Late November turns....

Typically November in our part of the world equals some healthy dumps of snow but this one has been challenging. A week ago we were in this zone and it was certainly on the boney side. As we pulled away last Saturday a storm rolled in and helped the cause for around 48 hours. Late this week an unusual inversion threatened to take freezing levels up to 3500m so we rushed back to salvage a few north facing pockets where the deep still remained.

With the use of my VBAR chains we were able to park at the trailhead again....

Unlike last week-end there was no boot-pack and skins went on right out of the truck....

Mt Fee....

Others were in the area....

Ancient volcanos....

The bigness above the Squamish River valley....

We got some legitimate pow turns on our first lap!  

Juneau tried posing with each skier....

The late day light show began at 3:30 just in time for our final lap....

Pray for snow!

Roe Creek and Cypress Peak....

We woke Saturday morning with some mild headaches after our annual slideshow and keg evening in Squamish. Nevertheless we had to get out for some turns and keep the tradition alive. If there is such a thing as the opposite of an "alpine start" we accomplished it. Kurt, Danielle, Nevis and myself piled into Paul's truck and picked up Mike at the trailhead. Paul's scottish piloting skills got us through the deep snow and as far as the road could take us.

             
We spent the next couple of hours thrashing through the boot deep snow in the standard early season alder.

  
After an interesting boot-pack section we emerged into the "goods" and proceeded to the high ridge line.

Near the glacier we realized the summer had taken it's toll and there were some hungry looking slots that were best avoided this early season.  

We got a sweet view of the Vulcan's thumb on Pyroclastic peak's shoulder.  

Nevis got the lap dog cold feed treatment from Danielle.  

We proceeded to shred through the massive icefall and head home for some beverages as the weather came in hard. Bring on winter!

Duffey Lake resort opening day Nov 9....

There's nothing quite like the anticipation of the first real turns of the year. The week leading up to it usually involves tweaking and adjusting new gear and unhealthy amounts of checking the weather and snow conditions. The key in the South Coast of B.C. is to find a zone where driving high enough is possible to minimize the "mission factor" and to find a spot where no one else would think to go. Lucky for us this all worked out on Saturday.

A trip up highway 99's Duffey Lake Road and 12kms in deepish offroad snow and we parked our sleds....

First skin up up of the season....

We spent the next few hours navigating our way to the alpine....

We checked into guest services at the lodge and headed out for a late afternoon shred in the greybird weather conditions....    

I've been trying to get in good with "Gambrinus the beer god" so I packed a full growler for the evenings social events. He would be pleased.  

It was a spectacular night in paradise....

The next morning we followed our previous days zipper track into the alpine....

We tried to tell Juneau it was easier in the back but she wanted the fitness....  

Droppin in....

And no week-end in this zone would be complete without a rip into the "Shitter Shute". A few more snows and it will be "Game on"!