After promising myself that I’d just go heli skiing once in my life…I showed no will power whatsoever and came again this year.  Same place. 

There’s a major difference this year which is that my friend Karsten Schroeder whom I went with last year had an Achillies Tendon problem before we left and couldn’t come so it’s just little old me on my tod here.  A bit lonely sometimes but the skiing is fantastic.

I flew into San Francisco on Thursday night to see a client on Friday morning in Sacramento and then flew up to Vancouver from SF.  Then a little plane up to Smithers in BC.and then a long truck drive got me to Bear Claw Lodge late on Friday night.  Quite a trip.

Bear Claw lodge is just about as remote as you can possibly get and still be on Planet  Earth.  Try zooming out on the map here to see just how far it is away from just about everything.   .  There’s something a little strange about being this far away from anything.  It is, however, amazingly beautiful.  The food is outstanding, the staff almost unbelievably helpful and nice.

The skiing out of Bear Claw is done by Skeena Heliskiing. I recommend clicking on that link, there are some great pictures and videos.  A hell of a lot better than the ones I’ve attached below.  Once again our guides were the fantastic Jake and Urs.

Saturday was a down day due to bad fog which was a shame.  Sunday was our first day on the slopes and we mostly did stuff below the tree line just because the fog was still around.  Skiing in powder through trees is quite a challenge – or at least it is to me.  It requires a certain lack of awareness of the consequences of one’s actions as you hurtle through trees on a 45 degree slope in deep powder. 

Monday dawned bright and clear.  I got to watch the whole dawn since I haven’t managed to sleep beyond 3am yet.  Skiing in Canada from Europe has a couple of tiny downsides.

It is hard to describe just how amazing the whole experience is.  So I’ll just stick a whole bunch of photographs and a movie here and that’ll probably say a lot more than I can describe in words.

Here’s the video

and here’s the photo album

Bear Claw 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Oh and while I remember, people have been skiing on these super expensive Zai skis. They are beautiful and very expensive.  They also look a bit funny.  And here is what a pair of $5000 skis (I kid you not!) look like after you’ve skied into a tree.

And, since I’m putting up funny pictures, I thought this poster in the ski repair room was just so funny.  I mean, it is a bit of a stretch getting a topless chick to wax a snow board to attempt to sell your thermal underwear (probably the least sexy garments on the planet).  And what’s with all that hot wax! Ski technicians are the same the world over!

So, that’s kind of it.  I probably won’t do more blogging this trip.  Having done it last year, there isn’t much else to say and even my best friends and family are going to get bored with endless pictures of virgin powder snow… And although I have my Go Pro Hero with me, I’m not sure 7 hours of video of me skiing bores me, never mind anybody else!

I hope the weather holds for three more days.  I think my body can hold out but I am gradually accumulating various body issues like a sprained wrist, a sore knee, and a sore throat.  This is physically very tough and I just need to keep going for another few days…