Arriving in Calgary & Kicking Horse Mountain, Golden, BC

We arrived into Calgary Saturday evening and were picked up from the airport by our friend Chris. Since then we have been lucky enough to stay with Chris and Natasha in their fantastic condo in downtown Calgary. We really have to say a huge thank you for looking after us so well, from taking us to look at cars to taking me on a guys trip to Kicking Horse mountain catching some amazing fresh power. Their condo is a short walk into the city centre and has been great for us to check out the city and get all the little things we have needed to get organised before we head to Banff. Thanks very much Chris and Tash we really appreciate it!

Over the weekend Chris had been checking out the snow forecast and reports and Kicking Horse in BC came up the winner with approx 20cm of fresh snow on Sunday / Sunday night. So we headed off early Monday morning with 2 of Chris's mates for theirs and my first day of the season on the snow. The 3 locals told me that Kicking Horse is their favorite mountain, it didn't disappoint. I'd have to say it has the best terrain I've been on with some amazing runs, bowls and chutes. Best area of the day was definitely Feuz Bowl which opened up around midday after the ski patrol had set off charges to get rid of any avalanche risks.

A few facts about Kicking Horse before the pictures that speak for themselves.

Kicking Horse Mountain, Golden BC
The fourth highest vertical drop in North America.
VERTICAL: 1,260 metres (4,133 feet)
SKIABLE ACREAGE: 2,800+ acres
ELEVATION:
* Top of Kicking Horse: 2,450 metres (8,033 feet)
* Bottom of the lowest chair: 1,190 metres (3,900 feet)

Monday, 13 December 2010

The bottom of the resort was underneath the clouds but is so high you come through the clouds into the clear sky above. Very pretty.

Boarding down into the clouds.

Says it all.

Bottom of Feuz Bowl, just over my right shoulder was where we came down.

Tim, Chris and Jesse, thanks for a great 1st day of the season.

Snow sun shower.

Think Twice, a ridge we dropped off down into Crystal Bowl.

Top of the ridge before dropping into Feuz Bowl.

Rest stop on the way home, anyone for a picnic?

Mountain View from the rest area.

Same Again. Over all a great day, very tiring in so much soft snow, I'll definitely be back to Kicking Horse by the end of the trip.

Canada & US (sabbatical) - On our way

4 months - 2 countries

We are headed to Canada and the US on an extended holiday. Initially we are spending 2 months in Banff, Alberta Canada before going on a road trip through the US and parts of Canada.

We'll update you on the provinces / states and ski resorts once we are done.

Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you. First song on the new earphones. Thanks to all the guys and girls at work.

Upgrade, very impressed thanks BA, about time. Inflight entertainment still didn't work. Fifth BA flight in a row! A lot easier to deal with in an empty Premium Economy cabin though.

MMM Chocolate...Thanks Rads and Sam

Egypt and Jordan - September 2010

We did a Travel Talk Tour of Egypt and Jordan, starting in Cairo.


Walking 'like an Egyptian' in front of the Pyramids.



Philae Temple, which had to be moved after the Nile was dammed.

We spent 2 days sailing the Nile on a felluca. It was very relaxing. We even had rain, a rare event.

Sean, having Fig Jam for breakfast.
Tough life.


The Nile from our hotel room in Aswan.

Camels everywhere.

Cairo.
Karnak Temple, as is used to look.






Pretty warm.

Hatshepsut Temple

Donkey Riding, i think we all smelt like donkeys after this.
Luxor Temple - Horus


The original site of Abu Simbel. The two rock temples had to be cut out and relocated to avoid them being submerged by the damming of the Nile.

Definitely one of the trip highlights.

One of the highlights of the trip, sunrise at Abu Simbel.
Sunrise from the top of Mt. Sinai.
The donkey track we hiked up at 1am. It was a good trip, luckily it was a full moon, so we didn't need torches. Got quite cold up there, around 10degreesC.

We slept up on the roof, prime positioning to view the sunrise.Our guide. You can see the small building top left of Mt. Sinai, is where we hiked to. Long way up!

Jordan - Aqaba harbour.

Camped in the Wadi Rum desert.

Our desert camp.

First view of The Treasury of Petra, the Rose City from the Siq.





The Monastery

The Dead Sea - another highlight.


Floating around. Writing postcards.

Dead Sea Mud. Supposed to have healing properties and be great for the skin.