The blue runs beckon....

22nd Feb, 2008

The girls had a day off the slopes so Clive and I headed out to find some blue run action over at the Gem Lake area.

That's exactly what we found. Very long, very wide and very steep blue cruisers abound in this area. It's just an absolute playground for true intermediates and above.

It is also a very pretty area of the mountain, snow ghosts such as these are everywhere due to the altitude and openness of the top section....




....as you can see, there is a fair bit of greenery showing through as it has been over a week since any snow has fallen here. You can be sure they will be completely covered as soon as the next snowfall arrives.

Clive and I found a large ghost to pose with....




....as I said, a very pretty area of the mountain but unfortunately not an area that Lorraine or Diane are likely to see as there is just no easy way back from the top of the lift. The trail map shows a 'green' run from the top, but one suspects it has been rated green so Big White can boast they have "a green run from every lift on the mountain". It hardly resembles any green runs either Clive or myself have ever seen!!

The main blue runs which were groomed were Blue Sapphire, Blue Ribbon and Kalina's Rainbow. We spent most of our time on Kalina's Rainbow but will certainly spend time on the others in the days ahead.

Firstly some pictures of Kalina's Rainbow. You will have to trust me when I say the pics do not capture the steepness of some sections of the run, but they show the great width and sheer length of the runs here....








....did I forget to mention how crowded it is on the slopes????

Here are some short vids of Clive and I.....

Clive, then me, skiing the first part of Kalina's Rainbow.




Me, then Clive, skiing the bottom part of Kalina's Rainbow.




We headed back to our unit at around 1:30pm where Lorraine and Diane had prepared some hot rissole sandwiches. We had lunch, collapsed in the lounge chairs and at around 2:30 realised we only had 90 minutes ski time left for the day (lifts close at 4pm). It appears we both had the same idea. We'd had a pretty huge morning, covering heaps of vertical and the thought of going back downstairs and spending 15 minutes putting on boots etc. just didn't appear at all appealing. We decided to spend the rest of the afternoon watching the passing ski parade from our unit window.

We still had our jacuzzi and 2 beers at 4:30pm as normal, but we are yet to find a decent bloody beer!!!!

Dinner tonight was at 'Snowshoe Sam's', a popular restaurant on the mountain. The food was sensational and Sam's is famous for 'Gunbarrell Coffee'....



....which starts with a shot of brandy, Creme de Cacao and coffee. Then Grand Marnier is lit and dribbled down a shotgun barrel into the glass. The whole process is completed on a trolley at the table. That photo is not one of mine, but the food was just so good that as we walked out we booked a table with a view for next Thursday, our last night. I hope to take a video of the coffee making process then, so you'll all have to wait a week.

As an aside, Clive had peanut butter flavoured ice cream for desert. We all had a taste and it was really nice, BUT, it appears to have given Clive a touch of wind. I can tell you now, Lorraine is in for a torrid night.

PS.

Casey, don't worry, I won't use the orange background again.

Brenda, the reports may be later each day, but they are still daily. I'm in the routine of preparing them in the night if I have time and saving them to draft. I'll then post them each morning our time, the wee small hours your time and a new report should greet you each morning when you awake.

Karmen, good to see you have been able to grasp the technology to reply, it's great to hear you're enjoying the adventure with us....thx Janet.

Sue, so your skiing boss told you they were called 'gloomed' runs did they. How long have you been working in the Chinese Restaurant up there at Katherine????

Until tomorrow....