Staring into the snow-covered valleys, I finish my apple in two big bites. My tastebuds welcomed the cold, crisp sensation. Moments earlier I spotted someone gaining on me in the distance as I turned into the Centennial Ride rock garden. I half expected him or her to come crashing by any minute now.
I made a decision.
If that person caught up with me in the next few minutes, I would continue on to the summit. If not I would call it a day and head down the mountain.
Minutes pass. No sight of the person.
I carefully begin my descent. Snow covered the rocks creating a slippery endeavour. Once I found a clear path, I scanned the landscape. Still no sight of the person. What did he do? Fall off the mountain?
Did I really did see someone running in the distance? Was I losing it? Maybe it was the mountain air messing with my head.
When I reached the weather monitoring stations, I had spotted someone sitting down in the valley … drinking what looked like a cup of tea or coffee. I wondered what the hell is this person doing. The skies were threatening to open up minute now. I had been keeping an eye on the dark clouds. I wasn’t moving fast enough to outrun them so I knew eventually I would have to make a run for it.
Truth be told. It was a little spooky. It was a really, really quiet morning. I didn’t see a single person. I thought it would be much busier on the Centennial Ridge/Mt. Allan trail because it had just opened for the first time this season yesterday. I had followed boot tracks along the way. For sure, I thought I would eventually meet the owner.
It wasn’t until I reached the monitoring stations until I heard some trashing behind me. Please Buddha, I thought as I slowly turned around don’t let it be an angry grizzly bear.
Fortunately it was the tea drinker who I had spotted earlier. He was wearing a huge backpack. I stopped so we could chat a bit. Turns out he had been on the mountain for HOURS. He was sitting and taking photos of the wildlife. He showed me a picture of a grizzly that he had seen earlier that morning.
Peter and I chatted as we made our way down the mountain. A couple times he “let me go ahead” so he could change/add clothing or whatever. It didn’t take him long though to catch up. Seriously I don’t know how he could run with that 70-litre pack strapped to his back.
New signs?
I don’t remember these Centennial Ridge Trail signs from the two times that I have been in this area. I was thankful for them though. I forgot to revisit my notes from last year about the route. I seem to remember I had some trouble finding the correct trail. Anyway I was only slightly confused on Saturday.
It was pouring rain when I left Calgary in the morning. I was surprised to see it wasn’t raining when I reached the trailhead. I could have been easily fooled by the blue in the sky. However, I knew it wouldn’t last long as I could feel the rain/snow in the air. I was just happy to be out of the city and in the mountains.
I brought my new rain jacket and extra clothing so I was ready for anything. (Although I did forget my gloves in the Qashqai, which I kicked myself for later in the morning.)
The first real climb out of the trees was just as challenging as I remember. I was really slow but I was happy that I got in some elevation before I turned around. As you know, I have been really focusing on gaining strength through elevation as opposed to simply racking up the distance. I am looking forward to going back to this trail to summit when there is less snow.
I feel stronger. Slower, but stronger. I know in the long run it is better for my body (in light of my ankle injury). I don’t think my foot could handle 80K weeks, just yet. Slowly but surely I am healing.