In the same day!

I thought Vancouver was unique in being a place where you can paddle and ski in the same day. I have done it lots, but not many locations will support this. However, this last weekend (for the first time in most people’s memory) there was a day where one could comfortably and safely paddle and ski in the same day.

The ski was 3 laps at Holiday Park, with nice tracks and good snow coverage, except for some scattered pine cones under trees from a recent windstorm. It was a little windy but warm enough to take off my jacket.

The paddle was better than many winter paddles since there is still a piece of the dock in the water. This Autumn the beavers started building in the last section of dock, and now it is stuck to the sticks and mud etc, and I think there might be beavers living in the lodge-extension. The noise of us stomping overhead must be bad for them, but I guess they like the location overall.

 

It wasn’t that long ago that I paddled in Vancouver, but it was nice to get out in a boat again .  Hopefully we get a few more warm days like this that make a weekend paddle possible.

 

I am also trying to get some skiing kilometers in, since I signed up for the 55km Canadian Birkenbiener.  I am hoping my halvasan experience and general fitness will help me along here, since I don’t have too many kilometers this season.  On the bright side, since halvasan my technique has definitely improved and I have had some formal instruction RE: ‘how to ski’. There are snacks along the way and I have 8 hours to finish (I am hoping to do it in 5.5 or less).  Here’s hoping for some good snow conditions!