Sea kayaking with Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak near Vancouver, B.C.

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Paddling toward Jug Island

     On Sunday, May 18 we headed to Deep Cove near Vancouver to try kayaking in Indian Arm and do a short hike to Quarry Rock. We were joined by our daughter Kristie and her boyfriend Eric. We had booked a 2 hour rental which allowed us to paddle around several islands and along the rugged shoreline of Indian Arm. Some of the shoreline that we paddled along had homes clinging to the steep rocky cliff. As we paddled north along our 8.5 km route the landscape was more wild and we saw a seal near Jug Island.  Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak also rents stand up paddle boards and leads guided kayak tours and provides lessons in both activities. After our paddle we had lunch in the park that overlooks the harbour and then did the Quarry Rock hike which is part of the Baden Powell Trail. This 1.9 km hike is well marked (but is steep in sections) and on this day was incredibly popular. All ages and stages were doing this hike which ends at a rocky bluff overlooking Deep Cove. This was a great way to spend a day in Deep Cove. We recommend booking at Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak in advance since they tend to book up in good weather and on weekends. See: http://www.deepcovekayak.com/ for more information.

Kristie points to Racoon Island in Indian Arm

The Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre is a popular place - book ahead

Quarry Hill hike gives a good view of Deep Cove

Sea kayaking with Ecomarine at Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C.

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Paddling in False Creek is handy for anyone visiting Vancouver

     On Friday, May 16th we took advantage of the continued good weather to take a self guided sea kayak trip on False Creek. Ecomarine has a paddle sport centre at Granville Island and they must be Vancouver`s oldest sea kayak outfitter. They offer a variety of services from their Granville Island location including rentals, sales, tours and lessons. Beside sea kayaks they also sell stand up paddle boards which have shown a big increase in business over the last few years according to rental manager, Catherine Paone. We did a 2 hour self guided sea kayak tour of False Creek which is a great protected area for paddling. We paddled to Science World at the end of False Creek and although we are used to paddling in the wilderness of Newfoundland we enjoyed the ``urban paddling`` experience of False Creek. We paddled past the tall apartment buildings of downtown Vancouver, several marinas and even a floating village. Ecomarine also has locations at Jericho Beach and English Bay which operate seasonally. For more information see: http://www.ecomarine.com/ While you are at Granville Island you can check out the many shops and restaurants or take in a show by a street performer.

False Creek ends with dome shaped Science World

While at Granville Market take in a street performer show

Don't miss the new Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, B.C.

by Keith and Heather Nicol

View from the large deck overlooking Howe Sound

   The new Sea to Sky Gondola is a must see new attraction just outside Squamish, B.C. If you are thinking of heading to Whistler then be sure to stop at this great new facility along the way. It is right on the Sea to Sky Highway and in just 10 minutes you are whisked up to 900 meters with a bird's eye views of Howe Sound and the spectacular mountains that surround this area. Sky Pilot Mountain is clearly visible from the Summit Lodge and jagged Diamond Head looms in the distance. We visited with our daughter, Kristie, on Thursday, May 15 just before the "Official Opening" on Friday.  We hiked on a couple of  short trails near the Summit Lodge and had lunch on a huge patio that must have one of the best views in the all of B.C. If you plan to visit very often then the season pass for just $100 is one of the best deals going. For those interested in rock climbing or longer hikes, the Summit Lodge can be used as a jumping off point to further explore this area. We can't wait to come back in to see this area in the winter. Also be sure to visit Shannon Falls which is located next to the base of the Sea to Sky Gondola. For more information see: http://www.seatoskygondola.com/

Kristie on the suspension bridge with the Summit Lodge in the background

The Sea to Sky Gondola takes just 10 minutes to travel to the Summit Lodge

Cruising False Creek and Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, B.C.

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Be sure to see Granville Market

    Over the last couple of days the weather in Vancouver has been stellar and we have been taking to the water to see the sites from a different vantage point. On Monday, May 13 we took the False Creek mini cruise operated by Aquabus (http://theaquabus.com/). This is a great way to see various parts of False Creek from the water. We started our "voyage" at the Hornby Street stop and with a couple of transfers we ended up at "The Village" near Science World. Our guide told us it was about 4 km one way and you can also use the Aquabus to go to several other locations along False Creek. One of the don`t miss stops is Granville Island with its popular Granville Market as a main attraction.

The Aquabus ferries travel along False Creek

The Harbour Cruise is a great way to see Burrard Inlet

 On Tuesday, May 14 we took the Harbour Cruise which gives a 1 hour tour of Burrard Inlet. We boarded a paddle wheeler near Canada Place and our tour gave us a great perspective of Vancouver Harbour which is Canada`s largest port. We sat on the upper deck in the sunshine and had a grand time seeing the mountains on one side and Vancouver`s high rises on the other. We even saw an eagle soaring overhead and a harbour seal that had pulled out on an unused dock. Harbour Cruises also does a sunset tour and also trips up nearby Indian Arm. For more information see:  www.boatcruises.com

Harbour Cruise uses a paddle wheeler for its tours of Burrard Inlet

Great spring skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Michael catches some air

      On Saturday, May 10 we headed to Whistler, B.C. for our annual ski trip with our kids, Kristie, Michael and Kristie`s friend Eric.  It started out abit foggy but then it around noon it cleared up and we had great views of the surrounding mountains. Blackcomb is the only mountain open in the spring and we spent most of our time on 7 th Heaven and the Jersey Cream chairlifts. But our best skiing of the day was when we headed into the north facing T-Bar bowls and down Dakine and Glacier Drive to the base of Jersey Cream. There is still time to head to Whistler-Blackcomb for their spring ski season which ends on May, 26. Its a great time to ski with temperatures in the valley in the mid teens and corn snow in the alpine. For more information see: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/ and for more of what is happening at Whistler see: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/.

Kristie on Hugh`s Heaven

Eric skiing some fresh snow on the T-bars

Family photo at the base of Whistler-Blackcomb

Visiting UBC's Gardens in Vancouver, B.C.

by Keith and Heather Nicol

The Nitobe Gardens is well worth seeing

    On Friday, May 9 we decided to see 2 well known gardens at the University of British Columbia. We were joined by our daughter Kristie and we started with the Nitobe Garden which is one of the best traditional Japanese gardens in North America. The cherry trees were in bloom and be sure to pick up a guide to the garden which suggests various interpretations for the why the garden is laid out the way it is. The garden may be envisioned to span a day, a year or a lifetime and the waterfalls, bridges and stone lanterns all have special meaning. After enjoying the Nitobe Gardens we then decided to head to the UBC Botanical Gardens which was about a 20 minute walk away.  At the UBC Botanical Gardens, many rhododendrons were still in bloom and we especially enjoyed the physic garden which showcase traditional medicine plants from medieval Europe. We also recommend doing the elevated canopy walkway which is reaches heights of 18 meters above the forest floor. You can easily spend a several hours visiting these 2 gardens on a sunny spring or summer day.For more information see: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/ which has information on both gardens.

The UBC Botanical Gardens has different highlights

Don't miss the canopy walkway

A Whale of a Backcountry Ski Trip to the Tablelands

by Keith and Heather Nicol
     We decided to get in another backcountry ski trip to the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park and combine it with a trip to see a huge Blue Whale that had washed ashore in the community of Trout River. This past winter was particularly cold and with more sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence many whales got trapped by changing ice conditions and ended up dying. These whales are now washing ashore along the west coast of Newfoundland and one ended up on the beach in Trout River. When we arrived at 10:45 am Sunday, May 4 there were throngs of people and we counted over 30 people at one point in our short visit.

The large Blue Whale is attracting lots of people to Trout River

Watch for glide cracks !

     From Trout River we backtracked to the Tablelands parking lot and began to skin up into the bowl. Quite abit of snow had disappeared since our last visit on Friday, April 18 th but we were pleased to see a continuous line of snow from the parking lot to the top of stream. From there we had to walk about 40-50 meters across rock at the base of the bowl and then we continued on skis up the western side of the bowl to "lunch rocks". On this trip we were joined by  Rick Lichtenauer and his dog Molly and it was his first visit to the bowl. We made runs on either side of the bowl and the corn snow was superb. Just enough to get an edge in but not heavy and slushy. There appeared to have been no avalanches since our last trip but there are still lots of cornices to come down so watch out for those very warm days which will likely bring them down. We also saw lots of glide cracks both at the top of the bowl and along the stream bed so watch out if you head up after a new snow fall which might bridge these cracks. A thin layer of new snow may be covering deep cracks that could catch the unwary dog or skier. There is still good skiing to be had at the Tablelands Bowl but it won't last long.

Rick with Molly in pursuit (note large cornices still to come down)

Skiing off the top of the Eastern side of the bowl

Avalanche season not over yet in the Tablelands

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Recent avalanche debris and cornice chunks

    What a difference a few days make. Six days ago we headed to the Tablelands Bowl and were blown away by all the snow in many places in the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park. But after 2 days of 15 C weather on Tuesday and Wednesday the snow took a real hit and also brought down some big cornices which in turn triggered some large avalanches. Some chunks of cornice were the size of a couple of pick up trucks and they slid 100's of meters. The avalanche debris was spread over 100's of square meters and it is lucky no one was up here at the time.  There is still lots of cornice still to come down so be careful when the temperatures ramp up especially if there is no over night freeze. Our latest trip was on Friday, April 18 and it seemed like the sunny but cool weather really brought out the crowds to the bowl. We counted close to 20 people on snowboards, skis and snowshoes and there were likely 10 dogs getting some exercise at the same time.

View looking back toward Bonne Bay with avalanche debris in the foreground

      Due to the heavy freeze overnight with temperatures down to -9 C we knew the bowl would likely not thaw despite the forecast of sunny skies with light winds and + 4 C temperatures. So our plan was to ski the Lunchbox Chutes into Winterhouse Brook Gorge which have a southerly orientation. But once we reached the top of the chute we realized that recent warm temperatures had wiped out the snow in the gully and it was down to bare rock in places. So we headed back to western side of the bowl that had had abit better sun exposure and there we found some snow that was starting to turn to corn where we made a few runs. Be aware that since the Tablelands Bowl faces northeast it doesn't get much direct sun and so you need temperatures to reach the 8-10 C (at sea level) before you can count on the snow here really softening. One bonus of the cool temperatures was that it created a low avalanche hazard. There is still lots of snow in this part of the Tablelands and we could still easily ski back to the parking lot so this area will be good for awhile yet.

Jamie Ryan skiing the eastern side of the bowl

Scott Ledrew with dog T-loup take a rest by a large chunk of cornice

The western side of the bowl had softer snow

Spring Snow Safety in Western Newfoundland

By Keith and Heather Nicol

      When ski touring in the spring we need to be aware of snow safety if we travel in avalanche terrain. If you are not sure if your planned  route is traveling in areas where avalanches might occur you can check out the on line maps which show potential avalanche start zones in Western Newfoundland. This map (https://cb-grf-grfmap.cna.nl.ca/avalanche/V3/snowStyled.htm) highlights areas that are between 30-45 degrees which are the typical slopes needed to get avalanches moving. Simply click on the start zone symbol and if you want to see where avalanches have occurred in the past you can click on the avalanche symbol. You can zoom in and out on the map and you can also move around to different areas in Western Newfoundland. As you can see there is lots of areas where avalanches can start but there is also great low angle ski touring that can be done in this area if you want to avoid avalanche terrain altogether.

    

     However, many backcountry skiers and snowboarders want to ski steep areas in the Tablelands or Blow Me Down Mountains and if you do you need to think about how to manage the various snow safety hazards. In a typical Newfoundland spring  there are 4 different types of hazard ranging from cornice fall to loose wet snow avalanches as well as wet slab and wind slab avalanches to consider. Cornices may fail at any time but in the spring the risk goes up as the temperature rises above 0 C. Cornices not only are dangerous in themselves but they might also trigger avalanches on the slopes below as shown in the photo below from the Tablelands. So give cornices a wide berth when skiing above and below them especially on warm days.

 

A large chunk of cornice that also triggered an avalanche (note debris up slope)

      Wet loose snow avalanches are common in the spring in Western Newfoundland and the adjacent photo shows several in Blow Me Down Bowl. These avalanches are generally not too hazardous on an open slope but they do pack more punch than you might think. They can often knock a skier or rider down and if there are rocks or trees downslope they can possibly be injured. To manage this risk avoid start zones when the snow is wet from the sun, warm temperatures, rain or does not freeze overnight. 

Large loose snow avalanches in Blow Me Down Bowl

      Wet slab avalanches are more of a hazard than loose snow avalanches since they involve more snow and will likely travel faster. They occur when water percolates into the snow layers and triggers an avalanche. The photo below shows one that occurred in the Tablelands Bowl. Although this slide was only 30 cm deep in most places it did pile up to 1.5 meters in others and was an estimated 80-100 meters long. To manage this risk avoid start zones when the snow is wet from sun and warm temperatures, rain or does not freeze overnight. 

Wet slab avalanche in Tablelands Bowl

Wind slab avalanche

      Wind slabs tend to occur where fresh snow has been deposited on lee slopes. Since we likely will not get much new snow through the rest of this spring this hazard is not that likely but if we do get a spring snow storm then be aware of where the wind may have piled this snow up. Also since it likely will fall on an icy crust this creates a good layer for this snow to slide on.  Since we get most of wind from the west this hazard can be managed by avoiding steep east slopes where wind slabs are most likely to have been created. 

Skiing in the Tablelands Bowl in Gros Morne National Park

The largest of the recent avalanches in the bowl

by Keith and Heather Nicol
   On Saturday, April 12 we headed to the Tablelands Bowl in Gros Morne National Park to check out the snow and avalanche situation. It was our first trip to the bowl this winter and our group consisted of Jamie Ryan and Scott Ledrew but we met several other people in the bowl while we were skiing and riding. Overall all we saw 9 others beside our group and they were on a mix of equipment including AT (alpine touring), telemark and snowboards. We saw 3 avalanches in the bowl but the largest was on climbers left and it was 80-100 meters long and roughly 20-25 meters wide. The debris was generally only 30 cm deep but in places it was piled up 1 to 1.5 meters deep.  Had you been  hit by this avalanche you would have definitely been knocked off your feet and likely injured since debris was pretty solid. It is uncertain when it came down but was likely several days old and may have been associated with some snow that fell on Sunday, April 6. The cornices that rim the bowl are huge and generally have not collapsed so give the main part of the bowl a wide berth. We stuck to the slopes on climbers right where the grade allows for a skin track to be set and we stayed well away from any areas under the cornice. The day turned out to be perfect skiing since there was no wind (even at the top)

and the snow softened nicely through the day. There is tons of snow in this area, and we had to park on the road since the normal parking lot was still snow covered. We measured snow depths along the way into the bowl and although there some wind swept areas we also found depths approaching 2 meters in places. This area should be good skiing for some quite awhile this spring but use caution in some steeper areas especially on very warm days or when there has been a fresh snowfall.

Scott Ledrew with Jamie Ryan in the background

Jamie Ryan skis over some older loose snow avalanche debris

Ski Touring into Blow Me Down Bowl

by Keith and Heather Nicol
   On Friday, April 11 we did a ski tour into Blow Me Down Bowl with telemarker Mark Coady to check out the snow situation in this part of the Blow Me Down Mountains. It was our first trip in here this year and with all of the snow we thought there might be more snow at the start. But is a windy spot and and although we could easily ski into the bowl area, we could see that some bogs were bare in spots. We measured snow depths in a few places and the snow was anywhere from 20 cm- 50 cm in those areas along the trail. This route can be done on a variety of ski gear or even snowshoes but you will want AT or Telemark gear if you decide to ski some of the steeper slopes. We started at the Blow Me Down Brook Nature Trail (21 0410052 E 5484278 N) parking lot on the South Shore Highway and followed the valley in for about 3 km to the stream that drains the bowl. The route is through open forest and so it is easy to pick your own trail. There are also old signs and some flagging tape in places to mark the route.Although we had nice sunny weather for the start of our trip the wind was very strong and at times we had trouble skiing into the wind. They call it Blow Me Down for a reason. Once we skied up into the bowl we could see evidence of 7 small natural avalanches which likely involved the new snow that fell on Sunday April 6. These were all on either east or north facing slopes which were likely the main areas of wind deposited snow. We also found avalanche debris well down in the bottom of the bowl from some larger older avalanches. The bowl is ringed with large cornices so use care if you are here on warm days since they may collapse with little warning. We had planned on skiing some of the steeper slopes but the strong gusty wind and the start of some steady rain forced us to ski quickly back to the car. This area will have good skiing for the next while but don't leave it too long since the lower areas will start to melt out. But be aware of steep slopes especially if they have new snow on them.

Mark Coady looks up at the centre of the bowl with older avalanche debris in front of him

Mark telemarking down the valley

Ski Touring at Big Hill in Gros Morne National Park

by Keith and Heather Nicol
      On Saturday, April 5 we headed to Big Hill in Gros Morne National Park to check out the snow pack and possibly investigate an avalanche chute that we noted when scouting the area on Google Earth. I was joined by telemarker Rick Lichtenauer and his dog Molly and we fully recommend this trip for its stunning views and easy to access trailhead at 21 0441495 E 5484284 N. We followed the ridge through the open birch forest and fortunately a group of snowshoers had done the trip recently and their tracks made the route easy to follow. We never did get down to the avalanche chute - we thought we would save that for a trip when there was a bit more snow but we did circumnavigate the Big Hill summit at 639 meters. We measured the snowpack in several areas and found anywhere from 20 cm to 1 meter of snow along the ridge. Since this area faces southwest the snow won't last here like it will in other places so we recommend heading up there soon.

Rick and Molly heading up through the open forest

The views of ice covered Bonne Bay and the surrounding mountains were superb