Mt-Copeland

Mt-Copeland is a town shot that I have waited years to ski. What was I waiting for? Who knows the perfect conditions I guess. Somehow I guess we waited long enough because today was purely ridiculous.
We had to wait till 9 am for the helicopter but we were not complaining as it was saving us thousands of feet of climbing and countless kilometers of road slogging. By 9.15 we were a few hundred feet from the summit and ready to get after it.

The first run is a CMH Heli ski run and it is gorgeous. We were happy to have beat them up here and had no problems shredding first tracks down the guts of the NE face, deep cold smoke let us cruise at high speeds with minimal effort. really the type of snow that dreams are made of.

After a 4000 foot descent it was time to earn our turns and we skinned right up a serious 2400 foot chute. It was a little scary but the new snow had fallen lightly and no luring slabs were found. So I set a skin track up and soon Dave was leading the final pitch to a small peak. From there South facing turns led us into the south bowl. This is the town side, the face I have stared at for years and wondered what it would be like up there. The terrain in this bowl led us up safe ramps to the summit ridge where we skinned right to the top.

Doug had birthday rights so he skied the line first and the rest of us had great turns on either side of him. By now it was two o’clock and we had to start heading home. I lapped a quick 1100 feet to get some vertical and then caught up to the boys as they were touring up the last peak. This one is not a distinct summit but a turtle like dome that I have stared at for years. By 4,20 we were on the top and pointing our skis down a heavenly run right to valley bottom. The whole descent was filled with whoops and exhilarated yells. The end to a great day….

Well almost 10 km of road was left between us and our homes. I guess it had been too easy and we had to pay in some way. SO 2.5 hours of road slogging led us out.

10200 feet of ascent 17 000 feet of amazing descent. definitely worth the heli-drop….

Mt-Dickie

Today was exactly the reason I love ski touring large days. With my track part way to Mt-Dickie I could not resist the temptation to summit it for my second time. It remained elusive to me for years with repeated attempts and finally it allowed us up last year and rewarded my attempts with a great north facing run. This year I was after the south face, not an aggressive line but a beautiful one. Also its a line you can see from parts of Revelstoke,which qualifies it as a town shot. Town shots have a special allure to me, there is nothing quite like standing by the grocery store and gazing up at a line you have shredded.

Ian and I powered our way to the summit in less than five hours and then had a decent south west facing descent. The line was great; but the snow had suffered some mild sun and some wind so wasn’t perfect snow. A great 4000 foot descent, one I have waited for and really enjoyed today. Here is Ian getting into our line.

We then toured up the south of the creek, the north facing slopes retained some cold selkirk snow. Seldom skied yet perfect ski touring terrain, we wandered higher and higher into the alpine bowl. We were getting near a little summit when my watched turned over 10 000 feet and we had to turn around. I will be back though. Ian’s first ten thousand foot day of the year and he was looking strong, I bet we have many more adventures this year.

Coursier Creek

Although its only an 8 minute drive from my house I have rarely, if ever seen any tracks in this drainage. It starts off low, 2400feet but allows access to a some serious ski touring.
I set a skin track in up the north ridge, gaining vertical quickly. I seemed to be following rabbit and marten tracks everywhere I went, and then some wolverine tracks in the higher alpine terrain.

Once on the ridge the touring is a little frustrating because of the undulating nature of this ridge. But perseverance paid off and I was finally on the top of the Super S chute. I wish I had a picture of it to do it justice, but this chute is 3800 feet of non stop skiing that snakes its way down the mountain side. I have never skied it and I was blown away by how consistent and continuous the run was. I always try to ski top to bottoms and I had a some serious leg burn that almost made me stop.

I then toured up the north side to find the Eva lake cabin. Small and hidden this cabin does not see many winter visitors. I hadn’t been here in years and the last time I had carved a little I love you to Tracey. It’s still there!?

I then continued touring and gained a little peak to finish off the day with a great run down to valley bottom.

Yesterday was the celebrations of Greg Todds D day and today was also the celebration of Aidan Olloman’s avalanche day. Aidan was killed in a freakish avalanche that caught her while she was taking weather at a remote ski lodge. A great girl was taken away last year. I wonder how many more friends will be swept away in the mountains. The mountains provide us with so much to enrich our lives but will also take it away really quickly.
It was my first ten thousand foot day where I broke trail the whole way. It was tiring but I persevered and was skiing home by 2:30. day 26