Snowmobile Trail Clearance

After a week moving offices and driving a PC today I get to play in the snow again. My snowboard just arrived in whistler but I can't get it yet so....

I started out with an hour on the snow shoes this morning then we all went out on the snowmobiles to try and get to a ski run on Cinnabar. Cliff, Ron, Jeff and Rose and I headed up Friburg trail rather gingerly as there was no tracks there yet, but the snow was firmer than last week's trip.

We went about 50m before we found the first deadfall blocking the trail and out came the chainsaw. Another 50m and the next tree across the trail... and so it went on until we got to the Pearson trail and we climbed up to clear even bigger trees off the trail.

Eventually we got to the part of the trail that I remmeber from mountain biking and Quad biking is pretty eroded and just wide enough for an ATV to squeeze past, the eroded part is a steep fall straight down a hillside through trees- so you really don't want to fall!

Cliff was ahead of me and he slowed up, looked at it then went for it keeping way to the right and leaning all his weight on that side of the sled, he almost got through but hit a branch and the sled started to tip over to the left, he tried to get off the right but he was tipped with the sled as it flipped over and he rolled over the track on his back and carried on down with the sled as it flipped again and he disappeared down the hillside. I jumped off my sled and ran to check he was not under his sled but he was way down the hill and his sled had dug in higher up thankfully!

He was a little bruised and I started to giggle at him, as you do when you see something awful but awful funny and you don't know whether to be concerned or laugh!

Then we started to try and dig out his sled and upright it to get it back on the trail. This all took at least 30mins of digging, pushing, driving and digging, pushing driving.

Of course then we could not turn around so we had to dig and build a snow bridge to get all of us across. Yow! Scary!
We made it though but not much further til the next big deadfall, we cut this but it was now 3:30pm- just 1 more hour of daylight so we kept on up until we found a bit to turn around on and stopped and had a beer taking in the views of the mountains.

We turned around and headed back down this time much faster and finishing the trail in the light of our headlights. We'd been out for over 3hrs and no skiing today but a lot of fun and hard work on this adventure. My face was glowing with the thrill of being outdoors in the cold cold snow again and the fun I'm having living up here in the middle of nowhere!

Tonight hot tubbing outside in the snow! And tomorrow... back up on the sleds to get to the ski run this time!

Snow Shovelling, shoeing and mobiling!

Well it snowed and snowed and snowed this week. We must have had over 100cm fall and its now up to my knees when I try to walk in it!

Friday as the internet was down due to the snow storms overnight I could not do my work so I went out and shovelled snow for 4hrs until my shoulders could take no more. I cleared about 20cm depth off the whole deck, knowing of course it will be white again tomorrow!

Saturday we decided we'd better restock the fridge in case we get cut off here. So Kat and I drove my truck to Lillooet down some very icy compact snow roads!

It took 30mins to deice and dig out the truck. Then 2hrs to drive to Lillooet cautiously as its my first real drive in this truck in snowy conditions. In fact the muddy sections with deep pot holes were much worst than the smooth ploughed swnowy roads and hitting them at speed I fish tailed all over the road! At one point a logging truck was coming towards us, the road was narrowing so as I started to move to the exposed side of the road I braked sharply to ensure I didn't go on to the narrower section too soon and suddenly the mass of snow on my truck roof fell on the windscreen and all vision was obscured as I tried to remember where the wipers switch was! Kat gasped and I had a brief moment of fear as I could not tell where the sheer drop off the side of the road was either!

We spent 2.5hrs or so in Lillooet getting a meal at Dinas the greek place, then browsing in Fields, Voltz and the pharmacy then in to Buy Low Foods to fill my trolley with lots and lots of groceries to hopefully last me 3 weeks!

On the journey back I packed my frozen food into the snow in the truck bed so it did not defrost and fortunately it took just 1.5hrs coming back as the roads had melted and I was now more confident in how to drive my truck plus I was also getting to know the road a little better now.

7hrs for grocery shopping is a record for me and not one I want to repeat too often so I hope I can make these rations last. I have to say I don't think I have ever had such a full fridge or freezer, I'm more used to popping to the corner shop to buy today's meal 30 mins before I eat it!

Sunday was a bright blue sky day so first I went snow shoeing up the mountain bike trails from the beehive. Sinking deep in this soft soft snow with almost every step, I clambered over fallen trees in quite an ungainly manner with these big tennis rackets on my feet! It was a glorious day and this was great exercise for 2hrs.

When I got back it turned out everyone had been searching for me as someone (still a mystery) had called 911 from the lodge at 9am and when the police arrived (2hrs later from Lillooet) I was the only unaccounted for person! Quite a mystery!

It was also a stark reminder that help is a long way away!

This afternoon I went snow mobiling with Ron. At first it was so tough to turn the machine around tight corners, it has quite a wide turning circle but after a while I got used to the need to lean and to prepare for a wide corner. It's amazing how easy it is to get stuck in the soft deep snow we have right now, these machines are heavy especially at slow speeds, they need to go fast and it was fun to start speeding up on them.

Another great weekend full of adventures and new experiences!

Oh my word so much snow!

Overnight an incredible 30-40cm fell and this morning we started snow ploughing and shovelling snow for the first time. Here's my truck starting to getburied. It's only mid November and there is loads of this powdery stuff!

So much snow in fact that Whistler has declared its going to open 2 weeks early. I'd better get my snowboard kit sent over ASAP!

Oooh its so exciting!

Quad& Snow= 4 x the fun!

Today we went ATV'ing in the snow- it was pretty damn deep and we tried to get up to Taylor basin but only got half way up the road before we were just spinning out even in 4WD, so instead of climbing up to the alpine where the snow is sooo deep, we headed back down the yellow trail from the logging area and then up the blue trail Around the Lake then down and along Friburg.

As I'm the only one who knows the trails around here I was leading most of the time. Seems weird as the others are Canadian and more used to snow and more used to ATV's! There were occasions when I thought I'd gone the wrong way as the world looks oh so different when its white! But we were on the right track. Often the doubletrack I was used to had become just singletrack due to the trees and bushes at the sides now so weighed down by snow on their branches and bowing down over the edges of the track so much so that we had to drive over them.

It was great fun skidding around for 2-3hrs and we all came back with grins on our faces after our first real play in the snow and having had such awesome scenery to view from up there. Another great day!

Here comes the snow!

Well I've been back 1 day and overnight this happened. Yes my truck looks pretty dirty now but also there is a good sprinkling of snow everywhere- I drove around on it to test my drivimg skills in the snow and ice, Slaloming around the parking lot and slamming my brakes on. Pretty pleased with this truck so far!

Of course before I came up I prepared myself for winter and a trip to Canadian Tire to kit my car out with emergency tools such as:-
Booster cables
Tow rope
Shovel
Flashlight
1st Aid kit
Air compressor
Slime for fixing flats
Coolant for -46 degrees C
Windshield washer for -46 degrees C
Fleece blanket
Scraper and brush
Webbing cinch straps

plus now I always carry me sleeping bag and some food and drink with me.

So I hope I'm prepared for any eventuality up here- as there is no cell service so if you have an issue on the roads around here you are on your own so you have to be self sufficient!

Remembrance Day

So today I wore a Canadian poppy and remembered my Grandfather who fought in WW1 on the Western Front and was mustard gased to such an extent that he suffered for the rest of his life. I wish I had met him.

And I remember out of respect for my Dad who was in the RAFVR in Africa throughout WW2, and proudly wears his campaign medals today!

The Canadians have a day off for remembrance day unlike the British and it was wonderful for me to see as I drove through North Vancouver after observing the 11am 2 minute silence that so many people were attending the laying of the wreaths in the remembrance parades here. Incredible and long may it last!

After that I drove my first long road trip in my new truck- up to Tyax some 400km and 6hrs of driving from Vancouver to Lillooet over the Duffey road which was quite a winter wonderland as I climbed over the pass, with people up there going tobogganing and skiing already!

I gassed up in Lillooet and headed along Road 40 in a hurry to get to Tyax before it was dark- days are short now. As dusk fell and I could just about see the way along this narrow, potholed, exposed forestry road and climb up to Tyax Resort.

At Tyax all the staff were having a get together and a drink in the bar so I immediatley joined them. What a great welcome!

New Truck!

No this is no Tonka toy - it's the real thing! And its all mine!

No sooner had they granted my work permit than I was off to shop for trucks and this is my new beauty. A 2003 Ford F150 Supercrew Lariat 4.6L 4WD gas guzzler!

Yes it looks like overkill in Vancouver but just wait til I get this baby into the backcountry roads and the deep deep snow! Even I can't imagine needing so much vehicle but I'm sure this winter will teach me otherwise.

I was so excited to collect it today, its such fun to drive, you feel so high up and so solid but it handles really well. Tomorrow I get some Winter tires/tyres for it so it'll grip the road solidly when it gets icy and into the many minus degrees!!

Back to Running

I've been here for a few days and need some exercise. No bike with me so I need to run again but....

Well I may be fit for cycling and my heart and lungs are in pretty good condition, my legs are certainly strong but running? Uh nah! My legs did not like that at all!

Apparently I have not run since Jan 27th according to my Nike Plus record. Then I started riding my bike and I've pretty much ridden 6 days out of 7 since then with a couple of weeks where I've had a few more days rest than that due to travels or other adventures over here.

I ran fairly slow and gently along the flat beach front but the eccentric contraction of my quads as I pounded the pavement was really hurting. I realise in cycling you never really get that braking force of running- yes it really really hurt and I walked around like an old lady for the next 2 days- having to hold the bannister to walk downstairs or push up on armrests to get up from sitting- anything that involved my legs being bent more than 45 degrees hurts!

I took a gentle run the following day at Crescent beach which was so scenic. And then after a rest day I did a 30min shuffle run today. My CV system is not being taxed but my legs are still suffering. Perhaps a little less today but hopefully that will soon subside and I'll be back on form for regular runs or snow shoeing sessions!

Flagpoling

Today I went to the US/Canadian border to "Flagpole" and get my work permit for the next 12 months.

I drove down to Peace Arch on highway 99 parked my car at the Canadian office and walked across to the US border. After a short wait in the queue the officer there gave me a form that said I was flagpoling and I walked back over to the Canadian office to apply for my permit.

All my paperwork was in order and I paid my fees in cash and waited 20mins while they reviewed my application then with a sigh of huge relief I received my permit neatly stapled into my passport. Yeehaaa! I now have work, food and accomodation for another 12 months here.

I'm looking forward to my next adventures. Now I have a huge list of things to do in the city before I return to the backcountry remoteness once more!

Wings- mmmmm!

Met up with cowboy Brennan today to do some Truck test drives and take a walk on the beach- we had lunch at my favorite kinda restaurant. MMMMM! Chicken Wings! And they were awesome! Sitting out on the patio next to the beach looking up to the mountains and eating honey garlic wings and yam fries- what more could I ask for? (Well lots actually biut this'll do for the moment!)

White Rock

Yes it literally is a White Rock! This is the beach where Dennis and Marion live. We went running along the front it's so beautiful to be by the sea despite the hordes of people on a glorious November Sunday. Aparently they painted the rock white to show boats where the shore was when navigating at night and the town became known as White Rock. So there you go- lots of stuff makes sense here!