Skiing the Canadian Rockies!
19 Feb, 09 - 18:20
Dana thinks about the ski season while making his way up the Amphu
Laptse Glacier(19000ft) while on the 2008 Secret Spot Tilman Trek
It's said that if you learn to climb in the Canadian Rockies you can climb anywhere in the world. The same may be said for back country skiing. The Canadian Rockies, especially the front range is known for its variable snow profile and periodic extreme avalanche hazard. This year, so far, has been an exceptional year as to how far the typical rotten Rockies snow pack has extended into the interior ranges. But hey, it's something you can learn to deal with and with enough training and experience in these conditions a few good turns can still safely be found. Also, you gotta learn how to ski on depth hoar, sun crusts, and wind slabs while avoiding the rocks, stumps, and alders if you want to get out there and have some fun. The winter is too long out here to just cocoon in the comforts of the city.
On the other hand we are very fortunate in Calgary to have half a dozen ski resorts within two hours of town if the hazards are too extreme to venture out into the back country. So there is really no reason, other than your personal minimum threshold temperature (-30C?!), to not strap on some form of board to your feet and find a slope to set your track.
Dana 'boot packs' his way up Sentinal Pass in the Canadian Rockies
So far this season we have been out in Kananaskis Country, Banff, Kootenay and Glacier National Parks and have found a few new slopes, ski tours, and views to keep our selves enthralled. At times I've even managed to keep my ratio of turns to falls on the positive side, sometimes not! This weekend a few of us are headed up onto the Wapta Glacier touring between the Peyto and Bow Huts (both well known to Phill), maybe bag a peak and seek out a powder stash (we can only hope).
I get asked by coworkers, family, and friends why I go out there in the backcountry and ski UP a hill when there is a perfectly good and safe ski lift a few miles away. A legend and pioneer of Canadian mountaineering said it best:
______
"In the end, to ski is to travel fast and free - free over untouched snow country. To be bound to one slope, even one mountain, by a lift may be convenient but it robs us of the greatest pleasure that skiing can give, that is to travel through the wide wintry country; to follow the lure of peaks which tempt on the horizon and to be alone for a few days or even hours in clear, mysterious surroundings."
Hans Gmoser
______
Keep your tips up and your toes warm!
DANA ENGLER | Logistician
Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.com
It's said that if you learn to climb in the Canadian Rockies you can climb anywhere in the world. The same may be said for back country skiing. The Canadian Rockies, especially the front range is known for its variable snow profile and periodic extreme avalanche hazard. This year, so far, has been an exceptional year as to how far the typical rotten Rockies snow pack has extended into the interior ranges. But hey, it's something you can learn to deal with and with enough training and experience in these conditions a few good turns can still safely be found. Also, you gotta learn how to ski on depth hoar, sun crusts, and wind slabs while avoiding the rocks, stumps, and alders if you want to get out there and have some fun. The winter is too long out here to just cocoon in the comforts of the city.
On the other hand we are very fortunate in Calgary to have half a dozen ski resorts within two hours of town if the hazards are too extreme to venture out into the back country. So there is really no reason, other than your personal minimum threshold temperature (-30C?!), to not strap on some form of board to your feet and find a slope to set your track.
So far this season we have been out in Kananaskis Country, Banff, Kootenay and Glacier National Parks and have found a few new slopes, ski tours, and views to keep our selves enthralled. At times I've even managed to keep my ratio of turns to falls on the positive side, sometimes not! This weekend a few of us are headed up onto the Wapta Glacier touring between the Peyto and Bow Huts (both well known to Phill), maybe bag a peak and seek out a powder stash (we can only hope).
I get asked by coworkers, family, and friends why I go out there in the backcountry and ski UP a hill when there is a perfectly good and safe ski lift a few miles away. A legend and pioneer of Canadian mountaineering said it best:
______
"In the end, to ski is to travel fast and free - free over untouched snow country. To be bound to one slope, even one mountain, by a lift may be convenient but it robs us of the greatest pleasure that skiing can give, that is to travel through the wide wintry country; to follow the lure of peaks which tempt on the horizon and to be alone for a few days or even hours in clear, mysterious surroundings."
Hans Gmoser
______
Keep your tips up and your toes warm!
DANA ENGLER | Logistician
Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
PhillMichael.com
Posted by Phill Michael at 2/22/2009 12:58 PM 
Categories: Medtronic, Satellite Phone Store, SecretSpotAlaska, Frick, Sherpa, Nepal, Everest, SecretSpotAfrica, Kathmandu, Oakley, tibet, SecretSpot.NET, Tilman Trek, Denali, Kilimanjaro, secretspot7summits.com, Phill Michael, Seven Summits, SecretSpotEverest.com, SecretSpot.TV, Surefire
Categories: Medtronic, Satellite Phone Store, SecretSpotAlaska, Frick, Sherpa, Nepal, Everest, SecretSpotAfrica, Kathmandu, Oakley, tibet, SecretSpot.NET, Tilman Trek, Denali, Kilimanjaro, secretspot7summits.com, Phill Michael, Seven Summits, SecretSpotEverest.com, SecretSpot.TV, Surefire
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