Andy climbs the Saskatchewan Glacier
By Steve B
The original plan was to ski up the Saskatchewan Glacier and onto Castleguard Meadows Friday, dig snow caves then climb Castleguard Mountain on Saturday and ski back out on Sunday but plans change.
Friday morning at 9:00 am nine members of the club loaded up packs and pulks at the big bend in Highway 93 and headed over the hump and onto the long approach to the Saskatchewan Glacier for the clubs final tip of the season.
By Richard Townell
On behalf of Hang and Hov; Arlene; Dave Allen; Marilyn; Debbie; Sue and Richard; Karen; Dianne; Trudy; Lorna and Richard.
If you want guaranteed good weather and gourmet food, go with Marilyn! Twelve of us did on that weekend and enjoyed a beautiful ski on fresh snow in warm weather into Paradise Valley. We started at the Morraine Lake Road parking lot and followed a gradually rising trackset trail up the Morraine Lake Road to the Fairview Loop turn off. A little way up the Fairview Loop we left the beaten track and ascended through the trees to the first bridge in Paradise Valley. Such snow – white and fresh and as much as we have seen there! It is a great route for a beginner to get a sense of the backcountry with minimal risk. We skied pristine meadows to the second bridge and looked around at the mountains, capped with clouds to add a little bit of drama to the landscape. Temple on the left was not visible behind the clouds but the mountains on the right were dramatic. The second bridge was our turnaround point, though the trail goes further, across avalanche slopes, a risk we did not want to take.
Walter, Steve and Jane stop in at the historic Skoki Lodge.
Once we got vehicles unstuck and somewhat parked Karen and Steve ran a great day tour up to Skoki Lodge and back with mostly sunny weather and a few windy sections. A couple of us headed back early and got an early start on the Pub Grub themed dinner and practiced our drawing skills for a confusing game of Pictionary.
It seems to be the year of back-up plans. Here we are at Mosquito Creek on Friday night, 6 of us chomping at the bit and all looking forward to a great weekend at Bow Hut. But after evaluating the avalanche bulletins for an hour or so, we came to the conclusion it was not worth the risk. For the 2nd time this season the best back-up plan seemed to be Skoki.
It was a fabulous day and after a relaxed sleep (no snoring on ladies trips!) and getting up at 7:00 (or was it 8:00? – it was time change weekend) we were off.
The snow was perfect, got some nice tele-turns in on Deception Pass and made it back to the cars around 6:00 (or was it 5:00?)
Sunday’s ski took us to the Paint Pots in time for lunch in the sunshine and some goofy photos and girly talk!
Tour leaders practice team shoveling to recover a buried “victim“
By Marily Stirlchuk
Nine tour leaders from the Red Deer Parkland ski Club had the opportunity to refresh their skills and knowledge with Felix Camire, a highly experienced ACMG mountain and ski guide.((felix@elgato.ca) The refresher took place at the ACC hostel in Lake Louise and at Bow Summit on January 7, 8 and 9, 2011.