Whether you like powder skiing or groomed corduroy the snow is always better when you hit the slopes early in the morning and have the opportunity to ski fresh tracks.
Last Thursday I skied with some guys whose job includes enjoying fresh tracks every morning. I met Seth at about 8:15am at the bottom of Sundance Chairlift and we rode the first chair of the day, while he explained to me the typical day of a Sun Peaks ski Patroller.
During our ride he told me that the ski runs here in Sun Peaks start to be prepared during the summer months. They carefully remove rocks, branches and other natural hazards from the slopes making them ready to be skied as soon as the first snow begins to fall.
When we hit the top, Seth decided that we should ski Three Bears, since it hadn’t been groomed and he wanted to see its conditions.
Even having received 5cm of fresh snow in the previous night, he found some parts of the run a little bumpy, so he put Three Bears on the grooming list for the following morning.
Then we headed to Tod Mountain and did first tracks on Runaway Lane and Sting, while Seth kept an eye out for possible hazards and spots that usually are beat up by intense traffic of skiers and boarders.
It was really cool to ski with these guys whose job is to ensure that we have a great ski experience every day.
Later that morning I was invited by Aussies friends Cat, Brett and Dave to try Snowblades. And we had a blast!
It’s amazing the way those tiny skis are easy to maneuver. After a few runs on the groomers we got used to the new balance and were able to ski trees and bumps making short turns easier than if we were with traditional skis or boards!
Snowblades definitely make you feel very free and confident in tight spaces, any bump is an excuse to try a jump. Totally recommended!
And this week held another surprise for me, my first dogsled ride!
Being a dog lover I knew I would enjoy the experience. Phil and Leandra from Alaskan Husky Adventures take care of about 40 Alaskan Huskies. Every dog gets a chance to go out sledding at least once a day, and they get more excited about it than any guest could be. After all, this is their daily exercise and they pull hard and anxiously.
What is so special about this tour is that you get the chance to both sit inside the sled and enjoy the ride AND mush your own team!
So, after detailed instructions especially on how to use the brakes to control the dogs and how to make sure they were safe in our hands, my girlfriend and I set off for a ride into a mainly closed forest.
Besides being really fun, this was a great chance to discover new terrain here in Sun Peaks and experience this means of transportation that has been used for several centuries.
Thanks Phil, Leandra and the guys from Tourism Sun Peaks for the great opportunity!
Thiago,
The Snow Bum
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