falls

falls
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

On the way down I took a few shots of the falls - of which this is one. Couldn't help think that this was probably the snow I was skiing on last weekend..... Ah well, tomorrow another ride on the bike.

lone pine

lone pine
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Another shot of a lone pine in relief on the edge of the escarpment. In spite of the weather, the trail was really busy today - being easter weekend. The higher up the ridge I went the thinner the crowds got. I guess the first lookout down low is enough for some people. I pushed on up to the summit although it made me huff and puff towards the top. The trail is steep and unrelenting. No where to catch your breath - just a big stairmaster up the ridge. Once on top the walk to the tower is quite easy through pine forests.

pontiac

pontiac
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Ski season is finally over. I went for a ride around the parkway yesterday. Still a couple of sections of snow covered road but not enough to make it worth skiing. Lots of cyclists out. The roadies had to walk the snowy sections but I could surf over them on my mountainbike. Felt good to be out riding. A few muscles not used when skiing are sore today but all in all a good first ride.

Today I went for a walk up the Luskville falls to the firetower. It was a bit murky out but still a nice walk. No snow on Ridge road - tho' I didn't go far down to check it out. Snapped a few pics from my trip. Here is a shot of the Pontiac which spreads out beneath the escarpment.

End of the road

End of the road
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Didn't take any photos from Sunday but had similar conditions. I skied from P10 out to "gossip north" and then puttered back around some of the Parkway and Ridge road. Not too many skiers out.... but the few of us that were were all smiles. I think this marks the end of the 2006 ski season - end of the road so to speak. The conditions aren't really good enough to warrant driving up to ski before work and the snow will surely be gone before next weekend. Time to clean up the skis and put them away. Also time to pull out the hiking boots and put the bikes together... summer is around the corner.

Firetower

Firetower
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Made it out to the firetower. The last stretch of trail was a little broken up with little sections of grass between longer stretches of snow. I ended up walking them with the skis on. That's what rock skis are for afterall. The open clearing around the tower was mostly snow free so I dropped my skis and walked to the old wardens platform to take this shot. Startled a few hikers who had come up from Luskville and were surprised to see someone who had skied out.

McKinstry

McKinstry
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Well a bit of an added bonus this weekend. The snow survived and was actually pretty good. I skied out to the firetower on Saturday. Only had to take my skis off 3 times to walk small sections where the snow had melted. The rest of the track was really nice. Added bonus - it was warm and sunny all weekend and I had the tracks almost to myself. The photo of McKinstry hut on a Saturady at 1pm - empty! Unheard of in full ski season.

signature in the snow

signature in the snow
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

A final shot of the tracks from the spring ski campaign. Nice crisp corduroy for me to track up. I got out a few times at 7am and was only a little surprised to see a fair number of people out (about a half dozen cars in the main lots). Even still, once I got to the back side of the Parkway loop or out towards the firetower... I had the place to myself.

grooming

grooming
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

A shot of the groomer fixing up the trails last week. They were just rolling the skate lanes at this point but it made for some nice skiing. The groomer goes about 15km/hr along the road... and I caught and passed him on an uphill(!) so I must be in decent shape. Alas the season is all but over so I'll have to start from scratch next year.

Parking lot

Parking lot
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

I was the only one in the lot on Monday morning. Perhaps everyone had got their fill on the weekend. The snow was pretty icy and really dirty so I assume peoples thoughts are turning to summer pursuits. I may still go up to Camp Fortune a few times and ski on the hills - walking/skating up. That snow should last until May!

The last morning

The last morning
Originally uploaded by kenmore_photos.

Just a few photos from the final days of the ski season. Lafleur did another wonderful job this spring keeping the tracks in good shape in spite of record warm temps. I got a last ski on Monday morning(the 3rd) and moments after I got to work they posted that the trails had closed. Another season in the books. I may still try and ski a bit but the snow is disappearing fast.