Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Friday 6 February 2009

The Canadian Ski Marathon 2009 - Prologue

The CSM, or Canadian Ski Marathon, takes place at this time every year. This is its 43rd consecutive year. Quite an institution.

Sue and I usually join Helen and another friend, Michael, and make up a mixed touring team. In 2007 we completed 23 sections (out of 32 that year) and actually managed to win a bronze medal in our category! That year the course was altered due to a paucity of snow. This year there is plenty of the white stuff, so the course is the more usual 10 sections, 5 each day, over the coming weekend, heading over 160km of trails from Lachute to Buckingham (over the river in Quebec).

So we leave after lunch today to install ourselves at the half way point and overnight halt on Saturday - for us a small hotel in Montebello.

Ken will be trying to do the whole course, with a rucksack, bivviing overnight with the Coureur des Bois Gold contingent - around 100 of them.

We will be amongst the 2000 or so 'others', starting from different places at different times, most of us just aiming to complete part of the course.

Whilst Helen will be content to do one section each day, Sue and I aim to do the last two sections on the first day (38km) and the first three sections of the second day (49km). We are not expert enough to do the middle (3rd) section of the first day, so that hampers our ability to treat this event as a real challenge, but it does provide an excellent opportunity to ski trails across private land that are available only to CSM competitors. Michael will probably do 6 or 7 sections - he's quite expert.

The possible downside to all this is that following the three weeks of superb skiing weather we've had in Gatineau Park, the forecast for the weekend is dire. Rain is forecast for Saturday afternoon, then a moderate night, and then warm again on Sunday. That means it'll be icy, so we will be doing quite a bit of walking on the gradients.

Ho hum - it may be more of a challenge than we were anticipating, or we could reduce our aspirations. Waxing is likely to be quite interesting, with horrible gooey wax being needed in the warm conditions. Some may even choose waxless skis, normally very slow but suited to these conditions. We have no choice though. At least our hands should stay warm!

Regardless, it is unlikely to be as exciting as my first attempt at this marathon, in 2004, starting in the other direction. The report on that is recorded for posterity here. This will be my 5th attempt, and Sue's 3rd, and we don't plan to repeat an earlier performance in which various bits of my kit were destroyed in a fall - but the broken kit did save me from a broken hip!

Don't expect much of a photographic record! The cameras will be placed under tight security in the middle of our bags!

This will be the last posting until Monday, at least, when an interim report on this year's experience of the CSM will be posted, before the composition of a fuller document, perhaps on the flight home - so ciao until then. Hopefully 'summitboy' (Ken) will also post a report.

6 comments:

Gayle said...

Good luck for the big event - and I hope that that forecast for rain is wrong!

Phreerunner said...

Thanks Gayle, we hope it's wrong too. Just like the UK, it does change by the hour...

Louise said...

Hello Martin
Just wanted to say thank you for popping over to my blog. I'm quite new to serious walking, so I'll be keeping an eye on your blog and your adventures for hints and tips. If I have any direct questions, I'll give you a shout. Thanks again.
Louise

Martin Rye said...

Good luck indeed. I have enjoyed reading about your adventures. I reckon you will be super fit for the Challenge.

Bramble Corner said...

Hi Guys
Just s quick hello and to wish you god luck for this weekend. The last few weeks look fantasic - I'm very jealous! All good here! My Ashburton vouchers came yesterday so I'm looking forward to choosing my course and getting that booked! Anyway must dash - still have a foot of snow here but not much skiing to be done with the toddlers around!
Lyn x

Unknown said...

As your daughter I am very ashamed to say that this is the first time I've read the blog but it's actually quite interesting! I might make a habit of it. At least then I'll know which country you're in when people ask!

Looks like you're having a brilliant time! Well it's snowing again here-fingers crossed for another snow day!!!