Showing posts with label Paul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul. Show all posts

Monday, April 9, 2012

Spring Ski Weekend


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Spring has arrived to the Coast Range and as the weather calms down, we got out for a few days in the sun.


Sarah and I spent a morning ripping around Blackcomb on the goomed runs and after lunch decided we needed to find something a bit more interesting. We toured out of the resort and made our way to the Husume Couloir. The enterance requires a short bootpack.




This is a fun, steep, out of bounds run that sees a fair bit of traffic but is well shaded from the sun. With other slopes afected by melt-freeze from the sun, our run was still nice powder. The middle photo is three quarters of the way down the run as it widens out and eases off in angle.



The next day, I met up with Paul G and we toured out of Whistler to Fissile Peak. We beat the crowds and were the first ones to boot up the peak. We had out eyes on a steep chute down the north face with the hopes of finding powder. The climb up is a bit of a slog with a long steep bootpack on scree (very loose and slippery rock - vertical gravel almost) but we were rewarded with a perfect untracked powder line.



We took turns jumping into the chute and I lucked out snapping a picture of Paul mid-air.


Saddle chute drops off the foreground ridge from just below the summit. We were both pretty happy and headed back into Whistler for a late lunch and I got home to enjoy the sun on my deck.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Turns All Year



A heavy and long lasting snowpack this year made it possible to tick at least one day of skiing each of the last 12 months. These are the highlights. 

OCTOBER

Partner: Adam B.

Daytrip in new snow at Blowdown Pass.


NOVEMBER

Partners: Martin M

Lots of North Shore day trips in November to explore as the snow arrived.


DECEMBER

Partner: Alexis G.

Cross country race on Saturday and touring on Sunday at Callahan Park. Explored the Hanging Lake Trail and took a sauna at the UBC Hostel in Whistler afterward.


JANUARY

Partners: Dad, Martin M., Colin A., and Pro Guide G. Otis


FEBRUARY

Partner: Martin M. (and others)

A trip east through Roger's Pass, Kicking Horse, and the Icefields Parkway led us to the Chateau at Lake Louise. 10 Straight days of skiing and science at the 2011 Hypoxia Conference.


MARCH

Partner: Paul G.

Day Touring in fresh powder from Keith's hut in Cerise Creek


APRIL

Partner: Alexis G.

Spearhead traverse in Garibaldi Park over two days.


MAY

Partner: Adam B.

Climb North Ridge of Mount Baker and ski Coleman-Demming


JUNE

Partner: Alexis G.

Ski ascent/descent of Rainier's Dissapointment Cleaver. One push with short breaks at Muir each way. Just under 22 hrs car to car (from Paradise).

Lots of traffic on the lower mountain but good views!

Gibraltar Rock

Almost at the top!

Long drive home. Had to take turns.

JULY

Partners: Alexis G. and Dad

15 min of walking from the Elfin Lakes parking lot we were able to switch to skinning. We spent three nights at the Gargoyle Col. overlooking Atwell Pk. skiing and climbing in the area.

Just a few steep slopes to hike up. No crampons necessary.

Nice views of the Tantalus Range.

Warm weather made for decent skiing during the day.

We had a pretty fantastic view from camp.

The clouds lifted giving a nice view of the chief as we hiked out.

AUGUST

(Solo)

Semaphore Lakes is a quick approach (<1 hr) with a large snowy bowl on the south side of Locomotive mountain and only creek/tarn where skis had to be removed.

Put on skis right near Semaphore Lakes.

Skied the bowl behind.

SEPTEMBER

(Partner: Julie K)

A few laps on Heliotrope Ridge and a trip to the summit the next day. A bit of a stretch but still worth it. Coleman-Demming route still totally skiable with only a few small cracks to avoid and some rocks on the Baker-Colfax Col.

First turns off the ridge.

Getting ready to ski with the climbing route in the background. The mountain starting to look pretty bare.