Happy Birthday Keith!

Happy 45th Birthday Keith! When I asked Keith what he wanted to do for his birthday, he didn't pause for a moment when he said the magic word: "Skoki!!"

For our run in to Skoki Lodge, we enjoyed a perfect September day. Just check out the photos. Really. It couldn't have been any better! The larch trees have just changed color and were all bright yellow. In contrast with the green pines and the turquoise lakes and the white glaciers, it was glorious beyond words.

Happy Birthday Keith!

Just look at my hubby run! He was so excited to be running on these beautiful trails and is really enjoying the excitement of being new to a sport. In a nutshell, he is stoked on trails and trail running right now. He had improved a lot this summer - what a stud.

Weeeeeeee!

Calm.

The larch trees were fun to run through - forests of happy, yellow, mellow trees on a calm, sunny, blue sky day. We only saw a handful of people all day.

After the 12 km run into Skoki, we had a quick coffee and headed out to Merlin Lake. There, we enjoyed a run off trail on the plateau and meadows above Merlin Lake. We even snuck in an afternoon nap in a sunbeam in the forest. After, I got to enjoy one last skinny dip of the season in Merlin Lake. Keith's not a cold water guy - he always just shakes his head and smiles. I think it was the last swim of the year.

Merlin Ridge in the distance

Merlin Lake

Heading back to Skoki

A Very Happy Birthday Boy

We headed back to the lodge and enjoyed a spread of all of my favorites: cheese, chocolate, grapes and red wine! As always, there was some good company at the dinner table and our friend Katie the lodge manager cooked up an incredible feast. The best part was the massive chocolate birthday cake. That night, we slept really, really, really good!!

The next morning, the weather clouded over and we got to enjoy a run in the drizzle. While it was grey, it was just as beautiful but in a different way. We were both running with big perma grins and enjoying the perfect cool running temperatures. The fall colors were brilliant.

On Packer's Pass we had a nice little birthday surprise - a big herd of sheep! They were peaking over the pass at us and as we continued running they stampeded over the other side of the pass. It was pretty cool.

I think it was a perfect way to spend a 45th birthday. Happy Birthday Keith! I love you!

Skoki Spring Fling

Ah - Spring in the Mountains!
I finally feel secure in saying this because:
1. It is in fact April.
2. The temperatures are definitely warmer in the day.
3. I have a sunburned nose. Ouch.
4. I bust out the party pants.

That being said, there will be more snow storms as there is always the possiblility of a major dump in April and in May. But I am going to embrace the unpredictability that is spring and get out there and do stuff whether it is in snow or not!

I just enjoyed the past few days at Skoki Lodge, my new favorite place IN THE WORLD. This was my 4th trip to the area in 4 months. The last two trips I just got to visit the lodge, but this time I got to stay. Yeah! Sweet back country luxury.

We got lots of fresh air, relaxed well and feasted!! It was an awesome couple of days in the backcountry.

I love Keith! (but you know that....)

My Party Pants

(they say "Dancing Queen" on the bum and I only bust them out for special occasions)

Cornice on Deception Pass

Day 1 was a little overcast, but it was still gorgeous. I decided to run in instead of skiing with the rest of the group because I was nervous about falling victim to blisters or clumbsiness pre-race. I ran into the lodge, dropped my pack and ran back up Deception Pass to meet up with the Keith and Laura. The log cabin is always a welcoming sight when you arrive!

On Day 2 I pretended to be a skiier and walked back up the pass with Keith and Laura. While they went for a little tour to make some turns, I did a little hill training up and down the pass. I was there to greet a few skiiers who were on their way in to Skoki. When you are 10k in the backcountry skiing in spring, the last thing you expect to see is some crazy runner girl running up the pass!!

Keith and Laura climbing Deception Pass!

Go That Way!!

How is that for comprimise? Keith and Leslie go skiing.....and running!!!

Keith and Laura feelin' good in the Sunshine

How to burn your nose

Apres-ski/run- Me and Laura with big smiles

On the last day, we had a big breakfast, relaxed and procrastinated before heading off. We didn't exactly want to leave paradise. It was a blue sky day and it was heating up quite nicely as we climbed the pass. As I got ahead of the group, I got thinking about Steve's "random act of exhibitionism" the other month and afterall....I was in the exact same place, so I bust out the Dancing Queen Party Pants.

Yep, just running along - another great day in the backcountry for this skinny white girl!

Skoki - The Return

How could I resist another run in to Skoki on such a beautiful day? Steve was very jealous that he had missed the last run into Skoki, so we did a return visit and I ran the 30k into the lodge.

Windswept snow and Mount Temple

Steves' backside - I saw a LOT of this today....

Though I have been enjoying it, I have had way to many long runs as of late by my lonesome, so it was great to have the company. This was week 3 of unseasonably warm weather and we have lost a ton of snow base. Normally, that would make me pout because I am a skiier, but this winter because I am training towards that wee little 100k race in May...I can't help but enjoy it and hope it continues!

The Hills are Alive....

The trip in to Skoki was again, absolutely astoundingly gorgeous. I know. That's a lot of adjectives. I had tired legs today, but the with the scenery and the company, it was a nice distraction!

My Big Head

My Big Butt

We started early, were on the trail by 8:30 and were done by 1:15. We were worried that the snow would heat up too much and we might end up post-holing through the snow. Because we started early, we were fortunate not to see any skiiers/people until the end of the run - we had the whole place to ourselves.

The Giggle of the Day was for Steves' performance on the far side of Deception Pass. The sun was pounding down and the snow was heating up so Steve thought it would be funny to bust out the Mankini. The Speedo. Whatever. Borats got nothing on him. I thought he looked fabulous with his new Paris Hilton glasses that he found on the floor of the Post Office in town. Actually, the heartrate monitor completed the look.

"Really.....it's not c-c-cold!"

Tomorrow I am off to get a little "ski therapy" and enjoy a day of backcountry skiing with my honey. Keith understands that I need to train for my upcoming race, but he recommends a little cross-training for some piece of mind. And some quality time! So stay tuned....hopefully, we'll get another sunny day tomorrow.

For all Skoki - The Return photos see:

http://picasaweb.google.ca/banfftrailtrash/SkokiTheReturn