This was a trip that for the coordinator brought new meaning to the word ‘skunked’. I put up a meeting time of 7 am, to be sure of enough daylight for this trip to the Palliser Warden Cabin. From Shark Trailhead to the bridge over the Spray River is well used and fast, but that isn’t always the case once you leave the main trail immediately after the bridge.

And now for a little background: just before 6:30 am I opened the front door, to be met by a WALL of eau de skunk. Now, my normal procedure is to open the door, put everything on the step, close the door and then load the car. This time I gagged, slammed the door to keep the smell out, and RAN to the car to throw in my gear. I had never before smelt skunk anywhere in the immediate neighbourhood, and thought maybe a dog had rousted the little stinker out from somewhere. (Do they, or do they not hibernate?) So I started to search, fearing I had a new ‘housemate’ or worse yet, that an injured beast was lying nearby, just waiting to spray again. When I realized A) the futility of what I was doing and B) the time, I locked the door and hastened away.

At the parking lot, everyone was there, with carpooling all arranged, waiting for the coordinator (me). And WHERE is the Waiver? Answer – at home. I asked Chris if she’d drive by her place and pick one up. She said sure, and I started to load my stuff into John’s car – I passed him my skis, my poles, my bootbag. “Where’s your pack?” he asked. SHREIK! It is home with the waiver, inside that door I slammed to keep the smell out. I took back my stuff, told John I’d drive out alone, and headed home. En route, I phoned Chris, told her ‘it’s your trip now’ and explained that I was experiencing a major hissy-fit/meltdown and probably would not go.

But when I got home I thought, ‘you CAN’T get up at 5 am and do nothing” so off I went to the Mt Shark Trailhead. A veil of decency should and will be drawn across my thoughts from 7 am at Shouldice until 12:30 or 1 pm when I caught up with the tail of ‘my trip’. Suffice it to say that there was a lot of talking going on, some of it quite loud, but fortunately there was no one within hearing distance. The others had not got going as early as might have been expected, since during the drive Jeannine’s skis had gone flying off the roof of Ivan’s car. More unwelcome excitement, but the skis survived. The rest of the day was mercifully uneventful, except for a conversation with Ginger. We actually share the same January birthday – both Capricorns. I forgot my pack; she forgot her lunch. I checked when I got home and the newspaper did not predict that today would mark the start of senile dementia for either of us. So much for horoscopes!

There was an old track all the way to the Palliser Warden Cabin, and the wax worked really well. Off trail though, the snowpack is shallow and sugared out, with some crusty layers. It would not be fun to break trail. We had a fine run in and out, with lunch on the steps of the cabin. A few rays of sun broke through now and again, but mostly it was a grey day, with scattered flurries, particularly through the morning. The road conditions were good, with lots of gravel where needed.

Thanks to everyone, especially Christine, who got the waiver and had it signed for me. We were a group of eleven once I finally showed up. Participants were Greg, Yoko, Joan, Ivan, Jeannine, John, Ginger, Shirley, Paula, Chris and me, Carmie, C/S

Palliser Cabin

Palliser Cabin Trail

Palliser Cabin Trail

Palliser Cabin Trail

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