Living in Canada I have the great fortune to be surrounded by an abundance of amazing scenery. Our country has high mountains, rocky coasts, grasslands that stretch to the horizon, and for many months of the year, infinite green vistas.
In Ontario we are somewhat “vertically challenged.” We do have some fairly high ‘hills’, but most are what’s left of mountain ranges from geologic time and they have been worn away significantly over the years.
We used to belong to a ski club north of Toronto in one of the areas with some large hills. They were great when Jessica was small and were a lot of fun, but did not offer the challenge of some western ski hills.
The solution for me has always been to travel to the west coast where British Columbia has a number of mountain ranges, and shares the Rocky Mountains with Alberta. “The Rockies” are a massive subduction plate where the Pacific oceanic tectonic plate is forcing its way under the North American continental plate, and forcing the Rockies Mountains “up!”
I have spent lots of time in British Columbia enjoying the fabulous scenery in all seasons.
This is Janet and I horseback riding one summer.
Then there is the winter, and once those mountains become covered with snow, they offer amazing skiing!
I have a friend who runs a heli-skiing company. He flies skiers up to high peaks to allow a very long, uninterrupted run down the mountain. In fact, by the time you get to the bottom you are pretty exhausted. This isn’t like skiing on a hill with lifts where you go up and down all day. One or two runs like this and you’re done for the day!
The views from the top are magnificent. They’re so great you hardly want to leave… but it’s cold enough you realize it’s probably a good idea to get moving to stay warm.
Here I am at the top of one of these amazing peaks ready for the run down.
It’s great to live in such a beautiful country!
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