Buga Booze TR

[JR]

Who says living in Fort St John has to be dull. Nothing a little gasoline and coffee can't fix.

After a marathon drive last Friday night through in some places 6-8" of snow, I arrived in Golden at about noonish with a couple of hours to kill before heading south to Briscoe to meet my partner. I decide on a whim to go to a used gear shop and am shocked to find a pair of Nordica TR9's in mint shape for $100. The damn things had only been used 5 times at most. Kaching. That in itself made the trip worthwhile.

Anyhow, made it to the parking lot at about 5 pm and fortressed the truck to protect it from marauding Porcy's.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24361.jpg

Then off up the trail. It is amazing what a pussy you become when you have not slept for 36+ hours. I damn near staggered off the trail at a couple of inopportune moments. A 2-3 hour hike on an open trail turned into a 5 1/2 hour hike through broken snow, dirt and mush. We didn't even get the boards on until we were within sight of the Hut. It was all worthwhile though as anyone who has ever been here can attest. Plus we had the whole 40 person hut to ourselves. We turned on the propane and settled in to lick our wounds.

What followed was three days of mixed sun and cloud, snowstorms, and between 6" and 1' of fresh powder. Hard to beat.

Here is a shot of the Howser Towers from the Snowpatch/Bugaboo Col.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24362.jpg

Another shot of a run we shralped repeatedly on the Vowell Glacier, skiing from the Pigeon/Howser Col to the Snowpatch/Bugaboo Col. Pigeon on the left and Howser Towers on the Right.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24363.jpg

The Pigeon/Howser Col is quite and incredible spot to stop and enjoy the view. After more trips here than I can count, I never tire of this view.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24364.jpg

Same spot looking East to the Bugaboo Spire. This bastard is huge dropping another 1500' or so out of sight on the left hand side.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24365.jpg

This trip only emphasized how much I need to get out of this northern wasteland. This spot is a short hop from where I call home but a 12 hour drive from the armpit of BC. Oh well, all in due time I guess. If you have not been here, this place is maggot heaven.

[13]

Niiice.

How long was the drive?

[FreakofSnow]

nice trip JR! not to take away from the snow stokage, but that first pic of what you have to do keep the porcupines away is nutz. I had no idea. Is it their quills that do the damage or do they chew?

[phUnk]

Well done JR. Thanks for the stoke!

[Buster Highmen]

Fucking coowell, dood!

[JR]

Originally posted by FreakofSnow
Is it their quills that do the damage or do they chew?

The little bastards chew on anything rubber or plastic, tires, brake lines, electrical wires, you name it. Here is a funny picture of the parking lot. Actually a bit sad that people can't clean up their damn chicken wire afterwards.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24366.jpg

When we got back there was a minivan in the parking lot with a big stain of brake fluid under it. Someone will have a scary ride out. Who knows where they were, we didn't see them. Maybe the grizzly who's tracks we saw had a spring feast.

Oh and 13, it is a 12 hour drive from Fort St John. About a 4 hour drive from Nelson if you access it from the East Kootenays. We often access it from the north end of Kootenay Lake through Rory Ck. off the Duncan mainline. Then it is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Nelson. You end up coming through a pass between Thinble Peak and Flat Top Mountain on the right hand side of this photo.

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic24367.jpg

[White Chocolate]

Do you guys ever do any climbing up there? I would love to knock off a few of the ultra classic not life or death routes sometime. I've seen waaaay too many pictures of amazingness not to get up there at least once in my life.

[Hicks]

You guys got some really neat terrain there, snow should be very consistent on the glaciers.

[gonzo]

sick.

that porkypine chit is ridiculous.

[teledave]

back to the top,
and that parking lot is unbelievable

[Spicoli]

FKNA!

[CS]

Nice JR, very nice.

[divegirl]

Wow!! Beautiful photos. Nice TR.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Great photos, sounds like an amazing place.

Porcupines, and marmots, destroyers of anything related to a vehicle.

[DougW]

JR , a question for you , if you could live any where in B.C. forgetting that your a Nelsonite, just for access to BC skiing where would it be . Golden ( lets say Blaeberry valley) , Revelstoke, South of Golden - Parson/BriscoEdgewater. edit, Fernie /Sparwood, Nelson/Ymir Assume with a sled.

Thanks

[iceman]

Cool stuff, nice pics. That fracture line on the first mountain pic is wild, I don't really have a sense of scale, how long would you say that is?

That is wacky about the porcupines, I never knew that.

[Karl Stall]

Karl Stall ====> So jealous right now.

Great write-up, JR. Way to git some and share your stoke!

[JR]

Originally posted by DougW
JR , a question for you , if you could live any where in B.C. forgetting that your a Nelsonite, just for access to BC skiing where would it be . Golden ( lets say Blaeberry valley) , Revelstoke, South of Golden - Parson/BriscoEdgewater. edit, Fernie /Sparwood, Nelson/Ymir Assume with a sled.

Thanks

The more time I spend there the more I like the Parson/Briscoe/Edgewater area. It is a beautiful valley and you have access to everything Golden has to offer and also everything in the Windermere/Invermere area. Absolutely shitloads of backcountry there if you have a sled. Unlimited really.

The Nelson area is becoming pretty damn trendy these days. A beautiful area but Real Estate prices are stupid. Personally, I am more into real people than beautiful people the older I get and Nelson is becoming a little fluffy for me, but it would still be a good 2nd choice if you have the cash and don't mind the fluff.

Revelstoke, meh. Okay but not exactly my cup of tea.

[JR]

Originally posted by iceman
That fracture line on the first mountain pic is wild, I don't really have a sense of scale, how long would you say that is?

That fracture line is actually called a Bergshrund. It is created as the glacier pulls away from the rock and varies in size from year to year depending on the amount of snow and summer temps. Basically a huge crevasse. I'm guessing that it is probably a km across, maybe a tad bit more. You definitely don't want to fall into that fucker.

Glad you liked the photos. That place is a Photographers paradise.

[frozenwater]

I am overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of those pictures. The fact that they I could be there in a couple days drive time blows my mind. I really need to get up there.

Thanks for the TR, it was awesome.

[DougW]

Originally posted by JR
The more time I spend there the more I like the Parson/Briscoe/Edgewater area. It is a beautiful valley and you have access to everything Golden has to offer and also everything in the Windermere/Invermere area. Absolutely shitloads of backcountry there if you have a sled. Unlimited really.

The Nelson area is becoming pretty damn trendy these days. A beautiful area but Real Estate prices are stupid. Personally, I am more into real people than beautiful people the older I get and Nelson is becoming a little fluffy for me, but it would still be a good 2nd choice if you have the cash and don't mind the fluff.

Revelstoke, meh. Okay but not exactly my cup of tea.

Just wondering what about Revlestoke don't you like?

[Trackhead]

Gotta love the Bugs.

Climbed S. Howser years back-20 pitches of perfection and lightning for added excitement. Never made any turns there though.