Rawson Lake February 20, 2005

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information & story is from what I wrote in a journal

Rawson Lake

 February 20, 2005 - Sunday

Me,  J Him

12 km round trip

320 m elevation

9:30 am - 1:45 pm

This was a wonderful day! It was very cold for the first while.  We had all our layers on.  We followed along the Upper Kananaskis Lake then turned off to the left to go up to Rawson Lake. We had lunch and then went across the Lake to the base of Mt. Sarrail.  We saw an avalanche.  On the way back we came across the Upper Kananaskis Lake.

Looking back:  I know now we were not at the base of Mt Sarrail.  Reading these few sentences for each event does not make an impression that these outings were great.  It was not until a couple of years down the road when I began to blog that I wrote more of a story line.  Notice at times I did dress in black from head to toe! 

Chester Lake February 12, 2005

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Chester  Lake

 February 12, 2005 - Saturday

Me,  J Her

6.0 km round trip

310 m elevation

10:00am - 2:00pm

What a beautiful day!  The snowshoe up felt easier than when J Him and I did it.  It was clear blue sky the whole time.  There were more people also.  We had lunch at the Lake, sat in the sun for awhile.  No wind at all but it felt cool.  On the way back the wind picked up a bit but it was still beautiful.

Looking back:  During these early years of when snowshoeing was not quite sexy, there were not many options of places to go.  Many trips were made to Chester and Rawson.  Ooops - I did take my snowshoes off again at lunch time after thinking I learned a lesson at Chester just a couple of weeks prior.    

Hogarth Lakes Loop January 29, 2005

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information & story is what I wrote in a journal

Hogarth Lakes Loop

 January 29, 2005 - Saturday

Me,  J Him

4.5 km loop

no elevation

10:00am - 12:00pm

We were supposed to do Chester Lake but I felt sick and did not think I could handle the elevation. We parked at Chester Lake but walked over to Hogarth Lakes.  It was slow going because I felt sick. I could hardly move, so it took up to two hours to snowshoe around the Lake.  I felt cold the whole time.  We got to the car around noon and ate there then J Him drove home.  I slept most of the way.  

Looking back:  Why did I even go in the first place?  Maybe I was trying to make an impression so he would like me more.  Was this a good impression?  NOT!!!

Chester Lake January 23, 2005

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Chester Lake Snowshoe

 January 23, 2005 - Sunday

Me,  J him.

6.o km round trip

310 m elevation

10:30am - 2:30pm

 

Snowshoe trip up to Chester Lake.  It was warm starting out.  It was steep at parts.  The alpine meadow was beautiful.  We had lunch at the lake.  We saw an avalanche.  It started to mist and got cool.  The scenery was beautiful.  It seemed a little difficult coming down at times.  Felt very tired.

Looking back:  This was my first ever snowshoe out in the mountains.  You could make your way up and back to Chester Lake and maybe see less than a dozen other people. On this day I learned not to remove my snowshoes when sitting for lunch.  We removed ours when we sat down.  While eating we heard a rumble and a thunderous noise and then we saw an avalanche come down off the mountain right in front of us.  I had never heard nor seen one before and we did not know how far the snow would come.  We wanted out of there so when we stood up to move, we sunk to over our knees in snow and could go no where.  We panicked then noticed the snow stopped at the other side of Chester Lake.  Never again have I removed my snowshoes at lunch time.    

in the meadow

 the view along the way

 lunch at Chester Lake

Ribbon Creek October 31, 2004

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Ribbon Creek

 October 31, 2004

Me,  J Her

did partial hike

8 km round trip

10:30am - 1:00pm

Cool, snow packed, sunny, below 0 

Very first wintry hike.  It was beautiful.  We stopped for lunch at a picnic table, cleared some snow off it.  After we ate, we hiked back.  Met quite a few people heading in, but only one guy was ahead of us heading out on our hike.

Looking back:  We cut this hike short because the sounds of gun shots scared us.  We did not want to run into hunters or god forbid be hit by bullets.  We did not know back then that the hunters would have been on the other side of 40 and the gun shot sounds were ricocheting throughout the mountains. 

Chester Lake September 4, 2004

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Chester Lake

 September 4, 2004  Saturday

Me,  J Her

6 km round trip

310 m elevation

10:30am - 1:30pm

Very cool, rainy on return

Pretty easy 

Very pretty little hike.  On the easy side.  Snow on the ground the further up we went.  It was cold when we stopped for lunch and it rained on the way back.

Looking back:  Do you notice the Canadian flag on my pants?  I put that on when the pants were brand new.  I burned a hole in them when I tried to iron the hiking pants.  Who irons hiking pants anyway?  Not me anymore!  

Heart & Quaite Creek Trails August 28, 2004

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Heart Creek Trail & Quaite Creek Valley Trail

 August 28, 2004 Saturday

Me,  J Her

9 km round trip

10:30am - 2:30pm

Cool, sunny, warm, rainy

Easy 

Very nice hike along Heart Creek but very short.  Stopped at the end for lunch then walked back and then did Quaite Valley.  Rather boring scenery.  Hiked to camp sties stopped to eat then returned.  Wouldn't do this one again.

Looking back:  I was learning what I liked about hiking and while not knowing much about the trails out there, there were lots that we did that did just not cut it.  I needed more! 

Rawson Lake August 6, 2004

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Rawson Lake

 August 6, 2004 - Friday

Me,  S.

9 km round trip

10:00am - 3:00pm

Mostly Sunny +21C

Moderate to Easy 

First time I did this hike. It was great.  A little bit of steepness at about 1 km mark.  Stopped for lunch at the Lake at 11:30.  Hiked a little further to a special spot.  Sometime I would like to do the steep part further on beyond the Lake.

Looking back:  Yes I did write "Moderate to Easy" got it backwards, in fact now in hindsight just saying easy would have been fine.  I had the legs for short shorts in 2004 and it was important to have a nice hair do.  A true hiker?  Not quite! 

Yoho National Park from Takakkaw Falls August 15, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Yoho National Park from Takakkaw Falls

 August 15, 2003 - Friday

Me,  L.

25 km round trip

10:00am - 8:00pm

Sunny, Hot

Challenging 

What an amazing hike!  Scenery was beautiful. Stopped just after 3 hours at a Chalet for tea and muffins.  I couldn't believe where I was and what we accomplished.  Not a very busy trail.  I would love to hike here again.  Even just to do parts of it.  

Looking back:  When my friend invited me to join him to hike in Yoho National Park, I had no idea what I was in for.  I had never heard of the place before.  He explained some of it to me and I figured I was in good hands as he was a big hiker and also a police officer.  I did not own a first aid kit, did not even know you should carry one, I don't even know if he had one.  I had just enough food and just enough water, or what I thought was enough.  No one ever told me to take extra.  As we were getting into lots of ascending, he began having breathing issues and needed to stop often.  I became concerned.  He timed his pulse and said he needed to sit for awhile.  I remember he asked to check my pulse, he did then he asked me if I was alive!  Mine was around a resting rate, this was when I was big into long distance running and I then began realizing the benefits of running associated with hiking.   His breathing issues were not issues, I learned that it just goes hand in hand with steep extended ascending for some people.   It was a long day of hiking, I ran out of food and I ran out of water.  On the drive home we stopped in Canmore for some quick fast food and drinks.  Then after that, the highway was closed for awhile because of a fire on both sides of the road.  The firemen and trucks were there putting the fire out and then eventually allowed the traffic to go through.  I remember walking through my front door at 3:00am the next morning.     

view of Twin Falls

 Twin Falls Chalet

 snack break along the way

Buller Pass August 13, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Buller Pass

 August 13, 2003 - Wednesday

Me,  Y.

7.2 km one way

11:30am - 5:00pm

Sunny +29C

Moderate to Challenging 

What a great hike - once we got started.  We got a little lost and spent more time driving.  Not a busy hike. Saw about 8 people.  Last part on the way there was on scree, steep uphill, windy, very cold but so beautiful.  Looked down onto Ribbon Lake.

Looking back:  Those are Merrell hiking shoes I have been wearing.  There was no thought or even concern given to ankle support.  At this time in my hiking life, I did not know about gaiters for keeping rocks and snow out of your shoes.  I see I am getting ready to throw a snowball!  I embraced hiking in snow early on.    

lunch view with Ribbon Lake down below

along the trail

looking back down at the trail we hiked along

Hummingbird Plume Lookout August 7, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Hummingbird Lookout

 August 7, 2003 - Thursday

Me,  Y.

12 km round trip

9:30am - 2:00pm

Sunny +25C

Moderate 

A steady climb the whole way. Wide, tree lined path.  Not very scenic but worth it to see Troll Falls and the Lookout.  Ate lunch at the Lookout.  Not keen to do this one again.

Looking back:  These were the years when I was a runner more than I was a hiker.  For hiking  I cherished wearing the 100% cotton race shirts I received in the race packages from the races I entered.  I invested in a real pair of zip off North Face hiking pants.  I thought I was the bomb at the time, never again will I go for baggy hiking pants that are covered in big pockets.     

view from the highway of where the Hummingbird Lookout is

 the Lookout behind me

view of Mount Baldy from our lunch spot at Hummingbird Lookout

Troll Falls

Galatea Lakes August 2, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Galatea Creek to Lillian Lake to Two Galatea Lakes

 August 2, 2003 - Saturday

Me, D.M., Y.

17km round trip

10:00am - 5:10pm

Sunny +30C

Moderate to Challenging

Great scenery!  I would do this hike again.  It was tough on parts where we had to walk on scree.  The colors of the lakes were beautiful.

Looking back:  Seeing this photo I realize I knew nothing back then.  I remember that shirt and those shorts they were all 100% cotton.  I did not know bear spray existed or that bears even lived in Kananaskis.  And so it begins...sporting pig tails.   

Calgary Stampede Marathon July 7, 2002

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

recap stories are  from what I wrote in a journal

The recap stories I wrote after completing races are very detailed and I wrote some very personal feelings which I never shared before.  I share all the words here word for word yet substituting initials for names.     

Stampede Marathon

July 7, 2002

a photo of the scrapbook page I made for this race

Recap Story 

(written on July 7, 2002 as soon as I got home)

I completed my second marathon and took 13 minutes off my time from last year to finish at 4:22.  I went to bed at 9:00 and fell asleep pretty much within a half hour.  Slept great and woke up at 4:00am and got up - had a shower.  Had a few drinks of coffee and ate a bowl of porridge and a bit later a banana.  It's looking like it's going to be a hot beautiful day.  Dry my hair, get dressed, wore my green outfit, have a few pee breaks and I'm ready to leave.  Parked same place as last year.  Got there about 6:15.  Put sunscreen on and headed to the waiting area, went to the toilet three times, and just walked around.  It felt a bit cool and I was shivering a bit.  With 20 minutes to go I went over to the start area  which was on 9th Ave, different from last year.  I went to mid to back of pack and waited to start.  Gun went off and because it was chip timing, I start my watch at the mat.  Set it for 10 & 1 then start chrono.  I run my pace which according to markers was about 6:25 for first # of kms. We ran through the zoo, saw the tigers, a peacock and some kangaroo type animals.    Bridgeland I saw T. go by in the Renfrew van.  We said Hi.  A bit of a breeze on Memorial Drive but it was nice not strong enough to hold me back.  Saw L. along the way cheering everyone on.  Thought I might have to pee but kept putting it off and then I didn't have to.  Reached the halfway mark at 2:06 and I think I saw Smiles Photography there, but I'm not sure.  But I know I felt a bit tired, carried on. At 28km I thought Oh God! I'm tired but was able to carry on with 10 & 1 and just said to myself just keep going, you can do it.  Came upon the wall and saw T. again.  At that point I was still able to do 10 & 1 and I think it was at close to the 33km mark.  Had my gels at the 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 timings.  Getting onto 35km I'm thinking I may have to walk a bit and I'm starting to get emotional, but just try to keep control and stick to my plan.  I do end up having some more walk breaks and running for shorter periods but I am able to push on.  People are saying "dig deep" and I think they realize I am emotional and all cheering me on.  I took my sunglasses of because I want my eyes to show in the finish line photo.  People are still saying "dig deep you're almost there, looking strong."  I'm coming around the corner someone yells "smile the camera is waiting for you, dig deep, look straight ahead you can see the finish."  I am so emotional, people are cheering.  I raise my arms in the air as I cross the finish line!  Victory!  A lady takes me aside to get my chip off my sneaker, she sits me on a hay stack to cut it off.  I am crying a bit and another lady holds me, puts her arm around me and asked me if they were tears of joy and I said yes.  She asked if I wanted to go into the medical tent but I said I was O.K.  I even remember the gentleman putting the medal around my neck.  Another Marathon Medal.  I met up with D., J., N. and Y. We walked around a bit and took pictures.  I won a draw prize a thermos coffee mug.  Had our picture taken with Mark Sutherland son of Kelly Sutherland, chuckwagon driver.  The girls walked me back to my car and I drove home.  

Stampede Marathon July 8, 2001

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

recap stories are  from what I wrote in a journal

The recap stories I wrote after completing races are very detailed and I wrote some very personal feelings which I never shared before.  I share all the words here word for word yet substituting initials for names.     

Stampede Marathon

July 8, 2001

email received from N. 

Recap Story 

(written on July 8, 2001 as soon as I got home)

Stampede Marathon I DID IT!  What an experience!  I can't believe I did it!  Boy did I do it!  I slept well and ate well.  Did not really feel nervous.  Stuck to myself and was quiet and just waited, until race time.  Went near the back of the pack.  Started out slow and seem to be doing about 6:00 km pace.  We ran through the Zoo which was pretty neat - seeing the tigers.  Then through Bridgeland and out onto Memorial Drive.  Still feeling very strong and keeping good pace.  There were aid stations every 3 kms.  I had my water bottle and also got water and Gatorade at the stations.  We followed along Memorial Drive which turned into Parkdale Blvd and then Bowness Road.  Along Bowness Road I saw the two leaders.  M. was at Home Road with the Policeman.  He saw me first and let M. know.  I told her he is cute.  Passing by here we are heading onto Stony Trail area and then back and onto the entrance to Bowness Park.  Just before this we passed the halfway mark which for me was at 2:04 and I'm still feeling strong.  It was nice going through Bowness Park.  It was shady and I'm thinking at this point it's probably mid to high 20s.  We go through Bowness area again and time is going on.  I'm still feeling good and we're onto 2 1/2 and to 2 3/4.  As we're coming towards Edworthy at the 32km mark I was at 3:14 in time.  I remember passing the medical tent, water station and going through the built wall and then it hit me.  I have to walk for a bit and then R. comes along.  Our walk breaks are at the same time and I feel I can stay with her.  She looks so strong and going pretty steady.  I am able to stay with her for awhile and we meet up with V., she's having a difficult time.  She said S. had to quit at halfway point, he was sick with a chest cold.  V. sticks with us for about 4 minutes then she has to walk.  After about 2 minutes I have to walk. V. catches up with me and we walk quite a bit.  We carry on walking and running a little bit.  There is a guy around us, too having trouble.  His legs are cramping.  As we're getting to the end going under Langevin Bridge, I know I'm going to finish and I want to finish strong.  The guy and V. and I start running and I'm feeling invigorated seeing and hearing the people and I can go- V. says if you guys sprint I'll kill you.  But I don't care and I go for it.  I hear and look to right and I see M. and wave, and then I hear and see B.  Boy am I emotional.  Then I hear D. on the left.  There's D., J., Y., N., C.  There's the finish line - 4:35 I pump my arms in the air, and I finish! 

I remember somebody had my arm - they took my number.  I don't remember the medal going over my neck.  But somebody had my arm asking if I was O.K.  Did I need anything. I said shade.  She took me in the tent gave me water, sat me down and she said drink up, she asked did I need anything was I O.K.?  I just said I was emotional because I didn't think I would be able to do it. V. came in said are you O.K. and she said she needed ice.  I drank my water and left the tent.  

J., D., N., C., and Y. were waiting for me.  Then M. came along.  They were so excited for me and proud of me.  I remember M. holding me and I was crying.  I was so emotionally drained.  We walked around for awhile and took pictures and talked.  Different people came up to me and congratulated me.  B. and his friend R. came over.  I was on such a high and still couldn't quite believe it.  But I did it, I completed a marathon!