On the 23rd of January I went with some workmates on my first trip to another resort-Lake Louise. It was all our day off so Olivia, Michelle, Sarah and I caught the morning bus from Banff to Lake Louise. With working at the resort I'm at we get to ride there for free and as it's not even an hour trip it was well worth it; bluebird day and a little sprinkling of powder. Woop-woop! It was one of those days where you know that you have improved since first arriving in Canada and I got a complement that made my day; Sarah said I was quite good. (I'm not but it's far lovelier to hear that then that you're terrible and should quit, am I right?) That evening at Trappers was a themed party - Thrift Shop Formal. It was interesting to see how people interpreted that title..some wore horrid old style bridesmaid dress types and others wore a mash-up of tragic clothing articles that probably should have been binned not op-shopped. But it was a good night and entertaining seeing everyones outfits.
This is me at Lake Louise with one of the cool ice sculptures.
With Housekeeping we've been pooling all the tips we find which makes things a lot fairer in this unfair world. The money has been going into the piggy bank but the food, alcohol and other random articles that get left behind get divvied at the end of every day. We've also had the occasional day when Alan the Maintenance man buys us hot chocolates from the hotel cafe, Java Lift and we all sit around in a room (check out, not stay over) and have us a little break. Generally someones found food so we crack that out too. I can't tell you the amount of times we've had these raging parties.. ;) (You might be interested to know that the most common tips are small change, alcohol and three bananas. Honestly, we've found a three banana tip an uncanny amount of times. But we likes it. Free bananas! Who wouldn't love that right?) Anyway, the other Friday we divided the money, finally managed to organise a cover for the late house person shift and went into Banff for our Christmas Work dinner. (Yes, our Christmas work do was in late January but that's how we roll..) It was really fun to get out all together and have a chill meal. And the fact that we were using our tips to pay was the best part - no dipping into our thin pay checks!
My second trip to another resort was to Big White back in British Columbia on the 4th-6th of February. I went with my rookie Jess and some workmates, Becky, Adam and Elly. To sum the trip up quickly it involved getting on the coach after work at 17:30, a 7 hour trip (with a half hour break in the middle), some sleep in a hostel, riding for two days, getting back on the coach and arriving back in Banff at 2. We didn't get into our beds in the hostel until 3 and with having to get up at 6 for the bus at 7 so we could get back up the mountain for work at 9..I don't think I need to tell you just how tired we were/how long that shift felt. Anyway. It was so cold while we were at Big White! We had to stop every couple of hours to go and warm up as we were literally chilled to the core. I have never had to use toe or hand warmers but we used them both days. And I have never been quiet so sick as I was nearly the whole trip. I've never been able to shake my cold since moving here but I'd had the flu the week before and still wasn't quite over it. But the first day of boarding when I was in the washroom getting ready I got pins and needles in both of my lower arms, then lost feeling in them, my hands clawed up, I felt like I was going to pass out and vomit and my hearing went all cloudy. I freaked out a little and just cried out to God asking Him for help and I gradually gained normalness. I still went out boarding but I called it a day in the mid afternoon and went to bed for two hours before heading out for some dinner and giant jenga. That evening I managed to finally purchase some flu medicine and after taking those I've finally shook the flu but this cold is still hanging around. The second day of boarding (armed with my flu pills) was a lot better and I did my first tree run. That was probably the highlight of my day.
Left to right: me, Elly, Adam and Becky at Big White.
On the 11th of February Becky and I did a First Aid course so I am now qualified up to Level C CPR..so you're safe in my hands..for the next three years.
Left to right: me, Elly, Adam and Becky at Big White.
On the 11th of February Becky and I did a First Aid course so I am now qualified up to Level C CPR..so you're safe in my hands..for the next three years.
I've just been on my third trip out and this one was to Panorama on the 13th of February with Reneé and Azarlia. It's about a 2 and a half bus journey and as it was only a day trip and we had to be back by 17:00 for the last gondola we didn't get too long to ride but it was still a good time. I was offered a job there too and decided to turn it down for my current job so I was interested to see what I had refused. Pano has some long runs, like you have to catch three long chair lifts to get to the top and it's an age before you make it back to the bottom. There was heaps of pow as they had just had a dumping so that was fun and also horrible as it had been so long since we'd ridden in powder we'd forgotten you had to ride differently. But once we adjusted our riding style we were sweet.
Reneé and I at Panorama.
And that's about it. I'm off to another resort tomorrow for Becky's birthday. I'll let you know how Norquay goes soon(ish).
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