Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Packed up our gear for flying it out. Chatted with the Lodge owner/manager? Claude. He was the course safety guy for EcoChallenge BC, and then worked on the Morocco, Argentina, Borneo, New Zealand and Fiji races. Cool. Small world. And on our first night at the campground, we ended up socializing with two separate groups of hikers, one of whom we thought looked familiar (he had done Race the Rockies) and another girl has done MOMAR and spoke of the fast solo male winner who had some super skinny racing kayak (surf ski)... Maybe we know him...
Our run out with the group was a faster pace at first but this slowed down a little and than one gal sprained an ankle, and then the other, but continued running. I added company to the misery by spraining my ankle. Gave it a minute, walked a little and then started running again.
Again, so scenic. Definitely worth going both in and out this way, rather than right through and out by Bryant Creek / Mount Shark (and the logistics are sure simpler, without arranging car drops or shuttles). Weather was great, a little cooler than on the way in.
Took the gondola down which was really enjoyable and ended the day on a nice note, rather than enduring the 7 km down the fire road.
A great day and such a great weekend.

C • Awesome Weekend! 10

Wild storms last night, didn't get much sleep. Loud hail on the tent, ear plugs weren't enough to block the noise. Thunder and lightening that got really close and got frightening. Finally got some sleep toward morning, so we slept in, had breakfast, packed up camp to move into the cabin, it all made for a late start but we weren't looking for a big day, given the run in yesterday and the run out tomorrow.
Hiked to the Wonder Pass Viewpoint to see the views in that direction because we wouldn't be going out this way. Thus, we would get to see the nice scenery on this side without having to endure all of the fire road running From Bryant Creek shelter to the Mount Shark parking lot. The views of Marvel Lake were quite impressive - that amazing colour that you see at Moraine Lake, but with only 4 other people there. Got caught in some rain and hail off and on during this hike.

Sunshine Village to Mount Assiniboine for a three-day weekend with Carbon, and meeting up with a bunch of friends from Canmore Trail Culture running group.
Took the bus up the ski out road, then did a nice steady jog all day, fast-hiked the uphills. Took a nice lunch break and another short snack break. Such a nice day, it got warm and you sure appreciated a breeze when you found it, but it wasn't stupid hot. Scenery was amazing all the way, there wasn't a single kilometre that was boring. So much of it really did rival many of the most scenic trail races in the world.
Ran in with the Salomon Skin packs, and flew our camping gear in by helicopter. So cool to be able to do this, so fun, have to find other opportunities like this to do a big run and not have to haul a lot of gear (still hauled almost as much as for UTMB: tights, icebreaker top, rainshell, toque, gloves, rain overgloves, space blanket, first aid kit, headlamp, phone, food, water).
Stayed in the Lake Magog campground the first night, and stayed in the Naiset huts the second night when some friends had left and we were able to grab their spots. Slice read us all a bedtime story. So campy :). A fun crew

Hot! But nice :)
To CNC with Carbon to practice some bike handling and then took Tom (from run club) up on his invite to stop by after for a drink and visit with him and Heather. Beautiful evening.
Now getting ready to run and hike to Mount Assiniboine tomorrow.

16.3

Rebound bike shop group ride, Canmore Nordic Centre. Lots of stops and waiting to regroup, so not a huge workout but still good to get out and nice that these rides are so welcoming to everyone, no pressure. The group did split a little and one slower guy rode with one of the other ride ambassadors.

Big electronic signs have been put out on the road saying "Expect to see bears". We felt short-changed when we didn't see one ;)
Lots of trails closed at the Nordic centre, blocked with tape that made it easy to tell where you could ride and where you couldn't. The guy from the shop knows the trails so well that he maneuvered us around everything and still linked together a bunch of good trails and we had a good ride.

My downhilling and cornering sucked at first, so I slowed it down, practiced the stuff we were taught and it started to improve again.
A fun ride, a fun group, and when I pushed hard my legs could feel yesterday's workouts so I wasn't too disappointed that this wasn't a big night. Always fun to get out and again the scary looking skies didn't rain on us.

C • bears 1

C • bears 2

With Carbon and Annie. Rode Horseshoe out to G8. Couldn't go far on G8 before it was blocked with signs about the mining that has extended toward Canmore. Ironically, these trails on the eastern end were closed for half of every year to leave the wildlife undisturbed. This section of trail was the best riding in the area with an old school feel to it and some fun little raw technical challenges.
On the way back, we turned earlier than usual and found a fantastic descent loaded with berms. Definitely the route to choose again everytime. Really fun and flowy.

Distance is estimated.
Canmore Trail Culture group run. A great turn out. Split into three groups. Went with the half-caff group led by Emily who set a pace that was just a little slower than the caffeinated group. Across Horseshoe and G8, and up G9. Plenty of climbing. G9 feels like it goes and goes. Hung out at the top, then continued on the loop but were soon turned back by new No Trespassing signs for the blasting in the new mining area. No more loop option available, such a shame.
A beautiful warm evening.