For any skiier who has visited the Bugaboos in the summer climber it pretty easy to imagine how magical of a place the Bugs would be to visit in the winter. It took a half a dozen phone calls but talked CMH in to having me out the the Bugaboo lodge for a wee practicum heli-skiing. The weather and skiing was mediocre but its hard to really notice as your constantly distracted wit the beautiful views, an endless supply of gourmet food and getting to fly around in a helicopter.
One of the perks of being a "guide in training" is you have reason for ski opperations to let you come ski with them for free. Only draw back is 1) you must wash about as many dishes as turns you get 2) you have to ski last. But other than that is a freeking good deal! Mid Jan i found myself back up skiing with my good friend Evan Steven and Jasmin Caton at there backcountry ski touring operation Valhalla Mountain Touring.
Well after seeing the conditions currently out at Rogers Pass I think im going to hang up the picks for a while... Today we headed up the Connaught drainage and up to Ursus where the skiing was sick! 50cm blower snow. Despite being dusted when couloir 4 off Cheops ran to the valley, the snow on south aspect was pretty solid. Going back tomorrow.