When 70-year old Jim O'Brien came out of quadruple bypass surgery he made three goals for himself. 1. Kayak from Halifax to Baddeck (completed summer of 2004), 2. Ski the Cape Breton highlands, 3. Swim from Big Harbour to Boularderie Island.

This past weekend (March 24-25) he completed his second goal and skied across the Cape Breton Highlands with his packhorse Tim Farmer. Five to six feet of snow cover, frozen rivers and good weather allowed the two to make the 40 km crossing from the west coast (French Mountain) to the east coast (Ingonish) in two grueling days.

Tim