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.

Powder Season Starts - January 27

Yeah, back in business! First ski weekend of the year for me. We paid a visit to Needle Peak on the Coquihalla and found hero conditions in the back bowl. Fifteen to twenty centimeters soft fluffy pow on a solid base – lots of fun and good turns.


Looking across Coquihalla Highway


Pete leaving a trail of cold smoke


On the way home after a good days work

I snuck (sneaked?) in a short trip up to Heather Meadows in November the day before I hurt my shoulder. May 28 to November 24 that's less than 6 months without skiing over the summer. Unfortunately I missed the first 2 months of this season - but the snow wasn't that great anyway... or was it?

A Different Angle - January 20

Seeing Vancouver from a different angle, from the beach at Boundary Bay. Our place is just below the red arrow. And no, we haven't moved into ocean front property. Our place is still about 17 km from the beach and 25 km from the top of Coliseum Mt.



Lots of eagles at Boundary Bay.