New Skis!

It feels like summer now but just a few short weeks ago it was still snowing and I was still hitting the slopes. Just in time to catch the final long days on the hill I picked up some new skis that I’m super excited about!

I’d read lots about alpine touring (AT) racing skis and how they are amazingly light weight, but I had a really hard time finding anywhere to buy them in North America. I was actually starting to plan a trip to Switzerland to pick up a pair in person when I came across ShowInn.com. Strangely, this site is based out of baking hot Spain but has high-end skis that you’ll have a hard time finding even at the most ski die-hard resorts in Canada or the US.

I debated for ages about which line of skis to get – the very top end used by the fastest ski mountaineering racers in the world or one step down. In the end I decided to go with Dynafit PDGs, an amazingly light ski but one that won’t have you winning gold running up and skiing down challenging slopes. And these skis are tough too. Since I tend to really beat up anything I put on my feet, that’s important.

A comparison - fat skiboards, my new dynafits, nordic skis — A comparison – fat skiboards, my new dynafits, nordic skis

A comparison - beefy AT boots, my new dynafits, cross country boots — A comparison – beefy AT boots, my new dynafits, cross country boots

As soon as my new toys arrived I brought them into MEC for a hotwax. Everyone was amazed at the feathery lightness. Three different people asked me how my racing season went. That’s funny – when I take my fat skiboard to the hill teenagers ask what kind of tricks I do at the terrain park. Suddenly, everyone thinks I’m a skimo racer. But I bought these more as an efficient tool to get into the backcountry. They really shine at climbing big slopes but they’re also great when you want to explore a bubbling creek that winds its way up into the mountains.

But they’re fun when it comes to charging down steep slopes too. I headed out to Fernie for the final week of the ski season to put in turns on some of my favorite runs and to discover some new ones. Ski patrol let me skin up to the wind-swept summit for an exhilarating run down through ice and fallen boulders.

I only got about 10 days on these new skis before the lifts stopped running but I’m really excited to take them out into the backcountry next season!

First backpacking trip of the year

I’m really happy that it’s warming up and spring is on its way. The best thing about spring is that the low-elevation trails in the Rockies are mostly free of snow and the forests are starting to turn a vibrant green. At the end of April I backpacked along Lake Minnewanka, a long reservoir that stretches out to wild Devil’s Gap. All together a journey of 60 km.

The first thing that struck me when I arrived at the lake is that it was still completely frozen. Even though the air was warm, walking beside a big frozen lake can get chilly. When the wind came up I really felt the cold air.

I’ve decided to hike as much as I can in Vibram FiveFingers this year. I really like how you can feel the texture of everything you walk over. It’s a real pleasure when you go from walking on solid rock to soft dirt – something that wouldn’t stand out much in shoes or boots.

Since it's "spring", I'll hike in FiveFingers — Since it’s “spring”, I’ll hike in FiveFingers

It might have been a bit early to put on such minimalist footwear. The trail was quite icy and wet. I found the FiveFingers gripped very well but my feet got cold quickly. As long as I kept moving fast enough, though, they were alright. After a few miles the ice disappeared and the trail was remarkably dry.

As soon as I left the lakeside and gained elevation, though, snow appeared and just got deeper and deeper. 500m higher at Aylmer Lookout I was punching through snow up to my waist and struggling to follow the trail. But worth all the effort for amazing views.

I made my first camp at the Mount Inglismaldie campground, although I could have camped anywhere along the lake shore. There was no one else around. It’s nice to be alone in nature, especially in an area that gets busy in summer.

Getting drinking water was an unexpected challenge. In summer there are a number of creeks flowing into the lake but these were all either frozen solid or completely dry. I had to resort to collecting lake water. But even that was a challenge. Only a few places along the shore had thawn out and those usually were separated from the forest by steep slopes of ice. When I did get to the water it was cold!

I woke up to rain on the second day. A light rain that couldn’t decide if it might actually prefer to be snow. Secretly, I love hiking when the weather is nasty – cold, wind blowing rain in your face, feet wet. As long as you have enough chocolate it’s great.

As I came to the end of Lake Minnewanka and continued toward Devil’s Gap the trail got much rougher and the scenery more wild. It’s ironic. You’re walking toward the prairie yet you feel as though you’re moving deeper and deeper into wild mountains.

The trail became less and less distinct, crossing old creek beds, tenderly tiptoeing through moss-covered forest, and eventually disappearing altogether.

I’d like to come back and push all the way through Devil’s Gap to the other side. A summer project, perhaps.

On my way back I encountered this cute little guy, sheepishly standing on a cliff ledge looking up at the trail. Some other hikers told me a large dog had chased him there. Poor guy. And to make it even worse, on the other side of the canyon was another mountain sheep waiting for him – probably his girlfriend!

The Final Days of Skiing – Kicking Horse

As spring starts to melt the snow away, the final days of skiing are here. I’m a little sad to see the season come to an end after some fantastic days on the slopes but spring skiing brings its own pleasures. I’m especially enjoying the soft snow – a great thing for someone who does a lot of wipeouts!

Castle Mountain in Spring

It feels like spring at Castle Mountain. While the mornings are still chilly (-22C last Sunday), it sure warms up during the day. Over two days of cross-country skiing around the hostel and downhill skiing at Lake Louise the sun shone brilliantly and warmed me up even when the air was still cool.

The sound of trains passing in the night is one of the things that defines this palce — The sound of trains passing in the night is one of the things that defines this place

Cell phone tower and still-snowy mountain tops

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

I’ve just spent the last week climbing in Red Rock Canyon with climbing partner Jonathan and some new friends.

Desert views — The colours of Red Rock Canyon

While everything here in Canada is still frozen, the weather in Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon is ideal at this time of year.

It feels great to get a taste of summer and to climb outdoors again.

Desert-like Red Rock is famous for its sandstone formations which make for some great climbing. It rarely rains here but when it does the sandstone turns soft and brittle. On our second day we woke up to a big rainstorm that drenched the entire area. So the following day we set off to find a limestone cliff recommended by some local climbers.

Is that the crag over there?!? — Searching for the crag

After five hours walking in the desert and scrambling up a narrow slot canyon in search of the climbing area we decided to make it a hiking day. Climbing could wait for another day. Turns out that when we turned back we were no more than a few minutes away from finding the crag.

It turned out to be a great day anyway and a good opportunity to explore the desert.

and bullet holes — Where did we park the car again?

And being only a short drive from Las Vegas, we got to enjoy some of Sin City’s famed nightlife.

Glimpses of North Korea

It’s been almost a year since I visited North Korea. The country has changed a lot in that time. In May of 2012 it still felt very isolated and secretive. Now visitors are permitted to bring in mobile phones and access the internet. That’s a big change. While I ponder where the Hermit Kingdom is headed, here are some photos from an amazing trip.

Wonsan, an industrial city on the east coast

Revolutionary posters decorate the street much like billboards in other countries

Kids practicing for the Mass Games in front of Hamhumg Grand Theatre

Unification monument symbolizing the two Koreas joining together

Brand new apartments development, constructed in under a year

View of Pyongyang, the capital, from Juche Idea Tower

Kim Il Sung, internationally renowned leader.

Pyongyang's metro system puts any 5-star hotel lobby to shame — Pyongyang’s metro system puts any 5-star hotel lobby to shame

Squirting clams with gasoline from a water bottle

Her dress remains perfectly clean. Chollima Steel Works

Koreans love to express themselves through dance and song

Pyongyang's streets see more and more traffic every day. A few years ago there were few vehicles. Now buses, trams, motorcycles, and private cars have joined the bustle alongside military lorries. — Pyongyang’s streets see more and more traffic every day. A few years ago there were few vehicles. Now buses, trams, taxis, motorcycles, and private cars have joined the bustle alongside military lorries.

A passionate guide takes us through the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum — A passionate guide takes us through the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (i.e. Korean War) Museum

Concept of the 30-Day Challenge

I’ve always enjoyed things that challenge me, so when I learnt about the concept of a “30-day challenge” I was really excited. The idea is that you choose something difficult or impactful and you commit to do it for 30 days. It could be adding something to your life, like exercising or eating well, or getting rid of a bad habit.

Last year I read the book Wheat Belly so for December I decided to try an initial 30-day challenge of going gluten/wheat-free. It was a fairly easy thing to do, although I’ve learnt that there is wheat in things you’d never guess – like herbal teas and soy sauce. It was an interesting experiment, not so much in the results of the diet, which were minor, but in making a new habit part of my life over a relatively short period of time. I’m still following the wheat-free diet today.

Last September I injured my ankle while rock climbing and it has taken a long time to heal. I’m still working toward getting back to 100%. For my next 30-day challenge I committed to really step up the corrective exercises my physiotherapist and strength coach had given me. Doing those exercises everyday made a big difference. My ankle now feels stronger and more stable and those exercises have become a regular habit. It feels like they take very little effort now.

In February (technically only 28 days) I wanted to do something related to fitness. I love quantifiable goals and I have a habit of collecting gadgets so I decided to commit to measuring my heart rate while exercising and getting it above 140 every day (my Zoladz zone-4 “tough exercise” is roughly 140-150). Here are the results…

In retrospect, intense cardio exercise every day is pretty hard on the body when you combine it with the strength training I’ve also been doing. I think a few rest days are a good thing – they help you recover. Ultimately, the real goal is improved fitness. So, I changed strategy mid-month and gave myself two days off from this challenge. On those days I was doing intense strength training and my coach suggested doing more moderate cardio. So, I listened to his advice. The second half of the month I was happy just to meet my goal of 140 rather than really pushing it. I found that this became pretty easy, much more so than at the start of the month. I’d call that a successful challenge.

Any ideas for future 30-day challenges? What would you like to commit to over the next month?

Cross Country Skiing to Boom Lake

A few winters ago I decided to try cross-country skiing. Once I got the hang of it I found it very enjoyable. These last few winters I’ve traveled much of the time and this year I’ve been focused on making the most of downhill skiing. Last week I took a break from steep runs and put on the Nordic skis for a quick glide up to Boom Lake.

A fresh snowfall covered the well packed trail and the forest sheltered me from the wind. When I got to the lake I was surprised to see that less than an hour and a half had passed. Faint tracks led out along the lake shore so I followed them until they became windswept. Breaking trail was fun but reminded me how much more work it is than following established tracks. The Boom Lake trail has some pretty steep sections and tight turns toward the bottom. These were great fun on cross-country skis and gave me the chance to take a few really good wipe-outs!

Frozen ice at the bottom of a massive old avalanche chute

Skiing the Dream

When I was a little kid I dreamed of being able to spend my winters skiing. I pictured myself escaping the city and being outside, enjoying beautiful views and exhilarating runs. I probably skied a dozen or so times during school trips and a few times with a family friend. It was always enjoyable but I often felt a bit nervous too. At best I skied blue runs. Black Diamond runs looked way too scary.

Last year I started skiing at COP, the local bunny hill. This year I’ve stepped it up with trips to four different mountains and I’m really happy to see my skills improve each time. I’ve gone from cautiously skiing green runs at the start of last year to now jumping off cornices into boulder-strewn double blacks. Best of all, it feels like I’m living that childhood dream I had many years ago.

The back side of Lake Louise on a chilly Tuesday morning

An untouched cornice waits for the first skier of the day

Eating Snow Around the World

Outdoor Adventure Travel and Strange Foods

Author: Justin