Looking back at nine

 I don’t know about you, but 2009 was pretty cool as far as years go. 

During ‘09 I managed to squeeze in more than ever, and would even go as far to say that it was the best year of my life!  Maybe my planets aligned or some bullshit like that, who knows, but I was 27 and 2 + 7 = 9!  I think it was more to do with my attitude towards life, and trying to make the most of the time and opportunities that presented me, and of course have FUN!

I rang in the new year in Canada, in the little ski town of Rossland, BC, spending my days knee to waist deep in fresh powder dodging pine trees down double blacks and casing newfound friends.  When the ski tows weren’t running we ate, drank, went jibbing, watched ice hockey, played Ms. Pacman, 8 ball, and any other game we could get our hands on untill the wee hours of the morning.  I only saw a small part of Canada, I loved it, and knew that I would have to go back.

I returned to Australia to experience the hottest week on record with the highest  temperature for an Australian capital city with Melbourne reaching 48 point something degrees, quite lovely after -35 (with wind chill) on the top of the ski hill.

One week later I spent a few days hiking around Wilsons Promontory, the Southern most tip of the Australian mainland, with amazing blue waters and rugged coastline.

I did at some point have to return to work, but that didn’t stop a myriad of day trips to the You Yangs, Werribee Gorge, with weekends to the Grampians and Mt. Arapiles for some outdoor climbing.  Trail running had firmly taken a hold on my addictive personality, with each run increasing in length, altitude gained, and intensity.  A return to the road bike was also included, notching up kilometers, and trying keep some bike fitness.  I competed in my first bouldering competition, moved house, and adjusted my life to suit me.

Soon enough it was Easter and another hike planned, taking in Mt. Speculation, The Razor, The Viking, and Mt. Cobbler in the Victorian Alps.  These peaks are apart of the Australian Alps walking track, but we only saw 1 person over the 3 days, it’s not a high volume hiking area, but it should be, with amazing terrain and views.  We slept under the stars atop the Viking, a perfectly clear night, with an amazing sunset and sunrise to boot.  Getting up at 4am 2 days later to hike up Mt. Cobbler for sunrise was a dark and wet experience, but worth it all the same when the clouds broke allowing the sun to shine through.

The onset of winter is a great time, well when you like the snow, and skiing, snowshoeing, snow camping, and everything else snow related.  A couple of seasons ago I took to snow camping and then day skiing at the resorts, it’s the tightass way to ski as many days as possible.  The ‘09 winter saw me competing in my first cross-country ski races, with the Pub to Pub and the Hoppet (21km), as there is no better way to have fun on snow than with an average heart rate of 190bpm.  This misery (yet fun very fun) was nicely complemented with many days of alpine skiing, and backcountry snowshoeing.

As spring approached, planned adventures with a friend Deb, were modified.  What was to be an ice axe swinging good time up Avalanche gully (Mt. Feathertop) soon became a ridge hike.  The unnamed ridge to the north of Avalanche and Hellfire gullies (We called it Hellfire ridge) still provided an adventure, with bad weather testing navigation, and the average gradient of 30%.

Amongst all this there were more climbing trips, a weekend in Murray Bridge for a 24hour Human powered vehicle race (I think we placed 5th??)  I jumped back on the mountain bike in late October, found myself winning a 6hour Mtb race, becoming hyperthermic at my first shot at a 12hour, and absolutely loving my first 24hour solo, finishing 2nd in single speed and therefore qualifying for world 24hour champs.  I ramped up my trail running, as I trained towards my first ultramarathon in early 2010. 

5 days in Darwin saw the year coming to a close, with the wet season showing it’s for with a cyclone.  So much rain and humidity, but it was really quite amazing.  The sheer size of the Northern territory, along with the harsh landscape, dangerous reptiles, and climate made for an adventure in itself.

In ‘09 many new friends were made, old ones caught up, with plenty good times had.

Not to mention the countless kilometers run, ridden, hiked, and driven to some great places and through amazing places in this world.

What more can I say I think 2009 was pretty good.. But I think ‘10 will be just as good, if not better!

Let the good times roll!

keep you posted

Ryan