Personal Highlights and Iconic Moments of 2016

2016 was a fantastic year for our family, one filled with events that have already etched themselves deep in my memory.  There were a number of firsts, things I've ruminated on for years generally trying to figure out how to do them.  Things I wish I could have already done, but for various reasons hadn't.  A number of the biggest ones came together in 2016.  We have been fortunate to have been able to enjoy so much.

In chronological order, then, let me begin.

Ground Up Climbing Centre, Squamish

Keaton on an overhang.

Our good friend and a true go-getter, Lauren Watson, opened up the climbing center in December 2015.  We went to the opening and were back again shortly afterwards.  At the end of January, we had Elena's birthday party there.  Before long, it just made sense to join and attempt to go there regularly.  Both kids love climbing.  I appreciate the physical and mental aspects it takes to climb well.  An unexpected bonus was the adult interaction the kids got:  lots of support as they'd come off the wall from adults awaiting their turns.  A particularly fun moment was Keaton bursting out into his full grin as he reached the top of hs bouldering route.  A man on an adjacent route had called over to congratulate him on what was a challenging climb.  2016 marks the beginning of the climbing gym's impact on their lives.

Epic Day, March 17, 2016

Photos may seem to lie:  That the kids' reflectors are lit up indicates how dark it really was!

While indoor climbing was something that occurred throughout the year, Epic Day was one of those one-time events.  Really, it was a celebration.  When I first mulled over the idea, it was to celebrate all that can be done in the "sea to sky" area where we live - it's a pretty compehensive list of outdoor pursuits.  This is how I explained Epic Day at the time, too.  In hindsight, it's as much about our incredible backyard as it is about the blossoming abilities of Keaton and Elena.  We began (well, we really began with a stop at Galileo Coffee Company to get fueled up) with mountain biking, then it was up to Callaghan Valley for snowshoeing, sledding, and nordic skiing.  We came back through Squamish to get in a bit

Lauren posing with the kids.

of indoor bouldering.  After this, it was home to do some sea kayaking, then up to Cypress for some night skiing.  It was as awesome a day as it sounds!  Both kids were thrilled and I can't wait to do it again this year.  I'd love to add in a few more things, but I'm not sure how we could do it time-wise.  Let me know if you'd like to help run support in the coming year!




Silver Star Ski Resort, March 2016
 

Silver Star represents our family's first ever ski resort holiday.  Ultimately, I would love to be able to backcountry ski and get in multi-day trips that way, but for starters, one needs to be able to ski well enough to do that.  I'm not there, yet, and neither are the kids.  Plus resort skiing was just a relaxing, fun way to spend the last bits of winter.  Silver Star was especially family-friendly with tubing, snowshoeing, and x-c options, in addition to the downhill skiing.  A highlight for me was discovering neighboring Sovereign Lake and the best nordic ski trails I've ever been on.


Hiking/"Adventures" in General

Sleepless Nights Trail overlook, Lions Bay

We chose to live in Lions Bay in large part for its physical environment.  I knew there were trails here, but I hadn't realized how substantial they would be.  The forest and ocean make it easy to get out and be active.  For that, we are grateful.


Surfing in Tofino, May

Chesterman's Beach, Tofino

I worked with the four Grade 12 students at my school to come up with a week-long field trip.  It was pretty wonderful with caving, paddling a traditional canoe with a First Nations guide, and stand-up paddle boarding for some.  Learning to surf, though, was a tremendous highlight for me, in particular because of the spectacular rainforest backdrop.  I loved being in the water, too - a good thing since that's where I was most of the time.

Paddling Camp, Kamloops, BC  First Week of July

Camping at Roche Lake near Kamloops, BC

OK, so I just love doing stuff outdoors with my kids.  Not a big surprise.  Little is better than actually camping with them which is exactly what we did for the week of paddling camp up in the Kamloops area.  The camp was a wonderful experience for both kids, particularly Keaton who has more confidence and will therefore try anything.  They got to paddle a multitude of different boats over the course of the week and enjoyed it.  Meanwhile, we spent the rest of our time up at Roche Lake and would only have been happier had Larissa been able to join us.


Kona, Hawaii, Mid-July

We survived the elements for an elementary experience ; )  Lava fields, Kilauea Volcano

Larissa's parents generously supported their entire family for a week-long visit to Hawaii's "Big Island".  Spending time with in-laws and cousins in a low-key setting was pretty wonderful.  Of course, the rawness and beauty that is Hawaii eclipses pretty much everything, though.  That was the case for me as an eight mile trek onto the lava fields where lava spontaneously cracked through the surface before my very eyes was an unforgettable experience.

The iconic moment, how I will best remember the Hawaii trip, though, is captured in this shot:

 There are a few reasons why.  First, it was a beautiful setting.  Second, Keaton had paddled a SUP for the first time ever just a week before at the Kamloops paddling camp - here he was just killing it into a bit of chop and in a headwind on a board that was too big (thus too bulky) for him.  I couldn't have been prouder of the ability he displayed.  Finally, the historical context of the background just makes it for me:  these are the cliffs Hawaiians would volunteer to sacrifice their lives at.  When a king died, it was considered an honor to be lowered by vines/rope to hide the bones, then have the vines cut and plummet to one's death, thereby keeping the hiding spot a secret.  While it's not the greatest picture, it's a powerful image in my mind.


 Backpacking the Howe Sound Crest Trail, End of July

Keaton and Elena taking in the alpine scenery behind our home.

I had wanted to get both kids up behind our house for years now because it's such an incredible environment.  It's taken me awhile to gain the knowledge of the trails - even three years earlier when I did have Keaton along on a backpacking trip with friends, I wasn't familiar enough with the various trails to make the best decisions for our group.  I've learned, though!  In addition to gaining better knowledge, addressing the physical nature of such an endeavor had to happen, too.  Keaton had made a similar climb up to 5,000 feet a couple years earlier, but without a backpack.  Elena hadn't.  Both kids are quite capable, though, and the summer of 2016 became the bulls-eye to finally make this happen.

Most of July was rainy, but by the time we got back from Hawaii, typical blue sky, day-after-day-after-day summer weather had set in.  I had gone on one of my favorite trail runs - up Brunswick Mountain, then back down a short distance to the Howe Sound Crest Trail and along that until I arrived in Porteau Cove.  (One of the fun aspects to this is that I go early enough so that when I reach Porteau Cove, Larissa meets me with the kids and we continue on to Galileo in Britannia Beach for brunch!)  While up in the alpine, I was blown away by how much water there was.  Normally at the end of July, creeks are flowing at modest levels, but this year they were cranking.  Waterfalls were everywhere making an already spectacular environment even more so.  I came down vowing to get the kids up there right away.  Of course, we had plans to leave on a two-week road trip at the end of the week and there was work to be done to prepare for that, too.  With an open weather window of perfect weather forecasted for the following week, I pulled the trigger and we headed up mid-week.

The pass over Brunswick Mountain, the first bit of flat (non-climbing!) trail.

Into the alpine

Brunswick Lake

The trip was everything I had hoped it would be.  Keaton and Elena worked hard to climb the 5,000 feet and were rewarded immediately by incredible views of Howe Sound.  From there, the hiking was easy, trending mostly downhill.  I had promised them snow and delivered on this maybe 15 minutes later when we came across a patch still in the sun's shadows.  In another 15 minutes, we came over the pass created by Brunswick Mountain's northwestern flank and were treated to a simply spectacular view of the Coast Mountains' alpine terrain.  One of the things I love about my kids is they appreciate natural beauty, they openly express this.  Both Keaton and Elena were amazed with what we saw.  There were whoops of excitement when emerald green Brunswick Lake came into view - that was another promise, to be able to swim in a lake up in the mountains.  "The climb was worth it!" they exclaimed.  Everywhere were charged creeks and waterfalls.  While only a two-day outing, it has laid the foundation for many such trips in our future.

Yes, we did it!  Porteau Cove

Lower Salmon River, Idaho  August 2016

A multi-day river trip was long overdue, but at least we didn't jump the gun and try one before everyone was ready.  Idaho's Lower Salmon River was a beautiful first trip and will hopefully be the destination for many trips in the future.  Hats off to Larissa for trusting me on this one and huge thanks to our companions, Nick and Gus Beer, for their support.
 

It really was a fairly low-key river trip in terms of whitewater - it was fun and not too technical, overall.  Larissa, though, didn't feel this way whenever Keaton was approaching a rapid in his ducky!  We'll remember the blazing hot days, refreshingly cool water, beautiful canyons, white sand beaches, and lots and lots of columnar basalt.  It truly was a watershed moment for our family and the first of what should be many river trips in the future as we explore our world.




Post-river Trip, Mid-August

Demolition Derby, Lewiston, Idaho

I don't know what could be in starker contrast to a "wilderness" river trip than a demolition derby, but this was how we celebrated our first night off the river!  I totally appreciated the drivers and their love for engines and driving for that's really what events like this represent.  The highlight of the night was a compact truck rolling completely over and landing upright before resuming on its path of destruction!


My Parents Visit, End of August

On the Sunshine Coast Ferry with the mountain range behind our house in the background.  Tough to keep my dad awake ; )

2016 also marked the first time my parents were able to visit us in our new stomping grounds of south coastal BC.  We've established ourselves here, our kids have the things they enjoy doing, and we have a new house/home, all things we wanted to share with them.  While the visit lasted just under a couple of weeks, it was filled with memorable experiences.  We're all lucky we were able to do this.

Adams River, Interior BC, October

For the second year in a row, Keaton and I headed into BC's southern interior with the goal of running the Adams River.  Whereas last year we were unsuccessful in realizing this, we were successful this year.  I had kayaked the stretch of river back in July when the kids were in paddling camp, so I had had the chance to check the river out.  Keaton duckied it as I led a group of family friends down in the raft - it was a short, but fun time.  It was also an effort to establish some traditions as I would love for at least our family, if not our extended family out here, to mix things up a bit, to appreciate a different area, over the October long weekend.  October coincides with the historic sockeye salmon run on the Adams making it a destination for that time of year.  We tented out at Roche Lake, the same place where the kids and I stayed during paddling camp.  Hopefully something similar will be adopted by our family - all in good time!



Keaton at Alcuin

Snowshoeing adventure up at Grouse Mountain, early December

As parents, we all want our kids to thrive at school (except for my gifted homeschooling friend Andrea!).  We're fortunate in that we've found an excellent environment for Keaton at Alcuin.  He has fantastic classmates and two talented, high-energy teachers who keep him active.  We couldn't ask for anything more.


Redwall Series Celebration at The Fat Badger, Mid-December

2016 will go down as The Year of Redwall for Elena.  We poked about a bit to test the waters, introducing the first book (Redwall) to Elena to see if she'd like it.  She loved it!  Elena began getting the stories in triplet:  listening to the audio version, listening to me read to her every other night, and reading the story herself.  It wasn't long before she left me me in the dust - around Book 8 - and mowed down story after story on her own until she completed all 22 books by mid-December.  Not bad for an eight year-old : )  We will be forever indebted to Brian Jacques.

The celebration was held at Vancouver's Fat Badger Restaurant because the stories have a significant British bent to them.  This included numerous feasts of British origin.  We sampled many new things at supper that night.  Black pudding, anyone?!






The Simple Things That Are Just Waiting For Us, If Only We Make the Effort

Stump Lake, Squamish

There's so much to do and it doesn't have to be terribly complicated.  I have fond memories of clearing snow from a couple ponds close to where I grew up and skating with family and friends.  Driving past those same ponds as an adult, I was amazed at how small they were!  The lesson is it doesn't necessarily take much.  In this spirit, we drove to Squamish, shovels in tow, determined to go ice skating.  And ice skating we went!  I'm convinced it's these times together that will create our fondest memories.  We have been fortunate in 2016.