Return to blogging

Well it's been a long break and I have done so many things with my life that are worth blogging but Facebook stole me away.

An iPhone brought me back and a need to tell the tales of my new sled so maybe I am back for good....

Christmas Tree Expedition

What fun today! The best way to go fetch a tree for Christmas.

After a quick cross country ski around the lake, Daryl and I hopped on a snowmobile and headed for the woods. The snow was awesome as its been snowing all day long so it was a thrill to drive a snowmobile.

We selected a nice looking tree and together we mastered the chain saw and down it came.

We towed it back behind the snowmobile and then I got cutting with the handsaw to chop it down to size for the bar.

Once it was up all the staff came down for a few cocktails and decorated the tree and the bar for our Christmas here. No lack of decorations- I tested about 20 sets of lights!

I even have a set of lights in my room now!

I'm not one for getting all Christmassy normally, but standing outside this log lodge, in twilight with the snow falling like crazy and soft smooth white stuff all around is pretty magical.

Heli assisted ski touring!

I started today in the dark at 7am, down on the Lake cross country skiing and watching the sun ride over the mountain. Only my 2nd try at this here and much better this time around! Even getting quite fast. I did the tour de lac in about 1 hour and came home for breakfast and lots of skype calls with the folks back home in UK.

Jason from Kokanee helicopters dropped in to the lodge at lunch time park is helicopter for Xmas so he gave Cliff and I a lift up to Crane Pass. The views at the peak of the ridge were awesome- a white winter wonderland as far as the eye could see.




We looked down at one white bowl of untouched snow below us and dropped in for our first turns on the fresh powder.


With the recent dump of 60cm this week- Descending down into the treeline the powder just got sweeter and sweeter and deeper and deeper.

We skinned and snowshoed back up to the ridge twice to get a couple more runs in then we hit Cinnabar road and the snowmobile track out at about 4pm ish and it was getting dark. We still had around 100om to descend on a fast narrow snowmobile track with trees overhanging each side.

To top that we had our headlamps on and could only see about 3m ahead- tough to avoid trees when you are hurtling down at 30km/hr or more! As the snow got cruddier I took my board off and hiked the last bit out- faster and safer than I was becoming on my board!

We finally made it out to my truck at 6pm- thoroughly knackered but big grins on our faces- what a rush!

Wow! What an awesome day!

Weekend in Whistler

Popped down to Whistler for the weekend to collect my snowboard gear and have a play on the pistes.

It was -15 and pretty icy on the mountain but a dusting of snow (2cm) made for better conditions than I expected. It did not take me long to remember how to snowboard and I got loads of runs in on my own and with no lift lines!

Still it all seems pretty tame compared to the backcountry. Nice to visit but looking forward to going back. I remember how much I like being one of only a few on a run!

Pretty great day on the hill before I drove the 4.5hrs back to Tyax over a very icy snowy Duffy Lake road.

Ice Hockey on the Lake

The lake froze over really thick this week and suddenly after the cold cold storms the sun came out, the ice was solid and so we had an impromptu game of ice hockey in our lunch hour.

Well did I mention I can't skate? It's even more interesting trying to skate with no barriers around the rink to stop you or hang on to and shuffle round. I soon forgot my fear of falling through the ice into a freezing lake though as my concentration on staying upright consumed all my brain cells!

Eventually I got the hang of it enough to join a game and using the hockey stick for support I provided much hilarity to all as I swiped at the puck beyond my reach and skating ability but competitive to a tee I found a way to play be it on the floor or performing an ungainly ice dance.

I ended up flat on the ice a few times and giggling my head off at my inability to stop when I had eventually got a move going!

Ah well it was such fun I intend to work harder and learn to skate even if my hockey might not improve!

Things I miss from home...

A parcel arrived from the UK this week with 2 gorgeous and huge bars of Cadbury's Dairy Milk- oh boy how I've missed you! Thanks Mum!

Yes living here is amazing but there are still some things I miss about the UK....

Cadburys Dairy Milk- they have it here but it does not taste the same! It's true I'm a chocoholic but not so much when I'm here as nothing satisfies that craving like Britich Cadburys!

Tea- they have it here too but it just does not taste like a true cup of Yarkshire brew!

Bacon Butties- bacon here is streaky and crispy, where's the meaty pigs for some yummy back bacon? I do miss my Friday morning bacon and egg butty treat!

Family- well of course I'm soppy but I do miss my neices and nephews, sisters and brothers and Mum and Dad so very much. Can't wait for them to come visit me some time in 2010!

Now back to my Cadbury's - I'm trying so hard to savour it til Christmas!