Day 5 ...Happy New Year!

...another ski... and the last day of 2013!

Katy and Trish stopped by and as we eventually got loaded in the truck and on the highway we had yet to decide where to go and what to do... Decided a no for Bragg so kept driving, did a quick stop at Nikiska but nope, we hoped for better snow and at last at Sawmills (I think, one before Chester) we parked and got skis ready. 1 min passed Trish's anticipated departure, right on schedule.

The ski out towards Chester in fresh snow was awesome, a little trouble with the wax and getting kick and glide at the same time, but a little extra work was not a big deal.

From Chester we went up, up and some more up. The trail then loops back down along a creek, well this before the flood. The creek was now a huge gap and trails mostly gone. We got do wipe out, ski a bit, hike a bit, and some more wiping out, and even a wet foot in the creek.

Great company so great fun! Quick lunch in Canmore before back to Calgary to ring in the new year.

Happy New Year!!

Waxing not easy when it's warm! Katy's first attempt.

snack and stop after a minor wipe out...

The trail ended so up again we and the snow shoe trail to the right was the route down.....

All down - Katy one standing, but her tracks in the middle could have ended off the cliff... nice catch....

 

Trish down again.. :)

 

Styling now.....

 

Toby after a day in the snow... ringing in the new year!!

 

Day 3 and 4 ...

... in one as I'm falling behind and they were short.
Day three was really short. Shawn, Chad and I did a quick spin up Tuscany and that was pretty much my day.....

Day 4 was still a cold one so Chad and I took the dogs out to Bragg Creek for my first ski this year, and as last year I did not get out I had to do a quick ski prep job, crossing finger for the best....

Conditions were not great, but this close to the city you can't complain. Groomed trails, and lots of people out.
 

Happy skiing!


 



Bella and Chad in action

 

While Finn and Toby was still hanging out with us.....

styling....

Hungry dogs... specially the two small runaways!!

Day 2 ....

... easy hike with friends and dogs including a little core by the addition of the vest... Or ...



Didn't turn out exactly as planned today either; I'm glad I have a very flexible training program :) you just can't have a bad day that way...

Our 10 am departure was more like 1130, and the group and dogs was shrunk to Katy and Toby ( Toby being the dog, Katy just act dog...). And this weekends theme seem to be "daylight?"

Since it was just the three of is we decided to try out Barrier, Stoney to Jewels, and Prairie View. I kept the vest in the plan and to start it felt like a great idea; in the end I was wishing I could leave it on the trail or swap it with a crazy carpet! 

We "lucked" out and the snow was pretty much un-touched, and for the first hike of the year, snowshoes might have been useful. But I couldn't complain with a 33 inseam, watching Toby and Katy stump through the deep snow like there was no tomorrow (neither with close to a 33). 

The snow just added to the experience; one of my favorite trails both summer and winter. Besides the rescue helicopter checking in on Katy every hr, it is quiet and beautiful. The untouched snow made the hike up jewels breathtaking in more than one way......

 

Toby finding a spot with some "hard snow" for a break... it was a big "swim".......

Knee deep for me....

Little deeper for the little people and little dogs....

Styling it over the bridge...

Didn't matter how deep and tired he was... the Rabbits hunt was on....

Made it across.... alive... ok, it wasn't that high....

Mister styling....



Yeah... it was hard work....

Real hard work.... nap time and snack.... about half way up...

Toby finally arrives too.... no Rabbits caught yet....



So close to the summit...

Still some daylight.....

oh ya... that was great!! Both dog and person smiling... in their
styling green jackets...

Probably about now I could take or leave the vest.... and poles..
and take a ride on a crazy carpet down...



Toby and Katy just didn't get enough... so played the
 stick game all the way down





And done.... with a little bit of daylight left :)





 

Another day of greatness, feel very fortunate to live so close to all this; originally I thought I'd get out of town and go ride somewhere warm, but coming home after a good outing like this seems so much better than hotel and travel right now..... another day tomorrow...

Happy snow-hiking!!

Day 1 part 2...

... on the bike and no Toby.

It was calling for a high if 8 so a ride was the obvious choice. Katy and I had no set plan other than let's ride. My first ride for a bit so I was not picky. We headed out with a city path ride in mind; but it quickly changed as we worked our way toward the north through Tuscany.....

Katy working the single track in the ravines.... not showing in picture
but they were extremely icy!



With so much fun through Tuscan we decided to continue the adventure and
go for coffee in Cochrane... me riding towards the Bearspaw park...it was a
windy day,  and I was convinced it had not snowed since last time through
and it would be awesome through the valley away from the wind a bit.







Sunshine and soft snow... a little bit of hike a bike....it should get better...

Made it down to train tracks and hmm when did it snow... well it must have...
no trail to be seen so a quick wait for train to pass then on to the rail road...

It as a long train.... but should be worth the wait... the path to Cochrane will be
awesome, plowed and easy go....right?

or maybe not so much.... a little snow, little much snow..
It can only get better....

But not right away.... first the ice field!!... why the snow plow hadn't made it through...

Wicked scenery.... ....

 

Just up here Katy.... the path will be plowed!

or just a little up here....

Ops... how could I be so wrong... but still so awesome :)

The "beautiful" scenery investigated  a little closer... "yes, it's poopy.."

Finally climbing out and there should be smooth sailing right.... ? and still a little bit of daylight...

The puddles was no obstacles.... I could smell the coffee....

Smelled it too soon.... there was just no mercy today... even the neighborhood plow gave up on the local paths....

So after a lot of hiking, a little bit of riding and hungry bellies and no working back lights we decided to climb out of the neighborhood and head for the East while the wind was still in our favor and the "flash freeze" they called for was still not here and we had some daylight....

 

Got home before dark, we agreed we felt the flash freeze arriving... even though the mercury said different......

 

Thanks Katy for being a good sport and letting me get a good Nepal workout in!

 

Happy hike-a-bike ride!!

Time to get fit...

... for Nepal and with almost three weeks off I'm on the cramming in program!

Don't have a super structured plan yet other than what I usually do; ride lots and long. It's never hard for me to get motivated to work endurance; long days hiking or long days in the saddle is by far my favorite. I enjoy less the stuff that probably makes you a more balanced athlete, and possible stronger athlete... Power workouts, intervals, strength training, stretching...and you name it... It just doesn't seem to have the same mental impact on me; the stress relief and fun factor. So over the years I've tried to find activities that in include some "cross training" but still remains outside where I love to be; like shoveling single track, moving rocks up and down little hills, wearing a weight loaded vest while finding the deepest snow to hike in and so in.... It upped the crazy person factor but probably gave me some cross fitness too. Last year, 2013, I just rode my bike! I think I had one day with skis on and maybe a few winter hikes, but mostly I rode my bike. Every weekend was perfect for riding so I could not pass on that as you just never knew when it would turn bad, and when 3 days a week is what you have....Result of that (and sign of a good winter in Calgary) is a vey unbalanced fitness (but happy mind). 

With 3 weeks to spare I have no excuse to not fit in some other stuff.... I still prefer the outside so the vest is out again but also plan to get some time in my basement (seems like I've spent 3 years down there trying to set it up to be a happy place,,,,, maybe its time to just get on with it....).

Started today -day one off - with a morning sunrise hike with Toby.

Happy getting fit!

Merry Christmas....

.... from up here.....

Spending Christmas up north is not so bad, nice and quiet, snow, good food and surprises!

Good breakfast.....

Nice winter view....

Miss Santa surprise.....

Christmas dinner...including Ribbe (for those back home).....

And to end the day, a chocolate on my bed...notice it wasn't bed making day though...still a nice surprise...:) 

(Sorry for the cheesy card.....as good as it gets with a free app!!!)