I could absolutely not accept the winter is over and spring has very well begun over a month ago already. I wanted to snowboard more. Once more, only once more – I would say to myself, each time.
I’ve researched enough material and websites, to know there was one hut left, I have yet not visited in the Sea To Sky corridor.
Brew Hut – A snippet from the journal
April 20
In the midst of this never seems to be ending quarantine, the mission to Brew Hut turned out to be a solo mission.
I didn’t mind at all, less planning, decision making, and going back and forth. I packed my car in the morning and followed the road I’d usually take to Triconi. The map provided by VOC I found on the internet was really helpful.
On the second split, my car got stuck in the snow. After about an hour of shoveling, I gave up. It is what it is, I said to myself. “It’s quarantine, middle of the week, and the bad weather is coming”. Nobody will come. I left the car parked on the road, strapped my splitboard onto my backpack and started walking.
The first 20 minutes were easy, a light breeze crawled through the valley that I was trying to pass, the sounds of the river flowing nearby gave me a good rhythm, and the fresh air enhanced it.
Looking back, if I would have the slightest bit of an idea, the approach would be what it was, I would probably turn around immediately. And go home. Thank God, I did not, ahaha. The first 5 km up the road which you can usually drive up in the summer, was covered in snow. I followed the snowmobile tracks and listened to Lacy Phillips’ Expanded podcast.
Then the trail took me to the forest (by this time, I had planned I would already be up the hut). The second I took a look at Google Earth, I regretted it. I was only halfway up. The worst thing is having cell service on the approach to the destination. Every 20 or 30 minutes, I would anxiously check my phone and track the progress. I was properly tired, when I saw I have 7 kilometers and 900 vertical meters left, let me tell you that.
“This is crazy, I should just turn around”
But then, another voice emerges from far behind, “You are meant to be here”. I am. I continue, motivate myself and pick up the pace.
After 15 km and 8 hours of hiking, I was finally at the point where I could see Brew Hut. Prayed to God it was open, I almost cried when I got there, opened the door and lay down on a bench. Didn’t bother taking of my wet gear, I was just laying down for 10 or 15 minutes. Bliss.
April 21
I cannot believe how many hours I slept last night. Almost 15, 5 hours of sleep.
Also, I had KD for dinner. And instant noodles. Don’t judge me. “Prvic in zadnjic v lajfu” – that’s how it is.
The hut has been wrapped in a thick fog all day, absolutely no sounds around me, apart from the occasional wind. The complete silence, I love it. Nobody, just me and the mountain.
This hut is amazing, over 60 alpine journals, published by VOC are stacked on the shelf, providing days worth of reading about crazy stories from the mountains. The guitar is sitting in the corner, tuned and ready to play some sweet melodies and wood is safely stacked in the shelf under the kitchen area, to keep me warm in these days of spring cold weather.
I made mate and wrote and read for a few hours. A book caught my attention, Into Thin Air. I am basically swallowing it, the words flow in front of my eyes so easily, I’m already halfway through.
Every once in awhile I step outside and just listen. I am still wrapped in the cloud, cut away from the rest of the world. Even though is silent, I still think I hear sounds from time to time.
I didn’t end up skiing much, apart from the Mt. Brew summit, on April 22, I decided to head back to the car. Way down was fast and efficient, despite the cold rain hitting my red cheeks. It feels good to be laying in the Pemby sunshine again, looking at Mt. Curry and dreaming of lines I would take from the top.
☽ Follow me on Instagram – @alenkaamali – to see more of my adventures ☽
More about Alenka
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
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