Teflon Flakes and other Survival Tales

In the early 90s we sold our climbing shop and the three of us—Max, Dustin and I—moved to the Chilliwack Valley. The plan was to build a home and office on the banks of the river to sell paragliders and teach the art of flying. And, with all the earthly pleasures of hiking, climbing and skiing in close proximity it was the ideal location. Plans, however, are not always well laid and like the little piggies that built their houses out of sticks and straw, we opted for living under nylon while the  months of August and September rolled by in a halcyon daze.

Fall was upon us by now. The sun continued to shine, but mornings were chillier and our tenting experience just that much damper. Regardless, we fell into a rhythm. Dustin caught the morning school bus, and Max and I would head off to hike, paraglide or scope out new areas. Late afternoon, we rinsed our sweat off in the river and learned hard core survival skills, like how one should never use Teflon pans on an open fire and how the White Spot is always open when Teflon flakes gets tiresomely carcinogenic. Okay, we learned that lesson pretty early on, and truly, Kraft dinner and Campbell’s soup tantalizes the taste buds for only so long.

We waited until the clouds rolled in and the winds started to moan before we decided to build. Couldn’t paraglide then, right? Hiking was okay but not as much fun, and it was too early to ski. I already had one black eye from rafting, so I wasn’t too keen on that idea. Building was a default action. And perhaps the practice of sleeping three to a two-man tent was wearing thin, although I don’t think Dustin had any complaints. Living off the land made him a bit of a novelty at school. One day we hiked Elk early in the morning, and then the four of us (including Teddy bear) flew off on Max’s tandem. He made it to school for the first bell.

The house did eventually get built... but not before a few wolves (of our own making) threatened to blow it all down. But like I've said many a time... you'll have to read the book!

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