Monday, November 10, 2008

Asulkan Cabin

The fourth annual November long weekend trip to the Asulkan Hut. Brenda couldn't make it this year because she was speaking at a conference in Toronto (how grown up!) so it was Fred, Steve, and myself who made the long trudge on Saturday morning. It seemed like a long trudge anyway. We were knackered when we arrived. Why doesn't this get any easier?

The upstairs door had blown open and the 2nd floor was covered in a snow drift that was rapidly melting through onto everything downstairs. We cleaned that up and called it a day. Just as darkness was falling we noticed another group climbing up towards the hut. We idly wondered if it was anyone we knew. Turned out that we knew all of them; Jeff and Dustin, Jeff and Julie, Ryan, and Kaylie. (Thanks for the marzipan Dustin!)

So we skied, we ate, we slept in. We did some beacon searches. I'm not so bad at searching for multiple beacons after all. Fred had a good crash at one point - this alone was pretty entertaining since he hardly ever crashes - but his ski released and took off as if determined to make it all the way back to the highway. Oh man that sucker went for miles. Leashes? I dunno. Generally we don't use them but sometimes you gotta wonder.



The ski out was great at first but as we descended the temperature rose and it became pretty grim. The snow turned to rain and the trail turned to muck. I admitted defeat and put my skins on for most of the way down. We were soaked to the skin when we reached the car.

A fun start to the season but we need more snow. Please?



BTW (for anyone heading up the Asulkan Hut) one of the stoves is missing. I assume Parks removed it for repair but I sent them an email anyway just in case they don't know about it. It might be worth bringing up your own stove if the hut is busy.

4 comments:

  1. It can definitially be a haul to get up there, but the terrain is so beautiful its worth it. I haven't written a comment on here but I always enjoy reading about your latest adventure. I am pretty new to the area so reading up on the places you go gives me a good idea of what I might like to try in the coming years. BTW I love the nice mix of media and writing in your blogging style.

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  2. I gotta say, I know a lot of die hard skiers, but you guys take the cake. Extending your season well into late spring, and starting in early fall really shows how committed you are.

    To boot, I am supremely jealous that you've had turns already this season, and guarantee that I'll continue to be jealous of your adventures as the season progresses...perhaps this year we can share a skin track.

    Cheers.

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  3. That looks pretty good for early season. Tess and I did a hike up at the Gorge that sunday. Only hit 40 cm up high, pretty weak. A very wet hike but still nice to get out. Would have rather been with you guys actually getting turns!

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  4. Hey thanks for leaving comments. Honestly it never ceases to amaze us whenever someone takes even a passing interest...

    "Hey we got a comment on the blog!"

    "Really? No way! What'd they say?".

    We enjoy having that tenuous connection back to you through your own respective blogs as well.

    Anyway, despite the risk that in true life we may not quite live up to our online personas, we look forward to the possibility of skiing with you folks this year :)

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