While In Revy

The assortment of activities while visiting Theone, Bobby, and Robert in Revelstoke, BC, Canada in 2023.

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Part of Voyage to Revelstoke in 2023

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I arrived at Theone and Bobby's house following a full day of skiing at Sun Peaks Resort north of Kamloops and driving the 3-1/2 hours to Revelstoke along the Trans Canadian Hwy (1).

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Today was my first day to enjoy some skiing on the Revelstoke mountain. All four of us headed out late in the morning. The parking lot was muddy and the snow at the base was corn mimicking spring conditions. After riding up the short gondola, transferring to the main gondola, then riding the Stoke chairlift, we arrived at the top of the mountain. There we were greeted with exceptional snow conditions. It was mostly broken powder yet feather soft. We skied the Ripper Chair most of the time at Robert's request. I was reminded as we made our way down the mountain to the cars that one needs to leave fuel in the ski tank to make it as it's about three to four runs in one.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Theone and I went on my second day of skiing. It's been a few days since fresh snow, but the weather is sunny with only scattered clouds. We didn't rush to get on the mountain arriving at the lower gondola around 11:30AM. For the gondola from the Revelation warming hut high on the mountain we rode with an Au stralian who guides one of the lodges in the backcountry. She was very chatty and talked about two different types of heliskiing folks: those looking for steeps and those seeking to experience the mountain beauty.

Theone and I stuck to the Stoke lift. The moguls on skier's right were still soft and sweet. We dipped into the trees a number of times for pockets of fresh powder. The troughs made by the snowboarders presented special obstacles. At the the top of the Stoke for our run to the base the clouds had moved in obscuring the moguls into mounds felt not seen. Surprisingly, there was some soft powder hidden in the shadow of trees not far above the Revelation warming hut.

Bobby returned from a road trip with a drum set for his music room.

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Set out early today to explore the town a little. I went to the Modern Bakeshop and Cafe on McKenzie street in downtown Revelstoke. The place was almost empty when I arrived around 7:40AM. The dark roast was good as was the veggie quiche and blueberry muffin. The air quality felt poor probably due to the smoking panini press. Theone joined me about 8:35 after dropping Robert off at school. The cafe developed a long line about the same time. Light humoredly we decided it must be related to parents dropping off their kids at school.

The light snow of tiny flakes is falling today hopefully setting us up for an enjoyable powder day tomorrow.

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Today revealed itself as the one I hoped and dreamed of in Revelstoke. A previous day and night of freshly falling snow and waking to blue skies and deep powder. Theone and I were motoring the few miles to the parking lot at 9AM right on schedule. The lots were already filling fast. The queue to the lower gondola snaked back and forth about six times but moved at a steady pace. Then there was another shorter queue at the MacKenzie lodge level for the long gondola ride. The Stoke chair was the third long long to shuffle forward in before our ride to the top of the mountain. What a view from there! It was surprisingly warm with striking blue skies and a some scattered clouds that occasionally wafted and enveloped the top of the Stoke chair. The views of the Columbia River and Mt Begbie west of the river were breathtaking.

Theone and I started out in the mostly powder covered moguls. Theone decided the powder was a bit too heavy slipping under the rope to the groomed side. I couldn't resist the stuff and continued on. We made several more runs. I slipped into the trees cutting fresh tracks through the powder between the trees; my favored place. The fresh powder surrendered to my teleturns. I floated and glided through the pristine white snow.

Bobby and Robert eventually connected with us. I made a couple of runs with them before throwing in the towel with aching knees and tired muscles. The ski to the bottom took the last vestiges of energy out of me. Bobby, Robert, and Theone continued skiing for another hour or so.

Whatever ski conditions come after today will be icing as this was a prime ski day. Be sure to check out the pictures on the link above.

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The weather forecast today called for a major storm moving into the area. The consensus was not to ski because the wind and visibility would be poor on the mountain. Instead we piled into the Toyota Rav driving south on the west side of the Columbia river on highway 23 to visit the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort.

This trip requires a ferry crossing. The Columbia River along this long stretch forms a lake for a long way - maybe 100 miles? Apparently it makes more sense to have a ferry instead of building a massive bridge. We didn't plan our departure time well and despite Theone hitting 80mph at times (when the road wasn't icy), we missed the ferry by about 5 minutes. The ferry departs every hour. So we had some time to kill. The only thing at both lake shores where the ferry docks are the dock ramps. There isn't cell service either except for a few minutes mid crossing. But of course one needs to be on the ferry to be mid crossing leading to some phone withdrawals. So we divided and conquered the time with some of us exploring and others sitting in the car.

The unloading and loading of vehicles is very efficient and rapid. We were free to wonder the single deck with the cars though most folks quickly found refuge in their cars as the cold foggy air of the crossing took a bite.

Halcyon Hot Springs Resort gives preference to guests overnighting. Those people like ourselves spending only the day are limited on a first-come first-serve basis to enter the springs. The parking lot looked very full and there was a long queue of people ahead of us at the resort, but we were allowed to enter. The locker facilities are nice with hot water for showers. The views even with the low clouds and spitting rain and sleet conditions were pleasant. There are three pools: moderately hot, hot, and a a small cold plunge. The cold plunge was definitely entertaining. Some folks didn't get water above their ankles. Theone managed four minutes submerged up to her chin!

We spent a couple of hours enjoying the pools before exiting. Bobby and Robert got out first and tried for some drinks and food in the restaurant. I'll keep that story short - it was a serious bust. It contributed to our poor departure time for the return ferry so that we missed it again by about 5 minutes and had to wait the rest of the hour for the ferry to return. By now it was a steady rain with a little sleet thrown in so we mostly hunkered down in the car. The roads home were building with snow. Theone did a great job driving.

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A good snow dump occurred the last day so Theone, Robert, and I headed up to the mountain to ski. We consciously waited until 10:30AM before departing the house. Most of the morning we could see bump-to-bumper cars out the kitchen window as people made their way to the ski area. By the time we arrived people were already starting to leave opening up parking places in the preferred upper lot - we snagged one.

The lower gondola boarding maze was put away from the morning crush so all we did was walk onto a gondola car. The ride up the Stoke chair was ominous. About half way up the wind was howling with cutting cold temperatures through my powder suit, down vest and two shirts. The top was a little better. We'd already decided to make our way to the Ripper chair lower on the mountain and better protected from the wind. The snow on the groomed runs was hard packed, but everywhere else it was creamy soft and six plus inches deep. Theone lead us down a circuitous route called Monkey Trap from the top of the Ripper. It took us through trees, over boulders covered in feet of powder, traversing hillsides on tracks just wide enough for two skis side-by-side, and down steeper ravines. The snowboarders tend to cut deep troughs creating big drops of 3-8ft if you're trying to stay out of the trough. The fun part is powder outside of the troughs is many storms old so its deep and soft. BUT, the drop into the trough can feel death defying.

Robert became very chilled. He decided to stop in the 'warming hut at the top of the Ripper chair while Theone and I made another run. We went skier's left of the Ripper chair. This likely my most favorite part of the entire mountain. The trees a spaced a friendly distance apart and the broker powder a treat when making telemark turns. The pitch ranges from moderate to short bursts of steep to challenge up the skills. About half way down we took a run called Glades of Glory a single diamond tight tree run. This turned into the most challenging and interesting run. The run is a steady steep with loads of trees and a 15-30ft gorge about 50ft wide forming 2/3'rd of the way down that you can't see until you're standing almost on the edge of it. I watched two young boys of maybe 10 charge straight down a very steep sweet powder patch toward the ravine bottom; there are some good skiers in this place! The snowboard troughs were alive and well here. And so where the soft spots of powder!

Once Theone and I arrived back where we'd left Robert, he expressed that he was very cold. We decided to head to the bottom taking the gondola down to Revelations Lodge where he was able to warm up. It was a short day and my knees were screaming at me most of the time, but the soft broken powder in the trees with Theone made another memorable day.

On a brief side note, I proceeded to clear the car of snow for our short trip to the ski mountain. The driveway is made narrow by the accumulated snow on each side so I apparently was leaning into the car to brush the snow off. The buttons on the key fob located in my pocket must have contacted the car in just the right sequence to trigger a special feature. All the car windows including the sun roof proceeded to open dumping snow inside the car! It's apparently a new 'global warming' feature to help cool your car down before climbing in. It creates a mess when the roof is covered in snow!

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An illness managed to take hold of me over the last couple of days. Despite the chest congestion, Theone and I decided to hit the slopes again today. As you can see in the photos, it was another bluebird day. The temperature at the top was somewhere around 5F yet the wind was barely blowing and the vistas wonderful! Fingers and cheeks cried out for warmth. The extra stocking cap under the helmet worked a miracle in maintaining a warm head. We made three runs on the Stoke chair with the last one down Devil's Club, a single black diamond, that we followed almost to the bottom of the mountain. The snow was soft on the top part of the mountain and lift lines non-existent. I find it breathtaking looking down on the Columbia River from the MacKenzie warming hut.

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The days pass in an ill fog. The day after skiing with Theone, I came down with a debilitating viral flu that kept me laid up for several days. Robert had it but was over and done in under two days. Bobby and I have been on parallel symptom tracks the last seven days. Theone, well, she's been completely unaffected. Three days ago Bobby went to the hospital where they conducted a barrage of tests and then sent him home. The results obtained today indicated it is a lung virus striking North American and just has to run it's course. Eight days in and we're both slowly starting to recover.

I've run out of the Aeropress filters so today, upon feeling better, Theone and I went to Dose Coffee. I like the coffee here; I'd describe it as 'floral' delicate light roasted. We both enjoyed the 'Breaky Sando' a fried egg with spinach and bacon on a bun. I gave most of the generous supply of bacon to Theone. The eggs were done to perfection with my deep yellow yoke gushing out down my chin. I enjoyed the time in our meandering conversation.

Revelstoke is not a large community with a disproportionately high number of coffee shops. There are four within a few blocks of each other and that's not counting the 7-11 that Bobby frequents.

Both Bobby and Theone display skills in the kitchen. Theone has been cooking and baking extensively: quiche, salads, tacos, soups, cookies and more cookies. I find her lemon ones sunshine tart perfection. Bobby is the supreme master of slow cooked meats. I relish his tender succulent pork ribs that almost melt in the mouth.

Robert acquired a girlfriend since my arrival. She plays the trumpet. Each clearly enjoys being with the other.

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Today marks the last day to visit Theone, Bobby, and Robert before heading south tomorrow, Saturday. Doug Logan, Bobby's brother, drove up from Kelowna yesterday to visit and ski a couple of days. Last night Doug, Theone and I played a game of Qwirkle; it was Doug's first time.

Smell the aroma and read this paragraph if you have slight leanings toward being a coffee snob. This morning Doug, being one who enjoys a cup of coffee, shared with me his equipment and loose guidelines for making a fine cup of coffee. He uses a Eureka Mignon burr grinder and brews using a Casa V manual ECM Espresso machine. The ratio is one unit by mass of coffee to two units by mass of final coffee - whatever water at the start is needed to accomplish this. The time the water is in contact with the ground beans is 25-30 seconds. This method is completely unknown and new to me. I shared with him my method using the coffee siphon.

I took a morning nap after the coffee and conversation gearing up to ski at 11AM. The lung infection continues to ease, but it's still there and drains my energy. Theone, Doug, and I did the double gondola then Stoke chair ride to the top of the ski resort. There were two lines of people boot packing it to the North bowl. The lines remind me of those in pictures of people queued climbing Everest. I did not make it over to the bowl this trip. Between age, conditioning, and now the cold, the interest just wasn't in me. Snow conditions from bottom to top were the best I've experienced since my arrival a month ago. The broken powder at the top of Devils Chute felt like downy feathers. Most the time the winds were calm. The top view had dark menacing clouds on the left, a patch of blue sky on the right, and the sun separating the two. Tiny snow flakes drifted straight down at one point with the sun shining. The Stoke chair line was only a few parties long. It was a perfect day to be on the mountain and a perfect way to end the trip. I threw in the towel after three runs in my weakened state while Theone and Doug stayed on to ski longer.