It all started with the welcoming of 2019. Sue, Julie, and I, along with three others spent the New Year's weekend on a Nordic hut to hut tour through Sister's Backcountry. I highly recommend this.
I made it to the top Mt. St. Helens for the first time in February with people I barely knew, in new ski boots. It was actually the first timetaking out my new touring skis. It worked out well, I had so much fun, and the tops of mountains, even abbreviated 8366 ft. volcanic ones, make you feel so powerful, yet sooooooooo tiny.
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Later in the winter, I shared a story from last year's OTT adventure at a Boldly Went live show. It is going to be on their podcast later this summer. At the show, I won a raffle prize of an entry to a ski mountaineering (skimo) race. My goodness, that was a hard day, but quite satisfying. I got 3rd out of 5 ladies, so that was rad. I think I will do another one next year because pushing your legs and lungs to the edge is a good reminder that you are in your mid 40s, but still rocking with the kids.
Then on a Wednesday in May, Jocelyn texted me, "Do you want to climb Adams on Saturday? Camp at trailhead. Alpine Start." I responded "Sure" and then spend 3 days half dreading the 6 mile uphill walk , but so excited to finally climb Mt. Adams. It was hard. Super duper hard, but very rewarding. We did not summit, with skis and heavy packs, but I can see that happening later this summer.
