Newsletter Index > Adventure Tidings e-Newsletter, April 2010
Staff Updates
Our staff are among the best in the outdoor industry and when they aren't working with us, they are usually off exploring the wilderness of other regions, or continuing their wilderness education. So, here they are...........updates from a few of the the folks who brought you dutch-oven cinnamon buns, a perfectly-brewed morning cup of coffee and followed it up by selecting a sweet line through a challenging set of rapids!
Eliel
Eliel Bureau-Lafontaine is how people call me... Raised up in the Quebec, in the Gaspe peninsula mixed forests, I am now living between British Columbia and the Yukon depending on the season.
This is how, after 23 years spent in some places as far from big concentrations of TVs and cars as possible, the exploration of the big mountain's world has kept me busy for more than 85 days so far this winter. From snowboarding under the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort's chair lifts, to telemarking in the fresh and deep powder of the Selkirks and wrapping up with some alpine touring trips to some of the 11,000 ft peaks of the Rockies. All this with the goal of gaining enough experience to become a solid ACMG ski guide within the next few years.
Late April now... snow is melting, leaves are coming back in the trees and my mind is getting more and more focused by all the awesome rivers and mountain ranges that Cabin Fever Adventures is going to possibly send me for this second season of guiding in the Yukon that is coming so fast.
The adventure keeps going on !!!
Hope to meet you on my way !!!
Cheers
- Eliel Bureau-Lafontaine -
Jean-Frederic
By Jean-Frederic
This winter was a little different from the last 6 years. I decided to go back to school and learn about our natural resources. I have chosen the school by looking at a map of British Columbia. I wanted a place where I could still enjoy all my activities like backcountry skiing, hiking and climbing. The Kootenays, in BC, seemed like the perfect option. And I was right!
While studying, I was able to telemark every week, go on camping trips and more. Everyone here has the same passion for the outdoors, so it was easy to find friends to share my passion.
I started an outdoor club as soon as got here and we went on various activities. The best one (in my opinion) was 2 week end up at Kootenay pass. We left with a big group heading for a nice area with endless skiing options. From there, we found a good location on a safe terrain and started shoveling a big pile of snow to make a quinzy (like an igloo, but no blocks. Just a hole in the pile of snow). After a day of hard work, the pile was gigantic! The next week, after the snow solidified, we all headed back and dug a hole to create a nice snow cave to sleep in. From now on, we had a cozy place to rest and spend the night every time we headed there for skiing. Life is good!
- Jean-Frederic Mongrain -
Francis and Clara
by Francis and Clara
After having studied in a three-year adventure tourism program in Gaspé (Quebec) and worked as outdoor educators /guides on multiple long trips in the northern wilderness of several Canadian provinces, we decided to leave on our own adventure…
So in January 2010, we left for our second road trip of North America in our wonderful Grand Tripper (see pictures below) towards the deserts, mountains, canyons and rivers of the American southwest. The main objectives that inspired us to do this 5 month journey were: to explore the natural wonders, to push our physical and mental limits in climbing, to learn about natural history, geography and geology of the different regions we visit and learn about alternatives and eco-friendly lifestyles while keeping a low impact on the environment and a healthy lifestyle.
So far, we have rock climbed in two world class destinations for bouldering: Hueco Tank State Park (Texas) and Bishop (California), we have experienced the wonderful mutli-pitch climbs and steep sporty sandstone cliffs of Red Rocks (Las Vegas) and the world known granite of Joshua Tree National Park (California).
We have learn about the native American history while visiting mysterious Sinagua ruins in Arizona, like Montezuma Castle and Walnut Canyon National Monuments and other archeological sites known for their rich native history which left numerous pictographs and artifacts.
Other than climbing and visiting ruins we also hiked some great classics such as a slot Canyon in the impressive and majestic Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon where we went to the Colorado river and back to the south rim in a day (17 miles round trip with 5000 feet elevation drop, that was incredible!!), the immensity of the canyon is inspiring!!
We are now in Saint George (Utah) exploring the different sport climbing crags of the area for few days before to head east towards two of the best places to crack climb in North America: Indian Creek and Moab (Utah). On our way there, we will drive through the beautiful region of Lake Powell and the country of gorgeous red sandstone formations such as arches, caves, pillars, mushrooms, immense cliffs and slot canyons which are beautiful narrow canyons eroded by water and wind. In this area, deposits of iron make a unique blending of color twisted rock, creating dramatic rainbows of pastel yellows, pinks and reds.
Of course, along the way some funny unforeseen moments were part of the game, for example we forgot the keys in the car….twice! And we even had to call AAA a 3rd time since we got the car stuck in a “dry lake bed” (dry yah right, mud bath would be more appropriate) when trying to save money on campground by parking in free BLM land which cost us 300$ in the end!! Imagine the sweet hotel room for that price!!!
Despite some minor unpredictable events, the trip as been great and life very good to us. We hope that it will stay like that until the end of the trip! And it should because we still have some wonderful adventures to live and we are ending this trip in beauty by driving up to Cabin Fever Adventure to work for the summer. We cannot wait to trip in the Yukon, meet great people and contribute to the best wilderness tourism operator in northern Canada!
We hope to see you up there!
- Francis Gendron & Clara Boisclair Boussard -
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