Saturday, December 31, 2016

So long 2016, Hello 2017

That’s a wrap 2016! Somehow this year seemed to just fly by. It was a trip around the sun filled with both ups and downs, but overall has left us in a place of happiness and anticipation for what’s around the corner next. 

While reflecting over the year, we came up with a list of the eleven most memorable moments for us in 2016, and of course a second list of our ten biggest climbing highlights ;)

Eleven Biggest Moments of 2016 

1. Following a whirlwind battle with cancer, we say good bye to Nanny (Kim’s grandmother) on January 3rd

2. In an attempt to gather more “lifer birds”, we add Burrowing Owl, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and White-faced Ibis to our list at the Salton Sea in mid-January

3. We connect with Shelma, founder of Flash Foxy, and help out with the inaugural Women’s Climbing Festival in Bishop, California
 
4. We experience the Death Valley “super bloom” in March, which hadn’t occurred to that extent in over 10 years!

5. We get engaged!

6. Summer 2016: Kim spent the summer in Alberta, making new friends, finding cool plants (like pitcher plants in fens!), hiking, canoeing, and doing a bit of climbing. Graham spent the summer in Vancouver, getting in lots of climbing and adventures in Squamish. Living in different provinces for four months was difficult, but we both had tons of valuable and awesome experiences.
Photo credit: Jesse Archer

7. We buy our first guitar and both start learning to play

8. Our dear friends treat us to incredibly fun surprise bachelor and bachelorette weekends
Photo credit: Melissa Gillespie

9. We get married on a stormy October day <3
Photo credit: Brodie Frehlich

10. We spend an awesome weekend on Valdez Island in the company of people we love 

11. Vancouver is treated to a wonderfully snowy December and we have snow at our place all month long


Top Ten Climbing Moments of 2016

1. Graham climbs Xavier’s Roof, his second V11

2. Kim climbs Gastonia and Gastonia Sit (V8, V9) her hardest of the grade

3. Kim sends her 100th route 5.12 or harder, and her 10th 5.13

4. Kim sends the scary, run-out, Full Heinous Cling (5.12c R) on her second attempt
Photo credit: Yannick Neufeld-Cumming

5. Graham adventures up CardiYak Rhythm on Yak Peak with his good friend Doug the Slug

6. Kim’s second article for Gripped Magazine appears in the August print issue, and she starts a climbing-writer job for the online adventure hub, The Adventure Junkies
Photo credit: Alyssia Jebb

7. Graham sends his two-summer-long project, Division Bell (5.13d)
Photo credit: Dan Beland

8. Graham sends Permanent Waves (5.13d), right before the rains swallow Squamish for the rest of the season

9. We start training in late October for our upcoming trip in January and begin to see improvements

10. We quit our jobs and move out of our suite - #retirement2017 here we come!


Saturday, December 17, 2016

We tied the knot!


After more than 7 years of adventuring through life together we decided to tie the knot. We had always thought, “if we’re going to get married, we’ll just get married!” – we weren’t really big on the idea of an engagement period. We got engaged on the last day of April and went promptly into spending 4 months apart working in different provinces. Once September rolled around, we had seven weeks together before our big day arrived on October 15. 
 
Many people said to us, “I’m surprised you guys didn’t elope on the side of a mountain!”
As tempting as the idea may have been, it was more important to us to celebrate with our family and friends. So we got married on the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, nearby to where we both grew up. 

Climbing was a central theme for us in our wedding – how could it not be when the mutual love we have for the sport is such a strong bond we share? Our friends and family shared memories and stories that brought climbing to life throughout the day, but our celebration went so much further than that. It was incredible to hear and read words of support and encouragement for our relationship, advice for the future, and general stoke from so many amazing individuals. And of course, we had a blast and danced the night away. Our day was perfect and we cannot express in words how overjoyed we are by the love we felt. 

We are thrilled with how our photographer Brodie captured the magic of our day and want to share a few of our special moments. He took TONS of amazing photos and if you’re interested in seeing them all, sign into the guest account here using the password Catsmaid.  


Fifteenth time's a charm! #tiesaretough

Practicing the vows

So much hairspray!

Mama buttoning the dress. This is the dress she wore to her wedding in 1984 - after a few modifications ;)

Our boys <3

The inevitable wrist hair elastic - those have got to go!

Stepping into shoes

Oh hey! We're married now!!

Yippeee!!

Oliver, our perfect ring bearer, has to pee!

Three generations of women

Our girls <3

The full team!

We of course had to bring the Millenium FalcVan to the wedding

Inside our van home










Our wedding rings, which now live around our necks!



Celine, our kitteh of honour <3

There were some funny moments at our reception :D



Rock climbing cake toppers, hand made by Michelle

Dancing dancing!!!

<3