 |
Central
BC - Mt Hudson Bay - Feb 28 2009
words
and photos by Sharon Bader and Lee Lau unless otherwise noted.
|
Hudson
Bay - Feb 28th || Mt.
Harvey - March 1st || Hudson
Bay Inbounds - March 2nd || Boulder
Mt. - March 3rd ||
The Galleon
- March 5th || BC
Scenes and Windy Ridge - March 6th || Windy
Ridge - March 7th || Bear
Glacier - March 8th || Shames
Slackcountry - March 10th || Shames
- Happy Valley Tour - March 11th || Shames
Inbounds and Slackcountry- March 12-14th
With the recent publication of John Baldwin's "Exploring
the Coast Mountain on Skies - A Guide to Ski Mountaineering" John and
his significant other, Linda Bily, planned a trip to Central BC that we were
able to join. As part of his tour to promote the book we traveled to Smithers,
Stewart and Terrace BC to double check on the research. We pick up Jos van der
Burg in Chilliwack and start the long drive to Central BC.
Traveling along Hwy 16 from Prince
George to Stewart it is a vast flat land until you crest a hill and see;
Mt. Hudson Bay with the
ski runs down the trees.
We get to the ski hill at the
crack of 12:00 on a sunny day and start our day.
Linda, Lee, John and
Jos
We ski up the hill on a Saturday.
In the sunshine, there is powder here. Still.
Mt. Hudson Bay crests
in the distance.
Since this is the first peak
to the west it gets a bit of wind.
Wish I brought
my ski crampons...
Heading to the backcountry of
Ski Smithers we are bordered to the south by the Howson range where the
Burnie Glacier Cabin is.
This area has been likened to Fairy Meadows with its huge glaciers and complex
terrain.
Lee, John, Jos and
Linda
Yup, bit of wind scouring.
Think I'll boot
pack from here
We are at one of the first areas
you can get a good ski off Mt. Hudson Bay when it isn't wind hammered and
ski right back into town.
Above the Simpson
couloir.
We continue up a bit further
for more views and rocks.
Sharon and Jos
Near the top everyone started
to boot pack.
John, Lee and Jos
Jos got as far as we could.
Jos of the Mountain!
Lee pining for the couloir!
No Lee, BACK! Its
Icy!
We rip down the sastrugi, back
to the ski area pow.
ripping up the pow!
Once back to Smithers we drove
down the road to look back up to Kathlyn Glacier. The red dot is where
we were and where John Baldwin took a ride off a cornice down to the
Glacier before eventually being rescued. Thus starting his passion for
the mountains!
Lee is still pining
for Kathlyn Couloir on lookers right.
View of the backcountry possibilities
from Ski Smithers.
Larger view showing the ski
area runs and the view from the town.
