Skiing Opus

The Ultimate Skiing Experience

For downhill skiers, “powder snow” provides the ultimate skiing experience. For most skiers however, good powder skiing is a short-lived and infrequent event. Ski areas in some geographic areas enjoy fairly frequent “powder days” but in most areas, powder days are rare and the dryness and depth of snow is often marginal.

In most ski areas too, when powder snow does occur, it is only a matter of hours before it is completely "tracked out”, lumped up and beaten down. Only those few early birds that ride the first chairs in the morning get the ultimate run of the day, in deep, consistent, smooth, untracked snow.

For years, diehard powder snow enthusiasts have headed for the backcountry to “ski the powder” among remote alpine peaks, far from crowded ski areas. Many enjoy the peace and quiet of ski touring and move and ski at a pace governed by their own physical fitness.

Others who may be less ambitious or have less time, but who have ample disposable funds, have headed for the backcountry in helicopters. For about $1000 per day or more, heli-operators offer small groups of proficient skiers 5 to 7 days of guided skiing on huge pristine slopes, high in the mountains. Guests stay in comfortable lodges and spend their days being shuttled back and forth with their guides, with each run on a fresh untracked slope. Heli skiing has its problems. There are “down days” when storms make flying impossible and there is always the inherent risk of all backcountry skiing: avalanche.

Avalanche risk depends on many factors. All reputable backcountry operators provide highly qualified guides who choose areas for skiing and a safe route down the hill. On days of poor weather or unstable snow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their groups to "skiing the trees”. Tree skiing is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry skiing and is preferred by some skiers to the more open “alpine” skiing.

In recent years, a new type of mechanized backcountry ski operator has emerged. Snowcat skiing operators use snowcats to transport skiers and snowboarders into backcountry regions. Snowcats are fitted with a large cab that seats clients in a warm, comfortable environment. A snowcat typically carries a group of 12 clients, two guides and a driver.

Of course, snowcats are much slower than helicopters. They are also much less expensive and guests can expect to pay between $500 and $600 a day, including transportation, lodging, meals, and guiding. As slow as snowcats may be, most clients will wear themselves out every day and get just as much skiing as their group can handle.

The great advantage of cat skiing is that “down” days almost never occur. Clients ski every day and bad weather can often mean extra-good snow. Cat skiing is more relaxed and “laid back” than heli skiing as there is no need to share equipment between groups or to maximize equipment usage. Cat skiing is very “client-friendly”. Each group has a dedicated machine and it moves at the group’s pleasure. Weaker skiers can feel at ease and not “pushed”.

Snowcats provide a relatively quiet, comfortable, warm and relaxed environment in which the trip back up the hill can be almost as much fun as the run down. Guests can “unbutton”, dry out, warm up, converse and browse on sandwiches, cookies, cake and drinks. If a guest gets tired, it’s easy to “sit out” a run and ride down to the next pickup with the cat driver.

Snowcat skiing is more restricted geographically than heli skiing. However, that has a drawback. Since they can operate in a larger area, heli-operators may sometimes be less familiar with changing snow conditions and risk factors than snowcat operators who work in a more restricted area.

Most snowcat operators have ample terrain to consistently provide good snow, even in periods of drought, and to ensure that clients exhaust themselves every day. Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges Ltd. operates in a 95 sq. km area and ski between the elevations of 5400ft and 9500 ft. Monashee Powder Adventures advertises an area of 66 sq. km and operate between the elevations of 7800 ft and 3,000 ft.. Baldface Lodge uses over 140 sq km. Guests need not worry about running out of terrain!

Snowcat skiing provides a wonderful holiday for intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Individuals, family groups, groups of friends, business associates can have a “trip to remember”. Operators with remote lodges offer a real “backcountry” experience, usually with good food and very comfortable accommodations.

Author, Lockie Brown, is retired and lives near Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He has cat skied for about 10 years, taking groups of 12 and 24 friends to different cat ski venues in British Columbia. He now takes his groups to Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges near Golden, B.C. For more information, please refer to the Chatter Creek Web site at http://backcountrywintervacations.com/.

Boat Opus

There, you have just got a boat -
While blackly rocks boil wilth warm summer rain
There is a nose inside wood coat,
And yet their ahips are named same...

Stocking up your Boat

There, you have just got a boat. A nice new hobby for the weekend and it is time to stock it out. It is time to get all that equipment and gear that you have read about in all the magazines and that you have dreamt about for so long. Time to fill that boat up with all the latest goodies and set sail into the unknown. Sail out and over the horizon, ready for all that may be placed in your way!

The engine has always been my greatest problem and I have this constant nightmare of breaking down whilst away from shore. The last thing that I want to do is to call for help and admit to everybody that I was not ready. Spanners, screwdrivers, engine tool kit and a few essential spares are of course a necessity but the Chain Block and the torque wrench, the hydraulic spanner and the ten-pound hammer? I am not so sure that I will ever really need them at sea.

What are you going to do with them? Lift the engine off the block and do a complete strip down whilst bobbing on the water? Let us look into this before we dive in and fill the boat up full to the brim with unessential items. Before we fill up the cabin drawers with tools of all shapes and sizes and electrical equipment that would stretch your power supply to its limits. It must be remembered that if the problem is a serious one then nine times out of ten you will not have the correct spare part anyway! So what do you really need before you make a storeroom out of every available space onboard?

Tools are essential and maybe the saving grace to any that lose their power at sea. Tools are required to unblock a fuel filter or cure a leaking pipe, but you are not going to be doing a complete overhaul so leave the 18” monkey wrench behind along with the engine lifting frame and the welding machine. Leave them safely at home in the garage and set sail with the minimum of required tools for essential repairs. Have in your boat enough tools to do the job and leave plenty of space for all the food and goodies that will make the trip into what you dreamt it would be like. Don’t turn your boat into a nightmare with unnecessary tools falling out of cupboards and leaving oily stains everywhere, just have what you need and set sail happily. Don’t have your friends and guests complaining of stubbed toes and bruises on the head as they work there way through the cupboards whilst searching for some food to eat!

The crucial point to remember about engine maintenance and repair is that it should all have been done before you left port. The engine and auxiliary equipment should be in a good condition and able to do the job it is meant to do before you take the last rope off the jetty. So any repairs and work should have been carried out before you even thought of stocking up for the trip. When you set sail you should have underneath you a boat ready and prepared for all occasions, one that you can trust in to do the job that it is required to do.

In many situations the amount of equipment that you carry does depend on the skills that you yourself possess. First of all, if you are not very good at engine overhauls then it is pointless to have the larger pieces of equipment anyway. If you are good at doing engine overhauls and have knowledge about what you are doing then you should not have set sail with a faulty engine in the first place. It is possible that you breakdown through no fault of your own but it is far better to have a good communication system to call for help and swallow your pride than to try and fix the engine yourself.

Essential items therefore consist of a set of spanners, a couple of hammers, a set of screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench. One monkey wrench of a small size, filter removal strap for the Fuel filters and LO filters, hand crank handle if the engine is small, a spare set of batteries, some spare Lubricating Oil and some odds and ends of screws and nuts and bolts. Along with these items should be the engines tool kit, essential spares for the engine including a couple of injectors, fuel filter and LO filter inserts and anything else that the manufacturer recommends for that engine.

Leave behind the Chain Block, the large Monkey Wrench and the Hydraulic Spanners. Leave behind the spare heads and the spare crankshaft and all the spares that require the use of a chain block. Make sure before you leave that the engine is in top working condition and that you can trust in its ability to take you where you want to go without breaking down on the way. And finally make sure that your communication system is suitable and in a good working condition, so that if a problem does arise help is not far away.

There is no pride to think of when you breakdown. Safety is of a higher priority.

Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary: ieuandolby@lycos.com.


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East Africa Travel Serenade

Newsletter from East Africa

A Wedding Out Of Africa

Kenya has always brought out the romantic in its overseas visitors, from the days of the early European settlers to the international travelers that now arrive daily from all parts of the globe to explore the country for themselves. As a honeymoon destination, Kenya is among the top in the list. It is a country that boasts an enviable range of dramatic landscapes inhabited by exotic and wild animals, and has a surprising number of paradise locations on its Indian Ocean coast. An advantage of a wedding in Kenya is that everything will be done for the couple except saying “I do”; from invitations, marriage license to registrar, photographer to entertainment. So whether a beach wedding with a total seclusion on a deserted sand dune or a sumptuous beach party of 200 or more! Or getting spliced on a luxury yacht whilst sailing on the Indian Ocean, or even a bush wedding revolving around the ‘Out of Africa’ theme – Five-star seclusion, four-poster beds and excellent cuisine served on best bone china with silver cutlery and candlesticks redolent of times past, you name it and the dream will be a reality. http://www.kenyaonetours.com/activities/weddings.htm

Endangered Species in Kenya

After the decision to resume ivory trade was taken last year, poachers have taken a greater interest in elephants in northern Kenya. Eight orphaned babies have been rescued in the recent months, the youngest being one week old. These baby elephants, which actually are a reminder that the resumption of international trade in ivory brings violence, cruelty and tragedy, are being raised and rehabilitated by Kenya Wildlife Service, for the eventual release back into the wild. Kenya that once boasted of 120,000 elephants, has had this number reduced tremendously after a decade of poaching. Today her elephants are strictly protected and population is recovering.

Lamu Cultural Festival

This month the historical Lamu island in the Indian Ocean hosted its third Cultural Festival that brought together thousands of people from other coastal towns, upcountry visitors and tourists. Unfortunately this event came in the wake of a disastrous fire that razed three hotels, including Lamu's oldest establishment Petley’s Inn, which was built in 1936 and was regarded by historians and Lamu residents as "the epitome of our cultural heritage". However, the mood of the festival was not been dampened and instead Lamu people used the occasion to display their traditional spirit of goodwill and resilience. The number of visitors has continued to increase in the past days in Lamu, and main streets and narrow alleys are congested.

Shimba Hills Lodge Specials

Shimba Lodge, a unit of Block Hotels Kenya, has introduced a very special rate for its guests this season who want to experience the only Tree Hotel at Kenya Coast. The new prices are as little as US Dollars 80 per double and US Dollar 50 per single, on Half Board. Child rate is 50% of the double room rate.

Mombasa’s Castle Hotel comes back to life

Mombasa's old glory, the historic Castle Hotel is back. This famous Meeting Place - where residents and tourists alike, including those from visiting ships, could socialize in comfort while enjoying a drink and great hospitality along the island's main thoroughfare, Moi Avenue. Its existence since 1927 (the original hotel site probably going back even earlier to 1913) also attracted many more people and trade to the area. It has been sorely missed since closing ten years ago. Striving for a four-star grading, the hotel with 66 rooms, hopes to be fully operational by the end of the year. The 'Ashanti Cafe', 'Ivory Bar' and 'Italian Restaurant’ are already operating.

East African Safari Rally

This is a reminder about the 2003 East African Safari Rally, which marks the 50th anniversary of the original Coronation Safari rally held in 1953 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. This year’s event is opened to all cars built prior to 31st December 1971 – a classic event for classic rally cars. The 5,000 kilometres, nine day event, will start in Mombasa on 10th December, and will cover the three East African countries. The type of cars to be seen, driven by a host of former champions and experienced rally drivers, will include, Ford Escorts, Porsche 911’s, Datsun 1600SSS’s & 240Z’s, Ford Mustang, Mercedes 220SE, Volvo PV544 Sport, Austin Healey 3000, VW, Skoda, Alfa and even a Trabant. For more visit www.eastafricansafarirally.com

A Golfing Destination Kenya

Kenya has long been considered one of the world's great undiscovered Golfing destinations, but more and more traveling golfers are now packing clubs on safari. For the traveler seeking a diverse range of golf courses, combined with world class standards and service, Kenya is the perfect choice. The weather in Kenya is ideal for golf all year round. Kenya has 38 courses, of which 12 are 18-hole and 10 are used for championship events, in locations as varied as high altitude plains, beautiful lakeshores, lush forests, tropical beaches and more. The courses offer international golfing standards and some of the world's finest design and landscaping. Day or temporary membership at Kenyan Golf Clubs can be readily organized by the visitor or through a travel agent or tour operator.

Sky Diving at Kenya Coast

There are many ways to see Kenya on safari, but how about from 14,000 feet above the ground, falling earthwards at 120 miles per hour? For adrenaline junkies, the Kenyan coast has become the latest hot spot for aerial adventure- where the equatorial atmosphere at sea level can give skydivers more than a minute of full freefall over the beautiful blue Indian Ocean, before touching down on pure white sands on one of the world's best beaches. For 14 years now international skydivers have been gathering at Diani Beach on Kenya's South Coast each year for the Kenya Skydive Boogie. This event is proving very popular both with experienced skydivers and those interested in experiencing the thrill of freefall for the first time. It has now become a major event on the international skydiving calendar. The Boogie is organized by Kenya Skydivers and will be held in October 2003. www.skydivekenya.com or www.kenya-boogie.com

Lake Baringo Club, Kenya

This is a classic, neat and compact hotel on the shores of Lake Baringo, and one of the rare places in Kenya where it is possible to watch a family of hippos graze just a few metres from where you are seated! The club has plenty activities including a boat ride across the hippo and crocodile infested lake! A good time to see the hippos is late in the evening after dinner, because at this time they start to ascend from the lake to the lawn where they graze. There is also a morning bird walk before breakfast, led by the club’s ornithologist. There are over 460 species around the club. Baringo Club is situated right on the floor of Rift Valley, an area that boasts of contrasting and captivating scenes.

Greeting from East Africa

Yours, Karl-Heinz Straus

Karl-Heinz Straus is the Managing Director of Kenya One Tours and living in Kenya for 15 years and working as a tour operator for 30 years. Visit also the website http://www.kenyaonetours.com.


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