Fröhlich Reisen

Thu

01/01/09

Following the world's most boring New Year's Eve (requesting final bills from the utility companies etc.) James and I get a lift to Gatwick Airport from Judith and Alan, in convoy with Catherine and David. After check-in we all have some food together at the pub, then say bye bye.

We arrive in Whistler at about 9PM local time and go to a little café for some food, before making our way our new home in Alpine Meadows, about ten minutes drive outside Whistler. The house is stunning, but there is no sign of any flatmates and we go straight to bed.

Fri

02/01/09

We meet one of our house mates, James, who is staying here together with his friend James, so there are three James's in the house. We decide to walk into Whistler Village and make a stop for breakfast at the café at the bottom of the hill. The café is lovely with chilled out music and nice food. Along the valley trail it is winter wonderland the whole way with blue skies and bright sunshine. There are loads of people on the trail, mostly with cross country skis or dogs or both.

Whistler Village is cute with a large pedestrian area, European village style. Nevertheless everything still looks fabulously American, just like in the movies, the clapboard houses, the ridiculously oversized cars, even the traffic lights.

That evening we are both asleep at about 8PM - jetlag.

Sat

03/01/09

After some trauma about the cost, we organise lift passes and head up onto Blackcomb mountain. A lot of people are complaining about the awful conditions this season, but I am more than happy - the snow is great! After the sunny day yesterday there is no sign of a view though, all is hidden in cloud and fog - maybe we didn't do this the right way round.

Sun

04/01/09

We're out skiing again, this time we start on Whistler Mountain. In the afternoon it starts snowing, and it is coming down so thick and heavy, we have off-piste conditions on piste.

Mon

05/01/09

It's been snowing all night, and it's great out on the slopes. We do find what people are complaining about though. The snow pack has a weak layer at the bottom, which makes for an extreme risk of avalanches, and off piste skiing is officially banned at the moment following a couple of deaths over the last few weeks.

When we come home I notice that the floor in the corridor outside our bedroom is slightly squishy. I alert James, who spots some water running down the wall. A toilet has blocked upstairs and because the cistern seems defective with a constant drip, it's overflowed. Apparently it's clean water though that's come over the top, I'm being told by the boys and men, who take charge. Once it's fixed, the tenants from downstairs show up, complaining that there is water coming into their flat, but fortunately all is under control by that stage.

Tue

06/01/09

It's still snowing. We must have had more snow by now than we had in St Anton in four weeks last year. We're out skiing again, but finish up early. Troy is due to arrive on Sunday and he started snowboarding last year. We figure we get ourselves boards too, so go out shopping for the rest of the day.

As usual my decision making is awful, and eventually we give up and head to 'The Brewhouse' for a beer and a burger. 'The Brewhouse is nice, apart from the many TV screens. I love the miniature train going round and round the whole room, and the beer and burger are good too.

When we come home there are fans and dehumidifiers everywhere. The landlady has been round, and is obviously taking damage control seriously.

Wed

07/01/09

More shopping! We check out the 'Reuse It' Centre at Function Junction, which is a brilliant concept. People drop off stuff they don't want any more, and it's available in return for a small donation. I buy a new hoodie, but we're not convinced about the snowboard equipment - it all seems pretty dead.

We head back to the 'Clearance Store', which is selling last year's equipment cheaply, and get kitted out. I do like to look of my board. James's has somewhat suspect design, with a chopped up giraffe spilling blood and guts. We get the bindings set up a the shop next door. With my previous snowboarding experiment years back, unfortunately I can't remember if I am regular or goofy. I have a vague recollection of going right foot first, but after some tests pushing me and getting me to kick something, the guys decide to set me up left foot first.

When we get home there are people at work, taking up carpets and drying the underlay, and taking the panelling off the wall in the corridor, to dry out the wall behind it. I am amazed – all of this does seem a little disproportionate.

Later Henry is cooking dinner. Henry is our resort manager, and is staying at our house at the moment - he is between houses. His girlfriend Ani and her brother Gauta are also staying. The five of us have Chicken Korma and a couple of bottles of wine together, followed by a blackberry and apple crumble. It turns out Henry's sister is a chef, and he has obviously been paying attention. The food is great, and so's the company.

Thu

08/01/09

We take the boards up to the top of Whistler and set course for one of the green runs. I strap myself in, go, fall, pick myself up, go, fall and so on. Damn! I managed to get down blue runs fine by the end of the three days boarding I did with Stefan years ago, I should remember how to do this! Eventually we make it down to Olympic Station and I have had enough! We take the gondola down and go for some lunch. Although I'm still not sure, I do get James to change my bindings over to left foot first. As we get back up on the mountain - this time straight to the nursery slopes underneath the Olympic Chair - I do remember: Goofy!!! I go goofy! And I do remember how to!

We reward ourselves with a pint at 'Cittas', which is pretty cool hangout.

Back home we get spoilt with dinner again. Our house mates Adam and Claire are cooking, and we are joined by Nick, who also lives in the house, and their friends Justine and (another) Nick.

Fri

09/01/09

Adam, Claire and Nick take us out for a half day boarding, starting on the nursery slopes and then graduating to Ego Bowl, one of the green runs of the top of the Whistler Village Gondola. Then we all head home early to get changed and go out. We meet Henry, Ani, Gauta and the Basecamp trainee ski and snowboard instructors at 'Merlins'. It's payday and the 'Hair(y) Farmers' are playing classic singalong covers. It's a riot, particularly after a succession of Jaegerbombs - shots of Jaegermeister submerged in glasses of Redbull.

Sat

10/01/09

Never mind the hangover. We're out early for more boarding, but don't last very long. Unfortunately James whacks himself into the ribs with his elbow really badly to the extent we worry he may have broken them, although he then decides they must be fine. At home I check out the hot tub, which despite my earlier reservations is actually very good.

Sun

11/01/09

We sign up at 'The Core', the climbing wall in Whistler Village and have a bouldering session and a good stretch. The climbing wall is small in comparison with what we're used to from the castle, but it will do nicely for keeping in shape for the summer and the crowd seems cool.

Later in the day Troy arrives with his friend Linda and we head out to watch 'Fire and Ice' - a monthly show where boarders and skiers show off their jumping skills. For the finale they all jump through a ring of fire in quick succession. The highlight for us is arguable the hoola girl though, performing with her burning hoola hoop to some banging rave tunes.

After the show the four of us go for a burger and some beers at 'Cittas'. Linda seems 'a cool chick' indeed, just as Troy said, but we're not sure about her 'status'. Apparently they are 'just friends' - or are they?

Mon

12/01/09

As Linda isn't sure whether she can remember how to board we all head up for a repeater of what we did on Friday. James and I are on a level with Linda's boarding. It turns out Troy is actually very good, after only two and a half weeks last year.

Troy offers to cook and we all head back to their apartment on Market Square.

Tue

13/01/09

Having elbowed himself into the ribs again yesterday, James decides to go out on skis today, and I join him, so he can't reproach me of having an unfair advantage when I get better than him on the board.

I try out my first yoga class at 'The Core'. It's a Vinyasa class, meaning it is quite fast flowing and I am a little worried that my back won't like it. There is a mix of exercises, some that I can easily do, some that I can almost do, and some that I'll be proud to master by the end of my three months of classes. It also comes with all the trimmings. There is incense, a candle, soft music, a quotation from an ancient Indian sage / yoga master, and to finish up with, some chanting of 'om' and 'shanti'.

We have dinner at Troy and Linda's apartment again, and laugh a lot about 'cougars' (mature women exploiting [?] younger men for sex), 'riding the shortbus' (the bus for the physically and mentally challenged in the US) and other rubbish and offensive stuff.

Wed

14/01/09

I get up and go to the bathroom, bend over the sink to wash my face and there's no back pain! Wow! This yoga class apparently worked a minor miracle!

We're out boarding again today and that goes quite well too. I can get down the steep green runs fine now, and I don't even end up walking on the flat bits, which have an annoying tendency to flip you up and wallop you into the ground when you catch an edge. Until later on in the day that is, when I get tired and things just fall to pieces. I can't even manage an easy turn any more.

The four of us retire to the 'Dubh Linn Gate', the obligatory Irish Pub, which has a band on. There's some singing of 'Country Roads', 'The Wild Rover' and the like.

Thu

15/01/09

James and I are back on the skis, because Troy fancies a fast day. We have lunch in the sun out on the terrace of 'The Roundhouse' on top of the Whistler Village Gondola for the second day in the row. It's not quite as warm as yesterday, but apparently still atypically sunny. The radio dj introduces the forecast as 'the weather from Honolulu'.

In the evening the four of us have Nachos and drinks at the pub, before having to go our separate ways, as it is Troy and Linda's last night.

Fri

16/01/09

We have a chilled out day, doing nothing much, other than 'shopping' for a time share. Having had ourselves lured into this by the prospect of a $100 voucher at the end of it, James plays the successful architect taking a little time out from his practice during the recession, leaving it in the care of his partners. Meanwhile I am the lovely and innocent wife, who really wants the time share, while the man with the money is not easily convinced. Only a few touch and go moments, for example when Heidi, our chief saleswoman, tells us she was dreaming about cougars last night. In the end we walk away with our voucher. Result!

Sat

17/01/09

We go for a climb and freak ourselves out with the auto belay. It's some sort of windy thing that lets you down slowly if you fall or jump off. It doesn't seem convincing just jumping off at the top, but it works.

Back home there's cake and champagne for Claire's birthday, before we all get into fancy dress. Claire is a pirate, Adam a chicken, Toby is 'Captain America', and Nick 'a barrel of monkeys'; Little James is a monk, big James a vicar, and Jack a Ninja. For my James, the panda mask doesn't work, but (un)fortunately Nick has a spare pimp's costume. I go as Pippi Longstocking, because there is suitable stuff in the cupboard already. We warm up with a drinking game, then head out into town to the 'Savage Beagle'. As it turns out there is one thing Captain America can't do, and that's getting into a club without ID. Neither can James and I. We go and get passports, then join the others for some serious dancing.

Sun

18/01/09

It's our first wedding anniversary and James is taking me dog sledding! We get a ride in one of those massive four wheel drives - good thing too, as the going does get tough on the way into the Soo Valley. Our driver Dennis gives us a run down on the history of Whistler, as well as a running commentary on anything and everything along the wayside, and the half hour drive is over in no time. It's time to meet our dogs!

Our team is headed up by Merc, who is an old hand and very smart. He is joined in the front by Cleo, also one of the smarter dogs. The rear is brought up by Amber, and Harpy, who's the strong man on the team, although a real softie. They all love cuddles, but then get very overexcited, when the time for going off draws nearer. Turns out they all love to run! I brave it, and ask to mush first, while James is sitting in the sled. As soon as the dogs are untied, they storm off on the path they apparently know very well. It's a breeze and great fun. After about twenty minutes unfortunately we come to the turnaround point, which I negotiate successfully - just... James gets to mush on they way back, and sitting in the sledge I now actually look at the scenery. It's gorgeous!

We're back at base too soon and take some time to say bye bye to our dogs. We both want to go off on a multi-day trek now in proper wilderness! One highlight is still to come: we get to meet the puppies!

Then, sadly, we get dropped back in Whistler. We decide to walk back to Alpine Meadows, this time on the valley trail over on the other side. Back in Alpine we go for dinner at the café. The food is fantastic, and we end up having two bottles of wine.

Mon

19/01/09

James and I have lazy start, and there's a bit of a bad vibe at the house. Sylvia, the landlady, is round and she fancies she can dictate how we live our lives and use the house. Everyone is quite peed off, and disappears quickly. James and I walk into Whistler again and go for a climb.

Tue

20/01/09

James and I head out early together with Nick. Nick's on his board, we're on skis, and were storming around. It's a beautiful day in the sun, much like the whole of the last week. This is apparently very unusual, because the sun normally doesn't come out until the end of April.

I go to yoga again, and manage some of the specially out there contortions, but completely fail at standing on my lower arms. We'll see how my back likes it tomorrow. Hopefully last week wasn't just a fluke.

Wed

21/01/09

Getting up in the morning my back doesn't feel quite as miraculously fabulous as last week, but still pretty fine. We're out early with almost all of the rest of the house, apart from Claire. It's a fast and full-on day. James and I are on skis, and so I do keep up (just). We may well stick with the skis until it snows again. The snow on piste is lovely, but we figure it is a bit hard for hitting the deck repeatedly, as we are still more than likely to do on the snowboard.

When we come home the lounge is in pieces, as the landlady is having the floors redone following the leak, which warped a couple of the floor boards behind the sofa. It is bizarre she is doing this now, as she seems to be of the opinion she's got the barbarians in her house. Wouldn't it be better under such circumstances to wait until the wild hordes have departed? There is a note from her to say that she is having the house professionally cleaned tomorrow and that we must all clear the floors in our rooms so the cleaners can get in and also move furniture around. Everybody is up in arms and decides to put 'no entry' notes on their doors.

Thu

22/01/09

Most of the house flees early again to avoid the landlady. Nick the James's, Jack and I are enjoying more fast runs in the sun until lunch time, when everyone is feeling quite tired. James and I come back to the house very briefly for a kit change and then do a runner again to the climbing wall for a bit of bouldering and a good stretch.

Fri

23/01/09

A lie-in and a hot tub followed by some serious partying at Merlin's.

Sat

24/01/09

Finally, the Peak Chair and the Symphony Amphitheatre have opened! Nick, James Sleigh, my James and I get out early to explore. Unfortunately I've got the shakes. Maybe there were too many Jaegerbombs last night after all. It also looks like the weather may be closing in a little. Bring on the snow clouds!

Sun

25/01/09

I wake up crying, and I don't want to go out and walk to the top of the flute bowl and do some mad off-piste adventure with the boys. James tries to convince me, but in the end we both stay in and have a lazy morning. I research water colour painting online and take a series of shots of the view from the balcony, which I want to try and paint some time. It is still sunny out there, and I'm thinking painting might be a nice pastime for when it's cold and horrid outside. In the afternoon we walk into the village. James goes for a climb, while I go to Yoga. At some point I remember what Dr Gaby said to me before we left. Maybe she was right, when she told me I need to take more rest days than James, otherwise I'll get so exhausted it might trigger a depressive spell.

Mon

26/01/09

The morning brings more sunshine and we head out with Adam to see if the 'Peak to Creek' run has finally opened. It hasn't, but we still do some great runs. It's minus twelve and with the wind chill it is bitterly cold. By lunch time I am absolutely frozen, plus hungry and dehydrated – I didn't fancy any of the super chilled water in my Camelbak. Adam is also ready to call it a day and we all head down into the village. It's Australia day and 'Longhorns' is heaving with Ozzies in beach wear, already well off their heads at half twelve. I just want to go home, and have a little lie down. I am actually not feeling that well with a sore throat, a cough (which always makes my back hurt) and hot and cold spells. Justine and Nick are round for dinner, and we are invited. I'm glad I don't have to cook, but don't feel up to socialising and head to to bed fairly soon after.

Tue

27/01/09

I'm definitely not that well and want to stay at home. James has turned the alarm off at some point over the course of the night and is staying in with me. After breakfast I set myself up by the window in the lounge and have a go at painting the view - although it's from a photo, and not looking at the real thing – it's finally snowing, and the view has disappeared. James is practising the guitar. Later we go for a short walk and then a hot tub. James seems to be breeding the same bug. He has aches and pains, is feeling depressed and missing his friends in London.

Wed

28/01/09

I still have no energy and vote for another day in. I borrow “The Lost Throne” from Nick and get sucked straight in. I don't need to leave the house again for a while yet.

Thu

29/01/09

Another day in with my book and I'm quite happy.

Fri

30/01/09

Feeling a little more perky today. James and I walk into the village and go for a climb.

Sat

31/01/09

James and I are back out on the slopes with the skis. In the evening we go and see 'Girls and Roses' at Dusty's in Creekside. Adam, Claire and Toby don't like it and disappear early. James and I and Nick are well into it, and some of us overdo it a little on the drinks front. I wake up on the bedroom floor with my clothes on, and no recollection how I got there.

Sun

01/02/09

James and I both have the hangover from hell and do nothing constructive all day.

Mon

02/02/09

Powder! Unfortunately James seems to be hating me all day, and I don't enjoy the day as much as I should. I still ski my first black double diamond – maybe only because it was too foggy to see how steep it is, but anyway... When we finally go for lunch at about two o'clock I have a little cry, I'm so exhausted. To round things off we go shopping in ski boots and then cook dinner for everyone at the house, including Justine and Nick, who have stopped by again. Jack's not eating with us though, as it's spinach lasagne. “What the fuck'” he says, “where's the meat?” Everyone else enjoys it and we have a nice evening.

Tue

03/02/09

When the alarm goes off, I tell James I'm staying in. He's happy enough to go off with the boys. They do come back quite early though, it's only half twelve – that wasn't the idea. They were meant to wear him out. Apparently they are all knackered, and James apologises for yesterday – he didn't really realise how exhausting it had been.

Unfortunately we receive some really bad news. Sylvia wants to kick us all out and has given four week's notice. Basecamp has ten days to hand in a dispute. We all sit down with the pages and pages of stuff she sent to their head office, going through it line by line refuting her allegations.

Wed

04/02/09

James and I are out boarding today. The sun is shining again and it is glorious out on the mountain. It's also really empty. Everyone must have worn themselves out with the powder on Monday and the aftermath on Tuesday. We last until lunch time, then head home. I do some yoga, James some guitar practise, then we both go for a hot tub. Justine and Nick are back round and cook dinner for everyone.

Thu

05/02/09

More boarding, more sun and awesome awesomeness. After a warm-up by ourselves James and I bump into Henry, Ani, Adam, Claire and Jack and do some runs with them. It's going really well, until Adam instructs me that the 'gorilla' pose is what I should be striving for. Knees bent and pointing out, weight spread over the middle of the board, arms down both sides and in line with the board. And anyway, pride comes before the fall, kawoom!

Fri

06/02/09

We get up early, but it's foggy and raining, so we decide not to go up top, and to go for a climb instead. I faff around with facebook, trying to make phone calls and laundry. By the time I'm ready to go out, the sun has come out, so James and I decide to walk in. We have a savoury scone from the grocery store, before we go to the wall. They do a different flavour every day. It's cheese and bacon today, and it's very good. As it's so nice in the sun, we have a hot drink outside 'Moguls' next. I'm on the chai latte. Almost as good as in India, only fifty times the price. We do still go for our climb after, a bouldering session doing all the V0s and V1s, i.e. all the 4s and 5as or thereabouts. For the evening we decide against Merlin's and opt for a night in. A little gutted we don't have tickets for the mountain top party at the Roundhouse, part of gay pride week, and according to Leslie the best party of the season. Still $99 though.

Sat

07/02/09

James and I are back on the boards today, and the 'gorilla' is coming along, I reckon. On the heel edge anyway. On the toe edge it seems more difficult to bend the knees and turn them out. We do a whole blue run today, even if it's only a short one. I also manage to go in a much more straight line on the flatter bits now (giving much more hope of getting there), manage to recoup from a wobble on occasion (on other occasions I still go splat), I have successfully negotiated various overtaking manoeuvres and survived on quite icy surfaces. Cool!

Sun

08/02/09

We take the boards out to Blackcomb mountain today, where we haven't been before because there is less choice of wide open green runs. James has been dying to do some more blues anyway. Just a shame that my boarding goes to pieces just as we get on the steeper runs. I can't turn onto my toe edge any more without violently kicking my leg around and flailing with my arms, and I don't even want to try. We head down after lunch, so I've got time to get myself to yoga class.

In the evening James downloads the TV show 'Weeds' from Nick and we watch the first 3 episodes. Instantly hooked.

Mon

09/02/09

Monday is powder day, it would appear. It has snowed about 10 inches overnight, and James and I decide to try the 'pow pow' on our boards. I'm a little sceptical - it might just mean I spend even more time on the floor than I do when I try to ski powder. But wahey! It's bliss! The board just cruises through the snow and I just rock forwards and backwards flying along! We're out on Blackcomb again, because that doesn't get carved up early by the Freshtracks crowd, who have paid extra to get breakfast and early lift access to Whistler mountain. Over in the Glacier area we brave the T-bar and I negotiate the first one in impeccable style, even riding off the top competently. We have an amazing run down an easy angled powder slope and James is amazed I am right behind him.h After yesterday's confidence crisis he reckons I am now 'Mrs F*ing Flying Through the Powder'. I am so cool! Until the next T-bar brings me down! On the last 5 yards it gets really steep and I lose my stance. I manage to hold the board off the floor though, and hang on to the bar. The liftie and the guy behind me have a good laugh. So does James, although he only sees me rolling out the top. I still elegantly cruise through the powder on various blues and off-piste runs afterwards though. By lunch time we are both dead however, and decide to head home. A 'glacier fresh' Kokanee in the hot tub looking out at the snow coming down finishes the day off in style.

Tue

10/02/09

I need a rest day, and James agrees readily enough, so we have a little lie-in. Later I go for a hot tub, and James plays the guitar, before Nick and Justine pick us up to go to the 'Re-use It Centre'. Nick wants to try skiing to see if it's easier on his back and wants James to help him choose some that will be OK.

For the evening the four of us have tickets to see a gig at GLC. 'Current Swell' are the opening act, a band of four guys from Vancouver Island, playing a mix of folk, blues, reggae and rock. Ash Grunwald is the main act, a one man band from Australia playing another very interesting mix; a blues, metal and dance type thing. We have way too much too drink and stay up well past our bed time.

Wed

11/02/09

We have a date with Nick to teach him how to ski, but have second thoughts due to the state of the hangover. A fry-up home cooked by James's fair hands does nothing to convince us of going out, but another phone call confirms that Nick is now actually moving, and coming to pick us up. It's well worth going out – the weather is gorgeous and it's nice to be back on skis. Nick turns out to be a natural anyway, and we leave him to it and go for a few runs. James reckons my turns are still coming on all the time.

Thu

12/02/09

James and I are on the boards and find an inch of powder on 'Lower Fantastic' after a local mini snowstorm around Olympic Station.

When we come down off the mountain we go window shopping for touring skis. James then does a bit more research on the net when we get home.

Fri

13/02/09

We go off with Jack on skis in the morning and find James, Henry and Ani at the Whistler terrain park. I do the little jumps and land the first one OK. On the second one I look down as I come over the lip, think 'shit' and crash. I wimp out of doing the box, but then do my third jump fine. James also does the boxes – I find them too scary.

We all go for lunch at the Roundhouse and then do a trial run for the Haus Dorle peak to drunk race. I lose the others on the first downhill, apart from poor Adam, who is learning to ski today. Halfway down I bump into Jack and stop for a chat. Jack doesn't like moguls. He also informs me that James has only just gone through, as he'd wiped out. At this point I remember it is a race and abandon Jack. At Dusty's in Creekside I find my youngers and betters. Little James wins the race. It turns out Ani is a mogul champion on her snowboard, skimming merely the tops of the humps racing straight down, and comes in second. Then comes Henry, James and a little later me. A little later yet, Jack, and much later, and rather disaffected, poor Adam, learning to ski. We have beers in the sunshine and discuss how the real race should be judged.

After that James and I go ski shopping again and this time spend a small fortune on touring skis.

Sat

14/02/09

We drop a ski boot off at 'Summit', where we're buying the skis and go off on the boards. On Blackcomb on the way to Rock'n'Roll we come across a stretch of moguls, which astonishingly I cope OK with.

Sun

15/02/09

We have a lie-in, then walk into the village. James goes for a climb, I have yoga. Afterwards we pick up the new skis. 'Lotta Love' is what I've got – hopefully it'll work out that way.

Mon

16/02/09

We're out with Adam and Claire on the boards, and Adam takes us through the Whistler terrain park. I do the same three little jumps as on the skis on Friday, with the exact same result; land one and three, crash on two. We then head off over to Blackcomb and do some of the blue runs. We come across the same mogul run as James and I on Saturday, and I crash every two yards. Never mind, I feel a lot more confident turning on the steeper stuff, than I did the other week, when I had my confidence crisis, and I am also travelling at quite a good speed. The sunshine probably helps.

We head off fairly early, and go and cut the climbing skins for the new skis at home, so they are ready for use.

Tue

17/02/09

Nick from our house fancies learning to ski, and James Riley is going to have a go at snowboarding, so a gang of us head up to Olympic. James and I are trying switch on the snowboard. Everyone is getting on OK, so by mid morning we graduate to Ego Bowl. Half way down, just as I figure I can now open it up a bit, I slam on my backside so hard, it flips me over onto my front, where I then lie panting for a few minutes.

Back at the house James gives me some tuition in reading a map and a compass.

It's James Sleigh's birthday, so in the evening we have cake and bubbles. Everyone heads on out into the village for some more drinking, but my James isn't in the mood. I am quite glad to have an excuse, and we go to bed early.

Wed

18/02/09

The day has come; James and I try out our new back country gear. We ski half way down 'Symphony', then put the skins on the skis and start making our way up the 'Flute'. It's wicked being able to walk uphill with the skis without sliding back – apart from the occasional slip-up. The weather is gorgeous again, and we have lunch in the sun on the top with an amazing view over into Garibaldi National Park. Unfortunately there is only a sandwich each, which isn't quite satisfying. We do have hot sugary tea though. After lunch we do a map reading session, so I get some practice out in the real world - without too much difficulty, as the weather is so benign. I still get very cold fingers though, as we also have to take the skins off the skis. At this point James skis off, and I realise I don't know how to set the skis back to skiing from walking mode. Eventually I get them to sort off work, and catch up with James, who helps me out. We dodge the line marking the boundary of the patrolled ski area and make our way down the backside of the 'Flute' through relatively untouched powder, until lower down where it gets choppy. Then it's skins back on and we head through the forest back up the hill. The sun is glinting through the trees and it is magical. An hour later we're still trudging uphill, some of the turns are getting quite stressful and it's not that magical any more. I wonder whether we are in trouble. I am relieved as we finally emerge back on top, only to then realise the Symphony lift is not running any more. James is jolly enough, as we just need to walk a short distance to get on the 'Burnt Stew Trail' which will get us back on course right down to the village. When we're cruising again I am quite exhilarated and we have quite a fast run down dodging tired beginners, despite a tough day and not enough food. We reward ourselves with a burger and a beer at 'Citta's'. After food I am dead tired and I ache, and James is also happy to head back home. We have a hot tub and then an early night. I am toying with the idea of a rest day tomorrow, but the gang are wanting to hit 'Dave Murray', one of the black runs, early in the morning. Apparently it is amazingly well groomed at the moment in preparation for some event. I figure after a day off piste, this would be a good follow-up for me in order to challenge my speed a bit. James and I conclude the evening with a beer on the balcony looking at the stars.

Thu

19/02/09

Nick, I and all the James's are out early, as planned. The sun is shining, and my plan comes to fruition. I think both my speed and style are better! Later on Aussie Nick and Justine join us, and then we also hook up with Henry and Ani. We all have lunch together on the top of Blackcomb. After that, James and I head down for a beer in the hot tub. In the evening the the younger James's are cooking Cottage Pie for everyone.

Fri

20/02/09

The alarm goes off as usual and James and I get up after a few snoozes. At breakfast we decide that we're not going up on the mountain though – feeling too tired. We spend the morning generally chilling and hot tubbing, and then head off to 'Merlin's' for 'Payday Friday'. It's Adam and Claire's last night out, so we're obliged to make it a good one – no great hardship there. The ' Hairfarmers' are putting on a good show as always and the penny game soon ensures that our gang is getting wasted. There's the usual dancing on tables and chairs, supplemented this time by Toby trying to do the yoga exercise I showed him after the last class on a table top. Fortunately no one gets hurt. At about midnight the party dissolves with half of our gang going off in search of pizzas. James is a casualty at this stage, but fortunately the doorman knows he's mine and points me in the direction of the terrace, where I find him trying not to be sick. I manage to get him on the bus and home.

Sat

21/02/09

James has a stonking hangover and votes for breakfast at the Alpine café. We're joined by Toby, who does have to go in search of fresh air in a hurry after he's eaten, in order to avoid being sick. Back at the house everyone is feeling sorry for themselves, nursing cups of tea and watching telly. 'Weird Science' is on, and as always it's very educational being with a bunch of boys.

Sun

22/02/09

Everyone bar James Riley, who is at work, is gathered round the table in the morning to say bye bye to Adam and Claire. Their taxi arrives just before nine. After breakfast I call Pati and Mum and Dad. At about lunch time it starts to snow. Hurray! Tomorrow should be good.

Later on it's yoga class and James goes for a climb. I haven't climbed in ages, and resolve that I must make more time for it.

Mon

23/02/09

Monday is powder day! After the exhilaration on the boards last time we decide to try it again. But, oh woe! The snow is wet and heavy, rather than fluffy like last time, and that is quite a different proposition. I'm on the floor immediately and repeatedly, before I figure it out any better. We then have a brilliant run on fresh tracks down our blessed 'School Marm'. Mid morning we find ourselves at the 'Crystal Chair', which seems set to start running soon. We decide to wait, and bump into James Sleigh and Nick right there, so we all queue together. Somebody throws a snowball. Suddenly everybody in a crowd of about a hundred people is throwing snowballs. A guy at our end of the queue starts shouting 'reload', 'hold it', 'fire' – brilliant laugh. When one of the lifties departs, presumably to get to his post up top, he is foolish (or reckless enough) to throw a snowball into the crowd and promptly gets pelted by absolutely everyone.

When we finally get to the top of the lift we find ourselves in waist deep snow – I can't cope. James isn't too happy either. We make our way home after lunch completely exhausted.

Tue

24/02/09

We take the new skis out, and discover there is more fresh snow! And this time it's actual powder, not half set cement! It's much deeper too, and we have great fun playing around on Blackcomb, on open slopes and in some of the glades. On the last run, although I am exhausted and the terrain is choppy and hard, I decide to do as James says, and go a bit straighter and faster with knees more bent. It feels wild and out of control. James likes it though. I try the same thing all the way down, and it works! I nearly keep up this way too.

Wed

25/02/09

James and I are on skis again, and I discover the floppy knee effect! For myself! Finally! Amazing! I can go so much faster! Not on the gladed runs we do though. I do one step turn, stop, another step turn, stop, almost fall into the stream, stop, dig myself out, stop, step turn, stop. Awesome to be there though, it's magical in the trees.

Thu

26/02/09

We are out on the skis again. No fresh snow today, although it was forecast, but the sun has come out, the sky is bright blue and it is gorgeous out! Bitterly cold though, despite the extra layers I'm wearing.

The new floppy knees feel good, and down the 'Pony Trail' I am ahead of James, carving at full speed. He only sneaks past me on the bend, where the run doubles back on itself. We take the 'Peak Chair' and traverse round to 'West Cirque' where a guy in paramedics uniform is just taking the closed sign down. He gives us a word of warning: 'This is about as extreme as it gets', but also says you can look over the edge and then still bail out if it looks too much. James steps over the edge and informs me that I have done worse in Austria, so I decide to follow him down. We both side step into the chute. James sets off in style, while I am back to my step turns. Who said you can't do step turns down an extreme slope?! Maybe I'm just very special. Very good at step turns anyway.

Fri

27/02/09

The landlady is showing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police round the house today, so they can decide whether it's the place for them over the Olympics next year. Anyone who can does a runner. When faced with the off-piste adventure the boys are wanting to undertake I feel a little intimidated though, and way too tired, after the last four days. I make my way home on my own, making time for a tea break on top of Harmony looking out over the clouds in the valley.