Spring 2020 was not what anyone had expected. The COVID-19 pandemic brought out lives to a grinding halt, with new restrictions and updates daily. For a few weeks, we were glued to social media and watching the numbers climb. Terms like and social distancing, self-isolation and flatten the curve became part of our vocabulary and we all got acquainted with virtual chat platforms like zoom and whatsapp to stay connected with friends and family. It has been a stressful time for everyone as the stock markets crashed, people lost their jobs and businesses had to change how they operated overnight with people suddenly working from home. Our usual outlets for stress relief were also out of the picture. To ensure that hospitals were prepared for the possibility of an overwhelming number of sick people, and to avoid backcountry rescue where SAR teams may be exposed to infected individuals, the backcountry essentially shut down. Trail heads were closed, high risk activities were condemned and a province-wide fire ban was in place, because a forest fire was the last thing anyone wanted during a pandemic.
While the pandemic is far from over, Canada's response so far has been promising. The numbers are decreasing, we have not hit capacity in our ICU's and restrictions are starting to lift. As the weather warms and spring rolls towards summer, we are getting more comfortable with our new normal. Small gatherings, social distancing and "chilling the shred" will be the routine this summer. All that time at home has motivated us to do some exploring in our Alberta backyard, and the bike trainer that served as an outlet during the darkest days of spring has kicked my butt into shape for riding season.
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| The view from the ridge into the Ghost River Valley |
