More Parker's Ridge Photos and Video

Top Photo: Snow pack was 221 cm deep at our pit: teaching Vince and Virginia how to do a compression test at treeline. Next Photo: Virginia and I, pit dug and compression test ready to start. Next Photo: The noticeable week layer (30 - 40 cm from the surface) was a plainer and sheared off at hard force (23) -- quite strong. Interesting Note: 2 days later this became the reactive layer in just two days, yielding a class 2 avalanche on Parker's Ridge. Bottom Photo: Snowy Yoho.

Click here to see the ski video.



Thanks to Vince and Virginia for providing me with these photos. I especially like the photos from the test pit. My ski was a little lame, but the video shows what it's like in the trees.

I really enjoy the snow science aspect of ski touring, the pit was pretty cool.

Delayed Picture from Parkers Ridge

Not the nicest picture, that's because bad weather was rolling in -- that meant one thing -- SNOW.

We've had a ton of snow fall and very warm day time highs here.
Tracey and I have been doing domestic stuff around the house.
I've been planning a backpacking trip for September and got a press release out in time for a trade show in the UK. I hope it sells because it will be a good trip.

I'll blog later when I have some new photos to post. I got my camera... more than seven days... but at least it was all there. Time to get out there and take some pictures.

Long time no blog...

Our Full Moon trip to the Edith Cavell Hostel... Edith Cavell in full moon splendor. Can you spot Tracey?

Sorry, I've been bad for Blogging lately. This weekend is already upon me and plans are being made. Tomorrow I take Vince and Ginny to Parker's Ridge for a little ski touring. Virginia is not too keen on it (fear of avalanches) but the conditions look safe and the weather looks good. We'll probably do a couple passes up and down, but spend the afternoon doing transceiver location practice... you can never do too much of that.

Last weekend Tracey and I went with Dieter to look at a cabin we were interested in buying... glad we saw it, to see what a hunk of crap it was. I wouldn't pay a cent over 60,ooo for that thing. It had no square door frames, basement that flooded, awful siding, and a hole probably full of dead bodies. Now the neighbours house was falling down and had a huge heap of garbage... also there was no running water so we couldn't check quality or pressure. I have pictures but it's not worth the time to upload them for you to see.

I have a feeling that the person who sold the camera to me has no intention of sending it to me. After paying he has disappeared from ebay... no more items for sale, two new scathing reviews from buyers and he's not responding to my emails. Let me give you some advise, buy nothing from Hilltopman52, real name Javid. first he slaps me with a $75 USD shipping fee, then nothing. I'll retract this statement "He's a crook" if I get my camera in the next seven days (not business days either).

EBAY = lots of money spent

I've gone ebay crazy. I've never bought anything on the site before, but I am an ebay virgin no more. It seems that a lot of money is slipping through my fingers at present, with the potential for an aweful lot more leaving our coffers in the near future (I'm not telling why unless it becomes true).
Back to ebay... As some of you may know, I've been getting into photography lately and whining and moaning that my present Olypmus SP 500uz is no longer cutting it. I had decided pre Christmas that I wanted to buy a new camera... a DSLR camera. Tracey (although sweet about it all) was dead against it, for a good reason though. I bought my Olympus just 16 months ago and wasn't even supposed to buy it when I did. As a compromise I said that I would save all of the gratuities I recieve and use them towards my new camera WHEN I horde enough cash.
Needless to say I got EBAY FEVER! I was sitting on nearly 600.00 cash and over bid (by about 100.00) and then saw two lens I absolutely had to have (plus 200.00). Oh, and shipping (100.00 ?!). I'm now looking at 400.00 over... oh oh... and Tracey still hasn't seen what I've spent. She won't say much, but that's it, I feel bad spending all of this money when she doesn't even want it... lets not dwell on that point though.
Just so you know, my Olympus is up for sale... $300, which includes batteries, adaptor ring, filters, and case. The camera is like new... no scratches anywhere.

Why did i buy this new camera, and more importantly what did I buy?

I find that digital point and shoot cameras are way too slow and I have missed too many shots waiting for the camera to start up and to focus the shot. Furthermore I love the versitility of being able to change lens and the ability to have complete control over my photographs.
I was contemplating buying either the Nikon D80, or Canon xti... both 10 mp cameras... but then something was brought to my attention. Besides the additional cost of the camera + 400-600 $, there are hidden costs too. I would need a new hard drive in my computer or (eventually) a faster computer to fool around with these huge images. Also do I need to take photos that are 20 inches by 16 inches? No... I don't have a printer that prints that large. So I settled for the older model. Admittedly I feel a little strange settling for the older model but as I pro told me... Living in Jasper you'll see things that no ever sees, therefore do not spend a huge amount of cash on professional equipment. Also look at all the magazines out there... many of the beautiful photos you see are y\taken with 8 or even 6 mp cameras. I figured by spending less on the camera I could justify more on lens equipment.