A introduction to backcountry skiing wins some new fans.
- January 2, 2011
- Team: Dylan, John, Ralph, and Chris
- Summit: Copper Mountain, 8920'
- Car to car: 3600' gain, 6 hours
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
It looked like it was going to be bitter cold for our ski outing, and I think that might have affected the size of our group. But after yesterday's -9°, it seemed pretty warm. When, just before 10am, the Suby crested Banner Creek, the car thermometer was showing +11°. The temps on the right were from the Banner Creek weather station, so the car was pretty close. However, when John and I compared notes at the parking spot, both cars showed 6°. Well, cold is all relative, right? |
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We had planned for the cold, so that's why we didn't start until 10. Soon enough we were skinning our way up the ridge. Dylan was impressed. |
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| As Little Bob says, we only make all those wonderful turns in powder for the opportunity to skin back up. |  |
Spot o' tea, mate? At the lunch tree, we stopped for the traditional short break and discussed our options. We could do a lap and try out the powder, or keep skinning.
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 John
Fadgen photo |
And we were doing more skinning! That's the top of the mountain up there in the fog. Should only be another 20 or 30 minutes now. |
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Summit! Check out those cornices. Ralph and Chris played around on the top for a while (see Ralph's report, linked below). But Dylan and John were eager to do more skinning, so we had to head down. |
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This isn't really as much fun as skinning, but you gotta do what you gotta do. |
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Dylan showed a certain... ummm.... mastery of the snow ;-) And as Ralph said, "Dylan should be super-stoked to have a Dad that encourages and supports getting out and getting after it! " Good job, guys. And welcome to the club. |
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