Reflections- 2016/17 Ski Trekking Season

Another back country skiing season is nearing its end.  Like the rest of us who love to get out and explore, or ski powder, or just get in a sweet workout by walking up a mountain the end of the season is bitter sweet.  In the Okanagan region we've had a cool, wet spring down in the valley bottoms but up high there's TONNES of snow and it just keeps coming down!!  With an early morning coffee in hand, a trail runner passing through the park outside the window, and a quiet house I am reflecting on a few things that really impacted me in my 4th season skiing in the backcountry:
 

• The people and the places inherent to the sport are AMAZING! The mighty mountaineers, the powder hounds, the gangs of chargers muscling up the mountains, and the senior explorers out in all cotton gear with equipment that exemplifies craftsmanship instead of new top of the line purchases
• Now that I've done my fair share of exploring I can look at a mountain off in the distance and tell myself "Yeah, it'd take about 4 hours to climb up there" and begin planning a safe uphill route, I'm proud of the learned skill!!
• The power of the mountains with the stored energy of un-slid snow is incredible and worth the highest respect.  Until you see Av conditions that are extreme and witness the cracking and the whumfing in terrain where slides are happening or set to occur it's hard to imagine what could happen
• Achieving exploring objectives and setting new ones.  In the beginning my reason for ski trekking in the mountains was to find great powder skiing- and I've certainly found it on many days.  An Asulkan Hut trip in Rogers Pass provided a morning of untouched powder skiing above tree line that was phenomenal and may never be matched.  Growing into this sport has changed my outlook as now setting objectives for distant peaks and developing the skills to reach them safely is the focus.  It's another endeavour entirely separate from the euphoric flow of powder skiing and requires teamwork, skill building and patience.

We all head out in the backcountry to find something.  Solace, healing, CHALLENGE, camaraderie, or just a day away from the noise of concrete jungle.  As the ski equipment is about to be put away for the summer season and the hiking boots and tents are dusted off I challenge you to reflect on what this past season meant to You- What did you gain?  What did you learn?  Most importantly what did you learn about yourself?  

See you up there....