Photo Update - Dec 19, 2005

A Photo Update from Vancouver!

A while back I posted a picture of the new ski boots I've been looking at. Well, last week I actually went and bought them. I only had to pose as the boyfriend of a co-worker who knows the owner of the ski shop to get a 10% discount on the boots and a free ski tune-up to boot! So, needless to say, this weekend I had to go out and give it all a run on the hills.

So off I went to Cypress Mountain and after paying full ticket price was on my way up the old-style quad chair. Half of the runs were closed and the snow wasn't very good - but I had a grand time anyway. The legs and feet, as well as the new boots and nicely tuned skiis will need a little warming up before I head up to the big mountain, but once the snow really flies up there, it is definitely going to be a fun place to ski. They actually have two mountains as part of the ski area. The southern mountain is north facing, which means that it almost never gets any sun in the winter-time. That obviously makes it colder on that side which keeps the snow dry. Less skiers on the cold side should also mean less ski traffic. I can't wait!

This photo is from the top of the highest chair, a truly rickety old 2-seater. The slow ride culminates in an incredible panorama of mountains, ocean and the city of Vancouver. Looking W-NW from the top of the mountain are The Lions, the reputed guardians of Vancouver and the inspiration for the names Lions Gate Bridge and the BC Lions.



Turning to the left and looking W-SW is Horseshoe Bay and out into the Pacific Ocean. It's probably technically still a bay, or possibly on it's way to becoming a straight, but that's okay. It's salty, so it's the ocean. Speaking of the ocean, did I mention we live only a block from the water? We've taken to taking nice walks in the evenings down to Dundrave where they have a beach and a pier. Also, in the wintertime they have lit up Christmas trees. Lots and lots of lit up Christmas trees.



Riding up the chairlift, looking N-NW is this range of mountains. I knew there was a reason I wanted to come here!



After a short (but tiring!) afternoon of skiing, I was making the arduous 25-minute drive down to West Vancouver where, of course, I live. I can't tell you how terrible it was making that drive in all that traffic, people speeding and trying to cut in on anyone they can get in front of. Oh wait. Nevermind, I was thinking of driving to Blue Mountain in Collingwood (no offence to the wonderfully terric residents of Collingwood, of course.

Anyway, this is one of the many switchbacks along the way.



For more photos (and stories!) of our new home in West Vancouver, visit Ingenium's blog.

Be well!

pk