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Skiing on snow and travelling through ice

  • 2012-03-15 15:10:00

    Another sweet day of backcountry ski touring in the coast range of BC. We decided to ski the SW couilor of Matier, and explore the visable and amazing blue ice  of the Matier glacier.  (Wanted to use that gear we always carry. haha) With a lot of the recent storms coming in with high winds from the S-SW, we decided to stay safe and avoid the Eastern and North sides of the peak.  We opted for the SW couilor, and though it wasn't deep pow, (wind affected) we got to ski a classic line.  We then kept searching for better snow, skied the east facing Aviversary glacier, still wind affected, so we headed to the protected area near the Matier ice fall.  We found some great POW and had a little fun exploring the glacier and ice caves.  The blue ice and quiet world of the inside of glacier has always had a pull on me.  These snap shots into the past and amazing features have helped shape the mountain we ski in.  They are currently shrinking and deserve a closer look.

    We travelled into the glacier through a crevase and used the gear we had ice screws and rope techniques we practice but hope to never use. We compleated a circut through tunnels and passages to exit out a different area.  We were able to see the rocks burried in the ice layers and the cracks that represent time.  One of those days where the skiing gets better and better the lower you get down to treeline.  The best snow of the day was near Taylor peak and the "Heart Strings". So with a little time to explore on snow and through ice we had a great experience. Thanks to Javier, Max, Juan, Kaya and Peter. 


    shot of the SW couilor of Matier.

    kaya ripping down the line.

    Peter skiing the Matier Glacier

    Max going deep....


    looking around...


    Peter finding a way out...

    The final Out an down.


    Sweet day thanks guys....