The Urban Slide

Yesterday didn't look like it was going to be great...weather wise that is.  The sky was grey and looked like it was going to rain...not that we could complain really as the summer has been amazing.

It has been hot and sunny every day...the weather has pretty much been perfect.  In fact, it's been a pretty perfect summer so far.  However we have been spoiled and we were expecting perfect weather, but either way we were still going through with our plans. The Urban Slide...a
200 ft long slip and slide...how amazing is that!  It was set up down one of the side streets in Meaford.  What else do a bunch of mid-thirty-somethings do on a Saturday?

We picked up our tickets and walk in through the gates.  We were super stoked as soon as we saw it!  This was going to be great...this was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday.  But first,  the beer tent!

We had more than a few drinks and had something to eat...we of course can't do anything without a couple of drinks in us - and then headed to the line up.

The line up was brutal.   We waited for an hour...an hour without anything to drink and surrounded  by little kids.  We did everything to keep ourselves entertained and just took random photos of us posing.  We had to remind ourselves that there were children around and make sure to filter our language though it was more difficult for some than others.         

The slide itself was a lot of fun.  The guys forgot they had their phones on them so they had to go all the way down holding it in their t-shirt praying they didn't get wet. I laughed all the way down.  I am pretty light so I went fast and just bounced off the sides.  Then, it was done.

When we got to the bottom we looked back at the the line and it had doubled.  We didn't want to spend the whole day in the beer tent as we had to drive back so we left.... a bit disappointed to be honest.  We were so excited and had spent money for our tickets and it was nothing like the advertisement.

On our way back the guys decided to go to Wasaga Beach (a half hour past Collingwood.)  I was so hungry or should I say hangry  (so hungry I was angry) that I wanted to stop and get Tim Horton's but I was told wee would eat in Wasaga.  To my disappointment, when we arrived at our friends house in Wasaga the guys then decided to go back to Collingwood and eat. Ughh.  At this point I was FUNGRY - FUCKING ANGRY BECAUSE I WAS SO HUNGRY!!!  One of our buddies was going to hop in the back with me but when he opened the door and saw my mood he decided it was in his best interest to take his own car.   Hahaha, it's true though, I was not in a good mood.  I hadn't eaten all day and we drank in the beer tent....FEED ME PLEASE!!!

We finally got to a restaurant but we ordered everything to share (for 5 people) so it wasn't enough for me hahaha.  It was a blast though,  we laughed so hard because our one buddy was just on a roll.  It felt good to laugh after being so moody.

The rest of the night went as our nights usually did, music and lots to drink with me being the first one to go to bed.

All in all it was a fun day.  There is another Urban Slide next month.  I asked the guys if they wanted to go....they said NO!

An Adventurous Birthday!

This year, instead of partying for my Birthday I really wanted to change things up.  Mum and I usually go for lunch to celebrate our joint day but we go for lunch quite often so it wouldnt be special.  So I thought and thought and then I said "Mum, how do you feel about ziplining?"  So that's what we did.

We booked an Eco Tours Adventure up on the mountain.  The day included, 2 ziplines, a treetop walk, tractor ride, scenic caves,  a walk on the suspension trip and some history of the area.  I was super stoked!   I have lived here for 11 years and have never been to the scenic caves or done any of the touristy stuff.  H
aving a job where I don't have to work weekends has really allowed me to take advantage of living in the area.

We arrived at 9:30am, got dressed in all our gear and headed to the first stop on the tour, the suspension bridge.

It was high up but I was alright,  my vertigo wasn't to bad at all, even when one of our guides to decided to shake it. I wanted to tell her to stop but I sucked it up and kept walking.

We hopped in a wagon which then took us to the next stop on our tour, the tree top walk.

We were the last group to go as we wanted to move slow, and with it being high up I didn't want to feel like I was holding a big group of people up.   I was the first one in our group, which I wasn't overly keen on but for the second time that day I sucked it up and took the lead.

 It actually wasn't that bad...or so I thought in the beginning.  It didn't seem too high up and my constant argument with heights didn't seem to be happening.  "This is going to be easy and a little boring"  I thought to myself.  Right Emmie, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

It was going pretty smooth and I made it to the first platform without freaking out.  Sweet, for once in my life I can do these things and make it through without hesitation and holding every one else up.  Ha ha way wrong!!!

The next part started out just as smoothly but didnt last that way for very long.  The 10 inch wide platform started angling up at 45 degrees and there was no platform at the next change over, it was just in between two trees.  I froze.  Fuck! " Mom!" I yell back.  I don't think I can do this!!  I looked behind me.  I didn't want to hold up my group as they were getting closer.  I looked ahead of me ohhh, why do I always do this to myself! With shaking knees I slowly put one foot in front of the other and held on to the sidde ropes for dear life.  The more  the platform inclined the more I shook. Look straight ahead Em, don't look down or behind you just keep moving forward.  That's it one foot in front of the other.  That's it; that's it.  Yes.  I made it.  I let out a deep breath, I was at the change over.  I just had to switch my ropes over to the next line.  Hmmm....the first switch there was a platform but this one is in between two trees.  Me and heights is one thing but the thought of having to let go is not something I was keen on.   "Mom, can you  help me?"  She comes up behind me  "You okay?"  "Yes, I just don't want to let go to switch to the other line."



Selfie moment ....







































It went on like this for about an hour, though it leveled off at one point and didn't get any higher thank goodness; and when my heart started to slow down and my knees stopped shaking I took a look around.   It was beautiful.   We were up in the trees,  green all around us.  It was quiet, and peacful with little bits of light trying to make it's way through the trees.   It's always worth pushing myself, even when I am scared shitless it is always worth it and I never regret it.

We both made it through  the walk in one piece....Mom did amazing.  I think that is why I pushed myself and didn't freak out as much a I normally would.  I mean I did but it was more internal...I wasn't as vocal.  I wanted to be brave for her as she is not used to doing this stuff and I wanted her to feel safe.  She didn't even hesitate when the treetop walk finished with a small zipline!!!

The next part of the tour we had a bit of a background on the natives that lived in Collingwood and then from there we went over to the scenic caves.   I was pretty stoked to see the scenic caves as I have never been to them.   We didn't spend much time there as it was just a small tour through them but I was pretty impressed.  It really amazes me sometimes that I travel all over the world and some of the coolest most beautiful things are in my own country or in the case my own backyard.   I definitely want to go back to the caves and do a full tour.

The last part of our excursion ended with a zip line though this one was quite a bit bigger than the first one.

Surprisingly I wasn't nervous...I was actually pretty stoked!  Mom was pretty calm.  "

You okay mom?"  

"yup"  

"Are you nervous?" 

 "No,  I'm actually pretty excited!"

I couldn't believe this was my mom.   This is so out of her element yet she was such a team player and was more relaxed than i expected!   I was super proud of her.

Now it's my turn.  They strapped me in.  Instead of waiting and holding my breath and saying "oh no, I don't think I can do this"  I hoped off the platform and let myself go.

Woohoo it was awesome and so not scary.   I was above the trees and able to see everything around me.   I was even brave enough to let go and take a selfie while racing along.  

I was disappointed it had to end...what a ride.  I unlatched myself and waited as I knew mom wouldn't be far behind me.  I thought I could see her, a little speck just through the trees...and then...very faint off in the distance and then louder and louder I could hear "woooooohoooooooo!"  She broke through the trees!
"That was so much fun."  She said.
It sure was.  Thanks for a great adventure.  Happy Birthday Momma Bear!

 Maybe next year we can go sky diving!!!

                                                                                                           - My Beautiful Life -

The Slopes

                                           (me enjoying a sunny day on the slopes)


I can't believe I have been home over a year....it's crazy.   You know what else is crazy?  This winter season.   Seriously...I think Mother Nature has gotten a little confused.   We didn't get snow till basically New Years Eve...it was pretty much fall up until then....we were still hiking in running shoes and hoodies,  but the snow did come....late...but it arrived and then left just as quickly.

I'm not saying we didn't have a winter season...we totally did...and I was stoked!   I had totally missed having a snowy winter last year in Peru - not complaining about spending my days around the pool - especially spending the winter before at Big White.

I had some pretty awesome days out on the slopes.  The first day was a lot of fun.  I met up with a friend from work and we ended up running into heaps of people from work.  Every time more and more joined our group we were like "is there actually anyone working today?"


We were out all day!  We rode from one side of the mountain to the other...it was great.  It felt so good to ride, get my muscles working and clear my head.  I rode mostly the green hills and didnt go through the glades or anything....it was my first day back out in about two seasons (last year was only end of season when I got back) so I wanted to take it easy and get used to my boarding legs.  Plus ...my board was freshly waxed and I was flying down the hills....man it felt awesome!  No one was in a rush and got upset when they had to wait for someone to catch up (usually me), everyone was chill and rode leisurely...we honestly had no cares in the world that day.   We went for drinks and burgers at one of the bars at the bottom of North side -  its Blue Mountains' first/original bar and one of my favourites.  The live music in there is always awesome,  the service is good,  the food and the drinks are cheap and the vibe is always the best.  We ate,  drank a pint, did a shot, drank another pint, drank two more shots, ordered a pitcher, did a few more shots....you get the picture. Definitely not the best idea when we still had to get back out on the hill and make our way to central....we all made it in one piece.   It was a great day!



I got one night of night riding in which was pretty sweet and not busy at all.   I pretty much only rode The Orchard this season.   Its the newer runs that opened two seasons ago and they are awesome and hardly as busy as everywhere else.  I don't know why....to me it's the best part to ride yet its never packed. Except Friday mornings when they have ski school.

Anyways the one night I got out was really nice - I again went with a friend from work.   It was f@#%ing cold though....obviously we are super warm in our gear but it doesnt mean that you dont get a chill....and it's always colder on the chair lift.   It was bearable as long as I didnt have to take my gloves off for an extended amount of time - 30 seconds.   Night boarding seems more relaxed and the surroundings just seem more....oh I dont know...its hard to explain but its a different feel.

There was this one area of trees that is right next to the snowblower so the trees get a blanket of snow that hangs and and droops the tree....it reminded me of a fresh powder fall at Big White - and the moon was a big ball of bright white sitting perfectly centred over the trees...I felt like I was in a different world and not in my backyard at Blue Mountain.


                                                                                                         - My Beautiful Life -

The Normal Life

Well, its almost 8 months since I have arrived back home.  It (of course as it always is) a little difficult in the beginning; adjusting from backpacker life to regular life takes a bit of getting used to but the adjustment was short lived and I have settled back into life quite willingly and comfortably.

It was a bit of a culture shock coming back to North America. I was no longer a gringa which was a weird feeling.  I had a 6 hour layover in Texas.  As I walked through the airport the strangest feeling came over me.  No one was staring at me.  Being a gringa down South people always stare  at you no matter where you are; if you are a blond gringa it happens even more.  As I walked the I notice d that people were just walking by me,  bumping into me and not even really paying attention to me.  I thought there was something wrong with me...seriously....it was the first time in months that I was getting honked at or nudged, kissed at, stared at or followed...I was just a regular North American.  I even had to adjust my hearing and listening...why could I understand everything?  It took a few seconds...everything was in English,  the signs and the chitter chatter of the passing people.  It was strange how |I had to get used to hearing and reading English signs again.  Talk about a culture shock.

A few weeks after I got home a travel friend (Jorge - we worked together in Mancora) came to visit.  It was such a different experience having someone from another Country come to your country for the first time.   He was so excited about everything, the people, the food, the drinks, Tim Hortons,  Walmart and  being able to use his English.  I don't think I ever saw him without a smile for the three days that he was here.  Not only that...like I mentioned earlier....there is always an adjustment period returning home after living like a nomad for a period of time so having a friend visit from my travels was like holding on to a memory, a time shared that only others get to read about in blogs. It was awesome and we were all sad when he had to leave.  He promised to return in the summer but his plans changed and a return visit didn't fit into his schedule.   Travelers, we always make plans but nothing is set in stone, its a tough life lol.

Jorge's first visit to Tim Hortons...look at his excitement!

Jorge decked out in all his free Canadian attire...he wanted the full experience.

I know I haven't written.  I had a friend ask me "why don't you write your blogs when you get back home." My answer, well,  I don't want to bore you.   I hate writing a blog when I have nothing interesting to share.  I like you all to think that my life is amazing and full of adventure at all times.  How would you all feel if you knew I actually do have a normal life that can be boring....where is the fun in that? However...it's true..my life has been pretty normal since returning home, though normalcy has been good, great actually.

I had a job the day after I returned home.  It's my old job, back at the restaurant (at Blue Mountain Village) in the prep kitchen.  I couldn't complain as it was nearing the end of the winter season so there were slim pickings on job opportunities, plus it was  a stress free position and after months of working in the hostel I needed a bit of a break from dealing with people on a day to day basis. Though after of couple months, I trained as a server so I can now fill in when they need someone to cover shifts. I am also working late nights on the weekends when we become a night club.  I work the bottle service/vip section and after a month, was promoted to Lead VIP which is going great.  I worked heaps of hours over the summer, sometimes I didn't have days off for two weeks at a time, but I enjoy being a normal person who gets a pay check every two weeks so I was never bothered by the hours .

My social life has been almost non-existent, work has taken up so much of my time.  Like I said, being back into a normal lifestyle is great, but I really wanted to (try to) enjoy  the summer whenever I was lucky enough to have a free day.  Summer was amazingly hot, sometimes unbearable, but I love the heat and really wanted to enjoy a summer at home.

Though not as often as I would have liked, I did get some really great days in.  Some were spent in our backyard basking in the sun while taking in a few drinks and nights were spent sitting in our backyard enjoying a bonfire while again enjoying drinks.

I spent a day at a friend's (from work) pool.  We were lucky to have a great sunny super hot day.  Day's off could be rainy and cloudy,  sometimes the best ones seemed to be the days we were working.   It was chilled out and nice.   We lounged, listened to music, (of course) had drinks and relaxed on pool floaties.  I had purchased a 3 person raft that looks like a huge cinnabun and lounged on that with my Caesar.  The dogs even came for a float.  We finished the day off with trivia night at one of the local bars.

One of my closest friends Heather is a manager at work, and she also does the schedule.  She booked me off for two days (which were her days off as well)  and went to her family's  cottage for a few days which was a well needed mini vacation.   Its up in Honey Harbour in the Muskoka's.   It's right on the water which is where we spent most of our time.  The first day we laid out on their massive 12 person raft with her sister (who I hadn't seen in quite a few years).  It was a perfect way to just relax while - of course - enjoying some drinks.

Me half asleep and still holding on to my drink....classic!

The next day we spent out on the floating dock.  Beer,  sun umbrella's, chairs, music a boat and a wakeboard.  I hadnt been on a wakeboard in years or gone swimming in our fresh water in a few summers.  To me it's one of the best feelings in the world, jumping in fresh water lakes.  It's refreshing, it makes me feel alive in a way nothing else does...it felt so good.  I was having such a great time in the water and on the wakeboard.  I was pretty impressed with myself actually.  I got up no problems and chilling out riding the wake until I wiped out....face first.  My feet flew right out of the wakeboard bindings.  As Im just getting my head above water I hear "the board flew right off!"  Yup, that was enough for me,  I was exhausted and kind of hurt my face and head from the impact.

We spent the rest of the day out on the seadoo, exploring the area, getting ice cream and doing a liquor run.  However after two days of sunshine, fun and board games we were all quite tired and went to bed at around 10:30. Boy, we are all getting old.

My best buddy Brandon has a sailboat.   We had big plans for it this summer.  We took it out of storage and cleaned it from top to bottom,  scrubbing, dusting, rinsing, vacuuming and it was so hot, I would say probably one of the hottest days.   We said that we were going to get out as much as possible.  We didnt want to work all summer like we usually do, we wanted to actually make time to enjoy living in a tourist town.  People always say "wow it must be great living up here, there is so much to do!"  Ya if we actually got to enjoy ourselves as much as people think we do...we work too much.  We were positive though about having heaps of time,  we even planned a sailing trip.   We got out 4 times on the boat.  Not what we were planning and we even had to forgo on our sailing trip.  However the days we did get out were great.   The last time I got out on the boat was end of July...or should I say we attempted to go out on it.   We took it out for about a half hour and decided to turn back to the harbour.   It was so windy from a passing storm and there was a second one off in the distance - thank God I don't get seasick, it was pretty choppy.  The wind was worse in the harbour making it more than impossible to get the boat docked in it's slip.  We had to park across from its regular spot on another dock.  It took three of us two hours to get it tied up and covered with the screens.  No damage to us though we did smash some of the 2x4's on the lower part of the dock.  Plus I couldnt do much...I would've been pulled into the water from the force of the wind ...it was intense.   So much for a nice relaxing day on the boat lol.   We did get to relax at around 4pm and we went out on the boat around 12:30 so it took awhile for the relaxation opportunity to come around...and all the spiders on the boat were making me jumpy.  They were everywhere.   One half the size of my hand crawled across Brandon's hat - which he was wearing.  His dad went to grab it and it landed on his face...ughh...so gross.  Brandon said "oh well" got it off his face and threw it overboard.  Yuck yuck yuck.  I can travel the world solo but am still afraid of spiders...go figure.

Being home is great,  I love all the time I have been spending with my family and friends.  It feels good to have an everyday normal life and I have been able to focus quite a bit, clear my head and think about where I want to be, what I want to do.  Though it can be difficult at times.  I have noticed some changes in myself personally.  I was always an open person ready and willing to talk to whom ever,  trust everyone, confide in everyone; but it's not like that anymore.  I have found that traveling on my own has made me extremely private.  I have gotten so used to taking on the world on my own that I have a tendency not to open up and chitter chatter the way I used to.  I'm quieter,  I steer clear from drama...I avoid it at all costs.  I feel it's something that I dont need and have been a long time without. Not that you don't get some of it traveling but its a different kind and  are always able to pick up and walk away.  I have a handful of friends that I hang out with that I love deeply, though I do spend a lot of time on my own. If something is bothering me or I'm upset about something I find myself dealing with it silently instead of crying on someones shoulder.  I guess when you have gone through heartache and heartbreak on the other side of the world it just feels awkward to tell other people how you are feeling.  Sometimes I feel like I am keeping my loved ones at arms length, maybe it's because I feel like they don't understand me or that they are too busy with their own things in life - which is ok.  Or, maybe I am just used to people being in and out of my life so quickly that fully opening up to someone now just isn't something I"m up for.  I dont know.  I do question if I want to keep traveling and maybe put down some roots instead.  I guess I"m at the point in my life where settling down doesn't seem so bad and scary after all.  Most of my friends are settled into lives, careers, marriage and babies and honestly it can be difficult to feel connected with them sometimes as I am on such a different life path that I feel finding commonalities to be difficult.  I look at them - sometimes with envy - thinking I want that, I'm ready; but then that urge gurgles and my skin tingles.  It's like the word wanderlust is just rushing through my veins.  It's confusing and makes it challenging for me to make a decision.

I'm not gonna lie...I am itching to leave again, and have already started researching for my next trip (doesnt mean I will go)  and am applying for a teaching position overseas (you will have to wait for location on that).   However I have decided to extend my time here and work for the winter season, snowboard and save.  I'm actually pretty stoked to be spending a winter season at home.  It won't be Big White, but I'm excited to have a snowy season, though maybe not so much the frigid weather.

  I"m glad I came home.  I was really homesick in South America and coming home was the perfect decision.  I did shed tears on my flight home,  going home is harder than leaving, but as I shed those tears |I knew I was crying because I made the right decision, and I have no regrets.  I'm enjoying spending time with my parents and friends,  I usually come home and leave again so quickly I don't take time to enjoy what I have here and this time I am taking in every moment that I can.  Being back has made me realize how truly lucky I am in life and it puts a smile on my face.  I am truly grateful.


                                                                                            - My Beautiful Life -

Bye Bye Biggie

Well...my time at Big White was a blast and, lucky me, the Snow Gods answered my prayers before I left.   The Heavens opened up and the Snow Gods showered down - more like dumped down - beautiful fresh powder that was up to my knees!  OMG is all I can say....sooo amazing!!!   I had a late start on Sunday - I had some drinks the night before - however even though I was a little bit...well you know...it was the best day I had on the slopes.  

It was amazing…I couldn’t have asked for a better last couple of days.   Just the feel of the powder under my board and up around my legs as I glided through it,  going through the glades.   I even got Mads (from the hostel) to record me…just to prove to everyone that yes I really did ride through the trees.  However, I look like a huge dork when I am riding.   Maybe it’s because I used to dance but man do I use my arms a lot.   Sometimes I look like I am rolling up/down a window or I swim with my back arm to turn on my toe edge.   I even lift my arms up when I hit a kicker which, to be honest, just makes the kicker feel that much better lol…I don’t know why but it just does.  We just rode all afternoon under the lift line and off to the side through the trees, over and over again and then when the last lift closed we snowboarded down to the path that goes to my place where we went and curled up with some warm tea.  Honestly…it was the perfect day and my best of the season.

The next day we still had beautiful powder and went out with my friend Nandita for the day.   I really wanted a great day out as it was my last one, but half way through the day I started getting a sore throat and headache –GREAT – so I was kind of off and not 100% but we still had t-bar adventures, this time we couldn’t even get on properly lol but it’s always worth it.  Riding through the enchanted forest with all the powder was just incredible and it was such a clear day so the view was just amazing.   It was a little sad as it was mine and Nandita’s last day of riding together and the end of our adventures.  We spent the evening sharing appies and a bottle of wine at one of the restaurants in the village and then I snowboarded home.

Isam got home at midnight and woke me up with a bottle of champagne that I could only enjoy 1 glass of as I wasn’t feeling well…of course I had to be sick my last night with him.

The next day Nandita drove Isam and I into Kelowna and we all had one last lunch together before I had to say a teary goodbye to the both of them.   Nandita is my girl and the closest friend I had up at Biggie and Isam…well, we went through a lot together the past few months and even though it wasn’t all ups I wouldn’t want to have spent the last six months with anyone else.   I have been with him every single day – pretty much – since I arrived in BC so it is a little weird without him and I will miss and always hold him in my heart.  See, we decided long distance is not for us and by the time I get back to BC he will have already left for a job in Saskatchewan so there is a big chance we will not see eachother again.   I know right…

It was a sad day and we were pretty quiet – I guess we were all trying to ignore the inevitable goodbye.  I think I even shed a tear when I packed up my snowboard lol – “we had a great season didn’t we!” Is what I said as I packed it away – and not really mentioning what was looming over us in the hours ahead.   I kind of panicked a bit.   I don’t think it really hit me that I was saying goodbye but I still felt funny and tried not to think about goodbyes as it made my eyes well up.   To be honest we were more focused on how weird it was being off Biggie.  It was the first time I had been of the mountain since (around) December 10^th.   You don’t realize how isolated it is up there until you get down to reality where the air seems fresher and there was so much space.   I mean I was no longer limited to a certain area of space of where to go and what I could do…it took a few hours but by the end of the day I felt great, other than my goodbye.  

 How do you say goodbye to your boyfriend/girlfriend when you know it’s gonna be the last time you will ever see them. I know I have done it before, so I’m kind of used to it but it still doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.   We just stood there hugging and the tears just started to make their way out and I was choking them back, I didn’t want to make it harder then it already was.  Turning around and waving and saying I love you for the last time is strange.

I stayed at the hostel that night which was good because it was really great to be around friends after saying goodbye to Isam and Nan and feeling a bit wigged out about being off the mountain.   To be honest I should’ve done a night off the mountain earlier to give myself a break but whatever it’s too late now.

I stayed at the hostel one nght and then stayed at my cousin’s (Karen) for the past 3 nights and just relaxed and enjoyed doing nothing and not working.   

Now I am on a plane with my parents and we will be landing in an hour.

But before I say goodbye to BC I would really like to say thank you to everyone I have met in the past six months especially up at Biggie. I have had an amazing (half) season and so glad I finally got my BC winter.  I met some amazing people :  Tegan my shuttle buddy. The boys Paddy, Mick, Bryce, and Raphael so much love coming from you guys and I couldn’t ask for better guys  to hang with and drink with.  The crew at Black Diamond especially my Wikipedia Nandita I will miss you. Mads for the best day ever, it was nice to finally just be one on one with you I really enjoyed riding the afternoon with you and really getting to know you.  Daisy, Robbie and Daisuke my Kelowna family, kisses kisses kisses.  Kevin and his crazy laugh and love for guacamole, I miss you …and…umm…  I know I am missing people so I do apologize.  But of course – no I ddn’t forget – Isam.   You have been incredible and stood by when things weren’t going great.   I love you and would do it all over again.  Don’t ever forget me, I won't forget you xox.

Well it’s a new adventure now almost time to land and stretch these legs of mine.    Where is the new adventure u ask…ITALY!!!

I'm an Accident Waiting to Happen!

I hit a tree last week...well actually a tree stump.    I had just come out of a little trail in the glades and picked up some speed.   I was heading towards another little trail where at the entrance there is a two foot high tree stump that is really jagged at the top.   My speed was picking up and I knew - due to me not being the greatest boarder - that I wouldn't be able to steer myself around it, and, if I did try  there was a possibility of me falling on it and that really didn't seem appealing.   With time running out I did the only thing I could think of; I dug my heel-side into the snow as hard as I could falling on my butt.  With my heel-side still in the snow I slid - on my butt - getting closer by the second.  I hit the tree with the bottom of my board, the impact bringing my knees right into my chest and then flipping me over on my right side twisting my knee as the top of my board stayed in one spot and my body kept going!  I just stayed there for a few minutes to catch my breath, make sure I didn't dislocate anything as I kind of hurt my shoulder when I twisted and to make sure my knee was mobile.  I was a little shaken to be honest, I had avoided this trail all the time because of this tree stump and I got carried away for a minute and look what happened.  However, it could've been worse, way worse so I can't really complain.  Plus - to be honest - we all know I am a little melodramatic when I write, it did happen the way I wrote it but it literally all happened in five seconds but I like to build the intensity for you guys :)  Oh and yes...I wear a helmet!

I was a little shaky for the rest of the day, I was really paranoid, every time I saw something sticking out of the ground I got nervous.  I would slow right down.  It really just through me off for the rest of the day; but it was still  a really good day.  Nandita and I took the T-Bar up to the summit and snowboarded through the Snow Ghosts. 

Snow Ghosts - snow and ice are incrusted on the tips of Evergreens.  When covered they look like snow ghosts!!!  Sometimes its just the tops of the trees, so the trees may look or seem short but really the snow is so high/deep and the rest of the tree is buried.

This has become my favourite area to ride...it is incredibly beautiful...you can see everything from up there and it is so peaceful, it's easy to forget where you are.   Riding through the ghosts is amazing...well, the fact I am riding through trees is amazing lol...but seriously I really wish I could explain how amazing it is, the views, the feel of riding the trails, riding through trees, the sense of freedom, how stoked I am as soon as I come out the last bit of trees and just wanting to do it again.   I'm not a fan of the T-bar though, never have been.

It's not the small ones I remember as a kid.  These are on a retracting rope so they are as long as needed for the rider or skier.  Skier's have it way easier on the T-bar then snowboarders. They just put it under there bum and up they go, snowboarders have to put it in between there legs and it can be quite uncomfortable especially going up steep parts...ouch!   I have fallen off 3 times.
 
The first time I rode it I thought I was gonna hit the pole so I bent my knees thinking it would help make some tension and move me out of the way not thinking that it's on a retractable rope and I ended up falling right on my bum.

The second and third time was yesterday.   My friend Raphael were riding up double.  We both ride goofy and had to face the same way instead of each other,  we didn't get close enough and he fell back on me within the first minute.   Then later on as we were riding up, I caught a grove in the snow and lost my balance.   I pulled him down with me - I was holding on to the back of his jacket - and he fell back to the left but my front leg - the one I hurt when I hit the tree stump - got wrapped around the t-bar and I started getting pulled up.  I finally got my leg unwrapped and the t-bar swung around hitting the pole and then retracted up the rope and continued it's way up the hill.   I tell ya, I'm an accident waiting to happen lol.   Yes we did make it up to the top, at one point I was pretty much flying.   He is taller than me and when we were going up the steep part my board pretty much wasn't even on the ground...it was less painful then usual but a little more tricky not falling.

Alex and her boyfriend Simone came up last week for two nights.  We got a full day of riding in but it was so cold.   One part of the mountain - at the top - was a very cold -37!!!  We had to go in every 2-3 runs to warm up.  My face bandana froze!   My nose kept running because it was so cold so the only place it went was either my mouth - at least I stayed hydrated lol - or my bandana.   I could actually mold the bandana around my nose haha, and I couldn't take it off because it was way too cold - my house mate ended up getting frostbite on his nose.   It was a beautiful bluebird day and the slopes were pretty empty but it was way too cold.  The sandwiches we packed for lunch in the backpack were almost frozen by the time we sat down to eat them.   All in all it was a great day despite the freezing temperature.   We went for a nice dinner and then met Isam after his shift at the bar but we were so tired we were home and in bed by 12:30.  

I have pretty much just been working and riding.  Tonight a bunch of us are going night riding and I believe we are going to the park where my friend Sam is gonna teach me how to hit some boxes so wish me luck, hopefully I make it out with every muscle and joint in the correct places.

Happy riding.
                                                                                            - My Beautiful Life -

My Playground

I'm sore all over...it hurts to roll over in bed because everything aches.   I have a bit of whiplash, my arms scream at me when I move them and my right leg is covered in bruises. I was having a really off day and not having a good time.    I kept catching edges and falling and swearing at myself as I got back up "for fuck sakes Emmie!  WTF?"  I was getting so annoyed.

I should've had a great day.  The sun was shining for the first time in about a week,  it was warm enough to feel like a spring day and with how much I have been improving the day should've been perfect...but unfortunately it wasn't.

First, I couldn't stop sweating (I always wear layers and never sure how I am gonna feel out there); Second I wasn't feeling any of the runs we did, I was snowplowing pretty much everything and the hills just seemed so steep even though now, looking back I know they weren't.  However, there was one hill that had this really steep part...so steep that when I snowplowed down and fell on my butt I couldn't stand back up!   I was riding so bad that my housemates had to keep stopping and waiting which made me feel bad so then I felt worse.   "How was that Emmie?"  one of them asked me when I caught up to them "Alright I guess.   Not really enjoying it, I really just want to go back."   We were boarding at Gem Lake which is another part to Big White just over on the other side and it takes awhile to get over to.   When they said boarding back over was the only way to get back I wanted to cry...I really just wanted to curl up into a ball until it was time to go to work.   At this point I had already fallen about 3 times.   The first time I was boarding along a cat track and I caught an edge.  I fell face first with my arms splayed out in front of me, my helmet shook around and my goggles actually flew out of the grip on the back of my helmet and flew off.   I checked my shoulder to make sure it wasn't dislocated as it was hurting.    After that it just never stopped....I was not having fun.

It's been two days and I am still in quite a bit of pain and I have a really pretty purple bruise on my right leg that keeps getting darker everyday; it's not the only one that I have but it is the prettiest that's for sure.

Not all my days out have been like this, most of them have been absolutely amazing!!!  I am pretty much up every morning to at least go out for an hour and be home so I can relax, eat lunch and get ready for work.  I am loving it so much I am actually going to bed thinking of riding...haha, I know right?   We all know I am not a winter person and am usually overseas during the winter time but I really can't get enough of it here.    It's been so sunny and warm here that our fresh dump we got last week -30cm over night and it snowed for a week so imagine how much we got - is just melting away.   Don't get me wrong the sunshine and spring like weather is great, however this weather and fresh powder falling don't really go hand in hand, so I have decided to pray for a bit of a drop in temperature so I can have the powder back and accept the spring weather when it's actually spring time.  Besides, I ride so much better in the powder - which I think the melting snow had an effect on my riding during my bad riding day.  If there had been heaps of powder that day I probably wouldn't have the prettiest bruise right now haha.  But no seriously it really changes things, I am not as afraid to fall, and it's really so much nicer and (I find) easier to ride; that is however unless you are going through the trees.

A few Saturday's ago my housemates and I went out pretty much first thing in the morning, and what a morning it was.  The first run we went down was almost untouched and pretty empty, complete open range for us to play, it was an awesome first run and a great way to start off the morning.   Our last run I followed Jocelyn through the trees branches waking my head and face - thank god for goggles and helmets. I'm not as fast as her so she was off to my left and hire up and I was just a bit lower than her.   She was further up ahead and not exactly sure where she was an because of my speed I had to keep going down to the right instead of up to the left. "Fuck...what did I get myself into?" My famous question went through my head. " with my luck if I keep going right I'm gonna end up on a black diamond and then I'm really gonna be screwed.  Shit. Jocelyn!!!!" There was so much powder and it was so heavy on my board. I fell a few times but it was hard to get my momentum after falling.  At one point I was holding onto a tree branch, I was pulling myself as hard as a could - the powder was weighing my board down - I was trying to rock myself so I could get enough momentum to start up again. Another fall. "Ok...this is not fun anymore...this is way to much work...I don't know where Joce is and I want out of the trees!" Lol I was so frustrated and I had started to sweat from all this work and I had had enough.

Finally I see Joce sitting down in the powder waiting for me "sorry, I fell a few times." "That's ok" she replied and got up and kept going.  "No wait up, please don't go ahead of me." But I caught up to her easier this time as she fell.  "Joce do you know how to get out of these trees?"  "Well the hill is right there," she pointed to the left"see, you can see everyone skiing past." I could and I really wanted to get back  there. " We just have to find one of the paths that takes us back". So I followed her.  I picked up speed...I bent my legs...up, down, left, right, left, up, down, small kicker right back onto the run.  High five myself!!! Pretty stoked I'm confident enough to go through the trees and that I manage to go along these little paths that pick up speed an land kickers.  I'm always so proud I land them but there has never been anyone to see me...that was however until the next day.

The next day I went out riding with Pete (Jocelyn's other half).  "I heard you are a pretty good snowboarder." "Really?" I said surprised "who told you that?" "Jocelyn". Well that made me feel good until it came time to get of the lift and I lost my footing and almost took Pete down with me...him saying I was good jinxed me,..it was his fault.  Anyways we were heading down the cat track to Happy Valley for lunch. At one point off to the right there is a small track through a few trees that goes down a bit, then comes up again and the drops a bit steeper and deeper and comes up into a kicker where you can get quit a bit of air.  So I thought I would go that way - I had done it the day before - I bent my knees and basically let my board do the work, I got some good air and landed perfectly.  High five myself!!! Then Pete said "emmie that was really good, you got some nice air and landed that nicely". Finally! Someone saw me! I could actually high five someone instead of myself! Oh happy days :)

A few days later we got Isam out for the first time.  He had a blast, even though he face planted and ended up with a cut on his nose he reacted with "I love it!"  When he got of the chair lift he made it over to us but he fell and started rolling down the hill.  "Your supposes to put your board in first babe!" Lol it was soo funny.

Our friend Daisy (manager from the hostel in Kelowna) was up staying with us then and she is a begginer as well.  After we got them down the small hill a few times we took them to a bigger one " I'm not going down there...I'm going to die." Daisy said from the top "you are not going to die" I reassured her just take your time.  I won't leave you."  She made it...it took awhile but she made it, and in one piece :)

I started writing this over a week ago so I am no longer in pain and my bruise is slowly disappearing.  We had that amazing week of snow but it has been sunny for the last two weeks so everything has melted.  It has been like spring here, it got to 14 degrees.  I know, and all you guys are freezing your butts off back home.  It's gotten icy and the runs have been shitty so I have been waiting patiently. If finally snowed yesterday but not much but today, it's been snowing all morning and we are getting a fresh layer of powder so I am super stoked.  I can't wait to get back out there...two weeks to rest up and feeling fresh to ride :)  One of my favourite things on the slopes is the chair lift.  I know it sounds strange but I have a tendency to go off in a trance.  I look out at everything in front of me, around me and below me, there is snow as far as the eye can see and (after a snow) everything is  pure white, like a winter wonderland and you can ski/board anywhere.   I mean yes there are hills with names but from those hills there are ways through the trees and this hill connects to that,  and that hill connects to that cat track...it really is amazing to see and watch as you are traveling up...it literally is open range out there...so much freedom, its like a playground...and it's all mine.   Watching makes me so calm and riding it fills me with exhilaration. 

Ride safe!!!

                                                                                       - My Beautiful Life -