Our lessons learned!...

No one would have believed us if we didn't have a camera to prove it!

It was socked in, rainy, grey, blah in the Comox Valley. I took a look at the Mt. Washington web cam and it said "Unlimited Visibility" all day! What???...

This Christmas my mom insisted that we not "buy" anything for them for Christmas. Christmas presents were to come in the form of long walks in the west coast trails, cross country skiing, etc. Anything active, healthy, and just keeping good company! So today I took my mom up on one of her requests. I hauled out my classic x-country skis and took my mom up for a lesson on how to tackle the downhill... After 50 something years of wearing glasses and a fear of heights. My mom needs to overcome her fear of skiing downhill. So we headed up to the mountain and we had "Unlimited Visibility"!!! It was so hot in the full sun. There was no breeze, just pure sunshine! We were pulling off layers, sweating, and lovin it!

I took my mom down a trail she had never been down before because of the 'big hill" at the beginning! She conquered the hill and it was all 'up hill' from there! ;)

The warm snow was very forgiving for learning today and she had a blast!

My lesson learned today came in a different sort of way!... If you click on the picture below you will see in the distance a woman standing on the side of the trail. As we approached her, she stood up from sitting in the snow, trying to compose herself. We quickly realized that she was not just taking in the sunshine.... She was having some trouble. Apparently this was her first time back on skis in 36 years! Her group had gone ahead and she was "just resting" and waiting for them to come back... The woman was sweating, pale, and weak and was going to take off her skis and "just walk back" to the lodge!!! It was a good hour to walk back at least! She had no water, no snacks, and was alone!!! OMG!!! I offered her my electrolyte drink and she reluctantly took some. Usually, I carry my "Camel Back" pack filled with fluids, gels, protein bars, etc. Today I packed light and didn't bring it!!! I felt terrible! My lesson... I will never leave my pack at home again! Once her friends caught up to us again, I insisted on going back to the lodge to get the ski-doo to come pick her up. "They" all said not to worry, that they had some trail mix and more water and that she would be just fine!... So off we went, taking our time enjoying the day. Just minutes from the lodge, we were passed by the ski-doo going out on the trail!... I asked one of the instructors if he was going out to pick up the woman. He said "Yes"!!!! Ugh!!! That was like an hour later!!! My lesson learned again! I will NEVER take "no" for an answer again!!! My gut was telling me to go get help for this lady, but the group of them saying no made me back down on my decision! Never again!

Today, I am heading up again. It is grey and rainy down in the valley, but I am looking forward to sunshine and I'm bringing my pack!

Happy Tuesday!!!