Naturally, for a trip of this length, the emails were flying back and forth for about a month previous. Only one person had been to Amiskwi before so the lodge and area were new to us. We stayed in Golden the night before and met for breakfast on Sunday morning at the Big Bend Cafe.(Excellent breakfast.) We then drove to the Golden Airport and loaded gear onto the helicopter.


Blaeberry River from the bubble of the helicopter

Carmie and Christine in Helicoptor

Amiskwi Lodge

Amiskwi Lodge had compost toilets


Amiskwi Lodge:Indoor Composting Toilet

(very clean and comfortable), a comfortable living room, large kitchen and dining area, gear room.


Amiskwi Lodge: Food Storage, Gear Storage and Drying area

Water had to be lugged from the two water holes, one which was frozen.


Ivan digging a path to China at the waterhole

Heat was provided by wood and power by solar panels. There was also a large sauna with showers. (Thanks to Ivan and the other Alpha Males in our group, water and wood was well taken care of.)There were weekend custodians who came up on snowmobiles and then skied up from the valley bottom to the lodge.


David, Manfred, Carl and Damian on the gladed ridge above the 'Toilet Bowl'

Amiskwi ski trip

The skiing was great. No wonder, since it snowed every day (between 60 cm and 80 cm). Great tours around the hut-people could choose to be out all day or do shorter trips and return to the lodge for lunch.


Carl blasting through the deep powder on the lower section of the 'Toilet Bowl'

Amiskwi ski trip, Ivan, Elizabeth,Carmie, Christine

We took turns preparing supper and the food was excellent.


Snack time at Amiskwi Lodge

Yvon did an excellent job as the Koffee Komandant. Comments from Group Members:I will always remember the view from the window; snow covering tree tops and birds sitting on their tops.


Female Red Crossbill

.


View from the reading room of Amiskwi Lodge

Sun was notably lacking but the compensation was tons of wonderful snow!The tree skiing was/is extensive and superb.


Carmie skiing the deep powder in Postumus Glades

Good news-all terrain was good and fun. Bad news-everyday snowing-no blue sky-However, all food fun-excellent trip with 8 coordinators. Sorry for Stan and Peter who were not with us. (Yoko)


Yoko skiing the lower section of the 'Cornfields'

Thank you Christine, for being so kind to us. Thank you, Carl, for your skiing enthusiasm that carried us along.


Carl blasting through the deep powder on the lower section of the 'Toilet Bowl'

The Madmen (strong skiers) skied each day averaging over 1000 metres and 10 km per day in snow which was knee deep. (Damion G.) The Old Wise men (and women) followed the trail breakers in 30 cm of new snow.Climate change-we haven't seen the sun for a whole week, what is going on?Knee deep powder all week and many, many great runs in Posthumus Bowl and Water Closet and the glades above. Even when the visibility lessened visibility due to falling snow-the runs down Posthumus Glades were superb.


Manfred making turns at the top of Postumus Bowl

Meine erste wochenlang Reise mit die Rocky Mtn Ramblers war) eine toll Erfahrung. Gute Freunde, gutes Schifahren aber es war schade das wir keine Sonne hatten. (Carl)


Manfred skiing in Burnt Timbers on Sunday

Stan in Posthumous Bowl on Monday

Kevin skiing Sime's Chutes on Tuesday

Manfred and David on Water Hole slopes on Thursday

Damian in WC Bowl on Friday

Manfred in Angel Hair on Saturday

Christine and Carmie in Angel Hair on Saturday

Damian and our Fearless Leader

Stan and Peter left due to a medical problem. Thanks David, Carmie, Manfred, Yoko, Elizabeth, Kevin,Ivan, Yoko, Bernie, Damian, Carl, Peter and Stan for making this trip possible.


Yokjo shows off her new fast turning skis

Special thanks to Peter whose generousity gave up his week to help Stan.


Amiskwi ski trip front of the lodge

Christine

PS Carl and Bernie took the long way home and found sunshine at the Wet Coast.

Carl and Bernie went home the long way (via Whistler)

PPS The better of my photos (and a few of Kevin's) are posted at my personal Flickr album:
Amiskwi Lodge - March 2014
Carl