Opening day at Red Mountain

Lots of excitement in town this week as a build up to today's opening of Red for 2012/2013.

We got 10cm of snow Friday, and there is 1.5 meters of snow at the top. However, there has been a crap load of rain this November, and there were rivers running down the mountain earlier this week.

I awoke to the sound of avalanche control explosions and a temp of -10C.

Bluebird skies and good, if somewhat crusty snow.

A great day all round. I am tired.

The edge of the Paradise side

In the trees - out of my element. 

Oh man, I am a chump skier in these parts.

I have my work cut out to get my skiing chops!!

Not a bad thing, It just means more time at the hill :-)

News bits.
I have a part time job at the hill shoveling snow. The calls will come at 5:10am!!
I have some bad carpal tunnel thing going on. Mostly due to bad ergonomics on the computer since I got to Rossland I think.

Tomorrow is slack-country out of the resort to Grey. Should be fun.

Time to ski...well sort of.

The weather in Rossland has been pretty bad for a while now.
Unusually wet. Lots of snow falling at right around freezing, which then melts as it rains.
Or it just rains.
We've had about 200 cm of snow rain in us!!
Fortunately, much of it has been snow at elevation.

The weather reports have been torture, advertising below freezing and lots of snow in Rossland.

This Saturday was really poor for XC skiing and I was awoken by the sound of rain drumming on the roof, so Tom and I decided to pull the bikes out once again and do a road ride.
It was a fine ride, with temps of +11C in the valley.

There is lots of snow at elevation though.
I got one of these (avalanche beacon) so I can go back country ski touring.

Here are some pics from outings over the last couple of weeks.

XC with Tom at Paulsen

Skinning up 7 Summits

Berry Ridge hut 

 Starting a back country tour to the top of Mount Elgood with Craig, Sunday Dec 2

Lunch in the trees

Getting into the alpine

Nick went to his new home a couple of days ago. Steve and Sarah live just around the corner. Here is a pic of them with a very tired Nick (he was out ski touring all day)

and a final shot