A Mount Dickson proposal....

I met Danielle on December 26 2004 on the way up to the Eldorado Cabin in the South Chilcotin mountains. We were both headed to the cabin to enjoy a winter new years trip in the alpine. Flash forward to today and we now own our piece of paradise less than a kilometre from where we first met. Better yet we have a shared passion for the very mountains that drew us together and spend every extra moment we have playing in them. I've been getting a lot of "what's taking you so long?" and "what are you waiting for?" but that should come to an end now. Over the Easter long week-end I asked her to be my wife on the summit of Mt Dickson. This iconic mountain stands as the tallest peak in the range and is one of the Bridge River Valley's guardians. It's almost always possible to see it no matter where you are in the South Chilcotins. It holds a special place in my world as it was the backdrop of the first photo I took of Danielle on that ski trip in 2004.

                               
Since then we've played on and all around it each year.

Our favourite spring tradition is the Easter long week-end ski trip. It's typically the cherry on top of another great ski season. The longer days allow us to get into the more remote corners of the Slim Creek and Bridge River Valley zones and find the seasons best pockets of pow! This year we decided to take advantage of our new base camp and committed to early and long day trips into the goods.

Only 2 weeks earlier our driveway had to be plowed and we were sledding up to the cabin. Spring has arrived in the South Chilcotins!

After a very late Thursday night (Friday morning) arrival with some unexpected truck explosions and gas stations being closed we found ourselves taking a "rest" day and took part in some Bridge River Valley shenanigans.

The weather was looking reasonably solid for Saturday so I decided to make it the "Dickson" day. We set out early and made our way towards Dickson. Blue skies prevailed but as luck would have it just as we broke tree-line a full winter storm was upon us. It was snowing sideways with very strong winds. The group was determined but in the back of my head I knew the summit of My Dickson was not a fun place to be during a storm.

On the boot-pack section the snow really began to fly but the spectacular setting made it all worth while....  

After a couple of hours and nearing the summit the convective spring weather seemed to be cooperating and blue skies were on the horizon.  

Just before the summit I handed my camera to Ross and asked him to act as paparazzi for our special moment. Here are a few shots of the moments just as we arrived on the summit....

I swapped our Danielle's gloves for a pair that I placed the ring into the finger and secured it with a rope tether. I asked her to put the gloves on and she found the treasure....            

I proposed marriage and a second proposal to ski the 950m line from the summit....    

She said yes to both....

The weather kept improving and we celebrated on the sunny summit of Mt Dickson.

I'm always a sucker for the 360 deg photogasmic opportunities from this massive mountain....  

For a good time head over to Mt Penrose!

Carpenter Lake below the South Chilcotin mountains and the fabulous Bridge River Valley. We can see our place from here....

Foe another good time drop into the NF of Mt Sloan!

The magical Athelney Pass....

Relay, Cunningham, TeePee, Castle, Cardtable and Fortress.... Our happy place!  

Spruce Lake and the buttery Gun Creek Meadows trail....

The painted hills behind Mt Sheba near Lorna Lake with our favourite Mt Davidson zone and the headwaters of Tyaughton Creek....

See you in a month Gun Creek!

Danielle received first tracks as an engagement gift from the group....        

The weather and snow conditions were perfect!

  We enjoyed beers with our friends and celebrated a perfect day in the hills....

And had a few celebratory beverages that night at the cabin....

The next day we headed into the vast lunar like landscape of the Slim Creek area....

To feel small go here....

Milkbird conditions but smiles prevailed....

A nice view of Mt Dickson from the west....

Bridge Glacier massivness!

Tillworth....

Fischer....

Some recent events....

The Thiassi awesomeness....

Lone Goat....

Smiles on the second highest mountain in the range.... Scherle peak.  

The next few days were spent playing in the mountains and celebrating our friendship in the best valley in the world. I can't wait for the next 13 years in these hills....