The Blizz Continues

Happy holidays! If you wished for groomers and blue skies this Christmas you may consider the current weather a lump of coal. However, if you wished for dumping snow and trackless pow lines, you should consider yourself a good boy or girl.
It is snowing in such a manner that you wouldn't want to trust following your tracks, as the snow continues to blanket everything.
At Paradise Ridge things are under control thanks to some timely work done by R-4 Mechanical. In systematic Murphys Law fashion, one malfunction after the next kept our spa from fully operating. But with repairs to boilers and our in-slab heating system, the pool, hot tub and sauna are fully operational. The only factor now being extreme winter weather making our outdoor pool deck a bit treacherous. It may be shut down intermittently, but only in such extreme conditions.

Time to go move some snow....

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The mtn from the valley

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Opening Day Eve

Well, the soggy wet snow/rain that has been falling all day, has turned to flakes this evening. Currently it is dumping out, the snow is even starting to set up on the roads. This is good news, seeing as though Mt.Washington lifts open tomorrow at 9am, starting the season in the month of November. With any luck, we will get hammered with snow all night and wake up to a fresh blanket of powder.
Paradise Ridge is pretty quiet right now, the calm before the storm. The pool, hot tub and sauna, are all operating and ready to soothe muscles fatigued from this opening weekend on the slopes.

Twilight

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View from our lower driveway

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Swim anyone?

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Just about

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Remembering Day

The snow is still falling up here, tiny white flakes appearing between patches of blue sky. The road up the mountain is in great condition, and the current temperature is keeping snow from sticking on the pavement. Paradise Ridge is sitting pretty, ready for another winter after a season of repair and renovation.
Not long now, let's hope this snow is here to stay.

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Winter arrivals

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First Snow

A view this morning across the street from Paradise Ridge

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So it begins...

This morning there is a substantial dusting of the white stuff on Jutland and Alexandra Peak, two of our taller neighboring mountains. I am certain Albert Edward is covered as well, but the few clouds left in the sky after the storm are shrouding that tall peak.
After a spring, summer and autumn full of projects and renovations at Paradise Ridge, it is time again to begin battening down the hatches in preparation for the coming snow.
After a long Indian summer, the weather has changed practically overnight. It now feels like the depths of fall with daytime temperatures sitting around 7degrees. More rain is forecast this week, with the snow nipping at its heels. Apparently temperatures will drop low enough to give us a dusting of snow this week, but the continued rain will wash it away.
There is much to write, but much to do. Looking forward to another epic winter.

Paradise Ridge

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It has sprung

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Sunset

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Hail shooting off the roof

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as expected...

Yes, as forecast, we are getting hammered with a storm. It is somewhat heavy and wet but it is falling fast and sideways. Temperatures will drop tonight as it continues to storm. If you like deep snow, tomorrow's your day.

We are still waiting for parts to arrive to re-open the pool, but the hot tub and sauna are staying open in spite of this extreme weather.

Care-took

Springtastic

Well, it is snowing....big flakes. Apparently Sunday it is going to dump in the evening and continue into the next day. I went to town the other day and saw daffodils and had to chuckle to myself, as the mountain continues to deny the efforts of spring.
If you are a mid-week seasons pass holder on Mt.Washington your pass will be valid on weekends as well, starting tomorrow.
The pool is unfortunately down and out right now. It seems that ignition modules in boilers have a life span, as the ignition in both our pool boilers failed within hours of one another. Both our pool boilers are out of service until replacement parts arrive, and I am assured that will be within the next 3 days. It is very unfortunate to have to have the pool closed during a spring break weekend.
In better news, the hot tub and sauna are functioning great :) So if you had your heart set on a ski and a soak, not all dreams are lost.
As well, keeping with the good news theme, garage door remote's for the lower parkade have arrived. You can pick them up from me and will receive a bill from Pennylane Property Management for about $35.00

The back up

Mark is the guy I first call when the snow becomes more than a one man job. Also, his wife and 2 kids are the ones who looked after Paradise Ridge in my stead when I was on vacation last year. If you need your carpets cleaned, call Mark, he own and operates Green Earth Carpet Cleaning in Campbell River.

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FORTIFICATION

The snow cave solution to our 2nd floor. The 2nd floor is the most difficult floor to keep clear of snow, this snow wall helps keep snow avalanches falling from the roof from spilling in and filling up the 2nd floor breezeway

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Big Help

Our snow removal team goin the extra mile. Lucas pushing a chainless van up Henry Rd to our top driveway :)

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Windrift

The storm that has been felt throughout Vancouver Island, was definitely felt on the mountain these last couple days as well. Massive snowfall with high winds had roads shut down along with the hydro power. Our generator kicked in flawlessly for the second day in a row supplying us with emergency power.
The over height wind drift on the pool deck has kept is closed during this storm, but will be open as soon as the weather eases. The hot tub has been able to stay open throughout the storm. The sauna as well, as long as the power is on...AND right now it is!
Mount Washington was shut down today, turning away traffic at the base of the hill. With such excessive snowfall over night and the power failing this morning, they decided to wave the white flag.
Heavy snow days makes everything a mission. Simple tasks are made difficult, and short task are made long. The short drive up Henry Rd proved to be a long process for the 'attemptees' this morning, who remained stuck for hours with a 4x4 truck attempting to drive DOWN Henry Rd.
I don't know what tomorrow is going to look like. It is a gamble whether the mountain will open and a guess what the weather will do...either way, there is some trackless slopes awaiting some visitors.

Deja vu

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Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

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Sploosh

If you are having problems contacting me on my phone, it's because it went for a swim in the pool. Don't hesitate to e-mail me, I will be checking it often.
coastalcor@hotmail.com

Lower parking

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Blizz

Well it has been going all day so far and the snow is really starting to accumulate. It is pretty foggy and windy right now, the snow fall blowing almost completely horizontal at times.
Henry Rd is already a mess, so come prepared for that final climb to Paradise Ridge.
You may notice your voyages in the elevator are brighter now..brighter and more power efficient :) always a good combo, with the replacement of the old fixture. You may as well notice that its a little dimmer walking the breezeway's during the day. Bob, our strata president, and also an electrical contractor, arranged to have unnecessary lights set to timers. This saves on power, and when night falls and the timers kick in, things are fully lit up as usual.
There are new garbage cans on each floor at the elevator landing. I hope people respect them, and realize that they are not to be used as a short cut to taking out the trash, as temptation would surely allow. As well, as a general rule for all trash cans one may find in life; If it doesn't fit through the receptacle, the top should not be removed, and oversized trash should not be jammed inside. ;)
If your not here yet, the storm has beat you...drive safe.

Mid-Feb Flurries

This morning I woke up to snow falling sideways and a couple inches of fresh on the ground. It seems this winter is full of surprises; sun one day, snow the next and rain falling in between...must be BC. However, today is a legitimate winter day. It is nice when the fresh snow falls, disguising the slushy mud that has been flung everywhere by passing vehicles and ploughs, covering over a multitude of sins. More snow has fallen than forecast so far today, and hopefully that trend will continue as a decent amount was projected by this weekend.
It is Thursday, which means people will begin to arrive at Paradise Ridge today in hopes of a great weekend. In fact the weekends during the winter up here seem to start Thursday and end Monday, leaving Tuesday and Wednesday as a kind of respite from the constant activity.
It will be interesting to observe Henry Rd this evening as my home looks out on the steepest part of the hill, right at the corner before our lower driveway. If this weather keeps up, it will no doubt be the centre of some frantic activity. All-seasons spinning, and travellers attempting to chain up for the first time, on a hill, with critics watching and waiting.

Internet

You may wonder why the blog updates have been limited to pictures and very brief updates as of late. I have been doing my updates from my phone as my internet hasn't been functioning very well. After a visit from a Telus agent and a replacement of my prehistoric modem, I am once again "connected".
Things have been busy here at Paradise Ridge. Although the snow has not been falling like it did last year, things like hand soap in the hot tub and plugged toilets have kept me plenty busy. There is always something to be attended to as people file through the doors. And speaking of doors, the front door, which has been a headache recently, is finally operating perfectly...thanks to the persuasion of my Dremel tool.
The pool and hot tub have seen extensive use so far this year. I am always surprised at the amount of
use those two bodies of water get, sometimes even despite ferocious weather.
There has been little fresh snow lately, but these last few days have been beautiful. Fresh skims of snow over formidable ice. This kind of weather is good for goggle tans and injuries. So if you come up soon, don't be too cavalier, because the fluffy stuff on top is only skin deep.

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Big toys at work

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Or perhaps a swim?

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Hottub anyone?

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Blizz

Another blizzard has hit us! The power flickers as the wind rages, blowing the falling snow sideways. It will be another day of beating back the storm, and shovelling snow that has windnlown its way into every hidden crevice of the building. I don't know whether or which lifts will run today, but it won't be for lack of snow. These last few days have been reminiscent of last season.

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Snow warning

... It's dumping out.

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Correction...

Scratch that last post, it's now bluebird and icy cold.

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Winter... Is that you?

Although recent snowfall in places like downtown Vancouver would lead one to believe it must be dumping up the mountain, that has not been the case. However, this morning light snow with spotty blue skies, has rolled into a dense fog with plenty of snowfall. It is piling up fast, and the roads which have been characterized with mud and gravel for days and days, are turning stark white quickly.
Paradise Ridge is functioning great as a whole. The pool and hottub bubble and steam away without fault, and and are seeing plenty of use. Guests and owners alike all seem to be on good spirits despite the recent 'poor' slope conditions. And good spirits make my job a joy. The last month has certainly been much more mild than the onslaught of snow we received last year. Hopefully the system that is moving on now will give us the conditions we have come to expect.

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Party Pooper

My uniform for shutting down the hot tub and pool New Years Eve

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