Greg Hill.ca

What is the point?

Really  there is absolutely no point to anything. Do whatever makes you feel happy.

For me Whistler has always been a testing grounds. For years I climbed around the area pushing my own limits, till I dislocated my shoulder on “Fits of Rage”(5.12b). At that point I could no longer climb and needed to change directions. I quickly adapted and turned my energies towards mountain exploration and ski touring. My first season at Whistler was where it all began. Skiing and exploring everything around the area, each descent representing where I was at at the time. 

I was a beginner eager to learn, and each descent was so pivotal and important to me at the time. Since I moved away I have always returned and used Whistler to gauge where I was at. For years I won the Whistler Randonnee, which showed me that i was evolving in terms of ski touring. In 2001 I traversed the Spearhead in 4 hrs and one minute, an expression of my need for speed. It was an amazing day, and also a day that spawned dreams of more.

Since then I have dreamnt of the ultimate Spearhead day, 20/20 (20summts/20 000feet) a visionary day that would show the evolution happening in the backcountry. The Spearhead was originally done in 9 days and to do it in a day with as many summits as possible seems very progressive. Troy Jungen and I attempted it a few years ago and got nowhere.

 So for me this day was a huge leap in my own evolution. Helping to prove that more is possible, that all of us have the potential to do more than we do.

The day was amazing, staring off at 4.40 am I cruised up Blackcomb and was at the boundary around 8.am, where I met some friends who had gotten a lift up and were doing the Spearhead in a day. It energized me to see these friends and know that they were out there pushing themselves as well.

I won’t go into the blow by blow description as it gets a little boring,  all I can say is skin up, shred down, skin up shred down. Summit after summit.

Throughout the day I had many ups and downs, emotionally and physically but I kept after it and soon enough my momentum kept me going. The excitement of acting out one of my dreams really energized me and some of the great descents kept me going.

At the end I was pumped, finishing off with parts of the Race course from the other day I couldn’t decide if I was faster then or in the race. I think actually I was faster after the Spearhead traverse than during the race. Mostly because I was racing to catch a bus to Vancouver.

At 6.05 I was in Whistler village with a huge day behind me. 

Lee Lau I hope  you understand that everything is about evolution, it does not take away from anything anybody else is doing it merely shows the potential. Each of us has our own boundaries, and our own goals and nothing should detract from them. I am merely helping to progress a sport and pushing my own limits. Challenging myself and searching out new and exciting  ways to do things. I hope that I am helping a sport, things need to evolve and it excites me to be part of this evolution.

  1. The Bully April 27, 2007 at 5:55 pm

    WTF!
    Sick G. Hill.
    For all the "ARMCHAIR MOUNTAINEERS" out there;
    See this blog for what it is, as Greg has laid out, a progression. Get off the damn couch and see what your capable of instead of ripping on something that you dont understand. The usual North American attitude.
    Greg, if anyone else gives you shit just send them down here to Colorado for some real "Extreme Skiing"!

    Bullocks to the Naysayers!

    Douglas Sproul

  2. ryan April 27, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    The point of this blog for me is to get inspired for sure. Awesome tour Greg, makes me want to get out of one more ‘personal goal’ day. Did you get the mil?

  3. Lee April 28, 2007 at 12:51 am

    greg,

    thanks for posting that. Sorry again about my snarky comment. What was your route?

  4. Rick Harman April 28, 2007 at 6:23 am

    I guess this negativity from Lee has been beaten to death….. and he did apologuise so I am sure it is water under the bridge but I gotta say this….Greg never have I met anyone with the drive, the love and the passion to do what you do and go where you go, you are an amazing example of what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it, you are without a doubt on the cutting edge of a sport that is in my opinion all about pushing you limits physically, mentally and spiritually. I have enjoyed following your journal this winter and I do share your passion, never in my life have I been so moved by a sport until I started ski touring. I wish you all the success in the world following your dreams and who knows maybe I will see you in the mountains one day. Nice work bro!!!!!!!! Rick

  5. Matt April 28, 2007 at 7:37 pm

    wow greg, amazing stuff! that’s a very inspiring tour. very impressive!

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