The Ultimate Ski

This year Joel and I took the challenge: we decided to tackle one of the cross country ski trails that went into Algonquin. It was rated "most difficult" on the map and I really wasn't sure I would be able to handle it. First of all, it was a 6 km plus ski just to get to the Fraser Lake loop that we really wanted to do (had 2 fabulous lookouts on it). We had only been out once so far this year (last Friday) and had only skied around 4 km that day. I really had my doubts that I would be able to handle it, but I was willing to give it a try. Previous years when we'd been to the resort we've never been able to attempt something so rigorous due to stomach flu one year for me, and pregnancy other years.

So we headed out at 11:15 a.m. on Monday. We took 4 bottles of water, our camera and a container of almonds and we'd just eaten a HUGE breakfast at the resort. We were all set. First of all, it was the coldest day we'd spent there yet. Even at almost noon (heat of the day), it was -17 I believe (but the report said it felt like -24 with the wind chill). I thought my cheeks were going to freeze off during the first 10 minutes of the ski, they seriously hurt a lot. I figured once my body warmed up I'd be okay (which was true).

Thankfully right before the Fraser Lake loop there is a little cabin in the woods for skiers to rest and warm up. Here are some pictures of us at the cabin:

The cabin was so HOT, it was literally like a sauna. By the time we got to the cabin we were hardly in need of 'warming up' since we'd already had a good ski by that time (the trail was incredible, up and down small slopes and through the bush). We stopped anyway for a rest and met a couple there that had to be in there fifties. They were in incredible shape. I can only hope that I can be in as good of shape as those 2 when I'm that age. They had done the Fraser Lake loop the day before and luckily the woman warned us about it. She said "when you get to the top of one of the big hills you say, wow, that must have been the 'most difficult' hill they were referring to on the map', then she says, you go around the bend and see the REAL hill you have to climb and you think: Oh MY". Well, she was right. I really don't think the picture below does this hill justice (it looks pretty gentle), but you have to believe me, it was BRUTAL. We had to duck-walk up this sucker, and I must have stopped 4 or 5 times to lean on my poles and breathe. By this time we'd skied over 8 km and I was getting tired. So here it is, the killer hill:
I wish we'd taken a picture of this hill when standing at the bottom of it, because I think it would have been a better picture of how tough it really was.

Anyway, we finally made it to the top (of course Joel was kicking my BUTT at getting up these hills...I am 1 1/2 years his senior though, so I have a valid excuse :). He kept telling me how proud he was that I stuck with it and decided to do the loop instead of heading back after we rested at the cabin. I figured I'd made it that far, I was going to do it all the way! So here's a picture of the lookout we were rewarded with at the top. Hard to believe we skied all the way from the bottom to the top of that hill! The view was glorious and worth every step we took to get there ( I suppose :) The ride down the hill was awesome, they were some big drops considering we weren't wearing nice big, supportive downhill ski boots. It was a little scary. There were also bends and twists in the trail as it descended so we had to be pretty careful. It was a blast.
By the time we got to the cabin again, we were exhilarated and ready to head back without taking a break...BIG mistake. Let's just say the last 3 km of the trail were painful. I can't describe how exhausted I felt. Joel kept encouraging me all the way, saying: "just think of the hot tub, the awesome meal we're going to have tonight...etc.". I just kept praying the trail would end, or some trail groomer would drive by on a snowmobile and I could hitch a ride :) Yes, I was a wuss. Joel said after that he never realized what a pessimist I was....I was surprised. I tend to look at the negative side of things (which I hate about myself), so I was getting annoying by the end. Joel was awesome though, he hung by me, encouraging me every step of the way, telling me how proud of me he was. I just kept thinking of how much the trip was reminding me of labour and birth, you know the feeling when you just can't push yourself any more, but there's no turning back. Joel was a great ski-Doula for me :)

In the end I'm so glad that I did it. I surprised myself. Next year we plan to get a lot more skiing in before we head up North in preparation, but this year we just didn't have the snow in time. We are blessed to have incredible trails only a 10 minute drive from our house. Joel was still able to manage Lyric on his back in the backpack this year (and at least it gives him a handicap so he's not totally bored waiting for me to keep up :) We love to ski, and I hope we stick with it until we're just like that couple we saw earlier this week: doing 18 km trails in our late 50's.

Mel