big flakes

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'Tis the season...

And alas...it is upon us. With the winter solstice just 5 behind us, a storm has moved in, and a constant snow is starting to accumulate. The road up the mountain is in great shape, the ploughs are working steady. Henry Rd could present a challenge as the night progresses for anyone without 4 wheel drive or chains.
The pool and hot tub  are in constant use regardless of the snowfall and wind.
Please be careful and warn tenants to be careful while outside of the building. Snow falling off the roof lands like concrete and will damage vehicles and could cause serious injury.
It's a winter wonderland up here and the forecast suggests there is only more to come this week.

Merry Christmas Eve

Well right now it is a foggy mess up here that is supposed to turn into a couple centimetres of fresh by morning. Paradise Ridge is as bustley as the season. With mediocre slope conditions, the pool, hot tub and sauna are in constant use during the hours of operation, noon until 10pm. Lately I have been opening the spa earlier on the mornings that allow for it, and it seems that as soon as the door is unlocked, people are keen to enjoy it.
There is a new door and a better lock on the front entryway. Please do not open the door by pulling on the key, as the lock is not designed to withstand such usage. As well, the lobby door that accesses the 2nd floor has been fitted with a knew knobset, one that opens freely from the lobby, but requires a key from outside. I realize that this may cause frustration for those that call the 2nd floor their home, but the intention is for increased security for the entire building.
All in all things are operating smoothly at Paradise Ridge this holiday season, and I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming days....it looks as if the snow may be on its way as well.
Merry Christmas

Fresh

We got a few inches of snow last night, and considering the blue skies, today would be one of the best since opening. Things are humming along nicely at Paradise Ridge and the pool and hot tub are working just fine.

morning moon

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Another Clear Day

Another clear day in a week of clear days. I think we are cashing in rain cheques from missed sunshine this last summer. The clouds break around The 10k mark on the drive up, and from there on it's blue skies.
The mountain is running full tilt, including the new moving sidewalk in the green zone.

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--http://twitter.com/thecare_taker/status/143043596881362944'>Corey Weir (@thecare_taker) has shared a Tweet with you:

"thecare_taker: Bluebird on Mt.Washington today, spring like conditions. It's brisk, but it is sunny! #4mwsca"
--http://twitter.com/thecare_taker/status/143043596881362944

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I see moving chairs

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The Calm before the Storm

Today huge flakes are falling and the snow is stacking up again after a couple more temperate days. The flakes are those big flakes, the kind that kids run around trying to catch in their mouths. Apparently it is supposed to snow a bit more today and then clear up and stay that way through the weekend. If that is the case, there may be less snow than anticipated for the early opening on Friday, December 2nd.
Currently I am repainting the lobby, due to popular demand. The colours are more neutral, which means you may not love it, but chances are you wont hate it either ;).
It is a winter wonderland up here, things are shaping up to be an excellent season!
If I can answer any questions or be of assistance please don't hesitate to drop me an e-mail.

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the ridge

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bluebird:)

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The Mtn. Rd.

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Far Far Away

Well, there won't be many updates on the snow and conditions at Paradise Ridge this month, as I will be in Nicaragua soaking up some sunshine. See you at the beginning of the season!

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Welcome to Mt.Washington

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Today

Although today isn't the first day of snow this season, it feels as if winters grip has laid hold of Mt.Washington as of this morning, with cyclones of wind blowing snow every which way.

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Snow!!!

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Warming up to Cool down

Every year, around this time, something special happens. Everyone that you know spontaneously becomes an expert in winter weather forecasts and projections. It is as if everyone has a Farmers Almanac engrained deep in their psyche.
You will hear people referring to winters of the past, drawing upon a history of snowfall to generate their predictions for this coming season. You will hear people hopefully proclaiming that this, in fact, will be the BEST winter ever! And I guess that would be subject to personal preference.
Some remain neutral, sharing the facts they have gleaned from meteorologists and reliable sources. Others, will embellish upon professional predictions and tailor make and prophesy a winter that is best suited to their personal needs, schedules and riding style.
Those that subscribe to the belief in an impending Armageddon, will tell you that this year will be different, and that it isn't natural, and that world record snowfalls shouldn’t be celebrated but rather feared.
There are those that dwell in the valleys and the hollows that dread the approaching winter, they know nothing of gliding on top of untouched snow, or how the powder fills every crevice of your being when your style exceeds your skill. They don’t know that often times you break through the fog at the 10k mark to a brilliant sunrise over a sea of low hanging clouds.
But as some prepare to wallow, there are those of us who are dusting off gear and applying a presumptuous pre season wax to skis and boards.
I don't know what this winter is going to be like. The one rumour that seems to continue to rise to the surface, is that this winter is going to be COLDER. I am unsure whether that means more snow than last year or not but I know there is going to be plenty of snow to shovel and plenty of ice to chip. So along with a fresh coat of wax on my board, I am servicing snow blowers and sharpening shovels and scrapers in preparation to beat back another awesome winter.

Fresh snow and full moon morning over Paradise Meadows.

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Brisk

Blue skies and frost. As the sun continues to sink lower in the sky, winters icy grip is tightening on Mt.Washington. The snow on the surrounding peaks isn't going anywhere, regardless of full days of sunshine we have been experiencing up the hill. It is only a matter of weeks, maybe days, before the snow begins falling on Paradise Ridge.
The pool is shutdown for the shoulder season and will re open the beginning of December. And after some downtime for repairs and maintenance, the hot tub is up and running, bubbling away at a soothing 102 degrees.

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Alexandra Peak

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Before

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Sunrise alpenglow

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The new front entry of Paradise Ridge.

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First Snow

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October, above the clouds

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A Dusting...

This morning there was a dusting of fresh snow at the top of the blue chair and the hawk chair. If you are familiar with the surrounding mountains, Jutland, Albert Edward, and Alexandra Peak received a major dump of snow that has stuck around this entire sunny day. Time to dust off those skis, boards and crazy carpets!

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Construction Zone

Paradise Ridge is undergoing quite the facelift this summer and fall. Today painters are using the good weather to their advantage, as they continue to repaint the exterior of the building. IPC, our painting contractors, believe they will complete the exterior by next week, at which time they will begin repairing the concrete stairs in our breezeways.
If you hear a loud booming voice while around Paradise Ridge, that is likely Wally. He is the same contractor we used for the recontruction of the pool. Wally is our general contractor for some structural repair that the condo needs. This year, his focus is on the 2nd and 3rd floors, close to the foyer. Concrete Saws and Jackhammers are the prime tools for this job, so the noise is pretty excessive.
Please be aware that as we continue to improve Paradise Ridge, there will be parts of it that look and sound like a construction zone. Please be careful when walking around work sites, and dont hate our contractors for destroying the peace and quiet.
Steve the Pool Guy has paid us a visit this morning. Both pumps for the pool and hot tub are in need of servicing. So for the next few days, the only operational part of the spa, will be the sauna.
Likely one of the first thing you will notice if you haven't been up to PR lately, is that the front entryway has been dressed up. My friend, Dove Spencer, and myself renovated the front entry exterior will cedar post and beams, and stacked ledgestone rockwork. I will post some pictures of these renovations and projects soon.

The Better Weather

The weather is continuing to shape up around here. I went for a walk in Paradise Meadows yesterday, and although there is still plenty of snow, it is easy to get around. I had no problem touring through the meadows in some shoes and shorts. The snow is all base, and unless you venture too close to the waters edge, or too close to a tree well, it is firm and easy to walk on. So the next sunny day, don't hesitate to head up and experience spring all over again. The lifts are running, taking day hikers to the top of the mountain and back down again.

Narnia

Well, in the land of perpetual winter, there is still skiing and snowboarding in July. It looks like Mt.Washiington is going to re open the slopes once again this post season. With tonnes of snow left on the slopes, we may yet experience the elusive "spring slushies" this Canada Day. If you don't already have plans to be up here, you should make them. It's rumored that the sun may make a guest appearance as well. So bring your snow gear, and your bathing suit and maybe a steak or two. The bbq's are set up pool side and the water is nice. See you soon.

Spring is Here

Better late than never, but it would seem as if spring has finally arrived. Although bare patches on the slopes are still scarce, the snow is melting fast. Slopes are open this weekend as Mt.Washington opens the runs for Fathers Day weekend, for 25 bucks you can ski and ride in the mild weather and slushy snow.
This week has been a busy one for me as I am taking Level 1 and 2 of a Pool Operators course in Parksville. With Level 1 taken care of, I return to class tomorrow to complete Level 2.
With the receding snow, the patio by the pool is now set up with furniture and bbq's. Whether you plan to hit the slopes this weekend or not, I would encourage you to make use of the luxuries Paradise Ridge has to offer in this time of year. It wont be long before Paradise Meadows is open for hikes to the mountain lakes, and in the mean time the warm pool and the hot tub are ready and waiting.

Well...it's still snowing! There's sunny spots and rainy spots and haily spots, but for the most part it continues to snow up here. It is a shame the lifts are closed. I can look out my window and see empty slopes covered in perfect untouched snow.
There is little traffic in Paradise Ridge throughout the week, besides that of those who call this place home.
I'm keeping myself busy with chores, some of what were ignored during such an intense winter. It kind of feels like cleaning up after a party after everyone has gone home. But I enjoy it, taking care of things I've been waiting for the time to complete.

Lunchtime

Well...after my morning chores I took a wander up to the lodge for lunch at Fat Teddy's. Besides mountain staff members there are not many patrons. The calm before the final storm. The pub is open from 11am to 11pm Friday thru Sunday night for the last weekend of the season.
The sun is shining with few clouds in the bright blue sky. The untouched slopes promise an incredible weekend for skiers and riders.
The pool and hot tub at Paradise Ridge are steaming away, warm and pristine, awaiting the weekend crowds.

Fully Operational

We were paid a visit by River City Plumbing today to ensure the pool and hot tub facilities will be fully operational for the Easter weekend...and they will be.
The snow is falling with a vengeance, beautiful dry fluffy powder...it certainly doesn't smell like fresh grass clippings up here.

Springishhhh...

The weather up here can't seem to decide what to do. Most mornings are clear blue sky, fading to stormy snowy afternoons with pockets of beautiful sunshine and hail! The untouched slopes of Mt.Washington look amazing. It's near 8pm and the skies are once again blue, ensuring another clear crisp night. With continued snowfall and plenty of sunshine, this final weekend of the season should be a good one. Not to mention, it is also Easter this weekend, so on top of some fairly good slope conditions, the breezeways of Paradise Ridge will likely be full of the smells of cooking hams and turkey feasts.
There is less and less activity up here during the weekdays, as will be the norm with the closing of the slopes. It has been an intense winter. I am looking forward to spring, and the chance to take care of some projects around Paradise Ridge.

Someone tell LaNina it's Spring!

I managed to get my netbook fixed in time to give a late update. It was an absolute blizzard up here today, all day. But around 7pm the sun broke through and pushed the storm back, so that the last hour of daylight was blue skies with scattered clouds. The lifts open tomorrow for Friday thru Sunday, and tomorrow is supposed to be clear and relatively sunny...I've heard the word 'epic' tossed around.
Paradise Ridge has emptied out. This past week has been quiet, as even season long tenants pack up and move on to new adventures. However the snow has still fallen with the same resolve as it has most of this season. This weekend should be busy here and on the slopes as skiers/snowboarders seek to suck the lees from the final two weekends.

Blue screen of death

 I'd like to apologise for the lack of updates... my computer is infected.

Energizer Bunny

And it keeps going, and going, and going, and going, and going! This snow will not quit! It snowed all night again. Each morning is like pressing reset, as if myself and the snow removal team didn't clear any snow the previous day. Survival mode is a good way to put it. It is all I can do to keep up with the ceaseless snow fall. The breezeways are clear of snow....except for the second floor. The second floor is barricaded with snow up to the ceiling in places with a path allowing access. There is simply nowhere to blow or shovel the snow to. Every time the roof sloughs off its snow, that falling snow is channelled directly to the 2nd floor, wherever we haven't barricaded to the ceiling.
Such heavy snowfalls have given me great insight into renovations and improvements for the spring. This winter has made evident the major deficiencies at Paradise Ridge. This place could run much more seamlessly, even under major snowfall, with a few timely improvements.
The snow levels in the courtyard are so high that they reach the third floor. A bobcat removed some snow from the courtyard yesterday, providing me better access to the pump room, where the pool and hot tub are controlled. Having a path is much nicer than wading through deep snow to a 12 foot pit as access to the pump room.
Other deficiencies seems to compile as the snow falls. As per usual, the snow comes and so do the damages. Someone ran into the garage door in the upper parkade and wrecked it. While the pump room was buried under multiple feet of snow, the boiler for the hot tub and in slab heating malfunctioned. Thus, requiring the pit to be dug to access the problem and fix it. The hot tub and sauna are open and working. The pool is functioning but is not open as the snow on the deck is piled higher than the railings. People seem disappointed that all of our facilities aren’t working all of the time. If we expect to run such a facility in such an extreme climate, we need to invest in better equipment that can handle such demand.
In the wise words of Ron our snow-cat operator, I didn't create the snow, I'm just trying to get rid of it!
Nevertheless, I'd like to apologise for the state of things around Paradise Ridge. At times I am forced to postpone certain chores in order to contain and maintain access in such snowy conditions. Please remember that this is not a typical winter, and that our snowfall on Mt.Washington has reached world records.
Henry Road remains an adventure, seeing incidents upon its icy surface everyday. Bring chains and a can do attitude :).

And it keeps going, and going, and going, and...

Relentless

For days now the snow has fallen, some clear nights...but not tonight, the blizzard continues. Our road  has seen its fair share of mishaps recently, including a charter bus stuck sideways trying to ascend the icy heights of Henry Road.
Snow removal has been an immense chore as of late. With such heavy dumps of snow, the breezeways quickly fill up, as does the hot tub and pool decks. Don't be surprised if during a very heavy snowfall you find the hot tub, or especially the pool, closed. The in slab heating system that usually keeps our spa decks clear, simply cannot keep up with an immense snowfall. The hot tub, being partially protected from the elements is rarely an issue. However, the pool, being completely exposed can be an issue. If the access door to the pool is locked, that means the pool is closed. Although jumping into an 82 degree pool from a snow drift is invigorating, its not nearly as exciting as a lawsuit from the potential enthusiast who slips on ice and breaks a bone. ;)
During a heavy snowfall, the cover is left off the pool to prevent snow from accumulating while it's in place. The unsavoury side effect of this is that it wastes a lot of energy. Whether the pool is the only culprit or not, we used almost twice the amount of propane this month. Actually, in 21 days we used 3700 more litres of propane than in the previous 30 days! The weather was colder and the snow kept falling and the boilers kept running, and I’m sure the in suite fireplaces kept blazing as well...but we drained that tank in record timing. I'm working on running the pool as economically as possible, but no matter what steps are taken, its a considerable amount of power to heat a pool and deck in a climate like this.
Tonight, the pool is closed and the storm continues.

Christmas Reminiscence

I'm not convinced that things are going to clear up by this afternoon. The storm is raging. High winds are piling up snowdrifts and snuffing out pilot lights. Most of the fireplaces on the south side of the building refuse to light. Strathcona Parkway is shut down, the plows simply cannot keep up with the blowing, drifting snow. Hawk chair is the only chair operating, and apparently of that, only a few runs are open. It's batton down the hatches time, survival mode.

StormsAbrewin'

Apparently there is a tornado raging off the west coast of Vancouver Island and hastening copious amounts of snow to our mountain slopes. Based on weather predictions, the afternoon will be...bluebird. So take your time coming up, but you better come up. The skiing/riding should be epic!
With weather like this the pool cover gets left off. Left on, this much snow accumulates on top of the cover and creates problems. Unfortunately, the turn around for the hot tub and in slab heating boiler has not been great. Its intermittent behaviour, from flawless operation to cantankerous old beast can be quite frustrating. The pool and spa facilities have been shut down. Our in slab melt system cannot keep up with this volume of snow and so creates hazards on the pool and hot tub decks. The increasing amount of snow will, I'm sure, delay the arrival of a professional to fix the problem.

It's Back

Well, the flakes are falling and the powder is light! Looks like it will be snowing all night!
Lots of traffic though Paradise Ridge this weekend. Unfortunately, the tempermental boiler that runs the hot tub is being tempermental. The hot tub has been closed for the majority of the weekend, but people seem to be enjoying the pool and sauna...including myself, who, when putting the cover on the other night, fell into the pool. Lucky for me, I had a friend there to laugh at me. The kinda laugh that lasts 5 minutes but barely makes a sound.

Blue Bird

Blue Bird

A bluebird is a member of the thrush family of birds and is indigenous to North America. However, with the decline of bluebird population in the 1970's, sighting a bluebird on Vancouver Island is a rare occurrence. Of all the members of the bluebird family, the Mountain Bluebird is perhaps the most brilliant. The males of the species are bright turquoise blue on top with lighter, sometimes white bellies. This migratory insectivore...with a side of berries...weighs about 2 to 3 ounces and would stand 6-8 inches tall.

A Blue Bird Day.

A blue bird day is an expression used to describe the perfect day on the mountain. Like our friend, the mountain bluebird, it's bright blue up above and powder white on the bottom. The mornings that dawn bright, clear and crisp after a healthy snowfall the night before. Getting a goggle tan while floating on champagne powder. The stark white mountains accented by a turquoise blue cloudless sky.

So, these last couple days have been bluebird

Paradise Ridge is cooperating as well as the weather. All systems are a go. The pool, hot tub and sauna are constantly in use and running great. Snow removal is squared away for the time being, with plenty of outdoor parking at both the upper and lower parkades. The elevator and garage doors are functioning correctly, which is a huge relief with the amount of traffic here this weekend.

Raven Lodge

I'm sitting in Raven Lodge as I update this blog, having just finished an excellent lunch. This is my first time eating here and I am impressed, a nice alternative to eating out on the mountain.

The snow continues to fall up here. Over the past week there has been only brief periods when the snow has stopped falling, otherwise it has been a steady downfall.

I managed to get out for a few runs yesterday. The visibility was quite poor, but the soft new snow made up for it. A pleasant change from the vertical ice rink wrist claimer. Visibility seems pretty good today though, likely a great day to be on the slopes. Apparently Friday is going to be the day...fresh snow and blue skies...we'll see.

The lower parkade garage door is fixed again and operating as it should. As well, the once again malfunctioning elevator has been repaired.

The big snow blower is still in the Valley getting repaired. It should be done today. I certainly hope so. It would be a great relief considering all of this new snow and a caretaker with a busted up wrist.

The pool deck is clear and the water is warm. The hot tub is bubbling away flawlessly. If I didn't live here I think I'd vacation here.

The sun has just blasted through the fog and Paradise Meadows is looking absolutely gorgeous. The whisky jacks are out in full form, adamant that each skier pay the appropriate toll for playing in their yard.

Winter is Back!

The snow has returned in force! Starting with a heavy snowfall on Friday night, with continued flurries through the weekend, this morning dawned to another night of heavy snowfall. Ironically, the biggest of our two snow blowers is in the shop for repairs, and dealing with this amount of snow with the smaller blower has proved to be quite the feat. Unfortunately, the in slab heating for the pool and hot tub deck cannot keep up with such a massive snowfall and the pool may need to be temporarily closed until the deck can be properly cleared. When it rains it pours, or when it snows it dumps. Sometime during this hectic weekend the lower parkade garage door (which was just recently repaired) was damaged and is in need of repair again.
I'm happy to see that the access door from the lower parkade has been kept secured and shut, as opposed to being barricaded by cinder blocks, wood, curtain rods, or empty McDonald's bags. As well, I have removed the stop from the main foyer door, as it was being left propped open far too frequently. Sorry for the inconvenience that may cause when loading or unloading vehicles.
I'm thrilled for the fresh snow, and speaking of which, I had better get moving. There are breezeways and exits to be cleared of fresh snow, and a small hill of recycling to deal with...the fallen soldiers of another packed weekend at Paradise Ridge.

P.S. Exposing the Myth:
It is important to note, that although there are 40 units, there are not 80 parking stalls. I believe there are more like 60 underground parking stalls. A widely believed myth of Paradise Ridge is that every unit is entitled to 2 covered parking stalls. It's nice to believe, but mathematically impossible. If you are an owner, please inform your renters and especially your rental agencies, that no one is guaranteed 2 parking stalls. The lower parkade stalls are numbered according to units, and are therefore guaranteed. However, the upper parkade is on a first come first serve basis. During times of full capacity each unit is only entitled to a maximum of 2 stalls (not to be easily confused with a minimum of 2 stalls), one in the lower parkade and one in the upper parkade...if your lucky.
It has been scientifically proven that staying updated on this blog makes you luckier.

IT'S OPEN!!!

Jim Moreau, Steve the Pool Guy and myself met with Josh from VIHA today for an inspection of our pool and hot tub facility. With an approved inspection, the pool is finally open. So come one, come all (to a maximum of 61 occupants???) and take an outdoor 82 degree dip while the snow is falling.
Great news all around, as the sheet of bullet proof ice we call a ski hill, is graced with some fresh snow!

A Quickie

The snow has arrived. It's snowing right now and just below freezing. A foreshadowing of what is to come this weekend...snow and plenty of it!
I'm preparing for the arrival of VIHA's inspector this morning, hoping that the steady snowfall doesn't delay or postpone our meeting.
I'll let you know how it goes!

Neutral News

For all those waiting with pins and needles, or butterflies and nausea...I thought I'd post an update. The inspection for the pool has been postponed until Wednesday morning. Although disappointed with the delay, I do consider it a blessing in disguise. Another couple of days to tidy up loose ends is a great benefit from my point of view. Sorry to be the bearer of what may be considered bad news...don't kill the messenger.
The sun is shining and the wind is howling. The temperature has dropped and has turned our recent flurries into a crusty top layer.
Whether you are up the mountain, slaving away in the big smoke, or sitting on a Mexican beach sipping watered down pina colada's from your all inclusive getaway...Happy Monday Morning!

What is this white stuff falling from the sky??? It is actually snowing on the mountain! It's a busy weekend at Paradise Ridge, with plenty of people hiding from the icy slopes in the hot tub.
Monday we have an inspection scheduled with VIHA. The pool and spa are dialled in, and hopefully our approval for operation will be forthcoming after Monday's inspection.
We have encountered a small problem with snow equipment being left in the lobby. A snowboard went missing last night but was reclaimed this morning. With increased activity on the weekends, I would like to encourage you to keep your gear locked in the ski lockers if you plan to leave it unattended for a length of time.
The elevator, which has been somewhat temperamental, had a major servicing this past week. It seems to be functioning flawlessly now.

Fort Knox

After a visit from Mariner Door, the automatic garage door in the lower parkade is functioning correctly. The automatic timer was not kicking in so the door was staying open after use. Now you only have 30 seconds. Another issue with security is the blocking of doors. Doors that require keys to open, do so for a reason. Just sayin'. Of course if you are reading this blog, you are probably a  conscientious person and not responsible for these petty crimes ;). But if you do stop a door as you are loading or unloading a vehicle, please remember to close it when you are finished.
The sun did not break through the canopy today, so the solid ice (hardpack) was not softened to slushies by the afternoon. Unfortunately, conditions on the slopes have not been great lately. In regards to more snow...the forecast for this week doesn't look promising. But I'll take the sun and the slushies over the fog and the ice.

Sog n' Fog

If you aren't here, you aint missin much!
It's a couple degrees above freezing during the day. A persistent thick fog compromises visibility, and the light rain (or heavy mist) is keeping everything wet.
I'll be spending some time on the pool this week in preperation for a visit from VIHA. The rock chipping project caused a bunch of flying rock chunks to land in our pool. So it's time for me to dig out the mask and snorkel and clean up the debris on the bottom of the pool. On top of that I will be adding a large amount of chemicals to our new body of water to get it balanced and ready for inspection. If this weather keeps up I imagine guests will be spending more time in the pool and hot tub than on the slopes.
Anyone know a snow dance?

Ptaradise Ridge

I'm glad our name doesn't have any silent letters in it.
Well, the sun was out in full force today. It burned away the lingering fog early on, and spent the rest of the day softening the hardpack. This made for a gorgeous bluebird day with spring like conditions.
The pool is up to temperature and operational. A few more hoops to jump through, and we will be able to open with Health Board approval. The hot tub, as well, is operating great. With changes to the chlorination system, it is able to handle the high bather load safely and efficiently.

It's not Ice, it's Hardpack!

Apparently conditions aren't icy up here...it's hardpack, which is the mountains pleasant way of telling you that conditions are icy. There was some hardpack rain today too.
The rock bank between the pool and Ptarmigan Ridge was chipped away today, providing enough clearance for the Snow-cat to effectively clear snow from the courtyard.
Steve the Pool Guy gave his thumbs up today in regards to our pool system. The bugs are worked out, parts and plumbing have been replaced and things are functioning as they ought to be.

Flurries...of activity

These last couple days have been full of activity around Paradise Ridge. Engineers, consultants and tradesmen have all been working to get our pool up and running efficiently while meeting the approval of VIHA. There's a new door on the pump room entrance as of yesterday. Steve the Pool Guy continues to tweak our pool and hot tub system, replacing "mickey mouse" plumbing with professional workmanship. Steve will be back up today with chemicals to begin balancing the pool. An excavator has pulled down the snow drift that had mounted up around the railings of the pools perimeter. With the snow removed we are looking to chip away some of the rock wall between the pool and Ptarmigan Ridge. The new railing for the pool has restricted access for our snow removal team, making it impossible for the Snow-Cat to pass between the pool and the rock wall. By removing a portion of the rock wall, it will be possible to keep the snow levels down around Paradise Ridge, and primarily in the inner courtyard.

Enter the Melt

January 16th turned out to be a relatively sunny day up here, sitting at a warm 6 degrees. Snow is melting fast. Monday morning will see a heap of activity at Paradise Ridge. Tradesmen continue to diagnose and tweak our pool and hot tub system, but we're on the homestretch!
If you plan on hitting the slopes this week, you may be getting tan lines, but you wont be getting any fresh lines. 

January 15th 2011

Fluctuating between rain and snow, a lingering fog has kept conditions WET. The thermostat on my porch reads a balmy 2 degrees, making our wintery slopes more like spring slushies...minus the sunshine. I'd like to pass the rain and wet snow off as, "good for a solid base"...but I don't think we need anymore help with our base. So it's down to waiting it out. If the forecasts are correct, we may be waiting a while before we see any decent amount of snow...besides some 'westcoast powder'. Unfavourable conditions on the slopes makes for some treacherous commuting. All the melt of the day is freezing up at night, making for hard packed night skiing/boarding, and slick, slick roads.
The pool is full, and sitting at about 50 degrees(F), as we await inspection late next week. The Hot Tub is running full tilt, after having some down time for repairs.

Huge Success!

Things were looking pretty dismal this morning. The power was out, the roads were slick, and we had 3 feet of fresh snow in the pool. To add to the mix, the big snowblower broke 3 different times in 3 different ways. Ron had our driveway cleared first thing. With a bit of effort, Jeff Hill of Aquatic Angles, made it up Henry Road, and began powerwashing the pool as soon as it was cleared of snow. The two water tankers that were scheduled to fill our pool cancelled. Not to be beaten, our team filled the pool with water from the fire hoses. With a visit from Steve the Pool Guy, chemicals have been added to the glacial waters, and the punps turned on. The pool will continue to heat up as we wait for approval from VIHA to open...hopefully....maybe...end of next week...maybe.
A day to remember, for those fortunate enough to partake, with blue skies and fresh powder on the hill. There has been rumors of more snow tonight, but at 6:30pm the night is, so far, still.

January 11th 2011

A steady dry snow is being pushed around by an icy wind this evening, and by morning we can expect about 31 new cm by morning.
With a large crew of snow shovellers, we managed to get the pool emptied of its condensed, heavy contents. Now that the is pool emptied of snow, a hot water power washer is on its way up the hill at first light. On his heels, there will be water trucks transporting water from the valley and pumping it into the pool. The only forseen complication at this point will be whether the water trucks can make it up the mountain if the snowy conditions persist. Steve the Pool Guy will make another appearance as well, helping to get the pool up, running and chemically balanced. Having replaced parts for the hot tub system, the hot tub will open again tonight after a brief closure.

Sunday January 9th 2011

The sun is shining up on the mountain. With clear skies, snow and road conditions tend to be a bit icy...but you could still get a tan.
The hot tub is shut down right now for repair. A new chlorinator along with some other repairs will have the tub functioning at top notch in no time. It should be ready for action by mid-day Monday, perfectly balanced and operating correctly. A big thanks to Steve the Pool Guy, for his professional workmanship and advice.
Along with the hot tub, the pool is seeing some real head way. A crew will be shovelling out the pool on Monday. By Wednesday we should see the pool power washed and filled with water. A long awaited and anticipated event! Then, upon VIHA approval, the pool will be open for buisness. It is quite possible that our facility will be fully functioning in the the very near future.

January 4th 2011

With the majority of the holiday rush behind us, its finally time to catch up on neglected chores. Tasks that have been weighing on my mind, but simply not having enough hours in the day to complete them.
The snow removal team, Alpine Mountain Maintenance, has spent some serious time at Paradise Ridge removing literal tonnes of snow from our courtyard. This has renewed safe and convenient access to the pump room and fire exits, as well as providing access for "Wired" electrticians to continue work on the pool lighting.
The blue bird sunny days are gone, and have been replaced by flurries of snow once again.

New Years 2011

Happy New Year! The first day of 2011 dawned bright and clear, which is more than we can say for the majority the of residents at Paradise Ridge. New Years Eve came off without a hitch, with minimal parking issues, thanks to the preparatory work of Ron and his snow removal team. With few conflicts or issues, it was a great New Year's, with a local fireworks show put on by individuals throughout the village and Henry Road.
Yesterday we had a mini excavator working hard to remove the snow bank that has enclosed the second floor. With the bank removed, Mark and I were able to clear the second floor. A huge improvement from the former "single lane access", since the major roof avalanche.
With the high volume of patrons through the hot tub New Years Eve, the spa was closed for the majority of the day, as it received another major cleaning and re-fill. So once again the steam above the pristine waters is rising to another starry sky.