Bill Kerr

After skiing Quartzite last weekend on a hard crust I was almost ready to put up the skis but noticed another cool rainy day with cold clearing trend was forecast for end of week –   Good overnight freeze of – 8 C for elevation on Thurs night so decided to go for Storm on Fri.  The amount of overnight freeze, the sun and temperature rise are the keys to these trips so best to be safe.   I had been saving this for a ski for years waiting for good conditions as everyone always complained about the thrash in deadfall/ trees on way up and down from road. Now there is the firebreak that has made this much more popular and there are almost no flat spots so you could ski out the 6 km from top in about an hour in right conditions. Elevation gain is 1500m so good workout on way up.

Note this ski trip goes up a different valley than the Kane scramble route which is in next valley to the east – not skiable.

Trip worked great – parked in North ditch beside start of firebreak. Start at 6 am – Walked across road and down to creek – easy cross on rocks and then skied up from there.  Icy rain crust so ski crampons were useful.  Three steps up firebreak and then near the top went left on a horizontal cut line/trail that went around to the drainage/creek from the Storm valley.  Should put some flagging on the tree on the corner of the cut line.  Skied up through reasonably spaced trees over and around creeks for another hour although there were open areas/avi paths on RH side that we skied down at end of day. One rock bench on RH side of trees that we went across on ledge halfway up bench but skied above bench on way out(and down a avi path between rocks).  Out of trees into middle section of valley in 2 hours.  Valley splits in two near end as there is an upper valley on RH side which goes up to the col to beside/west of the rock point that is visible from the road. That trip looks interesting as it would be about 1200 m, upper valley should collect wind deposit snow and the col looks down on Shadow lake/mt Ball.  Saw a ski TR on it early in year. 

Storm mountain is lower left valley and has some long low angle slopes that lead up to storm summit. There was old wet avi debris – frozen solid- but obvious risk if hot from the left.   About 2.5 to 3hrs to corner – Lots of elevation yet to gain as about 900 to 1000m to go from here.( of 1500 m)  Worked our way up and right aiming for RH middle bowl as LH middle bowl beneath rock band  had lots of avi debris in it.  Ended up on steeper icy slopes – Wietse first time with ski crampons but he did great.  Went up to RH ridge and carried skis up ridge so we could ski upper bowl.  Left skis about 150 m from top because of poor snow quality.  Snow was thin breakable crust over sugar and rocks rest of way to summit. On top in 6 hours at noon.  Great views but cold in wind.  Day did not warm up as much as expected so ski down was icy but fast. Guess we could have slept in a bit but the amount of overnight freeze, the sun and temperature rise are the keys to these trips so better to be safe.  

 Had a nice break when down out of wind.  Skied down on skiers LH side of trees most of way and then quickly through trees – avoiding creek – could walk easily in tight spots if needed – no isothermal at all.  Had to walk back uphill about 30 m to catch horizontal cutline to get back to firebreak – should have put some flagging on the corner tree of the cutline.  Ski down firebreak was easy as it had softened nicely but no isothermal problems – a lot of rock and stumps, logs. –  cross creek easily on rocks and carry skis to car. 

Good trip – highly recommended now that can use the firebreak to access the Storm valley.

Pictures at Storm  - full screen slide show is best.

Wietse’s pics   – some really good pics – use slideshow.

Note on ski crampons – I use Voile fixed crampons vs binding specific crampons that move up and down with the binding. I have used Dynafit, Diamar, etc moveable ones in the past.  The teeth on the fixed crampons are fully engaged in snow versus only partial engagement problems with the teeth when on high heel placements.  I have several attachment disks so can use one pair of crampons for various skis/bindings including my tele skis.  I can take them off or put them on standing up with my skis on so easy to use.  Lack of glide is never an issue because do not use on low angle snow.

See pic and more pics in album.

Spring skiing – Dave S had skied Ramp Peak the previous weekend and wanted to do Quartzite on Sunday because of the forecast freeze on Sat night.  Up early, meet Anders et al at Mosquito parking and skiing by just after 6 am.  The freeze was good and travel was fast and easy on very solid crust as we barely left a mark on the snow.  In to campground area (4km)and then up treed slope angling left and over two shoulder ridges to above tree line.  Angled right to cross the avi slope on right above the sharp drainage gully – about 50 – 100m of sidehilling which would be a concern if bad avi conditions.  Stayed high to right and around to base of Quarzite. Good conditions although a couple of inches of new snow on the crust made skinning harder. Ski crampons were useful as I went to about 70 m from top – most bootpacked last 150 m. – on top by11 am – so 5 hrs.

Good ski down – could have been softer but didn’t want to wait that long. Guess we could have slept in a bit but the amount of overnight freeze, the sun and temperature rise are the keys to these trips so better to be safe.  Everyone else was on tele gear.  Lower down was creamy in sun but treed slope was icy in shade but could have walked down if wanted.  Ski out was fine with no isothermal collapse.  That last 1.5 km in the trees may be a fine hike trail but it is poorly designed from a ski point of view.  Fun trip with good company.

Pics at Quartz  – full screen slideshow is best as usual – Poor pics from my small weatherproof camera – some condensation issues as well from being in my pocket.

Dave’s Pics

Anders

 Good trip into North end of Wapta icefield – Peyto Hut to do Baker.

Went in by moraine route on climbers right side of canyon and out by canyon route.  On way in had to cross stream on rocks at first narrows and then had to take skis off for 30 m to get up on first bench on right so easiest to scramble rocks up to snow. Skied up on right side of lower moraine in trees and then had to kick steps up onto upper moraine.  Don’t need to go last 20 to 30 m elev on upper moraine as can contour around to left and ski down to weather huts and then another 70 m elev down to glacier toe.

The canyon route needs good snow cover – basically goes down the skiers right hand side of canyon.  Have to take off skis and scramble over some dirt/rock ribs/ridge above a narrow canyon section in one place.  Avi risk so needs to be stable due to slopes on both sides.  Had to go along canyon bottom in one wider place to avoid ice flows on the right slopes.  When get to wind scoop/cornice part go to skiers right against the rock for safest way down and kick steps down or ski it if it has been tramped down.  Quick out if good snow coverage.

Kevins Pictures at Summits for Seniors – great cause.

Vern’s Pics  trip report

Scott’s pics

Wietse’s Pics

my Pics  – full screen slideshow best.

Pics

Also shows ski exit from bowl to Larch runs

Just got back from California – two weeks eating american sized portions and laying around at sea level and decide to do Rhonda with Kevin and Wietse.  It is about 24 km RT and about 1200 m elev gain.  Went with my Tele gear which worked well.

Kevin is climbing 50 peaks in his 50th year for a great cause which is Dementia.  See Summits for Seniors for more information and Kevin’s and Wietse’s pics.

Pics at Rhonda  – full screen slideshow best.

Indoor Sky dive at ifly Hollywood by Universal studios in Los Angeles.

Twin 400 hp fans simulate free falling or flying. I did 3 sessions for total of 5 minutes which would take dozens of sky dives to accumulate that amount of free fall time.

It takes about one minute to fall two miles or 11,000 feet. 

I was reasonably stable by 3rd minute and could move forward and back and turn around by end of 5 th minute. Great fun!

Have not the video edited to reasonable size yet.

ifly link with generic videos

ifly pics of me

Annual Trip to Blanket Glacier Chalet in the Monashees. Twenty-first time!

Heli in/out to hut - backcountry ski trip.  Great deep powder snow. My Polar Bears are 96 mm underfoot and felt like I could have used another 10 mm at least!

Waist deep plus on the steep stuff in the trees for first two days as overcast/snowing and avi risk.  Up to Caribou ridge on 3rd day and did laps on the reliable sweet powder line on the west end.

Great trip as usual but getting lazy on the pictures.

My pics at  Blanket 2012

Other links  with much better pics

Kerry’s Pics

Keith F pics

Keith Chase Pics

Jeff’s Video Link

Previous years trips are Ski Trips tab at top.

Fairly flat trip but mostly avi risk free excursion with Wietse and Vern.  In the trees most of the way and in the shade until close to the end of the valley. High point on trail in 30 to 40 min- could ditch skins if have wax or scales.   Hour and 15 to 1st bridge and 1:45 to Lake Annette turnoff.   Put my skins on here and took the old decommisioned trail on the right hand side of the creek at the turn off for Lake Annette.   Upper trail on South side of Valley above Lake Anette looked like it would have been blown clear on the scree sections.

Trail was easy to follow until lost it along the creek. – three hours to avi path off the backside of Aberdeen. – there would be one more 1-2 km section up through trees to get to the big meadow.

Good exercise but not really exciting. If had more time wanted to go all the way past big meadow to Wasatch pass.

On way out go past last (first)bridge for 2-300 m before putting on skins if need them.

Paradise Valley  pics

Verns pics

Wietse pics

Leisurely AT trip into Purple bowl -  beside Lake Louise with Clayton.  See Chic’s Ski Trails Book – Skied up to above Temple lodge(45 min).  Took Skoki summer trail which is 70m uphill from winter XC ski trail.  Follow trail for .4 km then took a cutline which goes up to right off the trail high point(orange skidoo sign).  This had a broke trail which contoured around the North end of Wolverine ridge (Chic calls Silvertip ridge)and up into the valley.  This is much better than going further on the Skoki trail (and down) to use the narrow drainage to access the valley as we did in the past. Also allows you to glide all the way out with no regaining of elevation.

Higher up near the end of the  valley at the headwall, we took a drainage which goes up to left in the trees and then cuts right to go up a ramp to access a col on Wolverine ridge(~2.5 hours with stops – 500 to 600m?).  From here you can go up the ridge to Purple peak (another 150 to 200m elev) which was mostly blown clear.

Later in year with good snow coverage and good avi conditions can drop right into Woverine bowl from up near purple peak and come out on Larch runs.  Qualifiers –  Steep, avi risk, route finding in trees and cliffs,  use at own risk , etc.  The Powder 8 championships where held in this bowl back whenever.

 or drop left into Purple bowl (less steep) and come down around the headwall towards Redoubt side. Avi risk, etc.

You can also travel Northish along Wolverine ridge(chic calls Silvertip ridge) and drop off the right side in many places for good short runs in thin trees back down to your uptrack in the valley.  Note this is same NEish aspect as the recent Coral 3 slide which was described/pic in the MCR. We found lots of collapsable sugar snow below a midpack firm layer so we skied back along our uptrack (hit one rock at the base of the headwall drainage)and then glided back on the track with only minor poling. Fast out to car from col of less than 30 – 40 min and only 8 min from ski hill.

Good trip for short days or poor weather – Can do laps on side of ridge, etc.

Poor pics due to condensation on camera due to carrying camera in pocket.

Pics here Purple Bowl

Note – some confusion on naming as Chic has this bowl as Purple bowl and Wolverine bowl used to be called Purple bowl.

Quick tele ski with Wietse into Chester. Went early to avoid crowds and to be back early.

Lots of people – skiers, snowshoers, dogs and even hikers! (30 +).  Don’t understand how the snowshoe couples miss the snowshoe uptrack(sign) and the ski up track(sign) and end up in the middle of the ski down trail!  Both times – Two separate corners, middle of the track, didn’t/couldn’t move.  Good thing we both can turn although we should have stopped to explain to them how dumb and dangerous that was.

Some seniors with wooden skis and bamboo poles – good to see.

Some beta pics on the Chester Lake Couloir

Pics here Chester 2011

Full screen slide show is best.