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MOUNTAIN TREK’S FINEST HOUR
Thursday 20 June 2002
‘The Hokey Pokey’s get revenge as
Guides lose the ‘A’Team on final Hike’
It was the last time we would hear
that gentle ‘tap, tap, tap’ on the door followed Sharon’s call to
begin the day………’Morning
Bev, Morning Marty, Morning, Bonnie’……….echoing throughout
the hallowed halls of Mountain Trek
It was our final hike and the weather promised us a good day out.
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We appeared
one-by-one to sip our ‘Celestial Brew’ and meander , bleary
eyed, over to our last 6:30am yoga class.
As usual the sun rose above the mountain to appear on the
lake below. Always a splendid sight first thing in the morning.
Sharon had asked us earlier in the week if we were to add
and subtract one thing from our lives ‘what would it be?’………….for me adding is definitely the
morning yoga routine and to remember this fabulous sight each day.
We breakfasted
as usual at 7:30 after our final weigh-in and measure, and whether
it was a few lbs or a few inches or more flexibility, we had all
made progress towards our own personal goals.
The debate over
breakfast was where to go for our final excursion.
Having sent Ryan out on a reconnaissance the day before we
were informed that Buchanan was definitely a possibility but we
may well encounter snow towards the top.
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The alternative was a
flat hike around the lake. Carol
briefly debated if she just fancied a more peaceful ‘stroll’ rather
than the fast pace hike the front group had set for itself – to which
Chandra ‘rather assertively’ interjected and insisted that she [Carol]
opt for the Buchanan trek. The
‘A’ team were all in agreement then to take Buchanan and the
‘Hokey Pokey’s [Cathy’s endearing nick-name for their group],
decided on the Lake. Beth
and Marty were game to join us for Buchanan and Teresa & Gina chose
to explore the ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ graveyard.
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The ‘A’
team headed off in usual formation: Carol [never wishing to be
beaten] generally in front, hot foot behind of the guide [who
today was Ryan]. Following closely behind were Bev and Chandra politely
jockeying for second position, with Richard steadfastly bringing
up the rear [after his vicious pace setting he was banned from
being first!!!].
Today, Doreen
[Aqua-woman], who is a demon to keep up with on the flat, was
bringing up the rear with Richard – she’s not very keen on
hills! It was time to
don the snow shoes and push on for the last hour to the top –
which was slow going with these things on your feet.
Beth & Marty were not far behind with Sharon, who had
decided the ditch her snow shoes in favor of ever more hard work!
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We made it!!!
Even though it was slightly overcast and chilly at the top, the
views were stunning! Coming
back down, as usual was much quicker, but Bev, having some difficulty
with her snow shoes, proceeded
to land flat on her butt at the outset of the descent – however soon
getting in her stride she made it back down without further incident,
taking it nice and slowly bringing up the rear [no pun intended!].
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As was
generally the norm after our day’s hike Ryan infused sleeping
gas through A/C and we all did ‘nodding dog’ impressions in
the back of the SUV, Chandra whimpering in her sleep ‘please,
no more up’! We
figured we were on our way back to the lodge for a leisurely
afternoon in the hot tub, but Sharon [the ‘she
devil’ in disguise] wasn’t quite finished with us yet!
She decided that we should divert to an undergrowth trail,
[just a little one] where we could take time to sit and relax and
contemplate our past week at Mountain Trek.
But this
time,………..bliss……….. we lose our back-packs and poles
and off we go armed with just our water bottles.
As we all sit and let our thoughts wander, notice Sharon on
the left looking anxiously at her wrist compass!
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Sharon turns
nonchalantly to Ryan – ‘Pssst
pretend you are looking at your watch – which way is out
Ryan?’
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Richard still
contemplates in the background, blissfully unaware of the
‘direction’ dilemma going on!
Ryan studies his compass with intent while Sharon proceeds
to ‘go round in circles’!
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Ryan and
Sharon still attempting to find north and how to find our way out
of the trail. Notice
Richard starting to take a little more interest in the ensuing
debate.
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Richard now
looking decidedly worried as Ryan begins to assert himself and is
trying to explain to Sharon [who by now has completed a full 360
degrees many times] how to use her compass.
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As luck would
have it…………..Ryan figured it out, Sharon sees the funny
side; Richard breathes an audible sigh of relief, and we all trek
out way out of the trail avoiding blisters and bear wounds in the
process.
The next day
most of us departed for our various journeys back to reality and
hubbub of everyday life, each of us, I’m sure, taking with us
our own little piece of ‘the Mountains’!
Thank you to
everyone at Mountain Trek – I for one will certainly be back.
Bev Zuber
8 July 2002
Super, Natural Spa
Mountain Trek
Fitness Retreat & Health Spa,
Box 1352, Ainsworth Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada V0G 1A0
1-800-661-5161
www.hiking.com
inquiry@hiking.com
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