Monashee Pow – March 24/25

Winter has come back to BC – so we signed up for a last-minute deal at Monashee Powder Adventures for some cat skiing over the Easter weekend. The Monashees are known as part of the powder belt. Just like two years ago when we enjoyed over 170 cm of new snow during our week at Sol Mountain Touring we were not disappointed.


Top of the World!

Our mixed crew (Kelowna, Kamloops, Burnaby, Friday Harbor, Florida) met in Cherryville. Since the MPA school buss had sustained irreparable damage Pete got to drive the more dependable company Suburban to the trailhead. But his hopes of also steering the cat up the hill did not pay out. Nevertheless – he got to ride in the co-pilot seat while the rest of the crew in the back watched the fun-o-meter pendulum indicate increasing levels of delight.


Co-pilot Pete


The Fun-o-meter


Pete is clearly exited!

What is else to report? Very friendly and helpful staff, fantastic gourmet food (never had an organic buffalo steak like this before), hot tub in the snow and most importantly endless flights through fluffy pow. Just enough time in the cat on the way up to rest our legs, eat a bite and get ready for the next run. And there is huge terrain to choose from – we didn’t even put a scratch in the snow. 17,000 acres for our tracks only (that’s more than twice the size of Whistler/Blackcomb). Too bad our time wasn’t really endless. The two days went by so fast and the season at MPA is over!


Cold Smoke - ready, set, go!


My line


Mr GS turns from Friday Harbor


Good Work!


On to the next slope


Yeah... looks good!


Pete stirring up some pow


That's what life is like with 70! Every day! Actually Jim is 71 and skis 90 days a season


Don't have to wait till 70!


Matt sampling the pow


Last run of the day


Apres ski after dropping some frozen waterfalls - no, not we... a bunch of kids


Snowmo lessons befor driving back down the hill, self-serve style

Easter Bunnies Snowed In, March 21

Pretty amazing: while the first cherries blossom in town, the Shore got almost 1 meter fresh snow last week, 26 cm alone since yesterday; so we really had to check this out. Three quick morning runs in fantastic pow – the cold weather last week paid off! I just love skiing through the giant old growth cedars and dougis, with some glimpses of Howe Sound and Georgia Straight far below and the busy ski hill around the corner. No Easter Bunnies observed!


Uptrack between giant trees


Big Dougy


First run down


Tree slalom


Weird jpeg effect around my head


More of Pete


and me...


Howe Sound below


Scenery

Marriott Basin, March 15-16

In our old age we seem to get out only for one or two trips that involve sleeping in a tent in the snow. And night temps of –20oC in Marriott Basin raised some doubts if this is really that much fun: humping big packs, cooking dinner in falling snow, beddy-time at 7:30. But in compensation: fantastic untracked boot-top pow on the north slopes. That was until the dwellers from Wendy Thompson hut discovered how much fun we had and came out in droves! But by that time we had already finished 3 runs and it started snowing and vis went to nil. Time to pack up and ski back to the car. After two weekends of Whistler lift skiing I had almost forgotten how sweet it is to ski the pow.


First Uptracks


Contemplating the best line


Pretty good lines, uh?


It was so good we had to give it a second try!


Warm in our fluffy jackets


I think Pete's toothbrush froze

Valkyr Pow - February 18 to 25

Back to Valkyr Adventures for another excellent ski trip with a great gang! Fantastic sunshine, blue skies, starry nights and a lunar eclipse thrown in for extra entertainment. Although nothing fresh came down while we were at the Lodge, we found lots of protected and fluffy pow in northwest exposures. New untouched slopes every day from Stoney and Heart Trees, Viking, Grizzly, Fish Lake to the Time Piece Ridge. Pete and Greg explored almost every chute they could find. The days were completed by gourmet dinners, sauna and Martin’s stories (watch those shovels)! And after a ‘powder day’ (what powder?) last weekend at Whistler – I gained new appreciation for the excellent snow at Valkyr.


Above the clouds and above Lower Arrow Lake


Heli-in and out


Greg scouting the next runs from the lodge



Kath and Dave having some powder fun


Donna and Dave, on to the next adventure


The Gang in front - Naumulten Mt (2475m) in the back


Apres Ski Valkyr Style


Sunset and Sauna


Lunar Eclipse


Another day at the office


Mt Rollins and Rollins Pass


Heart Trees after our visit


Getting ready to drop into Fish Lake


Waiting for the heli-out (Donna, Katherine, Tim, Greg, Claudia, Pete, Geoff, Dave and Martin)


Lower Arrow Lake


Pete, Dave and Martin's friendly Llamas (very snuggly and "snorty")