do british armed forces still do training at fortress? i saw a whole bunch of them at YYC last week and that's the only other place i've seen them...
i would like a closer option with good snow. i'd definitely do fortress if it ever reopened.
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do british armed forces still do training at fortress? i saw a whole bunch of them at YYC last week and that's the only other place i've seen them...
i would like a closer option with good snow. i'd definitely do fortress if it ever reopened.
It's been raining the last little while , snowing at higher elevations and the freezing levels are dropping:yourock:
According to the signs posted at Fortress it may reopen as a cat ski operation (if things go well) in December 2013. Only about 795 days to go! I'm not sure how long it's been there but a big yellow cat is sitting on site which seems ready to take people up. I guess it's just gonna sit there for the next couple of years? Did the British even train at all there after it closed down? I knew the guy who ran the guiding company but haven't been in touch with him for years.
I miss Fortress.... Can't wait to return one year for an overnight ski tour. Are the upper lift/ patrol huts still standing and worthy of an overnight? Or better off bringing a tent?
Oh and I will check in stating my pass holding status and level of radness...
Pass: Marmot Basin Level of Radness 7.9 and climbing. Also looking forward to my one or two times a year trip to the Pass...
repete, the brits were there in the summer of 2004. i don't remember whether 03/04 was the last winter it was open, or the winter before it.
It looks like every single building is still standing in all its "glory", I saw nothing which has been dismantled since the lifts stopped running. I passed by the upper Farside but I hardly gave it a passing glance, it's possible the doors are locked so I would advise bringing a tent. All the main buildings frontside are boarded up and are nothing more than freestanding scrap.
I think 03/04 was the last season, I have my doubts if the Brits were still heading out there after that but I really don't know.
I think that the gates have been locked for a few years, but some of the ex-SSV staff, has been up working with the new owners on avi safety, risk management, etc.
I was up at Fortress a few years ago for an overnight. There was (and may still be) a custodian who stays up there in one of the condo buildings, so I would not suggest trying to use a building up there.
That custodians a cool dude, don't do anything to make his job a hassle.
Lots of snow up and down the parkway. Some one should get some tommorrow. I would think the glaciers would be skiing nice...as long as you don't ski into a slot lol.
if you follow the MCR list you'ld have heard of Barry Blanchard, a guide from Canmore who's very active there. I do not personally know him, but there was a great interview of his Grizzly exploits on today's As It Happens on CBC Radio 2. The event occurred on Monday:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audiopl...lipid=13080686
scroll to 18:10 for the interview.
Yeah that's crazy...glad my wife wanted to sleep in a bit longer. We went to do Fairview that same day. Got out of the car, were about to start, warden was messing around in his truck at the trail head. Warden asks if we're heading up that way, we say yup. He says, "there's a grizz up the trail a few hundred metres just off the side, be sure to yell hey bear alot so it knows you're coming, that's what we say before we haze them. A few people have been up that way already, just be sure to make noise until you pass by."Quote:
Originally Posted by f2f
We hesitantly start our way up and within about 10 seconds we hear "heeey bear, heeey bear WHOA BEAR" about 100 metres up the trail. We are now second guessing going up. Followed by "RANGER RANGER" wtf? Warden is just behind us and he asks what they said, so I say, "sounds like they called out Ranger?" Anyhow, 2 people come down and tell the warden that an aggro grizzly had 2 people stuck up in a tree about 1km before Saddleback / Fairview col, "since 10:00" (it was 10:40)
I'm wondering if there was a second grizz in that area that was just up the trail from where we were and another one up at the col?? Not sure but it was quiet until the 2 coming down starting yelling where the warden had just told us there was one, but the incident was occuring several km's away...or maybe they were just freaked still and the one that the warden had mentioned had moved up the trail to the incident in the preceeding time?? Anyways, warden asked the 2 people to hang there and not let anyone up the trail...we were already in the process of heading elsewhere.
Moral of the story, don't hassle the wife when she faffs about and gets an hour later start. I'm sure it will be used as an example every time we are running behind now.
On an unrelated note, some idiot lady was in the washroom getting her eyes / face flushed out because she had decided to try out her expired bear spray in the parking lot by test firing it in to the wind in the parking lot LMAO
Heard Blanchards interview on CBC tonight on the drive home form work. Sounded pretty intense. A good reminder I guess that these guys are getting geared up for winter.
Yeah no kidding i have no interest on being an extra liner of fat thank you. Il'l let the wife take all the time she needs now thanks for tip .Quote:
Originally Posted by Mex
I would have soiled my self in hopes it would gross the bear out.
ouch. ctv just said the bear was destroyed. a 6-yo that was known to park staff and was becoming increasingly more agressive.
Headlamp saves the day. Never leave home without it. lol
Too bad they had to put it down after. I never like hearing that.
It's probably about time to get some bear spray. I'm thinking (hoping maybe) just the stench of that stuff will send the bear running. Like a warning shot from a skunk. Not sure if the bangers alone will work on grizzlies...
this thread is becoming more hiking than skiing ...
any-hoo ...
the britz had been using castlke mtn for their training the last few years. I guess since fortress closed, and that would be about the time I first went there and watched some truely retarded soccer fans flounder on skis. GOd help the motherland when hell freezes over is all I can say.
(in -30c both huckin eh and I bought a face mask in great pow but farking cold several years back. whilst freezing our asses off we watch the britz snow plowing, and obviously they had to buy thier own gloves and goggles. very poorly choosen gloves were the least of their concerns when a brti in sunnies says to his buddies " MY EYE IS FROZEN SHUT!" we couldn't stop laughing as we had both joked about wheather or not we were seeing things = sunnies, in -30c and no sun)
yes I'm drinking again.
this story is lame enough for me to put in in gaper quotes thread.
my wife use to do some of the guiding for the army britz, (10+ years ago) and when they used the skoli area for a 3 day winter trip, one army kid left his contacts in, and they froze in his eyes overnight. He woke up blind and can't open his eyes. Had to call for a heli rescue for him... (yes, the brit army paid for that)
Heh heh. That made my day.Quote:
Originally Posted by time2clmb
Seriously thinking about it! Although its going to be REALLY hard not to go back to Whistler after the last three seasons there. Unfortunately the work season is looking like a longer one but with more frequent breaks so will have to do something closer. Even though I'm not too stoked about the hill itself, excited about the surrounding potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by endure
Haha, my buddy did that last year. On our first day of the Skyline Trail on the way to little shovel pass, we bumped into a big grizz on the trail. My friend, in a panic, decided he should make sure his bear spray was working and let out a quick squirt. Fortunately I was upwind, but the spray blew into our other friend's face. Fortunately it was only a little but his eyes were running the rest of the day. He still hasn't lived that one down :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by time2clmb
I hear ya.. been at whistler the last 5 seasons but living in Rogers Pass for research this winter, and debating trying to find a place to crash for 5-10 days a month in revy and get their student seasons pass. not sure what the living environment is like in revy though..Quote:
Originally Posted by robnow
CMH sale on sat, in banff, this Sat only
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219997171395441
Time
Saturday, October 1 · 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location
CMH Warehouse- Banff Industrial Compound
108 Jay Street
Banff, AB
Sounds like old Coombacks and pontoons for $300, and usually soft goods for 40-60% off. This is not my sale, and I'm not at it, so I dont know what the deals are. just come out to banff and hunt around.
brands: Arc'teyx, mammut, peak performance,
Thanks for the heads up Dave. My wife walks away from this like she won a shopping spree.Quote:
Originally Posted by mntlion
Got Coombacks for $150 and wife got Gotbacks for $150 .....don't think we got special privleges either as that's what they were priced at on the wall. Maybe they increased price??
This is nothing. my father in law works at a mine up north back in ontario. They have bear spray that you can take with you if you chose to go hiking or fishing. This one IDIOT uses the shit as bear repelant and sprays him self like you would with bug spray. Imagine his surpriseQuote:
Originally Posted by Fat Mike
That's priceless.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lamothe
It seems the ratio of idiots/bear spray in the region guarantees a steady supply of such stories. Last summer where I work a Japanese housekeeper found a can of bear spray when cleaning a room. Curiousity got the better of him and he gave it a quick squirt to see what it was. That part of the hotel had to be evacuated.
Check list.thestoke.ca for Revelstoke classifieds. The local newspaper also has rental listings: www.revelstoketimesreview.com.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Mike
heard there was some snow coming at elevation? Anyone been out lately?
And on that note, I guess this is when I start to get flakey with work. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Short term pain, long term gain...gonna hit rock anyway...no work later. Nope, not worth it yet.
Some one go get it and post pics here.
ya whats the word? I want to start hiking
There's some good spots after early season fresh snow. You have to hit them right away as some get wind fucked very quickly, and others don't last long at this time of year.
Here are the shots of robertsons, better late then never.
allright for fark sakes for do you post pics againAttachment 100880Attachment 100877Attachment 100881Attachment 100878Attachment 100882Attachment 100879
Nvm
more photos in the blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBjr8FOtKb8
stoke. Because i found the thread on the 3rd page ?
lamothe, no need to bump this thread every day. wait until snow starts accumulating and then the bumps will happen on their own. chillax :)
I know...i know but i has a sad. Im getting pretty impatient. On the plus side at the very least we will have the WROD soon, you know ..if all else fails. Who am i kidding im there like gaper in jeans. Any one else planing on taking out the football gear heading out for the openers? norquay and louise slated for the 5th
jeez ... I'm about to lose my crown for non-sense-imical dribble in this thread !!!
There's still some snow in oz and I haven't seen any TR's all season.
lamothe, here's something you may find interesting. the conditions that need to be met in order to start snowmaking at LL:
http://lakelouiselowdown.wordpress.c...aking-startup/
http://lakelouiselowdown.wordpress.c...pestone-river/
nov 5th is not guaranteed, but it's likely.
Well i thought the links were going to be snowmaking info in general . Ive made my own gun once but i wasn't under any crazy water restrictions. I know my fair share about snow making but this is new. Thats really interesting. Just an other hoop you gota jump through if you want to operated in a national park i guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by f2f
There was some light snow at Healy Pass today. Nothing at all was settling though except on the very tops of the higher peaks that poked their heads through the clouds occasionally. It was feeling strangely warm and almost muggy at times as we hiked around, even in shorts.