The Beginning

Growing up in Rossland, BC, meant growing up with mountains as my backyard. Rossland is a town built around skiing, and like most kids there, I spent countless days on the slopes. But despite skiing my whole life, my main sports were hockey, basketball, soccer, and swimming. These were the sports I trained for, competed in, and structured my seasons around. Skiing was just something I did for fun—at least, that’s what I thought.

That started to change when I heard about an outdoor education program at my high school, JL Crowe. It was unlike anything else offered at the school, focusing on real-world outdoor skills. Beyond that, it introduced students to activities like winter camping, hiking, rock climbing, and canoeing. I was drawn to it immediately. The idea of spending part of my school year outside, learning hands-on skills instead of sitting in a classroom, felt like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that this program would completely shift the way I thought about outdoor sports. I had always loved being active, but I had never considered the possibility that adventure sports, —ones without a set team, a season, or a scoreboard—could be just as fulfilling as the competitive sports I was used to. 

The Trip That Changed Everything

One of the first big moments in the program came during a snowshoeing trip to Mount Plewman in the Rossland Range. It was a classic introduction to backcountry travel, but at the time, I didn’t think much of it beyond just being another school trip. However, something important happened that day—one of my friends in the program asked if I wanted to go ski touring sometime. He had seen me out on my skis before and figured I had some experience with it.

I had been ski touring once or twice but had never done a real, proper backcountry tour. Still, I said yes. That one conversation ended up leading to one of the most defining experiences of my life.

A little while later, my friend and I set off for what I thought would be a simple ski tour. Instead, it turned into an overnight tenting trip at the base of Mount Plewman, in the same area where our school group had snowshoed. The temperature dropped to -17°C, and I was wildly unprepared. I quickly learned that bringing apples in that kind of cold was a mistake—they freeze solid and turn into inedible rocks. I also learned that enduring harsh conditions is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. And, most importantly, I realized that ski touring was the most fun I had ever had on skis.

Despite the suffering—cold hands, frozen gear, and the exhaustion of hauling myself up the mountain—I loved every second of it. There was something about earning each turn, about working hard to get to the top and being rewarded with untouched snow, that made it feel so much more meaningful than resort skiing.

It wasn’t until later that my friend found out this was my first proper ski tour. We both laughed about it—he had assumed I was more experienced, and I hadn’t wanted to admit how new I was to it. But that trip solidified something in me. I knew I needed to do more of this.

Discovering a New Passion

As the outdoor education program progressed into the summer months, I started getting into backpacking and, more than anything, rock climbing. Rock climbing, in particular, felt like an entirely new world—one that demanded both physical strength and mental focus. Every climb was a puzzle, every movement required balance and problem-solving. Much like ski touring, it was a sport that was just as much about the journey as it was about the end goal.

These experiences opened a door for me. They showed me that the outdoors wasn’t just a place to ski a few runs at the resort or go for a short hike—it was a playground filled with endless opportunities. More than that, they showed me what I was capable of. Pushing through exhaustion on a long ski tour, figuring out how to navigate a tricky climbing route, and carrying everything I needed on my back for days at a time all gave me a sense of independence and confidence I hadn’t felt before.

Looking back, I can confidently say that this program changed my life. Without it, I might never have gone ski touring, never have tried climbing, and never have developed the deep appreciation I now have for the outdoors.

The Importance of Opportunity

I was lucky. I grew up in a town surrounded by outdoor opportunities, and I had access to a program that encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things. But not everyone gets that chance. Even in a place like Rossland, where outdoor adventure is part of the culture, there are barriers—cost, knowledge, and access to gear—that can keep people from getting involved.

That’s why programs like the one at JL Crowe are so important. They provide young people with the tools, skills, and confidence to explore the outdoors safely. They create an environment where it’s okay to be new at something, where trial and error is part of the learning process. Without that program, I might have never realized how much I love ski touring or climbing. I might have never had that first trip to Mount Plewman, never have pushed myself in ways I didn’t know I could.

Opportunities matter. Exposure matters. The outdoors has so much to offer, but for many people, it takes just one experience—one invitation, one program, one moment—to spark a lifelong passion.

For me, that spark happened on a brutally cold night in the backcountry, halfway up a mountain I’d first seen on snowshoes. It was the kind of experience that could have turned me away from ski touring forever, but instead, it did the opposite. It showed me what was possible.

That trip, that program, and those experiences didn’t just introduce me to new sports—they shaped who I am. And for that, I will always be grateful.