Categories
canada climbing general

early season ice

So, with the Jeep still out of action at the mechanics (and while it’s away we’re secretly looking at every Subaru we see for sale), we ended up cycling to the ice. First we tried to have a look at the Pigeon Mountain Falls near Dead Mans Flats, but the guys at the quarry in front of it weren’t having any of that. So we cycled onward to Heart Creek.

 

Creeksicles

 

Nothing was looking particularly inspiring – and Heart Falls definitely didn’t sound very frozen, I couldn’t be bothered with the scramble round to confirm one way or the other.

 

Thoroughly unappealing look at some of the early season ice at Heart Creek

 

So we ended up playing on the left smear near Bunny Wall (WI2ish) – which was thick enough to take screws if you chose your spot carefully.

 

The two smears near Bunny Wall at Heart Creek

 

Of course by the time we left it was already 4.30pm. And there was a headwind. And we were hungry. And it was uphill. And the only way home is along the freeway. And it was 25km of cycling in the dark to get home. Just sometimes, I think a functioning car could be a handy thing.

Categories
bikes canada general snow

biking to the nordic centre

The things you do when you don’t have a functioning vehicle.

 

 

(Yes those are nordic skis and poles strapped to the bikes – it worked quite well)

Categories
bikes canada general

another silly bike adventure

So apparently it’s largely uphill along the highway from Canmore to Banff. Only 700 metres gain over 25km or so. Gradual enough to make you think it’s flat, and that you’re just really unfit – until you turn around and go the other way.

 

Riding along the 1A

 

Despite the cool temperatures on Thursday (it was around minus 13oC at 11am, I don’t know that it got much warmer), we went Banff-wards by bike – largely to go and see the new Warren Miller movie (Children of Winter, much better than other Warren Miller movies I’ve seen in recent years).

Friday morning brought fresh snow to telemark in, and then the homeward-bound cycle (with the added bonus of a brand new balaclava, which led to much more warmness).

 

Canmore!

 

Categories
general

one of the more disturbing things i’ve seen in a canadian supermarket

 

 

I suppose including cheese in your meat slice makes sense on a certain level, as it will save you having to put to put two separate slices of stuff in your sandwich. Not entirely sure about the macaroni though.

Categories
canada snow

turning into winter finally

 

 

After prolonged warm weather, it finally snowed in town the other day – and there was actually some snow on the ground for opening day at work (which has been kind of hectic). Oh, and the flag really is a Canadian flag, it’s just being all insipid and limp.