Vancouver Skiers: Rocky Mountain Road Trip
Feb. 16-21, 2016
Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads. ~Author Unknown
The Vancouver Skiers‘ trip to Rocky Mountain nordic or cross-country skiing locales (skate and classic style) provided so much detail, flexibility and choice in ski and apres-ski planning.
What a Rocky-Mountain Rollick, under the leadership of Eda Kadar, co-president of The Vancouver Skiers, her delegation of volunteers, and Aaron, our A+ International Stage Lines driver.
Vancouver Skiers: Readying to go
Plans flow as do weather fronts. There are high-and-low-pressure points from the four corners of the compass. Road conditions were mostly bare and dry; temperatures hovered around zero (Celsius) yet good grooming ensured most trails were packed and track set.
Fifty-four skiers moved on/off the bus. We moved our back packs and bags in/out of overhead bins. We moved ski bags to/from under-the-bus bins. We put all in the right bin, the right motel, the right room, and all at the right time which was both BC and Rocky Mountain (AB) time (a one-hour time difference).
Line ’em up: the skis, The Rockies, Canmore Nordic Centre
All moved smoothly, as skiers tend to, and we enjoyed some superb ski conditions, regardless of trail topography (green/blue/black) at Stake Lake Overlander Ski Club, Golden Nordic (twice), Mount Shark, Canmore Nordic and Revelstoke Nordic.
We stayed in Revelstoke (two nights): night one at the Days Inn and night five, split between the Monashee Lodge and The Swiss Chalet, and in Canmore (three nights at the Ramada Inn). Hot pools beckoned.
Vancouver Skiers at the intersection of Hawk Owl, Raven and Caribou Trails, Golden’s Dawn Mountain
We even soaked up the Banff Upper Hot Springs ambiance before dinner on the town.
Revelstoke’s Mt. McPherson and historic Ole Sandbert’s Cabin
Always time for hugs on the trail.
When we returned to Golden Nordic on day five through Rogers Pass, the overcast lifted to expose tree-less peaks and ridges dusted with fresh snow, highlighting every stratification like a petrified layer cake. Avalanche chutes took our eyes to the top layer of frosting, again and again.
Our club, The Vancouver Skiers has a stoked new membership (to add to its faithful core), and we can all ski why.
Vancouver Skiers at Canmore Nordic Centre
Vancouver Skiers: Rocky Mountain Road Trip!