Icicles and ice at xmas

Another little side trip we did on this xmas - NY trip was to walk up Johnson Canyon - famous in the summer as a lovely cool spot - and famous in the winter for it's ice formations, frozen waterfalls and is a hot spot for ice climbers. It's only a short 1.1km walk up to the first waterfall - but on the snowy/icy path tat overhangs the canyon there's a few spots where you need to hang on to the guard rail - the tour groups a fitted out with crampon type attachments - like coiled contraptions that fit on the sole of your boots to stop you slipping - but a little unnecessary really. But the formations and the frozen waterfalls were absolutely spectacular - I took about a thousand photos! We did this same walk in the summer time (though went a little further upstream) and talk about a contrast - it was about plus 30 here in summer and is now about 30 below! Magical!

Xmas ski tales

Well except for the minus 40ísh stuff in November we've been blessed with a mild winter - which made for very pleasant ski conditions. The temps hovered aroun minus 10 with the cold day at ONLY minus 20. We skied for 9 days in a row and were absolutely knackered! But OMG what amazing powder! We'd heard of the 'powder' word and thought that's what we had skiing in NZ - but this stuff is like flour it's just so soft and fluffy. These pics are on xmas day - buried boots on the top left! - We were usually first on the lift each morning and were thrilled to have fresh first tracks down the mountain - especially magically after a dumping the night before when they dont groom'. Sometimes we were up to our knees in the stuff! Amazing! But all that snow on your car makes it hard to find - we know now why people put little coloured golf ball like things on their aerials now - so they can pick them out of all the white same looking cars! We even had a go at the outdoor ice skating rink behind the Fairmont hotel next to the frozen Bow River - but one lap around and we quickly learn't that these úneven' rinks are well out of our expertise - though we were lapped by 2yo's it was too tricky! - Apparently if there is a wind blowing when the 'rink'is freezing it causes these ripples and waves - better to have a calm day for the rink freezing!

A White Xmas and New Year in Banff

Oh what a dream come true! We have had the most magical white xmas in Banff with fantastic weather - except for the odd much loved dumps of snow - which surprisingly didn't really affect the visibility skiing at all. We stayed in a gorgeous place in Banff - the highlight of which was the wood burning fire place prepared and re-stocked for you every day - sheer louchxury! We were very nervous about trying the outdoor spa - it's set at a constant 40 degree's - pretty nice in theory but a bit of a challenge to get yer gear off in minus 20 to get in! But an experience not to be missed for sure! The hotel is guarded by 2 gi-normous ice sculptures - this one is an elk.
For Xmas dinner we indulged in the turkey tradition and celebrated the New Year with friends Cheryl and Rob for a most delicious meal (the bison was the highlight - sooooo tender and scrummy). But with the hard yards on the ski slopes on NYE none of us could stay awake until midnight - or maybe we're just getting old!