Back Up - Back Down

In further attempts to work out my back problems I took a little trip out the back (pun not intended) by myself to play on the remains of the last snowfall. The weather was kind. Cool enough to not have to remove my vest but just unzip it and sunny clear skies (as the photos will show) with a light breeze.

Rather than skinning, I walked out almost 2km before beginning the first climb. Being somewhat out of condition, the high altitude stepladders were indeed a workout for both lungs and muscles. The snow was variable - some drifts on the fresh snow were soft and boot deep while other parts had the new snow blown away revealing the dirty icier snow beneath. Unfortunately the new snow was stickier than I would have wished for resulting in slower turns and large balls forming on some turns. The stickiness did force me into shorter, snappier turns which, certainly tested my lower back.

First run was down Everest. I hadn't intended going that high but it was there and so was I. Second run was down the North Face where the snow balled up into lumps larger than basket balls. And finally the long run down the main face. Yep - I said I wasn't fit. Normally I would eat up 5 or 6 runs in the morning but I was satisfied with my meagre 3.

From left to right: Main Face, North Face & Everest

Gelato staircase to the heavens
looks like my spinal x-rays ;-)

View to Kosi and Club Lake chutes

Close up of Kosi and cornice
Note the North Ridge cornice

My frozen stepladder to the top of Everest

The descent was a mix of fast on firm and slow on soft

It is hard to see any of my turns under the strong spring sun

North Face and Everest

No skiing or boarding allowed in the resort
but nothing about this under the Basin T-bar

Standard shot from the bridge showing only half an exposed Merrits creek

I look forward to getting out again soon, preferably after a good overnight freeze to firm it up. The back is still sore and the problem still undiagnosed but thanks to "skiers-candy" (ibuprofen) I'm still getting some alpine fun and wearing off some of the extra kilos gathered during my convalescence in August and September. I'm happy to say that my injured foot seems completely recovered (I couldn't bring myself to say "healed" ;-)