My fight with the Alaskan Airlines kiosks continue. Yesterday I got my boarding pass so I just needed to print out a bag tag this morning. Could I do that ??? Of course not. Off to the back of the queue again. Based on yesterday's effort, I arrived 4 hours before my flight so no issues there. I'm currently chilling at the departure gate. In 12 hours time I should be at PNH. On the home front, my next door neighbour contacted me and said someone had broken into my car. I'm not sure why anyone would want to rummage through a Honda Jazz. So yeah, the joys of travel. I wonder what's next?
A bloody fantastic time .....and don't worry about that Alaskan flight home .....all sorted. My flight from Fairbanks to Vancouver .....yep tickets done and seat booked....go to hotel desk to check what time we are leaving for airport only to be told .....we don't have any record of you on that flight......many phone calls later we luckily had a seat and were on the transit bus. At one stage though we thought we may have to hire a car and drive back in time to connect with the flight from Vancouver to Sydney. Now that would truly have needed to be a fast drive. So check and double check your return flights.
Looks like it was a fly day from social media posts. 8' feet in the zone since the reset!! Mind blowing stuff. Did you manage to get out ?
Just arrived at PNH Here's the view from my window The beers are chilling outside and the helicopters are waiting From looking at the weather flying in, I don't think they got up to much today skiing-wise.
I've been following with great interest, (envy) Dunno if I've missed, do you have a companion, or on your Pat Malone?
REckon you're got 3 options Fall over - laugh Don't fall over - enjoy Sit around drinking beer and shooting the breeze.. Beats what most of us are doing back here!
I completed my safety training. The gear we carry is a AVI backpack, harness, locator beacon, radio, probe and a shovel. I did a simulated avi search and rescue in the carpark to find a buried beacon in the snow. You use the beacon to get within 10m, drop your skis and poles, get as close as you can then do a fine search on your hands and knees to zero in. You start probing in a extending circle until you locate the person, then dig them out on the lee side. The weather was clear enough for the helicopters to get the touring group out, but it was flat light and too windy for anything else. This afternoon we are boot strapping to the top of the local ski hill and I get to try out the fat skis. The weather for the next few days looks pretty ordinary, so it's a case of waiting for flyable weather, which could be as early as Thursday and as late as Saturday.
Picture of the helicopter coming back after calling it for a day due to poor vis / strong winds Some pictures from the top of the local ski hill after boot strapping it.
I saw the Segal sisters went out to Tour camp today to shoot their movie. they'll get some awesome footage out there I imagine. Who is your guide? - hard to tell from the photo but the skier in baby blue 2 shots up looks like it might be Kim? If so, she is awesome. What a great skier and s super nice girl as well. Hope you get the window soon.
Nate is my guide, but you correctly picked Kim out of the crowd. The guys out on camp would be getting wet/blown around tonight. The Segal sisters are really nice people.
Oh, Nate is super cool as well - he has paid his dues big time for a few years doing the hard slog to earn his stripes at PNH.
I’ve been reading this thread with great enthusiasm over the past 12 months @DidSurfNowSki and enjoying it all the more now as it’s come to the business end. I was disappointed for you reading about the flight issues and your car break-in. Yet you’ve kept positive and kept your sense of humour. That view coming into Anchorage looks worth the trip all on its own! I look forwardto reading your posts from the rest and best of your trip. I hope everything goes perfectly for you. No matter what happens from here it’s better than your other options of staying home and eating cheesecake by yourself or the State 8 challenge. Well done,you’re doing something most of us will only ever get to dream about
Rain, rain go away... Massive system hitting the west coast of the USA at the moment. At least 48 hours of downtime. Time to act like.a tourist.
These birds are waiting for clear weather to fly As are these (the large birds are American Bald Eagles) In the water behind the eagles are a lot of sea otters. Apparently after the oil spill they decided to move here to Cordova and set up camp. To avoid the onset of cabin fever, we went for a stroll along Heney Ridge Trail. It's amazing how much moisture gets trapped by the trees. Finished with beers and pizza in Cordova.
Chilling around base camp waiting for the weather to improve. Some sea otters at play Where I'm staying; heli-skiing in winter, fishing in summer Yet another picture of a whirlybird Looking out over the water
There was a slight chance of some clear weather today that we've now discounted. Off on a glacier walk we go. Pics soon.
Stunning. There's something so beautiful about the blue in glacial ice - prettier to me than a diamond.
12 day storm and bluebird today. Welcome to the best day of your life. Cant wait to hear the report. Probably sitting in the sun somewhere on the glacier eating lunch about now with a grin from ear to ear
Mission accomplished. 10hrs heli-skiing which equates to 14 runs, the most any group did. Tomorrow is another fly day, then a mad scramble to get on the plane out of here. Pics to follow. We were last out and last back in.
As much as I'm sure you feel like celebrating..........please stay away from the "Anchor Bar & Grill"!!!!!!!!!! You have tomorrow still to go..............as forecast. P.S. Can't wait for the report & a few pics!!!!
Fark!! 14 is a huge day. I've heard of them taking you to the plane in your ski gear. Make the most of it.
Congratulations!! What a massive day! 14 runs on your first ever heliski day!! You've gotta be running on pure adrenalin by now.
My celebrations are limited to a couple of quiet beers and sleeping in the PNH jumper I just bought. I'm stoofed.