Backcountry Bombshells - Cat Skiing in Canada
August 10, 2008
Photographers Tony Harrington and Colin Adair
RED BULL BACKCOUNTRY BOMBSHELLS
By Andrea Binning
(All images are under copyright of Tony Harrington and Colin Adair)
Life sometimes works in your favour and has a strange way of showing you a good time and when it does it is time to enjoy the moment. This trip was all about good timing when it came to the weather, the riders and snow conditions. The trip consisted of 4 girls, 2 skiers and 2 snowboarders. There was Kristy Leskinen from the US who rules in the park and snowboarders Anne-Flore from Switzerland and Marie-France Roy from Quebec who both dominate the women’s freestlye scene. I was the only big mountain skier and going into this trip I have to admit I did have my doubts as to how much skiing I would get to do as I was outnumbered by freestlylers. Little did I know that this group of girls once given the opportunity to ski some big mountains lines they were up for the challenge and they charged.
Below is my personal account of the 10 days snowcat skiing across British Columbia and Alberta.
24th March
The plans were to travel to 3 different cat skiing operation that are located in the snowiest regions of Canada, and as this was a big snow year our chances for good conditions were high. We all flew into Kelowna where we met our team of photographers and filmers and guide - snowboard legend Shin Campos who would travel with us to capture this adventure. We then set out to our first cat skiing location that is renowned for its fresh powder, Monashee Powder. The trek in was a lot of fun, we had to 4 wheel drive into where we met our friendly hosts who picked us up with the cat. This was just the beginning and all our spirits were running high as to what to expect from the next 10 days. The lodge was situated in one of the most prime positions with the most amazing view that provided very good motivation to get out there and ride.
25th March
The first day we warmed up on some mellow runs and we found some mini golf lines that we were all excited to ride. The was so much terrain to ski it felt unlimited. Although there was not a lot of fresh snow we found some good zones to ski and lined up some lines to ride tomorrow. Hanging out with the girls was a lot of fun., they really know how to make the most out of the day.
26th March
Over night we got 6cm fresh snow which set us up for an awesome day. We had skied some smaller lines the day before leaving today the day to go for it. I got a real buzz from skiing a line that I had scoped the day before, and even though the lines were small it always looks so different standing at the top of the line. With our guide Shin with us to reassure our entries, I was confident to go for the line. I had my first serious crash airing out of my line which was good as I had a rough start to winter breaking my collar bone and wrist in December and this was a good test to know that my body could handle it.
All the girls impressed me with their confidence to step up to the lines. In the late afternoon they finished the day off with some air time off a kicker that Shin had built for them. It was a great way to wrap up the day. All of us were stoked with how the trip was starting off and if we kept up this pace we were going to get a lot done. I did not have any expectations going into this trip and so far it has been going so well. I have been rooming with Kristy and she truly impressed me out on the mountain, she had just twisted her ankle before coming on this trip and after struggling each morning to get her foot in her boot- which she used a hair dryer to heat up the shell so she could get her foot in there, there was not another word said and she went for it out on the hill impressing us all with the tricks she was sticking and the lines she was riding.
27th March
The next day we headed out and crossed eastwards to meet up with Selkirk Wilderness, which is the home of the oldest cat skiing operation in the world, where we were told that there would be lots of spectacular terrain to ride and enchanting old forests. We arrived late at Selkirk and were greated with big welcome smiles and delicious food. There was talk of 30 cm of fresh snow so we were keen to get some sleep and see what the next day would bring.
28th March
The lodge was situated quite low and at first I was sceptical as to how high the terrain would be that we were going to ride, but as we climbed in the cats the terrain that opened up was truly amazing and the snow conditions were even better, how lucky could we be. We all started the day with some lines and I found a really nice pillow line that I set up to ski tomorrow. This was by far the best snow I had skied all season. We all found some cliffs to hit which finished off a good day.
29th March
The next day started off a little scary, as we all watched Kristy drop into her line and half way down get taken out by her sluff. She was funnelled though a tight section of her line disappearing for some time and then getting spat out at the bottom and re-appearing on the lower section. It felt like a long time till she got on the radio to say she was ok. It was definitely a wake up call as to the dangers that can happen when riding lines. What impressed me the most was her attitude, not letting it beat her down she was then keen to still make the most out of the day and hit a jump in the afternoon.
When the girls finished sessioning a jump we all headed over to the pillow line that I had seen the day before. I got to go first and I came to the line with so much speed that I missed the pillows all together and straight lined out. So I went back up for redemption, this time hitting the pillows. Anne-Flore did an awesome backside 360 off the cornice that she was stoked on, it was so cool to see her big smile once she landed, it was priceless. I was rooming this time with Anne-Flore and she is a super cool girl with a lot of energy, I was very happy that our paths had crossed on this trip, she kept us entertained all day, either amazing us with her talents on a snowboard charging a line or in the air or dancing and singing away or in ping pong or just in good conversation. I would have to say all is good!
30th March
The next morning I woke up to read an email that my boyfriend was in a serious avalanche that almost took out all the crew on his heli trip in BC, this set my day off in a humble mood. It scares me sometimes when your reality in the mountains can change so quickly. So my first run which was a fin that I had scoped yesterday and when I stood on top of it I was scared. I had way too many thoughts going through my head, and when I dropped in I skied it quite mellow to avoid my sluff and did not charge, which was a little frustrating, but some days you just cant be on it and going 100%.
Anne- Flore and Marie-France were next to drop in and I was so impressed with how they rode their lines from top to bottom with full speed. I have seen them progress so much over the last week and I was so happy for them. You can see they are building up their confidence in the backcountry and are charging their lines. When Marie-France dropped in she did not do one turn and straight lined the whole way to the bottom of her run, she was going so fast, it was truly impressive- no fear! The girls then built a jump which they sessioned for the rest of the day. The day was then finished relaxing in the hot tub reflecting on a great week we just had.
31th March
The next morning we left Selkirk Wilderness and headed to Halcyon Hot Springs for some down time and R and R. There were a few crew that kept the entertainment going till all hours into the night so they were also keen for some time out. Arriving at the hot springs we went straight into a massage followed by some hot springs relaxation, which if you included the dip in the 0 degree water it was not so relaxing.
1st April
After a mellow morning we hit the road and headed for Chatter Creek. Chatter Creek was saved to the end as its elevation was 6000ft higher then the other 2 operations and being incredibly remote it was a serious trek to get in there. We had an adventurous drive in there with Anne-Flore taking the helm, the cat then picked us up and we had a long approach to the cabin. Clients are normally helied in as it is so remote. The lodge was an amazing beautiful log cabin, the owners had built the lodge in the area they had heli logged in, and they built the lodges from scratch. It felt like we were in the middle of winter here , it was so much colder here then the other operations purely because of the higher elevation.
2nd April
The next day we were excited to check out the new terrain, we had heard so much about the pillow lines that this place had to offer and all we seemed to find was endless pillow lines, and some of the driest snow that I have skied all winter. It was a snowy day so we stayed close to the trees and scored heaps of fun pillow lines which kept us entertained till the end of the day. It was Marie-France that had the line of the day sticking 2 very cool pillow lines riding them out with lots of speed. Marie-France would have to be one of the most humble riders I know, she just lets her action speak for itself, charging everything that she goes for. Tomorrow they were calling for clear skies as it just started to clear at the end of the day.
3rd April
The next morning there was lot of excitement for what lay ahead on this beautiful sunny day, we found one zone that we all scoped lines to ride. It was a good warm up and then the girls built a kicker that they sessioned it for most of the day. The clouds began to roll in so we stayed in the same zone all day. Anne-Flore impressed us all today with her determination to keep on going . She did this huge air that almost sent her down to where we were standing. She has a reputation for going big and she definitely lived up to it today, one thing that I really like about hanging out with these girls is that they go for it when an opportunity presents itself, it has been really inspiring.
4rd April
The last day of shooting was by far my best day of the trip. We woke up to cloudy skies, not expecting much from the day. I was saying last night that I would be stoked if I could get 2 solid lines on film, but I had let the hope of that happening go once I saw the weather, maybe we cant be that lucky. We began the day with some free runs and the snow conditions were really good. The day was then starting to turn around and by late morning it started to clear. We skied this run down to what I thought was another groups heli, and to my surprise the heli was for us. I could not believe it. The day was just getting better. It was Marie-France’s first time in a heli so she was in the first load. We were then all taken to the same spot and we all rode down together with the filmers, filming from the heli, it was an awesome run.
We then all met up and Kristy decided to build a jump as she needed some air shots and as it was the last day of shooting, we all had to make the most out of it. I had scoped this line yesterday that I thought was not possible to ski, but the guide told me that he had put a stake in the landing and it was good to go….so I was very excited. Anne-Flore and Marie-France both came out in the heli and we found some good terrain to ski, that we all found lines to ride.
We then headed back to re-group before the final line of the day. There were lines for all 3 of us. The spine had afternoon light so it was just getting better the longer we waited. I got a good look from the heli and once we were dropped off, I had to talk it over with Shin to make sure I got the right entrance. I had visualised it many times and once the count down was on I felt my heart pounding, it was a great feeling. I dropped in and it was steep at the top and then I got into my shoot and skied as fast as I could out to the bottom. It was a fun run, not that big, but steep. I was stoked to be down the bottom, with all the nerves released, it was a good buzz. Anne-Flore was up next and she had the same entrance as me with a variation at the bottom, she dropped into the face and did some turns and then got caught up on a rock and taken out by her sluff which sent her cartwheeling down, once she stopped she was thankfully ok. The next was Marie-France and she did her signature style of no turns and straight all the way down to the bottom. It was such a great way to end the day. And to top it all off we got one more heli drop and skied all the way down to the lodge, what an awesome way to end a perfect day.
Back at the lodge we were all keen to celebrate and we partied on into the night it was a great feeling to end on such a good note.
5th April
It was a slow start the next morning, but we were woken by our hungover guide Shin for our last time on the trip. Marie-France and I went to breakfast and we were offered to go heli skiing again which was an unbelievable offer, and the weather was supposed to come in, but on this blessed trip offcourse it was sunny. We all managed to make it onto the heli and skied some of my best runs that I had all season, the conditons were awesome. We were all sad to leave chatter creek as it has been such an amazing trip and we were all going to be soon heading out separate ways with happy memories form this trip. Kristy rallied the car back to our last stop before departure, the Banff Springs Fairmont Hotel. We all got together for our final dinner, everyone a little tired from an exhilarating day, it seemed so surreal that we had just been heli skiing that morning.
6th April
The next morning it was sad to say goodbye to everyone, this trip has been one of the best ever trips that I have been on. When I thought this trip could not get any better we kept stepping it up a notch and it ended up being the ultimate trip. I now have confidence back on my skis to charge lines, have seen the girls progress so much in the backcountry and have been fortunate enough to go to a new area that I have never been to with a great group of people that I now call my friends.
RED BULL BACKCOUNTRY BOMBSHELLS
By Andrea Binning
(All images are under copyright of Tony Harrington and Colin Adair)
Life sometimes works in your favour and has a strange way of showing you a good time and when it does it is time to enjoy the moment. This trip was all about good timing when it came to the weather, the riders and snow conditions. The trip consisted of 4 girls, 2 skiers and 2 snowboarders. There was Kristy Leskinen from the US who rules in the park and snowboarders Anne-Flore from Switzerland and Marie-France Roy from Quebec who both dominate the women’s freestlye scene. I was the only big mountain skier and going into this trip I have to admit I did have my doubts as to how much skiing I would get to do as I was outnumbered by freestlylers. Little did I know that this group of girls once given the opportunity to ski some big mountains lines they were up for the challenge and they charged.
Below is my personal account of the 10 days snowcat skiing across British Columbia and Alberta.
24th March
The plans were to travel to 3 different cat skiing operation that are located in the snowiest regions of Canada, and as this was a big snow year our chances for good conditions were high. We all flew into Kelowna where we met our team of photographers and filmers and guide - snowboard legend Shin Campos who would travel with us to capture this adventure. We then set out to our first cat skiing location that is renowned for its fresh powder, Monashee Powder. The trek in was a lot of fun, we had to 4 wheel drive into where we met our friendly hosts who picked us up with the cat. This was just the beginning and all our spirits were running high as to what to expect from the next 10 days. The lodge was situated in one of the most prime positions with the most amazing view that provided very good motivation to get out there and ride.
25th March
The first day we warmed up on some mellow runs and we found some mini golf lines that we were all excited to ride. The was so much terrain to ski it felt unlimited. Although there was not a lot of fresh snow we found some good zones to ski and lined up some lines to ride tomorrow. Hanging out with the girls was a lot of fun., they really know how to make the most out of the day.
26th March
Over night we got 6cm fresh snow which set us up for an awesome day. We had skied some smaller lines the day before leaving today the day to go for it. I got a real buzz from skiing a line that I had scoped the day before, and even though the lines were small it always looks so different standing at the top of the line. With our guide Shin with us to reassure our entries, I was confident to go for the line. I had my first serious crash airing out of my line which was good as I had a rough start to winter breaking my collar bone and wrist in December and this was a good test to know that my body could handle it.
All the girls impressed me with their confidence to step up to the lines. In the late afternoon they finished the day off with some air time off a kicker that Shin had built for them. It was a great way to wrap up the day. All of us were stoked with how the trip was starting off and if we kept up this pace we were going to get a lot done. I did not have any expectations going into this trip and so far it has been going so well. I have been rooming with Kristy and she truly impressed me out on the mountain, she had just twisted her ankle before coming on this trip and after struggling each morning to get her foot in her boot- which she used a hair dryer to heat up the shell so she could get her foot in there, there was not another word said and she went for it out on the hill impressing us all with the tricks she was sticking and the lines she was riding.
27th March
The next day we headed out and crossed eastwards to meet up with Selkirk Wilderness, which is the home of the oldest cat skiing operation in the world, where we were told that there would be lots of spectacular terrain to ride and enchanting old forests. We arrived late at Selkirk and were greated with big welcome smiles and delicious food. There was talk of 30 cm of fresh snow so we were keen to get some sleep and see what the next day would bring.
28th March
The lodge was situated quite low and at first I was sceptical as to how high the terrain would be that we were going to ride, but as we climbed in the cats the terrain that opened up was truly amazing and the snow conditions were even better, how lucky could we be. We all started the day with some lines and I found a really nice pillow line that I set up to ski tomorrow. This was by far the best snow I had skied all season. We all found some cliffs to hit which finished off a good day.
29th March
The next day started off a little scary, as we all watched Kristy drop into her line and half way down get taken out by her sluff. She was funnelled though a tight section of her line disappearing for some time and then getting spat out at the bottom and re-appearing on the lower section. It felt like a long time till she got on the radio to say she was ok. It was definitely a wake up call as to the dangers that can happen when riding lines. What impressed me the most was her attitude, not letting it beat her down she was then keen to still make the most out of the day and hit a jump in the afternoon.
When the girls finished sessioning a jump we all headed over to the pillow line that I had seen the day before. I got to go first and I came to the line with so much speed that I missed the pillows all together and straight lined out. So I went back up for redemption, this time hitting the pillows. Anne-Flore did an awesome backside 360 off the cornice that she was stoked on, it was so cool to see her big smile once she landed, it was priceless. I was rooming this time with Anne-Flore and she is a super cool girl with a lot of energy, I was very happy that our paths had crossed on this trip, she kept us entertained all day, either amazing us with her talents on a snowboard charging a line or in the air or dancing and singing away or in ping pong or just in good conversation. I would have to say all is good!
30th March
The next morning I woke up to read an email that my boyfriend was in a serious avalanche that almost took out all the crew on his heli trip in BC, this set my day off in a humble mood. It scares me sometimes when your reality in the mountains can change so quickly. So my first run which was a fin that I had scoped yesterday and when I stood on top of it I was scared. I had way too many thoughts going through my head, and when I dropped in I skied it quite mellow to avoid my sluff and did not charge, which was a little frustrating, but some days you just cant be on it and going 100%.
Anne- Flore and Marie-France were next to drop in and I was so impressed with how they rode their lines from top to bottom with full speed. I have seen them progress so much over the last week and I was so happy for them. You can see they are building up their confidence in the backcountry and are charging their lines. When Marie-France dropped in she did not do one turn and straight lined the whole way to the bottom of her run, she was going so fast, it was truly impressive- no fear! The girls then built a jump which they sessioned for the rest of the day. The day was then finished relaxing in the hot tub reflecting on a great week we just had.
31th March
The next morning we left Selkirk Wilderness and headed to Halcyon Hot Springs for some down time and R and R. There were a few crew that kept the entertainment going till all hours into the night so they were also keen for some time out. Arriving at the hot springs we went straight into a massage followed by some hot springs relaxation, which if you included the dip in the 0 degree water it was not so relaxing.
1st April
After a mellow morning we hit the road and headed for Chatter Creek. Chatter Creek was saved to the end as its elevation was 6000ft higher then the other 2 operations and being incredibly remote it was a serious trek to get in there. We had an adventurous drive in there with Anne-Flore taking the helm, the cat then picked us up and we had a long approach to the cabin. Clients are normally helied in as it is so remote. The lodge was an amazing beautiful log cabin, the owners had built the lodge in the area they had heli logged in, and they built the lodges from scratch. It felt like we were in the middle of winter here , it was so much colder here then the other operations purely because of the higher elevation.
2nd April
The next day we were excited to check out the new terrain, we had heard so much about the pillow lines that this place had to offer and all we seemed to find was endless pillow lines, and some of the driest snow that I have skied all winter. It was a snowy day so we stayed close to the trees and scored heaps of fun pillow lines which kept us entertained till the end of the day. It was Marie-France that had the line of the day sticking 2 very cool pillow lines riding them out with lots of speed. Marie-France would have to be one of the most humble riders I know, she just lets her action speak for itself, charging everything that she goes for. Tomorrow they were calling for clear skies as it just started to clear at the end of the day.
3rd April
The next morning there was lot of excitement for what lay ahead on this beautiful sunny day, we found one zone that we all scoped lines to ride. It was a good warm up and then the girls built a kicker that they sessioned it for most of the day. The clouds began to roll in so we stayed in the same zone all day. Anne-Flore impressed us all today with her determination to keep on going . She did this huge air that almost sent her down to where we were standing. She has a reputation for going big and she definitely lived up to it today, one thing that I really like about hanging out with these girls is that they go for it when an opportunity presents itself, it has been really inspiring.
4rd April
The last day of shooting was by far my best day of the trip. We woke up to cloudy skies, not expecting much from the day. I was saying last night that I would be stoked if I could get 2 solid lines on film, but I had let the hope of that happening go once I saw the weather, maybe we cant be that lucky. We began the day with some free runs and the snow conditions were really good. The day was then starting to turn around and by late morning it started to clear. We skied this run down to what I thought was another groups heli, and to my surprise the heli was for us. I could not believe it. The day was just getting better. It was Marie-France’s first time in a heli so she was in the first load. We were then all taken to the same spot and we all rode down together with the filmers, filming from the heli, it was an awesome run.
We then all met up and Kristy decided to build a jump as she needed some air shots and as it was the last day of shooting, we all had to make the most out of it. I had scoped this line yesterday that I thought was not possible to ski, but the guide told me that he had put a stake in the landing and it was good to go….so I was very excited. Anne-Flore and Marie-France both came out in the heli and we found some good terrain to ski, that we all found lines to ride.
We then headed back to re-group before the final line of the day. There were lines for all 3 of us. The spine had afternoon light so it was just getting better the longer we waited. I got a good look from the heli and once we were dropped off, I had to talk it over with Shin to make sure I got the right entrance. I had visualised it many times and once the count down was on I felt my heart pounding, it was a great feeling. I dropped in and it was steep at the top and then I got into my shoot and skied as fast as I could out to the bottom. It was a fun run, not that big, but steep. I was stoked to be down the bottom, with all the nerves released, it was a good buzz. Anne-Flore was up next and she had the same entrance as me with a variation at the bottom, she dropped into the face and did some turns and then got caught up on a rock and taken out by her sluff which sent her cartwheeling down, once she stopped she was thankfully ok. The next was Marie-France and she did her signature style of no turns and straight all the way down to the bottom. It was such a great way to end the day. And to top it all off we got one more heli drop and skied all the way down to the lodge, what an awesome way to end a perfect day.
Back at the lodge we were all keen to celebrate and we partied on into the night it was a great feeling to end on such a good note.
5th April
It was a slow start the next morning, but we were woken by our hungover guide Shin for our last time on the trip. Marie-France and I went to breakfast and we were offered to go heli skiing again which was an unbelievable offer, and the weather was supposed to come in, but on this blessed trip offcourse it was sunny. We all managed to make it onto the heli and skied some of my best runs that I had all season, the conditons were awesome. We were all sad to leave chatter creek as it has been such an amazing trip and we were all going to be soon heading out separate ways with happy memories form this trip. Kristy rallied the car back to our last stop before departure, the Banff Springs Fairmont Hotel. We all got together for our final dinner, everyone a little tired from an exhilarating day, it seemed so surreal that we had just been heli skiing that morning.
6th April
The next morning it was sad to say goodbye to everyone, this trip has been one of the best ever trips that I have been on. When I thought this trip could not get any better we kept stepping it up a notch and it ended up being the ultimate trip. I now have confidence back on my skis to charge lines, have seen the girls progress so much in the backcountry and have been fortunate enough to go to a new area that I have never been to with a great group of people that I now call my friends.
