Atlas Mountains, Morocco – Incredible Skiing

We were scheduled for five days of skiing as we made our way along three areas of the high Atlas Mountains. After the first day of super variable and not great snow I was a bit worried. Sadly but also good for subsequent days the 2nd day was lost to switching valleys and getting stuck on a mountain pass and had to wait for plows to come from either direction for the rescue. I will say the infrastructure in Morocco was much better than I expected, most of the roads we were on were paved. We had two great, long days of skiing in incredible conditions and also heat (the snow just acted as a big mirror baking us) that bookended another day of continuous snow that led to a short 2hr tour before it got too dangerous to drive.

Travel day we went up to a refuge used to nomadic tribes.

Door on left leads to the grave of the original builder of the refuge

Each family had a small storage room to keep supplies for their next visit. On display were clothing and tools they wore and used.

Skinning along the edge of a lake before heading up to the left for one long run back down.

Just massive terrain

We hiked to snowline while the mules carried our skis and packs.

Nomads carved storage rooms into the cliff face.

Hike into the refuge we stayed for one night

2nd night of chicken in a row

3rd night of chicken in a row

Beef cous cous tagine

Banana pudding

Rice salad with tuna

Beef Kefta with Tomato

Refuge kitchen was well stocked but limited cooking. The white box is an oven

And there was a portable stove

Still able to create bread from scratch

Roast some lamb

And make chicken with rice

In the morning more fresh breads

I could live off msemen on the right

Lamb tagine on the way back to Marrakech

Stopped off at a site with preserved Megalosauripus footprints from the Jurassic period

Ski Lodge – Eastern BC

The snow was so much better than anticipated and got plenty of face shots the first day and then it was bluebird for the rest of the trip. Very fun trip although didn’t get nearly as much vertical as I would like.

Better egg mcmuffin

Mussels in white wine

Scallop, pork belly, and mushrooms

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Harris Mountains – Heli Skiing

So the good news is the heli was able to fly, the bad news was the snow and light were terrible. Still had some great views and did get a few cloud breaks so could see where we were skiing. Now I can check off skiing in NZ

Probably one of the few places cows are in the landing zone

Stopped here for a drink on the way home.

Pisa Range New Zealand – 1700 meters

Great first day of touring. You can see our last run on the right of the first picture. We’re in a tiny hut for the night but after a long day dinner will taste fantastic. Took some great night shots, once back in town will tweak in Lightroom.

Eastern BC – Ski Lodge

Skiing is my other passion besides food and always great to combine the two at remote lodges. Snow was great over four days and had some tasty meals.

Lunch on arrival day. Ribs, brats, smoked salmon, caprese, etc.

Dessert spread after lunch, the berry crumble in the back was fantastic since it wasn’t too sweet and more tart.

Buttermilk panna cotta and berry compote

Black truffle (oil I’d say by lack of black flakes) risotto, confit tomatoes and arugula

Alberta beef with mushrooms, morels, potatoes and broccoli

Beef and mushroom in yorkshire pudding (when it’s hard to get fresh food in, you use all of it)

Scallop and grapefruit trio, Madagascar vanilla bean (the fresh grapefruit didn’t match well with the scallops, their sourness was too much)

Porkchops, brown butter, white wine & tarragon sauce, kale, beets and yam puree

Blackberry chocolate torte (I had two)

Breakfast was slightly different everyday, here was blackberry stuffed french toast (I had three pieces). Notice the huge jug of maple syrup too.

Sushi with unconventional Japanese garnish

Sabelfish, fried rice & stir fried veggies

Passion fruit custard, tropical fruit & orange tuile

Furano – Katsudon

Snowing hard so taking an early lunch and let the pow build up. Tonkatsu over rice with onions and scrambled eggs.

Vanilla ice cream wrapped in mochi.