Member: Jessica Ferguson
Activities: Alpine ski touring, scrambling, backpacking, novice rock climber / mountaineer. I also love to bike, although not an official ACC YEG sanctioned activity.
About me: I joined the Section in 2016 to connect with folks who are stoked on alpine ski touring. I love anything I can do outdoors, snacks, and I’m always looking for more women to shred with! I’m excited to have taken a board position as Training and Development Chair and am looking forward to working with our membership to advance quality education experiences in the Section. I’m extremely grateful to have found this community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who share my passion. Thank you for taking a few minutes to get to know me!
How did you develop a passion for the outdoors?
Growing up ski racing, I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors. It wasn’t until a working holiday in New Zealand in 2009, which has a welcoming tramping community, that I really developed a passion for the outdoors. The first hike I did was Mount Roy in Wanaka. Everything about hiking was new to me! I borrowed gear from a friend and learned last minute that I should bring a lunch. Going up was challenging and I even considered turning back, but I pushed myself and made it to the top. While eating my well-earned sandwich at the summit after a beautiful ridge walk, I got rewarded to the most amazing view of my life and I felt great! On the way down, I even got to try out glissading. After that day, I was hooked and did as many hikes as I could in New Zealand! I would love to go back and do some of the multi-day hikes I haven’t had the chance to do!
What makes for a memorable day outside?
A memorable day for me consists of the people I share it with, the trip I am on, and the challenges I overcome. One of my most memorable time in the mountains was on a trip to Neil Colgan Hut. We took the Perren Route, for which I was nervous about tackling the hardest pitch, which is 5.7, with a full pack and mountaineering boots. Through good communication and great teamwork, we made it to the hut and spent a couple of days exploring the area. We were there on September long weekend and that year, it snowed the night before our day out. The snowy and colder weather made it a bit more challenging to navigate off the glacier and down the rappel stations, but we safely made it back to the car with a sense of accomplishment and proud of how we worked as a team. That was a memorable trip!
Do you have any go-to snacks or dinner?
I love snacks! Especially homemade chocolate peanut butter bars, trail mix with M&Ms, and stopping at a bakery to grab a baked good for the trail. I always have pocket snacks for a quick energy boost.
What do you prefer most about leading trips?
The ACC-Edmonton Section has been an amazing community for me. It has provided me with numerous opportunities to learn and gain experience on trips that I may not have done on my own. Leading trips is a way for me to give back to the community and provide people with the opportunity to experience things they may not have the confidence to do on their own … and maybe they will go on to become trip leaders too.
You were selected by the ACC-Edmonton Section to participate in the 2019 The North Face Winter Leadership Course. Congratulations! Can you tell us about your experience? What was your biggest takeaway from this course?
Thanks! I was very excited to be selected for that course; it was such a great opportunity. The course was based out of the Lake Louise hostel. It was a very cold year, with temperatures averaging -30 to -35 °C.
I learned so much during that week! It was great to be able to revisit areas I had skied in, but with a guide this time. I was able to observe the environment from a different perspective, which helped improve my experience and gain confidence. The course allowed me to improve my communication and group management skills. I learned how to better express myself, how to seek feedback from a group, and how to affirm myself as a leader. I also learned about working smarter, not harder, with the advantages of setting a lower angle skin track, going at a slower pace, and keeping the group together. Trips that had previously been big days for me felt so much easier when moving at a slightly slower, but consistent pace. Overall, the course allowed me to grow as a leader, and gave me the confidence to lead more trips.
Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to gain more experience in the outdoors?
Taking advantage of the different courses and mentorship programs available through the ACC-Edmonton Section has definitely benefited me as I gained experience backcountry skiing. The Edmonton Section provides a multitude of options in both winter and summer. It has also been partnering to offer more and more courses taught by ACMG guides as well. Don’t hesitate to try out the different ACC course offerings and participate on Section trips; these are great ways to meet people and gain experiences.
Anything else you would like to share with the ACC-Edmonton community?
I appreciate that the culture of backcountry skiing has become more inclusive thanks to many initiatives, but it still remains fairly male-dominated. I would love to go on trips with more women and see more women as fellow trip leaders. Together, we can continue to shift the culture and create experiences that are more positive and more meaningful for everyone.
