It was almost to the kilometer, the exact point where last year I realized I had forgotten my only jacket for the weekend, where a sharp curve caused a sleeping bag to roll off the upper bunk of the RV we were in, bounce off my head onto the floor, suddenly bringing me to the realization - damn! I forgot my sleeping bag! Here we go again!

Fernie, B.C. welcomed racers and supporters at an amazing opening night ceremony. Returning riders rooted each other out of the crowd and swapped heroic tales of last years event, while new riders listened intently for any clues as to what lay ahead. Of course none of us really knew as things had changed a little since our last visit to the Rockies.

Day one had been completely rerouted due to the forest fire situation in Crows Nest Pass - the original route for day one. What last year was a fairly tame opening stage had been transformed, like Jekyll, into - well, Jekyll! We were going to see the highest elevation gain of any stage this year - on day one!

An anxious crowd of over 75 teams, with hysterical jersey colours, made up the throng at the start line. The intensity of the jersey's was only matched by that of the deep blue sky above us. Our high noon start was accompanied by high temperatures and we only expected it to get hotter. We would not be disappointed.

We were lead out of town by Fernie's Mayor, on what seemed to be a 1,000 year old fire truck -15km/hr max. speed - ahhhh 15km/hr. That fantasy didn't last long. All of a sudden it was like we were actually all going to a fire. The pace picked up fast and so did the grade of the course. It wasn't long before we were furiously pedaling up grades I normally ski down.

Nels and I had no problem sticking together at the beginning of the stage, partly because of our well matched climbing abilities and partly because of the sticky sweat now drenching us. A couple of the open field, mens' teams were already putting some good distance on many other riders, their wake of dust chasing them up the long climbs in front of us. We settled into a respectable climbing pace and concentrated on hydration, unfortunately the climb was as relentless as the heat, and it was taking its toll.

Climbing turned into to more climbing, only broken up on occasion by a short downhill, which only teased us into believing it was all over. But no! We climbed single track, we climbed gravel roads, we climbed both on the bike and off, some sections so steep ropes could have been used!

By the time we hit the highest section of the climb I was suffering some serious cramping and Nels was feeling the heat. A number of other teams that had been well in front of us were also slowing down rapidly. One rider reported 43 degrees on her altimeter/ temp gauge. After completing 1,982 meters of climbing we finally hit the downhill towards Fernie Alpine Resort.

With very little left in the legs, except a healthy dose of lactic acid, Nels and I crossed the finish line in what seemed to be 3rd for the day with a time of 4:11:58. A result unfortunately that didn't last as long as the cramps our legs. Another masters team had bumped us back to fourth when it was found they had been listed in the wrong category. One spot off the podium but we survived to ride another day - a day that promises over 130 kms of riding and about six hours on the bike. Bring it on!