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(Click any image for a larger view.) |
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DAY 3 - Alan Drainage
DAY 4 - More trees
DAY 5 - Dome & Big Easy
Monday
we woke up to yet another warm day with lots of snow falling so
it was decided that a tour down the valley would be the best and safest
route.
We headed back down through the trees, down the Bluewater Creek and then
headed north up the Alan Campbell drainage. We had found some great skiing
in that area the year before but breaking trail through 40 centimeters of heavy wet
snow almost broke us. |
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Bluewater Creek. The lodge's generator is down here. |
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The snow was so heavy
and wet Roy was having a
hard time keeping up
momentum to turn. |
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Steve has the difficult job of trail breaking through the trees. We took
turns breaking trail but the snow was so heavy that no one lasted very long as lead trail breaker. |
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You can see by the
trench just how deep the
snow was. What you can't
see is just how blooming
heavy the snow is. |
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Once we got to the open meadow, no one had any enthusiasm or energy
to go any further. We managed to get in some reasonable turns on the way
back down the drainage before starting the climb back up the Bluewater to
home. A couple of keeners stayed out and skied yesterdays trees again. |
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Sunset at the end of a long hard day. |
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The group relaxing and sharing some appies. |
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Some people had more energy than others
for cards or reading
(with your eyes closed). |
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Day 4 More trees.
Unfortunately the weather was socked in again
so trees were on the agenda. 3 people skied the trees on the ridge above
the lodge while 5 of us sussed out some trees below the lodge. Between
blizzards like conditions and elephant snot snow, we did manage to plough a
few turns. The smart ones stayed put and enjoyed some quiet time in the
lodge.
Day 5 The Dome & Big Easy
It was a fine thing to wake up to bright blue and clear skies.
For first timers to Campbell, this was their first glimpse at the amazing scenery in the area. Avalanche conditions were still
very high so Jesse offered to lead us up a safe route to
the Dome. |
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Morning view of the Big Easy. |
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Checking transceivers before heading out. |
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Photo courtesy Steve Riggs |
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1. The Dome
Our destination today is the Dome taking a route shown to us by Jesse and
his wife Christine. Approximate route shown in red.
Ladies
Last
Chance - there ain't no trees past
this point. Some of us spent a awesome day sking in the trees below LLC a
couple of days later.
2. Bluewater Glacier
This will be the destination for some of us the following day. |
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Ena, Franz and John take a break before tackling the hard crusty snow down
through the trees. |
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Christine leads the way up through the moraines towards the Dome. |
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Back Row: Larry Fisher, Ena Spalding, Franz Dopf,
Robbie Dopf, John Bargman, Steve Riggs, John Davies, Karen Fisher, John
Alliston & Roy Scarisbrick
Front Row: Brian Dechene, Jim Eickmeier, Barb Davis, Joanne Riggs,
Carol Guthrie & Betty Alliston |
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In the background you can see the 2 Christmas tree runs that caused a lot of
grief over the next few days. The heavy wet snow had become un-skiable due
to the wicked sun crust that had formed on top. It was our only safe route
to access the Dome and the Bluewater though. |
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Robbie cresting. |
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The view looking north from the top of the Dome. I believe this is the Freshfield
range. |
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"If you're not falling then you're not trying hard enough." |
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It was a tricky descent from the top of the Dome as there was a bit of a sun crust in places.
But lower down it was pretty fine. |
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Photo Steve Riggs
After leaving the Dome we headed back up past the lodge and up onto the Big
Easy. |
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Here's a shot and video of some of the
gang skiing from last season. |
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Make some turns to
Day 6... |
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Tour
Steve's site of
the trip. |
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Additional Photos:
Steve
Riggs |
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