Testimonials

On our first mountain trip, Marco surprised me by saying ‘Let’s have an adventure’.  

I’ve heard guides say: ‘Let’s have a safe trip’, or ‘Let’s be sure to be back in time for supper’.  Very occasionally I’ve even heard: ‘Let’s have a fun day’.  But never has any guide suggested, particularly if I was in the party, that any limit might be pushed.

However, since meeting Marco, there have been adventures:

• A crystal-sharp September day on a snow and ice-clad Victoria.
• Another crystal sharp September day on a very snow-laden Aberdeen. (I still swear that’s not 40 degrees).
• Watching the snow blast around our very-sheltered camp site on an unsuccessful late-season attempt of Joffree.
• Spectacular April skiing on Macarthur, Emerald Pass, and the President.  I can never forget the sight of Marco cutting the break in the cornice to allow us to ski to the President-Vice President col.  Nor the thigh-deep snow-feathers that protected the presidential summit.
• Spotting and somehow avoiding two sumo-wrestling grizzlies deep in the Kananaskis backcountry.
• Ridge-travelling on a grey, wet day amongst the Bugaboo spires (we’ll be back).
• Smooth-flowing pitches on the Mt Louis Kain Route.

Each of these was a very safe trip, each was fun, and each maximized the daylight hours.  Most importantly, each was an adventure designed for my skill set and interests.

Marco deserves top credit.  I’m a hiker.  I’m not super fit.  My technical skills are, at best, ‘occasional’: it’s been thirty years since I have done anything significant.  But because of his leadership, skills, patience and good humour, I’m able to travel amongst our most-wonderful summits. 

And next year?   Well I might just try that ice-climbing.  And of course, more skiing, more rock days, and more summit attempts. 

Judy Gifford
Calgary AB