Safe Travels Chris, we are going to miss you!

Chris came to Baldy from Calgary, wanting to experience living in the mountains. Not long after his arrival, we were evacuated due to wildfire (2021). He loves this place, and worked for several years in lift ops and maintenance. He does have an engineering degree, and is moving on to explore a new area, and new opportunities.

I hate Baldy good-byes, but had a nice visit with Chris and Sabean the other night. Sabean has decided to return to France to be closer to her family.

Chris was not only part of the BMR team, but he was part of the community. His homemade bread is legendary, and I was fortunate to be gifted bread right out of the oven Tuesday night.

I appreciate his kindness and friendship. 

Load testing with Parker

 

Chris and Sabean, (Sadie at the end of the leash)

Chris in the middle in the coveralls, on the BMR/Community FireSmart work day.



Chris shared many photos for the blog. This is one of my favourites. I had never seen one of these before, but actually saw one late this summer on my back deck.

I'll be thinking of you on the road today Chris. I hope you will be back for visits.

Happy 90th Birthday Donna

 

Web Cams, and Early Opening

The Eagle Cam is back up. Links to both webcams on the side bar.

If you were watching the Kiosk cam yesterday, you would have seen lots of activity. Patrol getting things ready on the Sugarlump, chairs turning.

Trevor has been moving snow away from the loading areas.

I have been posting more snow photos on FB, as I still encounter people who don't believe how much snow we have. Opening tomorrow for the first of two bonus weekends, before daily operations begin.

Yes, we have opened on November 29th at least once before, in the early nineties. There was a line-up at the Baldy Tee, we ran out of food items, and it was overwhelming at the ticket office. No internet, one radio telephone, and a bunch of skiers lined up to get tickets and season passes.

I bought a PC so we could put the books on computer.

My three years as GM for Borderline Ski Club running the hill definitely accelerated the aging process for me.

Tempted

I considered posting a photo of this date last year. I did not post it, because I didn't want anyone to see it and think it was from this year. What a dramatic difference. Sugar and carpet open tomorrow.

Looking forward to getting out there and enjoying the abundance of snow. 

Breaking Trail

I have been informed that Mark and Sherry have broken trail on many of the snowshoe trails, leaving them in good condition for those who follow.

Ditch Conversation

A Penticton businessman was forced to drive into the ditch on his way down - he encountered a mid-size pick-up that was sliding out of control, and chose the ditch to avoid a collision. The other vehicle did not stop, but may not have known that the bigger truck was in the ditch.

I asked for a vehicle description - was not someone from Baldy. The truck is similar to one he has seen on the road before, from lower down Baldy Road.

I was surprised at how slippery that stretch was when I stepped out of the truck.

I will be adding his business card to the services/contact page - he has done installations and inspections of woodstoves/chimney's up here. He told me Top Hat is still doing cleanings, but not installations.

He had friends, shovels and a truck his size on the way from Oliver to get him out. 

Tuesday morning photos - thanks Paul W.

 

THIS IS NOT A NORMAL NOVEMBER

I was just working on a deck that was cleared not long ago. There is more than 3 feet of heavy snow on it. When I look around the village, I see properties that don't appear to have had anyone check them lately. I have enough properties on my list to check, and two of them required a machine path to be created for me to get in there. One that I usually check is going to be a huge task to get into.

I don't know what is on the cabin owners FB pages, but for those who do read the blog, please tell your friends they need to check their place, or they may be in for a big surprise when they arrive. We have so much snow. 

The trees are heavily laden. Some have snapped at the top, some have come down. We've had some wind gusts today. If they help unload the trees, great. If not, there may be more owners getting interesting photos from friends.

Photo this morning from Sidley. Thanks Ron Hiller

Update from BMR

 

Power back on

The power was restored around 3:15. I drove down to the junction hoping to catch the Fortis guys - was going to tell them about the Pink Palace - maybe Fortis could put them up here for a couple of days. 😉

On the way back up, a tree top within inches of a power line, other trees that could come down on the road.

Trucks says minus3C, my weather stations says minus2C, but the roads are greasy. I moved over to let a small car pass, and had a little trouble getting going.

Josh did a great job at the transfer station yesterday, but today's new snow made it challenging to get back on to the road. Stopped at the upper entrance to look for traffic, and had trouble getting going again.

1:13 My power is off

Thanks Tanya for the photo -

Cabin owner watched this come down on the line about an hour ago. Flames. It is hanging on a power wire. Fibre optic cable is below. It seems that the Telus line is not damaged, or I would not be able to use my land line, or my neighbour's Telus internet.

China Creek is out, Telus internet outages likely connected to the power blip.

BMR Internet is out

Heard from BMR that their internet is not working - they can't process passes without it.

I e-mailed China Creek from my neighbour's internet to let them know. 

Quick Post

First power bump and reset on Porcupine. China Creek is out. Have cell service at the moment. Planning to carry on inside while I have power, will drive around and look later.

Those trees you dearly love, are overloaded with snow, and some are snapping, or coming down.

Telus Sag

 

Great Work Baldy Alpine Club - Ski Swap

Well organized, well attended, and lots of gear to choose from. Thanks to the ski Dads who arranged a payout for me ahead of the appointed hour, so I could get back up here and watch the snow falling.

Quinn had some of the new merch, as well as some of last year's base layers and goggles on sale.

Sessions was unable to attend due to illness, but there was lots of new and used to choose from.

Families heading out with armloads of gear and clothing. Don't forget to get a tech to fit the boots to the bindings, and set the release.

Sunday

Looking out my front window this morning, I can see a tree down on MacLeod. Probably more around the hill. The trees are heavily laden with snow.

Ski swap today in Oliver - BMR will be there, guest services closed today at the mountain.

Sunday November 24th - Ski Swap in town - Guest Services Closed

 

Update on Bonus Weekends - Eagle Opens December 6th

 

Baldy Mountain Resort

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Bonus weekends info

We are less than a week away from turning the lifts for you all, so we wanted to provide some information prior to opening.

For both weekends, our Oliver food drive will be in effect. Bring a non perishable food item, and get 25% off your lift ticket! One non perishable food item per person to qualify for the discount.

November 29th - December 1st:

Sugarlump chair and the magic carpet will be open for skiing from 9:00am-3:45pm with all runs open. Tubing will be closed. There will be a terrain park built on the magic carpet for the weekend. The Cafeteria will be open from 9am-4pm. The Baldy Bar will be open from 11am-5pm, open later at our discretion.

Baldy will be closed Dec 2nd-5th.

December 6th-8th:

The Eagle Chair will soar once more! Sugarlump chair will open at 9am-3:30pm as usual, and eagle chair will open at 9:15am-3:45pm as usual. The magic carpet will be open usual hours. No terrain park on eagle just yet. Tubing will also be closed. The Cafeteria and Baldy Bar will operate on the same schedule as the previous weekend.

Sugardays passes will not work for our Bonus weekends as they are valid for Mondays to Thursdays only.

Baldy will then reopen Thursday, December 12th for 7days a week operations for the remainder of the season!

Snow base is 110cm as of today and we can't wait to share it with you all!

Wood shed collapsed

 

Ready for the next round..................

 

Backcountry Warning

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/518964/Significant-early-season-snow-brings-increased-avalanche-risk

Saturday Morning

No new snow overnight, total for Thursday night to Friday afternoon settled to 15cms. The temperature was hovering around zeroC for awhile yesterday afternoon. 

Bentley had me walking early, for his morning "snow roll." From this vantage point I could see about 4 recent passes down "Jones".

Community members shovelling for the first time yesterday reporting over a metre of snow on their decks.

If you are talking to friends and neighbours who have not been up for a cabin check, please tell them that it is advisable to come up soon and deal with snow, and not wait for Christmas.

There are a number of trees leaning in the village - will do a drive around later today to see how they are holding up.

Fortunate yesterday that the tree behind me came down in a safe spot, not hitting anything, and not needing to be dealt with until spring.

Heads up from Instagram

Full details coming tomorrow. First weekend is Sugarlump and Magic Carpet. Planning to open Eagle for the second weekend. 

Bending trees

One on the power line now on Whiskey Jack.

One snapped and down behind my place.

I did not call Fortis. Not many people up on Whiskey Jack today, and I saw lights in cabins nearby the tree.

Mike did not buy a Tesla............

Mike says it is OK to post now. The Crowsnest has been sold, but is still in the family. Nephew Greg and family are the new owners. Mike and Virginia will still be able to use the cabin, Mike has his pass, and is looking for wider skis......

Greg's connection to Baldy is life long - sorry "Uncle Bill", I have to tell the story. Greg spent his first Christmas at the Crowsnest - coming up in a van with Bill and Laurie. He was placed in a box on the floor of the van between the front seats. On the way up, the van slid into the ditch.

Oh the days before car seats...........

The Murray family, (now we have two), have been up doing some fixing up and painting, and we look forward to them spending more time at Baldy. Also happy that the arrangement allows Mike and Virginia to still use the cabin.

Road updates,

At noon, YRB had not made it to Baldy, and we had another 15cms overnight. Unplowed roads are OK in my truck, but meeting oncoming vehicles, not so much.

AIM section plowed and sanded, with another truck heading up.

Fog layer between Baldy and town.

Please drive with your lights on.

I pulled one vehicle out of the ditch on McKinney Road, earlier there was a vehicle with poor tires blocking the Baldy road.

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Start off with the Drive-Thru breakfast at the Oliver Fire Hall Saturday. Head up to Baldy, stop by the office and get your waiver/pass done. Go to your cabin and gather all the extra ski gear you want to sell. Alpine Club ski swap in Oliver Sunday.

I hope you have snow boots and pants at home - it will be deep getting in to your cabin.

If you were here last weekend and think you are caught up, there is a lot more to shovel.

More Thursday

The leaning base post says 113cms - probably won't be tall enough for this season, even if I do straighten it up. Won't touch until I can access it on skis, not breaking trail with snowshoes.

 

A breather..........

The entrance and driveway are cleared daily, the decks get done a little at a time. I cleared off the snow measuring spot last night, and then we got another 15cms.

Lots of photo ops out there today - these are the easy ones I can do without going outside.

Coastal Weather

Our thoughts are with family, Baldy family and friends who have been affected by the major storm still hitting hard with fluctuating high winds.

Update from family in Parksville last night - branches landing on the roof and the deck. My mental image of their property is healthy trees, not too close to the house.

Still Snowing

 

48 hour settled 22cms in the village. Some of it must have been at an angle. My roof overhang is 6ft, my deck sticks out 14ft, and there is snow under both right up to the cabin.

Most trees are heavily laden, some have shed some clumps, so that is another indication that we had some wind last night.

This stuff is fairly dry. Fortunate that BMR was able to do some track packing on the earlier wet stuff to set up the base.

Emergency Alert Test Wednesday

https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/518219/B-C-to-test-emergency-alert-system-on-Wednesday

Snow

Another snowy day, occasionally interrupted by fog. Staying cold - minus7C at 5:00pm. Snow blower moved today - in reach of an extension cord for electric start. Too cold for pull start,

 

Toy Drive - check out Mindy's Restaurant

 

Saturday afternoon snow..........

Wet snow in the valley, starts to stick around 12km, piling up here, temp minus 5.5C

Home prices decreasing in B.C.’s ski regions, says Royal LePage - BC News

Home prices decreasing in B.C.’s ski regions, says Royal LePage - BC News: Prices of detached homes and condominiums have registered slight decreases in B.C.’s popular ski regions so far this year. However, they are expected to increase in 2025 as interest rates continue their expected decline.

Check out the prices at the bigger ski areas.

Moon Tonight

 

Friday

Enjoying the sun before the snow starts again Saturday evening.

My base post needs to be straightened up, but I kind of like the number 70 when it is leaning over....,.

 

Testing Conditions

It is a tough job, but someone has to do it............... checking out the conditions today. (wasn't me)

Reminder to stay off the hills - there can be machinery on the mountain at any time. Track packing starting on the Eagle soon. 

Teaching Skiing and Snowboarding

Teaching someone to participate and enjoy the sport that you love can be a very rewarding experience.

I have many positive memories of some of the most interesting teaching experiences I had. Some of the best instructors who worked for me decades ago were women friends from the village who not only taught the skiing, but shared a love of skiing Baldy.

We have the conditions, and you have the opportunity to train and become certified on your own mountain.

Level 1 CASI,  December 13 - 15

Level 1 CSIA    December 16 - 18

 

First turns November 29th - Two Bonus Weekends!

If you have signed up for the Baldy newsletter, you have all the latest. If not - scroll to the bottom of the page on BMR and enter your e-mail.

https://baldyresort.com/

Early Opening - Two Bonus Weekends - November 29th-December 1st, and December 6th to 8th.

Daily operations ( except Christmas Day ) start December 12th.

Non perishable food items for the Oliver Food Bank brought to the ticket office will get you 25% of a lift ticket on those weekends.

Season Passholders - the office is open 7 days a week - get in soon to sign a waiver and reactivate your pass, or you'll be waiting on opening day.

If you have company coming for Christmas - flex passes are only available until December 16th

Snow school lesson booking is available now.

La Nina is delivering big time, and the Sugarlump has been track packed already.

November 24th - Baldy Alpine Club Ski and Board Swap - BMR will be there with  Flex passes and merch.

November 29th - BMR at Oliver Light Up Event

Never a dull drive...........

•  AIM was grading today - they had posted recently that they had put grading on hold until the moisture content in the road had reduced some.
• Slash burning below 17km - piles left from the 2021 burn.
• Coming around the corner and down the hill at 17km - looking over to the left, there appears to be machine tracks between the remaining trees, and part trees. I didn't have the right camera, and it was dark when I came home.
• Interesting activity in the vicinity of Mica Creek Road
• The road can be slick in spots - my truck started to slide on the way down when I wasn't expecting it
• another car in the ditch coming up  - not sure, but there are similar looking cars in the community - not posting a photo, hoping whoever is OK

Stolen Truck

 

This truck was stolen from Oliver on November 5th. RCMP on scene after 6:00pm, waiting for the tow truck.

Some time today, there was someone there with an ATV, working on their "friend's" truck.

If you saw someone there today, and have any identifying information on the people or the ATV, or know where it came out of, the RCMP would appreciate a call to their non-emergency line in the morning. You may also have seen this truck in the area. Not that likely that the persons working on it travelled all the way from town in an ATV.

The attending officer also showed me images of some recently stolen travel trailers. If you see some newish trailers parked somewhere odd, they would like to know.

The office has been notified about the recent truck over the bank - that will be checked out another day.

Crusty

If  you are new to the blog, you will see that I do not use that four letter word starting with "r" and ending with "n".

From the looks of my truck this morning, it appears that there may have been moisture last night that left a coating of ice. The snow definitely has a good crust on it.

 

Contacting the Hwys Contractor may get you a faster response than a Facebook post..........

YRB in the adjacent service area has posted asking drivers to call them first. They say they can respond to that faster than a Facebook post.

There is a link on the sidebar to the contact information for the Highways Maintenance contractors.

Report last night that the drive up from Hwy 3 was a bit of a challenge. We are winter here, but temperatures below us have been above freezing, and snow surfaces lower down can break up easily.

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency services to close for the afternoon - Oliver/Osoyoos News

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency services to close for the afternoon - Oliver/Osoyoos News: South Okanagan General Hospital is closing its emergency room Thursday from 12 to 7 p.m.

November 23rd - Fireman's Breakfast - Proceeds to Starfish Pack Program

If you are in Oliver that day, drive-thru breakfast at the Fire Hall, weather you are on your way up the hill, or just in town.

 

Wednesday afternoon.......

If you follow BMR on Facebook, you will have seen a video and a couple of photos - most of Sugar Lump has been track packed.

 

10:00am Road report

Not plowed on YRB section to microwave. AIM plowed but slick where they plowed.

Mica Creek Rd, down, slushy.

Hard to keep track of over the bank...........

The recent truck is still there. There is another vehicle farther down, but I don't think it is the one we saw last year closer to the bottom.