Parker Ridge

----- Original Message -----

From: Andy & Kathy

Hi Friends,

This trip started with a funeral for my friend of 30 years......

Marc Champagne and I worked together at the Shaganappi Ski Hill, I think it was the winter of 77/78. He was hill maintenance , I was the XC instructor, while Mike Mabee was the downhill instructor. We formed the core of the hill personal, and it was a party right from day 1, that lasted all winter. Marcus and I hit it off as we were both from Quebec and had a big love for winter. With bus loads of kids arriving all day our lives were full with skiing and snow. In the spring we went our separate ways, Marcus to the new MEC, Mike to the new COP, and me to the city. In retrospect, looks like I made the poorest choice. Marcus and I kept in sporadic contact throughout the years, swapping stories as our lives unfolded. Marcus went into the 'mushing world' with the same energy that we all had for skiing, he and his dogs went on to start the Canmore dog sled races, which still run to this day. I remember Marcus saying that he and Kit, his wife, were loading up all their gear and dogs to go north to set up a sledding operation, I think in the Yukon. They both quit their jobs and with two trucks loaded up like the Beverly hillbillies, they headed off. Somewhere way up there, as the story goes , Kit fell asleep, rolled the truck and ended up in a coma for 6 or 9 months. So... I next met Marcus in a basement apt. in Calgary, near the hospital, where he told me his story of broken dreams, between silent tears. I sat dumbfounded unaware of my own tears, as I listened to his sad tale. I though this must be from a book, not real life, but it was all too real, as Marcus nursed his comatose wife back to health. Time heals most wounds, and in time Kit came back to life. Both she and Marc worked for integral designs, and life seemed to get much better for them, both. They were able to buy house in a nice area in Bowness, were their remaining dogs and them lived well. Marc went on to work at a knife shop in Chinook mall, whenever I was down there I would make a point to drop in to say hi. Marcus was always warm and friendly, in all the years I known him, we could always pick up wherever we left off no matter how much time went by. Marcus died at home, of a heart attach, they say he went fast, which is the best any of us can hope for.

I will miss my old friend, I will miss the stories of back country skiing, and early years of ice climbing, of sledding to cold places, and winter camping at -30, and all the laughs throughout the years.....

And so all this ran through my mind as I sat in near whiteout conditions at the top of Parker Ridge. With the sweat freezing to my whiskers, and the wind whipped snow, stinging my cheeks, I said a small prayer for my friend, knowing if he had his choice he would be here, and perhaps he was in some form or another. Then I dropped into knee deep powder, steep and deep, our idea of heaven on earth, 1000ft to the bottom of the gully. Skin up and ski back up through the driving snow, just to get fresh tracks again, and again. The real trick was to wait for the whiteout to lift just enough to see the dips and troughs.. Back at camp I think about Marcus and realize that while I will never see him again, his memory will be safe with me, until my time comes. In fact I may visit him more often now, the difference is that now our visits will be in my prayers.

Day 2, Saw even more powder, waist deep and still it fell, making run after run, I had one of the best skiing secessions in years. Tired, worn out, cold, wringing wet, and out of water I headed back to camp. Coffee and a quick meal put me back on track, but my wet cloths never got dry so I shivered in my down bag till dawn. My memories were all that kept me warm, and that was good enough for me. Some discomfort is acceptable, and the solitude is something that I cherish, deeply. In fact I now see this as my true church, God in all his glory, natural, without the taint of man staining his works. In fact if I left my house with my kids, and came home to find that they had nearly destroyed it all, I'd be pretty pissed off, no matter how much I love them, perhaps this is how God may feel when he looks a what we've done to his planet.... In any case I will look forward to my next session, in my church.

Day 3, saw more new snow, still, so after a slow breakfast, I packed up camp and started to head out. At the bottom of the big hill I met up with Morgan and Danny Richards, they had tried to get into the Sask. Glacier, only to be turned back by open water. Their car could not make the big hill with the tires he had on, so they camped in the trees, with only the ski in/out for all their efforts.. I am so glad that I got new Mich. Ice X, just 1 day before this trip, I passed 4x4s and 1/2tons in the ditch, with my small car, and good tires I had no problems at all, the whole trip.....

In the end, I feel, it is your family, friends, and experiences that make you rich. Money and power mean nothing in the great void, and like sleeping in wet clothes, only the warmth of our love will keep us warm for eternity......healing one step at a time, your friend..................Andy B.