hiking the chief

a while back, i went for a hike near squamish, bc with s.b. and a.k. the hike -- the stawamus chief -- was definitely a work-out (at least for me). a.k. seems to be running up it, in my estimation. and my tired old body, wayyyy out of shape, was groaning and creaking for days afterwards. but it was good pain. we made it up to the first peak. of course my camera ran out of batteries at the top! i am proud to report, however, that i did not need helicoptor evacuation. you have to climb 2 ladders and use chains to walk up sheer rock. the most impressive route to the top is to rock climb the face of the cliff. and at the top you can see tiny specks of colour -- people climbing up the rock.

i recall my hike because having gone to the ymca here in slurry two days ago for a yoga stretch class advertised for all levels, including absolute beginners, i am now creaking and groaning again! but the ymca is amazing - it's huge & shiny & new & has a coffee shop inside it (an esquire's) -- it puts the y on atlantic avenue to shame.