Spring has definitely sprung around the Okanagan - the town of Kelowna has had temperatures as high as 10 degrees Celsius this week and almost all the snow in town has melted. A large urban area is pretty ugly when it snows. Sure the rooftops are white but everything else at ground level turns a horrible shade of brown, a mixture of slushy snow and sand placed by the council to make the roads and paths safe.
Up here on the hill its a totally different story. As I eluded to below it might have come a little late this season but it's still coming. Last week we enjoyed consistent 2-6cm snowfalls every few days and whilst this pattern does not produce the mind-blowing days of early January when we would score 20+cm overnight and not see our knees for the entire next day it does make for wonderful spring skiing and riding.
The temp was hovering between 0 and 5 below - perfect weather for getting out on the hill. No need for a mid layer, just your snow pants, a thermal top and the shell of your jacket. Everyone is making the most of every day that we get a little fresh snow knowing that as each day ticks by we head closer to the closing date of April 19 and more importantly you never know at this time of year when the last snow will fall. Last year the resort recorded 40cm over the last two days so there is still life in the old girl yet - we hope!!
Today the pattern broke a little and it is definitely Spring up here now. +5 as I type this and everyone is starting to develop quite healthy goggle tans. Matt and I are egging each other on to see who can look like the greatest ski bum.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Vancouver or bust...
Pablo needs a job in Vancouver...if you know anyone who knows anyone about anything that I might want...let me know!
Other than that the snow continues to fall. We have had a week of morning sunshine, followed by afternoon and evening snowstorms making for some of the best conditions of the season.
The steeper parts of the mountain are really starting to shine with the base now nudging 200cm. I turned an otherwise bad news day very good on Monday by dropping one of the most challenging chutes on the cliff face - solo!!
Sometimes it takes bad news for you to realise that you should make the most of what you have and that if you never push yourself you'll go home regretting having never done it. Dropping out of the chute and into the bowl for some of the best lines of the season has definitely been one of the highlight mornings of the winter.
I'm heading back there today as we have had another nice dusting in the last 24 hours and the cliff was closed yesterday due to high winds and visibility issues - YEWWW!!!!!
Other than that the snow continues to fall. We have had a week of morning sunshine, followed by afternoon and evening snowstorms making for some of the best conditions of the season.
The steeper parts of the mountain are really starting to shine with the base now nudging 200cm. I turned an otherwise bad news day very good on Monday by dropping one of the most challenging chutes on the cliff face - solo!!
Sometimes it takes bad news for you to realise that you should make the most of what you have and that if you never push yourself you'll go home regretting having never done it. Dropping out of the chute and into the bowl for some of the best lines of the season has definitely been one of the highlight mornings of the winter.
I'm heading back there today as we have had another nice dusting in the last 24 hours and the cliff was closed yesterday due to high winds and visibility issues - YEWWW!!!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Ford Windstar
Thanks for the comments everyone - its is good the be back. Despite the often long times between posts I do very much enjoy writing them and reading your comments. Everyone has asked for photos of the car...who takes photos of their car??
It's been over cast here for days so I could not take a nice photo of it in the sun so I dug out these photos from our trip to Silver Star (full report to follow). It was about -10 in the car park when I made the boys stand around for the photo. So cold when I got in the car my fingers were frozen solid and I could not even manage the button on my trousers.
Here it is..obscured by others.
It's been over cast here for days so I could not take a nice photo of it in the sun so I dug out these photos from our trip to Silver Star (full report to follow). It was about -10 in the car park when I made the boys stand around for the photo. So cold when I got in the car my fingers were frozen solid and I could not even manage the button on my trousers.
Here it is..obscured by others.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Red Mountain...and a little more
Over the past few weeks (whilst I have not been writing) I have had some of my more memorable moments of the trip. Back in December I took a half share in trusty motor vehicle. A $750, 1995 (or is it 1997 I can't remember) Ford Windstar...think Toyota Tarago...little less refined...a lot more American.
It has 7 seats, a V6 engine, electric windows (one of which doesn't work - yep that's right the driver's window), cruise control, air conditioning, an AM/FM tape deck stereo and a mere 280,000km on the clock...one lady owner drove it the shops and back on weekends only - yeah right.
Of course the even funnier story is that when Pup went to buy it he was heading out to buy another van; but he got lost, stopped at a car yard for directions and well...the rest is history.
It has enormous buttons and switches in it, handles like a sponge cake and needs about 500m to come to a complete stop from any speed. But is is in pretty good nick mechanically and we love it!! And now that we have all saved a few dollars and the winter is drawing to a close we are taking it out on the road at any opportunity to visit the surrounding mountains.
From Big White there are a number of excellent ski hills between 2 and 5 hours away - weather permitting. In the past few weeks I have visited Revelstoke (photos to follow), Red Mountain and Big White's sister resort Silver Star (photos to follow) - which at only 2 hours away is a good option on the mornings they get fresh snow and we don't.
Making the trips even more affordable is that almost all the mountains in the interior of BC have a reciprocal arrangement for staff where the staff of each mountain are entitled, on average, to 2 free day passes and 4 additional day passes discounted by 50%. At Silver Star we ride for free all season so its just the cost of petrol.
A fortnight ago Tim, of North Vancouver fame, was heading to the interior with some mates of his for a 10 day tour of the local hills around Big White. I took a Friday night off work and joined him for the last three days of the trip which included Red Mountain and Big White. The 4 hour trip to Red took me pretty much due South to the US Border which I followed East for an hour or so before turning back to the North and up to Red. To break the ride up I stopped in Grand Forks for some chowder and picked a hitch hiker up for the 20km from Grand Forks to Christina Lake...nice guy (the hitchhiker that is).
Red is one of the oldest ski hills in North America with a history dating back almost to 1900. The ski area is actually made up of Red and Granite mountains which meet in a valley. Despite the name most of the ski-able terrain is actually on Granite. Granite is quite unique in that is a conical shaped ski hill ride-able on all sides - imagine if you asked a 5 year old boy to draw a mountain - they just drew Granite.
Red is famous for its steep terrain, excellent tree runs and extremely slow and ancient lift system. From the day lodge its a 28 minute trip to the top of Granite on two lifts...none of the chairs are detachable and you take your life in your hands boarding them. It's one mountain where the lifties actually posses an important skill set, swinging the chair just before you board to make the take-off bearable.
We got to Red a few days after a good dump and being a quieter hill there was still some good snow to be found in the trees. We rode in-bounds all day Friday and sampled most of the good areas on the hill. We even nipped up Red Mountain for one run just to tick that box.
We were kindly put up by some friends of Tim's in their beautiful ski-to/ski-from apartment and on Saturday they joined us on the hill. Knowing the area well and with little fresh snow in-bounds they took us past the ski-area boundary to hike the next ridge line (Record Ridge) for an unforgettable day of heavy hiking, fresh lines and deep powder. The long hike up was well worth it - so much so after lunch we did it all again.
I can`t remember where this is might have been the bottom of Beer Belly on the Friday...
After two great days of riding we set off back to Big White with Tim and I in my trusty van and the others in a nice new Landcruiser. Fair to say despite us leaving well ahead of the other and that they had to stop for fuel it was not us waiting at the top of Big White for them. It turns out the headlights on the old girl are not what they used to be. We got home eventually. 
It has 7 seats, a V6 engine, electric windows (one of which doesn't work - yep that's right the driver's window), cruise control, air conditioning, an AM/FM tape deck stereo and a mere 280,000km on the clock...one lady owner drove it the shops and back on weekends only - yeah right.
Of course the even funnier story is that when Pup went to buy it he was heading out to buy another van; but he got lost, stopped at a car yard for directions and well...the rest is history.
It has enormous buttons and switches in it, handles like a sponge cake and needs about 500m to come to a complete stop from any speed. But is is in pretty good nick mechanically and we love it!! And now that we have all saved a few dollars and the winter is drawing to a close we are taking it out on the road at any opportunity to visit the surrounding mountains.
From Big White there are a number of excellent ski hills between 2 and 5 hours away - weather permitting. In the past few weeks I have visited Revelstoke (photos to follow), Red Mountain and Big White's sister resort Silver Star (photos to follow) - which at only 2 hours away is a good option on the mornings they get fresh snow and we don't.
Making the trips even more affordable is that almost all the mountains in the interior of BC have a reciprocal arrangement for staff where the staff of each mountain are entitled, on average, to 2 free day passes and 4 additional day passes discounted by 50%. At Silver Star we ride for free all season so its just the cost of petrol.
A fortnight ago Tim, of North Vancouver fame, was heading to the interior with some mates of his for a 10 day tour of the local hills around Big White. I took a Friday night off work and joined him for the last three days of the trip which included Red Mountain and Big White. The 4 hour trip to Red took me pretty much due South to the US Border which I followed East for an hour or so before turning back to the North and up to Red. To break the ride up I stopped in Grand Forks for some chowder and picked a hitch hiker up for the 20km from Grand Forks to Christina Lake...nice guy (the hitchhiker that is).
Red is one of the oldest ski hills in North America with a history dating back almost to 1900. The ski area is actually made up of Red and Granite mountains which meet in a valley. Despite the name most of the ski-able terrain is actually on Granite. Granite is quite unique in that is a conical shaped ski hill ride-able on all sides - imagine if you asked a 5 year old boy to draw a mountain - they just drew Granite.
Red is famous for its steep terrain, excellent tree runs and extremely slow and ancient lift system. From the day lodge its a 28 minute trip to the top of Granite on two lifts...none of the chairs are detachable and you take your life in your hands boarding them. It's one mountain where the lifties actually posses an important skill set, swinging the chair just before you board to make the take-off bearable.
We got to Red a few days after a good dump and being a quieter hill there was still some good snow to be found in the trees. We rode in-bounds all day Friday and sampled most of the good areas on the hill. We even nipped up Red Mountain for one run just to tick that box.
We were kindly put up by some friends of Tim's in their beautiful ski-to/ski-from apartment and on Saturday they joined us on the hill. Knowing the area well and with little fresh snow in-bounds they took us past the ski-area boundary to hike the next ridge line (Record Ridge) for an unforgettable day of heavy hiking, fresh lines and deep powder. The long hike up was well worth it - so much so after lunch we did it all again.
The morning sun on the snow of Record Ridge
Part way up the ridge - looking back towards Granite Mountain.
Tree
Looking back over Granite Mountain from the top of Record Ridge
Looking away from Granite Mountain from the top of record ridge
Heading back down the side of Record Ridge back towards Granite
Bottom of Powder Fields - Granite Mountain
Coming down off Record Ridge after lunch
Tony coming down off Record Ridge
I can`t remember where this is might have been the bottom of Beer Belly on the Friday...
After two great days of riding we set off back to Big White with Tim and I in my trusty van and the others in a nice new Landcruiser. Fair to say despite us leaving well ahead of the other and that they had to stop for fuel it was not us waiting at the top of Big White for them. It turns out the headlights on the old girl are not what they used to be. We got home eventually.
The next day we broke things up with a spot of skiing at Big White as the snow was average. I have posted the photos below to prove that I have actually learnt how to stand on my skis. The guys that taught me to ski are making their way home tomorrow morning. They leave on a month long trip through the states in a 1994 Ford Explorer that they picked up at the auctions in Kelowna for $1,000...great old car - all the best fellas.
Yeah yeah yeah...
...I know...I'm useless at this thing. I do appreciate the comments of Fairlie and Wil El-dropper in keeping me honest.
Fairlie - good detective work there is somebody else...taking the photos that is.
In fact in completely abandoning this thing for a few weeks I actually gained a follower - says a lot really.
Fairlie - good detective work there is somebody else...taking the photos that is.
In fact in completely abandoning this thing for a few weeks I actually gained a follower - says a lot really.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)