20120524 Angie’s Graduation

Last Thursday was Angie’s UBC graduation. I was hoping that maybe this was the day when you could get your money back due to the quality of the teaching, but alas no, all she got was a certificate.

Apologies for the quality of the photos in the hall, but I was too far back for a flash and it was quite dark.

The president giving a speech in lieu of the Chancellor, who had lost her voice:

No graduation ceremony would be complete without one member on stage serving as a reminder of what too much time in academia can do to you, lest anyone was thinking of going on to do a PhD:

Angie on stage, having her name read:

Being congratulated by the Chancellor:

Obligatory silly hat portrait:

Congratulations Angie, one down one to go!

20120519 The People’s Republic of South Yorkshire

Took a while to plough through the photos, but I finally got them up in a gallery here.

20120423 Angie’s return to normal life

Last week was the end of Angie’s long haul, she finished her undergrad! I had been saving a couple of days of vacation so that we could celebrate with a long weekend away. With a dodgy forecast on the coast, we decided to head east of the Cascades to the Washington desert in search of sun.

Five of hours of driving through torrential rain later, we dropped down from Snoqualmie pass, the rain stopped and the stars came out. After camping at the KOA in Ellensburg and a lazy breakfast at a cute 100 year old hotel downtown, we drove down to Yakima where I had heard there was some good biking. Revolution Cycles gave us a map and pointed us in the right direction and we were soon zooming through the smooth, fast desert singletrack.

Angie gets faster every time she rides:    She is especially fast when heading for the winery tasting room:

 

Dropping back into the canyon from the winery:

 

Friday night we stayed at the state park in Yakima, and returned to the same area to ride on Sunday in even hotter weather:

We were pretty burnt by the time we got back to the car!

That night we went back to the Ellensburg KOA to be closer to the climbing, and for a long luxurious hot shower!

Next day we went east to Vantage to climb at Frenchman’s Coulee. The Feathers were packed, but we managed to get quite a few routes in during the day, from 5.4 to 5.8.

Angie topping out on the shady side:

Ready to climb round on the sunny side:

 

Me having fun rapping off:

After we were done for the day we took a walk over to the impressive main crag.

View from the roadside:

Angie with the Kingpins, some of the best climbing here:

 

Can you say “splitter crack”?

Obligatory timer shot on the rim:

Monday, we decided to have a tourist day, so after another huge breakfast downtown we headed of to Roslyn, the little town where Northern Exposure was filmed. It turns out to be a cute old mining town nestled on the edge of the mountains, with a wild-west feel.

Joel Fleischman’s surgery is now a gift shop:

 

The cafe sign from the opening credits:

The Brick was unfortunately closed:

 

 

The rest of the day was spend shopping and taking our time making our way back home. A great weekend, it really felt like summer!

Back home this week Angie launched into summer by starting work on the garden:

20120407 Spearhead Day 2: the lure of a warm bed

After a really quite cold night (a guide later reported it was –12C), we woke to a completely bluebird day with spectacular views around the range from the campsite.

After breakfast we took a short hike above the camp to the summit of Tremor:

Then we packed up and headed out further into the range. The next part is a bit of a blur of glaciers and passes, with spectacular views out to the McBride Range:

Andy eyes the route from the Naden-Ripsaw Col:

Five minutes later, another glacier crossed, we arrive at the Naden-Macbeth col (in the distance of the previous picture):

The snow on the Naden Glacier was pretty good, so we dropped out packs on the col and took a couple of laps down the gentle glacier:

Onwards, to a lunch spot on the edge of the Iago Glacier, with a panoramic view:

After dropping behind Iago we were faced with the biggest climb of the day, up the Diavolo glacier to the col between Mt.Benvolio and Mt.Fitsimmons:

Arriving at the top, I was starting to tire, so elected to take a rest stop while Andy dropped back down the face for a quick ski lap:

 

Just beyond the pass we again dropped our packs and made the short climb to the summit of Mt.Overlord, taking care not to get too close the edge which is overhung with cornices all along Overlord and Refuse Pinnacle:

A quick traverse under the face of Overlord and we were on the broad Overlord Glacier, and it was time to think about camping. We had planned to camp somewhere in this area, but it was only 3:30, and the thought of another cold night wasn’t too appealing, so we decided to make a bee-line for Whistler and be out that night.

It is only a short climb up to the Whirlwind-Fissile col, from where you can see all the way to the Whistler ski area. (Fissile on R):

Doesn’t look very far, it’s just over there the other side of Singing Pass:

Better get a move on:

A scoot across the flats above Russet Lake and a run down Cowboy Ridge put us in familiar territory in Singing Pass. Traditionally most people head down the Singing Pass Trail from here, which is all downhill, but about 8km of thigh-burning roller-coaster-side-hill-icy-toboggan-run nastiness. I almost always choose to head out over Oboe and Flute, which is much more pleasant, but unfortunately, up.

One last climb:

A final high speed run down the freshly groomed resort put us back at the car for 6:30, and on our way to the pub, sore, sunburned and happy.

20120406 Spearhead Day 1: 4 seasons in one day

A few years ago some friends and I did the Spearhead traverse in a day, 34km over ten glaciers from Blackcomb to Whistler. Ever since, I have been thinking of going back to spend a little more time out there, climbing the peaks and skiing the great lines without the time pressure of the “in-a-day” circuit.

This weekend the opportunity came up, and Andy Luks and I set out with the intention of doing the traverse over three days.

After being gouged for a lift ticket by Whistler-blackcomb, we made our way up the busy holiday Friday lifts to the top of the Blackcomb glacier under blue skies:

At the backcountry gate we joined the conga line of backcountry skiers (and the usual gapers), to climb up to the East Col:

Following our route from two weeks ago, we dropped into Decker creek and climbed up the north side of Decker.

I was keen to go to the summit, but with the top in and out of the cloud, it was pure chance that we managed to get on top in a sucker hole and see the view.

First summit under our belts, it was time for lunch:

 Beyond Decker the crowds thinned considerable, with only a few day trippers and the other groups heading round the traverse.

A few more ups and downs and we made it to the col by Pattison in good visibility, where some folks had decided to camp:

The summit is only a five minute hike from the col, so we dropped our packs and headed up:

Almost as soon as we dropped off the far side of the col, the cloud rolled in, and within ten minutes we were in low visibility and it was snowing lightly. Nothing to worry about though as there were tracks ahead of us, and a quick check on the GPS reassured us that they were heading the right way. One long climb through the white put us on the Tremor-Shudder col, and it definately felt like winter again, zero visibility, cold, windy and snowing. One party had elected to camp in the col, but we dropped over to find a spot on the Platform Glacier. Voices in the cloud told us we weren’t alone, and sure enough as the cloud started to lift we found another party camped nearby, and over the next hour a couple more groups arrived. Popular spot:

 

It was getting pretty cold by late afternoon, but digging a tent platform and building a wall warmed us up:

No sooner were we settled in than the cloud cleared out altogether, so we decided to pop back over the col and ski down the glacier we had just climbed up. Turns out, this was the best decision of the trip! Over the pass, we found a thousand feet of perfect boot-top powder to ski in the evening light:

 

 

Really, it doesn’t get any better than this:

A couple of guys from one of the other parties skied off the summit of Tremor and down past us, whooping all the way:

  With tiny crystals in the air, everything sparkled:

We hadn’t planned to ski this far down, but really, how could we not?

Run of the season?

 

The only problem now was that dinner and bed was a thousand feet up there. What goes down:

Home sweet home:

As we cooked dinner the evening light got more and more impressive across the valley. First yellow, then orange:

 

And finally pink:

 

Tomorrow we were heading over there, but first there was going to a very cold night.

EDIT: Andy posted his photos here.

20120326 I’m still here!

It’s been a long, long time. A combination of poor weather, high avy risk, poor skiing conditions and general business has meant I haven’t had any decent photos in months.

Well, this weekend we got the first bluebird weather in a while, and a stabilizing snowpack which meant we could head out into the backcountry.

As Kala, Renee, and Meg were staying up in Whistler we chose to meet there, swallow our pride and pay the extortionate $48 for a one-time lift pass, and head out into the Blackcomb backcountry.

We were rewarded with fantastic views over the Spearhead, here with Decker in the centre:

Lots of tracks on the slopes we were heading for:

Marc at the top of the first col:

Heading down to Decker Creek, Marc found some nice snow and got a few tele turns in:

Stopped to rehydrate before heading up Decker:

From the shoulder of Decker, looking further out into the Spearhead with L to R, Pattison, Overlord and Fissile:

Tracks on Overlord from people coming round the Spearhead Traverse:

Nikki enjoying the day despite the sleep deprivation:

Kala on the shoulder of Decker:

  Marc on the first run down the face of Decker:

Nikki, same spot:

Renee, ripping it up:

Sunshine and fresh snow. About time.

Meg on Decker:

Kala:

Kala again, kicking up a good plume:

Marc:

Nikki (angular distortion may have occurred….)

Renee on the second run:

A little oops:

Kala finding some untracked:

Textbook “C” shape!

Plenty of space for more turns:

Some other tourers enjoying the view before heading home:

A great day, but I’m definitely quite sunburnt today!

20120207 A better way to get to work

The new commuter is finished, and mother nature obliged with a perfect morning for an “extended” 1.5 hour commute to work to test it out:

Yesterday, before the light and air horn were added:

20120129 And now for the fun part…

20120128 Baker in the wind

Short day, but not too bad when you got out of the wind:

20120101 Christmas California Road Trip

This Christmas we decided to forego the usual skiing in the rain and head south in search of sun.

We didn’t have much in the way of a plan, except for hoping to visit Damon and Gina in Monterrey, and get some riding in on the way.

After a mad final week of work I escaped a bit early on the 23rd and we hit the road, stopping in Seattle to stay at Andy’s.

Next day we were pretty slow getting going, and made a stop in Portland to stock up on groceries, which meant we only made it as far as Grant’s Pass in southern Oregon. It turned out much colder than we thought, –4C when we went to bed!

A campfire kept us warm while we cooked:

 

Christmas morning, Angie was glad she brought the big down jacket!

On the road again, heading down the I-5

A stop in Ashland to Skype home, and grab a coffee. We met a friendly dog outside Starbuck’s, but unfortunately she didn’t need adopting

The last volcano in the cascade chain, Mt.Shasta:

 

Christmas lunch in the slightly dodgy town of Weed

Views of Shasta from the middle of town:

Angie’s turn to drive:

That night we made the extremely windy way over the hills in to Napa valley, and the picturesque little town of Calistoga, which has a little shopping area in old railway carriages with a wooden station platform:

The Boxing Day Sales were madness:

Just outside Calistoga there is a petrified forest where a volcanic eruption flattened and buried the redwoods. Theses fossilized trees are 3 million years old:

Another buried tree:

Must be getting warmer, hummingbirds in the trees:

Next day we went to Marin County, home of mountain biking. Unfortunately they have now banned biking on anything interesting, so we rode the old railroad grade up Mt.Tamalpais. Not the most exciting ride, but great views out towards San Fransisco:

Finally warm enough for short sleeves:

However, as the sun started to go down, it suddenly got really cold, and we were both freezing by the time we got down.

Turns out California’s almost-bancruptcy means most of the state park campgrounds are closed, so we had an extremely overpriced stay at a commercial campground on the coast, but that meant that next morning we had a spectacular drive through the Marin headlands to Sausalito:

Nice beaches in Marin:

Leaving the truck in Sausalito, we took the ferry across the bay to San Francisco:

Golden Gate:

Angie on the ferry:

Alcatraz, looking very much like a ship:

Downtown SF skyline:

Coming into port:

Cool skyscraper downtown:

Angie was keen to go Haight-Ashbury, so we took a bus up the hill. After a rather good brunch we went for a walk through the neighbourhood. Some nice classic SF houses:

And some rather unusual window decorations:

Angie communing with the hippies:

Heading back towards downtown, we found some classic “painted ladies”

 

Not sure what this building is, but it looks like it ought to be in Paris!

We tried to take a cablecar, but they were all full!

Down at Fisherman’s Wharf as the sun set, there are some cool old ships moored:

 

Back on the ferry to Sausalito.

After the most amazing pizza in Sausalito (made by a real Roman chef), we drove to Santa Cruz, and treated ourselves to a cheap motel.

Next morning we checked out Santa Cruz, and walked down the wharf.

At the end of the wharf there are tons of sealions. Some are just hanging out in the ocean, practically asleep:

others sunbathed under the pier:

That is one happy sealion:

This one wanted to be in the circus:

This little guy was happy to snuggle up between the others:

Natural Arches is a nice beach just of town, perfect for a picnic on the beach:

Watching the surfers:

Happy on the beach:

A pelican in Santa Cruz:

That night we stayed with Damon and Gina in Pacific Grove. Angie had a bad case of van envy as we slept in Gina’s parents van in the driveway. Time to start saving. The highlight of the visit was a private after-hours tour of the Monterrey aquarium with a friend of Damon’s who designs the exhibits.

Next day we met up with some locals that Damon had lined up to show us the trails around Santa Cruz. Great fast singletrack with little jumps. Just a shame it is mostly illigal!

The high point of the ride was the open grassland of Wilder Ranch, typical dusty California biking:

After that we drove down to Big Sur, just an hour south of Monterrey. The only hiccup was after seeing almost no-one camping anywhere down the west coast, the parks campground was full! We went to the commercial one down the road and got stung for another $40. Still, the scenery is worth it:

Time to head back north.  A quick stock in Carmel-by-the-sea, home of the moneyed, and a taste-free zone. Some nice little nooks and crannies in the town though.

From there it was back on the highway, with a short stop in Berkeley, and we made it back to Shasta Lake that night.

Next day we continued up the I-5, stopping in Eugene, OR, which seems like a great little town, they do things my way there:

After dinner on New Year’s Eve in Portland, we camped at the first state park in Washington where we could hear, but not see, the New Year’s fireworks.

A little retail therapy at the outlet mall and we were back in Vancouver for dinner!