Road trip to Canada for Christmas. On the way, we stopped at Bend, OR for a couple of days, skiing at Mt Bachelor, checking out the Deschutes pub (some of my favourite beers), and stopping by at Smith Rock state park. The skiing was great with 16" of fresh snow overnight, and the hike at Smith Rock was gorgeous due to the fresh snow the following day. From there, we mostly drove straight, which was tricky due to the storm (we spent a night in Sandpoint, ID).

In Calgary, we ate a lot of amazing food and enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures! Also managed 3 days of ice: Evan Thomas, Bourgeau Left (with Hedd-wyn), and Grotto Canyon.

The drive south started tough, with a snow storm following us south into Montana. Slow but solid... more excitement than necessary due to a Subaru design issue with the 2005-2009 models which I still need to address... thankfully we didn't end up in the ditch because of it. We wanted to climb in Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman, but the -20 F temperatures reduced it to a small hike before we continued to Jackson, WY. Again, frigid temperatures cut that part of the trip short, and we continued to Salt Lake City, where there was a big New Year's Eve party downtown. Who said that people in Salt Lake don't party? There was even alcohol sold! The next morning we headed to Alta for some decent skiing in one of the cooler resorts around.

On Sunday we had no choice but to head back, unfortunately. It was the longest day of driving yet, but was very straightforward due to clear roads through Nevada.

	Roads near Bend, Oregon	That's how we roll in Canada	Snow angels!

		Smith Rock after fresh snow

	The only climbers at Smith that day.. lowering off a 5.12	Better roads	Highway 1 out of Calgary

	Evan Thomas creek	Melissa on the hike in	Moonlight, Snowline (center), and 2Low for Zero missing

		Starting up Snowline, with a party rappelling down Moonlight

	Rappelling down Snowline, the thinner of the two	Mt Kidd, with Kidd Falls visible lower left	Saw this climb on the drive to Kananaskis Lakes. Not sure which one it is/if it's climbed

	Zoomed out to show the mountain on which that ice vein is...		Upper Kananaskis Lake

	Cascade as seen from downtown Banff	Bourgeau Left, upper pitches	Sunshine parking lot from Bourgeau Left

		The first two pitches of Bourgeau Left, on our descent

		On the way to Grotto Canyon	Ancient art in the canyon

	The abysmal shape of His	On His

		Melissa scratching up the lower section of His

	Starting up His, Grotto Canyon. Photos by Dave

	Hiding :)

	Almost on the ice		On Hers

	Very kicked out...		The mixed route on the left

	Melissa drytooling the left side (M7?)		Driving back through Montana - white knuckled action...

	Kite skiing on Hyalite reservoir near Bozeman, MT - looks like fun!		Driving to the Hyalite trailhead after some fresh snow

			Happy at -25 C

	Ice in the distance...		Lots of snow...

			Hitting the road to West Yellowstone

			Beautiful mountain homes near West Yellowstone

	Downtown Jackson		Jackson bears are friendly

	Tetons in the far distance..	Jackson Hole ski resort	More beautiful driving through Idaho

	The best rest area ever!	Bear Lake rest area view :)	New Year's Eve party in downtown SLC

	Alta: NO Snowboards!	Alta

	The most exciting thing on the drive back from Salt Lake to SF...