The Political Olympics

The Olympic Torch relay seems to be encountering significant levels of protests. On the one hand, it's disappointing that politics has to pervade everything, including sporting events, but on the other hand, it's naive to think that anything can be separated from current and historical events.

Personally, I'm pleased that the Olympics will be taking place in China this year. China, it's people and leaders, need more exposure to the outside world, not less. Perhaps with more interaction with the rest of the world, China can come to realize that (recent actions of the US government notwithstanding), old ideas of imperialism, empire building and repressive military actions rightfully belong in the past and that the majority of the world's people oppose them.

Anyone more interested in why China's midset seems to be what it is could read an intesting book: Daughter of China.

Let the Olympics continue and let them be in China. Let everyone attend.

Free Tibet.

Even More "spring" skiing

Oridnarily, I'd be quite ready to avoid more snow and quite happy to get into spring mode, but I got this phone call....

How would I like to spend a week, for free, at the ACC's Fairy Meadows Hut. The only conditions: I had to get ready for a week in the remote mountains in 2 days, and I had to do some serious mold cleanup and hut maintenance. I hummed and hawed for a couple of hours, but finally the offer was too good to turn down. I hustled around getting my food ready - leftovers in the freezer were pressed into service, skis and winter clothing was rounded up "again" and at 5:10 am March 29, I was under way. Four hours got me east of Roger's Pass to the staging area. The helicopter arrived shortly before noon to take us about 20 minutes up Kinbasket Lake into the Adamant Range of the Columbia Mountains.

The week basically fell into a routine: up in the morning, work at scrubbing mold and other tasks for a few hours and then a couple of hours each afternoon making some ski turns on the hills near the Hut. Followed by a nap, supper, lots of reading and off to sleep.

Fairy Meadows is a prime winter skiing destination and this was the first time I'd been in during the winter. Challenging terrain for a novice skiier like me, but fun nonetheless. Pictures from the week can be seen at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22704&l=e7e0e&id=566145837

Now - is it time to hang up the skis for the season?

More "Spring" skiing

It may be starting to look a lot like spring some places, but in the Little Yoho Valley it was still completely into winter. A good place to go for a few days if you are still looking for more good skiing.

Which is what a small group of us did from March 12-16. It was a long slog in to the Stanley Mitchell Hut (about 23 km) and some of it is quite steep, especially for people with big packs and fat skis.

However, the snow was good and the tree skiing was especially great. More pictures can be viewed at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21036&l=f116b&id=566145837

I also put together a short video clip which is on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZtKLl2hyZk

It was nice - now, where is spring?