First I checked my rearview mirror. Then I slowed down to about 15 below the recommended speed limit of 90 km/hour. It was early and the highway was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday morning.
I wanted to take my time and soak in the wintry wonderland. I was early so I had the time. Lately I had been thinking about the short time we have on earth. Too often we rush through our days to check off another item on our ‘to do’ lists.
I am guilty of tuning out on my drives in the mountains especially when it’s early and the coffee hasn’t completely kicked in yet. This morning, however, I was instantly taken back by the sheer whiteness on both sides of the highway. Truly it was like I was driving through a postcard. I forget how fortunate I am to live so close to the mountains. I take it for granted especially when I chat to someone out east who has never been here or to the heights I have climbed.
Bottom line? Let’s slow down. Take a closer look of what is in front of you. Soak it up. Appreciate.
No doubt the deep freeze kept the crowds away from Hwy 66 this morning. The extreme wind chill values had come to an end in most of Alberta but it was still bone-chilling cold. This morning was promising to be somewhere between -23C and -26C.
The day before I decided I needed to get out of the city and my building. This past week was a struggle. I was in my head too much and I felt completely claustrophobic. I noticed on the MeetUp app that a few members of CTR planned to do Prairie 2x. Almost immediately I clicked the attend button. I needed to do something that was mindless and required little to no planning.
Now I knew I would be fine with doing one summit. Heck I just did it last week. I wasn’t entirely sure my body would hold up to the second climb. But I am headstrong and if I say I am going to do something, I will do it. Even if I had to build an igloo and wait in it until my legs came around that’s what I would do.
Thankfully I did not have to put my igloo-building skills to the test. There were only four of us from the MeetUp group that did the challenge. I was under no illusions that I would keep up with the organizer and his speedy friend but I was just happy to be part of something. I needed a good challenge, and to get out of this Groundhog Day movie-reality.
The first climb was as fine as it usually is. When we started I thought, there’s no way I am doing this a second time. Prairie Mountain is a tough grunt, and it sucks 99 per cent of the time. Nobody does it because it’s a walk in the park. It’s all about the elevation.
Running down I let all the stress of the climbing and the week dissolve from my shoulders. Yes I would climb again even if it took me all day (and a nap in an igloo).
I won’t lie to you. The second climb was a pure struggle. I don’t know how many times I stopped to catch my breath. I don’t know what was wrong with me. Wait. I do. I am so out of mountain shape. I wasn’t listening to music or a podcast since Barry was within shouting distance and I thought it would be rude to listen to something. Although we barely spoke because we were both struggling at certain sections.
Then it was all downhill. Spirits lifted we just wanted to get down from the crisp wind at the summit. Other than the usual wind at the top, it wasn’t as cold as we thought it would be. Before the second climb, Barry had shedded some clothes and changed footwear. Not me. I wasn’t taking any chances.
Both quads were complaining on the second climb and even more on the descent. I would be hurting later that night for sure. I kept saying to myself – this is only one more kilometre or only 10 minutes more of my life or whatever. I can do anything with this mindset.
We’re in for a stretch of good running weather starting on Monday. I could have waited the cold weather out. But Saturday was just what I needed – with its frigid temperatures and tough challenge – to prove that I can do hard things. I think we all need to reminded of this now and then especially when we are feeling low and fed up with this pandemic.
How was your weekend? Did you get outside? Do you ever feel like you are driving through a postcard scene? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
When it is cold and I mean only-10, I like to take Yuki walking in the woods. We go to the dog park mostly around Four and twilight is my most favourite to be out. The winter sky is amazing. I enjoy your blog, Crystal. Got to say climbing mountains not in my future. Jean
Thanks for dropping by! Glad you are getting out and moving. This pandemic has been a long haul.
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