Nick's is not doing too bad for only learning how to ski a month ago.

Rob and Nick.

Back to the hut.

Some nice powder on Cowboy ridge.

Black tusk in the background.

Jason trying out for next years Backcountry Hunks calendar.

Nice view of half the Spearhead in the background.

First hint of clouds in 2 days.

Nick in his purple suit.

Mt. Cheam 2/5/06

Mike and I headed up to Mt. Cheam enticed by reports of bottomless powder and a forecast that called for clearing skys. Lots of powder as it turned out but we never really got much sun.
Some snowmobiliers had thoughtfully laid tracks down so that made the climb easier. We eventually found them stuck in the deep snow and passed the foul sounding/smelly bunch about where the alpine started.
We dug a cave and messed around and came down the next day.

I went down to the creek to fill up the water bottles. There was about 14 Ft. of snow.

Mike digging a deluxe snow cave.

It finally started to clear up on the way down.

The wet snow made it difficult to turn in the narrow trail.

Skiing fresh powder 1/1/2006

Mike and I went up to Whistler early on New years day and found some great powder up on Flute. Knee deep with new falling made this the best day of skiing I have ever had. Of course I'm just happy to have gotten out of using mountaineering boots and into some proper gear. Now I'm back in control instead of falling down the mountain. I have Scarpa F1 boots, Volkl Nobert Joos skiis, Dynafit comfort bindings and G3 skins. Everything is superlight and worked excellent.
We made a skin track up and did several runs. We had a blast.

Here is Mike thinking "where do we want to put the first tracks in?"

.

Mike making a Rutshblock test with his butt.

WOOHOO, getting up early has it's advantages. First tracks down...

Mike following me down.

Mike.

We hooked up with another group.

Skins off.

.

After lunch break.

Knee deep.

.

Andromeda adventure. Dec.26/05

I was visiting my parents back in Calgary for the holidays but planned to get in some skiing and climbing while there. I went skiing with my Dad up to Burstall pass which was a great 16 km round trip. We found some great powder and had a blast. Not bad for a 77 yr. old guy!
Anyway, I had brought all my gear with me and had hooked up with a local guy named Josh from the M.E.C. board. We decided to go up to Mt. Athabasca and Andromeda for 3 days and see we could do. Both North faces and the practice gullies looked very tasty.
The weather forecast didn't look to bad and we were pretty pumped over the whole thing. A 4;30 A.M. start out of Calgary got us to the Columbia Icefields parking lot and on our way up by 9 A.M.
There wasn't much snow cover on the scree down low so the sidehilling was kind of tedious. The fun started at the icefall. Chest high snow in the gap up through then on to the glacier. The wind was picking up the higher up we moved but we were making pretty good progress. We could see the cirque and the upper glacier would probably be a good place to set up camp. It looked like a safe place from Athabasca and Andromeda rockfall and avalanche from the AA col and reasonably protected from the wind.
I secured the tent and we zipped up to eat something and relax a bit. The time was 4:30 P.M. and daylight was starting to fade. The temp. was -12C. An hour later the wind really started to blow. We kind of joked about it at first like, "I hope the tent doesn't rip." By 6 P.M.
I was bracing 2 walls and the poles against the violent gusts that were pummelling us. My tent is one of those Black Diamond ultralite models built on a Bibler Awahee plan. It felt as though a giant hand was knocking us first one direction then the next. You could hear the wind howling higher up, then we'd get smacked a few seconds later. It's hard to describe the intensity. Somewhere between a speeding freight train passing inches from your face and standing behind a jet taking off.
We put our boots back on and gathered up mitts, balaclavas and other important gear we might need if the tent ripped. We discussed our options. Tough it out? Dig a snow cave? Go down? We have 14 hours of this until daylight returns. That wasn't a pleasant thought.Will it snow a ton and be wicked avy danger by then? It wasn't until Josh got smacked in the head when one of the poles deflected under the wind load that we decided to bail out and descend.
So at 7 P.M. in pitch black night we packed up, made up a short rope and started down. The winds and spindrift were unreal. Twice I was knocked off my feet and three times to my knees by the wind. It was like some linebacker smacked me down. We knew we had to keep to the right to avoid the icefall and cliffs so we stayed high and wound up about 30 ft. from the spot we needed to be. A little to the right and down the ramp and below the icefall. Kudos to Josh for the routefinding in difficult conditions!
Once past the icefall it was just a 2 hr. slog over the scree and finally on to the sno-coach road. Finally back to the truck and out of that wind. Back to Calgary by 3:30 A.M. I will not soon forget my Andromeda adventure.

At the Sno-coach staging area.

Chugging up the snow covered scree slopes.

The icefall revealed itself as we turned the corner.

Shooting Gallery and Asteroid Alley
can be see here.

Approaching the icefall.

A great shot of Josh going up the gap in the icefall. We ended up going to the left of where I took this photo as the snow wasn't quite as steep. This led to a ramp on top of the icefall.

Another cool shot showing the icefall.

After a break we resumed upwards.

I'm starting up the upper glacier here.

Here is Josh front pointing.

Andromeda strain is shown right in the middle.

The Practice gullies looked in great shape except for a cornice overhanging the righthand route.

The entire Andromeda strain route can be seen here. Judging from the look on my face,I was just happy to be there.

Andromeda strain is on the right, the practice gullys are clearly seen on the left.

Trying to support the tent walls. I wish I would have thought to take a video of these moments. The sound of the guy ropes vibrating and the fury of the wind would have been interesting to listen to.

Another huge gust. I'm just waiting for the ripping sound to begin.

Back on the sno coach road.

Josh back at the truck.

I'm surprised we don't look more baked.