Morning fog in the valley below the Haig Glacier training camp
I often forget what an anomaly it is to be skiing in August. Even so we live in the mountains and are surrounded by glaciers as well as mountain tops that stay snow-capped all summer, I still sound like a crazy person when I describe my most recent training camp. Located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park at 2700m, the Haig Glacier/Beckie Scott Training Centre has been used by the Canadian National Team for many years as an opportunity to get on snow in the summer months when it can feel like you're training for a summer sport on pavement.
The Canadian National Team women as well as the Alberta World Cup Academy were joined by up-and-comer young talents from across the country as members of the National Talent Squad joined us the first week and Biathalon Canada the following week. The conditions at the end of August can be touch and go. By that time in the summer, the snow has had plenty of time to melt and new crevasses are revealed daily. None the less, the Haig staff kept us on track and on piste and provided some great skiing for this time of year!
It felt great to be skiing on snow. Try as we may to imitate this feeling on pavement, there is no substitute for the real thing.
Pretty in Pink! EmNish and Peri hiking up to the glacier.
I never seem to get a photo of me actually skiing... so I take photos of my Swiss snacks instead. Appenzeller Baerli-biber. Available at Valbella's in Canmore!
Photo: Matthias Ahrens
An aerial shot of the Haig glacier track.
Great track and sunny skies - no complaints here!
Photo: Rosanna Crawford
Once you've run the 18km to access the main camp, you stay at 2400m for the duration of the camp. Skis and gear are flown in on a chopper (thankfully!) and each day the athletes hike ~45min to access the skiing at 2700m.
Photo: Matthias Ahrens
Trying out my rap styles as HWiddy in the Haig Idol.
Photo: Rosanna Crafword ... R Rock
Some serious talent comes out when no one expects it. Mad respect to the odd and talented Biathalon crew. Thanks to So Good Soy Milk, our 'title sponsor'.
Photo: R Rock
Trail run out of the Haig camp.
Photo: Rosanna Crawford
Bring on August 23rd. My sister, Ange, was the first of the four Widmer kids to get married and my family was pumped. I must've shown my fair share of enthusiasm too. So much so that I was asked if it was my wedding! It's hard to describe how much love, gratitude and happiness I felt on that day. It just felt like the perfect representation of what love should be. Not forced or awkward, but present in full force. I may not be able to adequate job of describing it in writing, but I did an above average job of letting the tears loose on the day. So sappy and corny to write about, but I just think my sister and my new brother-in-law, Louis-Pierre Hélie, are just the best thing since champagne powder skiing. I love you both and congratulations!
September is in full swing (go figure, because I'm only writing about August now...) and with some intensity and testing coming up, I'll be based in Canmore. This time of year gets you thinking of the upcoming racing season, I'm happy to say that I'll be fuelled on the trails once again by Rancho Vignola! A family owned and operated business out of Armstrong, British Colombia the Vignola family and staff specialize in nuts and dried fruit. Wholesale orders and seriously good recipes can be found here. Thanks for your continued support!
Next camp, we're headed to Park City, Utah!
Taking some hang time - outdoor Rocky mountain style.
Photo: Michaela Howie