Hiking and Riding

With the spring weather and lack of snow dumping on us every second day, the ski patrol are able to open up some more terrain for us to play around in. But this stuff takes a bit of effort to get to. A lot of hiking for a little bit of riding. Well worth it.This was the first one. Just a small one that they normally open from the top but not this year due to instability, so up from the bottom it is. The boot track starts just above the two trees on the bottom left. 15 minute walk straight up for about 4 or 5 turns.

The next one took a bit more effort. A good 35 minute walk up on the left, all the way to the top. We rode down on the right.
A lot bigger when you are standing at the bottom of it.
Some cool snow sculptures shaped by the wind on the way up.
From the mid-way point. The chair lift is the flat groomed bit. A long way from where we started.Some snowed in trees.
A view out the back.
On top.
Halfway down.
Kate on a fresh line.Kate's line on the right, mine on the left. 2 chutes, 2 fresh lines. Well worth the hike. All on a 2 hour lunch break from work.Polar peak from the bottom.

For the next one I took Bella along with me.
Hard to make out but it is the upper part on the far ridge line. Hiking up a ridge line with a bowl on either side. One out of bounds the other in bounds.
This was a week earlier. It was closed then. Now it is open.

Road trippin'

With a new set of wheels at hand we hit the road. Although still with no money we targeted resorts we could ride at for free with our staff pass.

Kimberley
Just 90 minutes away from Fernie, this was a cool day trip. With only 3 chairs this is not a very big resort. Kind of local and small. This is looking down the main lift line.

Bella carving up what little snow was around.
Our housemates who joined us for the day, two aussie girls, Macca and Leets. Riding the old school double chair.
The highlight of the trip was these hot springs. Although they smelt like eggs and made cheap jewellery turn black, they were really refreshing and WARM!!!!
On the way for an icy dip in the flowing creek.

The record was 40 seconds of full body immersion. Intense cold with pins and needles everywhere. That is a chunk of snow i am holding. Luckily the 40 degree hot springs restored your warmth soon enough.

Sunshine VillageLots of sun. Our first extended trip was up to the Banff area, about 5 hrs north of Fernie.
More in the mountains that what Fernie is. About 700m higher in altitude makes a big difference. Snow everywhere, although not as deep as Fernie. They have only had 3m for the year versus the 9m we've had at Fernie.
The terrain park.The top of the mountain view.
Looking up the ridge line.

Lake Louise
Lake Louise base area. Bella at the top. The actual Lake Louise is to the left of Bella's head and is frozen over.
Looking down the top of the mountain. The right hand side leads down to the base area. The left side is mostly blacks and double blacks. Some guys contemplating double black diamonds in not great snow conditions.

Other stuff around Banff
Some Rocky Mountains.
Some old fancy hotel.A limesonte canyon called Johnstone Canyon. Created over 8,000 years due to water erosion.A frozen waterfall. Only frozen on the outside with the water still flowing underneath as evidenced by the bubbles in the pool.
Up close.Bella wandering through a wintery walking path.
Some happy trippers.