My life As a Mountain Bum -- Log 3 Freezing with Friends

My life as a Mountain Bum.

January 10 2016—Log 3

Its Sunday night in my little mountain town, I’m warm inside my wee condo, Anthony Bourdain is playing in the background on the TV, and as always the girls are snoring softly.

Al left a few hours ago, my house feels somewhat empty, and I’m left sitting here reflecting on a weekend of laughter and companionship.

It was one of those weekends where the frozen mountains brought with them a wicked wind, -28 with wind-chill was our theme on Saturday, yet, somehow, our crazy friend Wayne managed to get us out for a snowshoe. With a promise of laugh’s and a good time we bundled up and headed east to Exshaw where we met up with Wayne, Trish and our new friends Jos and Willamena.

As Al got out of the car to greet Wayne all I could hear was the brutal wind whipping around our car, and with that my resolve disintegrated. There was no way I was getting out of the car! Five minutes later a smiling Wayne was waiting to greet me with a hug and a promise of the wind disappearing once we got into the canyon.

The next 4 hours were a blur that I cannot begin to describe, nor do our photos do it justice.

We hiked about 2km to the canyon entrance, over a brutal open landscape, the wind whipping around us. Once I caught up to the group I saw it, the entrance to what I call the “canyon”, some light scrambling around boulders and knee deep snow into a staggering valley, the wind completely disappeared, and we were surrounded by the overwhelming beauty of the mountains. From the blue green ice to the fresh powder the terrain was easy and challenging in its own right. The views took my breath away, and I found myself humbled in constant awe of the beauty the mountains harbor. Laughs, conversation, and time in my own mind brought a personal connection and spirituality only the mountains can provide.

Hours after we started the group descended upon my wee home for fresh cinnamon buns Al-A “half way Wong” and hot tubing. With laughter and great conversation we finished out an amazing day, and I was content, realizing this was something I had longed for... for so many years, my Love... my friends...laughter...and conversation in my own home.

Tonight, as I sit alone in my wee home, I realize just how rich my life has become, and I am excited to see where it leads. Money comes and goes, but these adventures... these connections... they live forever in the soul.