Gas Today

Kelowna  8 cents a litre cheaper than Oliver

Costco     16 cents a litre cheaper than Oliver

Canco Hwy 33  9 cents a litre cheaper than Oliver

Baldy Life Before Covid, and other challenges, Part 3

 Good participation in the skiing on Monday Ladies Day when Wayne was here.

I talked to Al Haley's wife yesterday - he is doing well after his second shoulder replacement surgery, and still waiting for knee surgery. Al came to us with 25 years of cat experience, and according to his boss, he got the most done in the least time with quality results and no damage to the cats. We lost him to full time employment elsewhere, but as long as his arms could do it, he would do a shift here from time to time. We wish him well in his recovery.

That day in 2010 when we heard the Eagle start early, and could hear Christmas music all over the mountain. The Fountainview Academy came here to record for their Christmas video in February. The grand piano was fake, but everything else was real.

Sweetheart snowshoe to Gruhl's Pool - a Valentines favourite.

Ever wonder where Greg gets his work ethic? His Grandparents. Here grandpa works on the Jolly traverse with his snow blower. I was disturbed to hear that an employee told some locals that the Jolly traverse would never be groomed again. There are ways to do it safely, and I certainly hope that employee was wrong.

Spring barbeques.

Communication from ownership and something to look forward to at the end of the season.

The Tree

slush 2018

Thank-you Greg!

 

 

This guy has bulked up this winter - swinging picks and shovels, working the rake, and showing his co-workers how to tune in the ramps. We appreciate his work in making our load and unload experiences better.

 Unfortunately, I've heard that this means his bulkier muscles may not fit into the pink suit for retro day.

Update for Closing Weekend

 

Last Baldy Babes of the Season

 

Hello Baldy Babes,

Today's snowshoe brought us back to the Baldy Babes Pool. Scarves donated by Brian Harker were tied to the tree  by Hilary & Cheryl. Thank You Brian!

Hilary's 65th birthday is tomorrow and we all toasted her with Gehringer Brothers bubbly provided by Cheryl, delicious! Happy Birthday Hilary!

Today was our final Baldy Babes snowshoe for the season. 

Thank you to the Baldy Bar staff for their wonderful lunches.

We look forward to meeting all the Baldy Babes next season!

Take Care, Marian

 

Sentimental Morning on the Lump - Skiing the runs, and remembering the people.

Knowing that only the Eagle and carpet are scheduled to be operating on closing weekend, I spent extra time on the Lump this morning, thinking about old friends.

I didn't ski Smith Slide, but I did stop by the sign and think about Terry Smith, his vision, and his hard work starting Baldy - building roads, the lodge, the lifts...............

Fred and Ethel Jones - looking down on us they would be pleased that family still skis here and enjoys the cabin.

With Fred and Ethel - Brian Fenwick-Wilson - the prospector who enticed investors from Borderline Ski Club to ride snowmobiles in to this incredible mountain and see its potential.

Uncle Paul Fairweather, founding President of Mt. Baldy Recreations Ltd - without him, I would not have become a skier, or a Baldy property owner when I was 16. With Willi Tenning - Willi and Alfred Gruhl (Gruhl's Pool) were instrumental in getting skiing going in the south Okanagan.

                    

Bill MacLeod and Marge MacLeod would be pleased to know that family continues to enjoy the cabin, and that their daughter, one of their granddaughters, and two of their great-granddaughters were on the slopes the last few days.

Irene Fairweather, Jack and Doris Hulton - Jack was one of the original owners group. The Hulton cabin is well used by the next two generations.

"Beaver Trail" "Uncle Beaver" - back left - I think the nick name had something to do with the hat.

L-R Laverne Risling, George Webster, Ernie Rotheisler, Hollie Rotheisler and Jean Guy Langlois.

The Rotheislers are the only two still alive.

                                  

The Wizard was Ken Ozanne's CB handle - CB radios were our cabin to cabin communications before we got phones in the 90's. Missing Ken, Betty and Jay. Baldy's adaptive program is named in honour of Jay, and one of these days I'll go looking for the "Munchkin's Run" sign, or replace it. It was Betty's favourite line on South Ridge. starting from the original Baldy Trail.

When submissions were made for run names on the Sugar Lump, there were more names than runs. I have the next three names on file when additional runs are created.

Safe Travels

I think all of the Australian and American cabin owners were finally able to return to Baldy after such a long time. Some have left.........safe journey Kendal - sorry I missed having a run with you yesterday. Looking forward to skiing with you next year.

Monday...............

 

No tutu for Doug

 Someone told me Doug was here - I said I don't think so, this is "girls week" at the cabin.

Phoenix Wraps it up with Spring Fling

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Ski-Hill/962429037208626 

Phoenix wound up their season with a Spring Fling and live music. The photos look like it was a good time. Thanks again Phoenix for helping out with staff.

Baldy Life Before Covid and other Challenges, Part 2

Dummy Downhill

The first dummy race was in 1993, coinciding with the 25th Anniversary Celebrations. Back then, spring break was one week, standardized across the province. There was a lot of secrecy behind the first designs, it was a week long project, and competitors were out in the dark testing their designs.

Bob Dell's "Dirty Old Man" was hands down the most successful dummy. After his first win, other competitors started copying his frame, stance, and center of gravity.

If you look carefully at the start line, there is one very tall dummy. No one told Al there was a height limit for the dummy, and we didn't have the heart to disqualify him. There is an aluminum ladder as part of the frame. It was a real crowd pleaser, gracefully carving back and forth on the course. I have a VHS of that race - keep planning to get it digitized.

Cardboard Box Race

Mt. Baldy Alpine Club

Sunday

• those Tutus - third and fourth generation MacLeod family on the slopes
• thanks to the guys for getting the groomers going - it was great skiing this morning on the Eagle, getting a little sticky on the flats of the Lump, and later the bottom of the Eagle
• tomorrow is the last Ladies Day snowshoe - order off the menu for lunch
• hill closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, and with any luck, we'll have some fresh stuff for Friday. Closing weekend April 1,2,3.

Lumpy closing at 2:00 today - several of todays lift operators have to get back to their other jobs...........

Spring Break

For those setting out on the long drive home today after their Spring Break, have a safe trip. For the families starting week two of their break - there is good skiing left, and the possibility of new stuff later in the week. Baldy is closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week (29.30.31) and wind up weekend will be April 1, 2, 3.

Saturday

Thanks Marian for today's photo.

 

Better News

Parts are here. Bombi is running, working on  PB Edge, have a plan for the second PB, should be in full grooming mode tonight.

 

Groomers Down - Ouch

 

A machine was out earlier, and I could hear a heck of a lot of noise emanating from it - from inside my cabin.

Some of the contributing factors to this issue pre-date this season.

Check current temperature on Eagle Weather Station - link on the sidebar.

Village Roads

 Huge ruts tonight - high clearance and 4x4 recommended, particularly on Whiskey Jack.

Special Afternoon

Nice corn snow - fresh wax job recommended.

I had very special ski companions this afternoon. I can now say that I have known 5 generations of a family, skied with 2 generations at Borderline Ski Hill pre-Baldy, and 4 generations at Baldy. Love it when long time families come back to Baldy at Spring Break.

Two young families, 4 young kids, and I held both Dads when they were babies.

$9.7M cell tower project coming to Highway 3 between Keremeos and Hope - Penticton News

$9.7M cell tower project coming to Highway 3 between Keremeos and Hope - Penticton News: Improved cell coverage on Highway 3 between Hope and Keremeos is coming by fall 2024 to improve safety for travellers along the corridor, at a total price tag of nearly $10 million.

Eleven new cell towers.

Highway 97 to close near Oliver for culvert replacement - Penticton News

Highway 97 to close near Oliver for culvert replacement - Penticton News: Highway 97 will be closed in both directions for a few days next week as crews replace a culvert north of Oliver.

Heads up - upcoming road closure/detour. Coming from the north to Baldy, turn left by Canco before the bridge, and avoid the whole thing.

Thursday

I hear it was a little firm this morning, but I had some good runs this afternoon. Spring Break is all about kids, and they are our future. Lots of young ones out there.

Nice to see Teledeano on the hill with 3 generations of Corbetts - I taught all of the second generation when they were kids.

Lots of Canuck jerseys on the hill this afternoon. Luongo, Henrik and Boeser were on the chair in front of me. I congratulated Boeser on his goal 😉  They already had a full team photo, so I didn't hold them up for another one.

Thursday

Sunshine. We had a little of everything last night, including thunder and lightning. Happy to see a little fresh and sun this morning.

'Especially turbulent': The Weather Network releases long-term spring forecast for B.C. - BC News

'Especially turbulent': The Weather Network releases long-term spring forecast for B.C. - BC News: If you're hoping for balmy weather this spring in Vancouver, you might be in for a bit of a wait.

Thank-you Team Phoenix - we needed the Lump the last two days

Thanks to the Phoenix lift ops who helped out the last two days - hands down the best skiing was on the Lump. 

April 2nd "Jerry Day"

 

No foolin' - Retro Day April 1st

 

Still have the outfit Greg?

Tuesday

You never know until you try. I had some good fast runs on the Lump, and when the cloud started to thin, I went up Eagle and found sunshine above Tower  9. Next run the fog was up higher. Best snow was the Lump, sticky in spots on Eagle - time to wax the skis. Sure miss the top of Eagle webcams - equipment stolen several years ago.

 

Spring Break

A very special part of Baldy is the people, and the generations keep on coming. Thirty years ago we had a group of families from the Sunshine Coast who came for Spring Break every year. Always fun to connect with them again. Third generation Akehurst, age 2 1/2 skiing Sugarlump today.

Thank-you to our friends from Ski Phoenix, and to the Baldy Staff who are hanging in until the end of the season.

 

Phoenix staff to the rescue for Tuesday and Wednesday. Our ski areas have always had a good relationship over the years. I recall a gift of used Baldy snowboard boots to Phoenix one year when the rodents had done some damage in their rental shop in the summer.

Phoenix has done well with sponsorship and fund raising recently, and now have all new rental gear.

Gathering of Family and Friends

Thank-you Penny and family - it was a great gathering of family and friends  - a fitting Celebration of Life - Ken would have enjoyed it.

Burger hot off the grill and then.............