This spring break has been glorious- 20 degree weather filled with bike rides and hikes... I'm loving it. Mostly. The kids are relearning how to get along 24/7, but that's part and parcel of childhood, right?

Well, I get lots of questions of where to take your kids hiking so today's post will feature a popular, child (and dog) friendly hike close-ish to home.

The locals are all pretty familiar with the Heart Creek trail. It is a short, easy (and I mean easy for everyone, not just for me) hike following a small creek. The total distance is just under three kilometers, so it can make a nice stop on the way home from a longer mountain excursion.

The trail was drastically changed in the flood of 2013. It's fun to see how powerful water can be.

All in all, a great, short hike for kids... And a pleasant diversion in the middle of spring break. Make sure you follow up with a stop at mackay's ice cream in Cochrane.

Happy hiking.

~Sarah

Birthdays are a great time to reflect on where you are and where you want to be.

I challenged you all (oh, and, yes, I'm sure there are hundreds of people reading our blog) just two short weeks to a squat challenge. Little did I know how much it would help me! I am a firm believer in strength training --- I have always been a runner and would choose the runner's high over any other activity (well, *almost* any activity... Snowboarding and hiking definitely win in this contest). Strength training often got neglected in the crunch for my time. But after doing those relatively few squats for a very short time, I'm happy to report that I already noticed a huge difference. I had the privilege of going snowboarding on Saturday with a dear friend; I have not felt that strong and stable on a board since the days I went every weekend. So, here's some virtual encouragement to keep squatting. I once got side tracked on the square potty. Look it up, it's good for a laugh. And your quads. And your colon, apparently.

But, I digress. Birthdays. Change. Growth. Seasons. Twenty four short hours after I rode down the ski-out at sunshine, a man (an experienced snowboarder) hit a tree and died. With that sober reminder, here is my challenge for you--and I--to live life to the fullest this spring. Enjoy the mud your kids track in, the crisp wind that smells of the warming earth, the loud, squeaky sounds they make... Enjoy the distractions they bring, and the fact that they tie you down ... All these things have annoyed me in the past. Sometimes a lot more than I'd like to admit. But they are reminders of life -- this precious life that we get just one shot at. So, go live it well.

Sorry for the soap box, but, it is my birthday and I can climb up if it want 😝.

Go and have an awesome day; you never know when your "last run will be".

So pro I don't need a go-pro. Lol

So. Keep squatting. Charge hard and then recharge. I read that somewhere else on social media, but love it.

And, if you're still reading, bless you! 😄

Winter is finally over and spring is ... (Wait for it)... Just around the corner!! I love how often I can throw that little gem in! :)

This post is all about hiking season prep. Spring is that awkward time of year when the weather isn't sure if it's going to be naughty or nice - kind of like Mother Nature's version of puberty. With the variability in temperature, it's hard to plan consistent hikes-- especially those at higher elevations. So, to make the most of this unpredictability, I'm going to talk spring training.

Specifically, quad strengthening! Who wants to run down a mountain, only to find they can't actually walk - or, heaven forbid - go down a flight of stairs ((this happened to me. And I speak from a very excruciatingly, painful memory! I assure you, that you do not -REPEAT: DO NOT! - want the ability to sympathize with me!!))

On Monday, Cory and I are going to start a 30 day quad challenge... And in invite you to join in. This challenge actually seems reasonable to me (I once did 1000 squats in 45 minutes... And you guessed it-- I couldn't walk the rest of the week). We are thinking to start off somewhat milder and work our way up! It should be fun, and build our lower body strength at the same time! And everytime we feel the burn, we will visualize those glorious mountain peaks. Well, at least I will be. I guess I can't technically speak for her. :)

So, with that in mind, here is a short photo essay of what we are planning to do!

Also- reminder! Our snowshoe is this Sunday!! Penstock loop in kananaskis. Registration is now closed, but talk to us if you're interested in coming along in the future.

Have a happy, spring-like, day!

S