So a number of months ago, my friend Bryty approached me about a possible trip to go check out a mountain range north of Mt. Currie BC whose peaks bear the names of various “Lord of the Rings” characters. It is an area I have wanted to check out for a while. We began to piece together possible dates, and a list of folks that may want to tackle this endeavour with us.

Fast forward to today. I have been so swamped, between working 2 jobs, and training (and recovering) from races and injuries. On top of that my mind (and body) have been focused on training and planning for my upcoming cycle touring trip. Making all the necessary phone calls, reservations, getting in enough riding and slowly adding weight to my rides. I had more or less put the hiking trip “on the shelf” as it were because the date had been far enough away that I didn’t really have to think about it (if that makes sense). Now we are 2 weeks away. I contacted Bryty again to enquire if this trip was still a go or if we should put it aside for another time. His response ” We have to return the ring to Mount Doom!”. “Ok, I’m in”. We shall be playing in Tolkien’s backyard.

I love that so often I make plans to go on these “mini expeditions” throughout the year that they sometimes sneak up in all the busyness of day to day life and say “Stop. Pack a bag. We’re climbing a mountain, and we leave in 10 days!”

That is the kind of Work/Life balance I like to have.

Cheers.

(PS keep posted for the follow up from our trip in the coming weeks!)