The Longest Early Season of My Life

Words by: Brent Hillier   Photos by: Brent Hillier & Eli Relke

With first snowfall back in September it seemed like we were going to have a quick start to the 2013/14 Winter. That unfortunately, had not been the case, the first ski trip of the season was full of early season pit falls. (Bushy Kickturns, Coreshots and Broken Promises)

Trip number two was was underway and we had set our sights on a much easier approach. None of us were in the mood for a repeat of our Duffy trip.

Eli Relke, Fraser Pike and myself (left to right) make our way up from the Diamond Head parking lot to Elfin Lakes.

The start of the trail had just a skiff of snow, enough to skin up but we knew it meant walking on our way out.

Nearing the Red Heathers warming hut Fraser experience some binding failures. Thankfully a duct-tape repair solved that.

The hut was pretty quiet. Before the sun went down we made sure to take in our surroundings; the Gargoyles looked thin and sun affected and the trees were still unburied around the hut. Our options were limited.

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The one advantage of limited daylight is the aspects not affected by sun are a bit bigger. We found a great North facing pocket near the hut and started the yo-yo laps. 

Eli looking good, until he took a digger. It was a 9.5 bail for sure!

This became the routine: skins on, back up, ski down, repeat.

Once our zone was sufficiently skied out we enjoyed the last of the sunshine.

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Eli snagged this early morning sunrise shot.

We were off, skiing down from the Elfin Lakes was like skiing away from winter.

As we got close to the parking lot it was starting to feel more and more like spring.

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Once again we managed to find some good snow but it meant working to get there. I'm left wanting more! More SNOW!