2011-01-30

Heli-Assisted Ski Touring with CMH Adamants

I spent the week of Jan 22nd to 29th ski touring at the CMH Adamants lodge. But this wasn't a normal ski touring week, we happened to have a helicopter at our disposal. Tom Raudaschl (lead guide) and I would look at the map in the morning (with over 1073sq. km of terrain to choose from) pick an area to explore, then fly out and ski tour for the day with no restriction on where we ended up. Once our lungs and legs were finished, the helicopter would swoop in and take us back home to the spectacular Adamants lodge for beers and a hot tub. Now that's my kinda ski-touring.

I put together a short vid of the 6 days we spent skiing. Enjoy the footage and conversation with Dick Eitel (who has been skiing with CMH since 1968!).

Joshua


Heli-Assisted Ski Touring in the Adamants from Joshua Lavigne on Vimeo.

2011-01-22

CMH Galena Week 4 "A Guide's Perspective"

Week 2 of guiding at CMH Galena was one for the books, after receiving over 80cm of fresh snow a high pressure system rolled in. We were able to fly north to Westfall Creek where 1000 meter runs consisting of steep glads and dreamy pillow lines were ripe for the picking.

The snow just kept on coming with over 150cm of snow in 10 days. It looks like the legendary Kootenay winter has returned with a vengeance.

Enjoy Webisode 3
J.

Galena Week 4 "A Guide's Perspective" from Joshua Lavigne on Vimeo.

2011-01-12

CMH Galena Webisode 2 "A Guide's Perspective"

My first week of guiding at Galena has been by far one of the best weeks of skiing I have ever had. The veteran guides say that this is normal, which makes me wonder what it will be like when it starts to really go off. I think I'm about to find out, another storm is crashing into the Kootenays starting today (Jan 12th).

I will let you know how it goes ;)

J.

Week 3 Jan 3-8th "A Guide's Perspective from Joshua Lavigne on Vimeo.

2011-01-05

Guiding Satoshi Shimizu

Satoshi Shimizu is from Japan and he loves ice climbing. He travelled to the Rockies to climb for a week, first with some friends and then hiring me through Yamnuska Mounain Adventures. He was keen and fit, having already climbed for 5 days and with only 3 days left. I wanted to show him some of the classics so we started our 2 days together in Field B.C. where we climbed Guiness Gulley and Carlsberg Column. On our second day we travelled to Kananaskis Country to climb Whiteman Falls and Redman Soars. We both had 2 great days of climbing together and Satoshi is already thinking of his return trip.

Here is a short video of his trip.

Guiding Satoshi Shimizu from Joshua Lavigne on Vimeo.


 Satoshi following Whiteman Falls

 Carlsberg Column

 The end of another day

The top of Whiteman Falls


2011-01-04

Christmas Sampler

Christmas has come and gone, a combination of nostalgia, board games and a bout of food poisoning sums it up. Luckily my brother came out early so that we could spend some time in the hills together.

Delano Lavigne, (my younger brother) is definitely one of the 'best off-the-couchers' I know. The moment he arrived we embarked on 5 days of none stop skiing and climbing and he relished in the challenge. We climbed Cascade in 2 hours (his 2nd time ice climbing) and skied Forever Young Couloir (his 3rd time ski touring). Maybe one day he will decide to buy his own gear, forget about doing a PHD and become a real mountain man.

Peace Bro.


Christmas Sampler from Joshua Lavigne on Vimeo.