June 17, 2010 - Haig Glacier Update

Although the nearby Kananaskis Provincial Park Haig Glacier camps usually start about two weeks later than this, the National Ski team was chomping at the bit to do our yo-yo altitude camp. With 4 trips up to 2400meters and back down to Canmore at 1400 meters planned we charged up there to get skiing thanks to the use of snowshoes and despite well over a meter of snow in the backcountry where the camp is situated we did good training. Our team is loving the positive environment under the leadership of Justin and he is bringing out the best in the staff around the team as well.

The girls were lucky as there were extra seats in the helicopter and we flew in in order to ease in to this 3.5 week epic camp.

While waiting for the chopper we guarded the sling-load of bags by chilling on them and reading the Saturday Globe and Mail.

Team equipment manager extraordinaire Joel Jacques loaded us into the chopper and also saved us from the drought at the Haig by fixing the water system among other helpful things. Thanks, Joel!

All smiles with Dasha, Perianne, Sarah Daitch and I taking in the views on the ride in.

Arriving at a seriously snowy camp where our head coach Justin Wadsworth was found working away shoveling out the propane tanks at the "Beckie Scott High Altitude Training Center." His wife is the eponymous legend of Canadian skiing.

Ski conditions were great with new snow falling perodically but generally firm conditions with the hairies kicking well in classic.

While inside the bunkhouse there were high fives when Dasha and Daitch did some one-arm push-ups...

... The outside of our huts were plastered with snow. Snowshoeing for the first time in my life I was very grateful to these contraptions for keeping me from sinking through all that snow while hiking to and from the glacier.

Low ceiling of clouds over the cook shelter.

Thanks to WinSport Canada for opening the camp up early for us. I love training in the mountains even in crazy conditions and our team has been to the Haig so many dozens of times that we can run on our "remember the time..." stories for days. It's great place to train right here in our backyard. We will be alternating 3 days at home and 3 days at the Haig for the next three weeks with the main focus of the at home days being recovery and one super hard intensity and strength day.

My energy finally feels back to normal after all the exciting travel and training in May in Europe and the States and injuries are at bay thanks to being able to come home and get my temperamental lower legs (especially the tendons) worked on. I'm so motivated to train well and hard with just 8 months until the World Championships Skate Sprint in Oslo, Norway.

Thanks for checking in!

Chandra