Work Begins

Posted on 07/12/2012 under Canada

Time for a little update. For the last three weeks I have been working at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort (ski resort) not too far from where I live in Comox. After two weeks of training the mountain opened a week early because of the early snowfall. Driving up to the mountain is like entering another world – starting at the base where there is no snow and as you go higher the snow starts and gets deeper and deeper. When you get off the bus at the top it couldn’t be more different than the base of the mountain. This effect is enhanced by the fact that the sun is also rising as the bus takes me up the mountain to work every day. Work brings with it a pretty good view! Sunrise at the mountain (already a familiar sight!) I am working as lift operator, it is a large team and it is our responsibility to run the chair lifts for the resort. Duties vary from checking tickets, loading guests and lots and lots of snow shovelling! I have just completed my first week of proper work after the resort opened to guests and my upper body is quiet sore! I am having to get up very early and the days are long and hard but it has been good fun so far. The people I work with are all very friendly and fun which makes for a good working atmosphere. There are people from all other the world and I have already made some good friends. My first time on a ski lift and it ends in evacuation. Training of course! With a colleague Kathrin after some ticket checking I am using the money I earn to save for my road trip in the spring and although the job is not amazingly well paid we are given a season pass (worth around $1000/£650) as well as free gear hire and lessons. Today I took my first snowboarding lesson and although I found it quite strange initially, I took to it alot quicker than I thought I would. I found switching edges (heel to toe and back) tricky and it caused me to crash quiet a few times but I am confident that with practice I will get it. After a two hour lesson my backside was sore so I decided to not overdo it and stop while I was ahead, but I am looking forward to getting out again. A lesson with a nice view (not me pictured) Working at the mountain has been keeping me very busy recently but I am managing to keep up my running which I am still slowly building. I have been incorporating my runs into work and as I catch the bus up to the mountain from Courtenay which neighbours Comox, running or cycling to and from the bus which is 5.6km each way (a gradual downhill all the way to Courtenay and of course uphill all of the way back!). After discovering smoothies (how did it take me so long?!) and making one the night before to drink on the bus I am able to wake up at 6am and be out of the door at 6:10am. A few days ago I was making my way to work down a unlit cycle path using only my little bike lights when I came across a tree which had fallen across the path. Not seeing it until it was too late I careered straight into it which sent me and my bike flying. My bike was a little bent (but rideable), my bag broke and I knocked my arm and hip but nothing too serious. I had to get up and keep going so I didn’t miss my bus – an interesting way to wake up! Not a small tree but easy enough to miss in the dark whilst half asleep. I took the photo later the same day.

2 thoughts on "Work Begins"

  1. Charles says:
    December 24, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Yes, indeed. Admire, yes. Why would I grovel?

  2. Jessica A. Hawes says:
    December 9, 2012 at 10:49 am

    What a beautiful place to work. That first picture was fantastic. Hope Charles saw it and grovelled. Pretty workmate! Sorry about the accident. love, Grandma’