today in Smithers

the evil kitty, finding the ray of sunshine in our living room


our house (is a very, very, very fine house)


the view from the end of our drive (1/2 of Hudson Bay Mtn ski hill on the left)

the first snow

the evil kitty is loving her new home and was just as excited as we were to see this scene outside of our window this morning...our first snow! and it's only mid-november...although jon would like you all to know that he actually felt and saw his first snowflake of the year while he was visiting toronto on halloween. so there.



we can usually see the mountain and ski hill from this window, but it was completely in cloud cover this morning ...if you look behind thespa's head you can barely make out the ridge line...

we had a ton of house stuff to do today but our next logical decision seemed like the most obvious one...


Sarah & I (in the cloud that was covering the mountain behind Thespa's head in the previous pic)

we drove up to the base of the ski hill with Sarah and hiked up the t-bar line to ride fresh pow!
holy crap there was a TON of snow! seeing as we hiked straight up the mountain (the ski hill actually doesn't open until the 25th), we only made the hike twice, but both rides down were worth every minute of huffing up.


Sarah & Jon hiking up under the Prairie T-Bar, Hudson Bay Mtn

so Ontarians, what is powder you ask? it's fluffy and light and crazy deep and doesn't require super sharp edges to ride...i could learn to love this powder stuff. oh wait, i think i'm already in love. it didn't take long.


cabin covered in fresh powder mid-way up Hudson Bay Mtn


the road from the mountain back into town (proof that those studded tires we just got were the best investment ever)

moose tracks

so...woke up this morning, made our coffee, enjoying it as we were looking out our front window, gazing at the mountain (snow is coming!)...and found, imprinted in the frost, on our front lawn these tracks...





which led to this nice present...



so to all of you who have been making jokes about Northern Exposure...it really is like that (except Jon doesn't have a job at the radio station)

birthday wishes

To Jon

bork bork




enjoy your day with family...see you in a couple.
-your wife.xo.

lyon creek trail

my first hike to timberline!
sarah says it was my "first alpine experience"
(i'm sorry Jon missed it but there will be more...hope most of you got to make it to his opening tonight!)

of all the hikes so far, this one felt the most like what i imagined a west coast hike to be
lush greenery and big pines, fallen leaves to start...ankle high snow half way up until about mid-calf at summit--and cold at the top!
2.5 hrs up, 45mins down
of course i forgot my camera (duh)...here are some random phone pics (sorry if the quality isn't exceptional)






Sarah & Amy


Amy, me, Casey


Sarah & Casey

a couple of hikes

the area is filled with good hikes within a 10-15 minute drive...most of them are on the longer, day hike program...so many will be waiting until spring. but there are a couple within that 5km range.

Twin Falls is Smithers' big hike attraction...there are two trails here.
one very short but very steep hike to the base of the falls (which we did--in prime bear-getting-ready-to-hibernate season, haha)
and the other is Glacier Gulch which takes about 5hrs return...goes up past the timber line to the mouth of the glacier--we are saving this one for next spring/summer...if anyone wants to join us?


jon and i with one of the falls


jon with the twins

we also hit up Call Lake for probably one of the easier hikes around here on a random late afternoon just before jon left for T.O.
i got home from an 8 hr overtime shift and jon had picked out this 5k hike and was ready to go with apples and water bottles.


on the ridge


call mountain

the promise for pics

i'm adding photos...finally! you say.
i'm just editing the previous posts, so check them out periodically over the next couple of days

and go check out jon's art show too, while he's in town.

http://www.1332queenwest.com/


ps - Mel, the bon voyage bean made it (and it's growing crazy in the new house)!

a going away present from our nephew Jacks...