I arrived in Rossland a day ahead of the NASJA West regional meeting, hosted this year by Red and Whitewater. My first day was also longshanks' last, so we skied together a couple of hours. Red has been unlucky on snow this year. Usually they get about the same as Schweitzer and 2/3 to 3/4 of Whitewater's snow. This year so far Red has 2/3 of Schweitzer's snow and half of Whitewater's, so the requisite 60 inch base for Red's steep terrain is just being attained now.
Longshanks had been there a couple of days and knew where to go. Paradise cruisers were a good warm up, but longshanks avoided the ungroomed there as it is south facing and there had been some sun earlier in the week there which had not been true at Baldface. So for 2 steep runs we were on the north side of Granite. First Beer Belly, where I did not ski particularly well in bumps among the trees. Next was Cambodia, very steep trees which needed to be skied very deliberately.
Then Longshanks had to leave to catch his plane home to Ontario. His helmet has 2 stickers from Red and Castle, good taste IMHO as I believe these have the best terrain quality in interior western Canada. Longshanks likes Red better as he prefers trees. As a boarder who like trees, Baldface should be a priority on future trips. I am more comfortable in Castle's open terrain, and I consider Red somewhat powder dependent as those trees are a lot of work if it hasn't snowed recently. Both places are very impressive in powder.
After lunch I skied a couple of runs on Red. Views from the top of Red to Mt. Roberts
Trail and the Columbia River
Rossland
I went back to Granite for 2 runs. The last was on the Slides, long, moderately bumpy, east facing so occasional but not that much crunchy snow.
Total 17,300 Friday
This was the weekend of the Rossland Winter Carnival, same as my last visit during the ill fated 2005 season. Snow sculptures:
On Saturday morning I went into town to watch the homemade bobsled contest on Spokane St.
This hill was steep enough that the sleds could gather a lot of speed if they didn't brake on it.
A couple of bobsleds waiting to go at the top of the street.
I went back up to the hill, took a warmup run on Red and went into the NASJA lunch at Deane's cabin. I was on my AT gear because NASJA and our hosts had planned a tour to Mt. Roberts or Grey Mt. Unfortunately it was foggy and snowing so we decided not to do that. After lunch we skied a couple of runs on Granite and visited 2 more of the on mountain cabins. Beer Belly skied a bit easier than Friday with the new snow. I didn't mind the short day of 8,700 vertical much as I had a cold/partially numb foot in the AT boots. Comfort is still somewhat lacking in my larger foot if I use them for resort skiing. They are more comfortable for touring as they are loosely buckled and in walk mode most of the day.
Longshanks had been there a couple of days and knew where to go. Paradise cruisers were a good warm up, but longshanks avoided the ungroomed there as it is south facing and there had been some sun earlier in the week there which had not been true at Baldface. So for 2 steep runs we were on the north side of Granite. First Beer Belly, where I did not ski particularly well in bumps among the trees. Next was Cambodia, very steep trees which needed to be skied very deliberately.
Then Longshanks had to leave to catch his plane home to Ontario. His helmet has 2 stickers from Red and Castle, good taste IMHO as I believe these have the best terrain quality in interior western Canada. Longshanks likes Red better as he prefers trees. As a boarder who like trees, Baldface should be a priority on future trips. I am more comfortable in Castle's open terrain, and I consider Red somewhat powder dependent as those trees are a lot of work if it hasn't snowed recently. Both places are very impressive in powder.
After lunch I skied a couple of runs on Red. Views from the top of Red to Mt. Roberts
Trail and the Columbia River
Rossland
I went back to Granite for 2 runs. The last was on the Slides, long, moderately bumpy, east facing so occasional but not that much crunchy snow.
Total 17,300 Friday
This was the weekend of the Rossland Winter Carnival, same as my last visit during the ill fated 2005 season. Snow sculptures:
On Saturday morning I went into town to watch the homemade bobsled contest on Spokane St.
This hill was steep enough that the sleds could gather a lot of speed if they didn't brake on it.
A couple of bobsleds waiting to go at the top of the street.
I went back up to the hill, took a warmup run on Red and went into the NASJA lunch at Deane's cabin. I was on my AT gear because NASJA and our hosts had planned a tour to Mt. Roberts or Grey Mt. Unfortunately it was foggy and snowing so we decided not to do that. After lunch we skied a couple of runs on Granite and visited 2 more of the on mountain cabins. Beer Belly skied a bit easier than Friday with the new snow. I didn't mind the short day of 8,700 vertical much as I had a cold/partially numb foot in the AT boots. Comfort is still somewhat lacking in my larger foot if I use them for resort skiing. They are more comfortable for touring as they are loosely buckled and in walk mode most of the day.
