the terrain leading up..

Nearing the summit.

Pretty damn happy

The descent was mostly stellar with some preserved wind pressed powder interspersed with skiable crusts. All in all, quite nice and probably some of the best skiing this year (!).

Thanks Julian and Chris for a great trip, skiing and company.

Spearhead with the rascalz

Had a memorable day of fancy walking along the crest of the Spearhead with some friends, new and old. Nothing crazy to report, just unlimited visibility, great stability and some great travel and of course some rubber'necking of the great Spearhead lines, all looking fairly rugged under present conditions. We elected to do the 'classic' version of the traverse, starting from Blackcomb, going around Lago and sneaking through the notch on the Overlord glacier and finally, out via Whistler. Worth noting, Singing Pass is reported to be a no-go so we went up and over flute and skied out via the Burnt Stew trail by headlamp and on perfect groomers for most of the long descent, legs burning! In a word, superb.

Felix, Julian, Scotty, Chris Courtenay and yours truly.

With this group we were poised for a great day out in the high alpine.

Dropping down onto the Trorey Glacier.

Lone wolf in the white room.

Felix and the windlip

About to do the last big climb up around Fitz.

Climb to Fitz

Overlord downclimb

Good times going down Whirlwind.

Thanks to the boys for a great day out!