Skiing in my life-long passion. Red Mountain and Rossland my home. The Kootenays my backcountry playground I’ve created Kootenayskier as an outlet for the all the skiing related content that I come up with while I’m skiing my life away.
Stewart Spooner
19 Comments
December 17, 2006 at 7:27 pm
dear stu …
having just red through you blogs i see that you are amidst a battle ! Red has always symbolised a bastion for the free spirit … a rare no rule zone of pure expression
Howard / gideon etc trying to bring their agrressive money focused control tactics into an areana of spirit is a sad and frustrating even from this end of the world
Kia kaha ( be strong in your heart ] my friend … dont let the bastards grid you down
Ps maybe its time for a revolution … some serios chocolate frog parties and a bit of nude skiing … forkum
respects
m
February 1, 2007 at 9:31 am
Hey Stu,
Great to have skied with you last week even if was an underpowered energy day (still suffering byt he way and hope I didn’t pass it along!)
We got in some good turns with Jeff as well. Such a good feeling coming back to Rossland and wondering if after a bunch of years of manuvering through Babylon I am ready to come back. The homing pigeon.
Thanks again and we are here with spare rooms and too much space here in beautiful Babylon itself with peaks out the front door and desert riding out the back.
You are always welcome.
Sarah and Mark.
August 30, 2007 at 6:40 am
Hi Stu, good to see you again, if only in a photo. I’m here bumming around europe, just been up to La Grave to visit a friend who had a contact with Rossland through Darcy and through who I learnt of his death. Which brings me to a question re another ex-rossland resident, Andrew Murdoch. Any news? Drop me a line…
simon
October 3, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hey Stu, I’m an Australian just moved to Canada by myself, looking to spend a ski season somewhere this winter. Right now I’m in Victoria working my ass off to hopefully end up with enough cash to last me without having to work (much) during the season.
I was having a bit of trouble deciding where to go… but from looking at your blogs Red Mountain/Rossland seems to be the place.
I love to tour, so we’ll have to meet up and you can show me around the backcountry there.
Also, what is the go with housing? Would it be best to find a place in Rossland or is there a village at the resort?
If you or anyone you know has a spare room (or even a corner of the living room…) willing to share with this ski bum please let me know!
I can’t wait for this winter, the knowledge that I’m going to be skiing every day this winter really helps me get through the long days working.
master.et@gmail.com is my email, let me know how you’re going.
Thanks man, any help will be greatly appreciated.
December 14, 2007 at 2:41 am
Great stuff,
Been in the koots for a few years now and I just found this site. Keep it coming.
Keith
January 14, 2008 at 6:02 pm
This is all very well, but is it the basis for the definitive great skiing novel?
Love……………Dad.
January 24, 2008 at 10:08 pm
My name is Dave from Whitefish, MT. USA
I have a backcountry blog for my area:
http://flatheadbackcountryski.wordpress.com/
I will be at Red Mountain 2/7-9/2008 and would love a 1 day tour in the area on 2/8 or 2/9.
You can look at my site for an idea of what we do. If you could take us out for a day, I’d gladly return the favor when you are in our area.
January 31, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Hey man, thank you thank you thank you…
I’ve been planning a trip to Red for a group of seven and I’ve been looking for pics of Red and the surrounding ski conditions and you capture it best! Reading your blog has totally wet my whistle for some extreme slopeside fun. The thing is… I’ve never skied Red before and I would love to meet up with a pro like you if even for an hour to get some tips on what to hit when and where depending on fresh snow, time of day, temp, wind direction etc. A couple of us have skied the mountains before so we’ll be looking for some hikes that are easy to access from Red… it looks like there are three peaks that surround Red that will be more than enough to fill our five day adventure but what would you recomend.
I laughed my ass off about the off duty cop story, any chance you could point me in the direction of B.C’s finest? I wouldn’t mind sampling something other than the snow you guys are so famous for.
Thanks for any response.
February 1, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Ryan,
There’s a lifetime of incredible skiing do be done around here, and I’d be happy to steer you in the right direction. Call me (I’m in the phone book) and introduce yourself when you get to town.
April 15, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Love the pics and stories. If you are game for taking an unknown along would love to see some of these areas.
June 25, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Somehow you’ve inspired me to stop going around saying such ridiculously silly things as “I hate snow”. I don’t know how you did it. But…thanks. I do still think I prefer dirt though.
November 22, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Your blog inspired me to manifest destiny and in 5 weeks I will be landing in Calgary for a 4month temp-to-permanent stay/ ski-cation.
We just received a dumpin of a foot of powder, but no solid base this far down in Ontario.
Good work, that painting is rad,
Graham
PS. you might remember me as the noob who wrote about my first pair of skis and how sick I felt skiing down 200ft hills. But, new direction now – could you recomend a good all mountain ski, and really fun and fluid in powder?
December 8, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Hey Stewart
Great blog, like the snow updates. I have a question on one of the skier’s on your blog…can you give me an email.
Thanks
Peter
December 31, 2008 at 4:37 am
jwfkfactvgaophdqwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch
January 23, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Hey Stew,
Im loving your blog, especially the archived traverses…sick. Some friends and I are planning a multi day trip from Kootenay Pass to Whitewater and I wanted to ask you a few questions. Give me an email if you have time.
Thanks
February 14, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Yo Stewart!
Heard some flappin’ on the snowless breeze about someone (ie me) trying to shut down skiing at Kootenay Pass because of caribou? When we chatted on the phone last year I thought I made it very clear that there is NO data that shows non-motorized activity to displace caribou, as opposed to the multiple studies out there (Hart Ranges, Caribous, etc) that show caribou moving out when sledders move in, or avoiding areas of high sled use. The Pass is one of the heaviest used backcountry areas out there, and the caribou are still using it. I am sure that at some level of use there will be some impacts, but it does not appear to be anywhere near that yet. At the least the science team does not think so (which is who we look to for our caribou recovery efforts). Please give me a shout to clarify this, as it seems you have been spreading a message that I am trying to shut down skiing, which could not be further from the truth, and is more along the line of the snowmobile folks position, which sometimes is: “well, if WE can’t go there, NO-one should be allowed”, which the science, unfortunately, does not support.
Happy face shots, one of these days…
Dave Quinn
June 6, 2009 at 5:03 am
Hey Stewie,
Got back from Nexpa in one piece I see.. I’ve been surfin your blog here…
Damn what beautifull!!.. I must come over some time.. Good life you’re livin there man!
Say hi to Greg (can you send me his emailadress?)
enjoy!
Mike
August 26, 2009 at 4:27 am
G’day from Melbourne Town,
Love the blog – keep up the good work.
When you coming to visit again?
Howie
November 30, 2009 at 1:33 am
hi stewart,
been in the area for now one year. we actually rode together couple of times on oasis and once on flume i think. anyway would like to hook up for some touring in the kooteney pass. heard about it and came across your site and thought you might be up for me tagging along.
email me or give me a call 250-231-7949.
thanks,
kevin