Whistler/Blackcomb 2006

Schleping my skis up the trail to Taylor Meadows and the Black Tusk, about a 12 mile day (? at least!) with Scott and Doc, with around 4000 feet gain. This turns out to be a long long day...

Later on, we would put our skis on for the way down through the switchbacks, careening through on fast snow through the trees. I regretted having waxed my skis the weekend before! Those trees were flying by a little too close!

Pretty mossy tree forest.

Scott and I found a place with a view and listened to the rocks tumbling down the steep cliffs around us while we waited for Doc. I'm having a really good day, feeling strong and getting a great workout.

Played with the gray jays. I thought they were going to peck my eyes out for my sandwich.

Doc shows up behind us finally! He is not having such a good day. Postholing through the snow is really tiring, and we haven't had our skis on our backs in a while.

Doc and I skinning across the meadow ~ we FINALLY make it up to above treeline, and start to make our way up the hillsides we see in the distance to get some turns in.

We're working so hard looking straight ahead and forgetting to look behind us, but right behind us is this amazing view of the mountain range in the distance.

Doc wants to turn around! We've done a lot of work just to get to this point! And we still have to make it down. He's given it all he's got. We agree to meet up with Doc later at the hut we passed a while back.

Scott and I perservere, and continue skinning up in search of some turns that we've certainly earned! Here I am skinning my way up.

Right behind us is Lake Garibaldi, blanketed in snow, a beautiful scene. The weather is darkening, but I am really happy to be here in the hills with gorgeous winter scenery all around me. And we finally do get a few turns in on sweet snow!

So after I almost lose my head skiing down the trail we had hiked up in the morning (making fast work of it!), dodging all the trees and ducking beneath the branches, we find a little slope of snow below the trail. This appears to lead us right to the trailhead and parking lot. We can't resist. This is a lot more fun than skiing the switchbacks!

The slope is great fun to ski indeed, but we end up in this forest of bramble and devils club. Which is bad enough to fight your way through, but with skis on your back tipping you all over, and yanking you all over as they catch the branches you're trying to squeeze below, and you've got your clunky ski boots on, it's even worse! We're bushwacking now!

I am struggling to not get caught in branches, and keep my feet dry jumping through creeks, and keep Doc and Scott in sight as they navigate through looking for a passage. Eventually we come to the river that we know flows down eventually next to our car, but unfortunately here it runs into a cliff with no bankside to walk on, stopping our way. We also know this cliff leads to the trail. No choice, we either wade through a river crossing, or climb the cliff. Scott scouts out a route up the cliff that doesn't involve rock climbing, and we claw and pull our way up the cliff. Thank god, we make it back, and it's not even dark. This makes the day an adventure. I admit I was inventorying my pack, glad that I had brought my down coat with me! The beers taste good this day back at the ranch!

The next day, I'm exhausted, and happy to buy a lift ticket for the resort! We hook up with Phil and Martina for some yoyo skiing at Blackcomb.

The scenery here is so pretty too!

Yes, we did buy a lift ticket. But sure enough, Scott talks us into schleping our skis out of bounds up the slope to more views and powder snow. Here is Scott and Martina hiking up above the Blackcomb glacier.

Phil follows behind, the Blackcomb glacier below him.

I'm heading up, my skis tossed over my shoulder helter skelter. I'm such a professional.

The views make it worth it!

We stand around soaking it in. Goofing around!

There are so many mountains!

Phil and Martina.

Phil and Scott!

Scott and me!

We're still up here!

Time to go down. Or so I thought! Here Martina is hiking up higher along the ridge. I decide to descend on my own, agreeing to meet up with everyone later. I'm still pretty tired from the day before! I'm ready to stop hiking!

I get a shot of Scott skiing the powder before I go.

Phil in heaven.

Scott takes the camera while I head down ~ he takes some pictures and cool movies of their further adventure.

Martina scoping out a line.

And there she goes!

I run into them at the top of Seventh Heaven as they are traversing through the tunnel on the way to the glacier chair. Seventh heaven is scrapy and icy. I was headed that way too.

Later, Phil and Martina decide to hike up above the Blackcomb glacier again, but Scott and I are deterred by the thick fog ~ who knows what is up or down in this pea soup ~ and we decide instead to leave the glacier for the runs below where we can actually see! Good thing we hiked up earlier and saw the views. We run into George and Doc giving the glacier a go too.

Scott on the lift. We can see here at least!

The next day we ski at Whistler, this time with Phil Martina George Doc and Scott and I. Here is a shot of Phil and Martina, the two lower specks, in a double black run in the gullys off the Harmony chair. I decided not to do that one! Although it doesn't look bad from this angle ~ it is really an overhanging entry.

But this is a double black too! Scott in the Cockalarum run off the Peak chair. Awesome snow. This is obviously not much of a double diamond!

One of our last runs, although the ski down to our condo lasts a lifetime! The runs are so long here!