David's First Loppet

What's a Loppet?  "It's a great gathering of skiers who ski on a groomed trail
of various distances. Enormous amounts of food and drink are consumed. After
there's a party, awards banquet, and a dance." Cross Country Canada website.

David and his friend Beatrice woke up early. They headed up to Larch Hills. At long last, the day of the 30th Annual Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet had arrived. 

As we drove up Grandview Bench road we talked about the hoar frost on the trees. We were an hour early and the volunteers were directing us into the second to last row of parking. As we pulled into our parking spot David announced, "I love the Larch Hills." 

In the participant packet, there was a map and a description of the 2 Km route.

We chose to do the 2 Km route. We finished in 33 minutes.

This course is two loops of the 1 km route. Young skiers are welcome to have a personal ski companion accompany them on the course. From the start line, head up Metford Road, turn right through Short Cut and then right down Ermine Frolic. Turn right onto Larch Hills Road and as you approach the start/finish stadium, keep right for the lap lane. Repeat the course heading back up Metford Road. This time, when you return to the start/finish stadium, turn left down the Dark Trail which will loop back to the finish line.

#86 David Camps-Johnson
Heading up the Metford Road and into the fog.

The start line was "self-seeded" said the information in the packet. With 450 participants, we were entrusted to find a spot that matched our anticipated speed.

At 9am the signal for the first heat was heard. We were in the third heat. David and Bea watched the clock and did a count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and they were off.

David kept a steady pace going up hill and sailed down the other side with confidence.

As David crossed the finish line the announcer said through the loud speakers, "Congratulations to David Camps-Johnson from Annis Bay who just finished his first Loppet."

Fort complete with dining area (Note Bea's soup) and
an area for storage of building tools built into the inside wall.

There was warm food for the skiers when they were done. Volunteers were serving beef on a bun, curry vegetable soup, and homemade cookies.

David and Bea grabbed some food and headed over to a quiet place on the other side of the lodge. They played for two hours after their sking was done.

They built a fort with "found snow chunks". When they felt the fort was complete, there was a "parents versus kids snowball battle".

A perfect end to David's first Larch Hills Loppet.