Claire Elizabeth Dixon Claire was born September 29, 1979, in Whitehorse, Yukon and died January 4, 2007 on the Wapta Traverse Icefield along with her soul mate, Cornelius (Kees) Brenninkmeyer of Toronto. Claire and Kees had embarked on a one month traverse on the Wapta Icefield in Yoho National Park. They had volunteered to be caretakers of the huts along the route. The trip was a much deserved holiday as both of them had been busy - Claire completing her Masters of Physiotherapy at UBC and writing her National Exam and Kees completing his Association of Canadian Mountain Guide training. The two left on their journey December 14, 2006. Along the way the families had been sent e-mails and pictures from skiers who had encountered Claire and Kees. The pictures and comments indicated that Claire and Kees were happy and content, doing what they loved in the wilderness that drew them. Claire was due to start her first job as a physiotherapist at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke on January 22 and Kees was to have begun his next guide training course. Claire was a fun loving, adventurous, kind, gentle special person who lit up every room with her smile. She was excited to begin her new life with Kees. He was an athletic, humorous, adventurous and skillful man who obviously loved Claire deeply. They shared a love of the outdoors and especially skiing. They met four years ago while climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska. Claire was born in Whitehorse, Yukon. She moved at six months with her mom, dad and brother to Calgary and then on to Kamloops in 1981. Claire attended Barriere Ridge Elementary, Aberdeen Elementary, Sahali Junior Secondary and graduated from Kamloops Senior Secondary. Claire took two years of sciences at the University College of the Cariboo (UCC) before transferring to the UBC to obtain a Bachelor of Chemistry degree. She then spent two years traveling and working. Deciding that working with people was where she wanted to focus her life's work; Claire applied and was accepted into the Masters of Physiotherapy Program at UBC. She qualified as a Nationally Registered Physiotherapist on December 21, 2006. Throughout Claire's life, people and sports have been her passions. During her school and university years Claire appreciated her large, varied and supportive group of friends. Whether friends through school, soccer, skiing, physiotherapy, mountaineering and/or traveling, Claire loved being with these positive people. Since grade one, Claire played recreational and all star soccer. In fact, her recreational team members remain great friends to this day. While at UCC she played defense for the Sun Demons Soccer team and in the Pacific Coast Soccer League. While at UBC she played in the Premier Womens' Division of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. Claire skied since the age of five. She was a member of the Tod Mountain Downhill Ski Team and raced for many years. She was also an avid waterskier and hiker. In the past few years she had embraced alpine touring. She loved skiing in the quiet wilderness with people she cared about. Claire and her brother Paul had a special relationship that was no where more evident than when they were skiing-on water or snow. She was a special person in our family and was the one who cared for all and was loved by all. Her uncles, aunts and cousins were a big part of her life and all enjoyed the positive, talented, warm, fun-loving girl and then woman that she was.