I'd planned on exploring a new zone I'd spied from the summit of Moose Peak yesterday with the zoom lens on the dslr, but the forecast clear skies weren't there in the morning. I'd need visibility to really explore this new zone, but instead found cloudy, with a trace of new snow and very, very light snowfall. I went for plan b - Piggot Chute.

It hasn't seen tracks this year and the up was well packed thanks to Beacon, Dave and I. I left the parking lot at 9am and was dropping in by 11:30. The entry is guarded by cliffs ranging in size from 5 to 10 feet. I found a nice pillow line with double 5's. It quickly opens up after a short Christmas tree band up top. The middle section is clear of any obstacles and plenty wide to go as fast as you like.

I took in some food, boiled some tea and was pointed up hill by noon. By two, I was once again at the top and the watch was showing almost 4,000 feet. I tried to find the adjoining opening, but found a y style entrance into Piggot again. I was going from memory - I'd thought the adjoining one started up high, but it actually is quite a bit lower. Oh, well, lots of room for me on Piggot and this time I fired up the Jetboil again to cook up some chili mac n beef.

Belly full, I wasn't going home until the watch said 6,000+, which would beat the biggest day of the year. I climbed to the top of the Moose Chute this time, rode it down to the choke, then took a hard right. Once again I was going from memory, but this one I was quite sure started up high. It did, I missed the top couple hundred feet or so, but what I saw beneath me was plenty ok. Similar width to the Piggot chute and to the best of my knowledge, never been ridden. I ripped it a new one right down the gut. Sweet powder in this protected spot. I'm still mulling over a name, but I'm thinking of something to pay homage to my childhood stomping grounds in Manitoba.

Lots of alder down low on this one (just like the Moose and Piggot chutes), but with some effort I was able to make Little Akamina lake. Skins on, across the lake only to find the spot I'd crossed this morning was now open water. I followed the creek back towards Cameron until I found a snow bridge and then played cross country skier to the truck. I was there by 4:45. Total up for the today was 6,260. This loop is where I'm headed when the next storm comes through. It's a pretty mellow climb for the most part, good for over 2,000 feet a lap and is probably the best place for a 5 digit day in the park.

I was joined today by David. It was his first day of the season on the splitter. While gearing up in the parking lot I couldn't help but smile while looking up and seeing my tracks on Rowe shoulder.

We headed down the cross country trail and took the shortcut that Beacon refused to take a couple days ago. I climbed the down and only had to break a very short section before reaching the summer trail up track. It had been heavily traveled by a pack of snowshoers. The park is packed at the moment with people on Christmas vacation. I can't wait for them to all go home!

David had never been up Moose Peak before so we climbed the last bit from the top of the Chute and took in the views. Another blue day with light winds a few clouds in the valley. I took some photos of my tracks coming down the Rowe slide path, enjoyed the feeling of once again standing on one summit and looking at the previous day's summit, boiled some tea and ate lunch.

David and I took turns with the dslr on the descent. The only track down was mine and Beacons. The snowshoe crowd had stopped following long ago. Good powder turns although the park could use a refresh. Looks to be a couple of decent pics that will have to wait until I return home. David wasn't feeling another lap so Piggot Chute remains untracked and is probably the target for tomorrow. I did spy a new line on the Forum/Wall ridge that looks intriguing though. It may depend who shows up tomorrow.

The parking lot was crawling with people when we returned at about 2:15. I really like coming out later when they're gone. We grabbed a beer in the hotel and called it a day. 2,780 up, which is 50 less than I did with Beacon - due to the uphill hiking I did with her before electing to carry her down. It was good to spend a day in the mountains with a friend and introduce him to new terrain.

Despite calling or emailing everyone I know with a pair of skins I was solo again today. The cavalry are supposed to be showing up starting tomorrow.

I hit the parking lot at 9:30 and was alone other than Dimitri from Bulgaria. Troy and I had run into him last week. He's a very enthusiastic snowshoer. We chatted for a bit while I geared up. The mountains mean so much to many people. It was nice to see that he was very stoked on "my" park.

Skies were blue again today with light winds forecast to diminish. I headed up into Rowe bowl - someone solo had been on my up since I'd punched it in before Christmas. The hoar continues to grow down low - huge flakes and they're audible as crush them while you climb. Soon enough my unknown solo friend had turned around and then proceeded to ski down almost right on top of the up. I don't get some people.

The sun had gotten to the pure south that is Rowe Bowl Trees so I decided to explore the easterly aspect which wouldn't have seen as much daytime heating. There were already a few point releases in the more open spots. I worked my way around to under the unnamed and likely unridden gullies that flank the left edge of Rowe bowl. There are two twins that are separated by a slightly rocky ridge and then the one Dave liked last year that has a short rock walled entrance. Then of course there is the prominent couloir we named the Knuckledragger. Soon enough I gained the ridge above the bowl and after a few switchbacks through the trees I was looking down the first gully. It looked good. Another switchback and the twin looked just as nice. I was tempted but the summit of Rowe was only another 500 feet up or so.

A few more switchbacks and I started running into the icy, scoured drifts that Dave, Troy and I encountered last winter. Things were just soft enough thanks to the warm sun that I was able to keep the skins on right to the top. What a view! Last year we didn't have very good visibility.

I boiled some tea, ate lunch and enjoyed that feeling I'm really starting to like - sitting on one summit looking across the valley to yesterday's summit (in this case it was Moose Peak). There was a summit register in a small container on the cairn. Somehow we missed it last winter. I only saw one other winter entry in 4 years of entries. The fine point sharpie was missing the cap and didn't want to write very well but I scrawled my name and the date. I snapped a bunch of pictures of the scenery and lamented leaving the dslr in the truck. I took a peak at the slide path that drops se off the summit, then shuffled over to peer down the Knuckledragger.

The entry was scoured, the cornice was smaller and not overhanging like last year and the gut didn't look loaded. There are islands of safety on either side of the entrance. The buried faceted layer is still down there but its quite deep. The storm snow up here was only 15cm or so. I converted to board mode and put a couple cuts into it. Nothing doing. Looking down I was surprised how much smaller it looks this time. Forever Young is steeper and longer, and maybe a bit wider. Second turn in and it jigsaws down about fifteen. Its narrow though, obviously limited to the width of the rocks. I'm on my toe side edge with virtually nothing moving above me and quickly move to the rock wall. Small slide that wasn't entirely unexpected. There are islands of safety once through the rock choke that would have been the other option. I make turns on the bed then hop back into the powder on the ridges once clear of the rock walls. The debris just crossed my up track by a few meters. The whole debris field is narrow and confined, maybe 5-8 meters and quite shallow. The upside of a tight couloir is the lack of volume of snow. It would have knocked you off your feet but thanks to the lack of terrain traps a burial wouldn't happen without a much deeper crown.

Skins back on I regain the ridge and look down the first twin gully. It is short and the walls are snow covered. The one to my heel side is a long island of safety. I point it and make a few high speed carves. Peek over the shoulder and its just sluff. Up onto the wall, let it pass then more turns down to the up. Short but sweet.

Fatigue is chasing me. I broke a lot of trail yesterday and carried a dog down the mountain. I'm carrying emotional baggage too for putting her through the ordeal. Quite a bit more breaking today and holding an edge on icy stuff puts quite a bit of strain on the muscles. Watch says 3,600 or so. I try to quiet that little voice in my head that says we've had enough. Up I go once again, taking a photo down the first twin. Keep going and poke around Dave's rock lined gully. I don't really like the looks of the snow around the rocks. This one is a short rock wall and the chances of it propagating into the rest of the slope are much greater. I snap some pictures and elect to get some powder turns on the shoulder. I come across a perfect spot for a goofy footed rider to throw a slash with the Cameron Lake background.

I talk myself into one more push up the mountain. The sun is setting and Rowe's slide path is looking good. I'm beat and decide to traverse over to it rather than taking it from the summit. The fact that the watch is showing 5,000+ feet contributes to this decision. The icy scoured climb and presumably similar entry also contribute. I'm only a few hundred short of the top. Beautiful light now as the sun is flirting with the horizon. High speed powder turns are soon replaced with lower speed ones as the Christmas tree field is entered. With another meter, this would be a clean shot, but today there are obstacles to keep me entertained.

Soon enough I'm at the bottom of the path. Gps shows quite a bit of vertical and horizontal to the road. Trees are tight but manageable. I'm happy to have a supportive snowpack. This would be skin downhill terrain for a splitter after a big dump. I soon find tighter trees, dead fall and creek beds, but I'm on a mission now. I'm not unstrapping until I hit the road. A few interesting hops and the odd shuffle and I'm out. A small bank brings me to the downhill section of the road. A short walk up the slight rise in the road, then I strap in and skate to the truck. Its 5pm and there's still a bit of light. I probably had time to bag the summit again and take it from the top.

Total up today 5,090. A solid day with new terrain, some good practice in managing terrain and an exercise in willpower.

3 years ago, we purchased a purebred Elkhound puppy and named her Beacon. As you can see in the first picture we have of her, she's a bit skittish. I always assumed she'd grow out of it, but a general lack of confidence has nagged her all her life so far. Sometimes she borders on paranoia - there are areas of the house where she simply won't go. She often starts and stops to the point of shaking in attempting to do routine things, like go down a set of stairs or hop off the bed. We've grown to love her idiosyncrasies.

Elkhounds are famous for being strong willed with a strong prey instinct. Most breeders don't recommend letting them off leash. This summer we got another one and named him Ullr. Since he was a small puppy he was easy to catch, so he spent a lot of time off leash. One day in the summer I decided to let Beacon off leash - much to my surprise her recall was pretty much perfect. We practiced on several hikes and I looked forward to the day this winter when I could bring her out into the backcountry as I'd originally intended. With a thick double coat and large paws, this breed is built for winter. I'd taken her out once on a skinning trip (up and down) and kept her on leash a few years ago. It didn't really go all that well mostly because we kept getting tangled. At the time I didn't trust her off leash.

The Elkhound is actually misnamed - technically they are an Elghound - Elg being moose - over in Europe the Elk is the Wapiti. So they really should be called Moose Dog. If you had a Moose Dog named Beacon and you were taking her for her first off leash backcountry experience - where would you go? To Moose Peak/Chute of course! In fact, Beacon almost had an outing with Troy, who we call the Moose (and who has an Elkhound of his own), but a bit of a medical emergency popped up (hope you're feeling better Christine!) so it was just Beacon and I today.

We arrived at 8:30 and found the parking lot empty. I geared up and she sniffed out the place. Once under way she'd run back and forth along the largely packed cross country ski trails. Upon reaching the lake, she fell into line and let me break trail. Once in a while she'd step on the skis, but overall things went smoothly. I followed the summer trail way over to the first switchback which comes close to the Moose Chute exit. I was anticipating more than a single lap and there's no point in re-breaking new trail for the second lap. Up past my camping spot of a few days ago and then working the contours higher and higher. There's only a single spot of maybe 100-150 vertical feet where you can cross the Moose Chute. Higher is protected by cliff bands and lower is protected by the choke of the chute, which is also rock walled. Thanks to gps bookmarks I found my target almost perfectly. Once across the Moose Chute, I put the track all the way over to Piggot Chute then followed the ridge up.

Shortly after hitting the ridge I was alone. Called and called, nobody came. Turned around, skied downhill and I can see she's "stuck". Not literally, but just in her head, she's been pacing back and forth and can't make it past a certain point. With encouragement she's uphill again and off we go. Only a few hundred more vertical feet to go. Once more nearing the top, she's nowhere to be seen. Call again and soon enough she punches in her own up and joins me.

Literally 100 feet from the summit (lateral, not vertical - maybe 10 vertical feet) she's spooked over the low density snow along the ridge. She's falling in to her armpits and refuses to come closer. I walk back down and attempt to coax her to no avail. I return to the summit, eat some lunch, take in the views (bluebird and no wind! wow what a day!), snap some photos, scope some lines for another day and put the board into downhill mode.

The top bit of the Moose Chute is quite flat from the summit. While descending, I kept looking back and she was right there - running downhill. As it started to steepen, I looked back again and was alone. Stop, call. Unstrap, hike up, coax downhill. Repeat this twice after dropping another 100 feet. Uh-oh. I put her on leash, but six feet of slack only goes so far. She's not liking it and neither am I. Every time we stop, she's trying to claw her way back up hill. Now what? She's a bit of a runt, but she's still 30 or 35 pounds. I made a very short lap at a resort once when she was younger. It was a cute photo, but it was the bunny hill and I didn't have 25 or 30 pound backpack, deep powder or steep treed terrain to deal with. I'm running out of options though. Dragging her downhill on the leash isn't going to work and if I let her off leash, she's going back up hill.

I got some remarkable turns in all things considered. Beacon even got some dog face shots. It's quite the task to ride with that much weight squirming around, but I'd link 5 to 7 turns before I needed to stop and re-adjust. I made it through the choke by side slipping down (doh!) and only fell once on a lower waterfall section. No dogs were hurt today, but I'm sure they were traumatized.

Once at the bottom of the Moose Chute, I tried to take the short cut back to the road. I found what I thought was a perfectly good snow bridge across the creek, but Beacon could hear the running water underneath and there was no way my calling and coaxing was overriding the "water = death" instinct. We skinned back the 1/2 mile or so to the wooden bridge, I leashed her up and ran into far too many people - all of them cross country skiing. The trail head looked like the parking lot of a big box electronics store on boxing day - I don't think I've ever seen it that busy.

A frustrating day to say the least. I put in all the hard work of busting open the up, had ample day light for 2, maybe 3 laps and in the end got marginal turns and probably scared Beacon away from backcountry for good. Total up was 2,830. Sigh.

I was solo this morning and found a bit more new snow along with cooler temperatures. I briefly considered checking out the Parking Lot specials - the chutes just across the creek and above the parking lot, but figured it'd be a lot of time consumed route finding. Better to save them for another time. Looking to the right I figured Rowe Bowl would be the better plan. No long walk to the lake, but no up track to follow either.

The bottom couple hundred feet was terrible - virtually impenetrable alder blocking the progress, but once on top of the cliff bands it was smooth sailing up hill. It's about 2,200 feet to the ridge and trail breaking was moderate to heavy, but by noon I was up top. Along the way I stopped to take quite a few pictures, dig a pit and generally just rest. I've been fighting a cold of sorts since returning from Hawaii and haven't felt quite 100%.

The first lap offered up dry powder under mostly cloudy skies. Lap two was dry powder under sunny skies and by the third lap the south aspect was starting to make the powder a bit heavier. The fourth and final lap the sun had dropped behind the ridge, the temperature had dropped and things were dry again.

I had a Christmas supper to get home for so I left a lap early. With an early start, this zone would give up some decent vertical. Typical lap is about 1,000 feet, but there is an option for ~1,500 or so if you're willing to settle for a bit of a mellower bottom portion.

Total up today was 5,460. No more turns until after Christmas. This season is off to a terrific start. I'm at 76,200 so far and 11 of 16 days have been 5,000+ Several days would have made last year's top ten list for biggest vertical

Awoke to a few cms of new in town. The hotel includes a continental breakfast with lots of goodies. Troy arrived while I was eating and he was bearing gifts. Nectar of the gods (in 591ml size) and a bag of gummy candy. Never again will I hit the wall in the backcountry.

As we drove up the temperature on the truck went up a couple degrees. Said -8C at the trail head but didn't feel like it.

I'd thrown the glopstopper wax in the pack today in case we made laps on the lake. Before we even hit the lake the temperature was noticeably warmer and the skins were getting sticky. Wax solved that problem and we lightened the load by stashing some food and water near the lake edge. Up, up, up we went. Troy and I are like the tortoise and the hare...he's not resting, he's waiting. Slow and steady doesn't win the race but it gets the turtle up the hill.

A few hundred feet up the snow was dry and before you knew it we were on the knob. We elected to hit the newly named Bowling Alley which is just to the south of the Landing Strip. There are four or five fingers or alleys that are 5-10 meters wide that offer up a clear shot to the lake.

A bit of sluff moving but it wasn't fast enough to catch us. We stopped just shy of the lake and put in a bit of a rollercoaster traverse in the trees just above the shore to avoid the lake. Through Christmas Tree Hell (which can charitably be described as interlocking) then up, down and around various dead fall and creeks. Soon we were at the food cache to refuel and then up again.

Second lap, more of the same this time each taking a new and untracked lane. Hammer down and enjoy the ride. Chased a couple pinwheels down low.

Once more back to the cache for a pit stop. We decided to try to find a boomerang or banana shaped chute south of the Bowling Alley for the last run. Troy "redlined it" for the last climb and was on the knob in 35 minutes.

We elected to split ski the shortish descent before climbing the few hundred feet back up to the spot we were looking for. Staying legal we came within about 500 feet of Obama powder. It was quarter to four and we were just in time for our tee time. First hole was a par four, dog leg left, 1300 feet or so to a lake side finish. Non existent winds but poor visibility due to heavy snowfall. Just a bit steeper then the Bowling Alley and a mostly clear shot. It dumps onto the fan above the penisula. I've eyed this one for a while. Stoked to get it in great conditions. I'm going to coin it The Hook. It plays right to left and looks a bit like the hook a pirate would have. Don't like my names? Come tour with me and you can pick them out!

We heard a couple naturals while putting the skins back on but couldn't see where they came from. One more big one while on the long walk to the food cache and then the truck. Arrived at 5:30. A full eight hours. We might have the best jobs in the world. Temperature in the truck was zero. By the time we hit town it was -9C!

Snow continues to fall. Tomorrow could be deep... And hopefully dry. Total up today was 5,230.

I've never winter camped and realized that if I'm going to explore further from the parking lot its something I'd need to get into.

Last night went pretty smoothly. I arrived at the tent with about an hour of daylight left. Inflated the exped sleeping mat, unpacked the -18C bag and cooked supper. Got settled in and quickly realized that it would be a tight fit for a second person. I went with the lightest (and smallest) tent I could find. I'm glad I did as odds are I will be solo most of the time so I don't need the space or extra weight.

The first problem with solo tenting was what to do. I should have brought a book to read by head lamp but instead found myself in the dark in the bag hours before bed time. I made the mistake of bringing the skins in their bag in with me. They soon made the bag and me wet. A few miserable hours later I was dry again and soon enough found myself wishing I had a designated nalgene as nature was calling. Instead it was into the boots (no liners as they were in the sleeping bag) and outside to relief.

Once back inside I was plenty warm and managed to stay on the mat all night. I awoke at 8 and by the time I cooked breakfast, made some tea, melted water and got the gear as ready as I could it was 9 am before I was skinning. I left the tent in place to keep the pack light.

I put in a steeper short cut for the up and elected to make laps on the right side of the knob (no name yet) with plans to punch in a new up so as to avoid the lake. Once the up was in I made a few more laps and though I could see evidence of two other groups and sometimes hear them I never saw anyone all day. Troy was out today with his friend Gordie and they managed a 4 lap day - which is good for about 6,400 feet. There was another group of three. Just another "busy" day in paradise...

I short changed myself on food and had left the stove in the tent. I was soon out of water and food. Its the first time I've considered my situation to be problematic in the backcountry. It was a long walk back to the tent and a super long walk back to the truck. I was feeling light headed and uphill involved a lot of mental focus, but I was still stopping to rest after a handful of steps. Up was the only solution. Soon enough I was on top of the knob. I attempted to traverse over to the tent, but couldn't stay high enough.

Adding insult to injury I had to climb a couple hundred extra feet (and lose more daylight due to the switch overs) before arriving at the tent. I'd forgotten the extra fuel in the truck and hoped that what I had left would melt some water and hopefully cook my last remaining meal. It did.

It was almost dark before I had the very heavy pack on and was descending towards the lake. One last switch to skin mode and a 2.5km walk to the truck. I found a buy one night, get the second night free deal at the hotel in town and jumped at it. They're also opening the restaurant earlier (7:30am) and closing later (9:00pm), so if the snowpack cooperates it could be the home away from home. Troy is coming back for more tomorrow. Weather man is saying up to 35cm more by Tuesday night so I'm planning two more days. Then home for my birthday and Christmas. Total up today was 5,310. Should have been bigger but I learned a few things about camping - next time I will be able to take better advantage of the head start that sleeping on the mountain provides.

Have you ever found yourself in trouble on the mountain? Next time I'm at home I'm throwing some gels and/or clif shots in the pack. The stove is always going to stay in the pack as well. Extra fuel too!

I crashed at Troy's house and after breakfast we stopped at the Cinnamon Bear Bakery - their buns are famous and despite numerous attempts I've never had one. Usually because they were sold out, sometimes because of random closures. I thought for sure today would be the day to get them because as we arrived they were unlocking the doors. Sorry won't have any for another hour. I "settled" for the cookies and we hit the road.

I always hold Troy up. As quick as I am he's much faster. Today I really slowed him down. Packing up the tent, bag, food etc took a good fifteen minutes. The snow was coming down wet and this made trying to climb the up that Troy was setting a real pain in the ass as I kept breaking through and wet snow was clumping on the board making the climb even more slow.

I finally hit the top of the ridge and Troy had scouted out a fallen tree with root ball that made a nice natural shelter. Once again I made him wait while I pitched the tent and off loaded a bunch of weight into it.

From there the climb to the top of the knob was easier. Temperature had dropped and the snow was drier, no clumping and far less weight in the pack. We took the Landing Strip (newly named because the trees are so widely spaced you could land a plane between them) right down to the lake. Nice fast powder with face shots at will. A few alders but nothing too bad. As soon as we unstrapped on the lake we found ourselves in slush. Uh-oh. Not the best feeling when you're on a lake. Threw the skins on and elected to walk the half mile back to recycle the up. More clumpy snow across the lake and half way up until the cold fixed it again.

Cleared to descend on Landing Strip. Just our zone so tons of fresh to be had. Wow, the park is in really good shape. No wind affect and lots of base with some ever increasing powder on top. Back at the lake again, Troy had a Christmas party to get to so he motored on ahead. I felt bad. We should have had ample time for three laps.

I intended to make a third lap and then a final partial climb back up to the tent, but the slushy lake was clumping up on the bottom of the skins. No wax, no real solution other than walking(no glide) with a few extra pounds per ski for half a mile. Fun fun. Finally off the lake I used my shovel to clear the junk off the bottom. The skins were soaked through in many spots and those spots immediately turned to ice. Made for an interesting and slow climb back up. Fatigued I decided to head to the tent. Total up was 4,030.

A long ago planned vacation to a sunny destination came with almost perfect timing. The snow had stopped and temps plummeted.

I returned to find normal temps and snow starting to fall. I headed out today with Troy and a couple of his sledder friends. The four of us doubled into a fairly remote spot - about 35 km deep. The wind had got to most everything but we did find some enjoyable turns in some burnt trees.

Small day of 2,670 due to sled travel time and having to break trail twice - once on the sled and then again upon reaching the terrain. Short runs also contributed to less than normal vertical. Troy and I are planning on parking the sled and heading to the park tomorrow which should mean a return to bigger days.

Today was day ten and I decided to head to the most popular spot in the park. I'd never been to Macdonald West shoulder before but it looked like a good place to get quick turns. It might as well have an escalator. The up is quick and the down is a nice consistent pitch save for one bench in the middle.

The down also takes you within meters of your vehicle so you could easily go super light weight on this one - meaning this slope will easily give up a 10,000 foot day. Today I stopped at 5,130 though. Started at 8:54 and by 12:15 I was at the top of the second run boiling up some tea. To the hotel for a hot shower and half way home before the sun went down.

What a start to winter. This time last year I had a single "day" in and it had maybe 10 turns in it. This year I'm already at almost 25% of last seasons total vertical!

My goal this year is fifty 5,000 foot days. So far on this trip I'm 8 for 10. As winter goes on and I get stronger and fitter.... the sky is the limit! Five thousand now feels easy. The moose was talking about doing a twenty. I thought he was nuts, but maybe he isn't.

Pictures for the previous ten days will be up in the next day or two.

I'd been up near the col a few days ago from the Hermit side so when the skies went clear I figured I'd do the Little Sifton traverse in the conventional direction from Connaught. I was up early and done breakfast by 7:30, but took my time getting ready. It was 9 before the tips were pointed uphill.

Weekends are getting busier and I slowly picked my way through other groups on the way up Grizzly shoulder. Near the top someone called out my name - turns out it was the same pair from last Friday (Video Peak). They were part of a group of six. I turned my brain off and focused on keeping up with the tail clips ahead of me. With one short stop for a sip of water and a couple chunks of chocolate we were on the summit by 12:30. Visions of a huge day danced in my head, but the group wanted to ski back to Puff Daddy. I'd had a lot of fun in there a few days ago with face shots and pillow lines. I talked myself out of the traverse and opted to stay with the group.

Winds up top were miserable. It was nice to have a new perspective on things, but I didn't take as many pictures as I'd have liked. The turns down to tree line were wind hammered. I think the snow on the Hermit side would have been abit more protected, but once we hit the trees and pillows I was happy I'd made the call. By two we were saying our goodbyes. An easy day for the up - having someone to keep up with is like a magnet - they just drag me up the track. Total up was 5,070.

Blue skies were replaced today with clouds and flurries. They foiled some plans, but winter is just getting under way. There is ample time for goals and each day out makes me stronger when opportunity knocks again.

The last time I was up to the Bonney moraines in Loop Brook I checked off a huge goal. I returned today and battled some thin conditions on the lower sections until just above the notch. From there I followed an "interesting" up. On the eighth consecutive day you just grin and bear it. Soon enough it ended up where it needed.

The tap turned off around 1pm as I topped out on the high west moraine just in time for lunch. I boiled two cups of water - spilling the first one and enjoyed some tea. I had the whole drainage to myself and some partly clear skies to take in the vistas. I could just make out the Hermit area I'd been in yesterday.

After lunch I dropped into the open area above where I'd triggered the 2.5 last year with Shane. Flying solo today I was highly in tune with the micro features on this slope. I stopped and looked at the roll that went last year. It really is quite slight, maybe under blue bird it would be more prominent but today it seemed hard to believe it was a start zone.

I floated down the rest of the slope reaping the rewards of the climb. Skins back on I punched in the couple hundred feet needed to join the main. Topping out on the second moraine from the west for the final run I dropped into the forest. I haven't had too many tree runs this year due to the great weather. It was nice to be back in my element. Charging through the forest keeps things interesting. Its sorta like life, you never know what's around the corner. I find great enjoyment in going as fast as I can through trees and making impulsive decisions on the route and features.

The exit was interesting but I once again managed to avoid falling in the creek. Unlike the Asulkan exit, I kept my skins on this time. Total up for the day was 5,220.

I refined my off season training programs with the goal of going into winter in the same or better shape as I'd left it.

Today was the seventh consecutive day and eighth day for the season. I'd felt a bit fatigued yesterday so I elected to take it easier today. Slept in and didn't make breakfast until 9. I hemmed and hawed over where to go but decided on trying Hermit again. The blue skies remained and temps were coldish at -15C so a southerly aspect would be a plus.

It was shortly after 10 by the time the skins were in the track. I soon found myself at the locked hut again and was feeling quite good. Looking up kept me motivated and I was soon up in the meadows and unsure of where I wanted to go. The Swiss Peaks are awe inspiring. Mt Rogers is on the list of things to do, but I found myself on the wrong side of the meadows.

I ended up deciding to do the reverse Little Sifton traverse, but upon nearing the col I got obsessed with a y couloir in Mt Sifton. I skinned up the fan with plans of booting the rest, but as I neared to switchover point the day time heating was getting to the slope. I contemplated descending and continuing the traverse or returning back to the car. Doing the traverse solo in either direction requires a walk along the highway.

I opted to descend to the cabin and have some lunch. I followed the gully down and found some epic pow. Feeling good and with ample daylight I opted for another lap. Back up again to the top of the bench and down another gully.

I followed other tracks on a traverse to the right which made for a much more enjoyable descent than Erich, Shawn and I had on Monday. Steep, deep and treed. It seems I missed the traverse back to the left and soon enough I was back in split mode and pushing a bit of bush to find the exit.

Even with the delay on the exit I was back to the truck by 3:30. Five and a half hours and 5,870 up. So much for taking it easy! I hope the weather holds, visibility is a beautiful thing.

I survived the night in the hut. Sleeping in goretex isn't fun, but it coupled with a down jacket did the trick.

Morning brought more clear skies and after breakfast we headed up towards the headwall of Young. A massive slide had ripped down to ice on Monday, but the wind had filled the climber's right side back in a bit.

We boot packed as much of the ridge as we could before going back to skins to cross the 150 or so meters to the crux. Snow felt very good and we were soon on the summit. A remarkable view in all directions.

The goal was to take a closer look at the Forever Young couloir. After assessing conditions and a couple high speed ski cuts from pro patrollers Erich and Shawn, we elected to bag it. Erich took the lead and blew a ski when the top 10-15 pulled out around him. Once he sorted it out, everything else went as per plan. The sluff was moving fast and required the odd pause to let it past. I was second down and grabbed some pics of Shawn mid couloir along with Erich on the fan.

We'd left gear and lunch at the hut, so up we climbed again. The boys had to hit the road and I had the afternoon to bag some more powder turns. Today was the first day that I really had to dip into the willpower. The final 500 or so to the sixth step were quite slow and deliberate, but I topped out at 2:30.

I took a short break to take in the surroundings before cruising pow back to the hut. Loaded up the pack and enjoyed deeper pow through the tree triangle and down through the mouse trap. The Asulkan exit is almost worse than the entrance - at least for splitboarders. I managed to ski the whole thing and stay out of the creek. It is quite rolly, with lots of up and down coupled with many flat sections that are just slightly downhill.

Eventually I made my way to the parking lot and ran into Newsome on the way back to the hotel.

Total up for the day was 5,200 and I checked a big one off the list with Forever Young.

Erich and Shawn were game to hit the Asulkan Hut today if the weather went clear like it was supposed to. It did. A crisp morning with barely a cloud in the sky.

I checked out of the hotel and packed everything I could into the big pack, except for a sleeping bag which I'd left at home. I will be testing the ability to sleep with a base layer, fleece vest, down jacket and full goretex shell. Probably gloves and boots too.

We left the trailhead around 9 and hit the hut about 12:30. Unpacked, cooked some lunch and then headed up to the sixth step of paradise. There was a huge crown on the final headwall. Enjoyed some turns back to the cabin and if the weather stays as forecast we will have an early start under blue skies. The current hope is to take a look at Forever Young.

After losing to regional youth chess champ Erich, aka "white heat" I downed a good meal in the hut. The view tonight is unreal. Maybe not quite a full moon, but very close. Other than a thin layer of cloud over the highway the sky was completely clear. Erich and I couldn't resist and bagged two steps of paradise - an extra 640 feet, bringing the total up for the day to 5,870.