Dave Murray Camp Reports

• Dave Murray Photo Gallery

You know the old saying, 'A picture is worth a thousand words'? Well, if you check out the Photo Gallery you will see what I mean. I could call this report done and head to the GLC for a beer but there were a few anecdotal instances which warrant my pecking at the keyboard.

I don't know what it is about Tuesdays this year, but this was the second Tuesday in a row where the top of the mountain was closed down due to high winds. Where there is wind, there is snow being deposited somewhere in the form of soft, fluffy, eider-down like pockets and stashes. The location of these pockets and stashes is not something that locals give up easily.

On that fateful Tuesday, the cold wind must have frozen my cranium and I momentarily lost my mind. I snapped and dragged my group up the 'Goat Path' into 'VD Chutes'. We already had some great laps on 'Pale Face' and 'Jimmi's', but when the mountain closed, I knew that this was the last run of the day, so off to the 'Goat Path' we went.

The wind was gusting around 100 kmph and blew us across the Reservoir Flats. Once we got under the cliff, it became perfectly still except for some snow sloughing on us from above. There were a few nervous glances when the skis came off and we started hiking. The path was in bad shape with either deep snow or icy patches. One of the campers almost disappeared over the edge, but was rescued by a great team effort. At the top we took a breather in what looked like a 'pillow fight gone bad' conditions – fluffy flakes floating to the ground, the air was completely still. We dropped into the nearest chute and glided through knee deep pow. The chutes are narrow and the trees are big, so it was a bit of 'Coaching by Intimidation', but everyone agreed that this was the run of their lives. The smiles were big and wide, legs were tired and the thirst was on. Dusty's was the call! We ripped one down Lower Dave Murray Downhill through the fog and rain. Beer tasted real good.

Next day broke out in clear skies. The bombs were going off on the Peak and the frenzy was building. Harmony cracked first and we wasted no time getting there. After a couple of laps in Harvey's and Robertson's, where we got fresh lines every run, we headed to the Peak. The visibility deteriorated to almost zero, but we were determined to get to, you guessed it, 'VD Chutes'. The top was wind blown, but lower down the cardboard turned into deep and tasty pow. Everyone had a lot more confidence, having negotiated the same terrain the day before. 'VDs' never disappoint, so it was another memorable experience.

It was back up the Peak to brave the poor visibility only to reap the benefits in the West Bowl. We dropped into the highest entrance of 'Sunday Chute'. This was the steepest terrain anyone has skied in their lives and the snow was soft and deep. The amazing thing is when you get to 'Highway 86' and look back up, it is a long way. Legs were cooked and it was 'Beer O'clock' – time to pack it in. One last run down 'Upper Insanity' to top off the three days and we were done. Viv told me that this was the best ski holiday she has ever been on and she seems to be on a permanent holiday. We can't get a better compliment than that!

I know that all of the other coaches had similar experiences. John the Verminator found heli skiing-like conditions in the 'Sun Bowl'. Traynor braved the 'Goat Path' in search of the deep and steep. I saw Leslie and her team shredding fresh lines under the Harmony and Mark the Professor billy goated his group into his secret stashes. Fun was had by all!

What is next week going to dish up for us? The only way to find out is to be there, feeding on it with us. Hmmmm, tasty, tasty snow!