Bob and Liz get
chilled to the bone
Hypothermia is sneaky
BY DAVE WATT
WINTER WAS HERE and the trails were
once again covered in snow. Bob and Liz
were psyched for the start of another
backcountry ski season. Work had been
hectic and exercise had been in short supply.
The ski season would change all that.
Snow had been heavy all week and the
weekend saw them setting out from the
trailhead under a wintery sky, blurred with
a haze of ice crystals. Steam funneled out of
their mouths and the collars of their fleeces
were soon white with frost. They planned
a big start to the season with a hard first
outing that would test their fitness. Today’s
route was long, with a stiff climb that would
see them rewarded by a steep, swooping
descent right to the car door.
They were soon puffing and panting,
pushing themselves along faster than was
comfortable, making up for a late night and
the later-than-wished-for start. Sweating
hard, they did not stop to take off layers,
choosing instead to feel sweat trickling
down their backs. Snack and drink stops
were minimized to make up for that extra
coffee stop on the way out of the city.
Feeling tired and in need of water to slake
a parched throat, Bob called an early lunch
stop. Liz suggested moving on a little way
to get out of the breeze, but Bob insisted
his thirst wouldn’t wait. They rummaged
through their packs for lunch and drinks and
Liz was a little bemused as Bob emptied out
every last item. “Have you seen my lunch?”
asked Bob. “I put it on the top of the car,”
replied Liz, adding “You didn’t leave it there,
did you?” “Damn,” thought Bob. “That’s his pack, feeling the cold wetness of his caution and skill. Liz watched his stumbling,
exactly where it is.” To make matters worse, clothing pressed against his back. “Do you uncoordinated ascent and was not surprised
Liz was one of those bird-like eaters so want another drink?” asked Liz. “Don’t need to see him take many tumbles into the snow,
as usual didn’t pack much of anything. one,” grunted Bob. smiling to herself as Bob became a human
snowball, snow sticking to his already
As they came to a halt in the gathering gloom, Liz noticed
wet fleece.
She caught up with him at the top of the
that Bob was shivering and looking thoroughly dejected.
pass, noticing that he was slumped over his
poles looking very pale and tired. “We need
However, she happily shared what little she plodding on through the deep snow to go,” he mumbled, the cold affecting the
had with Bob. they were faced with the steep section of words that were being forced from a frigid
Lunch was short! Bob was grumbling the day. Bob was getting angry, throwing jaw. Liz watched him flounder off, noticing
and mumbling to himself as he hoisted himself at the ascent, brute force replacing his usual polished and smooth style had
12 CALGARY >> WINTER 2008/2009 www.CalgaryOutdoors.ca
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