Category Archives: Winter

Canadian Rockies: Flashback in Sundance Canyon

Posted on February 21, 2014 by BarryH

The skiing and trekking in the Rockies are finished now and I’m back home.  But there are still a couple of things to write about. Beginning with my jaunt to Sundance Canyon.  I went there first in January 2011 after … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: to the top of Sulphur Mountain

Posted on February 18, 2014 by BarryH

During the last 10 days or so of my stay in the Canadian Rockies I decided to concentrate my efforts on trying to improve my skiing.  With fresh falls of snow the conditions changed from the ‘hard-pack’ with which I … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: history, bio-engineering and a strange world of ice and steam

Posted on February 12, 2014 by BarryH

The principle legacies of what is now known as ‘The Cave and Basin’, the location of the original Banff thermal springs, are not insignificant.  They include the town of Banff itself, Banff National Park, and the other 42 National Parks … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: icy river, twitching senses

Posted on February 9, 2014 by BarryH

Apropos nothing in particular, but just a piece of trivia, geographical nomenclature, which weevilled its way into my brain,  I don’t know why it is that in the UK the convention for naming rivers is to call them “River Something” … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: sundog days

Posted on February 5, 2014 by BarryH

I spend long periods in the summer in Greece, walking in the mountains.  Preparations for the day typically consists of donning a pair of walking sandals (hence my avatar), lightweight shorts and a relatively fresh T-shirt.  Dehydration is the main … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: the icy expanse of Vermilion Lakes

Posted on February 4, 2014 by BarryH

Come Saturday and after 5 days of skiing, thigh muscles starting to rebel,  I was ready for a break.  So after an annual ritual of a large celebratory Melissa’s Breakfast with my daughter and her husband and waving them goodbye … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: cold fingers and icebows

Posted on February 2, 2014 by BarryH

Usually I ski 3 days and then have a day off to let my legs have a rest.  On ‘rest’ days I usually go walking which is more my métier.  However, during the last week I skied 5 consecutive days.  … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: warm weather and reflections

Posted on January 30, 2014 by BarryH

The weather has been warmer than usual with day after day of blue skies and sunshine.  Rather than taking photos I’ve been concentrating on trying to improve my incompetent skiing, smooth wide turns on mild slopes but still aggressively sharp … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: global weather patterns, local effects: wrapped in thermals not cotton wool

Posted on January 28, 2014 by BarryH

In January the Canadian Rockies normally experience very cold conditions.  When I first came to Banff in the winter of 2010/11 the warmest temperature in the month from mid-December to mid-January was minus 15oC and most mornings the short walk … Continue reading →

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Canadian Rockies: a walk along the Bow River at Banff

Posted on January 25, 2014 by BarryH

Thursday was another day off skiing.  I don’t have the stamina or the lift pass to ski every day.  I took my skis in for a service – sharpen the edges and wax – and set out to follow a … Continue reading →

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