Whistle while you work

So. Whistler was big. And not just yeah, that's a big mountain, but more along the lines of big like its taking me 20 minutes to ski one run. Furthermore, its big because its taking me 20 minutes to ski one ski run in one bowl on one hill.

I think its fair to say that I challenged myself past the point of what I had been capable of doing on skis. I'd never skied powder before. not groomed powder, the light fluffy stuff that has been completely untouched before I ran my skis through it. After the first day there Coops and I would just look at each other with grins, silently reminiscing about the enormity of runs, the temptation to ski one perfect run over and over, but knowing there were way too many new runs to try, and many more that we would not even get to within a week of solid skiing.

Day one. Whistler Mountain. It was awesome, bar the snow that just kept falling. At one point we cruised around the back of Whistler Peak, hoping for that fall flat on your ass view, only to find the run completely immersed in fog and snow. I had no idea where I was going. Coops had no idea where he was going. The trail markers would disappear from the side of the trail, and while heading down was generally the idea, barrelling over an unexpected edge was not preferable. Eventually the top of Upper Peak to Creek cleared and I could unclench pretty much everything and enjoy the ride.

Day two was almost the highlight of the week. We headed to Blackcomb to compare mountains. For the record, Blackcomb is my favoured of the two. High risk, when conquered creates high thrills. Thus was my Blackcomb Glacier experience. Its a ridiculously huge bowl at the back of Blackcomb peak. You only get experienced skiers there because there are few blue runs, and its back country black runs predominantly, with chances for avalanche. You also have to walk over a pass (please note previous comment about avalanche) to get there. I got to the top and thought this was the day I would meet my maker. I was shaking as I took off into the powder, and I think it was fear that brought my first fall. I then realised that powder was the preferable place to fall, both for softness and effect. There is nothing better than a high speed stack that creates an enormous plume of snow which envelope you completely, somewhat reminiscent of having thrown a small grenade at your feet. Our first run out of Blackcomb Glacier took us (well, me) an hour. Brilliant.

We both managed a few good stacks. Obviously I have the quantity, but Coops had the quality, even managing to bust the screen on his camera in Powder (quite impressive given earlier description).

Day three saw more Blackcomb action. We had loved the runs, and fewer 'bunnies' on the slopes. Whistler accommodated the family market, so we enjoyed the open, uncrowded slopes. Day four was back to Whistler, and in a surprising move, we purchased tickets for a fifth day when Sam came up from Vancouver to join in the fum. Subsequently our 5th and last day in skiing in Whistler was back on Blackcomb, again challenging the elements in the glacier bowl (slightly quicker this time, fear beaten down with a pretty pink ski) and we just couldn't get enough.

It was just a fantastic way to complete a year neat in Canada. Coops and I said a tearful goodbye to some great friends when we left Vancouver and flew to New Zealand on 27th March. We spent a tired, but essential 24 hours with some more friends who I'd missed dearly in Auckland before getting home on the 29th.

Nearly two months on, and life is almost like it was. But different. A new job to learn, and still some old friends to drop in on. It goes without saying that it seems like a distant memory, and while I'm still finding it cold here, I can't readily forget (and be thankful that I'm not still in) the big freeze of Canada.

I have to admit, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do about the blog. While I work it out, I'd like to say thanks to those of you still reading. Thanks for the comments along the way, they were always appreciated. Ciao.

Whistler, B.C.

A patch of sun hits the trees the morning we carved first tracks in the snow.











Close to the top section of Blue Line. Hit this first thing in the morning and there's an inch of powder sitting on top of the groomed run and its just like skiing whipped cream.











View from Whistler across to Blackcomb's awesome runs.


Snow angels were ahem, compulsory...





















Check out the angle on some of those slopes....
















Sam came up the last day to board with Coops and I. He had the most perfect weather on the last day of our holiday. This was at the bottom of Blackcomb Glacier Bowl.

NYC Words

New York was one of those trips where its only an hour flight away, but you have to get to the airport at one of those times that should not ever register in your consciousness. It was only the promise of the Big Apple and its hustle and bustle that enable me to function that morning I think. Subsequently we arrived bleary eyed at La Guardia 7am on a Wednesday morning anticipating a ridiculously jam packed day of sight-seeing.

The great thing about landing in New York during the week is that there is rarely a line up for the Empire State building. We found it easily by looking for the tallest pointy bit, and unwittingly crossed off many a famous landmark on the way because they are everywhere in Manhattan. It was pretty breezy up there, and a little hazy, but done.

Never passing up a free ride we headed to Staten Island for the view of Liberty Island - and not to sound tight, but I don't actually see the point in paying to get to the island now that you have to stand in line, go through security tighter than their airports (and that's saying something) only to walk around the base now that the internal structural tour has been closed down permanently.

As is customary, we wore our feet out because we were kind of intimidated by the subway at first. Subsequently we fell in love with it shortly thereafter. Unfortunately there was no travellator to take us the span of Brooklyn Bridge, but surprisingly it was interesting enough that I barely noticed my aching feet. I've never been that in amid of man made structures - well modern ones anyway - but the bridge was just kinda cool, the sun was shining, and I wasn't having to deal with slippery ice underfoot.

I was keen to see the architecture at the Guggenheim, but the Council of Frustrating the Tourists by having Famous Architectural Sites Scaffolded had been at it again, and there was nothing to see here. Buying hot dogs and walking through Central Park seemed to fill the void.

What else? As I mentioned we were staying just off Times Square, so passing through often brought comments of using enough electricity to power a small country to the lips. I was also interested to discover m&m World - a bit of a play on Disney where you could find all thing Red and Yellow m&m. Very interesting.

I have to say, New York didn't quite blow me away, but it fascinated me from a distant standpoint. I think New Yorkers are different to any other Americans I've met, but were not the rude people I had imagined. Not that friendly, but didn't blank you like other nationalities might...

NYC

Construction at the World Trade Centre Site.

Times Square, Broadway and 7th Ave.

NYC Public Library. Say what you wanna, I'm here to stay 'Cause I'm a mean ol' Lion. (Lions Anthem, The Wiz)

Hot dog vendor.

Staton Island ferry (free) passing Liberty Island.

Grand Central Terminal.

Empire view Downtown.

Downtown Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge.

Chrysler Buidling from Washington Square, behind the Library.

What's New York without staying in some flea bitten hotel room just off Times Square?

Brooklyn Bridge.

Brooklyn Bridge.

Winterlude Ottawa 2008, Part 2

Skating on the canal - well, Dow's Lake technically - did not go as gracefully as my imagination had played out. No misadventures, but I don't think I'll make the hockey team this year....Man it was cold though. I couldn't stay on the ice for longer than an hour, and that's with the warming characteristics of hot chocolate and Beaver Tails. (I was too scared to stand by the fire blazing away on top of the ice - but for how long....)


Snow sculptures in Gatineau (just over the Ottawa River), pretty amazing.

Oh, and Beaver Tails are not literally beaver tails in this case. They're deep fried pastry similar to a long flat beaver tail shape, covered in cinnamon and sugar. Awefully naughty, but with the cold it could have been life and death...

Winterlude, Ottawa 2008

Ah, the challenge of photographing Ice... Well, the camera and I did our best, and with a little help from PhotoShop, it would seem that you can vaguely make out some of these shapes. Unfortunately I could not quite do justice to the amazing pieces of art that are alas, with us in this world for such brief a moment as the snow dast fall.



There were artists from all over the world, displaying cultural pieces that were simply astounding. I can't help but admore these people that can create something so unbelievable, knowing that they will inevitably melt away in such a short time. It's started getting warmer here (well, from -19degC to -4degC roughly) so no longer do the swords hold their terrifyingly sharp edge, and the horses, frozen in place, will no longer hope to break into motion on their melted limbs...



I think my favourite has to be this T-Rex skeleton. Even without the 'flesh' it was still a little threatening, and the detail astounding, depite the softening as the edges dripped away.



I still can't work out why the Ottawan's are celebrating winter in such a way, they have nice summers, and there's plenty of skiing to be done, obviously. Ice hockey. Curling. But to celebrate being outdoors during this time is...confusing. The canal is now open from as close to the locks as you can basically get, to Dows Lake. Its about 7km of skating. Once you get to the lake you can reward yourself with a sleigh ride. Whether or not Santa is driving is so far unconfirmed.

Niagara Falls

I had sensibly taken several factors into consideration in order to arrange my trip to Niagara Falls:

1) Coops was going to Germany for work, so I could keep myself occupied with new scenery.
2) The weather forecast predicted that the drive there would be in lovely sunshine with a temperature just above freezing.
3) The day I would have there may possibly snow, but would still be in the positive area of the barometer.
4) The drive back would be in sunshine also, allowing for an uneventful trip back though New York state just for something different.

Unfortunately Coops' trip was moved back, so I effectively wasted valuable entertainment activity, then the weather closed in with a nice display of freezing rain (um kinda like hail, but tinyer and more annoying, not to mention slippery and dangerous) mixed with snow = 70km p/h on the freeway. The day I had at the falls turned on snow, freezing rain (or maybe just frozen waterfall mist) and 40km p/h winds. Then the drive back began amazingly well (oh, except the scrutiny from US Immigration about driving a car that I had no legal claim to over the border - appropriate use of resources people!) until I ran into a freak instant but brief snow fall directly west of Lake Ontario.

However, I was blown away by the falls. Not literally, despite the winds, but I can't help compare it to Victoria Falls, although there's something in me that just can't rate a North American wonder over an African one.

Its a 6hr trip, give or take, from Ottawa to Niagara Falls, so I arrived late in the afternoon and couldn't help but head pretty well straight down to The Falls. I drove past the American and Bridal Veil Falls first, then realised that the hugely impressive Horseshoe Falls were just around the corner when I had to hit the wiper blades, despite the distance from the water fall to the road.

They light up both the American Falls and Horseshoe falls from 7pm until 10pm, so I headed down to catch the display:

American Falls on the left and the more narrow Bridal Veil Falls on the right by night.

Horseshoe Falls by night.

There's all these facts about the falls that I can't really be bothered to type, so hopefully the diagrams below will actually be worth the '1000 words' they claim to be:

Although not the biggest falls by any stretch of the imagination, they are up there with the largest volume of water over falls anywhere, which has resulted in significant erosion.

This diagram depicts the rate at which the falls have been receding, although the rate has slowed now that the power of the falls are being harnessed for good (hydro-electricity) and not bad (er...bluescreens for early Superman movies).

Horseshoe Falls at sunrise this morning.

Oh, by the way, if you hadn't worked it out by now, if you click on the images they'll open bigger, and possibly even better....go Super Pictures - up, up and away!