Reading Week: Part 1

Act 1: School during reading week?

Back in January, Steve decided that it would be a good idea to expand our avalanche knowledge, so we decided to take the next step, and enroll in the AST 2 (Avalanche Safety Training) course. Going into the course, we were never really confident about getting up into the alpine. From the AST 1, we didn't really know what to expect, as the field experience in that course was limited to searching and analyzing snowpack.

Day 2, got up high with a traverse of Hero's Nob. Nice finally getting to ski a nice long descent! All you can eat buffet at the Stoney Casino was much needed. It is weird being surrounded by smokers and morbidly obese people.

Half of the participants were splitboarders!

 

Day 3, brought a long 1000m ascent part of the way up Mt. Vermillion, and we had our work cut out for us. A good test for the boys that was! Skiing down through the burn area was fun as even though the trees were tight, they were easy to ski around because they had no branches. Ski conditions got a little punchy at the bottom and with submerged logs and stumps under the snow, we skied like we were sitting in lazy boys. But that is excusable. Park skiers ski like that all day!

The boys getting ready with the goal in the background



 

Act 2: Scumshine

What can I say? They need snow, and we were a little chapped the Dive was not open. Just 2 mediocre days not worthy of even one picture.

Now begins the much needed intermission before what are supposed to be an awesome three days. Kicked that off in Banff at the Aurora, ears are still ringing!