Sat, Apr 24 2010 - Wasootch Ridge + 400th celebration (View Original Event Details)
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Between one member losing his keys in the garburator before the event (Kevin, really ?!?), one suffering from food poisoining, another one having an overheated car, the start to the day did not look too promising... To my surprize, we eventually got the super dozen of hikers together at the Barrier Lake Info Centre and despite a later start, we began the steep ascent. Some friendly "swearing" from one member claiming Wasootch Ridge could not possibly be a D4 put us completely in the mood for it and off we went happily on the trails !
The weather forecast was not the greatest however we feel fortunate to have had our fair share of decent weather with no wind and even some beautiful sunshine for a while. For those sunny and clear periods, we were very quickly rewarded with amazing 360 degree views. The beauty of Wasootch Ridge is that you do not need to reach the summit to get rewarded. The pace was definitively a relaxed one today with breaks along the way. It did snow in the Kananaskis on Thursday night which meant that most of the trail was covered in snow (icers became occasionally handy). At one stage, the snow took over the sunshine and it felt like Christmas again due to the big flakes.
Just before 1 pm, we found a nice spot for lunch and were happy to relax... this was short lived as a storm moved in quickly and cut short our break and our event... I think my connection with the Weather God has not been as successful as it used to be and more offerings / rituals will be required moving forward :-) As co-ordinators, Len & I decided that we would all turn back as the visibility came close to zero with strong winds. On the descent, Mo & Len started a pretty serious snowball fight with some not so flimsy snowballs.... It did not take long for some of the others to join in... no idea why people always target volunteers. Go & figure !
While we did not finish our hike due to the weather conditions, we enjoyed the scenery we had in the first part of the day. One great thing about the company today was the group chemistry - interesting and fun people to be around. Thank you for your cheerful attitude, the chocolate for the co-ordinators and Najo's cupcake :-) Some of us ended up at the Woody's Pub in the Kananaskis Village for further celebration where it looks as if our waiter wore a false moustache and changed his name....
This event marks my 3 year anniversary with the Calgary Outdoor Club and my 400th event. Every week-end in the mountains is a celebration and a passion for me as I feel privileged to live so close to the Rockies. Volunteering has allowed me to meet so many interesting people so thank you for the opportunity. While some of us felt like part time hikers today as we finished earlier than planned, it was still worth the outing, the views and the company. Welcome to the COC Robert and have a safe journey back to Montana. Today was the official death of my camera that deleted all my photos taken during the event. Special thanks to Roy & Amin for sending their photos - you can see the contrast between the T-shirt weather and the storm weather... especially with the group photo :-)
Here is a quote that a friend of mine sent to me earlier on in the week that summarizes quite well my 400 events with the COC. “A certain kind of person is drawn to the Rocky Mountains. The towering summits and deep valleys with hidden trails beckon both the dreamer and the explorer. The majestic peaks are a beacon of refuge for the body, mind, and spirit, and offer countless adventures. The lure of this attraction is as old as the hills themselves, and it is a place to call home for those born with wanderlust. From the early days of mountain exploration right up to the present, adventurous men and women have felt the pull of these mountains.”
Stay healthy, be happy and keep smiling
Veronique
PS: Len: I promise I will not play and destroy your Rubix Cube next time I am in your car :-))
Thanks for co-co-ordinating the event with me.