February 23, 2006
Snowfall
24 Hour: 18cm (7in)
48 Hour: 21cm (8in)
7 Day: 30cm (12in)
Snow Pack: 316cm (124in)
Text and Photos by Krista Turcasso
No Friends on a Powder Day?
I awake to my alarm at 7:30 am and go through my ritual before work. Ready to go in my business attire (okay, business casual for Fernie) I take a look out the window and am shocked. Snow. Lot’s of snow. Powder! Over a foot of snow fell over night! I jump into my ski gear and head to the office to get some work out of the way before hitting the hill.
By 11:30 (after my car gets stuck on main street) I’m on my way and full of anticipation. Yes, I have enjoyed the clear and sunny days we’ve been getting, but it’s not powder skiing! My ski pals are already tearing it up and have been calling with enthusiasm. I’m envisioning the two hours I have allotted for skiing, how to best organize my route to get in as many steep and deep runs as possible. The Timber chair is my first stop. I call my friends and they are on the opposite side of the mountain. Can I wait? NO! There are no friends on powder days! After hopping off the White Pass chair I take the high traverse across Currie Bowl and drop into Corner Pocket/Lone Fir/Easter Bowl. What can effectively summarize this line? Exhilarating! I was expecting a crusty under layer but was pleasantly surprised. Super soft and deep, it practically turned for itself! Even though I could feel the burn, how could I stop during such a smooth line?
Once into Lizard Bowl, I head to the Bear Chair and my cell phone rings..to answer or not to answer. “Wait where you are, we’re picking you up to head back to the new side.” I can see my friends, a group of very avid skiers, from where I am and watch with a smile as they fly right by and yell, “better hurry if you want to catch up!” Off we are back to the Timber Chair. Dave seems to be the tour guide and although I have Siberia Bowl in the back of my mind I follow, as he knows the mountain better than anyone. We do the same traverse I did earlier but drop in along the far chutes in Currie Bowl. From below you can see the array of colour spread throughout Concussion, Cornice Chute, Barracuda, and Currie Creek and hear the yahoos. Steep and fresh powder lines. We congregate at the bottom and there are smiles all around! Unbelievable! Powder with friends is even better!
As the excited group discusses their next plan of attack I reluctantly head back to my car (where once again I am stuck in the parking lot…thanks guys!) and head back to the office. Two hours of skiing is enough. Now I can dream about this weekend with a realistic vision!
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