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Published: August 27th 2007
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Day 4 - Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Heli-Hiking in the Tantalus Range:
OK, every day of this trip was a great adventure, but if I had to pick my favorite day (reference to the One Game we played on Day 2 - "what is the one..."), this day had to be my favorite because I had never done anything like this before and everything was perfect...the weather conditions, the itinerary, and most importantly, the company. For me, part of being outside is taking in the environment around you and fully appreciating the landscape, smells, and sounds. But it becomes more significant when you're able to share that experience with the right group of people. This day was an epic one for me and so I would like to shout out a special 'thank you' to my friends who were there with me and who made it an experience I will never forget.
Today, our goal was to reach the summit of Mt. Thyestes (elevation 5512'). In total, our trek would take 4.5 hours to complete. Before this day, I thought the hike would be the easiest of all because the helicopter did all the hard stuff and dropped us
View of Landing Spot from the Helicopter
OK, so where exactly are we going to land? off at the top. However, we were up on a ridgeline where there was no marked trail. But thanks to our oh so fabulous guide (and friend), Norm, we were able to pick our way up and over rocks and across huge patches of snow.
After a smooth ride up to the Tantalus Range, and after the helicopter left I took a moment to enjoy the silence and the peacefulness at the top. And, it really was just a brief moment because the next thing I knew, Elizabeth was being assaulted by mosquitoes and continued to be attacked all throughout the trip.
So, we plodded on...up and over rocks. Again, using the basic rock climbing techniques to maneuver our way along the ridgeline. Yesterday, we had chains to hang on to when the path got precarious and a little narrow (sometimes non-existent). Today, we had plants and little trees. I felt like a little kid scrambling along that ridgeline...what a hoot! It was way too much fun! And, of course, we succumbed to our inner child and had a couple of snowball fights...(and we got tired of Norm egging us on about our poor shots). Note to self...revenge
Give it up to da West Coast
Black Tusk is in the background and is a large basaltic spire that is the remains of an old volcano. That's another adventure for another time. is mine when ski season comes around...bwah ha ha ha (evil laugh here).
Maneuvering through the snow fields was fun too. On some of the down slopes, Kirsten used her own technique called the 'Stolle Slide'....yeah, she slid down the snow on her ass. She's probably going to hate me for writing it, but it's my blog and she can cry if she wants to. Elizabeth just kept moving because she was still trying to escape the mosquitoes that continued to hover around her. Actually, both Kirsten and Elizabeth did awesome considering the footwear they had on. They probably expended double the energy trying to keep from sliding down and their momentum moving forward. Norm, once again, gracefully worked his way up, around, and through the obstacles like it was nothing...but, then again, that's why he's leading the hike and we're not.
But, we did it! We made it back to the pick-up spot with 1/2 hour to spare. But, no rest for the weary (or is it the wicked). Nope, we dropped our packs at the landing spot and hustled as best as we could across the snow to see Lake Lovely. And, it was....LOVELY (tee hee).
While we were out there, we saw the helicopter and so we worked our way back across the huge snow field...after 4.5 hours, it looked immense with an uphill finish to boot! So, as I struggled to keep from slipping and moved along as best as I could to keep moving forward, Norm makes like a mountain goat and springs up to the helicopter...probably to beg the pilot to rescue him from the crazy ladies from San Francisco. Yeah, whatever...like I said before...what a punk :-))
Awesome, awesome day!! But, the fun didn't end there. That night, Norm bbq'ed a coho salmon that he had caught up on the north coast (Fawcett Point). Yummy...can't beat fresh salmon (nicely done, Norm!) We paired it with my new favorite BC wine - a Cedar Creek Estate Select Pinot Noir 2005...scrumptious! Finally, on to our campfire up the river for dessert - s'mores and banana boats though I didn't get to my banana boats. Too busy refilling my wine glass (tee hee).
Yeah, not a bad day...
Once again, the link to all the pictures from my trip if you're interested. You will have to manually cut and paste the
URL: http://activechick415.smugmug.com/gallery/3351158/1/188106444
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