In January of last year Ben, Sakeus, myself and 3 others ventured out for our first experience of skiing in the large Canadian hut system.  The adventure took place at the Fairy Meadows Hut and despite the so-so snow and very high avalanche danger we still came away with only positive memories and a desire to come back again in more favorable conditions.  Fast forward nearly 370 days & you will find Ben, Sakeus & myself driving up to Canada for another trip to the FM hut in January.  We also called in the reserves of which we managed to rally 5 more willing people to join us in the adventure.  Five of the eight people headed up 3 days early in order to ski around Rogers Pass and explore what that area has to offer.  Snow was stable and deep but unfortunately I was bunked up in the hotel alone while the others skied with a 100 degree fever, chills and a heavy set of lungs and heart.  I was later diagnosed with walking Pneumonia which caused me to miss all of the skiing at Rogers Pass and the first 2+ days of skiing at the hut.  You could call that the low point, but, let’s move on and focus on the positives here.   Positives were an amazing crew of people, 12-24 inches of fresh 4 degree powder, a very very stable snowpack, bluebird skies and endless bounties of terrain to ski and liquor to drink.  Paradise.  Seriously.  I will let a random set of images tell the rest, the start of the set doesn’t have much skiing due to the illness but it gets better…also if there are any Canadians reading this please let me know how Bridget & I can get our visa’s and eventually our citizenship in Canada and reside in your beautiful country (Revelstoke, BC).  Thanks.

One photo that was taken up in the Adamants a couple of days ago.  What a trip!  A bigger update will be posted shortly.

Just like last year at about this time, I find that whatever bit of Canadian heritage I might or might not have is pulling me north.  I must go.  I will be back by the first of Feburary.  Till then some fun eye candy from a gorgeous day on the hill with some good friends who happen to be able to ski pretty well too.  Thanks Paul, John and Aneka!

The January 2010 Backcountry Magazine just hit the shelves and the photo below was used in their gallery.  This was such a gorgeous morning spent out in Baker’s backcountry last February.  This shot is one of my favorites from that day; Pat H is making a gorgeous powder turn on a steep rollover as the clouds lift and the sun breaks over the crest.