Seasons change fast up here. 30C/86F in Calgary on Monday, three feet of pow today at Fortress Mountain ski hill.
Cold rains in the city since Wednesday meant the first big dump of the season was happening in the Rockies. So I skipped out of less important things today to do some hiking and get some turns with Ted.
We were hoping for Fortress, if we could get up the access road. Just barely made it with high clearance and studded winters. No other skiers/riders showed up.
Looking good higher up on the Canadian.
We headed for the backside chair which always has the most accumulation. It was almost too deep. Bottomless and your really had to gun it to stay afloat. But sure nice to be back making turns.
Most of the time it was very foggy so not ideal for photos. But great snow.
It was major dumpage on the backside. About three to four feet.
Unfortunately that made the first skin track back up sheer agony. I broke trail and sank about two feet with every step. It doesn't look like it, but Ted is on skis.
But it was worth it every time you got to the top to see this looking down.
By 3 p.m. we were toast and headed down Watch Me back to the parking lot. The frontside had been zapped by occasional sun and the snow was major heavy. But it was nice and consistent and not as bottomless as the backside, so it actually skied real good.
The snow at the parking lot had melted a lot, and drive down was easy. It started to snow again when we hit pavement and was pissing snow and sleet on the drive back to Calgary. Maybe some fresh tomorrow?
Results 1 to 25 of 99
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09-15-2006, 08:21 PM #1
Smooth side down
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- Oct 2003
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- 20 steps from the hot tub
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Fortress Mtn 9-15-06 TR - 1st pow in the Cnd. Rockies
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09-15-2006, 08:30 PM #2
Registered User
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- Sep 2006
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- North Vancouver
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- 122
STOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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09-15-2006, 08:38 PM #3
Hiding in AK
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- Oct 2003
- Location
- Was UT, AK, now MT
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- 14,562
OMFG! Nice, you win!
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09-15-2006, 08:44 PM #4
waiting...
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Location
- SLC
- Posts
- 309
Those pictures could easily be mistaken for mid-season. I can't believe you didn't see any one else up. Very much appreciated and needed stoke!
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09-15-2006, 08:45 PM #5
Splitboarders Unite!
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- Jun 2004
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- the backcountry
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- 3,500
jealous!
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09-15-2006, 08:46 PM #6
motorboats titties
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- Feb 2005
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- north by northwest
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- 9,456
i want back there
edit: i just felt i had to say "thanks". thanks.Last edited by f2f; 09-15-2006 at 08:54 PM.
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09-15-2006, 08:51 PM #7
Lovin' life
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- gone north, but still on the west side
- Posts
- 1,676
Nice work!!
Everything in moderation, including moderation . . .
Life According to Kellie, Specialized Gear for Endurance and Winter Cycling,
Spanish in the Mountains, Andes Cross Guiding in Bariloche
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09-15-2006, 08:51 PM #8
HitHardandBreakawayClean
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Rosebud Lake BC
- Posts
- 763
YES!!! YEA, git it. Way to motivate. Winter is coming!!I'm so stoked. It rained more today then it rained all summer and it is 34 degrees at the snotel site above my house. Of course it could be 75 next week, but winter is coming. Way to go get some.
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09-15-2006, 08:51 PM #9
Don't Panic
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
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- Ventura Highway in the Sunshine
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- 22,445
Woot woot! First pow TR for the northern hemisphere, well done
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09-15-2006, 09:09 PM #10
Maggot
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- Jun 2006
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- mplf
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- 576
DROOOOL!!!
Thank you!
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09-15-2006, 09:14 PM #11
Registered User
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- Dec 2003
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- Jackson, WY
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- 5,642
wow! you definitely win
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09-15-2006, 09:14 PM #12
Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2004
- Posts
- 594
Best.September.Powder.TripReport.Ever.
Thanks for posting!
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09-15-2006, 09:25 PM #13
Orange Mocha Frappuccino!
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Topaz, NV
- Posts
- 3,893
Yes!
Way to get it.
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09-15-2006, 09:25 PM #14
poseur extraordinaire
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
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- Ootarded
- Posts
- 4,093
Eldo is the real numero uno, beeyotch.
Thanks for the harbinger. FKNA schweet.
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09-15-2006, 09:35 PM #15
Checked out
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- CO
- Posts
- 5,017
HO-LEE SHIT!
It happens every year. You guys get the 3' dump a good month before us and make the rest of us green with envy.
Very nice.
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09-15-2006, 09:37 PM #16
Deserve Victory
- Join Date
- May 2006
- Location
- Land of Little Snow
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- 1,041
That is awesome. I had no idea there were places in NA that got that much snow this early. Fuckin awesome.
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09-15-2006, 09:48 PM #17
Registered User
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- Nov 2003
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- SOCAL mtns
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- 231
Eldo IS the man!!!
sno...
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09-15-2006, 09:49 PM #18
eltiT deretsigeR
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- Oct 2005
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- AB
- Posts
- 26
Dang eldo. Thats 2 killer september tr's in a row.
I was going to hit highwood tomorrow except after looking at this I will trade vechicles with my dad and go 4 by'in up there.
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09-15-2006, 09:56 PM #19
defines PSIA level 11
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- Nov 2005
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- Redwood City and Alpine Meadows, CA
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- 8,276
Wow.
That is all.
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09-15-2006, 10:06 PM #20
Obstinate Oldskooligan
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- Jan 2006
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- Alpental
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- 6,675
Damn there is a whole lot of whiteness in those pics!!!
Very, very nice September (wtf?) 15th.
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09-15-2006, 10:12 PM #21
White and nerdy
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- Nov 2003
- Location
- NH
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- 744
F... K... N... A
There's a lot to be said for nowhere.
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09-15-2006, 10:14 PM #22
Platitude and Jongitude
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- Jul 2006
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- Seahassle
- Posts
- 93
Holy STOKES!!! I'm so ready for a good snort of snowcaine I can't stand it!
Are there any good software gigs in Calgary?
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09-15-2006, 10:35 PM #23
Registered User
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- Dec 2005
- Location
- Vancouver
- Posts
- 814
Sweet. I'm going to be sick for work tomorrow. Don't know where we're gonna go though - doubt we'll make itup the access road in my stanza with all season tires. We'll figure something out, maybe start skinning when we can't go no further. Anyways, seeya all out there tomorrow! (TR to follow if the camera works in the cold)
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09-15-2006, 10:41 PM #24
Registered User
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- Sep 2005
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- Calgary
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- 228
YESSSSSS!!!!, Eldo,Downhillrider, were headed up to the highwood tommorow if your up for some more turns, Im in the freerides/PR's. give us a shout.
Oh yeah--eldo-- is the fortress road doable in 2-wheel drive? (plan B)
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09-15-2006, 10:49 PM #25
eltiT deretsigeR
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- AB
- Posts
- 26
From the sounds of biglines, it isn't do able with 2wd.
I am coming from edmonton so I might not be out there until 9ish or so but if you see a big blue monster truck flag me down. I will stop if I see you on my way up.
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