We were somewhere near treeline and I was still experiencing the effects of a vicious hangover. I remember saying something like, "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should take over..." And suddenly there was a terrible WHUMPHF!! and I dropped about a third of a ...

Early in the summer of 2005, a couple of things were on my mind : #1) How can I celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Alberta, Canada (my home province)? …and: B) Is there an easier way for me to ski year-round in Alberta, Canada (my home province)? In a flash of ...

It was late February and the Canadian Rockies were stuck in a semi-typical mid-winter drought. Local avalanche bulletin authors were writing stuff like: “… popular and accessible slopes have been pre-enjoyed ”, which was qualified with:”… now might be the time to venture ...

Looking for the perfect backcountry ski could be described as �shopping�, but more accurately, it is a quest . Glossy buyers� guides are of no use� this search is for something that transcends the hype of the latest and greatest. Of course, the ski must fulfill a set ...

Canmore. Shit! I’m still only in Canmore. Every night I wake up thinking I’m in the backcountry. When I was home after my first tour it was worse. I’d wake up and there’d be nothing. All I could think of was getting back on skis. I've been here a week now. Waiting for a ...

Whenever I peruse the topo maps in my Canadian Rockies collection the thing that always catches my eye is the abundance of white patches with blue contour lines. Those areas would be the glaciers. A fine example is map 82 J/11—Kananaskis Lakes. There are over twenty glaciers ...

The Rae Glacier, located in the Rocky Mountains of southern Alberta, has long been a favourite destination for local skiers and snowboarders in search of post-winter turns. There is an excellent trail to the glacier—originating on Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country at the Elbow ...

Mount Joffre is a popular mountaineering objective in the Canadian Rockies. It sits on the continental divide (Alberta/BC border), and at 3450m (11319 ft.), it’s a big one. Joffre presides over an area that includes many other impressive peaks and several glaciers. In early ...