Well the time has arrived. All four of our food caches for the Jasper to Lake Louise portion are placed! Yahoo! Now all we have to do is go visit them again…via a more scenic route (gulp!). Here are some pictures from our last food cache by Fortress Lake, BC.

For the past month I have been dehydrating a variety of items, thereby probably driving my room-mate mad. One of my favourites is dried banana, which according to my dad look like a cat’s bum. Thanks for that dad….

Jake sucking out the air from ziplock bags to help them fit in the food box.

Myself with the food box (courtesy of my dad) and its little sidekick.

Jake and his burden-I-mean-sled.

Sometimes snow was lacking, making it very difficult at times.

One of eight river crossings during the drop. This was the deepest (and coldest! Brr!). In order to get all the sleds across we each had to cross at least four times. Jake and I are wearing tee-shirts from one of our Sponsors – Yes Wellness.

Jake and Ben doing another river crossing.

Crossing the border between Alberta and BC

Sometimes the bush got pretty thick…

Finally – Fortress Lake. We just have to cache the food on the other side, 11 km away…sigh.

Burying the cache.

The weather on the return was far better!

Ah! Pure bliss…Sunshine and an empty sled make an enjoyable time.

A few days ago we placed our first food drop for the ski section from Jasper to Lake Louise. It is official – we are now committed (gulp). Only three more food drops to go! Here are some pictures from our three day adventure:

Leaving the parking lot at Saskatchewan Crossing with our food cache in a wooden box to protect it against unfriendly (smaller) creatures. Hopefully bears/wolverines don’t like pounds upon pounds of candy, chocolate, hot coco, girl guide cookies, and instant potatoes…Oh dear.

Skiing up the Howse River Valley. The flatness was greatly appreciated.

Another team member – Ben. He will join us from Jasper to Lake Louise. The box construction was his handy work.

Shiny sunglasses are of the utmost importance. How else would you get an indirect self-portrait of all of us?

We had our difficulties. Memo to self: Ski boots are not waterproof.

Getting close to the cache spot.

Ben and Jake begin making a platform for our wooden box.

What we have to show for three days work…not to mention how long it took to make the box and gather the food/fuel. IT LOOKS AWESOME!

We return one box lighter.