Wednesday December 14th

Well, we all survived and I think we even had a lot of fun up in the Callaghan Valley skiing our little hearts out.
Our class joined Madame Gregoires's and we headed up to the Callaghan after 9am. Thank you to Krista (our volunteer mom) for being so accommodating and braving a day on the slopes :) Know we all appreciate  it and we hope you enjoyed your day.

I have confirmed one fact. I am not one of those cute-in-a toque women. Some people can look so cool and fabulous in any number of hats- not me. Once a toque is on my head it has to stay due to the crazy hat hair that happens BUT the worst thing is I think I look a little crazy when it is on too! Enough about my hang ups.

It was snowing lightly when we arrived and it snowed all  afternoon. It was very pretty in the area of the lodge and trails with the snow coming down and being in the outdoors enjoying the fresh air and the activity was very special. Actually, being with these students is very special too. We are so lucky to have these Olympic level facilities in our backyard.

I assisted (followed up at the back of the group) with a group of 11 beginner cross country (classic style) skiing which means different skis and boots than the skate skiers. We all started out very well. We were balanced and keen. Mid morning after putting us through our paces, our instructor headed us out onto a loop trail and that was when we had all sorts of frustrations, falls and equipment malfunctions.
We had lost gloves, wayward skis, boot laces that wouldn't stay done up, many students couldn't stay up and  had difficulty getting up from a fall in the deep snow to list but a few of our mishaps!
However, after a break and some healthy food I was encouraged (and amazed) by the students who decided they wanted to get back out there and ski another loop in the afternoon. And even more amazing is the fact that those who were having so much difficulty staying up in the morning hours were looking like professionals in the afternoon. I decided to stay with the skiers- the other group played some group games in the teaching areas by the lodge.
I am now beginning to feel some muscle sets a little crunchier than they were yesterday. Oh dear!

 I spent most of the morning waiting for and helping students up. Trying to reach them had me take a couple of falls too (especially the one that took a student down a small embankment into deep fresh snow in which both poles and a ski came off). Perseverance is the word of the day and we did more than just learn to spell it!! We lived it and, by the excellent skiing in the afternoon, I would say we learned and understood perseverance.
That's what makes field trips like these so important. N'est ce pas?

We returned just before 3pm to the Squamish rain with rosy faces and tired bodies but still very full of energy. Thank-you for entrusting your children to us for the day. We had fun. Hope everyone sleeps well tonight- I plan a bath with some Epsom salts just so I can get up tomorrow morning!

See everyone tomorrow. Remember your instruments for band practice.
Mrs. J.