Joffre Slide, May 12

A massive rock slide happened on Joffre Peak. It covered the trail to a very popular hut. Luckily nobody got hit by it.

Pique report.

Easter 2013

What a difference compared to the same weekend last year which was our best powder weekend of the season (http://bcwetcoast.blogspot.ca/2012/04/april-powder-april-1st.html). Same location as last year, Duffey Lake Road, but the weather was almost summer-like. Temperatures were in the high teens in Pemberton. We still decided on a ski trip and toured up Anniversary Glacier. Gorgeous weather, fantastic views of the high peaks and glaciers around us and on the way down corn snow. Not sure I’m into this kind of snow too much; powder is still my preferred skiing ‘substrate’. But the scenery was definitely worth the effort!

Enjoying the view on top of Anniversary Glacier while our friend Alex bags Matier

Mt Spetch and Slalok Mt

After skiing down Anniversary Glacier (we were up in the snowy col between Matier and Joffre) AR photo.

Happy Easter

Linus & Cornwall - Sept 22/23

After seemingly endless weeks of sunshine the weather didn’t cooperate with our plans for a heli&fly trip in the Tantalus Range near Squamish.

On to plan B which was exploring the Downton area on the Duffy Lake Road. We had done one trip up to Statimcet quite a few years ago. Great area with 4WD access to 1700 meters. There was a recent trip report on Clubtread of some fabulous ridge scrambling (Soprano-Contralto-Schroeder-Linus-Statimcet) and we decided to check it out.

Again, Downton didn't disappoint. We made our way up to the col between Schroeder and Linus and ridge-scrambled over huge blocks to the top of Linus. Along the way was some mild exposure and a fun knife-edge ridge, which seemed a bit too pointy for a-cheval (in mountaineering terms to cross a ridge straddling it like a horse). Fantastic views of small alpine lakes behind every ridge, and of Lost Creek Valley, Birkenhead, Cayoosh, Joffre and Matier.

Relaxed scrambling on Linus ridge

Part of me wanted to stay for more exploring the next day, but we had made plans to meet with friends near Ashcroft. So off we drove through Lillooet, Pavilion and Marble Canyon with its freshwater corals or stromatolites (must check them out sometime). Then we turned onto graveled Hat Creek Road, a nice short-cut along a valley with scenic ranches. After a few turns the road was getting smaller, bumpier and looking somewhat unused. But just after we turned on our GPS for confirmation, we met up with our friends on the spur road up to Cornwall viewpoint. Together we watched the beautiful sunset from the old fire look-out (elevation 2036 meter) over a couple of beer and Andrei's special chocolate-brandy mix.

On top of the world at Cornwall

Next morning we relaxed in the sun with sage-brush and coffee smells, did some peak-spotting (Jesmond near the Fraser Canyon and Pyramid at the Nahatlach, both places we had visited before) and watched a bear browsing on the slope across from our launching spot. Despite a few cycles starting to come in, the flight down to Ashcroft Manor was a sled ride. But a long, scenic and very enjoyable sled-ride (1600 meters elevation difference).

April Powder, April 1st

What a weekend! Cherry blossoms are finally out in Vancouver. Whistler got another meter of snow in the last 4 days. Plans were made to head to the Duffey Lake Road expecting OK conditions. What we found was excellent delightful fluffy pow! Initially our plan was to explore a different slope on Chief Pascal, but we found a fresh uptrack leading to our usual go-to place. We decided that our energy would be better spent on powder runs and not on putting in another track. Fortunately the trail-breakers ventured beyond ‘our spot’ leaving it untouched.

 In the evening the decision was made that this was worth staying the night in Pemberton for a repeat mission on Sunday. Over night it snowed another 20-30 cm and the skiing was even better. Weather was very variable with heavy snow, blue sky, sunshine and wind gusts. What a nice surprise to get the best powder of the season on April 1st. And not an April fools joke…

Skiing and Flying, February 2011

More airtime (still no snow on the logging road to Woodside launch) with sled rides but also longer flights (up to 1h) and skiing at the Duffy Lake Road.

Very snowy day at Duffy Lake - conditions were good for one run only. Had to point 'em straight down to keep moving. Don't think I have ever been that wet before when skiing.



A week later - sunny, cold and lots of fresh snow.




A day at Mt. Woodside on Vimeo

Woodside February 2011 from Wetcoast Views on Vimeo.

Duffey Powder Day, Dec 26

Best snow we ever had on the Duffy Lake Road!

Knee-deep freshies made trail breaking hard work, but the runs were sweet with face shots and snow flying over the head.

Who would have thought? Now that we finally get some nice weather, we are off to Hawaii - but I'm sure we will have some excellent adventures there too!

Duffey Lake Road - February 14/15

Finally made it to the Duffy Lake area. Avy conditions had kept us on our toes so far, but things seem to have settled down. Found enjoyable pow at Mt Chief Pascall, about 40 cm fresh on a solid base, despite overall shallow snow pack. We got only 3 runs done each day, on Saturday we started at noon, but it must have been the missing morning coffee on the second day. +12hr tent time confirmed our rule that one winter camping trip per year is enough.


12 hrs in the tent on Valentines Day - not as romantic as it sounds


Pow above Duffy Lake


Pete happy with our day

Powder Spring - March 29/30

This year brought spring ski conditions in February and now that spring is here the POW is back – yehaa! It was cold and rainy in Vancouver last week, but with a nice forecast we were off to the Duffey Lake again. Saturday was probably our biggest b/c day ever – over 2000 meter vertical. While south faces were getting cooked by the March sun, the north holds lots silky smooth POW. An avalanche path was visible from the road on a steep ridge line, so we keep exposure low on smaller features around tree line. Not wanting to repeat the chilly night experience in the tent from two weeks ago, we drove the short way back to Mt Currie and came back for another powder day on Sunday.

More pixs coming soon

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