Monday Monday

Monday was one of those remarkable days - I tried to capture the activity and the scenery, but the softness of the snow underfoot, and the warmth of the sun on the body are missing from the video. When I go out Southridge Trail on a day like that - I think of my friends whose bodies not longer allow them to ski, and wish I could share it with them.

The Mamas and the Papas have been stuck in my head since Monday - the only song I could use for this. With apologies to my sister and cousins who won't be able to get the song out of their heads either...........

Included is a sneak peek at the terrain for the Bare Essentials competition on Sunday.

Bare Essentials

Pre-registration is closed for snowboarders for this event. There are a few spots for first come, first serve on the day of competition. There are a couple of spots left for skiers. Check the Pentagon Board shop Facebook page for more info.

Old Brochure

That's me in a new ski suit my Mom bought for me when I quit college to come home and ski.

Nancy Greene Team 2007

Remarkable Day

Blue sky, dry soft snow, sunshine. Cold night followed by comfortable day in the sun. Lots of activity....Google Cam, Ladies Day, BCSS - two busses full, CASI park course, event prep for next weekend's "Bare Essentials" event.

I spent some time tonight producing a video presentation with stills and 7 video clips from today.
Note to self..........save the darn thing before you lose patience with the software and inadvertently lose it all.............

Ladies Day

Ladies Lunch

On the Snowshoe Trail - Hilary photo

Wayne and the Ladies
Watched episode 5 tonight - Wayne is doing well in Canada's Greatest Know-It-All

The Husbands - they have to make their own lunch!

Google Monday

The Google 360 camera tower was here today - more Monday posted later.

Want to see the manager happy? Let him play.

Top Photo

Just changed the top photo for the blog. I had been using one from Dec.2010, not wanting to use a current one, as there were a few tree tops showing on Maverick and CD that made it look like there was less snow than there is. So here you go -  a new one from today.

K1 Training February 26, 2012

I'm still getting used to the GoPro - here is a a video of some of the K1's yesterday.

Would you like to see yourself on this blog?

I am on the hill everyday with at least one camera, and I'm always looking for new material for the blog. I welcome any photos you would like to submit  unbaldy@gmail.com

If you don't know me to stop me on the hill - just ask a patroller or other staff member to point me out, and I would be happy to take your photo.

That's me - second from left - Ski School 1970's - The Skis?? Rossi Strato 102
l-r Dorle Lomas, me, Sylvia Fenwick-Wilson, Eric Lomas, Wally Day, Nano Van Eysinga
in front, Sieglinde Klumpp, Mary-Ann Day, Rhonda Roylance

BARE ESSENTIALS

If you love snowboarding as much as Josh does, then Baldy is the place to be on Sunday March 4th
It's a slopestyle event that will be a great ride, and fun to watch. If you can ski South Ridge Trail, then you will be able to get to the spectator area. The terrain is above Baldy Trail - just south of where the BC Dairy Foundation Skiing Cow commercial was filmed (20yrs ago?)

This event is also open to skiing participants.

Registration for the event starts at 8:30am, with the first run at 10:00am. Sponsors include GoPro, so there should be some awesome video of this event.

"Ride Snowboards" will be available for demo at a tent by the lodge.

Family Sunday



Thomas tried very hard to look at the camera with his goggles up, but the sun was just too bright.

CASI Instructors

CASI Park Course starts Monday - must have level one certification. If you haven't already signed up - check with the SSC to see if there is still space on course.

Soft and Silky - Powder and Groomed

The chairs were pretty full on the Eagle this afternoon, although true to form - no line ups. Usually the Sugarlump is the refuge from wind, but today it was blowing at the top of Sugarlump, and not nearly as much at the top of Eagle.

There are a few drifts on South Ridge, but there are lots of good powder lines left in the trees, and some in the open as well. The soft pack groomers are fun, and even the ripple drifting on Dividend is fun when you time your turns just right.

Sayre's Grandma on Baldy

Hey Sayre - Grandma was skiing with Sherry and I today.

Leslie and Sherry

Apres Ski Nap - Long John Baldy Tonight

Ski hard in the powder today, but allow yourself time for an Apres Ski nap...............Long John Baldy tonight in the lodge.

Sayre in Morzine, French Alps

Here's My Favourite Mt. Baldy Ski Instructor - On Exchange in France
 Last Weekend at Morzine - French Alps

  

If you are friends with Sayre on facebook, he has just uploaded a bunch of photos from last weekend's trip. Among his observations..........no snowboards, and many of the tourists could use the services of a ski pro!

(with apologies to the other instructors..........I've known this one since he was born...........)
.....and Mom, in the ones where the goggles were up, he wasn't smiling

Lots of Good Skiing - Spring Pass

Spring season passes go on sale on Sunday. Stop by and check with Silvia for details.

Yes! for Saturday

The best part about this Big Pow Friday, is that it is still snowing! So, even though there was a big crowd here trying to shred it all, there will be pow for those of you who can't come until Saturday.

Have you had a burger lately?? Ryan makes his own burger patties and they are great. There must be a few pre-packaged patties in the freezer, because that is what the staff had last week on staff day.

Seeing double? Your eyesight is OK - Finnegan has a friend up this weekend. Younger Red Dog Molly looks very much like Finnegan, but is a little bit bigger.

Sorry Nolan - I had you mixed up with your brother. "Flat Nolan's" name has been corrected.

BC Winter Games

Best of Luck to our racers with Coach Warren at the BC Winter Games. I will be watching the Racers Blog (link below) for twitter updates from Warren. Sounds like the opening ceremonies were good, and they are sleeping on foamies in a dorm with the Thompson Okanagan Team.

After the first men's GS, one of our racers is in 8th, one with DNF. Hmmm, I wonder if Silver Star has "snow snakes"?

Enjoy the ride boys.

Pow Friday

We've got powder, it is snowing, and snow in the forecast for Today, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Oh yeah, and it is snowing and minus7C at noon. There is plenty for all of us.

Thanks to Sam A for the message from Moss Vale - 35 hours of travel and Margaret and John are home in Australia. Missing you!

A photo from last weekend:

Anya and Mia - Racing Buddies and Powder Hounds

Site Hits

The site meter is ticking away...............Okay...........who is reading this from Vegas??

Coming Events

I've just updated the list of coming events - Long John Baldy this Saturday February 25th and two dates in March - the 17th and 31st. The 17th will combine Long John Baldy at the lodge, with the St. Patrick's Day fun that has previously been held at "The Vortex". The March 31st event will lend itself to creative drinks as it will be time to "drink the bar dry". (responsible consumption and designated drivers)

March 10th "The Gordie Mac Band" is playing for an afternoon set at 3:30 and in the evening as well. This time  Long John Baldy can do some dancing for a change.

The Winemaker's Cup Race March 23rd will be on "Beach Day" When Lee sets up the patio furniture, we are pretty much guaranteed powder!

Interest in the "Dummy Race" has declined in recent years, so it will be left of the schedule for this year - hoping for new interest next year. The Cardboard Box race is the 31st of March - bring cardboard, tape and paint to make your creation with family at Spring Break.

Someone will get wet in the pond skim April 1st.

Ullr Blurry Eyed

Thanks Gary for your video of last weekend's pow!

On the Map..........Google??

Google Earth is sending someone to Baldy with a camera this week - hope there is sunshine for their street/slope views.

Coming Events

This afternoon I had a meeting with "Flat Nolan", and came away with a list of coming events from now until the end of the season. I will be posting and listing over the next few days, as will the ski corp website. Long John Baldy, the Gordie Mac Band, Wine Makers Cup, Cardboard Box Race.......and much more.

"Flat Nolan"

Hello Melbourne and Moss Vale Australia

Sam, Tara, and Kirsten - you can tell your children that they no longer have to be envious of their grandparents on the slopes. Last ski day today for Pippi and Poppi - time for the grandkids to get excited about them coming home. We'll be sad to say goodbye in a couple of days.

Long John Baldy won't be quite the same on Saturday without Baldy's Best Dancer........

Ladies Day

I was deep in conversation about "Jolly Jack" while Ryan was plating the lunch, and the ladies consumed it too quickly for me to get a photo. Pita baked on the mountain, rice, chicken souvlaki.........

It was an unusual day with a layer floating up and down all day - some runs the top was in the sun, some runs Jolly Jack was in the sun, sometimes the layer was mid-mountain.

Here's A New One for Me

Most of the run names at Baldy have historical significance - a mining theme on the Eaglechair, Baldy History on the Sugarlump.

You wouldn't guess who was skiing here today...............the Great,Great,Great,Great Grandson of  "Jolly Jack!!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Jack's_Lost_Mine

2012 Silent Auction Donors

Almerios' Pizza, Oliver	Margaret Giltrap
Apex Mountain Shop	Marge MacLeod
Apex Ski Shop	Meadowlark Picture Framing and Art
Baldy Bob Cat	Michael Fenwick-Wilson
Berry and Smith Trucking	Mike and Virginia Crowson
Bertende	NK Mip Cellars
Beyond Bliss	NK'Mip Desert Canyon Golf Club
Black Hills Winery	Nu Beginnings Hair Design
Burrowing Owl Winery	OK Tire, Oliver
Cassini Cellars	Okaped, Penticton
Charmed Circle Bead Co.	Pentagon Board Shop Inc.
Cheesecakes and more by Lisa	Pharmasave, Oliver
Christian Valley Service	Pizza Factory, Osoyoos
Desert Canyon Liquor Store	River Stone Estate Winery
Desert Hills Winery	Riverside Pharmasave, Penticton
Epicure Solutions, Oliver	Road 13 Vineyards
Fairview Mountain Golf Club	Rod MacLeod
Freeride Boardshop	Scholastic Books - The Davisons
Fresh Air Experience	Subway
Gehringer Brother's Estate Winery	Sumac Ridge
G-Mac Photography	Summerland Pharmasave
Greg and Masako Myers	Sundance Video, Oliver
Heatherz Threadz	Super-Valu Oliver
Hilary Drummond	Tanya Walsh
Hilltop Esso	The Barbers
Honky Tonk Hotel	The Bike Barn
Inniskillin Vineyards	The Jesus Family
Jackson Triggs	The Websters
Jane Bland	Tim Horton's Oliver
Jim Linton	True Value Building Centre, Oliver
Jolly Lake Campground	Valley Medical Supply
Kelly Forrest	Wakepilot, Osoyoos
Kettle Valley Construction	Walnut Beach Resort
Kettle Valley Electric	Watermark Beach Resort
Leslie Potter	Wayne Hachey - Desert Golf Academy
Malcolm and Lynn

"Our Sponsors"

A little thank-you from the racers to some of the sponsors - Renaissance Roofing, Pharmasave, and RDKB. Team jackets, with guests today from Mt. Baker Racers.

RDKB, Oliver Family Health, Captain Ron, Pharmasave, Honky Tonk Hotel, Renaissance Roofing, Oliver Twist Estate Winery, Mt. Baldy, and........................ECM promotions

Attention CASI Certified Instructors

CASI Park Course Monday February 27th, and Monday March 5th. Pre-requisite, CASI Level 1 certification. Check with the Snow Sports Center or the CASI website for details.

Sunday

We've got powder, a top dressing of new overnight, visibility, and the sun is trying to poke through.
Come on up - it's going to be a great day. minus5C

Sold Out - Fun evening

Great job by the Baldy Racer families - a full house, good dinner, awesome table service staff, and some great stuff at the silent auction. Generous support from the business community.
To top it off, snowing as we left.


The Baldy Family - These two friends, and every age in between.

Silent Auction - Olympic Souvenirs

Ben with auction item.

Three Amigos - Table Service and Entertainment

Coach and Table Servers

Wow - What a great powder day!

Powder was deep and plentiful - great day. Somehow poor visibility up top doesn't seem to matter when the snow is rolling up your legs on to your thighs.

Baldy Bare Essentials Slopestyle

Lifted this from facebook. More details later

Sunday, March 04, 2012

The Baldy Bare Essentials Slopestyle contest.
Pentagon Boardshop and Cariboo Brewing present to you Baldys Bare Essentials Slopestye contest. The first of it's kind in the Okanagan!!! Be sure to get in on the first of what is sure to become an amazing annual event.
The B.B.E.S. is not all about who can throw down the most rotations and corked spins. It's all about flow, c...reativity, originality and style. If you are gonna ride be prepared to do a 10-15min boot pack to the top your line before catching your breath..... Enjoying the vibe and the view for just a moment, and then droppin in to your line full of freshies and yet, it's a blank canvas awaiting each brush stroke you are about to lay on it. Cliff drops, pillow lines, tree jibs, natural waves and halfpipes galore!! Come show your best powder turns, Methods, Shifties and whatever else you got in your bag O' tricks;)
This event is open to skiers and snowboarders alike and men and women 16 years of age and up.

Registration runs from 8:30am to 10:00am on the day of the event

Helmets Mandatory!!!!!!!

Reg Fee is $30 and that includes a lunch. It does not include your lift ticket.

See you on the Mountain March 4th!!

GO PRO HERO2 SNOWBOARDING TREE RUN MT BALDY OSOYOOS

Thanks to whoever put the link up on Facebook. This rider has better results than I have so far with my new Gopro Hero 2HD - keep them coming - thanks.

Yahoo - Get to bed early, it is powdering Big Time.

The "snow buntings" were seen this afternoon, there is at least 5cms so far, and it is coming down big time! It's going to be a BIG POW Saturday. Even this amount on top of what is there will be good, but there is no sign of this stopping!

Friday

I learned a new term today for frozen fog - "Froggy". The powder was great, the groomers were fun, but there was ice fog at the top of eagle. The kind that reduces visibility and requires a stop or two to clean off the goggles. Happy to ski Sugarlump when it is "froggy" up top.

Don't need a humidifier today - just hang up the frosty clothes by the woodstove - instant humidity.

Info Tel - Search and Rescue

The Oliver-Osoyoos Search and Rescue is delivering Info Tel phone books as a fundraiser. If you would like one for your cabin - contact Kyle in the snow sports center, or e-mail me at unbaldy@gmail.com .

POW Friday, coming up!

We have snow, it is snowing, and there weren't enough staff to track up too much this afternoon, so there will be lots for everyone for tomorrow.

Staff Appreciation Day

It's OK now, you can look at the webcams - you won't see anything up top, and you may see a staff member or two getting on Eagle. I was pleased to be included in the annual Staff Appreciation Day. Thanks to Matt, Laird, Sylvia, Fritz and others for making it all happen.

Great turns on Sugarlump this morning, a barbeque lunch, riding the Eaglechair this afternoon. Groomer John and I agree that there are at least four inches already and it is coming down still.

Hey Mom - Coach Yanni-Lou was looking pretty awesome on "powder skis" today.

I'll post photos later - time to go get Ethel.

Staff Incognito - no uniforms-Top of Sugarlump

Just how Snowy/Frosty was it up top? Just a little.
The staffers who couldn't come close to Kevin in the top to bottom race, need to see Kyle in the SSC and talk about wax.

Baldy Cup

Look closely, you might be in this one.

The Walsh/Drummond family, two Crowsons, an Amos, two Fenwick-Wilsons, a Klumpp, a Mallach,a Davison, a Skelton, a MacLeod. I remember the girl next to Mike - don't recognise the person with eyes closed holding the poster.

Ron or Marlene?

Hi - I am guessing that it was one of you who asked for my e-mail address when commenting on the Traude and Emil photo. Please get in touch, I have more photos from that day.

Sandra Smith
unbaldy@gmail.com

Spaghetti!

Count down to Saturday's Baldy Racer Fundraiser - Silent Auction and the Spaghetti Dinner with table service by the racers.

The silent auction has some awesome stuff including golf rounds and lessons, Scholastic Book packages, the favourite gourmet pizza cooked at your cabin, good tasting gift packs, hotel stays, and some authentic memorabilia from the 2010 Olympics,  Alpine events.

It is a fun event, a worthy cause, and a lot of fun that you won't want to miss. There are a limited amount of tickets left - Sylvia has a few at the ticket office.

If you need tickets, I can connect you with the ticket Mom.

My e-mail is unbaldy@gmail.com .

Monday Skiing

Take Sunday's "Sweet" , add a couple of cms new overnight, part the clouds for some sunshine, and you've got a great day on the hill. Toward the end of the day the temp was dropping as forecast, minus7C at 3:35pm.

Gathering on Jolly Jack in the Sun
Virginia, Marion, Eleanor, Delphine, Ken and George

View from where the above skiers were standing

Not a Cloud in the sky.

Monday, Monday............

Monday, Monday...........one of the songs accompanying the slideshow for the Ladies Dinner last night, and Ladies lunch today. By all reports it was a good time and good food last night, and today Ryan prepared  delicious comfort food - Shepherds Pie.

Sylvia, the newest "Baldy Babe"

Photos to come later on the Ladies Night.

Racers and Coaches

Some of the Baldy Racers and Coaches training this afternoon.



Anya, Agatka, Coach Warren, Coach Yanni-Lou, Silken, Nils, Daniel, Ben, and Mia



Silken

Sweet

Sweet - the word used by one of my friends to describe the cruising on the groomers today. Big GS turns on smooth wide runs with some fresh falling on top. Powderkeg, and Dividend were exceptional. Ponderosa was fun too. The Baldy Racers were training on the lower right of Pondo, but there was plenty of space for us to ski by. The young racers are skiing very well, and Silken from the BC Alpine Team was cool to watch.

I ventured in to the trees late this afternoon - I expected it to be crunchy after the warm weather yesterday, not so. Still soft in there on the North Side.

Sweetheart Snowshoe

Thanks to Lee's sweetheart Ian for this photo of the event last night. An evening snowshoe with food and beverage waiting at the fire at "Gruhl's Pool".

Ponderosa Training

The Baldy racing families were among the volunteers working on summer brush cutting, and in particular, on the Ponderosa. Today was the first day of GS training for our racers on Ponderosa, and tomorrow they will be joined by BC Alpine Team member Silken Rauhala. Welcome home Silken - glad you could come for a visit.

A Blogger, a Racer, a Fairweather, a Back Country Skier



Sam. Nils. Paula, John
The Blogger, a Racer. a Fairweather, a Back Country Skier



Two Baldy originals, one Baldy longtimer, and one of the "Kids" of Baldy

Velvet Friday

Still snowing, winter snow on the hill even though it is just below 0 in the village - like skiing velvet this afternoon.

Winter Games 1985



BC Winter Games Volunteers 1985
Far left ?, Jane Mavety, Jay Ozanne, Fred Jones, Wendy Hospes, Bruce Smith, Barbara Fenwick-Wilson, Barbara Lang

I have a guess on the woman on the left - maybe Bev Holland? Maybe someone can help me out with that one.

Elk!.........no camera

The road from Baldy to Oliver was completed in time for the BC Winter Games in 1985. In the countless trips I have done on that road, I have only seen Elk maybe 3 times. Yesterday coming back from town three ran across in front of me - I stopped and there were many of them standing still in the trees maybe 50 feet from the road. A little like grouse - staying still thinking you can't see them.
Last weekend I skied with three cameras - yesterday I didn't have one with me.

Non-hunters can ask me the location.........for my hunter friends- they were closer to Baldy than they were to Oliver.

Sweetheart Snowshoe

The annual Sweetheart Snowshoe is Saturday February 11th - info and sign up in the ticket office.
I don't snowshoe in the evening after a full day of skiing, so hopefully one of the sweethearts will take a camera.

Ladies Day

Ladies day was a busy one. I was a little late to get the food photo - thanks Ryan for plating up some leftovers for the photo.

If you haven't already signed up for the Sunday night Ladies Dinner, call Sylvia asap at 250-498-4086. I don't know how many spaces are left for dinner.

Menu for Sunday Night



Nancy Greene Zone Race 2012, Mt. Baldy

This didn't format the way I wanted it - you can get rid of the ad by clicking on the edge of the video on the right side where the X button is barely showing.

Super Sunday

The Race

The Cousins

Draw Prizes and of course the Cupcakes!

The Hardware

Presentations - the Families

Anya Nazaroff - fastest girls time for the day, with friends Mia and Agatka

Daniel Everton - Fastest time of the Day

Perfect weather, approx 100 racers from BigWhite, Apex, Crystal and Baldy.

Hard work by parents, Baldy management and staff, and a great bunch of  5-11 year olds skiing well and having fun. I have more than 100 images to go through, and will get copies to families and probably a slide show for the blog sometime this week.
Oh, was there a football game?

Staff with Smiles

Mike cleared the snow and ice off the picnic area - barbeque planned for outside tomorrow - race day.

Traude and Emil

Nice to see Traude and Emil Aspe on the hill today. Emil did a few turns, and Traude impressed us with her yodelling. Traude's photo was on the blog recently in the St. Bernard photo series. When they owned the "Vienna Pastries" bakery in Osoyoos, Emil made the best apple strudel I have ever tasted.

Traude and Emil Aspe

Mike Feb 3, 2012

Uncut video of Maritime Mike and Lobsterman Jordan

Videos

I am a little behind in editing and posting videos. Amy, I have footage of your husband flying over his first jump. Mom, I have footage of Mike and Jordan having fun on the hill today. I will get to it as soon as I can.

I am finding Windows Movie Maker for Windows 7 more unfriendly than than the version for XP.
I would be interested to hear from fellow Go Pro users if they have a favourite video editing software that they like to use.

WOW Friday!

Sorry Big Pow folks, you're missing a WOW Friday. Sometimes it doesn't take much to re-juvenate the pow - 10cms this time - it is silky skiing everywhere, and the sun is shining. It is a gorgeuous day.

Grooming has  been a challenge this season with the first three feet of snow being so dry. There is still a "sugar" layer underneath. I am having a blast today - particulary with a groomed Ponderosa and the groomed Jolly Jack traverse - cruising across the trail, and ducking in to the trees for silky skiing.

We are trying our best, but likely not enough of us to track up the off piste, so there should be some for you tomorrow in the sunshine.

It is always great to get fresh snow, but this sunshine is nice for a change too!

Love your new jacket Jack. Thanks for rounding up your friends for a photo.

Long John Baldy

Just added a date for Long John Baldy on closing weekend - playing Saturday Night March 31st.

Nancy Greene Zone Cupcake Race Sunday

The Baldy racers are hosting the Big White, Apex and Crystal Mountain ski clubs for a Zone race Sunday at 10:00am. The race will be on Tenning's Trail - rather fitting as one of the coaches is Willi Tenning's grandson, and one of the racers is Willi's great-grandaughter.

Willi Tenning with Irene Fairweather and Alfred Gruhl

Cupcake race? Just watch the racers inhale the homemade cupcakes at presentation time.