joshua wilsher

More Banff

Before I forget, here is the link to A Traveller's Guide to Mt Gambier. Look for the links to Volumes 1-4. There are a few of you who may enjoy Volume 3 as it is about Caffe Belgiorno.

And hello from yet another country where Australian wine may be less expensive than at the cellar door. The case in point (actually it was just one bottle) is a Wynn’s 2003 Cab Sav I lashed out on the other day for AU$20. I wish I could write the same for beer as life here seems conducive to consumption (another reason why I need to try and get work during the late shift). Despite the expense, I have enjoyed the novelty of leaving my bottles to chill on the doorstep (as opposed to the fridge). Problem was the other night they almost froze over before I could get through them.

Based on comments I had received form people back home, I calculated that Adelaide was 59C warmer than Banff earlier this week. Rainfall, I’m sure, is quite similar.

I’m penning this blog entry on paper in my bedroom as I only get half an hour on the computers at the library. Looking out my window, which is almost completely frozen over but does have a few peep holes, is my small backyard. Yet from this angle, its expanse seems limitless as there is a forest of spruce that backs onto it. Today, I have time off from my monkey work at Macca's so I plan to go down to the train tracks to look for wolves. Apparently they hang out around there. I presume the tracks are somewhere near here as I often here the trains chugging through the woods.

I also had yesterday off so decided to make use of the cheap ‘familiarization days’ offered by the mountains. When I arrived at the ski hub early yesterday morning I was surprised to hear that my name was not on the list. Despite this, they added me to it. I later realized why it was not on there – I had my dates confused and this bus was heading back to Sunshine Village (I was supposed to be going to Lake Louise). But that was ok as it meant extra ‘familiarization’ at Sunshine. Next week I will go to Lake Louise. Last time I was on the mountain there was a lot of powder – yesterday it was a bit icy as it has not snowed for a few days. I think the best conditions for myself are somewhere in between.

It is ridiculous how few people were on the slopes. It may be a relatively big resort and sure there are a number of them around for people to choose from. But there is no waiting time for lifts or the gondola. You come down the mountain and instantly you are able to hop on a lift. It seems strange that one of the premier skiing areas in the world could be so quiet. I guess the reality is that Christmas is over and most people in the world have to work for a living. I hear that visitor numbers in the resorts greatly increase over the weekends.

The picture above is of the gondola at Sunshine Village. You ride it to get up the mountain and from there take different chair lifts to different runs.

posted by Joshiesmoov @ 6:44 PM