short days and long nights

Within the past 2 weeks, there was not a single day I was not outside with either Guests, Friends or Family, taking advantage of the short days leading towards the Winter Solstice. Lots of pre dawn starts and 'coming home after dark' outings have been the norm lately. The early Winter (or late fall according to the calendar) is treating us very well this year, consistently good skiing and ice climbing is amongst us since mid November.
Thanks to everyone spending time with me out there lately, I'm a lucky man.

Trevor Linden switched from hockey skates to skis a few years back,
 the only body checks are with trees now.

As a hobby hockey player and fan of the game,
I was honored to spend a couple days with former Vancouver Canucks Star  Trevor Linden
and his friends playing in the Rockies.

Lorne, the "Ober Oinker" of the group, ripping it up on
this seasons first decent of Emerald Lake Slidepath.

Here are my two girls.
Bella still enjoys the bed time stories from Mum,
specially when it's cold outside and a warm fire is crackling  besides the couch.

Moments of anticipation... heading for the huge north chute of Cathedral Crags,
a 1500m elevation drop straight down to the TransCanada Highway.

Josh Lavigne and Simon Meis bootpacking up Cathedral Mountain,
Rocky Mountains

Simon Meis getting in deep...

...and out again. The fine art of surfacing on the lower slopes of Puff Daddy,
Rogers Pass

Walking back to the Visitor Center after a phenomenal run on Puff Daddy,
Rogers Pass

Jamie Hood on the Highway line off Grizzly Shoulder,
Rogers Pass

Kitty Hawk and Unicorn to the left

Steve Swenson on the first pitch of the Unicorn,
David Thompson Highway

the downside of dropping into unknown terrain without checking it beforehand-
two lessons learned:
 short and light ski touring ice axes are not suited to chop steps in steep water ice
don't leave your rope in the car after you have decided to bring it the night before

into the Light