Spring skiing and Banff based fun

Spring has officially arrived and with it comes a myriad of emotions as well as weather phenomena. Not only has the snow started to melt, and I should state at quite the rate of knots, but also it's sad as it means the end is near for my ski season. I think I really felt this when the public ice rink disappeared in a matter of days in the town centre. There was something rather poignant about it as a statement of winter and to see it melt and all the melt water drain away, made me realise my ski season is coming to an end.

However, having said this, the warmer weather is also welcome treat and for some time we were in shorts and T-shirts. Quite the novelty from -30oC. Adam and I went for a short walk down to the river some weeks back and took photos on a log that was frozen in the middle of the river. This log is completely exposed now, no snow near it whatsoever, and the river is flowing freely. I even spotted some keen fishermen in the water up to their waists. 

Posing in front of Mt Rundle

Some weeks back, during this period of warm weather I organised the first proper (using charcoal) BBQ which turned out to be a brilliant evening. Especially as I had met a charming couple and their half wolf dog at the coffee shop that afternoon who I invited and was delighted to see actually turn up. It's this spirit of meeting new friends and hanging out, especially at a BBQ, that I like about the whole travelling scene thing. In fact, it turned out they were great company and I was indebted to them for letting me use their pan to cook on. Bit of a BBQ fail, as we needed more cooking space. 

Beers and BBQs

Other than that, I have of course been skiing, and the mental warm spell even had us skiing in turned up trousers and T-shirts. Crazy.

Spring skiing at its best

I should also note that one of the biggest updates is that I have moved houses. We had to move out of the "Beaver St Crack Den" as the lease was up. A truly run down house but cheap, and quite the experience with various random people coming back for kick-ons (after parties) even if we hadn't invited them. However, after one night back in the hostel, the new house is quite the upgrade.

It was back in the hostel for one night during the move

Beaver St Crack Den

The Upgrade

With this spell of lovely weather, I decided to go for a hike with a friend. JB (Jeremy) a fellow ski/ snowboard bum, but he actually has a job, we ended up hiking round to the golf course through the woods. I must admit, the prospect of bears awakening, the news of cougar sighting, not to mention the general acceptance that whilst places like australia have some nasty creepy crawlies, Canada has larger more bitey/ rip your head animals. There was actually one moment where all the birds stopped tweeting and we realised we were off the beaten track. I soon decided to arm myself.. that's right, I had picked up a trusty stick and in the absence of having any bear spray I had a packet of Smints in my pocket to use as a death rattle. And if this didn't work, I could only pray that bears didn't like my minty freshness. 

Me and my trusty stick

JB appreciating the scenic bear country

Outside of these off piste adventures, there have been a few interesting on mountain moments as well. Hitting Lake Louise on my own, as everyone else went to Sunshine, a classic mistake. However, the benefits of skiing alone... I get to decide what I want to do. With this, I hit every double diamond back bowl chute at Lake Louise, really testing myself and it was so worth it, the scenery was insane. Dropping in next to exposed rocky cliffs was so cool. I do live this place, just wish there was more snow this season!!! 

Smiles all round skiing this terrain 

Steep and rocky back bowl

On Saturday there was a rock concert at Sunshine village and after only three runs, a friend and I decided to hit the beers and proceeded spend the whole day getting rather sozzled in the mountains. listening to live music.  This was a brilliant day with a few snowballs being thrown and everyone getting in the spirit of the live music on the mountain. 

Untracked Concert Series at Sunshine Village

Back to town living, and I decided to try my hand at baking after watching celebrity Bake Off. Well I can tell you I have some way to go before I start selling them at the local WI market, but it was rather tasty.. more pie than cake. A "simple" sponge with a strawberry jam centre. I had to eyeball the measurements as we had no scales and the self raising flour did not self raise as I only had a fork to mix it all up. It's kept me going all week though and was delicious with a cup of Twinings Breakfast Tea, of which I still have a few tea bags from when i made Adam purchase them in duty free. So English, yet so good!

This cake was actually rather tasty, but more like a pie.

And lastly I can inform you all that I didn't get the Denmark Job.. this would have had me move to Denmark for a 3yr oil and gas decom/ brownfield redevelopment project. Well even though Total said they love my personality, and that I would have been a great asset to their team, they don't want said asset in their team. Amazing! Oh well, bring on the summer and let's continue this quarter life crisis. I should also state that I now need to find a job in Banff to legally stay here (something called a right to reside) so let's see what terrible, comedy job I can find, and start earning minimum wage.

Chow for now!

Mountain Hikes, Kicking Horses and Spring vibes

Over the past few weeks, since applying for this new job, of which I am still to hear back following the interview, I have tried to take in as much as possible of this experience in case it may be my last here. This is due to the project having already started, so it would mean an immediate departure from Banff for a three year project based out of Denmark. No more quarter life crisis fun. No more Canadian adventures. Back to reality. So because of this, and until I find out whether I have the job or not, I've been enjoying everything there is to do out here. From snowy, chilly hikes up the local Mountains - Sulphur, to going to different ski resorts such as Kicking Horse. So what follows is a few of those adventures and experiences I've managed to survive from. 

Reaching the top and realising you resemble a Wildling out of Game of Thrones

Kicking Horse 

Having decided to venture out from the local ski slopes, a few friends and I headed by bus to Kicking Horse, the most incredible, crazy, gnarliest of ski locations I've done to date. It's just Black diamonds and Double Black Diamonds with the occasional blue and green run. It was fantastic. Scary but fantastic.

Kicking Horse's spectacular vistas - and me ruining them

The entrance to Stairway to Heaven

I think the one thing that will stick in my mind will be "Stairway to Heaven". Having to hike for ages across the crest of the mountain bowl to then drop in something that is full of cliffs, gulleys and chutes. I have to be honest with myself, when I saw the run disappear over the edge halfway down, I chickened out slightly and headed further across the bowl to what I hoped was an easier route down, only to find myself in another identical chute to which I had no other options than to head down it. Through trees and steep terrain, the experience from this place was not only mind blowing but has pushed my ability and confidence to go down double black runs with relative, and I emphasise this, "relative" ease/ capability. Now I'm not saying I'm charging down these runs, not yet anyway, but I'm now spending more time on harder, more difficult areas of ski slopes and thoroughly enjoying the process of getting better on these planks of wood. 

Banff Life

The stunning Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Further to what I mentioned about trying to absorb as much as I can of the local scenery and what Banff has to offer is the stunning views. I'm a sucker for the outdoors and trying to go on hikes at the moment on my own is pretty dumb when there are Cougar warnings surrounding the town. However, I did wonder up the backside of Tunnel Mountain the other day, up and along the side of the river, where I already have some fond memories, and the views across towards the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel are just stunning. I'm trying to cherish all of these moments. Poignant to me, walking on my own when I have time to think and ponder. When the sun starts breaking through the clouds. I might only have a short time here but moments like this will last a lifetime. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to call this place home.

Double Diamonds

As I previously mentioned, this new found confidence to go down harder runs has lead me to seek out some of the more hairier runs at the local slopes. To explain, so from Banff you have easy access to three ski slopes, all by bus. Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay, or as we like to call it Apres Norquay. So at both locations I've started to venture into the wild a bit more. The following photos are from some of them. Only in the last two weeks have the side runs of one of the steeper hills been open at  Sunshine so Adam (roommate) and I headed there.

The side chutes off Goats Eye - Sunshine Village Ski Resort

Shortly following this new found confidence I found life has a way of knocking you down a few pegs, and in my case whilst going rather fast through some fresh powder sections, I hit a hidden tree stump and briefly took flight. The best part of all, was the fact I'd decided to video the run and the still from the GoPro makes for light entertainment. Enjoy!

That moment I knew I'd messed up

Whilst on another day, riding at Lake Louise with friends JB and Dan, both incredibly talented Aussie snowboarders, we decided to find some fresh lines down the side of a mountain, I didn't even realise you could access, let alone hike there. It made us laugh when at the bottom we were mentioning how many hikes we have done to date, the time it takes. The effort. For what? Yep a couple of turns in fresh powder. The other day, we literally hikes in waist deep powder at Sin shine for two minutes of decent. But by god it was worth it.

Always a bloody hike with these two

Views from the top

What I'm loving as well at the moment is the speed of which it has turned from winter to Spring. These warmer days has led to more snow and riding, like on St Paddy's Day, in just a T shirt. Worrying it also means we are slowly coming to the end of the ski season. I mean, we still have a few months but it's certainly the start of the end. 

Hikes with Chums

Good friends of mine, Denise and Chris, recently came out to Banff to see if I was still alive and we decided to head to Grotto Canyon for a wee hike. What a day for it. It's this combination of skiing, hiking and generally being outdoors that I'm loving especially sharing the experiences with friends. The hike which took only a few hours is just outside Canmore, the nearest town down the valley towards Calgary, and made for a great day out. Beautiful views walking up a frozen river bed. Passing ice climbers and fellow hikers. We made it to what we believe to be the grotto, a hole at the top of an exposed piece of sandstone, carved out by melt water, then continued further up the canyon to get a picture at the top. All the while, chatting and catching up. It's been a busy few weeks for both Denise and Chris. Denise having just got back from travelling and teaching African people first aid, Chris doing some ridiculous hours at work just to afford to re-gel the wings of his glider. Oh the lengths we glider pilots go to for our beloved sport. 

Grotto Canyon Hike

Selfie from the top of the canyon

Saying goodbye to a Banff Legend

So firstly you're probably wondering a few things.. Yes that is glitter on my face. And yes they are a pair of leggings, not to mention a rather snazzy bumbag. Well when a party dress code stipulates you come in leggings, you come in leggings. And I needed somewhere to store my wallet. Now I realise why girls stuff so much down their bras. It was all in aid of sending off Maddi. An absolute legend in Banff. Having first bumped into her at a Music Bingo night in the neighbouring Hostel, every week  we would head over to go and boogie to some bangers and attempt to win the bingo. Never did win come to think of it. But yes, we started at the Hostel bar where it was absolutely rammed packed with both men and women in tights and leggings. Then once it was suitably messy headed out onto the town. A rather drunken affair to which all I can remember thinking is how comfortable they felt. Oh and at one bar, to which I was the first to arrive, a bunch of cougars, of the female variety, couldn't stop spanking my bottom. It all got a little out of hand. But yes, a sad affair really as Maddi has to leave for back home and she will be sorely missed.  

Questionable fashion choices

That's it for now. I'll await the response from Total in the coming week or so and depending on that is whether I'll be leaving Banff or not a little sooner than I'd like. Until then, I'll be enjoying the warmer temperatures where today I was even in my shorts. Crazy!

From -10C to +10C I'm loving the change

Chow for now.

Mountains, Murica and more

I think it's safe to say, that the last few weeks have been a bit wild. January was quite a blur and February has just flown by. I've certainly had a decent dose of partying, and I'm not complaining. From Raving it up at the "Hot Dogger" at Lake Louise, to attending a number of house parties. One to note was just pre-drinks for SuperBowl Sunday, a few weeks back. It just so happened to tie in with a bizarre weather phenomenon, some sort of vortex of cold air that came down and everything froze to -34C. By the time the super bowl was complete, I'd found I'd lost a bet on who would win, to which a number of us did, and we ended up in the buff doing a naked lap of the house. SO cold!! THought things would fall off.

Hot Doggers Rave at Lake Louise

As for my normal ski bum life, I've really been looking forward to furthering my off-piste powder skiing. So when there was a potential day for fresh powder, those that didn't have to work, got an early night and got the first bus the next morning. I was anticipating this day for so long, I even rented powder skis. What a day!! SO good to get fresh tracks at Lake Louise. Long runs and really felt great managing to smash it down the mountain. One thing to note was how tiring it is in fresh powder. Saps all your energy in the turns as you have to pump the legs so after only a few runs I was dripping. But still what an awesome day.

Dan walking through the flatter section.

Because of this, I decided to buy a set of wider, longer powder skis, and guess what, there has been zero fresh powder since. Like zero! Typical. But the skis are ridiculously good so regardless I'm not complaining. 

The new K2 Kung Fujas 

And then there was the mid-holiday holiday I'd been looking forward to so much. Now last time I went down to California, my friends Boyd had absolutely put on a full show, and I was expecting nothing less this time. I've known Boyd for about 10 years now, having first met at the Junior World Gliding Championship in Germany in '09. This guy lives an insane life and it's just hilarious managing to have a taster of this every few years. 

So my holiday! Well firstly, on arrival in Palm Springs I was waiting to be collected and Boyd didn't turn up in a car like a normal; person. No, we walked out of the car park, around the airport, and then back into the airport, where his plane was being refueled.. yep, we flew back to his house. Well, to the airfield nearby. Genuinely couldn't believe it. Was awesome to fly at night as well over California. 

Mid flight selfie

Downtown Temecula

So come morning, the sun was out and I was ready for my mid Ski season break. What was order, well to go full 'Murican and eat a healthy in and out, followed by Six flags theme park. I also want to note that if it's your first time at an In-N-Out, they give you a free hat and sticker.. so naturally I wore it for the whole day whilst in tourist mode. This place is insane, so many rides, and going on a week day means hardly anyone is there. We literally stayed on the ride for three goes, to the point we all, Boy's girlfriend was also there, felt pretty ill. Think we did about 15 ride in one day. So good!

Morning Cali Sun

In-N Out!! 

Found my love of DippinDots

Full tourist mode engaged

Stunning day at Six Flags

So day 2. What was on the cards, well quite a number of things but I think one of the coolest things was to go to Boyd's new office, the front seat of an OV-10. This funky looking aircraft was originally for ground attack roles in the Vietnam war, like an early A-10 but is now used by California's Fire Dept for spotting wildfire, with the dude in the back controlling the various tankers bringing in the retardant. So cool, so a big thanks to the guys at CalFire for showing me around and letting me get in and have a play.

The OV-10, aka the Schtump

We have a lock on!! Ha

The next day, Boyd, who is also the drop zone pilot at SkyDive Perris, had to film some sort of Japanese commercial/ film thing. No idea, but I decided to come along and chill in the sun. We were meant to have been done by noon but it was going on and on, so whilst a wee bit bored, I decided to go for a skydive. As you do. I should mention, it was my second go, but I was a little underwhelmed the first time I went. SO I said to the instructor to really give it some beans. Yep, was so much better this time round. Genuinely loved it. Now to weigh up selling my glider for a rig or not.. hmm the decisions.

Post skydive face

I should also mention in the evening we went line dancing which was quite the eye opener. There were literally people in cowboy outfits strutting their stuff on the dance floor and the girls were lapping it up. It was all a little odd. And yes, I didn't know the moves so it was me who looked like the uncool one. Brilliant!

Then there was Glamis. Yep a desert. Dune buggies, scramblers, 5th wheels and sand that gets everywhere, as in parts I didn't even know sand could get. But it was worth it. I've been looking forward to coming here for three years after seeing some of my mates who came over get the experience. Charging through the dunes in a 300BHP machine that had nothing to it. Sending it over the tops and charging up ridiculously steep inclines was incredible. Finished off with a great BBQ and fire with a fare few beers to boot. 

This guy. Legend!

Actually a good use of the GoPro stick

Campfire at Glamis

As it turned out we were incredibly lucky with the weather. The heavens opened on our return and California received a years rainfall in a day. Whilst good for the arid environment, there was actually a moment where we were driving through the hills and it was green with low hanging clouds, gloomy sky's and it was rather like a view I'm used to from back home. It was all rather odd. But yes, we needed to get to the DropZone and all attempts failed. Roads were closed because of the flooding and so we decided to attempt to cut across the field. We had a 4x4. Should be easy... well we very very nearly got stuck. Much to the delight of the police officers that came over to laugh at us. Their words, after us thinking they might think we are breaking and entering were.. "well you nearly made it!". Guess it just shows that not all Police shoot you immediately in America. 

The extent of the flooding

So close but so far, the flooded track

Mucky truck

So yeah, what a week of booze, food and being an all American! Cheers Boyd for what was an excellent holiday. Such a legend.

Murica food, wings!

Then back to Banff. Skiing and Ice skating, hill walking and generally living the winter life I was hoping for now that I'm focusing on why I'm here.  I'm so lucky to have met some great people here. A small merry band. I should also note, that I'm especially trying to experience it all as at any point, I might have to up sticks and return home. When I was in Cali, I received an email regarding a potential decomm project back home/ Denmark. I'm currently waiting to hear back from them but if they do accept my CV, then the project would start immediately. Hence my renewed love of where I am and what I've trying to achieve.

Ice Skating

So my focus on skiing. Learning to do jumps, practicing my moguls (I have a long way to go) and amazingly meeting up with friends I hadn't seen in 10 years that just happen to have come up from Chicago for a few days. I first met Greta in '09 as well when . she was the team captain for the Lithuanian Team so it was lovely to see her after so long. 

Sending it over a kicker

Moguls that could swallow you up

Meeting Greta and her mate 

Top of the world!

After skiing I've also started to try other activities. Mainly going to the gym and swimming, but also climbing. My hoofish feet might finally have a purpose. Ha! I really enjoyed scrambling around. 

Bouldering about

So yeah, I should hear back from Total this week about the job or not so next week I have a lot planned on going exploring new slopes as well as conquering a run called Delirium Dive, a massive double black off-piste free ski area that is well known locally. I'll have to update you all about how that goes next time. 

Cheers!