Author: megan

Ha Ling Peak again

No-one else wanted to come and play, so I did a solo bike-hike up Ha Ling (aka Chinaman’s) Peak. The trail was still pretty snowy – though down low there were some bare/mud/killer ice patches, then it was back to packed snow of varying slush levels.

The Yaktrax worked great for it (underneath the shoe they’re a diamond pattern of wire spiralled over rubber – grippy enough unless you’re on ice, then something spiky would be better – apparently some people don’t like the Yaktrax as they fall apart? Maybe if you’re running in them).

Ze goggles

Snowy trail

Yaktrax, and my 5-10 shoes which are coming apart at the front and letting snow, water and mud in. Toes nice and wet by the end of the day.

Summit shot from Ha Ling Peak, looking out over Canmore, and Grotto Mountain, and towards Calgary

Steep drop-off, there’s a few rock routes up the cliff below me.

Back down the hill to rescue the bike from the tree it was tied to, then down the road to home.

canada general snow trip reports

Dolomite Circuit, Icefields Parkway

Post author By megan
Post date 22.2.2010
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Dolomite Peak. We started from the road, down in the trees on the right. Now heading round to the left, behind the Peak. The full loop is 19km.

The skin track is a highway after weeks without snow

Up and up and out of the trees

Now if only it had snowed recently

Skiing down to Katharine Lake, the slope is covered in tracks. Covered!

Along the flat around the back of Dolomite Peak, before climbing up to the col

Atop the col, about to descend. The memory of the trip from here back to the car doesn’t seem so bad, but I know when you’re skiing it, it seems like a terrible torment that lasts forever. And I lost my sunglasses.

general hiking

The first Winter Ha Ling Peak hike

Post author By megan
Post date 6.2.2010
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Early February – it’d been warm for weeks, so the decision was made to hike up Ha Ling Peak (aka Chinaman’s). The trail was mostly covered in packed snow – some icy patches before the first switchback, but otherwise, largely snow all the way, and easy walking with Yaktrax on. A few other people were out there with mountaineering boots, even crampons – and on the other end of the scale, a stubborn couple was managing with just sneakers.

From the summit – looking out over Canmore and the Bow Valley towards Banff

A gorgeous warm day, it was warmer than some Summer days I’ve hiked up there. And once you broke free of the trees, it was pretty easy to pick your way along snow-free scree (or stay on the snowy path).

From the summit – looking out over Canmore and the Bow Valley towards Calgary – and long mountain shadows, as it’s getting late (we got down to the car just on sunset I think)

Not the winteriest Winter.

Hiking down again, looking across from the saddle below Ha Ling towards the peak of Lawrence Grassi proper

general

Heliskiing!

Post author By megan
Post date 3.2.2010
2 Comments on Heliskiing!

One of the perks of working for a heli-skiing company is a free heliskiing trip (but only when space comes up on a trip, which is always last minute, and not every week). I got myself onto a three day trip out at Revelstoke, BC.

Helicopter pickup

First there was safety training, and How to use Avy Beacons 101. And then there was crouching down on the ground while a helicopter came and landed on top of you (never literally, thankfully), squishing in (they seated 12 plus pilot) and being dropped off at the top of the run. Ski down, wait for helicopter, repeat. Stop and eat food at one point in the middle of the day, then continue skiing until it got late (and you think your legs may possibly fall off), and it’s time to go back to the hotel and collapse. Then eat a 5 course dinner of unrivalled tastiness and collapse once more.

Waiting for pickup. The skis are piled on one side, with the guide. We crouch down on the other side. The helicopter comes and lands in the gap inbetween – we pile into the heli, the guide piles our skis into the box then walks round and gets himself seated. Then AWAY!