Skiing today

I wanted to show you guys where we were today, and didn't know where to stick these pics....we spent the day at Mont Ste. Marie, which is about an hour north of Ottawa. It has about 1200 vertical feet of slopes, a mere bump by Jasper, AB standards, but the biggest ski hill in our area. Here's a pic http://www.montstemarie.com/winter/mtn_info/trailmap.html

It was snowy off & on, but a real nice day overall - our first downhill ski outing this season.

Here's a pic when we were on a run called "Carousel" - a scary (to me) blue run...

Here I am procrastinating, before going down that hill......
Too bad it was so cloudy, some of the scenery is really nice.
That drop-off in the background is one of those where you can't see the down-slope on the other side until you're on the edge, as it's somewhat steep. The first time we skiied (sp?) that run this morning, I swore "never again"! But memory fades, and by the 5th time, it was manageable!



This message was edited Feb 22, 2005 11:05 PM

Here's the view from part-way up the quad lift. I do miss the Rockies for sheer size and gorgeous scenery. Here there are several hills within an hour's drive of us and there's a lot of night skiing too, so we figure it's not a bad trade-off as long as we're living down here.

So, any other occasional skiers out there? How about x-country or snowshoeing?

Shannon

You look like you were having a good time, Shannon. Looks cold there. Sure lots of snow.

I am a x-country skier, but never got out even once. All tolled, we only had snow for skiing, skidooing or anything like it for about a month, so I missed the whole thing.

I never mastered the art of down-hill skiing. Took lessons when I lived in Edmonton, but was unimpressed. I think I was just too old when I tried. My kids are avid skiers though and my son and his wife have already been to Jasper a couple times and even came to my fair province once this winter to ski Panorama.

You sure are brave! Lovely photos. Joelle

looks like great snow conditions. i always thought skiing in the east would be a slam dunk because the verticals are so much less than ours in the rockies but got a rude surprise. lots more technical because you are always skiing below the tree line. i like the more wide open vistas in the rockies above the tree line where i only have to worry about the hill and not slamming into an immoveable object when i crash LOL have fun!

LOL! I like going slowly, and through the trees from time to time...sort of a sightseeing trip.
There are lots of trees at Marmot Basin and Sunshine, in the Rockies...over half the hill if memory serves. You're brave to be up on the peaks, Lynn! :-0 Too many black runs for me. The view sure is great, tho'. Unparalleled.

There are more days of icy and/or slushy snow conditions here, than in the west - yesterday was nice, though - lots of fresh powder, especially along the sides of the runs. The only icy parts were where those pesky snowboarders had gone down the whole hill with the board sideways, and scraped all the snow off....rrrr.... :-) I tried snowboarding once, but it was too frustrating and I didn't have the patience. Spent more time on my butt than on the board. Also, having both your feet locked into the same relative position was a little creepy for me.

Donna, what kind of x-country skis do you have? I inherited old wooden ones....haven't tried them out yet tho'.

My skiis are fibreglass and made by Salomon. It's a great sport and phenomenal exercise. I used to love to X-country ski off the beaten track around Banff, where you could go for miles and not hear a sound. So peaceful and relaxing, and the scenery, as you described it Shannon, was unparalled. I suppose we could find spots like that if we went up to the ski hills here too, but just haven't gotten around to doing that. Always something else to do, it seems.

Shannon, I used to ski downhill. I loved it and skiied for many years, my knees are proof of that. I tried x-country but wasn't co-ordinated enough. One lovely spring days when it's cloudy down here and sunny on the slopes, that when I miss skiing. Most of the local ski hills, including Whistler have had a very short season due to lack of snow.

Linda

'Tis true for most of B.C. this year, Linda. I am afraid we are in for drought conditions again this year. Such a shame...

It is a great shame. Good occasion for use to learn about xeriscaping, at least - but that won't help the farmers much will it?

There's a lot of wasting of water here - people don't have the same level of consciousness about it, by and large. Maybe it's because there is more rain here. You still see people hosing off their driveways with fresh, potable tap water, not to mention watering their lawns far faster than the rate of infiltration, so all that good water is running down the gutter (and taking good soil with it). The complete lack of individual water meters in Quebec doesn't help. It's all just rolled up into your municipal taxes, so you are paying for your neighbours' pools - and there are many of them here. Our house came with one as well. It just doesn't encourage a mind-set of conservation, IMHO.

I haven't x-country skiied since high school - 20-ish years ago. It's very popular here. Great exercise...I just wish I could find a spot where all the trails were slightly downhill! Like one of those Escher pictures of the staircase that goes around a four-sided square, never rising and never descending...lol

I grew up in So. Africa where water is really precious. Was absolutely shocked when I first came to Canada. So much wastage. First time went on a canoe trip was shocked again that the water was polluted. We had to stop and get buckets of water from streams running intothe river or get some from farmers. Now it is far worse.

Even right out in the bush, mercury from mining, other awful things from mills, we are totally ruining our world.

Inanda

Yep - ignorance and greed (society in general), don't know which is worse in the end. Maybe the combination. Weren't those the names of the two orphans huddled under the cloaks of the Spirit of Christmas Present, in A Christmas Carol? Ignorance and Want, maybe - ?

Shannon

Wonderful pictures Shannon!! Ü It's so nice to see someplace that has sooo many hills and trees! ;)

I love downhill skiing but haven't done it for a long time.

Pam

We x-country ski now but used to downhill alot (in highschool -a generous 20ish years ago). Downhilled in Gatineau area when we lived in Ottawa, but can't remember where.

We leave before work with headlights on , from our backdoor, ski a "loop" in wooded trails and end up 45min later at our front door. Sounds great and it is. But only had 1 real good solid week so far this year. (Not sure if that was the snow's fault or laziness-heaven forbid). We'll head home to the Gaspe for a fun weekend of ski-dooing - before the "season" is over.
Joanne

Wonderful to be able to ski out your backdoor, Joanne...and a 45 minute ski is a great workout and the best time of the day, when it's so peaceful I envy you.

Great pictures Shannon....lovely scenery. Makes me a bit nostalgic for skiing. I only ever went downhill skiing a few times when I was younger. I wasn't that fond of it and have a knee that bothers me still under similar conditions.

I have mostly done cross-country skiing and was involved with the local x-country ski club for many years. I even took the level 1 and 2 officials courses so I could help with the races but I'm not involved any more. I didn't get out this year at all because the ski hill didn't get enough snow to open many of the runs. I'm not really that good at it so I'm not too upset that I haven't been out much the last few years. I like gentle slopes that make you feel like you're on an escalator. There are a few too many steep sections on the cross-country trails at our ski hill, which I don't mind when it's fluffy and powdery but too often it's hard and icy.

Sandy