The Start of Hiking Season

With the end of ski season comes the start of hiking season.  And we made sure to get started right away. Chris, the Kraken, and I headed out for our first hike of the year.

We decided to do the Fullerton Loop, just outside Bragg Creek.  We started the day with a good, simple lunch at the Cinnamon Spoon in Bragg Creek.  I'm loving their BLT on a bagel right now...   They have a lot of other fresh yummy options - from sandwiches, to treats, to a multitude of brewed beverages.  This is a super popular spot for road cyclists that make Bragg Creek their destination - so it can be hopping when you arrive.  But, I still find service to be fast and well worth the short wait.

We than took the quick drive down to the road to park at Allen Bill day area.  The hike has changed since last years major flooding in Alberta, but they have done a good job of rerouting and marking the trail.  Overall, the hike is about 6km round trip.

Since the Kraken is just learning to walk, he was stuffed into a backpack.  We have gone with the MEC child carrier.  The one I've linked to is not quiet the one we use - ours is an older version.  But we have found that it's a pack that both Chris and I can carry with ease.  It's easy to adjust for our different sizes and the little guy is pretty happy and able to view the world from his perch on our backs.

As I said, the hike has changed a bit since the floods, but this comes in mainly with the start of the hike.  Instead of starting along the river, you use the crosswalk by the entrance to Allen Bill. From there you follow the newly marked path through the woods.  The Loop itself sustained no damage in the floods.

Part of the reason that we selected this hike is that we have done it in the past and know it to be an straightforward loop.  We tend to take the left fork when doing the loop.  This leads to a steady uphill along a hill side.  This allows for some amazing views of the valley below.  Tough with a baby on your back, but also very doable.  Once at the top of the climb there is some rolling landscape, before heading back down through the trees.  There is the option to continue uphill for another viewpoint.  We have done this in the past, but with the added weight of the Kraken and being the first hike of the year, I didn't feel up to tackling the added climb.  

As we hiked we realized that we were not the only family to consider this a good starter hike, as well as a child friendly one.  We passed a huge number of families on this hike.  From tiny babies, to toddlers in packs, to young kids making the hike on their own.  We even came across a women 7 months pregnant (brave, what?!)  We found families of all varieties.

It was a great start to our hiking season and hopefully the first of many hikes.  If you're in the area and looking for a pretty, enjoyable and family friendly hike, consider the Fullerton Loop.  You wont be sorry that you did.

Good-bye 2013/14 Ski Year

We have officially come to the end of the 2013/14 ski year here.  It was a long year with lots of great snow.  Looking back I can't believe how many times I got out considering we had the Kraken in tow every time.  But he was a trooper right to the end and allowed us to get some great turns in.  Our last day at Sunshine was a quiet day, so the lifty offered to let the wee one and Chris ride to the top and explore for a bit.  An adventure both loved.

I was super lucky to have had the opportunity to test out so many skis and many other items of ski gear.  The local reps and my local shop (the Ski Cellar) were great at making sure I got to test gear and gave me any opportunity they could to expose me to the latest and greatest gear.

So now I look to the summer and plot my off snow adventures.  There is a trip to Nova Scotia to see my family for sure.  Lots of biking and running.  I'm sure a few weekend trips closer to home, as well as many hiking outings.  All I know for sure is that I will be outside.  The Kraken wakes in the morning and asks to go out before he's even eaten breakfast.  But regardless of the adventures I promise to continue filling you in on the blog.  I'm sure the shift will be more to family and Kraken adventures, but stay tuned and I'll do my best to keep you entertained.  And I'll be sure to start next ski season with lots of tips, gear and fun adventure.  

Thanks for your support for this ski season and for checking out the blog.      

Spring has Sprung at Sunshine Village

Lookout Mountain and Goat's Eye in the background

Spring has finally arrived in the Rocky Mountains. We have had the chance to get out a few times in the last couple of weeks to enjoy the great conditions.

Just this past week we spent Mother's Day on the hill. We had an amazing blue bird sky, temperatures around 0^oC, snow that softened up as the day went on, but never became slushy.

Skiing the Dive

We're very lucky to ski at a hill that runs such a long season. While there are a number of great hills in the area near us, we call Sunshine Village Ski Resort home. This is a hill that offers wonderfully variable terrain for all ability levels. Sunshine offers a kiddy zone with a magic carpet for the little ones just starting out. There is also a day care for the little ones not yet on skis. Sunshine offers an entire chair (Strawberry chair) that services a great grouping of green runs – perfect for the beginner of any age. All other chairs offer a range of terrain, from green runs to blacks and double blacks. I have skied here with friends that stick to greens, while we head off for some tree runs and then meet at the chair no problem. It's really easy to accommodate all ability levels within a group and ensures that everyone is having fun.

Sunshine also has a number of distinct regions with in the hill. There's the main are, where the lodge, hotel and other building are, but there is also Goat's Eye. This area has great terrain, including the South Chutes, which are a super fun double black are to play in. A little open bowl and little tree skiing. Amazingly fun area! Beyond this they have two controlled areas that can only be accessed if you have PEEPs, shovels and probes. These are Delirium Dive and WildWest. I've not had the chance to ski WildWest, but I can tell you that the Dive is beyond fun. There are a few drop in points, all giving you access to superb skiing. Wide open bowls the whole way. There is a risk of avalanche, but they to control for it, unfortunately not like they can within the resort proper. So only enter with the required gear and if you know how to use it.

Chris and I in the Dive a few years ago

Outside of skiing they have a wonderful hotel. We stayed there for our wedding – yes, we got married at Sunshine. Words can express what a fantastic job they did with our wedding. They were very accommodating and went out of their way to ensure that we had a marvellous day. Chris even skied the day of the wedding. And we both hit first chair the next day. The hotel has undergone some renovations in recent years and is super nice. Prices often include lift pass as well and there are great mid-week deal to be found. A great place for a little get away.

There is not much to do up there during the evening, but they do have amazing food, a bar and a breath taking hot tub available. So if you desire world class skiing and quiet evenings, you will love the vibe at Sunshine.

All in all, we are super happy to have this as our home hill and never get tired of the terrain that it offers up. Check it out if you ever get the chance, you wont be sorry.  

Salomon's Lumen, a bright light

Took Salomon's Q-96 Lumen skis out for a day the other week. This is an all mountain ski that is currently in the Salomon line-up. They have given the ski a face-lift for the 2014/15 ski year. The ski is now a mainly blue ski with some detailing, that kind of looks like a forest to me. It's not a bad graphic, but I have to say that I prefer the old look of the ski. Oh well.

This ski comes in four lengths, of which I took the 162cm out for a spin. It's curves are as follows: 128 tip: 95 underfoot: 114 tail. At this length the ski has a 18.4m turn radius. This is a pretty big turn radius. And exactly what I found when riding this ski. It was at it's best when I was riding it in areas where I could do large, sweeping turns. In tighter areas, that required more manoeuvrability, this ski was a bit sluggish. But as soon as I let it run, in large sweeping turns, it became a smooth ski.

I did find that the Lumen cuts through choppy snow really well. It

has a wood core that gives it stability, but also some other technologies (honeycomb tip) that make it not a super heavy ski. But this construction also makes the Lumen a power house. It cuts through chop with no chatter and without bouncing you around a lot. That was a great feeling – I felt like I could charge through anything. Fun times.

The Lumen had none of that pop that I so love at the end of a turn, but I also think that this would be too much from this ski. This ski really just isn't a ski that you expect or want to pop once you get going on it. It's a beast that holds you in good stead, but not a heavy ski.

I would recommend this ski as your 3^rd or 4^th ski – unless you are lucky skier who hits open bowls weekly. When you have a good carving ski and a good all round, all mountain ski, than this is a great addition for days when you are skiing open bowls or fresh snow. As an addition to other skis, I think you would really like this ski. I might have to see if I can add it to my wall next year...

The Goods:

-big, sweeping turns

-cuts through chop

-a power house of a ski

-good as a 3^rd or 4^th ski

-intermediate or advanced skier

The Not-So-Goods:

-sluggish in slower speeds

-hard to do short radius turns with

-not a “poppy” ski