This isn’t going to be easy

Nor did I think it would be when I dreamed up this challenge. I wanted something that would push me really hard on a daily level. Something that would make me swear and yell at myself to dig deeper and as they say in canada “giver”.

Today I woke up early, at around 5 and felt rested. Calm and confident with the day ahead I was ready. But like all things that confidence waned around 4000 ft in. I had to break trail for 4300ft in 20cm+ powder, which is a blessing and a curse. Because the skiing would be great, but I needed to work for it.

I went to Begbie shoulder today , since the skiing is steep and you can minimize the avalanche hazard quite well there. Mostly steep treed runs with a couple of chutes to shred down.

Once the skin track was in a few buddies skinned up and I had some friends to ski the 112 chute with. The wind had pressed the snow and made it very fast and flowy run. Great turns.

The hazard has been increasing with all the new snow and winds in the alpine. So I need to stay in the trees while it snows. Which will be fun for a bit but I yearn for alpine shredding.

Today I toured 13408 ft or 4087 meters. one more day and then a day off

Doubting

I woke up tired and sore from yesterday and immediately doubted the reality of this goal. But since I signed up for it I got up and went out to Mt-Macpherson and toured to the summit in windy snow storm. Knowing I would not be going back up to the alpine I played in the fingers for the rest of the day. Many great turns through ever deepening snow.

At the end of the day I met up with Bruno Long and he, thankfully brought me some chips.

Then I met up with my family and went down to Halcyon hotsprings to relax. that is why this blog is short and concise.

anyways a great day where I toured 15200ft or 4648m. I also realized that I under counted yesterdays and actually toured 13960ft/4255m. SO I am almost 9% of the way there. Damn its going to be a challenge.
http://www.movescount.com/moves/move26856308

March 1st

Wow…day one over with. And hopefully the worst skiing for the month. It being Saturday and my kids with the weekend off I wondered how I could tie in my goal with their weekend. I woke up to minus 19’C and toured up for hours in the cold. I could not decide if it made sense to have the kids join me or not but I knew that I could not return another day so I had to try. I did a few fast runs in Kokanee bowl and had 10 000 feet in by noon. I toured back in bounds and met the family.

We have skied off the sub summit a few times and always talked about going to the main mackenzie summit. It wasn’t really the ideal day but I really wanted to start this month of madness off with a summit with my family. So with clif bar treats and some energy drink we boot packed to the summit. Many breaks, stops and crawling but finally we summitted. Charley had lagged behind for most of the climb but at the last step she rushed past and was first on top. Aiden at 7 and Charley 8, these kids are so lucky. It did stress Tracey out a little as she was slightly uncomfortable which made her even more hyper tuned into the slightly sketchy boot packI was 19 when I stood on my first summit. While lying starfished on the peak Charley asked me why I was rushing, why not hang out on the summit for awhile. Yah Charley enjoy the peak experience! photo by Bruno Long

It was cold and I wanted to get back at it so the sketchy south face side slip began. It was suncrusted, skied to shit and all around terrible skiing. But the experience of getting my kids to their first summit and then skiing off of it was priceless.

They headed home and I went up for another 2000 foot run.

As for how I did in terms of my goal, well 4220m, or 13900 ft, over 4% of the way there. It was an ok day but it will only get harder.

this is the day http://www.movescount.com/moves/move26776320