Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

28 March 2013Teagan W "15

6:30 in the morning on a February Saturday found a small group of intrepid teenagers slumped over bowls of cereal and toast in the cafeteria. By 7:30, nine students and two teachers from Outdoor Pursuits were on a bus heading north to Mt. Washington’s Nordic Lodge. Some slept and others played games until, 3 hours later, we arrived. We made lunch in the parking lot and finished packing our group gear of stoves and food. After renting snowshoes, we shouldered our packs and started trekking, up and down, over snow banks and along the trails. The snow was cold but the hiking was hot. The sun beating down didn’t help whatsoever. Occasionally we made our own trails through the powder, which was more difficult but very fun. Several kilometres later, we reached Lake Helen Mackenzie, but one wouldn’t know it was a lake from the snow that covered it. It resembled a large field covered in white. Mr. Norman discussed the safety of crossing a frozen lake and started walking across with the rest of us in quick pursuit. Upon arriving on the other side of the lake, we flopped down and tore into our lunches. It was nice to have a chance to look around and see where we were. Looking one way, then the other, we took in the frozen lake rimmed by a band of snow-laden trees that gave way to huge white mountains. We could just pick out skiers and snowboarders on the slopes of Mt. Washington. Then Mr. Norman and some senior students went on a reconnaissance mission to find a suitable campsite. Shouldering our packs once more, we ascended a small rise and looked at what would be our home for the next twenty hours. It was situated in a snow-filled creek bed. Paths had been started in the powder as well as places for our kitchen and tents. Right away we began to flatten down our tent site until it was smooth and level. Ms. McCallum and I shared a tent (we were the only girls on the trip) and even with fewer people we managed to set our tent up faster than any other group. After stowing our unneeded gear we headed back to the lake to practice avalanche preparedness. Armed with avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels we listened as Mr. Norman explained what we were going to do. He was going to bury his bag with a beacon in the disturbed area we had already set up, then groups were going to search for the “persons” trapped under the snow and try to save them. As we searched for “Scott” and “Timothy” we learned valuable search skills that we could use if we are ever in an avalanche situation. Later, we talked about recognizing and avoiding avalanche terrain, and how to prevent situations where someone needed to be found. When we all felt more comfortable about what to do in that situation we headed back to the campsite to finish preparing it. A kitchen trench was started and so was a bathroom. At its completion, the trench was 5 feet deep with a counter and shelves dug out on one side and a long bench on the other. We put up a tarp over top and, voila, a cozy kitchen. The bathroom was a pleasant hole in the snow behind some trees; that was an experience all in itself. There were more people than jobs so Andrew, Jon and I grabbed the crazy carpets and ran. The perfect hill was right next to camp. We created the best route I have ever seen or slid down. It was steep and fast, complete with a jump at the end large enough to make us fly through the air. We were finally called back in as it began to get dark but not until Mr. Norman had had his turn. Back at camp we saw the beginnings of an epic snow cave. Calder and Jacob were digging and they didn’t look like they were going to stop anytime soon. They ended up sleeping in it until Jacob chased Calder out with his snores. Meanwhile, Junha, the resident master chef, and Mr. Norman cooked up a feast of pasta and rehydrated meet sauce. It was surprisingly tasty. When we had eaten our full (and found the disappearing last package of pasta and sauce hiding in plain sight) we washed our dishes in the snow. Strapping on our snowshoes again we set out on a short nighttime hike. We hiked up a short hill and warmed up our bodies after being so still for dinner. Following the glow cast by the nearly full moon we ended up on the edge of the frozen lake. I glanced at my watch; it was only 8:15. Back on the Brentwood campus everyone would be partying at the Alexandra Open House and here we were standing in the snow absorbing the beauty of it all; I couldn’t think of a place I would rather be in that moment. We weren’t too far from civilization but standing there under the starry sky we could imagine we were anywhere. Eventually we turned and wandered back to camp, our path lit by the lights from the ski hill. As we walked up the rise to our camp, I looked at the moon glittering over the snow on the lake with snowflakes gently falling over the scene. One warm drink or two later we decided it was time for bed. What a night that was. I can honestly say it was the worst sleep of my entire life. I was so cold I wore my boot liners and my balaclava in my sleeping bag. Curled in the fetal position with the sleeping bag over my head, I’m surprised I didn’t suffocate. I waited for morning. I woke up every hour and it was an amazing thing to wake up to Mr. Norman shaking the snow off our tent instead of coldness. I pulled on my frozen snow pants and extricated myself from my finally warm sleeping bag. I exited the tent to a world of dazzling white. It had snowed all night and there was powder everywhere. Grabbing my bowl, cup and spoon I helped myself to already cooling oatmeal and a warm drink. Stamping our feet we were glad when we were told to get our packs and snowshoes ready for a hike. We hiked up a ridge, up and up, striping off layers at every rest, battling the cool wind with hard work. At one point one of the group had to go back because his leg hurt and so Ms. McCallum went too. We hiked a little more and decided to head back to camp. Instead of following the path though, we crashed down hills through deep powder, trying our best not to wipe out. We had left the crazy carpets at camp, but I think if we had them, someone would’ve gotten hurt. Sliding down and running we destroyed a fair amount of powder but it was exhilarating. Back at camp, we had lunch and then we finished packing up, squishing everything back into our packs was quite a task but we got it done. We took down the kitchen tarp and filled in our trench and bathroom. Once we were ready to go the boys tried to collapse the snow cave, but it proved so strong that seven strong boys jumping at once couldn’t break it. They gave up and ended up just filling in the path. We couldn’t resist one last run down the sledding hill and so, with our packs and snowshoes on, we slid down and flew off the jump. The run was very slippery from the ice and made it even faster than the day before. Tightening our snowshoes for the last time, we settled our packs on our backs and commenced trekking towards the Lodge. We split up near the end to let the Grade 12s take their own trail back for their last trip and met up at the Lodge. After we returned our snowshoes we wearily climbed the steps onto the bus and collapsed into our seats and promptly fell asleep. When we awoke again we played games and talked. There was no way we could make it back for dinner at the school so we stopped in Nanaimo at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. We were quite the sight. We boarded the bus again and continued on to Brentwood. Before we could have warm showers to ease our sore muscles we had to unpack tents and sleeping bags and other group gear at the kayak shack. With that done, it was off to our houses. This trip was a terrific experience I am so glad I could participate in. It took a while for our muscles to stop screaming when we walked up stairs or for our blisters to heal, but it was worth it in the end. On behalf of the students who went on the trip, I would like to thank Mr. Norman and Ms. McCallum for an unforgettable expedition. The woods were lovely, dark and deep. Teagan W, ‘15

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