Alberta/BC stoke & conditions

Tomorrow could be the last good day for a while. Gonna warm up and rain this weekend by the looks of things. Hopefully the forecast is wrong.
 
Some footage from the past month. A mix of resort (Sunshine & Lake) and Banff area backcountry.

[video]https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/750776.0/The-Turn-of-the-Year?c=2&o=8&t=6[/video]
 
Incase any one was looking do some touring around the Duffey Lake region; I went up to Keith's Hut today with some friends, the creek crossings are getting pretty thin, one actually broke on us and 2 had big cracks in them. Snow is really heavy, can't say I'd recommend going up there before we get some new snowfall.
 
Well, the Jr Comp in Red went off in the pouring rain. Meanwhile it was -2, bluebird and 20cm of fresh at kicking horse. The skiing is still sick here but damn, shitty timing to leave home.
 
13309297:hemlockjibber8 said:
Well, the Jr Comp in Red went off in the pouring rain. Meanwhile it was -2, bluebird and 20cm of fresh at kicking horse. The skiing is still sick here but damn, shitty timing to leave home.
Click to expand...

I saw that it was raining...doesn't look fun.

It's supposed to warm up a ton in Golden now, like 6 and rain....I sure hope not, but damn.

Also, even though it dumped, I don't think we missed much, it looked so ridiculously busy.
 
Just got back from one of the funnest weeks of my life. Shredding Sorcerer Lodge BC, got super lucky. last minute cancelation and we showed up to 30cms of fresh the first night and then the second last night we got another 30cm dump. The Final night before we we're heli'd out in the am it rained to 2000m and above.

Should be able to have some good vid footage of the trip soon but for now heres a quick screenshot

View attachment 750978
 
Skied a slack lap at RMR today. Things are skiable again. was home but noon and its been snowing since then. There was enough wind and the little snow that was available for transport was starting the form the odd slab here and there. Something to consider with this current system.

 
well christ on a cracker. go skiing now cause the freezing level is going back up to 2500m by weeks end. Should we start a fishing thread? Cause thats what i am thinking of doing instead of slush skiing, skiing in the rain, ect. its February, gosh darn!
 
Gave Kootenay Pass a go today, and it left a lot to be desired. Snowboarders had a fun enough time, but I wasn't very stoked on the snow. Rain runnels up to 1900M, really wet, dense snow above that. Spent some time in a SSE pit at 2070M and we were having the mid January surface hoar reacting on Hard 3/4...

Unless you're going out tomorrow though it's kind of irrelevant, 'cause the temp spike on Thursday will probably change things.

What is an unemployed ski bum to do? Catan is getting old.
 
13329188:Drail said:
Gave Kootenay Pass a go today, and it left a lot to be desired. Snowboarders had a fun enough time, but I wasn't very stoked on the snow. Rain runnels up to 1900M, really wet, dense snow above that. Spent some time in a SSE pit at 2070M and we were having the mid January surface hoar reacting on Hard 3/4...

Unless you're going out tomorrow though it's kind of irrelevant, 'cause the temp spike on Thursday will probably change things.

What is an unemployed ski bum to do? Catan is getting old.
Click to expand...

seriously i think im going fishing.
 
just unpacked the winter tent and getting the camping gear sorted. if the skiing sucks i might just go hang out somewhere cool for a few days and make the best of it. Do some long exposure stuff in the pass or something.
 
this makes me sad, Washington is fucked, heading to Fernie in March was supposed to be he saving grace of my season
 
13330238:Sklar said:
this makes me sad, Washington is fucked, heading to Fernie in March was supposed to be he saving grace of my season
Click to expand...

Hate to say it but Fernie's fucked. Been raining for 2 weeks, there's rivers running down the middle of groomers. You can even see the slides on the hill from down in town. I'm praying for a crazy march but I'm slowly giving up hope :(
 
13331823:PowPirate said:
Hate to say it but Fernie's fucked. Been raining for 2 weeks, there's rivers running down the middle of groomers. You can even see the slides on the hill from down in town. I'm praying for a crazy march but I'm slowly giving up hope :(
Click to expand...

Any actual terrain has slid. If the freezing level follows what is forecast this weekend that could be the end of it.

I said fuck it after yesterday and drove to banff to crash on a buddy's couch. Skied the Lake today, it's not all time but at least it's winter.
 
13332491:flatland said:
Any actual terrain has slid. If the freezing level follows what is forecast this weekend that could be the end of it.

I said fuck it after yesterday and drove to banff to crash on a buddy's couch. Skied the Lake today, it's not all time but at least it's winter.
Click to expand...

I don't think any rocks or trees slid but they've had problems from Fish Bowl all the way to Currie. This guy sums up the skiing better than I can. He posts on his blog about what he's ridden and the conditions everyday.

http://www.billhandley.com

It was better than I thought up there, you can still have some fun it just skis like late spring at best...
 
13332771:Sklar said:
How do you think the cat ops around fernie are doing?

/Are they doing?
Click to expand...

Well around the last week of Jan/start of Feb both Island Lake Lodge and FWA closed for a week. The Yellowstone Club and Justin Timberlake left Island Lake early because it had to close. Not sure how they're doing now though.. Island Lake is higher so it might be a bit better.

Just found this pic of Lizard headwall on facebook

10828112_941719489206464_6327220422550380444_o.jpg
 
I've been skiing(speedriding) once in the past month... The conditions and weather are so horribly un-motivating! Guess it gives me some focus at work. To bad. Hoping for a good March, but won't hold my breath.
 
13333462:PoLaRpEaK said:
I've been skiing(speedriding) once in the past month... The conditions and weather are so horribly un-motivating! Guess it gives me some focus at work. To bad. Hoping for a good March, but won't hold my breath.
Click to expand...

Unmotivating indeed. Out walkin the dog in a shirt today. Sun is out today and it's 5pm in Newfoundland so I'm heading to a patio for some beers.
 
13333474:Drail said:
Unmotivating indeed. Out walkin the dog in a shirt today. Sun is out today and it's 5pm in Newfoundland so I'm heading to a patio for some beers.
Click to expand...

I guess there's a small plus side to it all. Warm walks to work, driving with the windows down, low energy bills, patio beers! 16 in Calgary at the moment, I wonder if any patios are open.
 
13333548:PoLaRpEaK said:
I guess there's a small plus side to it all. Warm walks to work, driving with the windows down, low energy bills, patio beers! 16 in Calgary at the moment, I wonder if any patios are open.
Click to expand...

Rooftop patio is open at my house, and by rooftop patio I mean just on the roof
 
13333573:rudager said:
Rooftop patio is open at my house, and by rooftop patio I mean just on the roof
Click to expand...

Haha that's awesome. Any of you guys winter camped out in kananaskis back country? Any rules aside from no burning the natural fire wood, and bring out what you bring in?
 
Skied KH today. Inbounds was as expected, got pretty warm and turned into mashed potatoes about halfway down CPR. Got one line down the backside of Reudi's into Molar that was pretty stellar. Coast-esque snow but plenty to go around. The bobsled track down the creek bed was a horror show.
 
13333668:PoLaRpEaK said:
Haha that's awesome. Any of you guys winter camped out in kananaskis back country? Any rules aside from no burning the natural fire wood, and bring out what you bring in?
Click to expand...

i called a few winters ago about camping in k country and they said no basically. I Think if you just do it no one will say boo.
 
A special avalanche bullitin was issued by the parks this weekend. The avy rating was considerable considerablehttp://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=19299&oPark=100092

A compression test video showing how shite the conditions actually were a couple small taps to slab, then a scooping up of this rocky mountain sea salt underneath with forms the base layer. It's a facebook video so I can't post a link either google "Mountain Safety February 14 at 4:17pm ·

Visitor Safety digging a snow profile at the Observation Sub Peak." Scroll down until you find the video...

Or search for the Parks mountain safety group on FB^

This is a photo I took as I was climbing a ridge to access bowls beyond Lake Louise boundaries.

fc0506.jpg


I watched a massive natural avalanche get triggered spanning from Mt.Richards to Pika's Peak it was about a mile wide ripping to base. I tried to take video of it while I stood in aw I couldn't zoom in far enough the footage was quite shite, but here's another picture.

110wutj.jpg


20095h.jpg


This video was taken in Banff Feb 15th, it's really kind of Crazy.

This is a photo of the black prince slide that caught 5 skiers none of whom were buried, but a 34 year old Skier from Canmore died from injuries sustained in the slide. Respect to his family and Friends SIP.

2q029lh.jpg

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/developing-two-injured-in-kananaskis-avalanche

On Saturday I was tromping around solo scouting out new terrain. In short I got away with the choices I'd made for ski routes. On Saturday I was skiing with a partner in Kootney Pass, and we saw lots of evidence of activity we choose to ski a windburnt low aspect ridgeline, and exit via the trees. The base we're skiing on everywhere this year is absolute trash from Whistler all the away to Kcountry. Deep persistent weak layer. This isn't the year to be think Big.
 
Green light. If you can get an edge in, you might as well go for the steep exposed shit. The snowboarders I'm riding with have their axes out.
 
13341164:Drail said:
Green light. If you can get an edge in, you might as well go for the steep exposed shit. The snowboarders I'm riding with have their axes out.
Click to expand...

Not around Banff, things are still super sketchy around here.
 
Getting a bit of snow now in Revelstoke. Hoping for 5 or so. thinking of skiing Mac Daddy tmrw or the next day. Anyone been down that drainage? pretty sure its a straightforward skin back into greely.
 
13341416:ChasingFlakes said:
Getting a bit of snow now in Revelstoke. Hoping for 5 or so. thinking of skiing Mac Daddy tmrw or the next day. Anyone been down that drainage? pretty sure its a straightforward skin back into greely.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's pretty simple. The traverse from the bowl to the skin track will probably be real sporty right now though
 
The snow is coming!

KH has been skiing alright considering. Skied slack this past Monday and there were some good turns. A lot of bad ones too. Refrozen pinwheels were terrifying and breakable crust on the ski out from Reudi's and Molars was terrible. We still have snow top to bottom and as I said, more is coming! Here's to a strong end of season.
 
Just got back from a little over 2 weeks in Nicaragua, definitely don't feel like I missed out! Heading for a fun little traverse over the next couple of days and then hopefully winter returns. If not I'll be couloir hunting for sure!

Heres hoping for some more snow!
 
Just a heads up for you locals. Time to clear out my skis and become a minimalist so here's your chance to get a bunch of large pow skis. I've got a sexy quiver that just doesn't hit the spot for me. Prices don't include shipping. Skis located in Golden. I can easily get them to Lake Louise and Canmore.

$600

189cm DPS Lotus 120 Pure (spoon)

Skied a dozen times. Mounted once for Radical FT at +2 for a 285mm.

MINT condition. Bases barely even have superficial marks.

$650

188cm Faction Chapter w/ Salomon STH2 16 (will sell without bindings)

(142 116 132mm Radius: 19m

Weight: 2030 Gm/Ski)

Skied 20 times. Mounted for 292mm at Freeride mounting point.

One good core shot plus two small ones that have been repaired. Top sheet minor scratches and a few tiny chips.

$250

191cm Head Cyclic 115

Mounted twice. Once for Tyrolia demo bindings at -5cm and once for STH2 at -2cm for a 292mm.

Skied 4 times by me and demoed before me. Typical wear. 1 major and one minor core shot repair plus scratches.

Click link for photos.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...DPS-Lotus-120-Faction-Chapter-Head-Cyclic-115
 
Thinking of checking out Kananaskis saturday, conditions seem stable and a bit of snow to soften things up, will report back.
 
13350216:PoLaRpEaK said:
Thinking of checking out Kananaskis saturday, conditions seem stable and a bit of snow to soften things up, will report back.
Click to expand...

k country looks acceptable. Kapow got a good refresh. May bet is aster lakes area hold da most snows
 
Looks like I'm heading to Renie Wilderness Adventures with the Revision Skis crew March 16-19. I have a couple extra days to play with on the tail end as well.
 
13351059:ChasingFlakes said:
k country looks acceptable. Kapow got a good refresh. May bet is aster lakes area hold da most snows
Click to expand...

It was actually pretty fantastic! Quite a number of people out there and some bigger lines being skied, was fun to watch/participate.
 
How are things looking in the Lake Louise area? I'm heading up there this weekend to ski the lake for a few days then do a 5 day back country trip in banff. Reports don't look too good but hopefully somebody can give me a first hand report.
 
^^, Stability is going quite well right now, ski quality is super variable but on sheltered N aspects above 2000m there is still light dry pow to be skied. Went for a wander up Mt Hector today, ski quality was actually not bad given its a pretty exposed high alpine face. Things aren't premium but the hills skiing really nice and the weather has been beautiful!
 
Some footy from the few days my gopro had battery at Sorcerer lodge Bc so much fun!

[video]https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/760064.0/Fun-in-some-Selkirk-Pillows[/video]
 
13360453:ShredMasterPlus said:
Some footy from the few days my gopro had battery at Sorcerer lodge Bc so much fun!

[video]https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/760064.0/Fun-in-some-Selkirk-Pillows[/video]
Click to expand...

That was so sick dude, looks like the most fun terrain ever.
 
13359003:ShredMasterPlus said:
^^, Stability is going quite well right now, ski quality is super variable but on sheltered N aspects above 2000m there is still light dry pow to be skied. Went for a wander up Mt Hector today, ski quality was actually not bad given its a pretty exposed high alpine face. Things aren't premium but the hills skiing really nice and the weather has been beautiful!
Click to expand...

Word, I'm here now and skied sunshine yesterday and Lake Louise today, not much snow but Lake Louise was still pretty fun. I head out on the Wapta traverse Tuesday for a 5 day trip so hopefully we can ski some good snow out there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top