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Kicking Ass & The New Lift

Daz - High

Lake Louise

Round The Fire With Blinky n Daz

Kicking Ass - From The New Side

Kick

Mick - Coming Down from the top of KH

Tour Highlight

By The Griz (Mike Eyers)

Blinky, Griz 'n Zart

Aussies In The North Bowl

Powder Springs Cat Skiing - Revelstoke, BC.

Day 4 of the tour was a surprise for us all. After witnessing the extreme beauty of Lake Louise and the incredible terrain of Kicking Horse we could not believe our luck when we arrived in Revelstoke. It had been two days since the last fresh snow had fallen and the forecast was not looking favourable. With the lack of fresh pow on the horizon we decided the local bars were the go for our first night in Revelstoke.

The Revelstoke locals are allot of fun. Although the population of Revelstoke is only small, this town kicks. There are numerous pubs and bars, one in particular has a very Canadian ballet production almost every night of the week. Other bars have live bands or DJ's where you can choose from Country & Western music to Rock or Techno. If you are lucky enough to visit this part of the world... watch out for the Mounties, even at 3am, minus twenty something degrees on a secluded street you can be picked up for relieving yourself on a snow dump after being kicked out of the last closing bar. WHERE'S THE DUNNIE.

BUSTED...

We woke early, headaches raging. I threatened the others with a long walk to the resort if they didn't get up for brekkie. Silently we walked down for breakfast with only the sound of an occasional moan. As we passed the front desk I asked if there were any spare seats on the cat. Powder Springs has a small ski resort and enormous terrain for cat & heli skiing.

YES...

Due to a group of Calgary skiers pulling the plug we had seats... and about 10 minutes to prepare for the most perfect day of skiing I had ever experienced. Apparently 14 skiers had been killed in avalanches in the area within the previous two weeks, and those who are not aware of the extreme professionalism of the guides and choice of terrain at Powder Springs may well have been concerned.

Twenty three die hard skiers and one boarder entered the bus outside our hotel in town for the short ride up to the base of the resort. Upon arrival we loaded our weapons (skis) into the cages on the rear of two yellow snow cats ready to ascend beyond Powder Springs Resort to the top of the Selkirk mountains.

Guide Jodi, Peep Training The Aussies

About half way up the cats stopped, still below the cloud, light flurries falling and an eerie silence you can only experience in the mountains. Our guides proceeded to demonstrate and educate us in mountain safety routines. We had to find hidden avalanche transceivers buried in the powder and learn how to operate our own transceivers.

Minutes later we were back on the cat, punching through the cloud ceiling and ascending the sunny Selkirk peaks. The photo below demonstrates the awesome weather above the cloud. A truly amazing experience for an Aussie.

At The Top

The views were heavenly, the snowy peaks of the Selkirk's became glowing islands in an ocean of cloud. It was hard to believe that it may still be snowing below the cloud. At the top we quickly donned our gear and traversed about 30 meters from the drop off point to a glorious run called Dispair.

Aussie Daz - Carving the pow at Revelstoke

The first tracks were magic, boot deep powder on the peak, untracked through the bowl getting deeper as we approached the trees. I was in a state of ecstasy, it was impossible to remove the grin from my face. All day we skied untracked powder and laughed at the names of the runs on the mountain which include, Crusted Butt, Steep Throat, Itty Bitty Titty, Holy Chute, Rear Entry and Between The Sheets. Provocative names because the snow here is better than sex.

Our guides were fantastic. Jodie skied first checking the surface conditions and leading the group, the front runner has to make a trail for everyone else to follow, "Stay to the left of my tracks and rip it up guys". Perfect S's were carved into the snowy basin, all about a meter apart, at least until we Aussies let loose. Our only boarder Daz tore the face to shreds. He was quickly reminded that If the mountain goes without snow for a few days there has to be areas for future groups to ski fresh, untracked powder.

If anyone gets into any trouble the rear guide known as the tail gunner will pick you up. Our tail gunner Don came from Sun Peaks resort. He like many other patrollers from all over Canada come to Powder Springs for their holidays. Don gets to tail gun (powder ski) 3 days if he patrols the resort for 3 days. Sounds like a great deal to me.

Guide Rick & Tail Gunner Don

Lunch

After lunch we skid the North Bowl, some of the best powder in the Selkirk's, steep, deep and more than a treat. At one stage our guide skied ahead to check the snow from a recent avalanche. When snow avalanches it quickly sets. The snow changes from soft to hard blocks of snow and an experienced guide can estimate how long ago the avalanche occurred and if there is any remaining danger.

Avalanche

Following our final fresh powder drop for the day we all stopped at the cat track, way above the resort. Our guides gave us directions to the base station and the grog n tucker... aah food & beer. I was as dry as a dingos donger in the desert and was sure I could eat a bear if it was to present itself. One of the Canadian blokes yelled "Last one down buys the first pitcher" It was on... Aussies v's Canadians and our reputation at stake. I skated as fast as I could to catch the first 3 Canadians, when I reached terminal skating velocity I let my weight (I'm 17 stone) and inertia do the rest. Full tuck to the bottom, thighs burning, only one possible outcome... Gasping for air... Yes, I'd done it. The first Canack down yelled "Your crazy Aussie bastard, how can I compete with a 300lb Grizzly Bear bearing down on me at mach 10."

That day I had earned the nickname "Griz".

The bloke who owns this operation is Clyde, he also owns the resort and the hotel we stayed at. A great businessman who puts on a great show. He provided a hot lunch, nibblys at the base hut at the end of the day, a great dinner in his restaurant and a viewing of a video made by a group of 100 plus day skiers (they have cat skied with Clyde over 100 times) who travelled in the other cat. During dinner he even presented a hot new ski suit to a guy from our cat who had just completed his 50th day on one of Clyde's cats. Why do these people keep coming back? Cause the snow sucks? I doubt it. I'll be back soon, with bells on.

Thanks Clyde

WARNING - The Chutes

The Chutes At Castle

Up The Chutes

DANGER - At Whitewater

Check The Background