MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Winter Spring 2019

WINTER/SPRING 2019 MLCM 21 Lead guide for our trip, Christina Lusti breaks trail, effortlessly tunneling through the 60cm+ of snow deposited from the last system that rolled inland off the Pacific Ocean. Awash with the feeling of new prospects awaiting at the top, one can only wonder what this adventure felt like for previous generations of Andrews— summiting for the first time on a new peak in the South Chilcotin Mountains. In the winter months of the 1970s Ron and Karin Andrews would telemark ski or alpine tour these hills in leather boots with super long, double cambered, narrow skis (210-215cm and 40-45mm underfoot). “They were pretty much cross country skis,” Lars says. “And it was all kinds of pieced-together stuff for us kids back then. Ron would build touring bindings out of spare parts and we would use our alpine boots to walk in. Everything back then had a lifespan of about 10-15 days of use, then it broke.” Back then the Andrews used clips and straps to hold the skins on their skis. Now, as the only snowboarder in our group, I’m especially grateful for the evolution of gear and proficiency of travel in contrast to the Lodge’s early era. Snowshoes and post holing up the uptrack are still fun, I’m sure—but we get more runs this way. The ease of use and quality of contemporary gear has lowered the barriers to entry and made touring an accessible and very rewarding way to enjoy the mountains. “When I was a kid and a teenager,” Lars says, “doing one or two runs was a full day outing and 1,200-1,400 metres (of vertical) was a big day in the mountains. Now it’s easy to get this in before noon.” Clear January skies provide us with endless opportunities to mind-surf the objectives laid over stacks of peaks as far as the eye can see. Our morning ascent feels minuscule in comparison to the ups and downs of each surrounding mountain—there are more lines here than would ever be possible to bag in a lifetime. If time travel is ever a real possibility, we know where to come. Teetering at the top, looking down at the glorious mass of white flakes as the wind slashes at our grins, we couldn’t help but feel—as the French say, “ joyeux d’être heureux. ” Translation: happy to be happy. Then we’re taking turns “The vibe is the same as always. The clothes are different but people are still stoked to be together having experiences in the mountains. It still feels like home.” –Lars Andrews ABOVE Cabin vibes, 70s jackets. MP (left) and Taylor Godber. TOP RIGHT Finding solace on the ridge walk. BOTTOM RIGHT MP is joyeuse d'être contente.