A Weekend Outdoors!!!

By Isabelle Privé

                                          "Snowshoes, Port and Chocolate" at Ste-Adèle

That's right - another Team Kili-2012 adventure, preparing for the big adventure of September 3rd. As we all have our -30 degrees sleeping bags, we decided to put ourselves to the test over the weekend to see how we'd cope with cold and fatigue.

So, this was our plan - meet at Sylvain and Janie's chalet on Saturday morning for a mountain snowshoe trek; spaghetti supper; another snowshoe outing in the evening; return to the chalet, then sleep outside! Sunday: get up at 7 am, typical Kilimanjaro breakfast, return to Montreal for our regular training session on Mont-Royal.

Talk about client satisfaction! Our daytime snowshoe outing was a joy. Just 5 minutes from the chalet, we found marvellous mountain tracks with fairytale scenery, sunshine and ... Lucie who was rather hot!!

After snowshoeing 7km, we returned to the chalet to pitch our tents ready for the night. Some of us put up tents and others built an igloo - yes, an igloo! It was hilarious, trying to set up tents in 2 feet of snow (supposedly firm) but - we sank, made a lot of holes and laughed ........

Followed by supper - mmmmm - spaghetti sauce made by mixing several home-made offerings - it was the best in town! By then we were just about dead but we still had to go on another snowshoe trek with the group from Eco Aventure Monde for the activity called "Snowshoes, Port and Chocolate". This meant getting back into our boots which were still damp from the previous trek, then piling into our cars en route for Ste-Adèle.

It was absolutely magical, snowshoeing in the dark, on a 3 km path marked by little red lamps.  We had our own head lamps but didn't need them as the snow was bright enough to show up the path perfectly. We ended up all together around a camp fire with a glass of port and chocolates. Pure bliss!

Then came the time to return to the chalet and go to bed in our tents. Well, we can't really say we were very enthusiastic about sleeping outside at -10 degrees. One group was in the igloo, another in the family tent. The problem was that it wasn't really a tent made for the winter and it was windy - very windy!

Did we sleep well? - NO!! Were we cold? - YES!! Did we nearly die laughing? - YEEES!
Ever tried taking off your coat inside a sleeping bag? I hadn't either. Then there were the ground mattresses - excellent, if they hadn't been so narrow. The "mummy" type sleeping bags needed some getting used to, not to mention the tuque that wouldn't stay on, the head lamp that was always round your neck, the need for a comfort stop and snow getting inside the tent. Nobody had an alarm clock but, strange to say, everybody got up at the same time!!

Breakfast was the same as we'll be getting on Kilimanjaro - eggs, toast, porridge, instant coffee, tea, bananas and honey.

Then, after only a few hours sleep and feeling the effects of the previous day, we were back in our cars and on the way to Mont-Royal for our training session with Mathieu. On the programme -  up 254 steps to the top, a warm-up walk, then 10 times up and down the 254 steps. Help!!!

A very tough weekend but we learnt that, just being together, we were so much stronger. I don't think any one of us would have been able to do all that alone because you'd get discouraged so quickly. When you're with others, you see that everyone is as cold as you, as tired as you and you feel you haven't the right to give up. You just carry on. The same thing for Mont-Royal - you see that everyone has as much pain as you and if they can go on, so can you. It's true, as part of a team, everyone can reach a higher level. You learn that you can stand a lot more hardship than you thought.

Another step on the way to the summit!

Bravo everyone!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

First Mont-Royal Training Session - Ouch!!!

By Isabelle Privé

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Last Sunday was the first of a series of 11 training sessions on Mont-Royal with our Expé partner-guide, Mathieu Fleury.

Ouf..... that should be ouch!!! After an hour walking on the mountain paths, we started a series of going up and down the stairs leading to the top.

We practised the "rest-step" technique, stopping on each step, but with a difference - we had to take 2 steps at a time for muscle work! Next came a "normal" climb - 1 step at a time. The aim was to do a series of 10 climbs. After that, I must admit, my poor legs were shaking with fatigue but we still had to do a last climb - running!!!

With Sunday's extreme cold, we had our first experience in getting used to our equipment. Removing layers of clothing when you're hot, to prevent humidity accumulating, putting them on again when you stop, glasses steaming up, water bottle freezing, changing socks so your feet won't freeze.

It was a very good group activity to start the year with. It made us realize just how much work still needs to be done before Kilimanjaro.

In spite of the cold, we weren't alone on the mountain by any means. We shared it with a community of very fit people who were snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and jogging. I was really impressed by the joggers on the stairs!

We certainly appreciated "breaking the ice" like that. We're now more motivated than ever to continue!

Another step on the way to the summit!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

January - Back to Work Again

By Isabelle Privé

2012 has come at last, bringing a new sense of purpose to the team.

After a well deserved break for the holidays, after family reunions, good food and champagne, it's back to the drawing board!

The count down has started! Now and for the next 9 months, we'll be increasing the intensity of our training. In January, and every second Sunday, we start a series of sessions on Mont Royal with Mathieu. We have to improve our cardio-vascular capacity as much as possible to be able to recuperate efficiently during the climb. Muscle strengthening is important too, to ensure that we can produce the required effort for climbing while supporting the weight of a back-pack.

As adapting to the altitude will make sleep difficult, intensive training is essential for keeping going, day after day, and reaching the summit.

For some of us, it's the gym, for some it's training alone, for others it's in a group. Some climb stairs, others run, walk, weight-lift or do abs. Any excuse serves for training and getting fit for our expedition.

A special thought for Nathalie who has injured her knee and has to undergo surgery in January. She's a great example of perseverance and courage. She could easily have given up on the adventure as many of us would have done. But no - she's determined to have the operation as soon as possible and get back in shape in time to leave with the gang.
                                                     

.. Personally, Nadine, if I ever get fed up with training, I'll think of you, then I'll just shut up and carry on.

Translated by Pamela Gauvin