Category: Inspiration

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

It’s Luxury Spa Day!

Entrance to the Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spa

According to my Big Mountain Challenge itinerary, today was Willow Stream Spa Day. Yay! I had been looking forward to this day since I read over the plan for the week, and I knew that it would be a much needed relaxation day after hiking Cascade Mountain. Boy was it ever a relaxing day!
Breakfast food. Yum….
Last night I crashed before midnight. I was absolutely exhausted; my body felt broken in many places, and my foot was feeling the effects of a 10+ hour hike. After sleeping in a bit, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready to head for breakfast. All of our breakfasts are included, so we decided to make our way to the Bow Valley Grill in the hotel for their breakfast buffet. The selection of food was amazing. There was an omelette station with peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and many other possible ingredients; a fruit station; a section with different kinds of frittatas, hash browns, and sausages; oatmeal, cereals, yogurts, etc etc etc. The list really does go on. Dan and I feasted quite quickly while enjoying orange juice and coffee, and once finished, the waiter brought our bill. It was $68.21! We gasped. This was very different than the usual Starbucks breakfast sandwich and coffee that we would usually get. Thank goodness breakfast was included! The service was incredible and the food tasted great :).
This is how you lounge in a luxury spa, right??
Then it was time for our included massages. We signed in to the Willow Stream Spa, and then we were given a tour of the facilities. The co-ed resting room included delicious cucumber mint water, as well as free cookies and a place to lounge and socialize. From the window, we were told about the three pulsating waterfalls of varying temperatures: Bow Falls, Cascade Falls, and Assiniboine Falls. After enjoying those, it was recommended that we stay in the rejuvenating mineral pool for at least 15 minutes to obtain the benefits of the minerals. Hey, I believe it. Then, we could enjoy the outdoor whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and eucalyptus inhalation room. Super stoked! We changed into our robes and sat in the waiting area. 
Inside the Willow Stream Spa at the Banff Springs Hotel. Photo from Fairmont.
Paul greeted me for my sports massage. All I can say is that he was amazing and that I really needed a massage. Being a sports massage, it was quite deep tissue, and at times the massage was painful. He worked on certain muscles in my shoulders that I didn’t even know existed. He moved on to my legs for quite some time and rolled out my IT band in a way that a foam roller couldn’t even compare. All of the pain was worth it, because by the end of the 60 minutes, I was incredibly relaxed. I sat back in the waiting room, drinking some water, and quite out of it. Dan showed up right after, having completed his massage with Courtney. He was extremely happy to have his hip flexors destroyed by her. Apparently it was what he needed after the long hike. We took a quick break for lunch and then returned to the spa to spend some time enjoying the mineral pool and waterfalls… and steam room… and sauna…. and eucalyptus inhalation room… and outdoor whirlpool. I really can’t complain. It’s luxury life that I don’t experience often, but when I do, it sure is heavenly! We were even impressed that there were disposable razors in the change room so we could shave. So we shaved, ’cause we could.
I’ve never been this excited over disposable razors before!
After enjoying the spa, we wandered into town. We stopped at Evelyn’s for coffee, wandered the Banff Farmer’s Market, took photos along the river, and then headed to the Bear Street Tavern for Banff’s best pizza (apparently) and drinks. 
Produce from the Banff Farmer’s Market
More items from the Banff Farmer’s Market
Not uncommon for this whole trip, we ate and drank a ridiculous amount, and felt super full and bloated afterwards. So what’s the best thing to do after eating that much? Walk back to the Banff Springs Hotel, check ourselves into the spa, and be lazy in the mineral pool and waterfalls :). It’s been quite the extraordinary and relaxing life today…
Sampling beer and a sangria at the Bear Street Tavern
Heading back to the spa in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Welcome to Banff National Park!

Banff: So much to see and do!

Today was the day that the Big Mountain Challenge began. It’s crazy that it’s finally starting! I met Dan at the airport and waited for our ride to the Banff Springs Hotel. According to our itinerary, “few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality and scenery of The Fairmont Banff Springs“. And it’s so true! Thanks to Brewster Travel Canada, Dan and I were able to board the shuttle to Banff. 

Thanks Brewster Travel Canada

We checked in only to find out that we had been upgraded to a fancier room in the Stanley Thompson Wing. Wow! When we entered the room, the phone rang almost immediately. It was Don, the VIP Concierge, asking us if our stay had been okay so far. It certainly had been. It was a bit surreal when he said he dealt with celebrities and high profiled guests. Dan and I looked at each other thinking, “Are we high profile??”. We chuckled. The room itself is pretty incredible- two queen sized beds in one room; a very large bathroom; a living room with flat screen TV, fireplace, and a Keurig coffee maker; and a quite impressive view of the mountains. How wonderful! 

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Majestic!
We can’t believe we’re here…
Thanks Fairmont!
Opulence? Beauty? Awesome? All of the above?

The rest of the day was spent wandering around Banff, taking in the sights, sounds and beauty; stopping at Saltlik for dinner; and shopping for some extra gear for our big hikes. There was much laughter, catching up with Dan, and re-living the experience so far that resulted in this amazing opportunity. In a few hours, we begin the first mountain: Cascade. I’m pretty excited! Considering it’s almost 1 am and that the hike starts at 6 am, I should get to bed now. Thanks Banff Lake Louise Tourism for organizing a great first day! Goodnight :).

Yum!
Eating bison at Saltlik
Taking a stroll around Banff
Cascade Mountain from Banff Avenue. We will conquer you!
Challenge Accepted! (www.knowyourmeme.com)

The Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

Cascade Mountain, from Banff Avenue. Credit: Real Banff

It’s the afternoon of Sunday August 26th. My condo is covered with clothes and hiking gear that I will be taking on the big trip. My camera is being charged, pop tunes are playing, and I’m taking a break from packing to drink some coffee, rest my injured foot, and write this posting.

Tomorrow, Banff National Park’s Big Mountain Challenge begins. I’m so excited about this! It’ll be great to see Dan when he flies in at 11 am, and then we’ll head to Banff to begin this big adventure.

As I sit here, I can’t help but reflect on this entire process. To be honest, I didn’t really think I’d have a shot at winning this challenge when this whole endeavor started. It was on June 12th when Dan sent me the following e-mail:
“YES YES YES YES YES
Are these mountains we could climb?”
Sometimes our e-mails are this short, yes. Well, this looks interesting, I thought. The article starts by saying that tourism officials in Banff are looking for an avid hiker with a big heart. I remember joking- “Ha! I’m an avid hiker… and I have a big heart!” To enter the contest, entrants needed to submit a photo explaining how they would prepare for the big challenge. Dan and I thought it would be a good idea if I entered, and we would both pool whatever resources we could to try and win this contest. Dan, being an active blogger/tweeter/FBer, would use his social networking and blogging power to gather support for my entry, and I would try to do the same. Friends Paul and Turin helped me choose the photo, and after coming up with the tag line on how I was preparing for the challenge (“By singing showtunes to keep the bears away!”), I would have about 6 weeks to get as many votes and comments as I could to support my campaign. If I won the contest, up to $25,000 would go to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the charity of my choice.
My contest entry
I began to see the support for me and this contest almost immediately. Friends, family and colleagues were very supportive. The votes came in; comments were posted to the Banff National Park FB page saying that I should win, and that the donation should go to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. People were voting whenever they could. Strangers sent me messages about how it was a great thing to be doing this for The Kidney Foundation- people who I had never met, but who were living with kidney disease, or had family members who did, or were recipients of kidney transplants, or who lost family members on the waiting list, or who were newly diagnosed and were scared. A contest that began as “I love hiking” quickly turned into something more. The support quickly put me in first place in the voting.
I thought my vacation to Peru would derail my campaign a bit. I knew I wouldn’t have internet access, but people came to my rescue. Robbie was a huge support throughout this. His efforts would bring The Kidney Foundation on board, and they began posting on their national FB and kidney march pages to garner attention for the contest and gather support. Even though I was dropping in the ranks, my online presence was always strong.
When I came back from Peru, my first media gig happened. I was asked to discuss the Big Mountain Challenge and talk a little bit about my charity on Global Calgary. It was an incredible experience! Robbie and I went to the studio and it was so cool to see how the morning news was produced. To say I was nervous is an understatement, and I was literally shaking on TV (though people probably didn’t notice). I ended the interview, thankful for the opportunity, but hoping it was the last, ha! It was just so nerve-wracking. The general consensus was that it was great, but I was much more serious on camera than usual!
When the contest closed on July 27th, I was 6th place in the votes. The fine print for the contest did emphasize that votes and comments are ‘strongly’ considered by the judging panel, and that they did not determine the winner. So I figured I had a good shot at winning, but there were some great entries, very strong campaigns, and incredible charities in the mix. It seemed like it could be anyone’s contest to win. When August 3rd rolled around and I was announced as a Top 10 finalist but not the winner, I was sad, mainly because I would have loved to see The Kidney Foundation win the $25,000.  Many people told me that I was still a winner in their eyes, having brought so much awareness about kidney disease and for placing so high out of 719 entries. That made me feel better :). Kidney disease is one of those ‘silent’ diseases that oftentimes presents itself once the kidneys have already failed. I knew from talking with family and friends that, at the very least, some people learned something about kidney failure. I sent my congratulations to the winner, and then went away for the weekend. 
How things in life can change pretty quickly. On Tuesday, August 7th, I received a call from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, informing me there were some eligibility issues with the winner, and that I was the new winner! What crazy news! I was outside of my building, jumping up and down. I’m sure people were watching me, but I didn’t care. I was soooo excited! Once I called Dan to let him know, he first asked “Are you kidding me?”. Of course I wasn’t. I never call Dan, so why would I call to joke about something like this? He was shocked and super excited. I asked him, “Are you still available August 27th – September 4th?” He replied that he would do whatever it took to get the time off and be here. I think we’re both still thinking this whole thing is surreal. 
Since August 7th, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I was in contact with the fundraising department at The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta branch. They set up a fundraising page that explained that the fundraising was part of the Big Mountain Challenge. Friends, family, colleagues and supporters began donating immediately. Our goal was to raise $5000 within 2 weeks, and Banff Lake Louise Tourism would match, dollar-for-dollar, any amount we made up to $5000. I’ve never fundraised for anything before, so I was quite nervous about this part. The afternoon of August 13th, the donation page went live. By August 17th, we had surpassed $5000 in donations. At times, I was speechless. I couldn’t believe how fast the money had come in. What can you say to everyone who backed me up in this contest since June 12th? How do you thank them for tolerating the many e-mails and Facebook updates? And now, how could I express to everyone how incredible it is to be part of an effort that raised more than $5000 in less than 5 days? I’m still reeling from this, and will continue to say Thank You to everyone as much as I can. 
That first Global Calgary interview would not be my only media experience. Since then, I had a live phone interview with The Morning Show on Global Toronto; was in Calgary’s Metro News, the Milton Champion, the Libin Institute blog, on the University of Calgary’s Utoday and main webpage, and the Faculty of Medicine’s News Digest. I’ve done radio interviews with QR77, Mountain FM, and the CBC Eyeopener.  It’s all been about promoting Banff and Lake Louise, as well as talking about The Kidney Foundation and how people can donate. I’ve been enjoying all of the media for what it is, and it’s been very exciting, though part of me is looking forward to it dying down a bit :). 
Milton Champion. Anyone tired of this photo yet?? 🙂
By August 22nd, when the fundraising link closed, we had raised $6,762. Once the hikes are completed by Labour Day (September 3rd), The Kidney Foundation will receive $26,762. Absolutely incredible.
Yay!
I am so grateful for all of the experiences that have occurred since this contest began, and this is not something I take for granted by any means. Starting tomorrow, Dan and I are about to start the final phase of the contest- the trip to Banff and Lake Louise, and hiking the three mountains: Cascade Mountain, Mount Temple, and Sulphur Mountain. For me, Banff and Lake Louise aren’t too far away, but they are amazing parts of Alberta, and of the world, really. The scenery there is stunning, and I’m amazed by the beauty every time I go. This will be no different. The itinerary is pretty packed:
The Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel. Credit: Real Banff
August 27: Arrive in Banff and check in to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
August 28: Classic Hike #1- Cascade Summit (10 – 12 hours)
August 29: Willow Stream Spa Day at the Banff Springs
August 30: Transfer to Lake Louise and check in to The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Lake Louise Shoreline Stroll with a Heritage Guide.
August 31: Classic Hike #2- Temple Summit (10 – 12 hours)
September 1: Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, and have lunch with the owner!
September 2: Transfer to Banff and check in to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Willow Stream Spa Day #2 🙂
September 3: Class Hike #3- Sulphur Summit (1.5 hours), followed by a photo opportunity and press event! (This includes Julie Canning, President & CEO from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, and Stuart Hart, Director of Sales & Marketing Development, for the cheque presentation; and Global TV, Banff Crag & Canyon, The Rocky Mountain Outlook, The Calgary Herald and The Calgary Sun for photo opportunities and interviews! Wow!)
September 4: Dan flies home and I return to Calgary
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Credit: Real Banff
So I just looked at the time, and I should really get back to packing. Nothing has moved in the last 2 hours, and my suitcase is still empty. There will be more opportunities to write during the trip, and I’ll definitely be posting photos. I look forward to seeing what the next week brings. I wish I could bring everyone who helped me out with this contest! First up- Cascade Mountain on Tuesday. So excited…

It’s Time To Donate!!

All donations help!!- CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

I may have won Banff National Park’s Big Mountain Challenge, but we’re not done yet! It’s now time to raise $5000! Every donation (up to $5000) will be matched by Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Upon completion of the hikes, an additional $15000 will be donated to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. So potentially, that’s $25000! WOAH! Please donate as much or as little as you can :).
Here’s the blurb from the donation page:
All donations help!!- CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
The Banff National Park Big Mountain Challenge contest launched on Facebook on June 11, 2012, asking entrants to submit a photograph of themselves with accompanying commentary about how they would prepare for the epic challenge of ascending 3 mountain peaks over the course of seven days. The winner would also have a chance to raise up to $25000 for charity. By close of the contest, 719 entries had been submitted from around North America. 
How did I prepare for the challenge? By singing show tunes to keep the bears away, of course! 
The first part of the Big Mountain Challenge is now complete… and I’m humbled to say that I’ve been chosen as the winner! Thank you everyone for your votes, your encouragement, and your support- this was possible because of you. I’m still in absolute shock that my photo entry was chosen! I can’t wait to take on this challenge and report back on the amazing experience it will be. But that’s still a few weeks away. 

The second phase in the Big Mountain Challenge is to fundraise for my charity of choice. So over the next two weeks, I will be raising pledges of support for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. What’s awesome is that Banff Lake Louise Tourism will match all donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5000! Not only have they hosted a great contest, they are also happy to donate to an incredible charity. Upon completion of the ascents, a guaranteed $15000 will be given to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, as well as up to $10000 more based on the pledges earned. 

So what’s our goal?? The ultimate goal is $25000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. To make sure this happens, we need to raise at least $5000 in pledges. This is an ambitious goal to achieve within two weeks, but I have no doubt that with your support and generosity, we can do it! Any amount, as large or as little, will benefit this great organization. (Note: All donors will receive an electronic tax receipt via e-mail).

For more information, visit www.kidney.ca
I’ve been asked the question: Why did you choose The Kidney Foundation of Canada? Truthfully, up until a few years ago, and probably like many Canadians, I didn’t know much about kidney disease or the effects of kidney failure. When I moved from Ontario to work with a kidney disease research group at the University of Calgary, I learned very quickly that chronic kidney disease is very serious, lifelong, and there is no cure. It not only impacts the life of the patient, but the patient’s family and friends as well. And there are 2.6 million Canadians who have or are at risk of kidney disease. There is so much we still need to understand about the disease, and so sometimes it’s difficult to give it the platform and attention it deserves. 
From a personal standpoint, I have family members affected by diabetes and high blood pressure, and I learned that those are the two leading risk factors for kidney disease. That’s a very scary thing to think about. Over 50% of people diagnosed with kidney disease have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both. 
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is a leading national health charity for reducing the burden of kidney disease. They focus on research, education and support, promoting access to quality health care, and increasing public awareness for organ donation. I felt it was important to hike for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. It’s my way of showing support so they can continue helping all Canadians affected by kidney disease.
For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada, please visit www.kidney.ca.

I’m Still in Shock!

I WON!!

Today’s posting was supposed to be about my lovely weekend away, but today I was thrown for a bit of a loop. It was all good news though! Here is an e-mail I wrote and sent earlier, which I will post here as my blog entry 🙂
*****
So life really is a funny thing. On Friday I had sent around an e-mail informing you that I had made the top 10 of the Big Mountain Challenge. I was trying to raise up to $25000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada, and I was so close!
Well, today I received a call from Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Due to some eligibility requirements, the winner who was competing to win for Doctors Without Borders was ineligible. It’s unfortunate for Doctors Without Borders, which is a great charity. It’s also too bad for the winner from Ontario who I know was looking very forward to travelling to Banff and Lake Louise to experience the awesome landscape we have out here.
With that said, though… can you guess why they called me?!
I’m happy to announce that I am the WINNER of the Big Mountain Challenge!!! I’m still in shock over this news!
I had an idea that I ran a great campaign, thanks to social networking, a Global TV news segment and all of your support! I reached a vast number of people and spread the word about The Kidney Foundation of Canada and The Big Mountain Challenge. But to be told that I was, without a doubt, the contestant to give the former winner a run for that money!… well, that’s pretty cool :).
Thank you again, everyone, for your help and support! Since sending the e-mail on Friday, I’ve had many kind e-mails and messages about how it was amazing to bring awareness to kidney disease and The Kidney Foundation of Canada, and how happy and proud you were that I made the top 10! Thank you for reminding me that that feat was a huge accomplishment on its own.
By a twist of fate, it turns out- I made the Top 1! 😀
So what happens next?
1) Well, I’ve now secured $15000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. YAY! This is an AMAZING feeling.
2) Over the next two weeks, I will be running an intense fundraising campaign to raise up to $5000. I will say in advance that helping me get to this point has been incredible. Now I turn the focus away from me winning the challenge, and over to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Any amount I can raise will truly benefit this amazing organization, so I encourage you to donate with as much (or as little) as you can. Any amount helps. I will be sending around further information on this once I set up the fundraising page. For every amount (up to $5000) that I raise, Banff Lake Louise Tourism will match it! And that’s how we’re going to get to $25000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada!!
3) After that, I’m going to get into the best shape as I can, because I will have a week (starting August 27th) to hike Sulphur Mountain, Cascade Mountain, and Mount Temple. They are EPIC, but I know I will be able to do this. Here is a link that I found about Mount Temple, the most difficult of the three. The elevation gain is 1690 metres. It is rated as a difficult hike and is estimated to take anywhere between 8 and 12 hours. Climbing helmets and an ice axe are recommended. It is one of the highest peaks in the Lake Louise area. I’m super excited.
4) The prize also involves enjoying the Banff and Lake Louise areas. I’m always trying to encourage people to visit out this way, and now I’ll be able to entice them even more by experiencing the area a bit more. The winner and a guest receive:
– Round trip airfare to Calgary with transport to Banff National Park
– Eight nights in the Fairmont Banff Springs and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
– Spa treatments at a spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs
– A Certified Mountain Guide for Mount Temple and Cascade mountain, and a Parks Canada guide for Sulphur Mountain
– A Parks Canada Discovery Pass
My friend Dan from Guelph, Ontario will be flying out here as my guest, and he will join me in conquering these mountains. Dan brought this contest to my attention and has been supporting the campaign the whole way through, so it’ll be nice that he’s able to have Banff Lake Louise Tourism fly him out here for the challenge.
So I’m super stoked, but that’s only phase one of the challenge! Thanks again everyone… you’ll be hearing from me again 🙂
Regards,
Rick