Powder tips

Our guide gave us these tips: follow me; ski good or eat wood; have fun.

We did.

Divine

Some days in life are just divine.  Like high elevation drop off points with blue skies, nice temps, and nothing but deep fresh snow to the pickup point.

Island Lake

Lots of friends. Someone's 50th. Lots of Jager. Lots of deep snow. Bam!

Winter Driving

I love driving. I love winter. I even love winter driving, especially in the new transportation. It's hard to imagine a machine taking care of more snow issues, except perhaps my friends Subaru Impreza WRX STI with studded tires and more power than my oversized tank. Such a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, even if it was considered "don't drive" weather by the forecasters.  It's like a 3h full concentration and judgement exercise, and after a full night's sleep, that was perfect.  Most of the way down was horizontal blowing snow that left little clue of where the road was, until the Crowsnest Valley.

Snowy Singletrack

Craig, Thomas Yip and I met at Cadence on a windy windy -7C day to share stories, coffee, and our excitement to ride singletrack in near perfect condition. Although it wasn't that cold out, barely saw a soul outside; I guess the horizontal blowing snow deterred most. Other than the wind chill, the snow is dry and packed, making trails smoother than in the summer, and giving perfect traction as long as you don't deviate from the 10"-12" packed width.

Loops through Tuscany ravine were top notch - all rideable, all twisty, fun and fast. Proceeded back along the north side of Bowmont on similar, then a loop through Edworthy which was great other than one massive spring flow which made 20m of steep ice to cross.

Finished off with the Edworthy east trails, then a warmup soup and sandwich at the Lazy Loaf.

How can it get any better? I have a great feeling about 2011. I had enough biking fitness to survive this 4h excursion, and have fun biking plans this year. Friends have great biking plans to follow too. Work looking great, and other stuff settling out well too.

Uspallata to Chilean Border

Sharp erosional edge near Uspallata.

It's impressive how defined it is and how long it goes on for.

Ahhh, one of many mountain pics that just make me feel good.

Snowcapped peaks are beauty in the summer - must have snowed in last week as they weren't quite like that on way out.

Climbing the whole way up the valley.

Small rainbow in the sky.

This donkey or horse didn't make it.  Everything feels harsh here.

Nearing the famous mountain.  Notice ski lift in background.

Ski "town".

Old outpost on other side of valley.

Rescue helicopter for Aconcogua park.

Not Aconcogua, but the other side of the valley.

That rock is the size of a house.

On a little walking tour at the park entrance.

Aconcogua is hidden today.

Descriptors but no actual view.

Pack horses for gear transfer.

Across the valley.

Donkeys to carry stuff.

Nearer to the border it gets more rugged.

Another "town" in the valley.

The Chilean border side.  Note the chairlifts on the right hand ridge in background.

Crossing needs lots of stamps with a rental car.

This was back in Argentina, but worth it.  All forms of transportation are game for the city streets.

Mendoza to Uspallata

Such a nice day for a drive, and such good scenery.  Its a beautiful area so I got a little trigger happy with the camera.

Graffiti'd monument to oil production just south of Mendoza.

 Refinery town south of Mendoza.

 Here's the town name to find it on a map - everything seemed to be owned by YPF.

 Starting the climb up the valley to Uspallata.  Lots of dry country - would be good for dirt biking.

 Old train tracks.  Apparently some company is looking at reviving the derelict line for transport, which would need a little work.  But the track has three sections of different gauges which is a pain.

 Further up the valley towards Uspallata.  Beautiful day.

 Here's a roadside monument to recycling... err or one of those little Jesus Cristo in a box thingers that inspires people to leave water.

 This is the other side of the road from the recycling monument - still dry and facing towards Uspallata.

 I don't think conquistadores even had to pick where Uspallata was, their horses did it for them.  After eating dry tumbleweed stuff walking through the mountains, they just followed their noses to the lush greenery of Uspallata.

 Pizza Especialidad.  Egg, olives, ham, cheese, red peppers.

 This is the view from Uspallata on the exit from town starting towards the road to the Chilean border.