Happiness is.....

Mount Nelson, B.C.

A very special friend stated " If Skiing is a good substitute for happiness, then Skiing with friends IS happiness."  Thanks for the philosophy Lev.

Bob and Lev on the Sunbird chair

Bob & Mike at the Mile One Hut enjoying a Happy Hour

Now that the sun is beginning to warm our souls, it is time to head towards the
land of the Big Lake to await a late arrival of spring.  Our home, buried in snow for most of winter, is slowly making an appearance once again. A short visit with Stan and Liz in Calgary once again before we travel east.  A beautiful and gracious couple indeed.



BOBCAT SKIBUM STATISTICS:

Total Ski Days:
Bob: 50 days
Cat: 35 days

Total Injured/too Tired to Ski Days:
Bob: 8 days: man cold
Cat: 5 weeks (fractured ankle)
3 days: bronchitis


Top Downhill Speed:
Bob & Cat:  66 kilometers per hour- whoa!!!!


Average  Daily Vertical:
10,000 feet

All in a days' work

Most Interesting Chair Ride: Sorry, Bob.  I couldn't resist taking a few pics that morning!  First run of the day, a warm up on Outrider and back down to the chair. Except the seats were flipped up the night before and have not yet returned to the proper position.  Well, the chair scooped us both up and GOOD MORNING!  No seat.  For whatever reason, survival instinct....I jumped.  Yes, don't ask why, but I jumped.  Even to my surprise, I landed on my feet.  Ski and ankle intact.  However, Bob was left swinging above in a very compomised position.  Nice Bum!  ha ha.

A slight inconvenience: The seat is missing

A little help from our friends

                 

Best Apres' Event:

Boris & Boris Jr. At Scrabble night

Scrabble and Wing night with Walter, Margaret and of course our 2014 mascot, Boris the Bear and his sidekick, Boris Jr.





Total Snow Depth:
505 cm total snowfall
140 cm total depth

Best side trip:
Nelson, B.C.

Nelson waterfront

Bob & Barry....Playtime in the park

And, let us not forget our annual nomination:
OUR FAVOURITE LIFTIE: (or shall we say: Ticket Validator) of 2014...
Jo O.

Jo

Thanks for all your smiles and kind words each and every day you scanned our pass.  Jo is from Nelson, B.C. and is working at Panno for the season.  Jo informed us of all the great nifty secrets to see, eat and explore in one of the Funkiest towns in North America:  Nelson, B.C.





We spent our last ski day hanging out with Mike cruising on spring kissed snow under sunshine, tranquil blue sky and moderate temperatures teasing us wanting to abandon our winter cloaks. (thanks Mike for the loan of your jacket, as Bob left his back at the house)

Yes, we did see shorts and flip flops wandering around the village that day.

The Bat & The Cat

A toast at the end of another glorious season with a glass of wine and traditional hot chocolate and Amaretto for myself.

How true!  we have both been blessed with wonderful friends, at home and abroad.  We are so very grateful for each and every one of them.  Our ski season is now over, but our memories will last a lifetime.  Yes, a few bumps in the road this season, but still a great year.

Bob & Walter

Many thanks to our gracious friends (too many to mention names) for the western hospitality and companionship of fellow ski bums.

Thanks for all the dinners, scrabble games, ski buddies, and rescue of a fellow injured skier for Sushi.  And not to forget, the cold beer and wine at happy hour (Beer O'clock)

And now that we are done for the season.  It is time to pack up to begin our trek back to Northwestern Ontario.  But first a visit to our dear friends, Stan and Liz in Calgary.  Quality time with fellow skiers.

We left Calgary under warm temps and blue skies to arrive at Swift Current Saskatchewan for the night.  The hotel is beside Living Sky Casino (our night's stay included a discount voucher for dinner and ticket toward the slot machines)  We do not gamble, but what the $%$$##.  There is not a great selection of dining establishment, so we defaulted and visited the casino.  Totally ignorant on operating  slots, we sheepishly asked for assistance.  Fumbling over the lights and noise, we did manage to win enough earnings to pay for our dinner and cocktails.  A win win situation!
A fun evening at its best.  Thank goodness we left before we began to look like some of the hard core players with glazed eyeballs and worriesome expressions as they jump from machine to machine.
An early bedtime and a good night sleep is in order before heading to Moose Jaw to visit the tunnels and caves.  A hideout for Al Capone.

Moose Jaw, 1930's

Next stop on our 2014 bucket list is Moose Jaw to visit the tunnels. We stayed in Swift Current, Saskatchewan for a night (we needed to use up our Holiday in Points....free night's stay) Us ski bums need to save our nickels & dimes (pennies are now extinct) as they add up quickly so we can purchase more lift tickets next year!  Ha Ha   We arrive now thirsty, so we Google Beer Store.  We faithfully followed the directions as Happy Hour approaches quickly.  Where do we land?  Chappel Street should have been a good indication of 'an ERROR in communication'  "You have arrived at your destination" WELL...our destination was The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.  We didn't think they supplemented their donations by selling beer. Plan "B". We asked a very lovely woman walking down the street for directions.  She laughed and agreed that we were not standing in front of the Beer Store.  She happily redirected us to our proper destination.

Wall Murals, depicting life in town

Once in Moose Jaw, a distinctive city.  The name originated from the Cree word "Moose Gaw" meaning "warm Breezes.

The Railway came in 1882 & quickly transformed Moose Jaw from a lonely trading post into a bustling prairie town.  And it is just that as we walked the streets that day.
By 1903, Moose Jaw had all the basic essentials of a growing community and was incorporated as a city.  Along with the boom came economic prosperity, electricity, paved streets and a vision for the city reflected in its grand architecture.

Al Capone

 Tourism in Moose Jaw has promoted "The Chicago Connection" the nickname for this town.
 Al Capone and his gang, Public enemy # 1. His goons, his guns, his gals....His secret world in the Tunnels of Moose Jaw.  The fast pace tour offers a taste of the high life and the cost of laying low. Al Capone has captured the interest as prohibition created a new kind of "underground business" in this tiny community. We, of course did the tour and "went underground"

Bootlegging

Of more interest, as Bob and I were ignorant of the fact that Chinese immigrants played a major role of the growth and prosperity of Moose Jaw.

A Chinese Family 

We, as Canadians had done a great injustice to the proud and strong people who immigrated to Canada as they risked, family, life and pride for a better life.  Stephen Harper after many years made a public apology of the mistreatment of these people in Canada.
 With the completion of the C.P.R. in the late 1880's, Chinese migration moved eastward. Moose Jaw had the largest community reaching 162 in 1911. By 1921 there were more than 188 Chinese residing.  Only 11 were female.

In honour of these immigrants, I have enclosed the "Address by the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper on the Chinese Head Tax Redress"








Notes for an Address by
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to formally turn the page on an unfortunate period in Canada’s past. 
One during which a group of people - who only sought to build a better life - was repeatedly and deliberately singled out for unjust treatment. 
I speak, of course, of the head tax that was imposed on Chinese immigrants to this country, as well as the other restrictive measures that followed.
The Canada we know today would not exist were it not for the efforts of the Chinese labourers who began to arrive in the mid-nineteenth century. 
Almost exclusively young men, these immigrants made the difficult decision to leave their families behind in order to pursue opportunities in a country halfway around the world they called “gold mountain.” 
Beginning in 1881, over 15,000 of these Chinese pioneers became involved in the most important nation-building enterprise in Canadian history – the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

From the shores of the St. Lawrence, across the seemingly endless expanses of shield and prairie, climbing the majestic Rockies, and cutting through the rugged terrain of British Columbia,
– This transcontinental link was the ribbon of steel that bound our fledgling country together. 
It was an engineering feat –one for which the back-breaking toil of Chinese labourers was largely responsible-
– That was instrumental to the settlement of the West and the subsequent development of the Canadian economy. 

The conditions under which these men worked were at best harsh, and at times impossible:  tragically, some one thousand Chinese labourers died building the CPR. 
But in spite of it all, these Chinese immigrants persevered, and in doing so, helped to ensure the future of Canada. 
But from the moment that the railway was completed, Canada turned its back on these men. 
Beginning with the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, a head tax of $50 was imposed on Chinese newcomers in an attempt to deter immigration. 
Not content with the tax’s effect, the government subsequently raised the amount to $100 in 1900, and then to $500 – the equivalent of two years’ wages – in 1903. 

This tax remained in place until 1923, when the government amended the Chinese Immigration Act and effectively banned most Chinese immigrants until 1947. 
Similar legislation existed in the Dominion of Newfoundland, which also imposed a head tax between 1906 and 1949, when Newfoundland joined Confederation. 
The Government of Canada recognizes the stigma and exclusion experienced by the Chinese as a result.
We acknowledge the high cost of the head tax meant many family members were left behind in China, never to be reunited, or that families lived apart and, in some cases, in poverty, for many years. 

We also recognize that our failure to truly acknowledge these historical injustices has led many in the community from seeing themselves as fully Canadian.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Canadians and the Government of Canada, we offer a full apology to Chinese Canadians for the head tax and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants. 

Gar nar dai doe heem.

This apology is not about liability today:  it is about reconciliation with those who endured such hardship, and the broader Chinese-Canadian community,
– One that continues to make such an invaluable contribution to our great country. 

And while Canadian courts have ruled that the head tax, and immigration prohibition, were legally authorized, we fully accept the moral responsibility to acknowledge these shameful polices of our past. 

For over six decades, these race-based financial measures, aimed solely at the Chinese, were implemented with deliberation by the Canadian state. 
This was a grave injustice, and one we are morally obligated to acknowledge.   
To give substantial meaning to today’s apology, the Government of Canada will offer symbolic payments to living head tax payers and living spouses of deceased payers.

In addition, we will establish funds to help finance community projects aimed at acknowledging the impact of past wartime measures and immigration restrictions on ethno-cultural communities.

No country is perfect.  Like all countries, Canada has made mistakes in its past, and we realize that. 
Canadians, however, are a good and just people, acting when we’ve committed wrong.
And even though the head tax – a product of a profoundly different time -- lies far in our past, we feel compelled to right this historic wrong for the simple reason that it is the decent thing to do, a characteristic to be found at the core of the Canadian soul.
     
Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me assure the House that this government will continually strive to ensure that similar unjust practices are never allowed to happen again. 
We have the collective responsibility to build a country based firmly on the notion of equality of opportunity, regardless of one’s race or ethnic origin. 

Our deep sorrow over the racist actions of our past will nourish our unwavering commitment to build a better future for all Canadians.   

Thank you.


Back home, Our man, Geoff has been working on clearing the driveway and digging a tunnel to our front door prior to our arrival in a few days.

White Swan Provincial Park

A good night to all as we end another chapter of our lives in the west.

Back to the Great White North!!!!!

I just had to do this!

Paju Mountain, Red Rock

Mike (Epic Adventures) & Bob

Paju Mountain, Red Rock with friends

Robinhood, Man in Tights

The Purcell Mountain Range

Barry's new tights

I have neglected to post any of our adventures for a while.   I haven't been in the best mood while recovering from my fractured ankle.  My distraction to my duck footed cast was, of course knitting.

just a sample 

 A reality check indeed.  How such a minor injury can debilitate your quality of life.  I couldn't drive, go for a walk outside with all the ice, or even socialize as I am a bit isolated here in Windermere.





I guess you are wondering why this post is titled: "Robinhood, Man in Tights"  Well, let me explain:

James of Sherwood

Our good friend (and Mountain Friend) Barry of Sherwood, England loves archery. Folklore tells us Sherwood forest is near Manchester where Barry resides near by.  It also happens to be his birthday.

A very Happy Birthday

So, what would Sir Barry of  Sherwood like for his Birthday?  A new pair of tights, of course.  As it turned out, he did wear them with pride for the party.

 My last appointment with the Doctor and final x ray was on 10 March.  Sleepless in Windermere, as I lay awake the night before hoping he would clear me for skiing at 5 weeks post fracture.  After a long night hoping in silence, the morning finally approached.  0800....x ray....wait....Then.....YES, I can ski.  But not without warning. There is still a great risk for re fracture IF I fall the same way.  First of all, the story behind the injury begins with purchasing my new boots.  The boots are fabulous and give great ankle support (one reason why I purchased this specific boot) BUT. The ski tech reset my bindings and DIN.  Personally, I do not like anyone fiddling with my equipment.  Lusti's  Pro shop is the ONLY shop I trust with my life to handle my ski equipment other than Bob.  Being a bit suspicious about my settings. I asked Lusti to have a quick look.  Yes, my DIN was set way too high.  The ski did not release when it snagged a snow snake.  Lesson
learned.  Either way, I am now skiing every day as my confidence builds.   Each day is more adventurous than the last.  Skiing with Bob again is the highlight of my day.  It is good to be back.

The secret 

Bob and Cat are back

Our new favourite run in the POW is Sidewinder through to Hobbit's Hollow and out to View of 1,000 Peaks, Downhill and finally Powder Trail.  A 10+ kilometre run from top to bottom.  Double Diamond in the trees and bumps to Black Diamond, then Blue to a final easy peasy Green run, just in time for a cold pint of B.C.s finest ale.  It's feels so good to be back on my pretty sticks.And then there is Tombstone.  A hidden treasure.  An outdoor saloon on the mountain.  A few of us lucky ones know where this is.  Thanks to a good friend who swore us to secrecy.

Mike, Lev and Bob at Tombstone

We left for Nelson on 10 March to celebrate Deb's Birthday.

Happy Birthday Deb!

 Eight of us piled into two vehicles to make the hippie trek around, up and over the neighbouring mountain range into the Hippiest, Funky town of Nelson, where you will find the remaining Draft Dodgers and bearded, braided hippies refusing to give up the unforgettable era of the 1960's.

Strange looking hat.  It may be alive!

Street musicians, coffee shops frequent every corner along with boutiques, shoppes, eateries and pubs.  Whitewater ski hill is a short drive up the mountain.  Time to ski!!!! My first day after the Doctor let me loose!

Giddy and Goosebumps...excitement and worry, I gear up, shackle my repaired ankle in my boot and hobble out to the loading area just outside the day lodge.  Can I ski?  Will it hurt?  The answer: Yes and Yes.  I can ski, but my goodness!  It hurt.  I still have a fair bit of tissue damage in need of repair, so a couple Tylenol & Advil did the trick.

Whitewater Ski Resort,  Breathtaking

Whitewater had rain over the weekend that transformed the mountain known for its powder into a cement clad carpet of white.  Our tour guide Joanne gave us a 5 star tour on groomed runs and cat tracks.  The only ski able terrain available to us this day.  (a good thing for me, as groomed was all I could master)  It felt SO good, even on the hard packed corduroy.  The vibration from the skis cutting into the corduroy actually felt like a massage turned up to Turbo setting! Shake, Rattle and Roll.  Bob and I skied until noon.

The gang

Lunch time at the Fresh Tracks Cafe, known for the best gourmet cuisine of any ski resort across North America.

The story behind Fresh Tracks Cafe and Whitewater begins in Vancouver B.C. where Shelley Adams gained her training and love for food while cooking for the movie business in Vancouver.  After moving to the Kootenays in 1985 she became the owner of the Whitewater Ski Resort where she is the creative director and chef for the cafe.
Her successful book,Whitewater Cooks is also part of the beautiful creations found in the cafe.  Amazing!  A definate on our bucket list for next year.  We will have an eagle's eye watch on the snow report next season.  A powder dump and we are off to Whitewater to play in the good stuff!!!!

Koontaney Lake

The next day, it was a unanimous decision to hang around the town as the snow conditions were far from ideal.  Sue, Barry, Bob and I decided to walk along Kootaney Lake was beautiful.

Looks like fun.  Childen playing!

We stumbled upon an outdoor gym.  What an ingenious idea.  With all the wonderful food over the past few days, we all needed a workout.  Yes, Children playing as we climbed and clammered on the chilly equipment.  We need to keep the maturity level at a minimum.  What a blast!

In the west, we kiss the bear for luck

To complete this post.  I saved the best for last.  To leave this post on a good note.  Literally.....

Inga creating beautiful music in her studio

Lev; also a good friend and wonderful skier joined us many times on the slopes imigrated from St. Petersburg, Russia with his beautiful wife, Inga in 1979 (with a pair of skis, of course) Being a Geological physicist, Calgary was the perfect piece of heaven to relocate for his work as well as leisure.  We are all winter people, migrating to snow as birds would fly to the south. We are true Snow Birds.  Inga, a most incredible pianist, played for the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, not teaches piano for a group of gifted children.

A magical evening

 One day, at the beginning of our ski season at Panorama, we were riding up in the chair to ski one of our favorite runs, with Lev, our conversation was about his homeland and Inga.  " Lev, I would love to hear Inga play the piano.  It would be an honour for me to listen to such harmony....music to my ears, so to speak."  Lev replied, "I can arrange that."  And that was that.  Dinner in Dutch Creek, and a private concert for Bob and myself.  Honoured isn''t quite the word.  Speechless as Inga began playing her grand piano in her studio overlooking Dutch Creek and the Hoodoos.  I have never listened to such beauty.  It was breathless as the notes danced in the room.  We were also treated to a most wonderful Russian dinner, complete with an education on Vodka.


I'm almost done....

Barry, Sue, myself & Bob

To bring all our followers up to date, Bob (Bob's patient transfer service) Barry, Sue and myself.  All four of us being the recovering "Walking wounded"  decided to take the day off relaxing.  It was a no brainer to spend the afternoon at White Swan Provincial park at the hot springs.

Great friendships

 This is a yearly event for Bob and myself.  We packed a lunch, a few cold  B.C. beers and headed up the mountain to the springs.  I could not fulfull my anual dip in the river as the rocks are too unstable for my unstable ankle.  Barry took my place as he made the chilling plunge. The healing sulfer waters excaping the hard rock of the mountains are healing, but smelly.  A shower was in need when we returned home.  Bedtime came early for us last night.

no comment

Goodnight as tomorrow we will be skiing in the sunshine and spring snow conditions.  Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Homeward Bound

Honouring an Olympian

We met Doug Anakin two years ago as a mountain friend.  It did not take long to realise Doug's smile would reveal a history of accomplishments.

"It was 1964, Innsbruck Austria (50 years ago) where Doug, Vic Emery, John Emery & Peter Kirby were amateurs competing in the Bobsled competition. At that time, Canada didn't even have a bobsled or any training facilities. Doug and the boys drove from Montreal to Lake Placid to practise.  With no equipment available, Doug wore a plastic football helmet borrowed from the school gym where he worked as a teacher. 

Canada’s bobsleigh team Doug Anakin, Vic Emery, John Emery and Peter Kirby, at the 1964 Innsbruck winter Olympics.

Vic Emery, the driver, Doug sat second in the sled as here was the shortest and appropriately named (Mickey Mouse), John sat third and Peter on brakes. 

Lining up at the top of the course, Doug, Vic, John & Peter start by crouching, sprinter-like and in an instant they are off, feet churning solidly on the ice, sled gliding into motion.

The first corner, the Start-kurve, is not a problem. Then come the high S-curves.  The team gets progressively faster and the corners get higher through the next 6 turns. building toward the renowned high speed Hexenkessel (The Witch's Cauldron), the toughest part of the course, which sends Doug and the boys whipping around its big banks with intense centrifugal force.  They come blistering out of the turn at more than 130 kmp.   Holding their momentum through the next 2 turns into Burlepautz curve, they are going too fast, coming out of the turn too high.  Suddenly, the banked ice built up for the corner plum runs out as the track transitions from a corner back to straightaway.  The sled drops down, smashing into the opposite wall and starts riding up alarmingly on the right side.  Both right side runners are a foot in the air....the sled is about to tip.  The 4 Canadians lean with all their weight, breathlessly hoping they don't totter over.  The sled stays upright...barely...& the team rides on, rounding the final 2 corners & crossing the finish line with the fasted time of the day.  

Canada’s four-men bobsleigh team, Doug Anakin, Vic Emery, John Emery and Peter Kirby (center), celebrates its gold medal performance at the 1964 Innsbruck winter Olympics.

They shocked the world by setting a course record and a Gold Medal for Canada." excerpt from The Columbia Valley Pioneer"

Myself, Doug Anakin (Olympic Gold Medallist), Bob

Doug kept involved with Bobsled at the 1966 World championships, and 1972 Olympics, Sapporo, Japan as a coach for the Canadian Luge team.

After much celebration, Doug went back to teaching phys. ed  and in 1990 he and his family moved to the Columbia Valley.  When you do find Doug, he is either skiing at Panorama, or golfing in the valley.

Always a smile on his face and full of energy.  Doug is ready to play outside.  A graceful skier by all means and pretty good at playing the ukulele, to our surprise when he serenaded us at our farewell party two years ago.  

Thank you Doug for making us smile.  We can't wait until the next powder day as we can easily find you in the bowls or at the T bar enjoying a cold beer.  We are very humbled to know such an incredible athlete and friend.   Cheers!

Mike presenting Doug's Portrait

The Mountain Friends honoured Doug in the Village of Panorama with a toast, complete with hilarious stories about his experiences and adventures in Innsbruck in 1964 and beyond.  It has been 50 years since his gold medal and Doug hasn't lost his desire or energy for the sport & life itself.  

Doug with Vic Emery & John Emery  

As for Bob and myself:  Bob is skiing every day, especially since 60 cm + snowfall last week as Panorama has been magically transformed into an epic mountain of stashes, deeps everywhere you happily turn your skis.  He comes home after exhausting his now repaired fine tuned body, collapses on the couch, complete with that goofy snow scaped smile on his face.  

As for me.....hobbles and grovels, I am knitting as if there is no tomorrow.  The thought of all that snow is painful too think about.  

On the bright side of life, Bob and I joined Wilhelm and Gee had a wonderful  dinner at Eagle Ranch golf club  to celebrate Valentine's Day (of course) as well as my follow up visit regarding my fractured ankle.  Yippee!  The Dr. is very please with my progress!  The plan is to have the cast....cast away 27 February then followed by physio.  Yes, I will be skiing.  Hopefully by the first week of March.   

Golden, B.C. and Whitewater Here we come.  We will be heading towards Golden in March to celebrate our good Friend's 50th birthday (Name to be announced complete with birthday photos in a future blog)

 I plan on being in that same deep fluffy powder stash I've been dreaming about, as well as hippie hunting over a cold beer in Nelson.  I will replace my walking cast with a ski boot....finally.

Myself, with Sue & Annie the Dog

I would like to thank my special friends here at Panorama for kidnapping me and graciously taking me out for Sushi and a bit of girl time..... what a great afternoon, complete with a couple hours of knitting time together.