Adventures with Taylor (Part 1)

My Son, Taylor, is quite an adventurer.  He loves to be out in the mountains, skiing or biking or hiking; it really doesn’t matter what it is; it just makes him happy he is out there.  So, when Taylor asks me to go do things with him, I try my best to make that happen.  There are many reasons why I try and make it happen, but the main one is because he is my son, and I love him.  The second reason is that he wants to share these experiences with me.  Even if I’m not the fastest climber on a bike or skis, he still wants me there.  I want to have these memories with him, and he is really fun to hang out with.  Sometimes I don’t get his sense of humour, but eventually, the light bulb goes on, and he thinks that’s funny.  I thought I would share some of the adventures he has taken me on this year. 

We weren’t sure if there would be a ski season this year. So, Taylor suggested that this would be an excellent time for Kevin and me to get our Avalanche Safety Training done.  That way, we could go backcountry touring with him.  I thought it was a great idea, so I signed Kevin and me up for the course.  The only person other than Taylor that I have seen so excited about snow science was our instructor Brad.  I really think Taylor and Brad should hang out and nerd out over snow science.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am so impressed and thankful that Taylor takes all of this backcountry knowledge seriously.  You have to if you want to go out there.  Now, Kevin and I were the only couple in the course, and when asked why we were in the class, we said to be able to go out touring with our son.  They all thought that was kind of cool.  We had a 1-day indoor course, and on day 2, we went out in the backcountry.  We had to skin up to a certain point and then do some snow science and avalanche scenarios.  For those of you who don’t know what skinning up is, you attach a fabric skin on the bottom of your skis and walk up the mountain.  It was definitely a workout.  I’m happy to say that both Kevin and I passed our AST 1 Course and were now ready to head out into the backcountry with Taylor. 

One day in December, I went with Taylor and two friends out for the first time.  We climbed just over 500 meters that day.  It took a while, and I am happy to report that we went up quicker than the boys anticipated.  I took that as a win.  Would I be able to do lap after lap? No, I was pooped.  It was so worth it though, to be out there in the mountains and see Taylor’s smile and hear his laughter.  To see him take charge and share all of his knowledge.  He was such a leader out there.  I was so proud of him, not only because he’s really educated in snow science but also because of who he is.  He genuinely loves this activity, and when you get to see someone do something they love, it’s inspiring.  He inspires me all the time, and this was one of those times.  We didn’t have the greatest snow that day, but it is a day I will never forget. 

I also love to ski in the resort with Taylor.  He and I have been on a bit of a journey with ski instructing.  We took our level 1 course together.  He was in a different group than I was, but after the three-day course, we both walked away as CSIA level 1 instructors.  The following year, we went on a week-long course for our level 2.  It was a tiring week, and at the end of it, we both passed our level 2 course.  He scored better than I did!  It was kind of crazy to think back now, he was 15 years old, and he was doing all these things with his Mom!  I think back on how special this time together on snow was.  I was so impressed that he was confident enough to stand up in front of people much older than him and lead the group for his lessons.  I feel so privileged that I got to be there and see it all first hand. 

We came back the following year for a week-long course and exams for our level 3.  This certification is an international certification and very hard to achieve.  We were in different groups for the week and the teach exam, but we did get to stay as a big group for the ski exam.  Taylor skied so well.  I love to watch my kids do any kind of sport, but when you get to watch them do something they do so well, its very rewarding for me.  At the end of the exam, 1 person passed both exams, 3 passed the ski, and Taylor was one of them.  He was 16 years old, and man could he ski (still can)!  It has only gotten more fun skiing together.  For those of you wondering, I ended passing my ski exam several years later.  Here’s the cool part though, Taylor helped me along the way.  He pushed me to ski with him and his friends.  He has dragged me up on ridges, and off jumps and into bump runs that I wasn’t so sure about.  He helped me!  I love that about this kid.  He’s so kind and wants to share with me what he loves to do.  I thought I would share about us biking, but that will have to be next time. 

To finish up, if your kids ask you to do something with them, I would suggest that you try.  It may not look perfect or even close to as good as what they are doing, but it’s so much bigger than that.  You get to spend time with them, talk to them, and see what type of incredible human you helped create.  They really don’t care if you suck at the activity.  They respect that you tried it and you gave your time to them.  Taylor knows that if he wants to do lap after lap hiking up and skiing down mountains in the backcountry, he needs to go with his friends.  If he wants to go for a nice walk up a mountain and enjoy the moments skiing down a little slower than with his buddies, he can ask me.  We will take a step ahead at each switchback and make it to the top and high five when we get there.  Then we will hoot and holler all the way down.