Training Log Archive: Bash

Easy ski with Dee, an experienced skate skier who just got classic skis for backcountry trails. It was her first time on ungroomed trails so we stuck to a novice loop. She did well!

Chatty ski around nearby fields and forest with our neighbour DR. 'Bent was skijoring with BazingaDog, who was tired after a weekend of playing in fluffy snow. He took his sweet time and made frequent stops to roll in the snow. (The dog, not 'Bent!) It's only a month until his 10th birthday, which is arriving way too soon. AdventureDog was more energetic but is sleeping soundly now.

'Bent and I skied a big forest loop on fluffy snow in brilliant - but very chilly - sunshine. Time deducted for a long lunch break.

'Bent and I did an easy ski with our neighbour DR, a new cross-country skier who is a triathlete and snowboard instructor in non-Covid times. It was her first time on narrow, hilly, tree-lined trails and she was cautious but picked it up well. In the final stretch, we made our own tracks through very deep, fluffy snow as the sun set. I love winter.

My final challenge of the Coast Mountain Trail Running Winter Scavenger Hunt was the Resolution Run. We're supposed to do a run or hike, then write down a resolution and complete it within 7 days. We can't claim the badge until we act on our resolution. Last night I finished cleaning and clearing unnecessary stuff from the the laundry room portion of our combined laundry/storage room, which had been neglected. I found an expensive SD camera card in the washing machine filter that neither of us is missing. It doesn't work anymore but we always download our SD cards before we launder them (!) so it's not a big deal.



The Winter Scavenger Hunt has been a blast once again, especially connecting with participants in the private Facebook community, which has been one of the friendliest, most creative, most supportive corners of the Internet over the past two months. People shared their cancer diagnoses, their 5K PBs, their GPS art of Michael Bublé and everything in between. This Challenge was extra fun because I knew more people doing it this time, including a bunch of Attackpointers. We all need some entertainment these days. I'm already looking forward to doing another Summer Scavenger Hunt!

First ski of the year at Hockleycrest! I really should go there more often. Conditions and grooming today were as perfect as they get. When I arrived, there were 6 cars in the parking lot on a Thursday afternoon - pandemic skiers, I guess. I don't think I've ever seen more than one other car on a weekday. It's a big trail network so it still felt like I had the place to myself most of the time. I ran into Dave Moule (the trail angel) going the other way a couple of times so I had a chance to thank him for all his trail maintenance work. Then I went home and sent him an Interac transfer since I don't carry cash anymore so I had nothing for the donation box - oops.

Ski around Palgrave West plus a loop around the south end of Palgrave East. I followed 'Bent's tracks part of the time, broke trail part of the time and dodged snowshoe tracks the rest of the time. It was a glorious winter day!

Snow Day! About 20 cm.



BazingaDog, AdventureDog and I went snowshoeing around Palgrave West as the snow came down. Lovely!



What wasn't lovely was seeing so many areas where huge ash trees have come down or look like they might come down at any time. When a breeze came up, I veered out of the deciduous forest into some healthier looking conifers. Some of the nicest places we used to wander are really not safe anymore. As a corollary, the Palgrave West orienteering map will need some updates after the rest of the trees come down.