Spring Things

It seems like winter is finally loosening its grip. I'll even admit it's been long this year. You probably know if you read this column that I'm one of those rare people who actually enjoy the winter. It's been a fabulous season for skiing and I can't seem to stop. The snow still lingers and calls out to us addicted types. It was warm and sunny yesterday afternoon as I raked the lawn but earlier that morning I had been to Poley Mountain with another snow loving buddy and we skied the now closed slopes. It's a great work out walking up that hill carrying our skis. I know some of you are shaking your head and wondering about our sanity. The weekend before we were in the Chic Choc Mountains of Gaspe for some late season telemark turns and we found ourselves skiing on mountain tops through about 12 cm of fresh snow. Even closer to home, Crabbe Mountain near Fredericton has so much snow it plans to stay open until the beginning of May, if weather and willing skiers permit. That's the thing, at this time of year people aren't very interested in skiing any more. They want to move on to summery things. I do too. I want to get out kayaking and hiking but it's tough when the snow is still there tantalising us. Even when I'm raking the lawn I have to look at two small piles of snow still clinging to life in the shadiest part of the yard. So it's hard saying goodbye to a stubborn winter that's been a lot of fun but I know it's time to turn the page and move into another season.

But the remnants of winter still have a way of haunting us. People living near the water are especially concerned what the spring may bring. There is so much snow still on the ground up north that folks living in low lying areas beside the St. John river are worried about a high freshet this year. For good reason too. All that snow melt has to go somewhere. Here in Grand Bay-Westfield the Riverside Park area seems to get hit the hardest. It's been about three years now since the area was last flooded by high water. People are most concerned about a quick melt accompanied by heavy rain. So far nights have remained cold, easing the flow of water into the river. Everyone including the provincial EMO is hoping that continues. Nevertheless people in Riverside Park are moving things to higher ground and preparing for the worst. We'll all be watching the water levels over the next few weeks.


Something else people are watching is the progress of the new running track at River Valley Middle School. Construction has started again and the track looks like it's getting close to completion. Even in its unfinished and rough condition the track looks to be smoother than some of the roads around town. The winter has taken a toll on the pavement. Some particularly bad stretches of Woolastook Drive have so many pot holes and heaves that I don't even drive along there anymore if I can avoid it. I need to replace the struts in the car so you can imagine the kind of ride I'm getting through town. When you drive into Saint John through the business section of Grand Bay-Westfield that entire right hand lane is a mine-field from the Irving to the Sobey's entrance. I go to work for the early, early shift these days so fortunately when I drive through that area there is no traffic on the road and I can veer over into the other lane. But I've seen drivers do that to avoid the bumps when the road is busy. Not a good idea.

Bad roads lead us to the municipal election on May 12th, another sign of spring this year. There is a full slate of quality candidates running for mayor and council. Our job now is to choose. It's our duty too because unless we do our homework and pick who we feel are the best candidates for the job, we really have no right to complain about the job they're doing after the fact. So go to the candidates meeting, ask questions and most important of all, vote on the 12th.

As for me, I have more yard work to do and maybe, just maybe one more ski to get in.

Telephone Poles in the Woods

It was the oddest thing to be way back in the woods and come across a clearing with a telephone pole standing in the middle of it. Just a single pole with the insulators still intact and a few inches of wire still attached. It was a telephone line going nowhere because there were no other poles visible in the thick woods surrounding the clearing. I first came across this years ago x-c skiing in the woods back of town. My skiing buddies and I figured it was a remnant of an old and long abandoned telegraph line that might have run between Saint John and Fredericton many years ago. We were partly right.

I got thinking about the poles again when I was out skiing this winter and came upon a number of them in a bog. They were standing almost upright and spanned one edge of the bog. Until then I had only seen a single pole in the woods. (I took photos of the poles in the bog and posted them at rivervalleyrambler.com)


Even with this new discovery the story behind these telegraph poles still remained a mystery until I met Richard Likely walking his dog one afternoon this winter. Richard knows the woods around Grand Bay-Westfield like the back of his hand. He’s been hiking and skiing these trails for many years. In fact he cut many of them. We got talking and I asked him about the poles. Not surprisingly, he knew quite a bit about them.

He said he heard the story from his father and from Ken Cox, the former head of NB Tel. He told me these mysterious poles were not for the telegraph, as I originally thought but for a special telephone line. According to Richard it dates back to the second world war when U.S. President Roosevelt was in regular communication with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London. Our own PM Mackenzie King felt left out of the loop so he ordered a special telephone line built from Ottawa to Cape Breton and then by underwater cable to London. The line was used during the war years and then abandoned.

I tried to research this telephone line on the internet but couldn’t find any mention of it. I did discover an interesting history of undersea cables. Apparently the first transatlantic cable ran from Newfoundland to Ireland and dates back to 1856. It operated about a month before it failed.

Richard Likely went on to tell me that after the war the telephone poles were in high demand by the locals. They’d cut them down and haul them out of the woods and take the wire as well. That’s why there are so few poles around today. Richard said his father told him that people would steal the poles but leave the cross-arms laying in the woods. This he said was a mistake because the 4 x 6 cross pieces were made of knot free BC fir that was far more valuable than the poles. People here didn’t realize it. He said in those days it was a big job hauling the poles out of the woods because there were no snowmobiles or ATV’s.


So that’s the story of the mysterious poles that appear occasionally in the woods around here. I got thinking it would be fun to try to follow the line but I’m not sure enough poles remain to do that. I attempted it this winter on skis but quickly lost sight of the next pole in the woods. The surrounding trees tower over the telephone poles now and make them difficult to spot. It would be an interesting adventure and maybe one day I’ll try it.

It’s still a mystery to me why a number of the telephone poles with cross arms still remain standing in this bog. I suppose when people were cutting them down and hauling them away, they couldn’t get at these poles very easily because of the water. Maybe they never thought of coming out in the winter when the ice would make the job much easier. Whatever the reason, it’s good that a little trace of this history still remains, hidden for the most part but a great delight to find.

When the Earth Moved

I just got back from an amazing two weeks of skiing in western Canada. Getting there and returning had some challenges but that's a story for another day. Likewise the experience of skiing at a mountain lodge only accessible by helicopter is another incredible experience worthy of a detailed account. I'll save that for later too. What I want to tell you about now is that instant during a sunny, blue sky day on a backcountry slope in the Purcell Mountains when the earth moved.

I know the avalanche danger has been high this winter in the mountains of western North America. There have been record numbers of slides and deaths because of an unstable snow pack. The first day we arrived by chopper at this luxurious lodge situated in a beautiful alpine meadow, 7,200 feet above sea level, we all received the mandatory instruction in avalanche rescue. We learned how to wear and use the avalanche beacons. We practiced using the device to search for a victim buried under the snow. Our guides showed us the proper way to use the probes to poke through the snow and how to dig out around the buried person using our collapsible snow shovels. We were told how to locate the victims head and work at freeing his breathing passages. This is the same routine training people receive when they enter the backcountry, either to go heliskiing or like us, attaching skins to our skis and climbing into alpine areas using our own power. Nobody ever thinks they're going to need the training. That would be a wrong assumption.

On our second day at the lodge we headed out early for a full day in the backcountry. The sun burned our faces as we climbed through the trees to a higher elevation. This one particular slope was steep at the top, about a 30 degree pitch, steep enough to avalanche but then it quickly flattened out. That proved to be a good thing. There were six of us in the group and two guides. I skied down last because I was shooting video of the others making turns through the untracked powder. Everyone else had skied down and stopped on a ridge just out of my sight but they could all see me. I put the camera in my pack and started down the slope. My first turn was to the left and I could see two large fracture lines in the snow. I thought to myself that doesn’t look good. As I initiated my next turn something didn’t feel right. I looked down and saw the snow under my skis cracking and swirling. I glanced sideways and saw that I was moving down the slope along with all the snow. I instantly knew I was caught in an avalanche and I got scared. This wasn’t supposed to happen, especially to a maritimer on his first backcountry expedition into the big mountains. Fortunately the slide was short lived. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I can’t remember hearing any sound either. Luckily I was at the edge of the slide and skied off to the side toward some trees. The moving snow covered my downhill ski and tried to pull it down but I managed to shake it loose and ski away. As quickly as the slide had started it ended. Everything was silent and I was fine. I couldn’t see the others down the slope and didn’t know whether to yell for help or just get out of there as quickly as possible. In the end I skied down as fast as I could keeping well away from the avalanche. When I joined the others I realized they had seen the whole thing and were more concerned about my welfare than I probably was. The guides told me I did exactly what I should have done by skiing out of the avalanche. Believe me, it was an easy decision to make.


We all went back to examine the slide. The guides called it a level one slab avalanche caused by a persistent weak layer of snow. They even knew the day it formed back in February. The slope slid for about 60 feet and left a debris pile over a meter high. This was a small avalanche and there was no danger of being buried in it but I could have twisted an ankle or worse if I’d gotten caught up in the mess at the bottom. Our guides measured the slide, dug in the snow and took photographs. It was an excellent opportunity for them to study an avalanche close up.

Leaving the area we had to traverse across a steep slope with overhanging cornices. We did it one at a time to minimize avalanche exposure. After my experience I was understandably shaken a little and surprised by how quickly I skied across that slope. I think it was the fastest I’d moved all day.

That night the guides presented me with a special drink made up of a number of different liquors and topped off with a mountain of whipped cream. They called it appropriately the ‘Avalanche’. I drank and enjoyed it, thankful that I was there and able to.

It was a small slide but a gigantic eye opener for me and the others in our party including the guides. The risk of avalanche is always there in backcountry alpine areas and has to be taken seriously.

Disappearing Trails

(This is a column recently published in the River Valley News. It should concern everyone who enjoys the outdoors in this area. Contact me at rivervalleyrambler@inbox.com)


I was skiing along one of the local trails recently when I met another trail user going for a walk. We chatted about the weather and soon the conversation turned to the changing face of the backcountry this winter. We both commented how logging operations and the plowing of some roads have cut off access to some of our favorite trails. On parting the walker suggested that if this continues we may soon have to drive to Rockwood Park in the city to get access to the outdoors. Those comments have remained with me as I've explored more of our informal trail network in the Grand Bay-Westfield area. Given what I've seen so far this winter, I fear there may be some truth to those comments.

The clear cutting is everywhere. Trees are being downed right to the edge of long time back county trails and roads that have been used by people for generations. The logging equipment and trucks are tearing up the roads, making it impossible to ski on and difficult and even dangerous in places to walk. I haven't heard complaints from ATVers and snowmobilers but I'm sure the cutting is having an impact on their enjoyment of the outdoors as well.

A major cutting operation is underway over at the four corners by the ball fields at the end of the Britain Road. The forest on both sides of the trail is leveled for a considerable way. By the old Grand Bay dump and off the Mitchell Road a new logging road extends far into the forest. The old ski trails behind the Westfield Golf Course are long gone, swallowed up in clear cuts that now extend toward the highway. This isn't a new cut but I was skiing there the other day and lamenting over the loss of that trail system. It was the only wooded trail actually made for non-motorized use in this area. One of the most popular trails around here is what some call the Backland Road beside the Golf Course. It has also seen a lot of cutting this fall and the loggers have kept the road plowed through the early part of the winter. Plowing of course makes it almost impossible to ski. Further along the trail just past the Spencer's Camp property, a new road has been cut through the woods. It doesn't look like your typical logging road because it's considerably wide. The most troubling aspect of this road is that it cuts right across the existing trail to Loch Alva. Hikers, skiers and snowmobiles have used this trail for many years. The new road chops it in half and blocks it entirely with an eight-foot ditch across the trail. ATVs and snowmobiles now have to detour to Spencer's camp to get back on the trail. Skiers and hikers can still take the old trail but must negotiate this huge ditch to get through. It doesn't seem right that a road can be built right across an existing trail like that. My skiing companions and I have explored that new road. It continues for some way and actually has two branches. I don't know who built it or why but I don't think it's a logging road. My guess is it's for a new subdivision sometime in the future. Either way, someone went to a lot of trouble and expense to build a road that right now goes nowhere.

During our explorations of the area we discovered evidence of some peoples total disrespect for other peoples property and for the environment. I hadn't visited Spencer's camp for years but the place is in ruin. Some thoughtless people went through the property and broke every window in every building. Windows and doors were forced open and ripped off the hinges. Nothing escaped the vandalism. Whoever is responsible for this had to work hard to inflict that kind of destruction. What a wasted effort.

It's also sad seeing all the garbage left around in the outdoors. Out by Belvedere Lake we came upon a spot littered with empty beer cans and bottles. They had just been tossed and left there. This was at a trail intersection and the evidence points to thoughtless snowmobilers or four-wheelers. I can't understand why people would do that. I know most hikers or skiers would never even consider leaving their garbage strewn about like that.

So even though the skiing was great, these incidents took away a little from the enjoyment of the outdoors. Given what I've seen so far this winter, especially in relation to clear cutting and trail access, perhaps it's time to consider some kind of trail plan for the Grand Bay-Westfield area. We're blessed here with a backyard full of some of the most beautiful country you'll find anywhere. But that access and the woods themselves are disappearing quickly. Maybe we need a designated trail system and some kind of protected area. We should at least start thinking about it because more and more, access to outdoor recreation plays a significant part in attracting and keeping people in a community. It really would be a shame if we had to travel to the city to enjoy the outdoors.

Doing Stuff Outdoors-08 Podcast

Today on Doing Stuff Outdoors, the adventure podcast for outdoor enthusiasts, we meet a man who's experienced adventure close up. Ray Zahab is a Canadian adventure racer, ultra-marathoner, rock climber, coach and motivational speaker. In 2006 Ray along with two others embarked on an epic 111 day, 7000 km run across the Sahara Desert. It's an amazing story and Ray Zahab will share it with us on this podcast.

On All Things Outdoors we'll tell you about a new highway being built to the base camp of Mount Everest, we'll talk a little about hiking sandals and we'll tell you about the 'Patch', a special place in the mountains where snow lingers late into the summer.

We also have interesting correspondence from listeners in Australia and the UK. If you want to contact DSO with your comments, story suggestions or just to say hi, you can reach us at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca

Doing Stuff Outdoors-07 Podcast

On this weeks show we'll take you for a kayak paddle on the mighty St. John River in New Brunswick, Canada. For part of its run this river forms the border between Maine and New Brunswick before it empties into the Bay of Fundy, home of the highest tides in the world. Gary introduces us to his home-made sea kayak and his favorite river.

Also this week running guru Alex Coffin is back with some advice for people who want to make the switch from walking to running. He'll have some tips on how to make the transition without injury.

On 'All Things Outdoors', the new name of our news package we'll look at one possible impact of global warming.

And we'll share an email with a listener from Australia who's getting ready for the ski season down under.

Featured Podsafe Music this week is from Brian Turner.

Next time on Doing Stuff Outdoors we will have a feature interview with a man who ran across the Sahara Desert.

Send along your comments and suggestions to doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca

Doing Stuff Outdoors-06 Podcast

In this weeks show we go to Scotland for a feature interview with Cameron McNeish. He’s a wilderness hiker, backpacker, author and broadcaster. With 16 books to his credit and appearances on many outdoor radio and television programs for the BBC, Cameron is one of the UK’s best known mountain walkers and commentators. In this edition of ‘Doing Stuff Outdoors’ Cameron talks about his life in the Scottish Highlands, his love of wild places, his work as an environmentalist, his many adventures in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and his joy of being able to walk in the footsteps of his role model, John Muir. Check out his website and podcast at The Wilderness World of Cameron McNeish.

Also on the program Lorne Blagdon shares some more Trail Magic with us. This time he takes us to Springer Mountain in Georgia for the start of his through-hike on the Appalachian Trail. He’ll tell us how to survive encounters with poison ivy, heavy rain and big bears.

Also outdoor news about the sale of two major ski areas in Maine, Sunday River and Sugarloaf USA. And we’ll tell you how you can be a part of the show. We want to hear your stories of adventure in the great outdoors. Tell us about that mountain you climbed, that beautiful trail you hiked, your last kayak trip or the crazy thing that happened to you when you went for a walk in the park. Just email us and tell us how to get in touch with you and we’ll give you a call. We want you to be on ‘Doing Stuff Outdoors’. It’s your show about your outdoor adventures.

Email us at doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.ca

And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Odeo, Podcast Alley or other podcast directories.

Doing Stuff Outdoors-04

This week on the podcast Gary talks to someone near and dear to him who has just returned from an extraordinary outdoors adventure. Rory Mittelholtz is Garys 20-year-old son. He spent the winter working and snowboarding in British Columbia at Panorama Mountain. For part of that time he was working at a heliskiing operation and got to go out on a few trips. Listen as Rory makes his father jealous by describing all that untracked powder he discovered in the mountains of BC.

We begin a new segment on Doing Stuff Outdoors about running. Alex Coffin is our guide. He is a competitive runner and marathoner, a coach and trainer. Alex owns two running stores in Saint John, New Brunswick called Alex Coffins Fitness Shop. Today Alex talks about his love of running.

Lorne Blagdon and his daughter hiked the Appalachian Trail. Every week he comes by to tell us more about the adventure in a series called Trail Magic. Today they get ready to begin the trek in Georgia and they come up with their own trail names.

In Outdoor News learn more about a new exhibit detailing the history of the National Ski Patrol. And meet a 75 year old who is one of the oldest and the first black woman to visit the North Pole.

Next week on Doing Stuff Outdoors we have a feature interview with mountaineer, writer and photographer Lou Dawson.

Podsafe Music Links

Charlie Crowe
Bob Hughes

doingstuffoutdoors@yahoo.com

Just When You Thought It Was Almost Summer

YUK....There's snow in the forecast tonight. Possibly 10 to 15 cm in some places. I hope not here. Sussex area is supposed to get about that much. So it's timely to pass on an email I received today from Poley Mountain. Maybe it's good I haven't put my skis away yet....

Just a quick note to update everyone on how things are going here at the hill! First - can you believe it! They are calling for snow tonight! That is why I though this would be a good day for an update ...your thoughts may stray to skiing...
I would like to thank everyone for a great season - it started out a little rough - but ended strong! We had a successful fundraiser with our "Bringing it Home" Relay - and with the support of the Waterford Valley Development Association, we raised a total of $7200.
Bill and his crew are busy marking the new trails to be cut this summer. In August they will be installing snowmaking on Phil's Folly and Snowberg, and as soon as the snow is gone in Newfoundland - they will be travelling to get our new lift!
We are working hard to get the brochure out in the summer - and season pass sales will start in September - check the website in August - we are working on having online registration for your passes!
Hope you are having a great "off season" - and we look forward to seeing you next season!

Pause for Reflection

There was some disturbing news from British Columbia yesterday. Two skiers were killed in an avalanche on a mountain about 230 kilometres north of Smithers. They were taking part in a helicopter ski trip. For most people it's the kind of news that makes you stop and think and feel sorry for the victims and their families. But when I heard it... my heart stopped for a second. My son Rory is in British Columbia. He's actually working for a heli skiing operation. His job is to do some cooking, dish washing and cleaning around the lodge but when there's an empty seat on the chopper, staff are allowed to go along. Rory's been out on a few trips already this season. He's called up to tell me how magical it is to be at the top of mountain where no one else has been and float down through a foot and a half of fresh, untracked powder snow. I'm jealous.

Thankfully Rory is working at Panorama Mountain near Invermere, not in northern BC. But every time you venture into big mountain backcountry, either by your own power or with the help of a helicopter, you face a possible risk of avalanche. Even on my recent trip to the Chic Choc Mountains of Gaspe we encountered potential avalanche areas. It's a reality of being in the mountains. It won't stop people from traveling into these beautiful wild areas but hopefully when a tragedy like this happens, it'll give everyone who goes to the backcountry a pause for reflection.

Last Snows of the Season

We made it back after 6 days of backcountry skiing in the Chic Choc Mountains of Gaspe. The trip this year was as wonderful as in past years although the snow wasn’t what we expected. Even late in March in these mountains, you can find powder. Not this time. Warm temperatures and rain made it’s way even up to the 4,000-foot level and created hard packed and icy conditions. But the warm temperatures, sunshine, fabulous vistas and companionship of good friends made up for it.

As I mentioned in the last post, we stayed in a hut that used to be part of a mining operation. It’s about 2,500 feet up and surrounded by mountains. We skied the 12 kilometres into the hut while a snowmobile brought our food and most of our gear. The accommodations were basic but comfy. Unlike most huts in the park, this one had electricity so that meant a fridge and stove and most important, a hot water heater. The shower was appreciated by all of us.

When you go on these trips you basically ski, eat and sleep. Our days were full. One morning we headed off on a trail to another cabin 10 km away. A bit of new snow had fallen overnight and that made the trail conditions better than expected. There was a lot of up and down and the return 20 km trip tired us all out. Being in the mountains the idea is to ski up to the top and the hard pack snow known as ‘boiler plate’ made it a challenge this year. We used skins on our skis to get a grip on the snow but often needed to dig in our metal edges to stop from sliding off the trail. The trip along the switchback, up the headwall surrounding our hut takes about 45 minutes. We went up twice and spent part of one day playing in the plateau at the top. It’s a vast area of rolling hills and snow covered stunted trees that remind me of a fairyland.

Another highlight of the trip was an avalanche chute we discovered near the cabin. From top to bottom it provided us a ski run about the size of Poley Mountain. We skinned up part way and skied down on our heavier telemark skis. The warm spring sun softened the snow nicely every afternoon. The avalanche team came by every couple of days to check conditions and told us the snow around us was stable and safe. The burning sun was probably the most dangerous thing we encountered and had to repeatedly smother out faces with sun block. We all came back with a tan.

I could go on about the trip but suffice it to say that the Chic Choc area of Gaspe is a special place and one that I return to every winter. We left winter and snow behind when we came home. The skiing is over for another season. It’s time to move on to other things and there is plenty to do here in the River Valley.

Backcountry in the Chic-Chocs

The blog is going to be quiet for the next few days. I'm giving winter one last kick at the can by going to Gaspe for some real backcountry skiing. The Chic-Chocs Mountains as they're called are the closest thing we have here in the east to real big mountain terrain. They are the northern end of the Appalachian Range and these are huge mountains. Mount Jacques Cartier is the highest peak in the Chic-Chocs at 1,268 metres elevation. This range offers above tree line skiing with the chance, if you're lucky, of skiing past a heard of caribou on the way up. Over the last few years the area has become very popular with telemark skiers and backcountry snowboarders. There are no chair lifts in the Chic-Chocs. Every vertical foot you enjoy on the way down you have to earn by climbing up. We have synthetic skins we stick on the base of our skis to help us climb the real steep trails.

A group of us have made this trek to Gaspe for the last few winters. On the last couple of trips we took advantage of the network of trails in the Park de la Gaspesie and skied hut to hut for five or six days. A snowmobile brings your gear along to each hut and that leaves you with only a daypack to carry on the trail. There is no electricity or running water in the huts. That's part of the charm of the expedition.

This time we're doing something different. We're staying at a place called Mines Madeline. It's a full day ski uphill to our hut which is actually an old bunkhouse left over from the mining operation that used to be there. The camp sleeps eight and the place has all the comforts of home, including power and showers. I can get by fine without electricity but it's going to be really nice to be able to have a hot shower at the end of a long day of skiing.

Because of the elevation the snow comes early and stays late. You can usually find plenty of powder in the higher bowls even at this time of year. This is also avalanche country so you have to listen to the daily bulletins and ski with care whenever you're in the open areas.

I'm packed and ready to go. I'll be back with another post when I get back.

Spring Fling at Poley

I know you’re probably getting tired of reading about skiing. But the season is almost over and locally at least much of the snow on the trails is already gone. We’re getting some new snow this weekend but it’s supposed to turn to rain. Spring in New Brunswick! That’s why earlier in the week I planned to go where I knew the snow was going to be good. On Tuesday, probably the nicest day of the week with 10-degree temperatures and sunshine, I packed up my downhill skis and drove to Poley Mountain.

The spring skiing was fabulous. All 23 trails were open although the rocks were already showing through on some of the back trails. Thanks to the courteous staff at the desk I even got a deal on the lift ticket. It was a ‘2 for the price of 1’ day and I ended up sharing the cost of the ticket with another fellow who like me, snuck away for an afternoon of skiing on a beautiful day.

I mainly skied by myself. It’s nice doing that sometimes. There were no lift lines and I got a lot of runs in that day on just about all the trails. There were some new steep ones cut through the trees that I hadn’t tried before. That was fun.

I got to meet some interesting people too. In the chairlift on the way up the hill I discussed the state of municipal taxes with a skier from Shediac. I rode up with a young couple from Halifax who were at Poley enjoying the Nova Scotia March break. They told me the skiing was much better here than at home. I also rode up with a couple of kids from PEI who were here on a school trip. They were first time skiers and both of them lost one ski while they were getting on the chair. Don’t ask me how they did it. All the way up they kept asking me how to get off the chairlift with only one ski. They did it successfully.

It was a fantastic day and one of the few times I’ve downhill skied this year. It’s likely going to be my last too. It was a great way to end the season

Wax or No Wax

To wax or not to wax… that is a question that has plagued skiers since skiing began. I’ve always had waxable cross-country skis. When I first started skiing there were no such things as waxless boards. In those days the skis were made of wood and in addition to waxing we had to pine tar the base. That meant burning this black tar into the wood with a torch, a messy job but I still love the smell of it. It brings back happy skiing memories.

But back to the wax. In the spring or when the temperature is above freezing or if the snow is crusty or icy, waxing becomes difficult. The skis glide just fine but it’s tough getting a proper grip under your foot to propel yourself forward. It’s in these kinds of conditions where waxless skis excel. The raised pattern on the bottom of the ski gives you the grip especially in these hard to wax conditions. Many of the people I ski regularly with have no-wax skis and although they sacrifice a little glide in good snow conditions the things work great in the crusty crud kind of snow we get a lot of here.

I struggled up the hills today on my waxable skis while my skiing buddy Jim walked effortlessly up the hills. Another skiing friend who considers himself a purist who would never settle for waxless skis actually picked up a pair this winter. He would say he did it because they were such a good price he couldn’t afford not to buy them. But even he admits they work well in certain conditions. Most people who buy Nordic skis these days choose waxless. I think I’ll have to pick up a pair for myself.

Super Ski Trails

These days I’m working the early morning shift at CBC Radio. That means being in the office around 4:30 AM. It’s really the middle of the night but the upside is I’m finished work around 12:30. That makes it possible to indulge in some midweek skiing, something I haven’t been able to do very often. And it’s great.

I’ve skied for eight days straight. One day was spent at Poley Mountain doing some telemark and downhill turns but most of the time I did some cross country sliding on the local trails around Grand Bay-Westfield. With the recent snow they are all in great shape.

My favorite is the Backland Road behind the Westfield golf course. I’ve followed that twice in the last few days all the way to Loch Alva. ATV’s use the trail all the time as well as snowmobiles and they flatten the middle of it nicely and chop up the snow. It’s like skiing on a groomed trail and it’s the place you want to be especially with the heavy crust on the snow. That trail is always fast. It’s being well used too this winter by walkers and the occasional horseback rider. I never saw the horse but it left behind some road apples.

The trails across the highway on Highland Road to Round Lake and beyond are also in great shape. Snowmobile traffic has groomed them up nicely. The day I skied the Caribou Lake trail toward Welsford the snow was hard packed and icy but by the time I reached the lake the snowmobile groomer had gone through and loosened everything up. Heading back to the highway is mostly downhill and was very fast. Almost too fast.

The temperatures are getting warmer but snow is in the long range forecast so conditions should remain good for x-c skiers. The local backcountry trails are in better shape now than they were at any time last winter so get out the boards or snowshoes out and enjoy them while you can.