It started off as it should, I got to the parking lot first, dilly dallied around till a few girls got ahead. Passed them and then I broke trail for 2 thousand feet up onto the Bonney moraines. Although I was super driven I still had to make sure the skin track was decent to follow since I knew many friends and family would be following my track today. By the time I was at the top of the moraines I looked down and I could see lots of people heading up. So I skied down a quick lap and saw quite a few friends. We toured back up to the top..
I chose the Bonney area because it would be the only place that had absolutely no sun on this -18′C day.. No, I chose it because i knew that lots of people could hike the 3500 feet in and we could all enjoy untracked powder all day. 
I pulled in a couple of great laps, did some simple math at the top, 2 000 000-1998500= 1500 ft, skied down 1500 ft and then I hiked back up and met Tracey, my mom, Don, plus some great friends on the top just as my watch was ticking over. I thought I was going to be fine and that this imaginary 2 mill line wasn’t going to be so real. But watching it tick over, thinking about all the time and effort that has gone into that tiny number, and all the fantastic support that my friends and family have given me over this ordeal, it all summed up into me crying at the finish. So much was invested into this silly goal that finally achieving it was overppowering and having Tracey there to witness the final moment, with friends and champagne, it was incredible.
It was such a cold day that we did not want to wait too long at the top so soo enough we all skied down. Was my 2 Millionth foot turn any better because of all the effort? Perhaps..
But what felt even better was getting to the bottom of the run and putting my skins back on for another lap…. a carefree lap that was simply to do extra. My legs felt light, my pace free and the turns great of course.
A great ten thousand foot day to finish it off. Well kinda finish it off since, today is the 31st and I still have some time and energy to raise the bar a few steps further…
CONGRATULATIONS Greg ……..good work!!
Congratulations on the goal. What a year… well 364 days I guess!
I can only imagine the emotions as it ticked over.
Greg,
Very sweet, bro! The coolest thing besides slaying the goal is that you had such a splitter day for the turnover.
Looking forward to the video.
Of course, the first question I want answered is, “what now?”
B
Yeah, Greg! You’ve made some progress since the days of snurfing on the lawn at Old Notch Road. Glad you made it.
[...] a photo from Hill’s blog documenting the moment that his altimeter crossed the 2 million [...]
Congrats Greg – very inspiring! Have a wonderful NY and say hi to the fam. XO Sara
Greg, you are truly amazing!! What a fantastic accomplishment! Enthralled by your comments, photos and reports from your Dad and Bets! KUDOS TO YOU, OH AMAZING ONE! We are there in spirit for your celebration with your family and friends tonight.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ski Canada Magazine. Ski Canada Magazine said: RT @heliyes: Congratulations to Greg Hill – http://bit.ly/eEcqoY #skiing #backcountry. Way to go, Greg! [...]
[...] snow-chasing suffer-fest. Totally self-propelled. He completes it with one day to spare. Slugs champagne from the bottle surrounded by friends and family, sheds a little tear, then takes one more lap, [...]
Congratulation, Greg.
All Smith boys should be proud of you. I am.
Best to your clan… and don’t even think about 3,000,000 in 2011.
Happy New Year!
LE
DUDE! Congratulations! You are a mad dog.
Andrew
Way to go, Greg! Never had any doubt. Thought you were crazy for doing it! But never had any doubt. It looks, and sounds, like you had an awesome 2mill day. Can’t wait to hear all about the best parts next time we meet up. We’re going to be ringing in the new year and raising our glass to you tonight, bro.
Tom
Enjoy, you desire it!
So awesome! Thanks for all the great stories, inspiration, and motivation. I hope you’re sleeping like a baby tonight. Cheers!
Excellent work Mr Hill! You determination is something to inspire the rest of us mortals. Best of luck to you, Tracey and the family in 2011 and beyond!
What an amazing feat! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experiences throughout the year. Hope there’s a book in the works.
Wow! well done Greg, what an accomplishment. What a great time now for you to reflect with your family and relish in your journeys paybacks.
An inspiration for us all!
Andy Meeker
Pilot/Blackcomb Aviation,skier
[...] relax before getting back out there!For the first hand documentation of the big day, follow on to Greg’s blog.“It was such a cold day that we did not want to wait too long at the top so soo enough we all [...]
Congratulations Greg!
I live in Pennsylvania and you have been an inspiration to me and my kids. I am moving to BC because of amazing people like you for my kids to learn from!
Thanks for showing what can be done and how to pursue your dreams.
Paul Colby
Greg, met you in Chile at Nevados De Chillan hiking the volcano. You gave me a ride hitching back from being lost in the valley too. Thanks for being welcoming in the backcountry and completing such a diligent effort at a worthy goal. Now you can get the goods for the rest of the best powder season on record. Congratulations man, see you in Revelstoke some time. Regards, Bindu Pomeroy
Damn, I can’t imagine what it must feel like to achieve such a seemingly impossible goal, congratulations! I have really enjoyed checking your site this last year, thanks for sharing.
[...] For the first hand documentation of the big day, follow on to Greg’s blog. [...]
Wow! Congratulations Greg! You and your achievement are damn impressive!
[...] You can read the blogs about his final two days, and see some great powder pictures, at The 2 Mill Day. [...]
Am so S T O K E D for you to have reached your goal. What an inspiration!
Hi Greg, been in the mountains so much I lost track of when your big day would be. Wasn’t too hard to catch once I got back on the computer over here in Austria, where much of all this began. Congrats and some words over on my old blog:
http://www.wildsnow.com/4149/greg-hill-2-million/
Awesom Greg – way to end it in such a spectacular spot with your family and friends! We had a great time meeting you and sharing a few hundred vert with you on that super-deep day here in the Wasatch last Jan. “GHed” it all weekend in your honor!
[...] Good Adventure has a good primer if you’re not familiar with Greg’s feat, and Greg wrote a great post with photos about the day he hit 2 [...]
Greg, amazing. Time to hit that chairlift…
WOW!!! and what a great way to wrap up an EPIC journey; not just a journey of racking up the vertical but a journey of faith and spirit. Kudos to everyone who supported you. Enjoy the feeling that goes with this. Peace and joy to you. Keep playing smart out there …. Arvid was here
[...] Greg Hill reached is goal of climbing and skiing 2 million vertical feet in a single year. Incredible. greghill.ca [...]
[...] Greg Hill Published: December 31, [...]
[...] http://www.greghill.ca/pages/the-2-mill-day/ [...]