Nov 18 2021 - A Peak at Peaks

 

Snow is coming to Niagara. It is time for lake-effect snow in our region. There must be snow in lots of places in Ontario already - particularly north.  Ontario goes far north - up to Hudson Bay. I wondered about skiing and winter festivals.  I don't think of London Ontario as having a mountain - but there it is -  Boler Mountain located in London Ontario.   It is 265 metres tall with a 63 metre vertical drop.   In comparison Devil's Glen is the highest ski resort in Ontario at 522 metres with 4 ski lifts.  Then there is Osler Bluff Ski Club at 226 metres with 4 ski lifts.There are lots of ski resorts listed in Ontario. Then jump into the thousands of metres to the tallest in the world. It is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China and is listed at over 4000 metres tall.  But that one doesn't show up in regular lists - e.g. CNN travel lists Les 3 Vallees, France as the top resort.  Here's what it says - an alluring description to tempt travellers: "Good for: Mileage hunters, velvety slopes, guaranteed snow, gourmets, luxury, Europe's highest resort. The titanic 3 Vallees is the top dog, the world's biggest ski area with 600 kilometers of runs spread between the three main resorts of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens.  There's even a fourth valley -- above Orelle -- leading to the region's highest lift-accessed point at 3,230 meters below the summit of Pointe du Bouchet.  The area covers 105 square kilometers -- that's as big as Paris, France -- with 328 runs, 166 high-performance lifts and 2,200 snowmaking machines covering 49% of the pistes." These vast sorts of ski slopes are in France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.  Then at #11 we come to Whistler Blackcomb in BC. And #12 is Park City, Utah.   Looking at other articles, Whistler shows up as #1. So many points of view, and it is fun looking through the listings - beautiful scenery of mountains with blue skis, white peaks and a skier swooshing along.   I seem to be a picture tourist when it comes to winter activities like skiing.  November is considered early season skiing - that would be in the Northern Hemisphere.  Couldn't one ski all year long if one wanted to?  New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and Australia.  The lonely planet.com has a ski resort for every month of the year HERE.  Here are two versions of an abstract titled "The Ladder".

Purcha

The Garden Ladder Story

The garden elements that signal a romantic garden include the garden path, the rendezvous and enticing sights, smells and sounds along the way.  I hadn't considered what story would be told by a man vs a woman.  This garden seemed to immediately be a garden story told by a man.  When I looked at the ladder to the barn window, what comes to mind is the story of Rapunzel, or an enticement to come out to rendezvous.  Perhaps this is the garden story of sneaking out a second floor window:  Here are the steps from wikiHow: 1. If there is no sturdy tree right outside your window, go to the garage or storage shed when your parents are not home. Look for anything that can help rappel you out your window (i.e. long, thick ropes, tall ladders, anything that act as a rope or ladder). You should only use the rope if you know its strength, a safe limit for most ropes that is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) is 150 lbs. Tests your limits- better safe than sorry. 2. Bring the rope or rope-like objects back to your room and hide them. Test the ladder: put it under your window. It will work if you can crawl out your window and onto it safely. Put the ladder or ladder-like objects somewhere in your backyard where they are easily reached and unnoticeable. 3. Check to see if your parents and other family members are asleep (preferred), or in their bedroom with the doors closed. You may just be able to sneak out the front door. If they are not, and you just can't wait, and you have a sturdy tree right outside your window, climb the tree. If the previous things apply but you don't have a tree, follow the rest of these steps: Make sure you have at least one friend who is willing to come to your house and stand beneath your window in case you fall. Two-three friends is optimal, but make sure they are strong and you can rely on them to come quietly at the designated time. Have them bring a flashlight. 4. Have your friends go get the ladder from its hiding place and put it under your window. These friends should have a pretty good idea of your backyard and they should be very quiet. Put on sports shoes or go barefoot; socks will make you slip. Have your friends hold the legs of the ladder steady and crawl out the window, down the ladder. Once you're safely down, stash the ladder somewhere nearby. 5. Walk away from your house or have someone pick you up a block away, or push your car at least 100 feet (30.5 m) away and go have a great time. 6 . Come back at least one hour before you expect your parents to be up. It will be easiest to come in through the front door. If this is unwise (you have a loud dog downstairs/alarm/etc), then use the same method you used to get out. Put the ladder back under your window, climb up, have your friends place it back into the hiding place. Replace your screen, close your window. Have your friends hoist you up on their shoulders and climb back in your window. Untie the rope, replace the screen, and close your window.