Beginner Friendly Red Heather Day Trip (Jan. 22th, Sun. 2012)

After sleeping for just 2 hours and not having a shovel, I was very disappointed in the morning and I thought that maybe it is better to go back to bed and catch some more sleep :O Then Spencer called me to say that somebody bailed the trip and I can borrow her shovel. Finally at 6:30 a.m., while I was in Fairview waiting for Maria to pick me up (so nice of her), I remembered when I went to club the other day to borrow some stuff and there was just one shovel there with a red note: don’t take this except if you are Maria (but she said it was not for her for sure). Maria picked up Spencer, Jisoo and I and on the way we found out that Jisoo does not have any avi equipment so we headed back to UBC to drop her at home (so sorry Jisso, but don’t worry. You can join us next time ;) ). Well, finally, it was just me (a very beginner one) with two professionals, Maria and Spencer. I felt so special!!!

We parked in the parking lot and met Joyce there and he gave me the bloody shovel ;)

The skin up to the hut was amazing; I was in a wonderland! It was snowing all the time and snow storming occasionally. The temperature was a bit high and it was really humid but we were all blessed with the new snow and mountain air. I was the slowest one and Spencer (superman) walked with me to the hut; I really appreciated that.

Oh I almost forgot about the awesome hot chocolate Maria brought us, you should definitely try the hot chocolate with butter…yummy….

I stopped couple of times to take pictures and have some snacks and yummy hot chocolate but finally I found myself in the Hut. whohahhhhhh I made it to the hut! I was the lucky beginner!

There was a group in red heather giving train about avalanche and how to rescue someone if trapped in snow and how to use avi gears. Spencer, Maria and I went for the training and we won some good prizes.

Finally after having lunch in the hut we headed back to the parking and yeah we got a chance to ski! It was really funny in the beginning. I was falling down in each corner. Maria and Spencer stayed with me all the time and gave some lessons of telemark ski. I just felt bad that they did not really have a chance to enjoy skiing by themselves! I really do appreciate their concern and help.

I did not have my goggles with me and I think if you are going to ski in the snowstorm, don’t forget your goggles since while skiing, for two occasions, I could barely see anything.

After 15 minutes I felt more comfortable and started enjoying the ski. I was brave enough to increase the speed and let myself enjoy a real skiing.

In the way down, we saw a car accident. A car drove to a hill but fortunately nobody really got hurt. Spencer went and checked and he said somebody already helped them out and nobody was inside the car.

With so much fresh snow we had a chance to ski down from upper parking to the lower one where we experienced how to set up the tire chains for the first time.

Fortunately no avalanche happened during the time we were there.

Maria drove us home and I was the last one when she dropped off and she still had a long way driving home.

It was so much fun. I really enjoyed it and I was convinced that it was a beginner friendly trip. It means you can definitely do it and when they say we will wait for you they will definitely do.

 

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