Sixty-Four Degrees of Change

I have started an unorthodox, unreliable, unstructured self-motivated training plan to help me hopefully complete this year’s edition of February madness. I don’t know what to call that race anymore as not calling it “The Most Horrible Thing Ever” just tears at my heart.

First off the “un-train log” since I have been back from vacation:

December 21st one and a half hour trail run.

December 22cnd two and a half hour trail run/hike.

December 23rd 3 hour trail ride.

December 24th 1 hour easy picnic walk with the dogs and Kristin.

December 26th 3 hour 40 minute trail run/fast hike.

December 27th 3 hour ride from Travelers Rest through Paris and ultimately downtown.

December 29th 1 hour trail run.

December 30th 4 hour ride on the mountain bike.

January 2cnd 4 hour mountain bike ride at Croft.

As I drove to the trails in the dark on the 21st, I noticed the temperature at the Marietta Fire Station read 42 degrees F. Now just 8 days earlier Kristin and I had gone hiking in Banff Alberta where the temp was -22 degrees F. Yes, 64 degrees difference in 8 days. To say I was back in South Carolina was an understatement. So onto the good stuff from our time in Canada. I have only loaded some of the pictures and have to make an entire post still dedicated to the day I was taken ski touring as I haven't felt that beginner'ish in a long time.


Looking very Calgarian watching the Flames defeat the Kings on their home turf. The best part of the game was when the U.S.A. National Anthem was played all the Canadians exemplified (shouted in unison) any words related to their team such as "red" and "flames."

Selft portrait of the Honeymooning couple in front of Lake Minnewanka. You could hear the moans of the lake as it was alive with the freeze cycle.

Lake Minnewanka

Male herd of Elk.

View from the Banff Gondala. Banff is the small town and the minor mountain to the right of town is Tunnel Mountan, we stayed on the backside of this mountain.

The picture of pictures, "surprise" corner of Banff Springs Fairmont.

Storm Mountain Lodge, hands down the most romantic dinner spot I have ever been too. It was overcrowded with two other couples eating at the lodge.

My favorite picture that Kristin took of me hiking Johnston Canyon.

Ice falls and walls of Johnston Canyon.

The view from our room and hot tub was meager at best.

Bow River valley on the coldest day of our trip. It was -26 degrees Celsius on this hike. We hiked around the backside of Tunnel mountain. We hiked straight out of the Condo as we were staying in the National Park.

Kristin on the Tunnel Mountain hike. Luckily we came prepared for the worst of the worst cold.

We saw these female Elk the first 5 minutes in town close to our Condo.

Canadian Christmas tree transportation. Inside the park it is illegal to cut down ANY tree.

Family at Hospital Rock before the trip.