Farewell and goodbye

After all the planning, packing and getting ready, the time has finally come for us to become 2-wheeled nomads. We are excited for what lies ahead but it is with great sadness that we set off on our bike trip. On May 11, our dear friend Trevor and his 10-year-old daughter Zarah were killed on Blackcomb Mountain, north of Vancouver.

Trevor and Zarah were out on a weekend snow camping trip on Blackcomb Mountain. When they failed to return as scheduled, a search was launched and volunteers from Whistler Search and Rescue began scouring the mountain. They were found the next day.  A large boulder from the rock face above had fallen on their tent, killing them both instantly.

Janice and I, along with other friends and family, have been trying to support Jaynie, Trevor’s partner and Zarah’s mom, as best as we can following this unbearable tragedy. As a group of friends, we have done many trips together hiking, skiing, paddling and cycling. Spending time in the backcountry and our collective love of travel is what drew us together and the bonds formed on those many trips are lasting and strong. Despite the risks we all take every day, never could we have imagined this.

In our little circle of friends, Jaynie and Trevor were the only ones who braved the adventure of parenthood and we all became aunties and uncles to Zarah. Becoming parents did not slow Jaynie and Trevor down. They took Zarah out into the backcountry right away as they lived out of the city on the shores of Indian Arm, accessible only by boat, kayak or canoe.

As a family, they ventured out skiing, paddling and camping with little Zarah who grew up with an appreciation and love of the outdoors and all the possibilities it offers. In her short life she became a good skier, hiker, climber, paddler and cyclist.

It’s easy to understand why Zarah loved the backcountry so much with parents like Jaynie and Trevor. Trevor was playful and fun and always up for a challenge. Not much slowed him down. His enthusiasm and unbridled love for outdoor pursuits was infectious.

What this tragedy has cemented in our minds is that there are no guarantees in life and the natural world we love and cherish can sometimes be cruel. Many people have asked us why we would put our lives on hold to go cycling for more than a year. My answer to them has always been: “Why not?!”

Life is short and there is a beautiful world out there to explore. Our world now has a great big hole in it but we take some comfort in the fact that Trevor and Zarah were exploring their world with an irrepressible love and energy. Trevor, Zarah and Jaynie will be foremost in our minds as we begin our bike trip in Iceland.

It was beautiful as long as it lasted

The journey of my life.

I have no regrets whatsoever

Save the pain I’ll leave behind.

Those dear hearts who love and care…

And the strings pulling at the heart and soul…

The strong arms that held me up

When my own strength let me down.

At every turning of my life I came across good friends,

Friends who stood by me,

Even when the time raced me by.

Farewell, farewell, my friends

I smile and bid you goodbye.

No, shed no tears for I need them not

All I need is your smile.

If you feel sad do think of me

For that’s what I’ll like when you live in the hearts

Of those you love, remember then

You never die.

-Bengali poet, philosopher and Renaissance man Rabindranath Thakur

Please consider making a donation in memory of Trevor and Zarah to Dorothy Lynas Elementary PAC to create nature-based educational experiences:

http://www.dorothylynas.com/

or to Whistler Search and Rescue for the work they do in the mountains:

http://www.whistlersar.com/index.htm