We did it!

We did it!  We took the Kraken skiing for the first time.  We were unsure how it would go, since when we put the ski boots on his feet at home he would melt down.  But we figured we could at least take him to the hill to play in the snow.  We bought season passes to Nakiska, so we couldn't go wrong.  

To get past the boot disdain, we switched boots quickly at the base of the hill, quickly clicked him into skis and started pushing.  And he loved it!  He started laughing and smiling right away.

Over to the bunny hill and up and down we went.  Chris and I were in snow boots the whole time, we
left the ski gear at home.  This day was only about the Kraken.  We kept it super simple.  Just a few pushes up and down the hill.  Never letting go.  The little man is still in the floppy stage of things.  You let him go and he simply bends his knees and flops over.  So it's full parental support right now.

After a few pushes up and down, the smile was fading a bit so we pulled the ski boots off and romped in the snow for a little longer.  One more 5 minute stint on skis and we were inside for yoghurt and a little cookie.

I think we were at the hill for less than 2 hours, but overall I think it was a success.  Enough of a win that when the Lake Louise World Cup was on last weekend, he was riveted to the TV.  And when we saw a Resorts of the Canadian Rockies commercial I had to replay the powder skiing segment 3 times.  Yeah, maybe we've created a skiing bum!  

But one thing we remembered and will have to always keep at the front of our minds is that this is a long road.  Each time out can be 5 minutes or two hours.  But in the end his reaction, enthusiasm and overall enjoyment must lead the experience.  This one really isn't about us.  

I'm back...

I know I've been gone for along time, but summer got away from me.  I've recently started back to work after an extended leave with the Kraken.  I'm lucky enough to be working from home, so I still get lots of time with my little man, but have a few more restrictions on my time - no snow cough for me.  Oh well, structure is good, right?

But with these changes I'm also seeing a change of season, hello fall, which means ski season is quickly approaching.  Over the weekend I had a chance to attend a program offered by the Ski Cellar and RCR called "Women in Winter".  It's an all ladies event that offers a supportive environment to check out the latest gear and meet the product reps for the gear.  Not to mention lots of wonderful give aways!  Overall, it was a fun afternoon out that got me in the ski mindset.

We also took a big step this year and picked up season passes to Nakiska.  They were offering them for $200, so we didn't see how we could say no.  We even grabbed a pass for the Kraken.  Yep, we are planning on getting him onto the hill this year.  Sadly, it looks like his feet are too small for ski boots, so we might have to take trip to Canadian Tire and grab some plastic strap-on skis.  But, whatever works and gets him out there.  He loves the outside and asks to escape the house at 7:00am, so were thinking skiing might be a great winter answer to his love of fresh air.

This is just a quick post to let you know I'm back and that I look forward to filling you in on the gear I test out and nay other fun adventures I get up to in the coming months.  Stay tuned for the excitement!

Velco all the way, baby

Somehow time is flying by on this end and I missed posting last week.  Sorry for that.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been getting out running more and more all the time.  While the Garmin is great for keeping track of my run details, my runs would never happy without my stroller.  The one we grabbed, and I'm loving, is the my Velco Tri Mode EX stroller.  This stroller has a number of features that made it the one we selected all those months ago.

The first reason we selected it was that we knew it could take us from infancy to toddlerhood, to the possible addition of more kids.  To allow for infancy, the stroller seat back can lie flat so you can safely lay a tiny baby in there.  No, the baby doesn't face you, but there is a window in the cover that will allow you to see your baby.  There are two bassinet options (the Bassinet and the Husssh Bassinet) that you can buy that will allow the stroller to become more infant friendly, but we had no issues with the stroller the way it was - and the Kraken was a tiny guy when we started using it.  Because you can lie the baby flat, I was able to starting running with the boy at a young age.  Due to the lie flat position and the fact that he didn't have to support his head I was given the okay to run by our doctor early on, which was great for my fitness and mental happiness.

The stroller also has a wheel lock out option.  With the quick turn of a dial at the front of the stroller it goes from having a fully pivoting front wheel, to one that locks in place.  When locked in place the stroller is easier to control and makes running with it very easy.  I find that it keeps course well enough that more often than not I run with one hand pushing and guiding the stroller.

The stroller also comes with a large canopy.  This means that I can very easily keep the Kraken out of the sun on my runs at almost any time of the day.  There is a large under seat storage area that can fit a remarkable amount of stuff.  We walk to the store all the time and I can fit an impressive quantity of food in there.  There is also a pocket on the back of the stroller that it quiet large.  A great feature of this pocket is that it detaches.  And this serves two purposes.  One, you can quickly remove it to take valuables with with you.  The other feature is that there is mesh underneath the pocket.  So when you remove the pocket you create a vent that allows for a great cross-breeze to cool baby down on warm days.

Like any stroller the Tri Mode EX is rather heavy.  But I've not found it too bad.  Being allowed to run with him when he was younger and thus not as heavy, I've been able to build my strength slowly as the boy grows.  I didn't just all of a sudden have to start running with 20lb+ baby.

While I know many people run with a Chariot, I've been more than happy with my choice of the Velco and the many options that I has given.  From walking to running, to grocery shopping, this stroller has allowed me to do it all.  Take a look if you are in the market for a new stroller.  

Sun and runs

With the wonderful weather we've been having lately I've had the opportunity to fit in lots of runs.  I've been a runner for years now - all thanks to a tough trek in Peru that made me realize that I really needed to get into shape.  I've trained and run half-marathons, I've run 6 days a week, I've run longer and shorter distances, but through it all (including pregnancy and childbirth) I've continued to run.  I've found that it has become my stress relief and the thing I need to do for me and that makes me a happier and better wife, mother, friend, person.

These days I tend to run less and defiantly run less distance, but I still continue to run.  Most days I have the Kraken in a stroller and always have my dog, Mortimer, in tow.  Pushing the stroller, with the weight of that and the growing weight of the boy makes my runs harder and part of the reason I give myself the permission to run less distance.  But I still get out, and I'm thinking that's the key, right?

With my runs these days, there are two key elements that I can't leave home without.  These are my Garmin running watch and of course my stroller.

For my first mother's day, Chris bought me a Garmin Forerunner 610 - yep a sweet GSP watch.  I love this running watch!  While it's kind of big and this was one of my concerns, since I have small wrists, I have adjusted to it's size.  It's got a lot of great features, some I use, some I don't.  You can customize the number of pages and the information displayed on these pages.  The main page on my watch shows me the distance I've travelled.  It's remarkably accurate, as I tend to run the same routes, I mentally know the distances, but the 610, also tells me the elapsed time and the lap pace.  I like keeping an eye on the lap pace to see how my run is going and if I'm maintaining my pace.  I have other pages that display the average pace for the whole run and the average speed.  I can keep an eye on elevation, my heading and the accuracy of the GSP.  These are the options I've chosen to have my watch display, but there are a multitude more to select from.  You can even set a "race" up with a pace target setting.  Although that just seemed like too much pressure to me...

Another great feature is that the watch will auto-pause.  So I get stopped at a traffic light, or Mort is super interested in a pole, I don't have to worry about pausing the watch, it does it all on it's own.  The other feature that sold me on this watch was the it has a biking option.  With a quick button hold, the watch switches over and can be used on my bike.  Again, there are a multitude of options that you can have your watch display for you.

And in the end you quickly upload the information onto the Garmin Connect website so you can track your workouts.  The site shows all the details of your run, gives you the opportunity to add in more information if you so desire (weather, temperature, etc.), and displays a map of your workout.  You can also add in other actives that the watch doesn't monitor - skiing, weight lifting, swimming, skating, etc.

Overall, this watch has become a great companion to my workouts and I think has helped give me positive feedback on how my runs are progressing.  If you're a runner and looking for a new GSP watch, seriously consider this one.  I have really enjoyed it.

The Start of Hiking Season

With the end of ski season comes the start of hiking season.  And we made sure to get started right away. Chris, the Kraken, and I headed out for our first hike of the year.

We decided to do the Fullerton Loop, just outside Bragg Creek.  We started the day with a good, simple lunch at the Cinnamon Spoon in Bragg Creek.  I'm loving their BLT on a bagel right now...   They have a lot of other fresh yummy options - from sandwiches, to treats, to a multitude of brewed beverages.  This is a super popular spot for road cyclists that make Bragg Creek their destination - so it can be hopping when you arrive.  But, I still find service to be fast and well worth the short wait.

We than took the quick drive down to the road to park at Allen Bill day area.  The hike has changed since last years major flooding in Alberta, but they have done a good job of rerouting and marking the trail.  Overall, the hike is about 6km round trip.

Since the Kraken is just learning to walk, he was stuffed into a backpack.  We have gone with the MEC child carrier.  The one I've linked to is not quiet the one we use - ours is an older version.  But we have found that it's a pack that both Chris and I can carry with ease.  It's easy to adjust for our different sizes and the little guy is pretty happy and able to view the world from his perch on our backs.

As I said, the hike has changed a bit since the floods, but this comes in mainly with the start of the hike.  Instead of starting along the river, you use the crosswalk by the entrance to Allen Bill. From there you follow the newly marked path through the woods.  The Loop itself sustained no damage in the floods.

Part of the reason that we selected this hike is that we have done it in the past and know it to be an straightforward loop.  We tend to take the left fork when doing the loop.  This leads to a steady uphill along a hill side.  This allows for some amazing views of the valley below.  Tough with a baby on your back, but also very doable.  Once at the top of the climb there is some rolling landscape, before heading back down through the trees.  There is the option to continue uphill for another viewpoint.  We have done this in the past, but with the added weight of the Kraken and being the first hike of the year, I didn't feel up to tackling the added climb.  

As we hiked we realized that we were not the only family to consider this a good starter hike, as well as a child friendly one.  We passed a huge number of families on this hike.  From tiny babies, to toddlers in packs, to young kids making the hike on their own.  We even came across a women 7 months pregnant (brave, what?!)  We found families of all varieties.

It was a great start to our hiking season and hopefully the first of many hikes.  If you're in the area and looking for a pretty, enjoyable and family friendly hike, consider the Fullerton Loop.  You wont be sorry that you did.

Good-bye 2013/14 Ski Year

We have officially come to the end of the 2013/14 ski year here.  It was a long year with lots of great snow.  Looking back I can't believe how many times I got out considering we had the Kraken in tow every time.  But he was a trooper right to the end and allowed us to get some great turns in.  Our last day at Sunshine was a quiet day, so the lifty offered to let the wee one and Chris ride to the top and explore for a bit.  An adventure both loved.

I was super lucky to have had the opportunity to test out so many skis and many other items of ski gear.  The local reps and my local shop (the Ski Cellar) were great at making sure I got to test gear and gave me any opportunity they could to expose me to the latest and greatest gear.

So now I look to the summer and plot my off snow adventures.  There is a trip to Nova Scotia to see my family for sure.  Lots of biking and running.  I'm sure a few weekend trips closer to home, as well as many hiking outings.  All I know for sure is that I will be outside.  The Kraken wakes in the morning and asks to go out before he's even eaten breakfast.  But regardless of the adventures I promise to continue filling you in on the blog.  I'm sure the shift will be more to family and Kraken adventures, but stay tuned and I'll do my best to keep you entertained.  And I'll be sure to start next ski season with lots of tips, gear and fun adventure.  

Thanks for your support for this ski season and for checking out the blog.      

Spring has Sprung at Sunshine Village

Lookout Mountain and Goat's Eye in the background

Spring has finally arrived in the Rocky Mountains. We have had the chance to get out a few times in the last couple of weeks to enjoy the great conditions.

Just this past week we spent Mother's Day on the hill. We had an amazing blue bird sky, temperatures around 0^oC, snow that softened up as the day went on, but never became slushy.

Skiing the Dive

We're very lucky to ski at a hill that runs such a long season. While there are a number of great hills in the area near us, we call Sunshine Village Ski Resort home. This is a hill that offers wonderfully variable terrain for all ability levels. Sunshine offers a kiddy zone with a magic carpet for the little ones just starting out. There is also a day care for the little ones not yet on skis. Sunshine offers an entire chair (Strawberry chair) that services a great grouping of green runs – perfect for the beginner of any age. All other chairs offer a range of terrain, from green runs to blacks and double blacks. I have skied here with friends that stick to greens, while we head off for some tree runs and then meet at the chair no problem. It's really easy to accommodate all ability levels within a group and ensures that everyone is having fun.

Sunshine also has a number of distinct regions with in the hill. There's the main are, where the lodge, hotel and other building are, but there is also Goat's Eye. This area has great terrain, including the South Chutes, which are a super fun double black are to play in. A little open bowl and little tree skiing. Amazingly fun area! Beyond this they have two controlled areas that can only be accessed if you have PEEPs, shovels and probes. These are Delirium Dive and WildWest. I've not had the chance to ski WildWest, but I can tell you that the Dive is beyond fun. There are a few drop in points, all giving you access to superb skiing. Wide open bowls the whole way. There is a risk of avalanche, but they to control for it, unfortunately not like they can within the resort proper. So only enter with the required gear and if you know how to use it.

Chris and I in the Dive a few years ago

Outside of skiing they have a wonderful hotel. We stayed there for our wedding – yes, we got married at Sunshine. Words can express what a fantastic job they did with our wedding. They were very accommodating and went out of their way to ensure that we had a marvellous day. Chris even skied the day of the wedding. And we both hit first chair the next day. The hotel has undergone some renovations in recent years and is super nice. Prices often include lift pass as well and there are great mid-week deal to be found. A great place for a little get away.

There is not much to do up there during the evening, but they do have amazing food, a bar and a breath taking hot tub available. So if you desire world class skiing and quiet evenings, you will love the vibe at Sunshine.

All in all, we are super happy to have this as our home hill and never get tired of the terrain that it offers up. Check it out if you ever get the chance, you wont be sorry.