Seymour Snowshoe Sleepover

As a child, one of my winter projects always was to built an igloo. Lacking enough snow, I never succeeded beyond lining up a couple of layers of snow bricks. The closest I got was one year, when an unusual 70cm dump of fresh powdery snow caused the government to proclaim an emergency situation and called in the troops. Schools were closed and I was digging a snowcave. It never got big enough to actually crawl into, but I was able to light a candle in it and delighted in my miniature cave.

Fast forward almost 40 years (gasp). One of my goals for this winter was to be up on a local mountain peak at sunrise. Friday afternoon the weather forecast looked good for the weekend and since I am still nursing an injured hip and didn't feel foolish enough to join the fun at the Pure Foolishness I put the word out to join me for an early morning snowshoe hike to Dog Mountain. Over dinner the plan morphed into taking the family up for a winter camping expedition...Ugh, was I seriously considering packing up the gear and the troops in order to avoid to rise at 5:00am on Sunday?



Saturday morning was spent packing up the gear and food for 2 little and two big winter campers. We set out on the trail around 2:30pm. Doug and Troy joined us for the afternoon. The sun was trying to peak through the clouds and there was a 20cm layer of fresh snow - on top of the 4m plus that have already accumulated this winter. Conditions looked good and we were excited.

The hike to Dog Mtn. is long enough to get you warmed up, but not long enough to get you tired. We found a protected little spot with easterly views and rigged up the tent. While it is not a monster tent, it is still pretty big and I wouldn't classify it as a backpacking tent. Luckily, Ean's knapsack is huge and the old man has practised carrying concrete bricks all summer long...

While I set up the interior decorations, complete with thermo rests and sleeping bags, the kids and Ean started to dig a snowcave into a huge snowbank. By the time dinner was ready, the cave could hold 2 of us easily. Macaroni and cheese never tasted so good. And the chicken noodle soup was very warming.

After dinner the skies started to clear and we could make out the city lights below us. While the boys continued to dig, the girls took some photos and got very cold.
By the time bed time rolled around, the cave was big enough to hold all four and featured a little bench and a cooking platform. Wow, maybe I finally get my childhood snowcave.

The night was cold. Very cold. EJ's matt had deflated due to a puncture hole. Anything slightly moist froze solid. We all snuggled up close. Two Fat Asses and two little tushes on 3 thermo rests. It seemed I was working all night to keep warm. Maybe next time (what am I thinking) we should come early and dig a cave big enough to sleep in. If constructed properly, it stays fairly warm in a snow cave.

The sun rose just after 8:00am and we happily greeted the new day. The sky was lighly overcast, so we didn't get to see an amazing sparkling sunrise, but it was special non the less. I cooked breakfast in the cave and pondered how I would like to sleep under a couple of meters of snow....

By noon we were back at the car (we had left a note in it indicating that we were out for the night - so that CFA member and North Shore Search and Rescue volunteer Allan wouldn't have to come out looking for us). It was a challenging outing, not quite painfree, but it left that good feeling of accomplishment!

Photos are here.

Post 50km Recovery

Running 50km on New Years Day with limited training was probably not the smartest thing I've done in a while, but definitely very exhilarating and motivating.

I've taken some time off to recover and get the inflammation in my hip under control that has been plaguing me since early December. Instead of running, I've been snowshoe hiking, working out at the gym, took a Yoga class (the first one in years left me sore in muscles I didn't even know I had) and skied a bit.

Attempts to finally get out and hit the trails again have been very reluctant, but it is time to get serious! Next goal on my 2008 list is a spring road marathon - I have some aspirations for time/PB, which means I need to get on the road, rather than plod along on the trails...maybe that's why my motivation is lacking ;-) Time to dig up that training schedule.

50km on Will Power

Late last summer I foolishly pronounced I would line up for the Vancouver New Years Day 50Km again. Training was going well until life got in the way, my daughter got sick, my friends took a break from long runs and to top it of my right hip started to be very painful.

I eventually resigned to run the 25km yesterday and try the 50km another year. Deep inside, though, I didn't want to run the 25km. I wanted to do the 50km.

Packing for this day is always a bit chaotic as we traditionally have dinner guests and go snowshoeing the night before. Was the weather forecast to be trusted. How much water and food would I need, which shoes, which shirts, jacket, hat. Cellphone with cab numbers - check, emergency blanket - check, money and car keys - check, camera - check, dry gear and shower stuff for afterwards, check. Course description - check.

The morning of the event dawned cold, but dry. My clothing choice was right on and I soon fell into a rhythm in a group together with Lara, Rhonda, Arlene and Craig. As we were marvelling at the snow covered north shore mountains from Locarno Beach, Rhonda mentioned her car was parked at one of the parking lots on Spanish Banks. What... you are not running the full 50km? A quick check made me realize that I was the only one (who was planning to run to the turnaround and then play it by ear). Bummer. Running alone has never been my forte. And running alone for 50km on no training seemed impossible.

But, all of a sudden I knew that I would not stop at the turn around. Craig, who had fallen back a bit, caught up. He had earlier said that he'll do a shorter out and back. All my hope was resting on me talking him into running 50km. "Ok, we have the whole day" was Craig's reply to my plea.

I begged some "Vitamin I" from Rhonda to deal with my painful hip and left the rest of the gang just before the super duper aid station that Danielle from Kintec had set up at Spanish Banks. Craig tended to his hot spot on his little toe with pink chap stick (gotta be flexible), I retied my shoes and hoovered down some chips and soon we were off into the trails of Pacific Spirit Park.

Craig continued his system of run-walk and would leapfrog me every so often. I plodded along, trying not too fall into a walk. My right hip was becoming extremely painful and my gait got shorter and shorter. Seeing the faster runners on the return trip got our minds off our little problems and made the time pass fast. Everybody was all smiles and encouragement was passed out freely.

The turn-around was very lonely. We didn't hang around. A quick stretch, more chap stick on Craig's toe, some food and off we were again. I was beginning to think that talking Craig into this was not a good idea. At least, if I'd be alone, I could bail without feeling bad...My run felt like a shuffle, Vitamin I wasn't working and the stretch back was looking very, very long. Crossing path with a couple of friends from way back when we lived in Kits was a welcome distraction. Running a couple of kms with Robert, who was out to start his new years resolutions on the right foot with a run in his blue Club Fat Ass shirt and intentions of participating in more events this year, was great. Sorry, Robert, if I was sounding a bit weird...I was in another zone.

Walking along Admirality Trail before returning to the beach was frustrating. Craig was getting way ahead and I decided that there was no way I could finish this. Plans for a bail out at the aid station took shape, then evaporated when I reached the parking lot and a waiting Craig but no tent or aid station. Humph. Craig sort of ignored my rambling about bailing. He also did not listen to me when I told him to go ahead and I would somehow find my way back...

The view over English Bay towards the city and Stanley Park was beautiful, but discouraging, as it showed very clearly how far away the finish was. Craig told me not to look ;-) I focused on reaching Kits Point. Then Burrard Street Bridge. At the end of the bridge was Sarah, waiting for John (not to be mean, but I was glad she missed him and fed us instead). Bananas, water and kind words got us going again. Soon we were negotiating the revellers leaving the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim at English Bay.

I could smell the finish and was trying to estimate how much further. Craig thought I was a bit optimistic in my assessment, but it didn't matter...we would make it now - even if we had to crawl in. The wind picked up as we passed the Nine O'Clock Gun, but the skies stayed dry. We picked up the pace - will power is an amazing thing - and almost sprinted to the fire hydrant. Our final, grand total time was 6:55. Much slower that I had hoped for in the summer, but hey! We've done it.

Arriving, still sweaty and ruddy cheeked, at the Mosquito Creek Bar and Grill, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Endorphins were cursing through my veins ;-) The icing on the cake, aka a wonderful day and way to start the New Year, was the trophy, a bunch of my fellow Fat Asses planned and made. Craig, who had run with me all day, hadn't said a word, and now presented to me this great trophy: an engraved glass plate mounted on a heavy, rustic, coppery looking stand. The engraving reads: "Thank you Ean and Sibylle for being the most awesome promoters of oddball endurance events and a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Your hard work and passion are always appreciated!"

Thanks, fellow Fat Asses and especially Craig Moore, Tim Wiens and Cheryl Johnson, who rumour has it were the movers and shakers behind this surprise.