We've had plenty of weather this week. 130cms of snow up to Thursday and then on Friday, rain! It was noticeable on Thursday how the arctic airmass moved away and the temperature headed back up to 0. Suddenly I was over-layered and sweating!

The start of the week was probably the best if you could stand the cold. Lots of snow; light and fluffy "champagne powder". Here's a shot of Matt and Trevorabout to drop in for a spot of exquisite glade skiing above a run called "Morning Glory". It's a top spot to learn to ski powder: well spaced trees (phew!) and a moderate grade but steep enough to keep you moving. The snow was mostly knee deep with the occasional waist deep drift to keep things interesting. It really gets the thighs burning so thats all the encouragement I need to return to the base area for a drink.

Off the hill I went to see the local hockey team, the Fernie Ghostriders, take on the Bozeman Icedogs (grrrr!). It was great entertainment: so fast and so physical compared with the kind of hockey I've been watching/playing recently. But alas these shameful scenes did break out... Between the second and third periods there was a special ANZAC challenge match for all the Aussies and Kiwis in the crowd. Out they went onto the ice with a stick and helmet, but no skates, just their shoes. It was hillarious: a crowd of boozed up guys chasing the puck around, swiping at it, falling over, getting up and having another charge and a swipe. I'm glad to report another defeat for Australia as well :)

On Friday we escaped the rain in Fernie and had a day's skiing in Kimberly about an hour and a half away. The weather there was even more crazy. Going up in the chairlift it was an absolute blizzard: I made a fair-sized snowball from the snow that accumulated on my during the ride up. But at the top the snow stopped and the sun poked through. It was the first time I'd seen any shadows on the snow for about a week. There was lovely fresh powder on top of the groomed runs which made for some great skiing. But then suddenly it would start snowing again and we ended the day in a total white-out.

Before the weather closed in we did see some unexpected wildlife: a mink, scampering across the piste. It was long and thin with a pure white coat with a black nose and black tip on its tail. I did what any keen naturalist would have done: killed it, skinned it and made a lovely fur wrap. Mum - it's in the post....

That wasn't the end of the wildlife viewing however. On the way back to Fernie we drove past a moose! I didn't say we SAW a moose because I didn't get a good enough view. Our bus driver simply shouted "look - a moose!". But it was dark and the windows mostly steamed up so all I saw was a HUGE brown shape and four massive legs. Not exactly a grade "A" sighting, but I'm eager for more.

And you'll hear about it here first, moose fans!

Further pics for your delectation and edification:
- Top of the Timber chair.
- Our backyard.
- Fernie court house and the Three Sisters.
- The Lizard Range mountains.
- Elk river and the ski hill.
- Horrific penguin lynching!