and no puking. But I do have a nasty cold. Here's how Mt Cain looked on Saturday...
Before that picture was shot, I had some minor difficulties on the drive up Friday night. For some unknown reason I thought it would be a good idea to pass the grader who was plowing the road. It might even have worked but for the pick-up that got stuck right at the start of the parking lot. After the bulldozer (which was also working hard to finish clearing the road at 6:30 pm) pushed the stuck pick-up out of the way, I was second in line to make the attempt at the parking lot. The Subaru Impreza in front of me spun its tires, fishtailed around but eventually made it. I started out after giving him ample time to get clear, and my tires immediately started to spin. Some of the other people ran up to push, and I made a bit of headway...until with really no noise at all the tire chain on my left rear wheel snapped off. That was it - stuck - done - going nowhere. The SUV immediately behind me managed to charge past, but there was too much snow beside where I was stuck for anyone else. So, everyone had to wait while the grader cleared some room for me to back out of the way and then finished clearing the road ahead of me...oh well. After everyone had passed me on the now graded road (talking about how it was an "engineer" who got stuck), I tried again, but to no avail. I backed out of the way and walked up to find help. Eventually I convinced the grader driver tow me out and he left me at the point in the parking lot where it slopes downhill to the lodge.
Now, most of you are thinking that this is the end of the "Andrew get's his dumbass stuck" story. But there's more. As I'm cruising to the end of the parking lot, I spy a spot right by the lodge and decide I'm going to back in. So, turn out and put the truck in reverse...and get stuck again! It would seem that in a rear wheel drive vehicle, when there is a chain on one of the tires and no chain on the other, and the chainless tire spins, you go nowhere. After about 30 minutes of trying, with a couple of people pushing I gave up and left my truck sitting there, at a 45 degree angle perfectly lined up to back into my spot...
An hour and a couple of beers later, a couple of locals with a snow mobile and a few more pushing got my truck out of its "pre-parked" position (in the mostly flat parking lot). After we unhooked the snowmobile, the consensus was that it would be best if I drove straight into a different spot that I could reach with very little manoeuvring. So, I put her in gear and started to creep up to speed, made the turn and then got stuck again trying to get all the way into the spot!!! Good thing there were quite a few people around enjoying the show who were able to push me in the last four feet. Gahhhh. Here's how my chain looked after getting repaired with a really big zip-tie and making it all the way back down to the highway on Sunday after skiing.
Anyways, that's enough griping. Other than dealing with a nasty sinus cold, Cain was epic this weekend! Lots of powder and a stable snow pack meant West Bowl laps all day Sunday after skiing in bounds pow on Saturday. A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's four thousand more words...
Meet Rob. Meet Rob's hair. Rob has epic hair!
Para-sailing? Para-gliding? How about para-awesome!
Mandatory gear shot. Taken at the small col right before you reach the "Golf Clubs" above L4. On the left, the best skis I've ever owned - G3 Rapid Transits. If you check out G3's website, you will notice they don't make this lively little number anymore. Probably because most people who bought a pair never wanted to buy another...They are currently sporting the G3 Onyx binding, of which a further review will come some day. In the middle, my BRAND NEW Dakine Poacher back-pack. Soooo happy with this little number. And on the right, my mis-matched ghetto poles.
And this is me - very stoked after lap #2 in the West Bowl! Thanks to Dougal for snapping the shot!
Rock on!!