Behind the scenes

February 1, 2012 by hilite | Leave a comment

In the search of fresh untracked powder you often have to venture beyond the confines of resort ski boundaries and head into the backcountry. Here there is no ski patrol, and no avalanche control. There are a number of safety items to aid in self rescue should you get caught in an avalanche, so apart from my DSLR, I usually carry the following.

Helmet- A good idea.

BCA Tracker 2 Avalanche beacon- three-antenna transceiver to locate fellow buried victims, or for people to locate you if you get buried.

G3 Speed Pro Probe – 320cm extendable probe to pinpoint the location of buried victims under the snow.

Voilé Mini Shovel- lightweight extendable shovel to dig out buried victims (and build kickers)

The right tools make for some great photos and help you get back home safely so we can shred another day.

Posted in Exploration Tagged backcountry, skiing, Whistler |

The Rare Exception

January 14, 2012 by hilite | 1 Comment

Back home there was a great selection of epic roofs and cranes, and I usually didn’t spend alot of time on stuff under twenty floors tall. There are some rare exceptions such as this and this where the awesome location makes up for the lack of height, but out here a 20 storey building is a rare gift. So apart from the 5000 ft mountain in my backyard, you have to work with what you’ve got and seize every opportunity.

Posted in Aboveground Tagged rooftops, Whistler |

High Alpine

December 21, 2011 by hilite | 2 Comments

So I’ve traded in busy city life for a season in a quiet ski town. While the skyscrapers, abandonments and drains I’ve grown accustomed to over the past three years are gone, in their place are new avenues for exploration and a new set of challenges. There is such a stark contrast from living in the city. Rooftops are locked, drains and tunnels are sealed and the threat of lawsuit lingers over every ‘dangerous’ activity imaginable. But out here, the whole notion of danger and risk are accepted. We allow people to climb mountains & rappel into caves deep underground, and every year some of these people never make it back home. But traveling in the urban environment is still a strictly controlled and governed process that offers little leeway for any sense of discovery or adventure.

Posted in Exploration Tagged mountains, Whistler |

New Horizons

November 10, 2011 by hilite | Leave a comment

For myself, urban exploration is all about seeking new and unique interactions with your surroundings, and if you`re looking for ways to truly experience Toronto, you have to look up. Way up.

Exploring construction sites is slightly different than exploring your typical abandonment. Things are in a constant state of change and you’re constantly looking towards the future in the anticipation that a vacant lot will eventually evolve into an huge skyscraper. Floor by floor, I’ve patiently watched and waited as a downtown project finally neared completion. After two years of construction the building was at its highest, nearly 65 stories tall. There was a narrow window of opportunity as the tower crane adorning the top would soon be dismantled. It was just after 4pm when Neil, Tom, and myself began to walk the perimeter, casually scoping the place out and trying to form a mental map of the building in our heads. Where were the staircases? Where were the security guards? Can we slip into the building without being seen? And, are there any construction workers still inside the building? A thousand questions raced inside our heads, but eventually speculating about the unknown can only get you so far. You just have to go for it and see what happens.

We found a suitable section of fence, waited for a pause in traffic and pedestrians- then quickly jumped it. The three of us silently made our way to the nearest doorway and down into the basement structure. It was now a simple matter of keeping an eye out for any guards and finding the proper stairwell that would take you up to the roof. Once on the roof, the city which was once buzzing with traffic and noise becomes almost peaceful. You can only hear the howling of the wind and the occasional police siren echoing off the buildings far below you.

The three of us cannot help but smile -life is good. But we came for the crane. Its an amazing and nerve-wrecking feeling as you begin to climb it. You block out the fact that you’re clearly visible. And theres no point in trying to hide behind equipment, and crouching around will only give you a sore back afterwards. It takes a while to become comfortable with your new perch, but eventually you can start feeling at ease, your adrenaline subsides and you can finally catch your breath. You’ll need it for the long trip back down to street level.