Everything's going "Uphill"

This post is about our most recent trip to Jasper National Park. It all started out with a quite 3 1/2 hour drive, and a stop at Subway. The silence ended with a competition to find the first wildlife with the prize being $5: Mom got first grabs when she saw a coyote despite numerous objections, but then Sophia stole it when she spotted deer. The hotel is the exact same one as I went to last year; a Best Western Motel with fireplaces two floor rooms and a swimming pool with a hot tub which we swam in later on, then we settled down for the night. The next morning we awaked to the sound of cable TV  and family eager to greet us. Soon after we got skis, and ski gear then headed for the mountain. When we got there, to my own discontent I left my mitts at the shop, so I had to borrow some from my relatives. When we set foot (or ski) we were greeted with a load of rough terrain which allowed my sister to do a bit of 'gymnastics.' The next few times before lunch we went up was just up to mid-mountain. We traveled up the the top once but when we got there it was a total whiteout. After that we ate lunch where I helped myself to some onion rings, french fries, a burger, and a chocolate milk. We did the same thing over again until we went inside when my joints were starting to ache then did some more runs. When we got back, I relieved myself of the pain by sitting in the Whirlpool back at the Hotel, but I left earlier due to sensory overload (it was crowded and noisy, two of my least favourite things.) The next day we took things even further on the mountain. We went as high as we can go on the chairlift and took different runs. I was doing the same speed and technique until lunch, that is where thing changed for the better. When inside my father criticized my slow pace (I was fastest on the Old  Road Run but anywhere else was a bit of an issue.) He explained that because I kept using the 'snow plow' move (where you put my skis together to make a triangle) it was the reason my legs were killing me. Believe it or not, the message got through to me and my technique and speed improved drastically. After skiing we headed with the family to L&W, a greek restaurant to celebrate my brother's 13th birthday (*insert dramatic tune here*) The day after that we dropped off all our equipment then did some window shopping where my brother got a fascinating piece of bismuth. On the way back we had another game of "Spot Some Wildlife" as I like to call it where this time I took the $5. (I spotted a heard of elk.) It was a great trip but there was one minor issue. Can my parents take me sometime when I'm not learning economics in social.

Venturer Winter 'Camp' 2014

Recently I got back from my camp in Nordegg, and believe me it was quite the experience. It began with a ride in the Motorhome, the only stuff that happened were us engorging on mom's signature cinnamon buns and playing games of Slap and Snort. Before we arrived we got stuck in a ditch and the elders vainly tried to get out, but soon a truck came by and noticed us, and towed us out. Soon enough I became transfixed in the National Geographic Magazines they had to offer. Later we played games of Foosball and after dinner we had other round of Slap and Snort and I was introduced to Liar's Dice. The next morning we did the priority objective of the camp, our FOCUS, (or Leadership training.) We went over things such as what makes a good leader and causes of stress. The minute that was out of the way, we went snowmobiling. We we set off, believe me they were 10x as fast as the quads in Barrhead. I wasn't driving even though I never get distracted on the quads, and besides it's a whole new machine. After a quick drive we stopped, set up a fire and roasted smokies, and on the way back we hit a jump. It was like this for the next day before we left. And it's something I'll never forget.