Refugio Frey- Bariloche, Argentina
This past year I took the trip of a lifetime: crossing hemispheres to ski lines most people access by steal people movers if ever at all. In part the trip was an opportunity for me to successfully reach my goal of backcountry skiing every month of 2016. Traveling 180 degrees south, allowed me to go beyond skiing once or twice each month and instead ski nearly every single day of the what would have been steamy North American summer months climbing west coast volcanoes to piece together patches of old snow.
My trip to South America was initially inspired by Aaron Rice: the currently world record holder for most human powered skiing in one calendar year. With the mentality that today is the day, I had no doubt that Aaron, the most enthusiastic of the backcountry skiers I know, would achieve his goal and crush the world record for most uphill travel recorded in a calendar year. On December 29th 2016, Aaron broke Canadian Greg Hill's record of 2,000,000 feet held since 2010 with a whopping 2.506 Million vertical feet climbed since January 1st. If we rewind 12 months and include Aaron's vertical gain while training in winter 2015, he skied well beyond that calculated amount. He didn't do this for the recognition though, it's for the skiing.
Jokingly, he has mentioned that he's trying to ski away the ski bum: a task that I can relate to as I approach my 7th season of endless winter. Maybe its the way the ice sits on the branches of pine trees catching my eye as the sun reflects snow sparkles across the sky. Or, perhaps its the chance to not only survive but thrive in zero degree temps sweating as I walk slowly uphill, one foot in front of the next, to ski 2 feet of fresh powder off of an untouched slope. My absolute lust for the winter season also must be derived from the comradery around the sport itself. Skiing can set the mind free from anything short of the present moment. When you live in the moment, you never lose a second.
It's no surprise to me that Aaron has set his goal well above the record at 2.5 million feet. Aaron and I have hit the slopes nearly every month since the clock started ticking in January. His perseverance and ability to properly plan for such a feat has taught me that anything is possible. Sure, his lungs are strong and legs made of steal, but Aaron embodies a mental toughness that at times I question is even human. Aaron, you're an inspiration and constant reminder that the mind is the most beautiful of all the body's organs. Keep on putting one foot in front of the other because at the end of that day, whether you're breaking a new world record or planting basil in your front yard, dreaming big and moving forward is what matters most. Follow Aaron's journey on Instagram @airandrice #2point5mil
