Who likes snow, long walks in the woods, a winter adventure, hills, maps, orienteering, cold hands, cold feet, getting lost, then (hopefully) finding your way out?

Who doesn’t?

Early spring every year (almost) my mom, alice and sister Jill embark on a 24-hour eco-endurance challenge in the woods somewhere near Halifax. Throughout the 24-hours I go from dreading it, to loving it, to hating it, to loving it, to hating it and then loving it again. It pushes you and tests your limits both physically and mentally plus you get to orienteer yourself out of bogs and swamps with only a map and compass (Suri does not work well in the middle of nowhere. Trust me, I tried). I could go on and on about how fun it is and how it’s all for a good cause but instead, read my post here.

So, why am I talking about this in January? Well, good news!!! The Pugwash chapter of Search and Rescue is hosting a winter event: Storm the Mountain Adventure Challenge:

Have you ever been to the E2C and wished that someone would invent a winter version? Well our fellow Search and Rescue volunteers on the Pugwash team have answered your call! Pugwash GSAR are running their own adventure challenge this winter, in Wentworth, and we’re encouraging past and present E2C folks to sign up. It’s on February 7th, 2015 so you can expect snow and challenging conditions! There are 4-hr and 8-hr challenges available, with special rates for youth participants.

Now first, when they say Wentworth, know it’s the other side of the road. Not the ski hill. There won’t be chairlifts to ride folks. The good news is that the other side is beautiful and has great views. The bad news is there are hills and it won’t be easy. (If anyone has done the Sunofa Gunofa Trail run you will know what I mean by challenging) but if you are up for it, it will be worth it indeed.

Now that I have enticed you in with these sweet words or promising fun… Anyone interested in forming a team? Mike says he’ll do it but the problem is neither of us are great with a compass. I can get by but without my mom, I would be nervous. My team contribution is usually punch card holder/control runner and my nickname is Eagle Eyes – both have nothing to do with orienteering skills. That being said, I was born reading a map and I have been up there a dozen or so times plus, if we’re lucky and there is snow, we can benefit from tracks. So, if anyone out there is interested in joining us and knows a compass as good (or hopefully even better) as me, let’s do it! Even if we get lost, my mom is a member of Pugwash GSAR so I am quite confident they’ll look for us.

Photo taken last winter of me having FUN in the snowy woods at my parent’s house.

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