Snow, Snow, SNOW!!!

It's been an incredibly mild winter here in Banff, the temperatures have been down right decadent.  Usually, there's going to be a bit of "uncomfortable" weather during January or February but not so this year.  Except for a handful of really cold days it been downright balmy.  The snow has continued to fall, but the temperatures have remained mild and enjoyable.  It's been pretty dreamy by our winter standards.  Of course, we know that the shit could hit the fan at any moment.  The months of March and April are still winter months - we get a ton of snowfall at this time of year.

By Saturday, the trails around town were all in incredible shape.  Perfect packed snow, no ice and very runnable.  Throw in the mild temperatures and whoop-whoop!  Life is good.  I've been recruiting running buddies this winter, scheduling runs with friends is awesome - it means you've got some good company on the trail and it means you're committed to getting out.

Anna, with Sleeping Buffalo in the background

My Big Head - on the Hoodoos Trail

Doggie Mayhem:  Anna, Cooper and Michelle with a frozen Bow River

My friends are awesome.  My first summer running in Banff, I made my husband a very nervous man by frolicking on the trails by myself.  While it was all fun and I enjoyed those runs, having company on your long runs is a good thing.  On Sunday, I had 5 crazy-fit-fun ladies who wanted to do hill repeats on a mountain with 1000 metres of gain.  How awesome is that?  Really, to find friends like this who are up for anything - that's pretty hard to beat.  I love these gals.

Suzy, Klaire, Nicki, Monica and Jen

The original plan was to go up Sulphur Mountain a couple of times and practice our "power-hike", but damn - it was snowy out there!  We had a major wind storm the night before and some fresh snow throughout the night and BOOM - our trail was buried with a foot and a half of snow.

So, after a snowy ascent up Sulphur, we modified the plan and headed over to Tunnel Mountain for a shorter, but faster run up Tunnel Mountain Mountain.  Here's the ladies on Tunnel Mountain:

Ridiculous Jump Photo #1

Ridiculous Jump Photo #2

You get both of these photos, because I couldn't decide and they are equally terrible/funny/dorky.  After Tunnel, we headed back to Chateau Leslie for a hot tub and Jen decided her legs needed a little cold therapy.  It was a fun day on my backyard trails with the ladies.  We're all training for something these days and Nicki is leading the charge as always.  Nicki and Jen are heading for Miwok, Jen is doing Sinister Seven in June and Nicki has signed up for the 3rd year in a row for my favorite Italian race the  Tor des Geants  She's recruited her family and Klaire to join her in this years adventure and the training and fun has already begun!

Jen cools her jets.  And her legs.

The next day, winter reared its head in a dramatic fashion.  It started to snow in late afternoon and through the evening and by the time I went to bed, it had dropped about 40cm of snow.  I enjoyed this storm with a late night naked hot tub in my backyard.  The big fluffy flakes were coming down hard and even with the steam and warmth from the water, I had a couple inches on the top of my head. 

 Out the front window

When I awoke in the morning, there was snow everywhere and it was deep and beautiful and awesome. I think it was the most snow I have ever seen here in Banff.  That little short storm dropped about 50cm!!

Bow River Bridge walking to work

Lunch time walk on the river

Snow, snow, SNOW!!

It was the first time I've had "powder envy" in a long time.  I had the urge to call is sick and I definitely felt like I was missing out on an awesome resort day on the slopes.  No need to go ski touring, when you can  use a lift and access the goodies on days like this!!

Alas, it was short lived.  Last night, a Chinook wind rolled through and the 50cm of fluff turned into 20 cm of sludge and ice.  Today's run is going to be a bit of an "Adventure Run"!  Thankfully, I've got some friends to get out with who appreciate a good day of adventuring. :)

More Good Stuff!!!

The Danish visitors left us with a new expression:  "More Good Stuff!!!"   A few years back one of them received one of those delightfully tacky talking Greeting Cards and this is what the voice in the card proclaimed.  This little goofy English expression stuck and the girls now use it frequently. It's most commonly used when one is flying down a ski slope, or a gliding through a meadow of fresh white sparkling powder guided by the moonlight and stars.

 Sunshine Meadows by Full Moon - Feb. 7th

It's been a whirlwind of More Good Stuff the past 2 weeks, actually far too much to keep up with.  There's been some amazing adventures:  a full moon ski, some warm sunny days and glorious runs and a few ski tours to new and beautiful places.  This past weekend - 3 full days at Skoki Lodge.  We made some incredible turns until my legs were sore on our first day, then we bagged an incredible high ridge on the second day and finally, we relaxed and skied back to civilization on our third day.  More Good Stuff!  

Sparkle and Snow

Either way, the expression "time fly's when your having fun" fully applies to me and my life right now.  Time seems to be passing at such an exponentially fast rate, that I feel like I could use some extra time to organize my time. :)  Or just collect my thoughts.  Too Much Good Stuff?  Truthfully, I've been a little distracted with a few ideas swirling in my head.  You see, there's this little thing I've been obsessing about.

 Twin Cairns

It's time to Howl.

 Back in the New Year I wrote:

I love the New Year. It puts me in a contemplative state-of-mind and makes me hyper aware of the passing of time and of good things to come. It makes me think that now is the time to live my life, because every moment counts. Time is precious and we've got a limited supply.  It's your life to live, it sure would be a shame to not enjoy it! So, if you have any big hairy audacious goals - put them on your list and start planning. Time's a ticking.

Friday AM - at Skoki Lodge:  More Good Stuff

So, I've been thinking.  I've got a few big hairy audacious goals on my wishlist.  Most of them involve trails and adventures and travels - or some variation of those themes.  My big crazy dream that's been on the wishlist since I first heard about it the desire to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Merlin's Castle - above Merlin Lake:  Skoki Backcountry

It's a trail that stretches from Mexico to the Canadian border and travels 2,650 miles or 4,265 kilometers through 7 National Parks, 24 National Forests and 33 federally mandated wilderness areas.  Until recently, I didn't think it was an attainable goal for me to take the time to do this in the next few years.  A few weeks back, all of that changed over a breakfast conversation and a morning cup of coffee with my husband.  In a nutshell, Keith told me that I should just go do it and I should do it now.  So, just like that it was decided.  When your husband gives you the "two thumbs up" to go for a very long solo walk, you have to go for it. 

Best-est Husband on Earth or in this case, on Merlin Ridge

It's been oddly surreal.  I went from "Some day, I'm going to do that!" to "I'm doing the PCT!" practically overnight. It left me a bit bewildered and I almost didn't quite believe it myself.  Now that it's settled - I'm practically bursting at the seams.This thing, this dream o' mine it's happening!  It's really happening!!

Happy Leslie!

I'M GOING TO GO DO THE FRICKIN' PACIFIC CREST TRAIL!!

MORE GOOD STUFF!!

 

We're Going There.  More Good Stuff.  Merlin Ridge in the distance.

Now, you're probably asking yourself:  how long does it take to walk 4,265 miles?  Well, it's a major time commitment.  Every year in early May, around 300 hikers start the PCT from the Mexican border.  Most of them are going to take 5 months and try and finish sometime in late September.  As for me, I can't start in May with this years annual crowd of through-hikers.  The time line doesn't work for me or for my employer.  I'm going to do something a little bit different and start from the Canadian border on August 1st traveling North to South.  It means I could be a little lonely and it also means I'm going to have to work very hard to make it through the Sierras before the snow arrives.  Who knows if I'll make it.  If I survive one month, then 2 months, then 3 months - I'll be a happy girl.  If I actually make it the entire distance I'll be thrilled beyond words.  If I don't make it, I sure will have had fun trying.

More Good Stuff!  Looking towards Lake Louise from Merlin Ridge

So, that's my big exciting news.  I'm hiking the Pacific Crest Trail!  More Good Stuff, indeed.

Life in a Postcard

After many weeks of grey and overcast weather, the sun made itself known again this past week.  We're not used to be sun deprived here, but it has been unusually grey and cloudy since I've returned home.  It's also been snowing a lot up in the mountains - the skiing and snowboarding is fabulous right now.  The return of the sunshine has felt more glorious than ever!  There's just something magical about a bluebird day in the mountains.

Out my front window

We've had new friends staying with us the last week, in the form of 3 energetic and fabulous girls from Denmark.  Mette, Maria and Sarah have been skiing every single day since arriving and have had nothing but sunshine.  Their smile muscles are getting sore and they are enjoying every moment of their time in Banff. We've been feeding off of each others energy and enjoying the company.

Friday's Run

 Me, on the Bow River

The lovely Maria joined my for a late day run on Friday, when the world was a glow in gold on the ice and snow.  The light was magic, the mountains alive and even the wildlife came out to play. 

Maria, the Elk and the Banff Springs Hotel

Jump!

How do I see out of those things? 

As we were running along she said "It's unbelievable.  It's like running in a Postcard!!"  I couldn't agree more.  We do live in a Postcard and it's great to be reminded by someone with fresh eyes.

 

Late Day Sunshine

Good company is always welcome on the trail.  Speaking of which - last weekend I finally connected with Mike who has been one of my most consistent trail buddies in recent years.  I haven't run with him since I've been back in town, so we had lots of trail time to catch up.  I've convinced him to come join me on a June road trip for the Pocatello 50 Miler.  Angela is going to join in the fun as well. :) 

See Mike Run!

I also had some great ski time and play time with Angela. We were surprised at the amount of snow up on Sulphur Mountain and had a post-holing adventure in deeper than expected snow.  It was a brand new PW or Personal Worst - the slowest amount of time we have EVER taken to get up the mountain.  It was a total slog.  Angela got her pack snagged by a tree and ended up on her ass. :)  That was comedy.

....and then there was a glorious ski tour up at Sunshine.  We couldn't have asked for a better day and the air temperature was so warm we all stripped down to our base layers.  Sweet!!

The snow had the most sparkling, enormous crystals I've ever seen.  They were exploding into clusters in places and made a unique sound under the ski.  The snow was incredibly fast and it almost sounded like glass shattering when you carved a turn.

No ski tour is complete without a picnic and a thermos.

Keith and Suzy do it Right.

Our view

Life in a Postcard

 

We dragged our exhausted butts up Tunnel Mountain on Saturday night and Mette, Maria, Sarah and Angela did a Happy Dance as the sun set.  It was picture postcard perfect. This mountain living is hard work. :)

Only in Banff

Yesterday, on my daily morning stroll to work - I saw 4 bull elk down on the river as I was crossing the bridge.  They were all standing on the frozen Bow River, with the background of giant grey rocky mountains behind them. Two of them were doing a little elk dance, a light rut if you will, it didn't look to serious.  They were locked in the classic positon of antlers entwined and I could hear the sound of horn on horn as they connected.  Cool.  I thought to myself.  Only in Banff.

After this auspicious beginning to my day, the day rolled by rather quickly.  Just a usual day, with an unusual beginning.

On my daily stroll home, I stopped by the local ski shop - you know the place, the one the local's hang out at to drink coffee and talk smack.  The owner, my friend Jason - was standing out front of the store when I showed up.  What's going on? I trilled.  We're having a bacon sale.  He replied.   

Whaaaatha'?!

Jason had just got back from a road trip to Revelstoke and he had been delayed on the highways and he was a hungry boy.  My husband who works part time at the shop, was also warming the counter and business was slow.  I think the boys were just bored and hungry, but out of boredom a brilliant marketing idea was born:  A Bacon Sale!

So, they posted the following message to their fans on Facebook: 

FIRST person to bring us 1lb of COOKED CRISPY hot bacon can have ANYTHING in the store at 50% OFF...ANYTHING..

Now, this is a shop that sells $6000.00 shiny bicycles - so 50% off is a seriously good deal.  Soon, there were friends running up and down Bear Street with uncooked bacon in hand.  And pretty darn quickly, my friend Barb rocks up, sweat on the brow - with a box of steaming hot cooked bacon and a big smile on her face.  She had to get creative to cut out of work, make a blitz run to the grocery store - and then convince the chef at the Bison to cook her up some bacon on his nice shiny clean grill.  But, at the end of the day - it all started like the beginning:  

Only in Banff!!

Feelin' the Love

After a weekend spent surrounded by good people, I'm feeling the love.

This beautiful mountain community that I live in, currently buried under the white blanket of winter - is populated by amazing folks.  Over the 7 years that I have lived in Banff, I found that it didn't take long to connect with like-minded people.  Our collection of fun and fantastic people has continued to grow and the friends we have made in  the Bow Valley never cease to amaze me.  Young and old, I love these mountain people.

I enjoy people who love the mountains and who appreciate them as much as I do.  You don't have to be a crazy endurance athlete to enjoy and appreciate mountain living.  All of us mountain lovers share the same sense of wide wonder when we gaze upon the beauty and the vastness of the immense wilderness that surrounds us.  We are all connected by this. I just like to connect with it by feeling it under my feet, seeing it with sparkling eyes-wide-open and hearing it in the sound of crunching snow.

This weekend I got to enjoy the good company of these like minded folks and realize:  Damn.  I live in a great community.  I spent part of my day today volunteering at the Lake Louise to Banff Loppet and reconnecting with many of my friends in the Bow Valley.  The end-of-the-race party is my favorite part - a room full of good people and good energy.  A room full of the warmth of a community and of good friends.

My weekend has Slam-Bam full of reconnecting with good peoples.  As well as my super day today, I got out for a ski tour with Suzy and Monica on Friday and I got enjoy some quality time in with Super Angela.  We hit the road this morning for a few hours of run time.  It's also been All About Winter.  This week we saw -34c temperatures and a new blanket of snow covering the pine forest.  Fortunately, we broke out of the deep freeze this weekend so we could all get out and play.

Me and Suzy - getting ready to ski.

Fluffy Powder in Chickadee Valley

I'm loving up the ski touring - I always have - but it's good to be out enjoying winter in this way.  It's pretty magical - I mean, how many people get to do this?

All smiles, with Monica

I've got the whole winter to enjoy this sport - we ski here well into May and I'm planning on enjoying it.  I've been a life long skier and while I may not be using a chair-lift much these days, I still love it as much as when I was a young ski-bum. :)  I reckon the main difference is I just don't drink as much beer.

Ladies of the Bow Valley Unite!!!

Today, I did a run with Angela which has almost become a January tradition for me.  Every year, I take a road run on Highway 1A and it's awesome.  I don't know why I don't do it more often.  Keith dropped us off at Johnston Canyon and we ran home.  One of my favorite thing about running the 1A is looking for animal foot prints.  Today we saw lots of coyote prints, deer, elk and wolf.  And little critters too - like mice, voles, squirrel and pine marten.  I'm always scanning for prints - it's one of my favorite things about winter.  My friend the divine Ms. Ellie saw a Lynx today while skiing from Lake Louise to Banff.  A Lynx is a pretty special sighting - I've only ever seen 2.  Such a lucky girl!

It's a secondary highway.

Angela doing her Angela Thing.

Arriving back in Banff on Vermillion Lakes Road

Feeling the Love!!

Fenland Trail

Done!  O.K - I didn't ski from Lake Louise to Banff, but I'm awfully impressed by those who did!

There were also lots of friends participating in the ski loppet today - it's a very special race.  They only groom this trail once a year to create this epic 70km Cross-Country ski race from Banff to Lake Louise.  Maybe one year, I'll dust of my cross-country skis and give-it-a-go.  Congrats to all who finished and the stand-out performances of my friends Liza Pye and Blaine Penny!  Both of these ridiculously talented athletes (and ultra-marathoners) finished at the top of the heap today.  Congrats, Y'all. 

I'm Home! I'm Home!

Travel.  Holiday.  Vacation.  I've had friends return from lengthy trips, only to be befuddled, depressed and unable to deal with the realities of their "real world".  In our case, the opposite is true.  Keith and I are literally overflowing with love, for this place that we call home.

Keith loves Banff!!

We've spent the last month adjusting back to our world, our reality, our home that is Banff.  We've always know that the life we have here is special, but it only takes 3 months away to make us even more appreciative of that fact.

The Neighbours are Good.

Since we've arrived home, we've been spending an aweful lot of time outside enjoying our special place.  We're connected to this place and these mountains.  It nurtures our soul to spend time outside in this place.  We've been running around the woods, we've been skiing, we've been strolling, we've been smelling and breathing and taking it all in with fresh eyes.

Last Week - strolling on the Bow River - Fairholme Range in the background.

This week - enjoying a birthday run.

Do I look happy?  That's because I am.  My latest pose seems to find me declaring out loud I'm Queen of the World!!  This place does that to me.  It makes me whoop out loud joyfully a lot. 

On the running front, I sure am enjoying myself running around the woods again - my backyard rocks.  It's the time of year that I spend the most time on my local trails.  In winter, your options are more limited - so I tend to spend a lot of time on the same trails.  Tunnel Mountain, Fenland Trail, the Spray River Trail, the Bow River/Hoodoos, Marsh Loop and Sulphur Mountain are all part of the fun.  My favorite winter trail is something I call the "backyard loop" which is a rather amazing 30 minute loop through the woods behind my house.  It's got a killer runnable hill, it's sheltered from the wind and it's so pretty.  I seldom see anyone on it.  Today, I saw fresh coyote tracks in the fluffy fresh powder and eventually, was treated to a vocal sing-a-long of the yipping critters.  Yip!  Yip!  Not everyone gets to experience that in their day to day lives.

Enjoying the Spray River Valley - on today's run.

Tunnel Mountain Cliffs with Cascade Mountain in the background

Backside of Tunnel Mountain - enjoying the view of Mount Rundle

Babbling non-sensically on my Birthday Run

So, you get the picture.  We're unequivocably stoked to be back in Banff running around in the woods.  I just want to shout it out loud:

I'm Home!  I'm Home!