Happy 2007

Happy New Year to all!

I hope that you all had a suitably fun filled New Year! We weren't too sure what New Years eve would bring this year; having spent recent New Years in Time Square NY watching the ball drop, Queenstown watching fireworks over the silhouetted Southern Alps, remote Scottish islands charging brandy glasses and fat cigars at midnight - surely this year would be another to remember - but alas... Maybe age is creeping up on us, but we were both flat out by 10.30pm. I was stirred at midnight by somebody halfway down the street popping a bottle of champers and welcoming the New Year in for everybody, and that is about it!

Admittedly, we'd been ski-ing / boarding over the tops of these clouds in Kimberley BC all day New Years eve, and coupled with the drive home, we were both cream crackered.
We spent the previous few days to New Year over in BC and hit the slopes of Fernie and Kimberley. They really get the snow over on the other side of the mountains, and it was great to go and see what all the fuss is about with regards to these two resorts. As it turns out, the fuss is very well deserved, the powder was awesome, the terrain great, weather was on our side and the little town of Fernie is very much reminiscent of a French Alpine resort - so we felt rather at home supping on a cold apres ski pint. Kimberley had all of the above, minus the nice town feel. It's in a beautiful setting but I expected to see tumble weed bouncing down the road on the tail of a howling wind - it's pretty dead in the townsite - but that makes for quieter slopes (see above).

The New Year has only brought us one days ski-ing so far (although the balmy Cochrane weather allowed me to get out on the bike yesterday), and the piccie shows Brina trying to break the spead limit coming out of Cascade Valley (with scant success). We've got a couple more days at Sunshine to fit in before work resumes on Monday (these two weeks of the Christmas hols have just flown by).

Here's another ditty from today's venture ski-ing around Cascade (although that's the Fairholme range in the background). It's a nice jolly close enough to Banff to muster an excuse to visit the local coffee emporiums post ski. Part of the road on the drive in is closed for wolves and cougars - we were keeping an eye out for their tracks, but the beasties seem to have been in hiding.

Wishing you all a super 2007,

Trying to stay awake,

S&S.