2011/2012 Canadian Rockies Roll Call and StokeThread...

[taz]

Rainfall warning issued for Fernie. Not good for the preview weekend.

poured rail yesterday and still pouring today. Bombing yesterday morning, today, they are still bombing at 1348

[time2clmb]

Good morning at the Lake. Snow had enough density to be supportive. Good times for sure. Not sure if they did get Paradise open or not. Definitely not running before noon. Tomorrow should be good too with up to 3 new chairs opening.

Lake Louise for the win.

[Eldo]

Well that was a long walk for nothing.

Rain at Kimberley changed to snow about a third of the way up the frontside, 60+ cm new at least. But way too deep and heavy to keep up enough speed on my puny 180 cm, 105mm underfoot AT skis. Might have had a chance on my 196 Llhasa Pows.

So had some nice turns in a few inches of pow down the cat tracks where the grooming machine had been earlier in the day.

Still nuking up high, probably doing the same at KH and Fernie.

[Spooky]

Lake Louise for the win.

It was very nice. You know you're in for a treat when you're knee deep with your first step out of the car in the lot. I had to leave at 1.30 and Paradise hadn't opened yet and neither had the POMA I don't think - they were having some sort of mechanical issues with it all morning and only just got it moving again just before I left. If people are kind enough to leave me alone at work this evening I may stick a couple more snippets of footage up.

TOLOCOMan - sorry, I would've be down for a few laps with you but didn't decide where I was going till checking the reports this morning.

[f2f]

i think these may be the worst quality photos you've posted here, but damn they look nice. i miss living right next to a ski area and being able to simply go out and do recon when the snow was there...

i'm itching to take tomorrow off...

[Shadam]

highway cam at the pass looks phat.

and .for todays completely unrelated story.

so there I am, zipping along in my rig at 100kph when it catches on fire !!!
I couldn't stop it and get all my shit out of it quick enough.
It turned out a battery was arcing against it bracket, and when this stopped, the fire went out.
It burnt out every earth wire and a bunch of other shit, and it now needs a complete rewire.
have you seen how many wires there are under the dash of a rig?

any-hoo, did I say the pass is looking phat? is the road closed?

[Canada Guy]

Planning a solo mission to the Lake tomorrow if anyone wants to meet for a lap.

I'll be wearing a brown Arcteryx jacket/pants and riding Explosives.

[Spooky]

Planning a solo mission to the Lake tomorrow if anyone wants to meet for a lap.

I'll be wearing a brown Arcteryx jacket/pants and riding Explosives.

Hmm, i'd be keen to go to the lake tomorrow but don't think I can get back to Banff in time for work. I'll post here later if that changes.

[Eldo]

i think these may be the worst quality photos you've posted here...

Haha. I was actually thinking the sane thing!

Definitely enjoying being in the mountains rather than driving there every second day.

Speaking of photos, saw this just now on the RCR guy's blog. Apparently snowfall up top of the Easter chair at K is insane.

[time2clmb]

. I had to leave at 1.30 and Paradise hadn't opened yet

Wife was skiing today until near close and said it didn't open at all.

[time2clmb]

highway cam at the pass looks phat.

and .for todays completely unrelated story.

so there I am, zipping along in my rig at 100kph when it catches on fire !!!
I couldn't stop it and get all my shit out of it quick enough.
It turned out a battery was arcing against it bracket, and when this stopped, the fire went out.
It burnt out every earth wire and a bunch of other shit, and it now needs a complete rewire.
have you seen how many wires there are under the dash of a rig?

any-hoo, did I say the pass is looking phat? is the road closed?

So does that mean you're going to say fuck it, abandon the rig with the employer and fly to snow early LOL?

[p.blz]

Eldo, are you in Kimberley this winter? or just happen to be here at the moment?

We should try to make some turns at some point.

[Eldo]

Yep, moved here in Sep.

Would be great to meet for turns. I knew there were some K maggots, just couldn't remember who.

[p.blz]

Heh, Cool.

I work in ski retail, so don't tend to get out too much until after newyears.

But yeah, have a pass, night ski regularly, and usually have sundays and/or mondays free for the hill or the local backcountry...

Will shoot you a PM.

[RODGERS]

Theres no question the horse will open early... But will it be friday dec 2nd or saturday? Please let it be friday. Should be the best opening in a few years..... Theyll probably auction the first gondy away again. Those pencil pushing ______! Sorry about the rain fernie. Lower mtn webcam looks awful. Looks like some kind of rain river forming...

[time2clmb]

Theyll probably auction the first gondy away again. Those pencil pushing ______!

? What's the problem with that? It's not like you can't get fresh tracks on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc gondola...unless you're doing it wrong.

[Spooky]

Theres no question the horse will open early... But will it be friday dec 2nd or saturday? Please let it be friday. Should be the best opening in a few years..... Theyll probably auction the first gondy away again. Those pencil pushing ______! Sorry about the rain fernie. Lower mtn webcam looks awful. Looks like some kind of rain river forming...

Good news for you I think, got an email from KH a couple hours ago saying they're going to open on 2nd, 3rd and 4th. 80 cms in past two days and still snowing apparently.

[endure]

are there any relatively easily accessible huts near Banff that would offer good touring capabilities around it for this weekend? My buddy is driving here from winnipeg and I'm hoping there is a good hut around we can tour into saturday morning, ski the area saturday, stay the night, and ski sunday. For those familiar with the coast, I'm thinking something like Elfin, Keiths Hut, or Wendy Thompson...

Bow Hut is all I can really find.. would that be okay skiing right now, or are there any better opportunities out there??

[Shorty_J]

^^^ You could stay at one of the HI hostels on the Parkway. You don't tour in but they're pretty rustic, and cheap. There are a number of options within a short drive of the Mosquito Creek Hostel, including the Dolomite Circuit (though I don't know if that would be in shape yet) that returns you right back to the hostel.

[Westslope]

Oh yeah, first post, who's gonna be the first to gimme the JONG??

I'll keep it brief-

Can't take it anymore, heading to LL next week to bounce off some rocks, anybody from Calgary interested in going or meeting up? (doesn't matter what day) I can also stop in Banff or Canmore on the way if you need a lift.

I'm not a creep, 27 (skiing for 24), married, one kid, don't suck at skiing, but am not a hot chick (sorry).

/ personals ad.

Former ski buddies have either moved away, become workaholics, or are completely whipped and are only allowed out to play a few times a year.

To those who have been to LL this week: Should I bring the new rock skis (minty 2006 LP's) or the old rock skis (2001 Dynastar Big's)?

[Spooky]

^ I got a couple coreshots today, there's still plenty lurking under all the nice snow.

A very, very brief account of today:

[RODGERS]

Your right time2clmb. It just sucks to be with in the first 8 or so people playing hacky for hours to watch another 8 just walk in front of you, smile politely and snake your gondy... These feelings come from years of being snake bit. Ill get over it tho, i always do. It takes about 12 minutes to be exact.

[DougW]

Two Alpine Bowls are confirmed to open on Friday December 2nd, with skiing / riding available from the top of the mountain to the base. Open alpine terrain will consist of Bowl Over and Crystal Bowl, including the south facing slopes of Redemption Ridge. The Golden Eagle Express Gondola and Stairway to Heaven Chair will be in operation for the weekend. More snowfall is in the forecast over the next week, making the opening of additional terrain possible.

See you in the line

[goldenshowers]

I'm gone for the preview weekend but I'm skinning up KH this Sat or Sun, I'll let you know how it is up there.

[time2clmb]

are there any relatively easily accessible huts near Banff that would offer good touring capabilities around it for this weekend? My buddy is driving here from winnipeg and I'm hoping there is a good hut around we can tour into saturday morning, ski the area saturday, stay the night, and ski sunday. For those familiar with the coast, I'm thinking something like Elfin, Keiths Hut, or Wendy Thompson...

Bow Hut is all I can really find.. would that be okay skiing right now, or are there any better opportunities out there??

Closest thing we have to that requirement would be Egypt lake shelter. Lots of slowshoers and x-country skiers go in there also. It's at around 2000 metres....below treeline. Might not be quite enough snow down there right now but healy pass is close by etc. Unfortunately the other spots are for the money crowd IE Skoki Lodge etc. There is also the Elizabeth Parker hut at Lake Ohara but I wouldn't bother with that until later in the season when we have a snowpack and stability cause if not then good options are limited. Your best bet would definately be Bow Hut for this time of year. However the con to that for poor vis or wind fucked snow is below treeline skiing is very limited. Can get some treeline turns up toward Crowfoot mountain. Tons of stuff to ski around there if vis is good and the slope above the hut to the toe of the glacier is close by. There are slots on that slope though so def. be prepped for glacier travel if going up there, especially this early.

Shorty-J hostel idea would give you the best options, however it lacks the whole ski in and stay feel.

Two Alpine Bowls are confirmed to open on Friday December 2nd, with skiing / riding available from the top of the mountain to the base. Open alpine terrain will consist of Bowl Over and Crystal Bowl, including the south facing slopes of Redemption Ridge. The Golden Eagle Express Gondola and Stairway to Heaven Chair will be

teehehehehe fuck yeah