Dare 7 Summits Blog

Dive Computers: What are they and why you want one

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Chris

An blog post for all you scuba divers or aspiring scuba divers out there. If you’ve been to a dive site before, you’ve surely seen them. Typically what looks like an oversized watch on a diver’s wrist, on their instrument console or even hanging by a lanyard, dive computers are everywhere. A dive computer simplifies a diver’s life in a lot of different ways. I’m going to talk about what dive computers are, what they do, their advantages and why you want one.

What are Dive Computers and what do they do?
Dive computers are electronic devices that, at a minimum, act as:
1) A dive timer;
2) Digital depth gauge;
3) A computer to calculate your real-time No Decompression Limit (NDP); and
4) Memory/Logbook – keeps a history of the dive (bottom time, depth, temperature)

By using your current depth (depth gauge) against the time you spent at that depth (dive timer) a dive computer can calculate how much nitrogen you have accumulated in your tissues over time. The rate at which we absorb nitrogen from our air supply is directly related to our depth. In diving this is very important as an excess of nitrogen in your body can lead to Decompression Sickness (DCS), which is a problem that can lead to serious injury or death. Lucky, we can avoid DCS by simply limiting our nitrogen absorption. A dive computer, based on all your diving you’ve done during the day, will tell you in real-time how much time you can continue to stay underwater without risking getting DCS.

** Of course, your remaining time is based off of theoretical models and it is still possible to get DCS even while staying within the computer’s limits. Personal judgement should always prevail. However, the safety record of the theoretical models is extremely good. **

Some additional features available on some dive computers:
1) Nitrox compatible – The ability to use air mixtures > 21% Oxygen with their corresponding calculation changes
2) Air integration - Functions as a air supply pressure gauge and can calculate how long, in minutes, the diver’s air supply will last. This can be either through the computer being directly connected to the diver’s tank or can be wireless through the use of a transmitter.
3) Digital compass
4) Computer downloadable – Logbook can be downloaded to a computer

Advantages
Key Advantage: Longer allowable bottom times – Due to real-time nitrogen accumulation monitoring/calculating

The biggest advantage of a dive computer is that you don’t have to mess with dive tables anymore. Dive tables are a paper copy, simplified version of your nitrogen accumulation while diving. While using dive tables is a valid and safe way to dive, they must be used before the dive starts only accounts for the maximum depth of the dive. Essentially, a dive table assumes a dive that starts at sea level, drops immediately to maximum depth, then ascends immediately to the surface. This is not the case during most dives as the diver will be constantly changing depths to explore different areas of the dive site. In all cases, a dive computer will allow for more time underwater (longer NDL) than tables because it accounts for nitrogen accumulation at all depths, during all the parts of the dive. (Pic above: PADI Dive Table)

Additional advantages:
1) Simplifies dive planning as computers are easier to use than dive tables (both air and Nitrox)
2) Can reduce the amount of gear the diver carries – depth gauge and timer in one package. Additional pieces of gear can be eliminated depending on which additional features are included (compass, pressure gauge, etc). However, this is at the compromise of redundancy.
3) Automatic dive logging with the possibility for computer download (if available)

Why You Want One
There are absolutely no disadvantages to using a dive computer. It makes knowing your NDL fast, easy and convenient. You can dive safely and for longer than using dive tables. Additional features that can be found on dive computers can make your dive even easier (ie. air integration), can eliminate other pieces of essential gear (ie. compass) and makes logging easier post-dive. I highly recommend a dive computer for your next and future dives!

Dive Computers I’ve used (with their additional features):
Here’s all the dive computers I’ve used personally. They all have the basic features in a dive computer that will keep you diving safely. The differences in price will get you some of the additional features which are “nice to haves” if you can afford them.
Suunto Gekko/Zoop – Nitrox, Computer downloadable (cable required, not included) – $249.95
Oceanic Veo 180 – Nitrox, Computer downloadable (cable required, not included) – $199.95
Oceanic Atom 3.0 – Nitrox, Wireless Air Integration, Computer downloadable – $999.95
Oceanic VT 4.1 – Nitrox, Wireless Air Integration, Computer downloadable, Digital Compass – $1099.95

IMG_20130211_223043
Left: Veo 180 Right: VT4.1

- Chris
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Posted in Diving, Gear | Tagged Dive Computer, Diving, gear, Nitrogen, PADI, Scuba | Leave a comment

Floating Above the Snow: Your Guide to Snowshoes Part 1

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Chris

Snowshoeing, a classic Canadian pastime; is a great way to explore the winter outdoors, stay in shape, and most importantly: have fun. There is something special about hearing crunch of the snow underneath your feet with every step and just taking in the vastness of the backcountry during a good snowshoe. The role of the snowshoe is to increase the surface area of your feet, thereby distributing your weight over a wider space and allowing you to “float” on the snow.

Much like any type of sports equipment, not all snowshoes are created equal. Each brand, each shape, and each form have different functions, and are made for a variety of things/activities. I’m going to show you a couple different types, what they do, and what type of stuff to look for when eyeing-up some new snowshoes.

Below is a picture of my collection of snowshoes. Now, don’t freak out and think you’re going to have to buy four pairs of snowshoes just to go into the backcountry. The four pairs are just what I have accumulated over the years; and really you only need one good pair to serve 99% of your outdoor adventuring needs. Starting from left to right:
All Terrain:
1) MSR Lightning Ascent (30 inch)
2) Atlas 1025 (25 inch)
Running:
3) Atlas RUN
4) TSL 305 Step-in Race

As you can see they all look slightly different. Despite these differences which I will describe below, (especially between the MSR Lightning Ascents and the Atlas 1025) they are all very good, high quality snowshoes.

Backcountry All Terrain Snowshoes:
MSR Lightning Ascent and Atlas 1025
These are made for your typical outdoor snowshoeing adventures, and are what 99% of people would want. Featuring a large surface area, straps for attaching your boots, and a number of spikes for traction – these are standard snowshoes for all types of terrain.

Length:
Typically offered in both Men’s and Women’s (Women’s are usually skinnier) they also come in a number of different lengths. The longer the snowshoe, the more weight you can carry because your surface area is increased. However, a longer snowshoe is more cumbersome and heavier, so you’ll want to determine your length based on what you’ll typically be doing (day hikes, short multi-day trips or long expeditions). Just look at the specs for each length and determine how much load you’ll be putting on your snowshoes. For example, for me, I’m 160 lbs, then I add say 55 lbs for a large pack if I wanted to be able to do a long expedition, for a total of 215 lbs. Therefore the MSR Lightning Ascent 25 would be a good match since it can bear a max load of 220 lbs. If I was planning on doing only day hikes, the Ascent 22 inch length (max load 180 lbs) would be better. The pair of Ascents you see in the picture are actually 30 inches long, but that is only because I was planning on using them on Denali, (with a pack load exceeding 75 lbs) so I need the extra length. I would not recommend snowshoes that long for anyone really unless there was legitimate pressing need.

There is an option to temporarily extend the length of your snowshoes if need be, through the use of tails. Tails are an extra accessory that’s available for some models for bearing extra weight. They are available for the Lightning Ascents here. I’ve never tried them before, but they seem to be good option if you typically do smaller hikes and occasionally go on longer trips once in a while; but not enough to necessitate bearing the longer snowshoe all the time.

Construction & Traction:
Here is what I feel is the most important and differentiating factor between the MSR Lightning Ascents and the Atlas 1025s.

The Atlas 1025 features a rolled aluminum tube around the edges with a number of steel spikes around the binding and foot area. While the aluminum tubing can offer a little bit of friction in the snow, its main function is just to shape and strengthen the snowshoe itself. What this means is all your grip is pretty much just the large spikes and nothing much else. This becomes of a problem if you’re traversing (moving sideways along a slope and not straight up it) or going up a very steep incline as IMO, there isn’t enough grip – thereby permitting the possibility of a slide. Most snowshoes are designed like this, not just the Atlas.

The MSR Lightning Ascent features a rigid thin flat aluminum frame that in itself is made to dig in and grip the snow. That means the entire circumference of the frame plus the extra middle horizontal bars will provide traction. Therefore, there is is a huge difference in the amount of effective traction bearing surfaces between the Lightning Ascent and the Atlas 1025. Going uphill, traversing, or whatever terrain, the Lightning Ascents grip a lot better than any other snowshoe I’ve seen to date. I believe they have patented the thin aluminum frame concept so you won’t see anything like it anywhere else.

Climbing bar:
A feature of both the Lightning Ascents and new Atlas 1025s, (mine is a older model so it doesn’t have it) is that these things will save your calve muscles on long uphills. When ascending, you can raise the climbing bar so your heel sits elevated above the snowshoe. This changes the angle of your foot so it is more parallel to flat ground instead of the grade of the slope. This makes it much more comfortable to ascend and allows you to use more leg muscles instead of just your calves and toes. A very recommended feature!

Cost:
Overall the MSR Lightning Ascents are the top of the line, best snowshoes out there. They are also (unfortunately) the most costly. Atlas snowshoes are still very good and still expensive but they easily beat out cheapo snowshoes you might find at Costco/Zellers/Kmart. Here is some of their pricing at MEC:
MSR Lightning Ascent 25 Mens- $269 (22 and 30 inch lengths also available)
MSR Lightning Ascent 22 Womens – $269 (25 and 30 inch lengths also available)
Atlas 1025 – $195

Of course, you don’t have to run out and buy snowshoes to get snowshoeing. They can easily be rented at MEC and many mountain resorts but now you know what to look for and what you’re getting.

** Stay tuned for part 2 when I write about the other 2 snowshoes in that pic, Running Snowshoes! **

Posted in Backcountry, Gear, Snowshoeing | Tagged Adventure, backcountry, Equipment, gear, Snowshoeing | 1 Comment

The Long Road to Dental School: My Story

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Chris

For a change of pace I decided I’d start blogging a little about the other side of my life, my life in dental school. It’s the part that is actually consuming the majority of my time and energy. Unfortunately, my time isn’t dominated with running, training, mountaineering and other adventures. Although I “make” time to accommodate my Full Time Student/Part Time Adventurer attitude, it isn’t always easy, but I do my best to make it work. It’s important to me to find the balance between school and life, share my experiences, and show others what they are capable of. It wasn’t an easy path for me to get into dental school and I often pinch myself to make sure it’s actually happening. Today, I’ll tell you how it all happened: the idea, the motivation, and the journey.

Unlike some of my classmates, dentistry wasn’t my childhood dream or even an aspiration during undergrad university. For me, dentistry was a chance to help my family in a way that I couldn’t do before. It all started in spring 2009, as my parents were visiting me for the last time in Quebec City before my 10 month deployment to Afghanistan with the Canadian Army. My mom was telling me about her recent issues, as moms always do, and she mentioned that she was having some serious dental problems that were affecting her profoundly and making her sad. She was missing teeth on the right side of her mouth that prevented her from chewing anything on that side. The damage had been repaired in the past but those previous bridges, which returned her original function, had since failed and fallen out. Unfortunately because they failed quite early (less than 5 years) her insurance wouldn’t cover any of the cost of new bridges, therefore leaving my mom with a potential bill of several thousand dollars, of which she couldn’t afford. In that moment, I felt helpless. My mom was telling me problems of which I could not solve or help. It was that moment that I decided to drastically change the course of my life with the goal of one day being able to help my mom, my family and my friends.

Eligibility to be able to even apply to any Canadian Dental School was daunting. Prerequisite courses were heavily science and biology based and coming from a computer engineering bachelors degree didn’t help. It was clear that I would require a lot of additional courses in order to give myself a shot at dental school. In all, I had to take 1 full year of biology, 1 full year of organic chemistry, 1 full year of biochemistry and 1 semester of physiology. While it may not seem like a ton of courses, with a full time job and the upcoming deployment, getting those courses done was going to be a major feat. Especially since even doing the courses wasn’t going to guarantee admission into dental school.

So there I was, trying to find, plan and organize a multitude of courses from a number of universities to get the credits I needed. Unfortunately, not all the courses were offered by distance learning and definitely not all of them were offered by one university. In the end it became of mix of 3 different universities, in 2 different languages, in 2 different countries and I got it all done in 2 years.

Probably the most challenging part was trying to do courses while I was deployed in Afghanistan. While my full attention was the job at hand and conducting operations against the Taliban, any downtime I did get was all schoolwork. While others were watching movies and reading magazines, I was hitting the books. My rucksack, while full of “beans and bullets”, also included the over 1000 page, Introduction to Biochemistry. On the wall, next to a SECRET map of our area of operations, were all the steps of glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle. At times it got really tough. For a one month stretch, while I was deployed into the heart of Kandahar City, I was doing military stuff from 0730 to about 2300, I’d work out from 2300 to 0000, and then I’d do schoolwork from 0000 to 0200 just to wake up again at 0630. I was exhausted in every sense of the word, but I knew one day it would all pay off.

When I finally got back to Canada school wasn’t over just yet. I couldn’t find a suitable organic chemistry course by correspondence, so I sacrificed all my post-deployment vacation and all my annual vacation to attend Laval University in person in Quebec City. Not only was I not able to relax and take a much deserved break after that stressful 10 months in the desert, I was now taking biochemistry and organic chemistry in my second language, French; A language which I had only really learned how to speak a couple years prior. It was difficult, but I made it through, with my French-English dictionary by my side.

Finally, in the spring of 2011, in the midst of my last course, I was invited to an interview from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Dentistry. Excited and relieved that I got my chance, I flew to Vancouver and presented “me” to them, plain and simple. Luckily it was enough for them to take a gamble on me and I was accepted shortly afterwards, with 47 others.

I’m extremely blessed to be surrounded by a class of super smart, dynamic, and genuinely good people. I don’t know what I’d do without the friends I’ve met over the past year and a half. I don’t even know how I was able to compete against my peers and the pool of other applicants for such a sought after position at UBC. I mean, only 13% of applicants get in, and I’m not the best academic out there. I’m one lucky, fortunate guy and I know it.

So here I am, a 2^nd year in a challenging and exciting program. Another 2 and a half years from now I’ll be a dentist, and hopefully be able to achieve what I set to do almost 4 years ago. I haven’t forgotten what brought me here and it’s my mom I think about each and every day.

Posted in Dentistry, Health and Hygiene | Tagged Dentistry. UBC, Determination, Family, Motivation, School, Work | Leave a comment

Reached the Summit of Aconcagua!!!

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Chris

On 30 Dec 2012 @ 2:31PM, I reached the summit of Aconcagua.

Despite constant mind-numbing headaches, extreme exhaustion, and poor acclimatization, I pushed my body to its limits to reach the peak after 9 hours of what can only be described as pure heart. Few thought I could make it after spending 4 nights at base camp (4 days before the 4 day push to the summit) with virtually no improvement in my physical state and my confidence shattered.

Standing at 6962m, Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America. The highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere. The highest peak outside the Himalayas. The undisputed pinnacle of the Americas.

4 of the 7 summits completed! 3 to go!

Posted in Aconcagua, Adventure, Backcountry, Backpacking, Mountaineering | Tagged 7 summits, Aconcagua, argentina, dare7summits, mountaineering, south america | 1 Comment

A Preview of Aconcagua: Taking on the Highest Peak in South America

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Chris

With only 14 days to go before I begin my trek out to Argentina, I thought I’d give you a little insight into what I’m doing and what I’m up against. Aconcagua, standing at 6962m (22840 ft) is the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. While, thankfully, its overall rating is easier than Denali (the highest peak in North America), its weather is notoriously severe, with extremely high winds and its also almost 800m taller. Don’t get me wrong though, this is still a very difficult and dangerous undertaking as both the inhospitable environment and the high altitude will absolutely destroy my body. I have a friend who also does high altitude mountaineering (Denali included) and Aconcagua was the only mountain that he got truly messed up (vomitting, headaches, extreme fatigue, etc). It’s going to be tough, but I’m up for the challenge and I’m going to give it my all.

I’ll be spending 18 days in the country, which allows for a descent amount of acclimatization and slow progress up the mountain. The real key, as with any type of high altitude mountaineering, is carrying loads of supplies to higher elevations while sleeping slightly lower. This helps your body adjust to the rapidly declining levels of oxygen in the air and hopefully will stimulate more red blood cell production and blood oxygen saturation. It takes about a month for your body to fully adjust to a new altitude so it’s expected I’ll be suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) for the duration of the trip. Clinical features include fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, reduced mental function, and irritability but can proceed to really bad stuff like visual disturbance, seizures, coma and death. I’ll be definitely monitoring myself carefully.

This time around, I’m going with an organized expedition (Inka Expediciones) as I don’t have enough time in country to organize food and supplies, nor do I speak Spanish. Although I would have liked to be self-lead with one or two other mountaineers, like I did on Denali, the logistics of it all would be a headache, especially when I’m in full time school the rest of the year. As such they made a preset itinerary of which I’m following.

Day 01 · Mendoza
Day 02 · Penitentes
Day 03 · Confluencia
Day 04 · Plaza Francia
Day 05 · Plaza de Mulas
Day 06 · Plaza de Mulas
Day 07 · Carry to Camp 1
Day 08 · Plaza de Mulas
Day 09 · Ascent to Camp 1
Day 10 · Move to Camp 2
Day 11 · Carry to Camp 3
Day 12 · Ascent to Camp 3
Day 13 · Summit
Days 14 and 15 · Reserve
Day 16 · Plaza de Mulas.
Day 17 · Return to Mendoza.
Day 18 · Mendoza

** So if everything goes well, I’ll be reaching the summit on New Year’s Eve. **

A successful summit will mean I will have completed 4 of the 7 summits with only the continents of Antarctica (Mt. Vinson), Oceania (Carstenz Pyramid) and Asia (Everest) left to complete.

So that’s pretty much it. My entire winter break is being used up to try to accomplish something I know in my heart I have to do. Despite all the pain and fatigue I’ll be suffering through while I’m pushing up that mountain, if I make it to that summit, it’ll all have been worth it. Wish me luck!

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Posted in Aconcagua, Adventure, Backpacking, Mountaineering | Tagged Aconcagua, High Altitude, mountaineering | Leave a comment

Hate Shaving? Read on…

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Tom Rogers

So I’ve always loathed shaving since I had to start doing it when I was 17. In the army you have to shave every day you’ll be wearing your uniform, which means 5-7 days a week. Not only is traditional disposable cartridge shaving like Gillette, Schick, Bic, etc… expensive as hell, for me it results in razor burn and irritated skin (FML). Electric shavers are okay in a pinch (or in the field when you don’t have warm water for shaving), but I find they don’t produce a close shave, and they result in a burning sensation from all the metal wires that just got dragged in circles all over my face.

So recently I delved into the relatively obscure (at least for members of my generation) world of wet shaving. Wet shaving in this case refers to using a shaving brush, a straight or safety razor, and shaving cream or soap that doesn’t come out of an aerosol can. Straight razors are a little too serious for my liking/purpose, so I picked up a double-edged safety razor. These razors are the old-fashioned looking type as can be seen below.

The one I have:

They involve a razor and handle, into which you insert a single double-edged razor blade. One of the advantages of these blades are they are WAY cheaper than the cartridge variety. One blade lasts me an entire week (5-6 shaves), and cost $0.10. Compare that to Gillette Fusion cartridges that last just as long but cost around $6-$8 a pop. The shaving brush is used to lather the shaving soap or cream, and apply it to your face (which incidentally, feels awesome)

Shaving in this way turns it from a chore into a pleasure. You’ll quickly forget about the extra 3 minutes it takes in the morning to shave when you finish it feeling refreshed, awake, and a like proper, sophisticated gentleman. Other than the initial investment in the razor and brush, you’ll save tons of money in the long run. I got a 100 pack of double edged blades on amazon.com for $13 after shipping. That’s 2 years worth of blades. The ones I got:

To spell it out in point form (TL;DR)

CONS:

-The first few shaves you might sustain a couple cuts as you get used to the proper blade angle. I didn’t really have any incidents (surprisingly), but most people find there’s certainly a learning period.

-Initial investment. this is pretty easy to get over. I was over it after the first shave.

-Not as fast a shave as multi-blade disposable cartridges with aerosol canned foam. As a recently, (and aptly) accused “bed-mongerer” who hates getting up in the morning, I am enjoying the shaving experience so much that the extra 3 or so minutes of shaving time is totally cool with me.

PROS:

-Better for your skin. Less razor burn, less razor bumps, less hating your life from raking plastic and steel junk across your face.

-Price. $6-$8 cartridge vs 10 cent blade. Self-explanatory.

-Better for the environment. You are producing less waste with extremely thin, metal blades vs bulky multi-blade plastic cartridges, or even worse: Bic disposable one-piecers with plastic handles.

-Closer shave. Especially vs electric shavers- and the shorter your hair is cut, the longer your shave lasts.

And here’s a video that puts it all together for you. No, it’s not me in the video.

Don’t be put off by the 10 minute run time. He is busy explaining stuff. I get done in 5 or 6 minutes.

If you dislike the way you are currently shaving -or are just interested in trying something new in your daily routine- I highly recommend you give traditional wet shaving a shot.

The products I use: Merkur 180 Long Handle Safety Razor, Parker Chrome handled Silvertip badger brush, Proraso shaving cream, Proraso Pre-Shave cream, Astra Superior Platinum double edged blades. All items obtained at amazon.com except the Proraso stuff, which can be bought for less money at Shopper’s Drug Mart.

- Tom

Posted in Gear, Health and Hygiene | Tagged gear, Shaving | 1 Comment

Racing in the Dark: Energizer Night Run

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Chris

The last race I entered for 2012, the 10k Energizer Night Run (13 Oct 12) turned out to be a good one. Running at night is a completely different experience from running during the day. It requires more concentration and more effort to maintain both speed and footing. Much like trail running, you can’t let your mind wander or you’ll trip up and land flat on your face. However, it’s extremely fun to race at night and a great atmosphere that I would recommend to everyone. I had a good race and ended up placing 4th of 1031 runners and 1st in my age group (20-29) with a time of 36:45.

In its second annual iteration, the Energizer Night Run is one of the very rare night race events available anywhere. Why do you ask? I imagine it’s because it’s very difficult to manage and organize due to the lack of daylight, which complicates the massive undertaking it is just to organize a large race in the first place. A similar night race, The Phantom Run, in Quebec City, had to cancel its annual race after many years, I suppose for this very reason. It’s also much more difficult for runners as well as, I find anyways, you run slower in the dark despite the perceived equal effort when compared to daylight running. As such, I wouldn’t expect any personal best time or anything when participating in a night race.

The race was well organized and a lot of fun. The 10k flat course was a big loop around Vancouver’s Stanley Park and used a large part of the seawall. To help overcome the darkness, everyone was provided a LED headlamp as part of their race kit to wear during the race. While definitely necessary, I didn’t find it incredibly comfortable on my head so I ended up holding it in my hand for most of the race. Although I was out in front and didn’t see it, apparently it was quite the sight to see the long snake of lights running along the course. Pretty cool.

As for me, I was giving ‘er out in front. I issued a challenge out to some of my classmates that I would buy them dinner if “their finish time minus 10 min” beat my time. There was a couple guys I was pretty worried about beating me so I didn’t let up. It was pretty tough because it had been raining all day so the ground was wet and slippery. Also, I found myself completely alone for almost the entire race so it was a little bit harder to really push without that close side-by-side competition. Nonetheless, I gave everything I had and was surprised to place as high as I did. Especially completely winning my age group as usually there are very strong runners in the 20-29 group. I ended up not having to buy dinner either as my friend fell short by 45 seconds (47:30 versus 36:45). Good thing too. or I’d never hear the end of it! (Photo left: Posing with my 1st place medal)

Overall, it was an awesome race and I’m definitely going again next year. There are events in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver next year. Check it out.

GPS data from my run. I didn’t have a signal for the first 2 km. Therefore the first km is missing and the second is messed up.

Posted in Racing, Running | Tagged Lights, Night Run, Racing, Running, Vancouver | Leave a comment

Pushing Up Mt Albert Edward

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Chris

In late August I revisited a hike that I haven’t done since my days as a boy scout. Back then, we did the trip over the course of a week. This time around, I attempted it in 2.5 days with friends Bruce and Dennis. Strathcona Provincial Park is one of Vancouver Island’s premier hiker friendly and easily accessible parks. It offers a number of long multi-day hiking opportunities as well as day hiking. This time around, our goal was to summit one of the more popular peaks in the area: Forbidden Plateau, Mt Albert Edward, standing at 2093m/6867ft.

We made this into an extremely fast 2 night trip. Our goal was a quick 3 km night hike after a midnight arrival to the park on day 1, followed by an immediate camp and summit on day 2, then our hike out on day 3. While action packed and a very long day 2, we made it work, summited and got out safely.

From the parking lot to our first destination (Lake Helen Mackenzie), was just over an hour of easy hiking. It was a good primer for what was to come on day 2. The trail was well maintained, fast and fun to do at night.

Day 2 was a big one. We went from Lake Helen Mackenzie to Circlet Lake, ~10 km away (~ 3.5 hours). After setting up camp, eating yummy hotdogs and dropping our packs we headed up Mount Albert Edward. From Circlet to the summit was a tiring 6.5 km, 935 m elevation march up through the treeline and into the alpine. At the higher elevations we encountered and crossed a number of snowfields, moderate wind and lots of fog. Apparently it’s really hard to have a nice blue sky day up there! It took us about 5 hours to get up to the peak and back down to Circlet for our well deserved rest. Unfortunately we left Circlet slightly late (~14h30) so we finished the last km or so in the dark. Definitely not recommended but we were prepared and brought our headlamps so everything was ok.

Day 3 was simply the hike out from Circlet Lake to the parking lot. A nice 5 hour, 13 km hike out and we were back to civilization. Tired but happy- what a great trip!

Left: Bruce and Dennis ready for the night hike
Center: The trail to Circlet Lake
Right: Dennis and I out on the snowfields in the alpine

Posted in Adventure, Backcountry, Backpacking, Camping | Tagged Backpacking, Camping, Mount Albert Edward, Summit | Leave a comment

Climbing Denali Part 5 – The Summit

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Chris

The epic conclusion to my Denali expedition. Reaching the summit and getting back down safe. It wasn’t perfect but a small window of opportunity opened up.

16 June (Day 12):
Although the day started out with bad weather it began to clear up around 10 AM. Our 4^th member, Justin, wanted to go for summit now instead taking a rest day and trying tomorrow. This created a little conflict in our group but in the end Justin and I decided to head out today then Scott and Bob would make their attempt tomorrow. Both sides had good arguments and both plans made some sense. The weather the 17^th was supposed to be good and getting more acclimatized/more rest is always a good thing. We also had a very difficult day the day prior so our bodies might benefit from the rest. However, with the weather reports being hit or miss, Justin and I decided it is best to head out now when we know the weather is suitable. Especially since both of us felt our bodies would deteriorate and get weaker the longer we stayed at High Camp.

Justin and I headed for the summit at around 1 PM. Late by most standards but we decided to try and promised to head back at the first sign of trouble. Things went really well and we were moving fast. We were at the base of last ridge before the summit after 5.5 hours of hard climbing. Justin was pretty bagged and starting to move slowly so I kept a close watch on him. I was very tired as well but in good spirits knowing we were close. Going up that last ridge was extremely tough. I know because I had to count my steps to keep motivating myself. 25 steps – 1 minute break, 25 steps – 1 minute break. The altitude was just killing me. Getting those 25 steps in was incredibly painful. I know because my body didn’t want to do more than 10 but I counted out to 25. Once I got to the top of the ridge, I waited another hour for Justin to catch up (even though we started at base at the same time). He was going at a snail’s pace but I couldn’t blame him, the altitude was killer. Once on top of ridge we slowly moved together all the way to the summit. After 7.5 hours of hard climbing we made it. The highest peak in North America 6196 m (20,327 ft)!!! It was spectacular. After some quick photos we started moving down. There were 3 people still attempting the summit as we descended. They looked in rough shape as well.

As we headed down, the weather started to change and the clouds rolled back in and another blizzard was incoming, it started to get windy, snowy and cold. We were about 1.5 hours from High Camp when we caught up to a guided group descending a narrow ridge. There wasn’t any passing room so we had to sit and wait while they roped up and started their slow descent. One member in their group looked extremely beat, slow and not responding well to his guides’ commands. The guides were really trying to keep him motivated and moving. Minutes later he fell and started sliding down the steep ledge. Luckily he was able to self-arrest (stop) himself but after that he was unable to pick himself up and climb back up the ridge. Justin and I decided to pass so there was nothing we could do to help and we were starting to get cold and wet. When we finally made it back to camp, the temperature dropped so much that I started to get frostbitten as I was taking off my gear. My hands and feet froze almost instantly as I took everything off and tried to stow it away. I got into the tent, gave Bob and Scott a summary of the climb and went to sleep. In total, it was an 11 hour day. Extremely tough but at least I still had a smile on my face.

Video from the summit

17 June (Day 13):
The planned summit day for Scott and Bob was not meant to be. The forecasted good weather actually turned out to be the extended blizzard that Justin and I got caught in the day before. Things were not looking good so Scott and Bob decided to call it off and get off the mountain. There were too many instances of climbers getting stuck battling the weather at High Camp for over a week and they didn’t want to be another one of those victims. We tore down camp as quickly as we could and headed back down towards Basin Camp at around 1 PM. We decided to try to get as far as possible without having to setup another camp in order to save us the time and effort. It was going to be a long long day.

At Basin Camp we took about 6 hours to collect and prepare our gear for our long trek out. Because we had extra food now (planned for 22 days on the mountain but it was only day 13) we made a mega goulash and dumped about 3-4 days worth of food into 1 pot. Man it was good! And we would find later on, we definitely needed the energy. By the time we left Basin Camp it was midnight.

After Basin, we headed down towards Motorcycle Hill. It was supposed to be maybe 2-3 hours, but Bob had problems securing and balancing his load so it took about 7 hours. We were behind schedule as we wanted to get off the mountain before 11 AM but there was nothing we could do. It was 7 AM and there was still lots of trekking ahead of us. Luckily, from Motorcycle hill onward we could put our skis back on, which makes the descent a lot easier!

After a bunch of fiddling to figure out how to ski with a large pack on and a sled trailing behind we were on the move. While gliding down the mountain, I was amazed on how I even climbed up the thing with all the gear that I had. The descent seemed like a super long ski run that never ended. I couple times my sled overtook me, either tripping me up or knocking me over. I didn’t mind, I was descending off the mountain while others climbers going the opposite direction were struggling to move up at a slow pace.

Eventually the route flattened out then went into a huge uphill climb aptly named “Heartbreak Hill”. It is the last hour or so of the trek that leads up to the icy airstrip. After no sleep for the last 36 hours and nothing but hard work my body and mind was ready to give up. However, I kept pushing forward with thoughts of burgers and ice cream keeping me going. I finally arrived at the airstrip in the late afternoon and collapsed next to Scott. Wow, it was a long long day! From High Camp to Base Camp without any rest or sleep is quite the feat. I promptly passed out on the plane (Twin Otter) ride back to Talkeetna despite the amazing views offered by Denali National Park from the air.

Left: Our broken battered bodies after getting back down. Right: My much deserved reward!

Missed what happened before Summit Day? Check out my earlier posts on Denali:
Climbing Denali Part 4
Climbing Denali Part 3
Climbing Denali Part 2
Climbing Denali Part 1
Denali: The Start of a Great Adventure

Posted in Denali, Mountaineering | Tagged Denali, High Altitude, mountaineering, Summit | 8 Comments

No Giving Up – No Regrets: What an amazing year it’s been!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Chris

I’ve been reflecting a bit on what’s happened over the last 12 months (Sept 2011 – 2012) and I’m happy to say that I gave it everything I had. Most people who know me well, know that I’m able to “make time” in order to get things done but there really isn’t any big secret. All it takes is really good time management, efficiency, and a willingness to never give up no matter how hard things may get. Here’s a couple highlights from the last 365 days.

Full time student – Part time adventurer:
Believe it or not, I’m a full time dental student at the University of British Columbia (UBC). While school takes up the vast majority of my waking hours, both at school and at home doing school stuff, I still managed to get out and make things happen. Getting through the 1st year of this 4 year program is an accomplishment in itself. The program is tough, long and exhausting. Learning everything from myocardial infarction (heart attack) to the development of teeth is no easy feat. Especially since we start earlier and end later than every other program at UBC. I’m glad to made it through 1st year with good grades and my sanity still intact!

Mountaineering:
Tons of training in the backcountry and in the classroom, I’ve expanded my theoretical skills and put it all into practice. I completed my Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 course, got some professional mountaineering training in with a mountain guide, crevasse rescue training with the Alpine Club of Canada and got out into the mountains with my snowshoes and alpine touring skis more times than I can count. All this led up to my successful 3 week summit of the highest mountain in North America, Denali (Mt McKinley). That makes 3 of the Seven summits completed thus far.

Running:
The running season couldn’t have gone any better. I hit all time personal bests in 2 major running distances, the 10k (35:53) and 21.1k (1:18:21) road races. Not only that, but I also flat out won a 25k trail race. I attribute my success to my intensive running training program that forms the basis of every physical activity I do.

Scuba Diving:
During the last year I’ve racked up another 65 dives and greatly expanded my diving knowledge and skill level. I went from a simple open water diver all the way to Divemaster: a skilled and trusted member of the dive community. Not only that but I also picked up 2 additional specialties along the way, Nitrox and Deep Dive specialties.

Backpacking:
In addition to all the day hikes/skis, I also managed to get in 4 multi-day treks in, taking me all over Vancouver Island and the lower mainland. Logistics and willing trekking buddies aren’t always available so I’m happy to have been able to get out.

Skydiving:
I got another 6 jumps in to bring my total to 24. I’m really close to my Class A license, giving me the ability to jump with another person. It’s a pretty tough sport and so weather dependent it’s been hard to get out but I’ve been making progress.

** This is just of snippet of what’s been going on for the past year. I think one of the most important parts that can’t be put in bullet form or as a picture is just living life how it’s supposed to be lived. That’s just spending time with good friends and family, sacrificing to make things work and keeping motivated to reach for the next level. That’s really what living is all about and how I made it through another year without any regrets.

Posted in Adventure | Tagged Adventure, Life, No regrets | 3 Comments

Cape Scott: Beach Camping on Vancouver Island

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Chris

August long weekend was another great camping trip with family and friends. Elaine, Brian, Dave and I were up to the task of hiking Cape Scott Provincial Park at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The key to this trip was the reward of a beautiful beach campground after a long trek in. It’s nice because this limits the number of people that can potentially mess up the beach and thereby preserves the area for the future. This is one of my favorite camping sites in British Columbia.

Our plan was to travel to Nel’s Bight at a distance of 16.8km from the trailhead. It’s a good 6 hour romp through the forest on flat and easy terrain. Along the way, there is a number of lakes, streams and abandoned farmland to see, which makes the 6 hours flow by somewhat quickly. The trail is very well maintained with a lot of boardwalks to get through all the really boggy areas. Nothing difficult at all. Just long, with a heavy pack on your back.

Once we broke the treeline and got out into the open air, we were greeted with a gorgeous 2.4km long beach with plenty of room to accommodate the other long weekend campers. While we had our tents setup within 20m of other campers (as we wanted close access to the fresh water source) we never felt cramped or really in the presence of others. Dave and I took advantage of the cold ocean water and took a couple “run in, run out” swims to wash off our sweaty and tired bodies. It was really nice to be able to have access to the ocean during this trip, as typically when backpacking you sleep and move while getting progressively more sweaty and dirty with no showers in sight.

Once at the beach, our agenda was just to relax over 2 nights, eat good camping food and warm ourselves by the fire. After we corrected our mistake of trying to make a fire using driftwood and seaweed (doesn’t burn at all!), we had a raging fire complete with marshmallows and s’mores. It was a really good time.

After our time at the beach, we hiked out the same way we came in and it was all over. What can I say? I love this place and I would definitely recommend it. While it takes a while to drive up, there really isn’t a nicer beach site in the entire area!

Posted in Adventure, Backcountry, Backpacking, Camping | Tagged Backpacking, beach, Cape Scott, Hiking | 9 Comments

Spelunking @Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Chris

In early August Peter, Mag, and I went up to Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park to try spelunking (caving) for the first time. I don’t know anything about caves but the idea about crawling around in pitch black in tight spaces sounds kinda cool. We weren’t disappointed.

While there are a variety of tours available at various price points, we decided to do some self-exploration in 2 of the caves at the cost of $8.50 for helmet and light rental. While it’s the cheaper option, apparently the guided tours allow you to see a bunch of limestone formations in a 3rd cave, the Riverbend Cave. Nonetheless, we still got to explore the “Main Cave” and the “Lower Cave”.

The main cave was around 150m deep which had us crawling around in some pretty narrow passageways putting us on our hands and knees, skirting sideways and hanging off of rock to avoid what would be a very unpleasant drops. Being alone in the dark and exploring alone was really neat, as we always had that urge to check out “that small hole” just a little further to see where it leads. Sometimes it led us deeper into the maze-like cave, sometimes it would lead into a dead-end and sometimes it would open up into a very small enclosed room. The sense of self-exploration and discovery really made it fun.

The lower cave was smaller than the main cave at around 50m deep but just as good. Again, exploring in the dark with only your light to guide you is exhilarating. On a couple of occasions we decided to turn off all lights just to see what it was like. I don’t think I’ve ever seen darkness as black as that! It’s kinda hard to describe but in this cave we were able to do a loop where we went deeper then came back to the entrance using 2 different paths.

Overall, I think we spent about 2-3 hours crawling around in there. The self-guided exploration is a good cheap option and I’m sure the guided tours are also very good, although I can’t comment on them since we didn’t do one. Thank goodness for the helmet because I must have hit my head about 10 times. Don’t go in without one! After our little caving adventure we car camped at Horne Lake itself, which was pretty good with all the basic services (such as water and firewood) being available.

It was well worth the trip and I’d recommend it to almost anyone- unless you are kinda hefty, in which case those tight squeezes might not work out so well.

Posted in Adventure, Camping, Caving | Tagged Caving, Crawling, Dark, Horne Lake, Spelunking, Tight Spaces | 4 Comments

Climbing Denali Part 4

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Chris

Starting to get really high up on the mountain and just days away from the summit.

11 June (Day 7):
After surviving the long day up to 14,200 ft, we took a rest day. After the big storm from the day before we decided to take a rest day instead of the original plan of retrieving our cache at Windy Corner. Although it was a “rest day” it wasn’t all rest as we spent the day improving our camp. We secured our tents more permanently and built up large walls using blocks of snow to protect us against any future storms. We were lucky we did!

12 June (Day 8):
Originally slated to retrieve our cache, instead we got snowed in. A huge blizzard rolled in and kept us in bunkered down for most of the day. High winds and huge dumps of snow made things extremely difficult. Our tents were almost completely covered with snow and we ended up digging them out 3 times during the day to prevent them from collapsing. During the afternoon, Bob had a close call and got caught in a small avalanche while talking to the rangers at their camp. It knocked them all off their feet as they started to run away when they saw it coming. Reports were coming in of even worse conditions higher up at High Camp (17,000 ft). Apparently everyone was just getting battered like crazy in weather even worse than us. Trying to escape, later that night a Swedish group was descending from High Camp to us at Basin Camp (14,200 ft) and got caught in a large avalanche that caused a number of injuries. It was not a good scene that day.

13 June (Day 9):
The weather cleared up enough for us to retrieve our cache at Windy Corner (finally!). It was a pretty short trip and it only took us 3 hours round trip. It wasn’t without some trouble though as the snow from the day before bogged down our sleds and they weren’t able to slide smoothly. I ended up ditching the sled and carrying everything on my back after trying to force it through for about 30 min.

14 June (Day 10):
After starring at the steep, high ridge up to High Camp for the 4 days, we decided to go against the norm and make a 1 time push to High Camp. Usually groups will do a caching trip up to or near High Camp in order to acclimatize and make the trip easier by breaking it down into 2 light trips instead of 1 heavy trip. Due to the historically bad weather this year and what looked like a small weather window opening up at the summit, we decided to make our move to the last camp on the 15^th. We spent all day preparing and organizing gear. The key was taking only the essentials and packing light. We would prepare for 5 days of food and fuel to get through an extended stay in case we got caught in weather.

15 June (Day 11):
We made an addition to our group (a lone climber, Justin) as we made our push up to High Camp (17,000 ft) with a full load on our backs. The ridge leading up to Washburn’s Thumb (an outcropping of rocks that could be seen from Basin Camp) was in excess of 50 degrees and required the use of fixed lines with an ascender. Once on top, we found ourselves on a very exposed ridge so made sure we went slow and carefully to avoid any slips and falls which could result in serious injury. A climber already died on this section this year from a slip and we didn’t want to do the same. We arrived at High Camp in the late afternoon after a trekking time of 8 hours. Exhausted and hungry, we set up camp at a slow pace. The cold evening air came in very quickly and we found ourselves struggling to get everything setup and the stoves going. Our stoves ended up having their fuel lines freeze so we couldn’t easily cook food or melt snow for water. Scott, heroically, took control of the stoves and made enough hot water in the vestibule of the tent so we could eat our dehydrated food pack. It was a bad ending to a good day, but at least we got some food into our stomachs. There was some comfort in knowing that all that was left now was the final push to the summit from High Camp.

Left: Taking a break before the super steep ridge to Washburn’s Thumb
Right: Basin Camp with Mt Foraker in the background

Missed what happened before Day 11? Check out my earlier posts on Denali:
Climbing Denali Part 3
Climbing Denali Part 2
Climbing Denali Part 1
Denali: The Start of a Great Adventure

Posted in Adventure, Backcountry, Backpacking, Denali, Mountaineering | Tagged Basin Camp, Blizzard, Caching, Denali, High Camp, Snow, Steep, Wind | 5 Comments

Wake up lights: Trying not to wake up like an ogre!

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Chris

I’m going to break away from writing about Denali for a little bit and give you my first impressions of a new little gadget I picked up recently: the Philips HF 3471 Wake Up Light. Being mostly a night owl, I really hate waking up in the morning. Probably like a lot of you out there, when my alarm goes off in the morning for school or work, I really struggle to pull myself out of bed. After a couple “snoozes”, grunting and groaning I finally manage to get up and start my day. The problem is, I’m still exhausted as the sudden shock from the alarm jarred my mind and body so I never seem to fully recover all morning. A wake up light is supposed to solve all this, so I finally decided to pick one up, despite the high price- for essentially what is an alarm clock attached to a light bulb. I’ve been using it for the past week and a half and so far, it’s actually been pretty good.

While there are many different model of wake up lights out there that claim to do a lot of different things (blue LEDs to raise energy levels?), mine is pretty basic. 30 minutes before my alarm time, the lamp gradually starts to brighten the room, thereby reaching maximum brightness (adjustable) right at my wake up time. The idea is to gradually and gently prepare the body to wake up using the light instead of a sudden and jarring buzzer. If you don’t wake up from the light alone, as a sort of last ditch effort, wake up sounds (radio or nature sounds) will turn on 90 seconds before the alarm time, much like a normal alarm clock. The idea really is to wake up due to the light but, having the sound option as a backup (if you’re particularly out cold) is good to have.

How has it worked out for me? Every morning except for the first, I opened my eyes naturally and saw the light, signalling it was time to get up. Most of the time it has been within the last 10-15 minutes before my scheduled wake up time. Because I’m being woken up by light instead of sound, I actually feel a bit better when waking up. I don’t feel completely refreshed, (although that might be because I’m only sleeping about 6 hours/day instead of the 8 I need) but it still is easier to pull myself out of bed. Plus, if I wake up say 15 min early, I sometimes let myself fall back asleep and naturally wake back up 5 min later as the light gets evener brighter in my face. It’s kind of like when your mom used to wake you up as a kid by turning the lights on in your room.

What’s the verdict? I’d give it a soft recommendation. It seems to work well as a “light” based alarm clock and I do feel a bit better on wake up but it’s terribly expensive for what it is. Mine normally retails for $100 and I got it for $60 on sale. At either price it seems high, but at the same time, feeling better in the morning might be worth it at any price. Plus, the lamp will likely last a long time so in the long run it probably isn’t so bad. So, I’d say if you’re curious and have the money available, I’d give it a shot. Just don’t starve yourself for a week so you can have it.

Posted in Gear, Recovery | Tagged Groan, Orge, Phillips, Sleep, Snooze, Wake up light, Waking up | 6 Comments

Climbing Denali Part 3

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Chris

Acclimatizing, caching, planning and constructive arguing were the themes of the next 3 days.

08 Jun 12 (Day 4):
Turned out to be a bad weather day, which actually worked out for us as we weren’t planning on moving anyways. It was a time to rest and acclimatize to the higher altitude at Motorcycle Hill (11,200 ft) after all the hard work we had put on our bodies for the last 3 days. So far, I’ve been the self appointed and group accepted cook for the trip, a role which I enjoyed and the guys appreciated. Food had been pretty good to date but I slipped up and mistook Tang powder for Mac & Cheese sauce powder which then created the monster we all called Tang Tortellini. Don’t try that one at home! After a good laugh and one bowlful each, it transitioned into a tortellini broth and dinner was saved. (Photo right: Scott on the Windy Corner Traverse)

09 Jun 12 (Day 5):
Today was a cache carry up to a point aptly named Windy Corner (13,200 ft). The long climb up to this point ends on a very exposed traverse that is often impassable due to sudden, unforeseeable high winds. Not only that but the traverse itself causes sleds to want to slide down the icy slope at 90 degrees to our intended direction of travel. One slip up could lead to a nasty slide causing serious injury or even death. We carried and then buried (cached) about half our supplies including 2 gallons of fuel, most of the food and extra clothing that we would need further on during the trek. We would be retrieving all this stuff later on after will have moved up to the next camp at 14,200 ft. During the evening, we had a huge discussion on fuel. It turns out we had been using up fuel very quickly and would only have enough to last another 10 days whereas we had planned to be on the mountain for another 17. Fuel rationing became a sticky point and heavily discussed/argued between all 3 of us well into the night. (Photo above: Bob at our cache site just past Windy Corner)

10 Jun 12 (Day 6):
Just 12 hours after our fuel dispute, our expedition was saved and our fuel problems were solved. Luckily some Brits came over to our camp and unexpectedly offered us almost 2 gallons of extra fuel. We were now well topped up and in no real danger of running out as we forecasted the night before. After a good brunch, we packed up camp and setup for our next push to Basin Camp (also known as Medical Camp as a doctor is stationed there) at 14,200 ft. Unfortunately Bob decided to leave his sled at Windy Corner the day before and now ended up not being able to take his share of the group gear. This predicament created a lot of friction within the group but all we could do is deal with what we had at hand, so Scott and I sucked it up. With an extra 20 lbs or so for both of us on top of our heavy loads we put our heads down and started moving. We ended up arriving at Basin Camp very late at night and in the midst of a brutal blizzard. After a mad dash to set up our tents and get food in our bellies without freezing we crashed for the night, happy to have made it even higher up the mountain safe and sound. The plan is to stay at Basin for the next 4 days to acclimatize, retrieve our cache and prepare for even tougher days ahead at High Camp (17,200 ft). (Photo right: Chris getting ready to head out)

Missed what happened before Day 6? Check out my earlier posts on Denali:
Climbing Denali Part 2
Climbing Denali Part 1
Denali: The Start of a Great Adventure

Posted in Adventure, Backcountry, Backpacking, Denali, Mountaineering | Tagged Arguing, Basin Camp, Denali, Fuel, Motorcycle Hill, Windy Corner | 1 Comment