Blanket Glacier Chalet 2013/14

After the December drought and lack of snow we were not sure what to expect from our second visit at Blanket Glacier Chalet. But there was no reason for disappointment! Temperatures were warmer than last year, but still cold enough (-4 to -8 oC) for lots snow to fall. During our week it was almost 100 cm.

We didn’t quite reach our elevation gains from last year with over 10.000 meters climbed during the week, but got very close (250 meters short). Most days it snowed heavy which made the sauna look simply too tempting at the end of a long skiing day. We still got a couple of +1600 meter days in. Just like last year our fellow skiers (most from Alberta) were very keen and lots of fun to ski and hang out with.

Before the hut trip we skied at the Revy ski hill and crosscountry. And we almost had to stay longer. On the day we flew out of Blanket Highway 1 was closed due to avalanches, west and east of Revy. But when the highway opened we decided to leave. The line up at the ski lift was over two hundred meter long. Hard to get enthusiastic about lift line-ups after 7 days of untracked pow!

To the photgrapher's delight bright colors are in fashion again!

Pete enjoying some Monashee pow

Coming back to Blanket Glacier Chalet after a long ski day

Powder Easter Bunnies, April 2-4

Decisions, decisions! What to do for the first long weekend of the year?

Options are the traditional paddle trip to Oregon, flying in the Interior or slip back into winter mode and ski. Cold temperatures, fresh snow and a seat sale for the last weekend of operation at Monashee Powder Cats make the final decision easy – we are off for 3 days cat skiing.

We get excellent snow, meet great people to ski with (including a now 74 year old Floridian we met 2 years ago) and the same great service, delicious food and a hot tub in the snowstorm. The Easter Bunny wakes us with coffee and chocolate eggs on Sunday.

The guides are still a bit edgy about avalanche conditions. Just a couple of days ago a cornice triggered a major slide. We also hear many interesting stories about the sketchy conditions earlier this year, airbag deployments, ski cuts etc. Shows again how lucky we were with our Fairy Meadow trip.

“Spring” Cat Skiing, March 21/22

Best run of the weekend


Sometimes even catskiers have to hike


This time we picked the wrong weekend! Although the forecast called for highs of -2 to -5oC, it warmed up to plus 9oC. Avalanches came down all around us in a hurry. Two avalanche accidents involving snowmobilers this weekend in BC, but our guide Larry picked safe areas. Unfortunately the snow was far from perfect. Only a couple of runs each day in the powder we had hoped for. Oh well, you get some right, you get some wrong. Other than the bad snow conditions, we had lots of fun skiing with Monashee Mountain Cats, a great outfit with friendly and helpful staff and guides!


Avalanches everywhere

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