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")

February avalanche conditions vary widely

What happened to all the nice snow?

Coquihalla and Mt Baker highways closed due to avy danger. During last week the Coquihalla got 50 cm in 6 hrs with 100 km/h winds. Avy forecast EXTREME. FL going up over 1000 meter. What to do? An urban paddle.

The Coquihalla actually stayed closed for 10 days. For a day or two, Highway 1 was closed also, leaving the route through Manning Park the only option to travel to the Interior.

Such a wide range of avy conditions during February, with both the triple 'Extreme' and triple 'Low' is something we don't get to see very often on the coast.

More Pow - February 2/3

In The Needle Trees


Looks like I got back on my skis just in time. Cold temps and lots of snow even in the city during the week produced the best N’shore pow ever (IMHO). Did a little solo stroll up First Pump Saturday PM. On Sunday we went back to Needle, where all of last weekend’s blemishes in the Front Trees were covered adequately. Our group of 8 laid down a bunch of sweet lines in deep pow – hopefully to be covered when next weekend comes around....


UBC from Mt Seymour. So close so far away.










Time to go home.