Categories
canada general

why fondue went out of style (or, we nearly burnt the damn house down)

For Christmas dinner, we also tested out my fancy schmanzy new fondue set. Well fancy schmancy retro fondue set, that Secret Santa had bought for me from the Canmore thrift shop.

 
We read through the instruction book carefully. It was full of helpful tips.

“Fondue and friends make a gay after-ski party.”

“Liven up this informal party with bright coloured table decorations. For the buffet centrepiece, glue coloured paper cups end-to-end to hold attractively-arranged flowers.”

“Needless to say, more extensive burns should receive a doctor’s prompt medical attention.”

“In addition, a fire extinguisher should be as easily accessible to the dining area as it is to other parts of the house.”

 

 

And although we did set the placemat under the fondue slightly on fire, and at one point there were large leaping flames, and at another point we were unsure how we’d ever be able to get the thing to stop burning, save letting it burn itself out entirely … well, the cheese fondue was still deliciously tasty.

Categories
canada general snow

the snow in town, it just doesn’t go away

Since the start of December (or some time around then) the snow just hasn’t left the streets. Well, technically it’s left the streets. Unless you count the mushy brown stuff that looks distractingly like creamed butter and brown sugar. But it’s still everywhere else.
 

 
These photos were taken at the start of December, just before Banff Avenue re-opened (after months of roadworks). It was a perfect surface for skiing up and down on.
 

 
The Christmas lights are coming out all over town now. And suddenly all of those Christmas cards and images and song lyrics make a lot more sense. I’ll have my first white Christmas this year.
 

 
And when there’s enough snow on the roads, you can skate (ski skate that is) up the Tunnel Mountain road, and get this view of the Banff Springs Hotel at night, surrounding by snow covered trees.

Categories
canada climbing general

climbing frozen waterfalls

In lieu of any new ice climbing activity on my latest days off, I’ll just have to reminisce about climbing Cascade Falls the other week.
 

 
Just outside of Banff, the 300 metre high Cascade Falls are a popular tourist destination in Summer (there was even a tour bus that had stopped to admire them as we were walking back to the car after finishing climbing for the day – noone on the bus showed much of an inclination to get out though). And in Winter they turn into a fairly classic WI3 ice climb.
 

 
We only did the first 150 metres or so, which is fairly low angled and steppy for the most part. It was very odd to see the waterfall still flowing underneath the ice in some spots though (and hear the gurgling of water rushing past after an ice screw was removed).

Categories
canada general

bit nippy out

I’m not sure when the temperatures were last above freezing, but I think it was a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately there isn’t much snow looming in future forecasts, but at least all the cold will be helping the ice climbs get nice and fat.

 
But I’m beginning to see what all the Canadians in Melbourne were complaining about. Whether it’s the proper heating over here, the really dry air, or the fact the temperatures don’t seem to jump around so much, I’m finding the cold here easier to deal with than in Melbourne. Of course I might change my mind when it hits -30oC, but by then I can probably get away with whinging about the cold.

Categories
canada general

snow snow snow

6.20am Wake up
7.00am Leave home to walk to the bus stop to catch the bus to work
7.10am Stand around in the cold, sipping at my tea, waiting for the bus to come and hoping it isn’t too full
7.45am Arrive at work
8.00am The sun rises
11.30am Go out skiing
1.30pm Get back to work
4.50pm The sun sets
5.30pm Catch the bus home
6.00pm Arrive at the house
10.20pm Fall asleep (maybe)