One Last Time

The time is getting closer and closer to our move date. Every time we do something now, we wonder is that the last time before we move?

Yesterday, we headed to Waterton with our snowshoes, wood, lunch and games.  The drive down was beautiful.  It was a gorgeous day and the mountains looked spectacular with their winter coats.  We drove down the Akimina Parkway.  There were very few cars and the big horn sheep were enjoying the quiet road.

We were stopped a couple of times going in and they did not seem at all concerned that we wanted to get somewhere.

We parked at the road closure and put our snowshoes on.  There was a nice path through the “woods” that we took.

 A fire from a number of years ago has left mostly blackened trees or stumps but new growth is taking over. This could definitely be a good sermon illustration.

It was almost theee kilometres to Cameron Lake.  The temperature was very mild and, for the most part, we were sheltered from the wind.

We arrived at the lake and could hear laughing somewhere but no sign of anyone.  It’s quite different in the summer when the place is crawling with people.  We had a little rest in the shelter before starting back on the road.

Painting on the window

The snow was good for snowshoeing but so much less than other years.  We have to keep going higher in the mountains to find the white stuff.

Once we got back to the truck, we headed down to the village.  The sheep had moved to the side of the road.  

There was one guy that wasn’t sure if we should be passing and he kept us waiting while he strolled down the middle of the road.  We aren’t going to have this happen in Ontario.

We found a little warming hut and Ron started a fire.  I made our lunch and some hot drinks.  

We played a few games of Rook before packing up.  Ron was the big winner!

We burned up all of our wood because we are assuming that that was our last time for an afternoon fire in Waterton.  

19 days until our move day!

Counting Down

One month from today our house closes in Pincher Creek.  We will no longer be homeowners in Alberta and will actually be homeless for 5 days.  It will be through those days that we travel to Ontario.  Our bank account will look good for a little while.

In the meantime, we continue to enjoy the area.  The weather has been bitterly cold and kept us close to home.  Today, the temperature rose a bit and we headed to the pass. Ron headed up the hill and I went towards the lake…no drastic inclines.

It was still cold but we were dressed for it.  I had been hesitant about going but the views, as always, didn’t disappoint.  

After I made it to the lake, I turned around and headed back towards the truck.  I put my skis away and grabbed my snowshoes and headed up the hill.  Once I was at the top, I met up with Ron.

We headed back down the hill.  He was able to go much faster but I always feel safer going down the hill on snowshoes.

Another gorgeous day in the mountains.  People say we will miss the mountains and that is true!

Develop A Routine

Another step towards healing, according to my Google list, is to have a routine. The routine needs to be something that takes some motivation.  Depression can develop very unhealthy routines…sleeping in, not eating right and hiding in your house.😳

I’ve been working hard to create a more healthier routine.  I always seem to be exhausted in the morning but I am pushing myself to get out of bed at 7ish. My day then begins with a coffee and word games (New York Wordle, Quordle and Canukle), another coffee with breakfast and then the bed must be made.  Exercise is the next thing to check off.  After that, it depends on the day.  So I’m developing a routine, working on doing new things and exercising!!!

Today’ exercise was snowshoeing in the mountains …with Ron.

Here I Come....

"Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest."

                        - definition from Mayo Clinic

This is a short definition of a huge issue.  I never really understood depression until I begin to suffer with it or perhaps as I start to hopefully recover from it.  

One of the things that many people have said is that exercise is very important for stress and depression.  For a long time I couldn't push myself to do anything. I lacked energy and motivation.  Before depression, I would almost always get 10,000 steps. This last month I have pushed myself to exercise daily.  I changed my goal to 6,000 steps a day.  For two weeks I was able to do it.  Then, I bumped it up another 1000 daily and achieved it.  Exercise was one thing that I had control of and it felt good to succeed.  For such a long time I felt like I didn't have control over anything.  This week I added another 1,000 steps a day.  I want to continue until I get up to the 10,000 and then I will know that I am one step or perhaps 10,000 steps towards better mental health.

Most of my steps are done on the treadmill.  It's a safe place but when Ron is home he helps me to be a little more creative with my goal.

Last Monday, we went to the Crowsnest Pass.  Ron had his skis and I took my snow shoes.  We agreed to meet back at the truck in about an hour and a half.  I discovered some new trails.  It was a pretty cold day but it was good to breathe deep and get my steps outside.  I use to enjoy this so much and I know that I will again soon.  Small steps to recovery may lead through the woods.

On Wednesday, we headed back for another day of exercise. We decided that we would meet at the top.  This was a new snowshoe trail and so off I went.  

I was determined to make it to our meeting spot.  Along the way, near the top, I started to see moose tracks and where they had bedded now for the night.  I could feel a little anxiety and some panic but I wanted to make it to our designated meeting area.  I got to the last section and tromping loudly, not far from where I was, there was the moose.  He or she was huge. I let out a scream and then I heard Ron's voice.  He talked me to the top of the hill.  I was so scared and I knew that I would have to turn around and go back through the moose area.  Ron tried to calm me but finally off I went, faster than I probably should have with snow shoes, talking the whole way down like a crazy lady.  "Here I come...here I come" over and over  I chanted.  If the moose was still around, I 'm thinking that they thought a crazy lady was not someone that they wanted to mess with.

Ron said that I would be fine.  When I told the story to Stephen, he asked why was I so afraid?...then on Saturday, this message came from the ski club....

Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club <cnpcrosscountry@gmail.com>	Sat, Mar 11, 2:20 PM (2 days ago)
to bcc: me

Happy Sunny Saturday!

We hope everyone is enjoying some of that beautiful sunshine outside today!  Just a note that there is a Moose with 2 calves on many of the trails lately especially the campsite loops, and around the Mill, Whiskey Jack and Cabin so be sure to make some noise out there and give them the space they need and deserve!

It has been a marvellous few weeks of skiing and we hope you have been enjoying the trails and the updates!

Happy Snowy Trails,

Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club Board Members

I will continue my journey to mental health because, "Here I come....here I come!"