May 27 Kootenay Pass

 Thanks Greg Cambourn for for asking how my project is going.  I guess I have been distracted with other activities, I have been training with the Red Mountain Academy athletes, riding my bike quite a bit and have been spending a lot of time with the kids.  But the skiing continues.  Today was day 20.  There is still about 2 meters at the Kootenay pass, based on checking out snow melt around the trees.  I left very early this morning, the whole adventure took about four hours.

This would have been a nice line, since I was on my snowboard I kept hiking and got a wider and longer one

In the shade the snow was hard as concrete which made for easy hiking

The end of my run, decent vertical on sun softened snow.

I lifted this photo off the Kootenay Pass web cam, that's me getting back into my car, check out the time, I had an early start

17/21 and Onwards

Powder-hound Betsy. This was April 18, still winter

This was the cut-block I hiked.  Great winter conditions, about 10 cm of good quality powder

On April 22 I skied into Sunspot Cabin.  It was a dull rain day in Rossland but a winter paradise at Nancy Greene Pass

There is still about a 1.5 meter base at the pass

Simon Rora hiking up Red Mountain with Betsy and I.

Payment for turns to come

New snow on Red Mountain but yes it was very sticky

My challenge is continuing but I am not going to reach 30 days in 30 days.  I am now going for 30 days after Red Mountain's closing date.  I have 17 of the last 21 days in so far.  Missed one day with a family trip to Vernon, and other with just too much else going on.  Yet I carry on.

Blackjack Biathalon Trails

 Well I had no trouble finding a parking spot today.  Plus I got an extra workout by skiing through the 2 cm of wet new snow covering the trails.  So a lot (2) of good things effected my ski today which made up for the fact that it rained the entire time.  I was also comforted by the fact that I was not the only nutcase who skied today, I was following one other set of solitary tracks.

Day 9-10 by Twilight

 I am getting the job done on my 30 day challenge but only just.  Both yesterday and today I started hiking at 7:30 PM.  But both days got in a worthwhile run.

Yesterday was the Nonstop Lead Instructor meeting in Fernie, we spent the day discussing the operational aspects of the Nonstop program.  My plan was to balance the indoor duration of my day with a hike at Fernie resort when we were done.

To my surprise the Fernie had put up warning signs about not hiking the Resort runs, quite a different attitude from Red Mountain.  Since I am in the business I think I made a good judgement call to not blow off the Fernie policy, although I disagree with it.

Plan B was another stop at the Kootenay Pass.  It was a late departure, I started snowshoeing at 7:30 PM, the sun had already set.  I gave myself 30 minutes to get as high as I could. 

The light was bad on the way down, the hike was hard, and the 1 cm breakable (not supportive) crust was a significant challenge, and it was an excellent experience.

Today I undertook another twilight hike up the T-Bar and about 1/3 the way up Back Trail on Red Mountain.  Much better conditions on Red, my hike was rewarded with silky smooth turns on 1-2 cm of corn snow on a firm base.

Nonstop Wrap Up

I am in Fernie for the host wrap up.  We are meeting all day talking about the highs and lows of the past season, trying to learn and implement improvements for season 2015.

Pictured here during a rare breath of fresh air from left are Operations Director and Canadian Boss Man Dave Richards, Banff Host Manuela Olibera-Dorn, Fernie Host Goff Abbott, Sales and Marketing Manager Christy Sutherland, Myself, Course Administrator Dana Erickson, and Fernie Host Mark Hatch.

My ski adventure today was extreme.  I drove up to the resort early this morning (6:30) with a plan to skin up to the top of Bear Chair, unfortunately for me it was staff day so the groomers were on the runs in force and I just did not feel up to a possible confrontation.  Plan B quickly took shape, off I went to the Cross Country Trails.  It was terrifying, the slush from yesterday had frozen into solid blocks and holes of various sizes,  compounding the challenge was the fact that the trails at Fernie more closely resemble down hill skiing to cross country.  My skiing was not graceful and I am sure would have been quite entertaining to watch.  But I got the job done.

Kootenay Pass Tour

 I traveled to Fernie today and of course went over the Kootenay Pass, a perfect opportunity to stop for a two hour ski tour. 

What I really appreciated today was the solitude of being in the mountains skiing on my own, it was so peaceful.  This is quite a change compared to my typical ski day as skiing in the winter typically involves the responsibility of me leading a group.  I do love skiing with people but the changed was nice.  I got back into my car inspired.

This is the Ripple Ridge cabin.  I might have to re-visit it sometime this spring on an overnight venture.

Free Ski Day at 49 North

 I had a day with the Red Mountain Freeski Team at 49 North today.  Thanks 49 for the Free Lift Passes.  This was not special for the team but 49 does this for the last week of skiing every season.

Simon Hillis, Erin Flood, and Simon Impey got into the last day spirit with their skiing and with their fashion sense (see bottom photo).