Body Boarding at Long Beach and The Harbor

We rented body boards and wetsuits and headed out to Long Beach/Incinerator Rock for some big fun in the surf. The waves were great!

Happy!

I've got a thing for planes, trains, and boats. What can I say?

Good stuff!

Wikaninnish Beach, Lighthouse Loop, and more

We started the day with a strong cup of coffee and a short walk out to the edge of the inlet.

This was the early morning view of the harbor from our condo.

We then headed up to Wikaninnish Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park.

There was a superabundance of anenomes on the rocks here.

We were blessed to see a whale breaching off the coast.

We loved the way the forest grew right to the high tide line.

Back to town. Here's the view from the harbor back to our condo.

An activity we should of tried, but were too busy having fun doing other things!

After a restorative nap, we headed out on the Lighthouse Loop trail which is part of the Wild Pacific trail system on the outskirts of Ucluelet.

Stunning coastal views in rich abundance!

Skunk cabbage in bloom.

Terrific!

Getting to Ucluelet

Mary and I flew into Victoria and then drove to Ucluelet.

We stopped in Port Alberni for a nice lunch, fine weather, and a pleasant stroll on the docks.

The interior of Vancouver Island is rugged!

Kennedy Lake near the coast.

We're there!

We checked in and made a beeline for the coast.

Big Beach right outside of town.

Glacial erratic. A granitic boulder among the coastal mudstone.

Bright green algae.

Timbers from a shipwreck from the early 1900's.

Then a little sunset goofing around on the inlet near the condo.

Happy to be in "Ukee"!

Hamill Bowl Skiing

With little wind, mild temperatures, and cold nights the prospects for powder preservation were good on high north facing slopes. The trick was getting there.

Nemo and I opted to ride up from the gate near Twin Lakes to the trailhead at Coldwater Creek. The spin was an adventure in itself with ice & frozen slush. A couple of close calls, but no crashes.

Four years ago, almost to the day, I was in the same area chasing powder.

Saturday 4/11/15.

4/9/11.  See my blog entry here . Ouch. Looks like about eight to ten FEET more snow.

Above Hamill Lake and below the Hamill Cirque we found good coverage and terrific snow.

Getting in and out from Coldwater was only a little tricky. Skis suffered some minor damage.

The 18" that fell Tuesday had settled to 10" to 12" of "ego snow."

Thank you sir may I have another?

Nemo really got it going on the third run.

Back on the bikes for a little more adventure down to the car.

Super fun day. Thank Nemo!

Skiing Red Cone

Old man winter has been AWOL this ski season, but made a couple of brief appearances this spring. April often delivers nice cold storms that may not be huge dumps, but plenty enough to provide great skiing.;

Winter scenery on the way up to the Cone.

Not so wintery views. Lake Mary on the right.

Runs 1 and 2. Fantastic skiing. Almost too shallow a slope for the 18"+!

North winds were brisk along the ridge, but basically absent elsewhere.

Runs 1 and 2 along with the skin track.

Run 3. Now we're talking!

Run 4 was even better. Here is run 2 ,front left, run 3 middle, and run 4 barely visible beyond. Someone else's pic posted on ESAC.

Getting sticky on the exit, but everything in the cone proper was stellar!!!
Had the place to myself too.
Glad I haven't hung 'em up yet.