January 2008 Newsletter
01/22/2008
If you haven’t booked your skiing week at the Burnie Glacier Chalet yet for this winter, you’re missing out.
It is shaping up to be another epic snow year. We taught a professional avalanche course at the lodge from 6 to 13 January and found 190 cm at the lodge (that’s 74.83 inches) while in the alpine our 3.2 metre (10 foot) probes barely touched bottom anymore. Yes you can barely touch the glacial ice with a ten foot pole … This is early in the winter. We had 70 cm of loose powder with no wind effect and, of course, epic skiing.
But there is hope yet! There are a few weeks that are not full. Here they are:
6 to 13 April 08 7 spaces
23 March to 3 April 08 2 spaces
9 to 16 Mar 08 9 spaces
24 February to 2 March 08 5 spaces
Much to my regret, no one has yet booked anything in late April and May. That is a glorious time for ski mountaineering in the Howsons! The lodge is available form 20 April on. You can be assured of long days, fast corn, powder on the high glaciers, and exciting summit ascents. Alpine starts and afternoons with red wine in front of the cabin. I might even wear my French guides’ hat. The skiing is usually good to the end of May. Three or four wonderful weeks are still available.
You might wish to check Hawkair (www.hawkair.ca) for your access. This local airline offers very good rates from Vancouver to Smithers. Remember, you can be on your skis the same day you leave Vancouver!
Today I tam taking a day off from being a logger. The lodge was built with wood from our woodlot, and managing that in an ecologically responsible way is one of the ways I make my living in the Bulkley Valley. But I will be back into guiding on the 3rd of February. It would be great to hear from you before then so we can plan this without too much panic.
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