Looking north up Howe Sound towards Squamish while taking the ferry across to Vancouver Island.
This was the first time I was on ‘the island’ in the winter.
Stoke was high for sure.
Searching for a small orange ball in the ocean at night, yeah - that’ll work.
Token skinning up shot at the base of Forbidden Plateau starring Luke.
Old chair lifts and decrepit buildings.
Just part of the mystique of a ski hill that’s been shut down for 14 years.
Skinning up to the top of the old ski hill.
The place is small and mellow.
A look north towards Mount Washington, the heart of skiing on Vancouver Island.
The past few years they have had enough snow to keep skiing into June.
Wigley with the ocean in the background.
For those who like to ski, yet hate winter, this place could be right up your alley.
Wigley here is hitting a hip/pillow pop in thing.
More like Micro Golf.
Fun times none the less.
After getting last minute supplies in Campbell River we headed north to Cain.
This place is about as back woods as your can get for a ski area.
Because of the remote location of Mount Cain, camping in the parking lot is the norm.
This was our living arrangement for the weekend - right at the base of the t-bar.
All of these factors equal one thing: True ski bum culture.
Positive vibes, little in the form of rules and regulations, off the grid, skiing.
By the end of the weekend, the only lines in the zone were ours.
We weren’t complaining.
Luke getting first tracks down “Death Chute”.
Most confusing name for a chute ever, considering how little consequence there actually was.
Luke again on a short shot just up from Death Chute with my tracks on the right.
Wigley getting himself a little exposed over a fair sized cliff.
Luke and some random dude boot packing up Mount Cain peak to hit a chute off the backside.
Wigley slashing
Wigley popping off a pillow
Aplenglow on Mt.
Able from the parking lot.
The sunset on Saturday was one of the more beautiful sunsets I have seen all winter.
As I mentioned earlier, there was a backcountry festival doing on during the weekend we were there.
The ski touring on Sunday was a little blurry to say the least.
That didn’t happen though so deal with it.
Getting everything packed for our hut trip.
The Keith’s Hut.
We were very much impressed.
We dubbed this zone “The Playground”.
Super playful and fast laps.
Jesse getting some air in “The Playground”.
Luke looking into “The Playground” in the late afternoon.
Me about to hit a pillow line in “The Playground”.
(Image by Wigley)
Me hitting said pillow line.
Jesse getting his slash on on the upper flanks of “The Playground”.
Some fun short chutes into a bowl off a ridge of Vantage Peak.
Luke coming out of a small chute at the top of “Easy Stylin'”.
One of the widest couloirs I have been in.
Getting our skin on.
Looking up to the top of Anniversary Glacier at sunset from the hut.
The “Dinner Run” is in the foreground coming off the ridge on the right.
They left the hut at around 5:30am and started skinning up the ridge to the face above.
Pre sunrise before the bootpack up the face.
Let the bootpacking begin.
The sun pokes his head up from behind the mountains to warm things up a little.
This is about the time I crawled out of bed to see how their progress was.
Sunrise on Joffre from the hut.
Jesse and Wigley are about halfway up the face.
http://www.newschoolers.com/watch/612289.0/DSCN1542-AVI
a shitty quality video of the two of them skiing the face in the morning light.
Not a bad way to end the trip I must say.
I am back home in Revelstoke now wondering what to do for my next adventure.
