Issue #35 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

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WINTER 2012

FREE

Your outdoor adventure and travel guide

Ottawa • Gatineau • Ontario • Quebec • U.S. & Beyond

Get ready for the sunny snowshoe days of winter Choose your location and go!

Winter Fitness

Which burns flab best?

Backcountry family ski A guide for each glide

Speedskating 101 Long blades beckon

Lost in the bush

A father and son experience

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outdoors ottawa

WINTER 2012

Alpine ski tips

Riding fat bikes

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37 ~ Articles

~ Departments

5 Ottawa Outdoors Winter Challenge

4 Publisher’s Letter

8 Backcountry skiing with the family

10 Top 10 reasons to race the Atlas Mad Trapper

14 A primer on snowshoes and snowshoeing

13 5 Great tips to better alpine skiing

18 Lost in the bush

19 Mom in the Know

26 Speedskating: the long blades beckon

24 Cool Gear Hot Clothing

28 Discover the magic of the Algonquin Log Cabin

31 Winter health tips

20 Alpine ski tips: Air turns

42 Bits ‘n Bites

35 Understanding snow types Share yo

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40 Sleigh ride companies for everyone

51 Upcoming Events and Festivals 52 Outdoor Clubs

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21 Get in alpine ski shape for the winter slopes

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Cover: Surprise Lake, Algonquin Log Cabin, photo by Goh Iromoto for Ontario Tourism. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Now you can get each issue e-mailed direct to your inbox!

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It’s TOTALLY FREE too! There’s loads of info, videos and more about the local outdoor adventure scene, all delivered in this extremely cool animated version.

Just go to www.OttawaOutdoors.ca to sign-up at the top right of the homepage and we'll send you a digital version of the print issue. ottawa outdoors 3

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PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DAVE BROWN EDITOR: ROGER BIRD WRITERS Jennifer Hartley, Chris Lennon, Darren Bush, Allen Macartney, Julie Findlay, Dave Brown, Ontario Outdoor Tourism, Tourism Timmins, Sheila Ascroft, Craig Macartney, Dominque Laroque, Sam Dixon, Kim Lockhead

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Now is the winter of our content

Too soon? :) Actually, as I’m a glass-half-full kind of person, I decree we shall return to the days of yore! Perhaps not the massive snowfalls of the 1960s with snowdrifts up to the rooftops, but at least enough to remind us we’re in Canada.

As a publisher and outdoor enthusiast I want cold weather PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS Dave Brown and white fluffy snow to fall to provide a base on which to ski, City of Ottawa, NCC, Goh Iromoto, Publisher shoe, sled and skate. I want local outdoor retailers and ski hills to be Gillian Morgan, LeMassif Photog, Darren Bush, Editor-in-chief overflowing with enthusiastic Ottawa/Gatineau neighbours.

Allen Macartney, Michael & Paula Webster, Jordan McKie, FatBikes.com, Pinto Valley It warms the cockles of m’heart to imagine children tobogganing, Ranch, 710 Excursions, Stanley’s Olde Maple teenagers playing hockey, seniors walking, couples skating on the canal or the Lane Farm downtown Rink of Dreams, and families snowshoeing or skiing about our fair city.

All this is possible if we just get those four little letters. Snow. And since I decreed it ADVERTISING INQUIRIES just a few paragraphs ago, we can move on.

Dave Brown, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent First things first. With your copy of the magazine you received an Ottawa Valley publication published quarterly every season Travel Guide and the ever-popular Ontario Outdoor Adventure Calendar. Keep these and distributed FREE at retail stores and races items in view and refer to them often as they are publications of play. Filled with dozall over the region, as well as at 100 other ens and dozens of organized adventure trips you can sign up for and explore. locations. We reach 200,000 readers each The adventure calendar lets you choose your trip, book it, and go. The companies issue! E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 take care of the rest and you just have to show up. It’s that easy.

Want to go to a beautiful log cabin, snowshoe for hours, and picnic in the sun and HOW TO GET PUBLISHED then return to a cooked feast, warm fire and mulled wine? It’s in there.

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine welcomes story and Want to glide through the silent woods with only the breath of a dog team and photo contributions. All photos should ideally be shot with a high-resolution digital camera, but hiss of the sled on the snow? It’s in there too. So many options! Just flip through the otherwise scanned at 300dpi resolution and pages, jump on their website, and then choose your winter getaway. burned onto a CD-ROM or e-mailed. No If you’re more of a do it yourself adventurist, just walk out your door. For around unsolicited contributions will be returned unless you are parks and trails to explore in your neighbourhood, the Greenbelt or Gatineau accompanied by a self-addressed stamped Park. Take your pick. envelope. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photoAnd take your time as you flip through this winter issue. Here at Ottawa Outdoors, graphs or artwork. Publisher may publish any we think each turn of the page will get you more and more excited. Read about how and all communications with Ottawa Outdoors to take your family backcountry skiing. Learn the history of snowshoeing, or sign up Magazine, and may edit for clarity and style. to experience the adrenaline rush of speedskating.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN Do you love trail riding but can’t bear to put away your mountain bike for the winter?

No. 1204-69556. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any materials Then purchase or rent a fat bike with its fat tires and hit the woods. published in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is A new columnist Julie Findlay is our “Mom In The Know” and you can read expressly forbidden without consent of the about keeping kids warm this winter. And once they’re bundled publisher unless otherwise agreed between partup, head over to page 40 to read and choose from a selection . ners. Printed in Canada. e dventur a t of sleigh ride companies waiting to give you a hay day (or x e n r ou o book y t evening) of fun. r a d n cale This is the largest winter issue we’ve ever published at Use the 56 pages! And when you add in the additional publications, you’ve got over 150 pages of winter joy beckoning you.

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In with this edition of Ottawa Outdoors is the Ontario Outdoor Adventure Calendar. Use this as a resource to plan all your adventures this winter through the spring, summer and fall.

There are dozens of amazing organized adventures from which to choose. Visit their website at www.OntarioOutdoor.com to get more information on booking your next adventure for couples, family or friends!

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The Ottawa Outdoors Winter Challenge DO EACH OF THESE ACTIVITIES, GET IN SHAPE AND WIN SOME GREAT PRIZES!

BY JENNIFER HARTLEY

[Ed.Note – There is much to do this wintery city of ours and Jennifer has written an article on 11 outdoor activities and the fitness rankings of each. Email us a photo of you participating in each, and your name goes in to win a brand new winter backpack and a couple of bath passes to Le Nordic Spa.] LACE UP YOUR SKATES, slip into ski boots, strap on snowshoes or grab the kids and hit the toboggan runs. Ottawa-Gatineau is tops for access to so many different outdoor winter sport opportunities. Here’s the winter equivalent of the summer sports sketch we did earlier this year to help vary anyone’s fitness regime and count the calorie burn along the way.

1. SNOW SHOVELLING Are you kidding? No. Snow shovelling is mundane, but a good workout and saves money. Instead of paying someone do plow the driveway, grab your toque and shovel and you’ll be working your arms, midsection (known as the “core” among fitness freaks) and legs as you burn anywhere between 250 and 400 calories an hour, depending on your size and gender. For example, a 150-pound man will burn 350 calories an hour moving the white www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

stuff while a 130- pound woman will burn 300. We’ll use this generic lady throughout this story. Our only caution: Don’t take too much snow with each shovelful – you could hurt your back. While you’re at it, help

an elderly neighbour. This will burn even more calories and get you a star in the golden book of heaven.

a great gateway to the outdoors.

Besides Gatineau Park, XC paths abound in Ottawa-Gatineau – in the Greenbelt and at commercial ski hills. Gearing up for a beginner will cost around $400 for skis, poles, boots and bindings.

3. DOWNHILL SKIING Want more speed? Click into alpine skis and hit the many nearby slopes. Downhill burns fewer calories than cross-country per hour, but you still get a good workout because few people downhill for only an hour. You’ll work your butt, abs, thighs and arms and burn between 350 and 400 calories an hour. Downhill skiing is not cheap. To gear up properly will cost $1,200–$1,500 to start, including a helmet. And that’s before you fork over for the lift pass to get you onto the ski hill. A ski pass locally is in the $30–$40 range for day skiing, cheaper at night.

4. SNOWBOARDING For the more adventurous, join the hill junkies and try snowboarding. You won’t burn calories bigtime, but it’s an adrenaline rush and you get an incredible core workout from it. Balancing your body on the board takes big effort. Gear costs about $1,000. Lift passes cost the same as for downhill skiing. Local hills welcoming board users include Vorlage www. skivorlage.com, Camp Fortune www.campfortune.com, Calabogie Peaks www.calabogie.com, Mont

2. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Like running, a calorie-burner and a workout for major muscle groups – arms, core (including abs) and much, much work for your legs, thighs and butt. Our generic 130-pound woman burns 450 calories an hour, and once you get the hang of cross-country, it’s

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Cascades www.montcascades.ca, Mount Pakenham www.mountpakenham.com and Edelweiss www.edelweissvalley.com. All have ski schools.

5. ICE SKATING Another great workout, mostly for legs, glutes thighs and quadriceps.

The Rideau Canal (Winterlude this year runs Feb. 1–8), the Rink of Dreams downtown, or any of the scores of rinks across the city.

Ice skating burns about 350–400 calories an hour at a moderate pace.

A good pair of skates will cost you $100–$150, either gender.

6. HOCKEY The quintessential Canadian sport guarantees burning a truckload of calories. That 130-pound woman will burn over 400 calories an hour on a hockey rink and work all major muscle groups.

Cost depends on at what level you want to play at. Just grabbing your stick and hitting a local outdoor rink is inexpensive, but if you’re in any kind of league you’ll need safety gear. The basics, (gloves, shin guards, helmet and stick) are in the range of $600 – before rink rentals.

The City’s website can point you toward a league.

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7. SNOWSHOEING As an exercise, this burns about 400 calories an hour and it’s easy to learn: Put on snowshoes and walk. It can be done anywhere, including deep snow. And it’s cheap. You can get the snowshoes for under $200. Snowshoe trails are everywhere, and on snowshoes you can go where no snowshoer has gone before (at least since the last snowfall). Don’t do it on designated cross-country ski trails. It messes up their tracks and makes skiers (rightly) grumpy.

8. SNOWMAN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Rediscover the child within and have fun with the kids. No big calorie burn, but you’ll still be working your arms and legs, having a great time, and offloading between 150 and 250 calories an hour.

9. TOBOGGANING Tobogganing requires balance (good for your core) and it works your legs and arms as you try to stay on the sled going down the hill and trudging back up. That 130-pound woman is burning about 350 calories an hour. Fun and cheap.

Toboggans range $30–$100.

10. RUNNING Running in the winter is heavenly (I’m biased). It can be tricky on ice and snow, so adjust your pace. Crisp air fills your lungs and good things happen to your brain. Layering up is

a good plan, topped off with a toque and mitts. For diehards, there are local races to keep you motivated.

Among them, the Hypothermic Half in January www.runningroom.com and the Winterman series Feb. 17. It offers three-, five- and 10-kilometre runs, half and full marathon, and a full relay marathon – it’s at www.somersault.ca). Our faithful 130-pound woman burns about 500 calories an hour running at around 10km/hr.

11. WALKING It’s free, and a one-hour walk at five km/hr will burn about 200 calories.

Whatever you do this winter, don’t go without water – easy to forget because people don’t feel thirsty because of the cold. But your body needs water in cold weather as much as in summer. ~ REMEMBER TO EMAIL US at editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca the 11 photos of you participating in each of these activities and you’ll be entered to win! Good luck!

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Backcountry skiing with the family HOW TO SHARE A LIFESTYLE

BY CHRIS LENNON PHOTOS BY GILLIAN MORGAN

Skiing is a great family sport because it so easily allows multiple generations to have fun together. And after starting a family of my own, I realized just how early we could venture into the hills together.

I had expected our kids could play in the snow at a ski resort, but would have to wait until they turned three years old before their indoctrination into all things skiing.

But my wife and I managed to get each of our children into the backcountry for daylong ski touring long before their first birthdays. As you might imagine, they didn’t actually stand up on skis until close to their second birthdays but they liked those early outings, which also offered a much-needed change of pace and scenery for the parents.

I’m not suggesting anyone take infants or toddlers into avalanche

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territory. But you should consider getting them into moderately rolling hills and even venturing into fresh untracked snow on low-angle terrain.

My daughter had her first full face-shot at approximately 18 months of age and the smile on her face was as genuine as any I’ve ever seen.

The kind of ski touring I have in mind may not be a hard-charging day in the hills (at least on the downhill portion). As someone who for years followed winter from one hemisphere to the other and spent upwards of 200 days a year on skis, my level of downhill aggression is significantly lower on these family excursions than before.

Family days towing kids around in the backcountry bring a different kind of enjoyment – one predicated on simply being in the hills and, if my experience is anything to go by, anticipating that a good night’s sleep may follow for all.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but the backcountry offers an ideal place to introduce children to skiing and to eventually allow them to

start making turns of their own.

Despite the media’s tendency to portray it as a place for daredevils, it’s typically quiet and serene, somewhere to move at your own pace, avoid distraction and be free from the hassle of crowded ski resort learning areas.

They say that becoming a parent can radically alter one’s perspective on life. Perhaps. But life perspective can also alter parenting. Gain some perspective; take your kids into the backcountry and allow them to enjoy the ski experience at an early age.

WHAT YOU NEED STANDARD GEAR AND KNOWLEDGE Backcountry travel requires selfrescue equipment and fundamental avalanche knowledge – if only to keep you from blundering into avalanche-prone terrain. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

SKI TOURING SET-UP Skins and touring bindings like the Marker Duke for example.

CHARIOT STROLLER WITH SKI ATTACHMENT There may be equivalent products out there but I haven’t found one, so check out www.chariotcarriers.com.

EYE PROTECTION Kids need quality goggles or sunglasses which they’re comfortable wearing (or unable to remove) for extended periods of time. I’ve found success with iPlay Flexi-Specs (www.mountainbaby.com) and youth goggles from Giro (www.giro.com).

STRONG, BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN Think Baby is free of toxic chemicals, water-resistant and my go-to brand.

WARM CLOTHING A small child will feel the cold much faster than a parent pulling a laden Chariot. Dressing children in layers helps, as does a waterproof bunting suit and hat with earflaps. Canadianmade Stonz booties and mittens are warm, waterproof and stay put on wriggly hands and feet thanks to drawcord closures (www.stonzwear.com).

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ottawa outdoors 9

Top 10 reasons to race the Atlas Mad Trapper

BY MIKE CALDWELL THE CHALLENGE. The Atlas Mad Trapper is the hardest 10-kilometre race you’ll ever run. The Solefit Orthotics fivekilometre “flatter” course by comparison has over 300 metres of elevation gain, in what could be knee deep snow! You don’t even want to know how much climbing you’ll do in the Atlas event.

THE FUN. This is the most fun you’ll ever have racing five or 10 kilometres.

“What have I got myself into?” is what racers ask. You’ll bond with like-minded racers and curse the race director for setting such a ridiculous course.

THE SUFFERING. If you like pain, if you welcome new highs in your heart rate, this is your race. Stay on the heels of Dave McMahon, Alexander Michel, and Derrick St. John – if you can keep these guys in sight and not cough up a lung, then you’ve proven your mettle.

THE COST. Most races cost $60 to $80 and sometimes more. You can race the Mad Trapper for as little as $27.50.

THE SCENERY. Mad Trapper races take place in pristine wilderness on singletrack trails that have not been overrun by hordes of hikers over the years. The trails twist and they turn. They go up and sometimes they even go down. Everything is covered in beautiful white.

THE PARTY. Whether you burn out trying to set a personal record or hike the five-kilometre loop with your uncle and grandma, a full-on feast awaits you at the finish: lasagna, chili, hot casseroles, hot soup, hot chocolate, chips, cookies and home-made brownies.

THE PRIZES: Thanks to our sponsors – Atlas Snowshoes, Solefit Orthotics, Bushtukah and others. By season’s end everybody has won a prize. The Mad Trapper rewards participation, so all prizes are awarded through random draws.

THE NIGHT RACE. There’s nothing more magical than a silent run through the snow and trees, watching other headlamps weaving through the forest.

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THE “IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE” FUNDRAISER. It follows the Bushtukah night race, to raise money for the i2P Foundation, which aims to educate youth through adventure to protect the planet and its people.

THE HOMEMADE BROWNIES. Actually this is the Number 1 reason: Everybody comes for the brownies.

Top 10 lists are always fun, but the truth is Atlas Mad Trapper events appeal to hard core racers as much as they appeal to weekend joggers and hikers. If you want competition against yourself or some top athletes it’s here. If you just want to enjoy the scenery and celebrate your health and fitness then you can do that.

Why you came doesn’t matter at the post-race party. Everyone mixes and mingles, shares their stories and encouragement for “next time.” It’s a celebration of life which can’t be described – only experienced.

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Five tips to better alpine skiing 1. SEE AND BELIEVE Visualize the ski run and feel it in your body. Imagine you’re making every turn and every jump.

2. FLOAT OVER THE CRUD Often skiers think they have to muscle through crud (heavy wet snow that is unsuitable for skiing), but the reality is much different.

Instead, lighten up and float over it.

Hold your hands a little higher, get on the balls of your feet and shift your weight equal over both skis.

This will help keep you off your seat as well.

3. SEE FUTURE, BE FUTURE Even veteran skiers freak when their speed approaches the sound barrier and everything is coming at them so fast. Assuming you’re

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decent enough with your turns, quash this panic by focusing on what’s ahead. Look at skiers further downhill and as you approach them, adjust your focus to the next set of objects.

4. PRESS YOUR ANKLES For tighter turns, greater speeds and a bigger blast, try this: If you were turning right to left (your right skis the downhill ski) press your right ankle towards the inside of your right boot. Simultaneously focus on pressing your left ankle against the outside of your left boot. Your turns will become automatic and smooth.

5. HANDS UP, BABY, HANDS UP When telemarking into a steep section, keep your hands in front of you. Where they go, you will go, so keep them in steady and within your field of vision. Do this and you’ll glide and slide better than you ever have before.

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Walking on air and snow A PRIMER ON SNOWSHOES AND SNOWSHOEING

BY DARREN BUSH

Once upon a time in Central Asia, some prehistoric inventor watched his friends trudge through deep snow in hot pursuit of a tasty mammoth. A snowshoe hare went bounding by and the neolithic equivalent of a light bulb went off.

Homo ingenious slapped a few pieces of wood on the snow and tied them on his feet. Rudimentary, but he got to the mammoth first and ate well.

For thousands of years, native people in North America have been using snowshoes as fourwheel drive for their feet. For these people, snowshoes were critical to survival. The Inuit didn’t use snowshoes, as many people think – they mostly walked on

were won by the British during the Seven Years War due to their superior snowshoes. Some troops were issued both skis and snowshoes during the Second World War and their effectiveness as a fighting force was enhanced by their ability to go where others

ice. Snowshoes came into use further south where deep snow made travel impossible without flotation.

Voyageurs and trappers learned quickly from the indigenous people the benefits of traveling by snowshoe. Later, the effectiveness of snowshoes wasn’t lost on the military. Decisive victories

couldn’t. Today’s trappers use smaller, more manoeuvrable shoes on their trap lines. In Scandinavia some letter carriers still deliver mail by snowshoe.

As I build and repair traditional shoes, I’ve become a bit of a magnet for people who find an old pair in the family garage.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

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SNOWSHOE CONSTRUCTION 101 The purpose of this section is not to teach you how to build a pair of shoes but to make you aware of the basics, so you understand your equipment better and maybe be inspired to make your own.

Snowshoes are a simple concept.

Weight distributed over a larger area doesn’t sink as much into the snow.

All things being equal, where I might sink to my knees in my boots, I would sink only to my ankles as the snowshoes compress the snow.

The traditional wood for snowshoe frames has always been ash – it’s durable and easy to shape.

Ash staves are split out of a log and worked down to size with a drawknife or crooked knife, following the grain so the frame doesn’t crack when it bends. After the staves are shaped, the wood is steamed to soften the lignin, the stuff which acts as a glue holding together the wood fibers. Steam it too much and you cook out the lignin; too little and it won’t bend. It takes a practised hand and a few ruined frames to learn how to do it.

Here’s a chair created by U.K. design students (next page). Yes, it is wood. Amazing. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Once the wood is soft and flexible, it’s time to clamp it onto a form shaped to create your snowshoe in the style you want, with lots of places to clamp the wood in place. This must be done quickly (you have about a minute) or the lignin starts to harden and you may have to re-steam or start over. Let the wood rest on the form for an hour or so and you have a snowshoe’s outer frame.

The traditional material for lacing is leather cut into thin strips called babiche. It’s a species of rawhide that softens when soaked in water and hardens as it dries. It can be thick or thin, but whatever it is, working with it is like weaving linguini.

The patterns can be quite open with thick lacing, or very fine with thin, almost string-like lacing. The tighter the weave, the better the flotation, so for powdery snow a tighter weave is best. Some of the

patterns woven by my two favorite shoe builders, the Attikamek and Eastern Cree, are works of art.

Function and beauty go together perfectly.

A nice combination of ancient and contemporary is to use wood frames but modern material for the lacing. Sliced neoprene and flat nylon webbing both work well, are more durable, and can be more forgiving. Babiche needs to be kept varnished to keep it from softening on contact with moisture, and to keep it from wearing out.

Generally the foot bed is laced last. This is the area right underneath your foot and is made with thicker and more durable lacing material, whatever it might be. Snowshoe tips and tails are usually a finer size and have a tighter weave. The pattern is fairly simple and anyone can do it with a little practice.

Whether it be nylon or babiche, the shoes need to be varnished to waterproof both frames and lacing.

A good spar varnish (from a marina store, not a generic home centre) is more flexible and lasts longer.

Slather it on and keep going until it doesn’t absorb any more.

Bindings attach your feet to the shoes, allowing the heel to lift while keeping the ball of your foot over the pivot point. Bindings range from a simple piece of lamp wick to a formed leather or neoprene harness that hugs your foot. The tails drag, keeping the shoes facing forward. I like leather because it’s durable, snow doesn’t stick to it and it doesn’t get stiff in the cold.

MODERN CHANGES Modern shoes are a far cry from the wood-and-leather hand-built snowshoes of the last half dozen millennia. Frames of aluminum and even titanium became the order of the day, with decks made of neoprene or similar materials. They come with injection-molded toe pieces and built-in crampons, those claw-like teeth that grab the snow with a serious bite.

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Bindings are more sophisticated too. The shoes on the left in the photo (top of page) are moderns from Crescent Moon, and you can see a red plastic binding with two black straps across the top of the boot. modern bindings really snug down around the foot right over the crampon. They are more complex, and that has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is adjustability, but complex things break more often.

But in general the upside of the modern shoe is that they require less maintenance. Metal frames and plastic decks and bindings don’t wear out if used properly.

The crampons are excellent when freezing alternates with thawing, making a slippery snow surface for traditional shoes. Because they are smaller and narrower, your stride can be more natural. Models made for running in the snow are available too; they’re as small and light as possible, which means less floatation but more mobility.

DID YOU KNOW?

Winter weather If you’re trying to plan your winter sport schedule, check the stats.

According to weatherspark.com, statistically the coldest day of the year in Ottawa is Jan. 19, with an average low of -15°C and high of -6°C. The chances of there being snow on the ground are highest around Jan. 8, occurring 65 per cent of the time; and snow is typically at its deepest on Feb. 9.

Just so you know.

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The downsides? Aesthetics, for one. No one hangs a pair of modern shoes over the fireplace.

They can be squeaky, and without the crampons the deck material is slippery. Modern shoes tend to be smaller, so you sink a little more in light snow.

I own both kinds and use them both in different conditions. In my area of the world where hills are gentle and snow is generally fluffy and untracked, I use traditional shoes. When I hike in hilly places, out come the moderns.

Either way, I love poles. Even with the most stable snowshoes, poles provide a measure of balance that makes snowshoeing easier for novices, and gives you a

with skate skiing and things accelerated. Not that there’s anything wrong with that: a nice long skate feels good, like a nice long run feels good. But everything moves faster now.

I’m not sure if the need for slowing down is the reason, but snowshoeing has passed Nordic skiing in growth and shows no signs of slowing down. I find myself carrying a small pack and walking rather than skiing, checking out the birds and seeing more than I would if I were focusing on balance and staying on track.

For winter camping, snowshoeing is ideal for pulling a toboggan-load of gear. Weight

boost up hills. They also add a little upper body workout and some serious cardio. I also use them sometimes as a sort of impromptu monopod for taking pictures in low winter light.

and bulk become non-issues with a toboggan, and a night in a heavy canvas tent with a small woodstove in it is as comfortable as anyone can expect in the wilderness. When it’s hot inside the tent and frigid outside, it’s almost cheating. Almost.

Try it out. Build, buy, or borrow a pair and get out there. Strap on snowshoes, leave the world behind, and enter the quiet stillness of the woods in winter.

THE ZEN OF THE SNOWSHOE In the fast-paced world, we need something to slow us down. Cross-country skiing used to be a fairly leisurely activity, but the Lycra crowd came in

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Where am I? IF YOU GET LOST, SIT DOWN AND RELAX

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY Lost in the Gatineau. It happened back in late fall on a day that started out as a fun map-andcompass exercise to hone bushwhacking skills. Everything went well for three hours, and then the wheels fell off. Suddenly nothing – terrain, directional instinct versus compass reading, time – made sense to me or my son Craig. We were lost. Snow started falling, the cold and damp seeped into our bones, and night was approaching.

Panic is often right on cue at this stage, but for us it didn’t appear. We knew some things ahead of time.

Here they are – learn them before you get lost, as you almost surely will if you’re a regular in the bush.

First off, expect your IQ to drop immediately by 30 per cent when you get lost. Your reasoning will

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log-jam, so this is no time to start calculating precisely where you went wrong, or trying to remember if you passed a trail two hours or 30 minutes ago. Instead, sit down, eat something and have a drink – hot if possible – to settle your anxiety. This kind of enforced control will usually restore your thinking enough to find a way out.

Throughout your hike check your compass heading frequently. The Canadian Shield (covering much of eastern Canada) is rock, and rocks are often magnetized. When you’re depending on a compass to direct you in a straight line, magnetized rocks can spook it, sending you off your intended track. A GPS is no guaranteed help either. Mine had low batteries by late afternoon, creating an emotional pressure point to distort judgement.

Along the way, double your calculated travel distance. If your planned route looks as if it’s five kilometres on the map, you’ll probably walk up to 10 klicks.

Swamps, beaver dams and cliffs will get in your way and force detours. So translate this extra distance into your time calculation.

Meet your target goal at a sharp angle. If you’re trying to reach a road or trail or hydro line, set your

track so you hit it at a sharp angle (e.g. 90 degrees) not a shallow one.

If you’ve plotted a shallow angle and the road has a nearby turn, you might miss it entirely.

Factor in regional magnetic variations for compass headings. If you don’t, you’ll drift off track. The magnetic field doesn’t hold still, so the difference between true north and magnetic north is constantly changing. Your map is frozen in time (its publication date), but it will tell you the annual variation so you’ll know to add or subtract that to get a true heading.

Keep going straight. It’s impossible to walk a straight line through the bush (remember those swamps?). So when you take a compass bearing, locate a distant tree or boulder in your direction of travel as a target. Then pick your way to it through the forest. Repeat the process, alternating from left to right of your successive minitargets, to average out the wobbles through the woods.

Accept the idea of disaster and plan for it. Several months ago I got lost during a solo 1,300-kilometre wilderness canoe trip near the Arctic Circle. I accepted it with almost a shrug, honest. Reckless confidence?

No, good prep. My pack had 10 day’s worth of food that could have been www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

stretched to a month. Spreading my map in the canoe I narrowed my likely position to a rough 230-square-kilometre area. Decades of outdoor experience and a pack full of food and supplies kept the butterflies at bay. Though still lost, I slept well that night. The next day I was back on track.

So how did my son and I find our way out? See above: We stopped, shared some chocolate from our packs, and joked about the pickle we were in. Food energy and banter cleared the log-jam in our thinking.

We poked around and within minutes found a small trail – part of a network running off the main road. Had we pressed on we would have found it. Confidence renewed, we turned left down it, but it deadended on a lake. “Perfect!” my son said grinning and pointing at his map. “That puts us right here.” We backtracked up the trail and were soon standing on the main road.

So carry a survival pack with stuff you’ll need for an unexpected night out – matches, lighter and fire-starters, knife, whistle, large plastic bag and food – and use the 70 per cent remainder of your IQ. Learn from your experience and the experiences of others. ~ Allen Macartney has been lost three times – twice this year – in 40 years of wilderness travel.

DID YOU KNOW?

The toque Anyone who’s sensible in Ottawa has a toque. It’s the common name for that winter staple which comes from the French word tuque. The Canadian English adaptation of the word for that woolly head warmer first appeared in writing around 1870. However, the word “toque” itself is actually Arabic for “round.” The word has been known in English since 1505 and apparently came in via French. But Canadians of either language are the only ones to use it in the winter context. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Keeping children warm in winter’s wonderland THEY’LL STAY OUT ALL DAY

BY JULIE FINDLAY My kids are never cold. Or at least that’s what they tell me when it’s time to finally quit playing and come inside. Kids will rarely admit to being cold for fear it will put an end to their fun. But when the snow comes, and stays, they need the right clothes to stay out there and enjoy it.

Dressing in layers is the key, and just like the three bears, the right gear is a triple – base layer, middle layer and outer layer.

That base layer needs to be moisture-wicking to keep dampness away from the skin.

Polyester or microfibre-blend long johns are great. Cotton it is too absorbent, tends to cling, and stays wet.

Next, add an insulating middle layer of “fleece,” not the skin and wool off a sheep’s back these days, but a soft, stretchy, lightweight synthetic which feels great.

A protective outer layer or shell keeps heat in and wind and snow out. Look for jackets and snow pants made of a tightly woven, water resistant fabric. Longer jackets with elastic cuffs are best; bib-style snow pants with elastic cuffs keep snow out. Look for these terms on the label: “wind resistant,” “water-repellent,” and “breathable.”

Don’t forget those little heads, hands and feet. They’re the first to feel cold winds or a drop in

temperature. Hats with flaps are great because they cover ears too. Fleece linings mean a nonitchy hat, so impatient little snow engineers will be less likely to take it off. Don’t put fleece-lined hats in the dryer, or they’ll shrink.

Mittens for kids are better than gloves because they allow warm air to circulate around their hands and fingers keep each other warm company. Look for elasticized wrists and long cuffs. I do love those old-fashioned knitted mittens, but waterproof fabrics are better for keeping kids warm and dry.

Keeping little toes toasty starts with moisture-wicking socks, and a polyester wool blend works best. Then choose good quality waterproof boots with Velcro closures to make it easy for kids to manage by themselves. I love the new neoprene-style pull-on boots.

If you’re planning a full day in the woods, ski slopes or trails, a skate on the canal or snow fort construction in the yard, extra mitts and socks can extend your family time with no complaints. A snack and hot drink are always welcome, along with sunscreen – even winter sun can burn children fast.

Follow the same guidelines yourself so you aren’t the one that has to go inside and miss the fun! ~ Julie Findlay runs Mom in the Know, an online resource for active families at www.mitk.ca.

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Air turns

1

Ski the line as if there wasn’t any required air; keeping focused on your ultimate line of travel. Just ski until the terrain falls away beneath your feet.

BY CHRIS LENNON PHOTOS BY GILLIAN MORGAN

2

As you start to feel the terrain disappear and send you airborne, begin to steer your direction of travel a bit with your upper body.

When skiing fun little lines in the trees it is often necessary to catch small amounts of air without interrupting the flow of your turns. When the trees are tight, you can’t always land in the same direction that you took off – but there is no reason to – just make an air turn like this:

4 3

Once fully airborne turn your feet to catch up to your body’s direction of travel.

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Extend the landing gear and the moment you touch down continue steering your skis as though you never left the ground.

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Get in alpine ski shape for the winter slopes To avoid injury this winter, follow these tips to stay healthy and guarantee as many days as possible on the slopes.

Stance, strains & sprains: To best avoid accidents while improving your agility, remember to bend your knees and keep your feet together while in a slightly crouched position. As strains to the hips, knees and ankles are common when on the slopes, failing to rest after prolonged, repetitive movements risks further injury. Remember, a light warm-up before and a training schedule of leg exercises in advance will ensure you’re less likely to stress or stretch the ligaments.

Health: Alpine activities require orchestrated movement of the major muscle groups in the body.

The glutes, thighs and knees work in concert with the back, torso, shoulder and arms. When on the hills these muscle groups become stronger and more flexible. As the bones and joints are tasked with weight-bearing demands, it can in turn lead to less bone loss due to osteoporosis. And it’s great to know that just two hours of

 DID YOU KNOW?

Boarding dude Snowboarding has its roots in surfing and came into the picture somewhat later – as in 3,000 years later – in 1965. That year, Sherman Poppen from Michigan made a snowboard for his daughter by binding two skis together. He called it a Snurfer and sold nearly a million of them within a decade. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

moderate skiing will burn more than 1,000 calories (excluding those you add in the après ski activities afterwards of course).

Fuel: When exercising in cold weather your body needs more food and water to stay energized.

Why? Because exposure to the cold causes the narrowing of blood vessels in the skin.

Remember the three ingredients for sustainable energy: carbohydrates, calories and water.

Drink water: The cold, dry air engulfs much of your fluid because the body has to saturate the air you breathe.

Just because you’re not hot doesn’t mean you’re not losing water through your pores; so drink up.

Stoke the furnace: If you’re a veteran alpine enthusiast you know a hearty meal is needed to stay energized and healthy on the slopes. And since we know exercise burns calories and suppresses appetite, carb up more than usual.

Pack the snacks: Grab those zip-lock sandwich bags and fill them with GORP (grains, oats, raisins and peanuts) or some other concoction of dried fruit and trail mix. Then every fourth ride up the chair lift take a minute to recharge your battery.

I think we’re due to get the winter we’ve been aching for.

If we do, we’ll be alpine bound on a regular basis. Follow the advice above to stay healthy all season long.

ottawa outdoors 21

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Stay warm, stay dry

COOL GEAR

NEW WINTER GEAR COMBINES OLD-FASHIONED HIDES WITH HIGH TECH FABRICS

BY TRAVIS PERSAUD It’s here. Biting wind, snow and sub-zero weather. The natural reaction is to retreat – find that warm nook in your house and never leave. But your body wants you to suck it up and get moving. Who me? Not to worry, we have you covered. Here are some winter gear basics – using traditional materials and the newest stuff from the labs – that will keep you warm, dry and ready to tackle any winter activity.

VASQUE – SNOWBURBAN (MEN’S)POWPOW (WOMEN’S) ($150/$140) Vasque’s new line of insulated boots builds on the company’s reputation for top-notch hiking footwear. The Snowburban for men and the PowPow for women are ideal for harsh winter weather. Outsoles provide superb traction, keeping you on your feet in the driveway or on the mountain peak. The upper is uber comfortable, and the PowPow can be worn to the office on blustery days with no fashion anxieties.

Look for it at www.vasque.com

HEADSWEATS – TOASTER BEANIE ($22) Headsweats transforms its popular Midcap Beanie, making into the perfect companion for your noggin in winter. It fits snug to your head, allowing an easy fit for a helmet. Look for it at www.headsweats.com

MERRELL – MONTROSE ($150) At first glance this might look like a vintage Euro ski cardigan. Merrell’s Montrose is stylish and looks like a great companion when sitting next to a fire.

And it is. But, it’s also an ideal mid-layer sweater for winter activities. Made with a wool blend that’s attached to a fleece lining, it has a wind-resistant technical layer that you can leave on at the restaurant after a day outdoors.

Look for it at www. merrell.com

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THE NORTH FACE – WINTER WARM BRUSHED TIGHTS ($90) Winter running requires thought and preparation.

These tights (for men and women) help cut the time spent getting dressed and ready. Made for cold days, they use a stretch fabric that doesn’t hamper your speed. As you warm up, you won’t need to take them off because panels at the back of the knee let them breathe and VaporWick material moves moisture away from your skin. A zip pocket at centre-back stores keys, cards and other small items. Look for it at www.thenorthface.com www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

HOT CLOTHING DALE OF NORWAY’S CALGARY SWEATER ($269/$279) The official sweater of the Canadian Alpine and Ski Cross teams for 2012/13 season. It is a beautiful lightweight sweater made with 100% skinsoft Merino in a versatile design that travels easily from the slopes to the office – meeting the many needs of the Canadian team members. It is a premium product made with the best materials in a sophisticated double knit construction that will look great for many years. Made in Norway.

Look for it at Tommy & Lefebvre and Trailhead in Ottawa or at www. daleofnorway.com.

QUARTZnature PARKAS AND INSULATED JACKETS ($744)

COLUMBIA – WHITE DAWN SOFTSHELL GLOVE ($160) These aren’t ordinary gloves. They’re made of nylon and goatskin, materials that allow winter pursuits from the slopes to the chalet and anything in between.

OutDry, a waterproof membrane fits over the glove, seals it completely and makes it truly waterproof.

Columbia adds its Omni-Heat lining to keep heat in, but letting sweat escape. The gloves have a not-veryold-fashioned cowhide grip for excellent dexterity.

Look for it at www.columbia.com

LIQUID BOARDWEAR’S “TIMANOR” JACKET ($219.99) The Timanor Jacket is part of Liquid Boardwear’s women’s Quattro Series, offering the best technology and design that Liquid offers.

Waterproof, with fully taped and seam sealed, waterproof zips, powder skirt, velcro adjustable cuffs and pit zips for venting.

As well, it has an inner chin flap, spandex wrist cuff with thumb hole, aluva lined handwarmer pockets, inner mesh goggle pocket, inner mp3 pocket with clear window and a contour fitting removable hood.

Look for it at www. liquidboardwear.com.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

A new style for 2012-2013, offered in limited edition, the Bradley is a best-seller. Inspired by military parkas, the Bradley has a nice blend of lines, textures and a contrasting black yoke.

During cold and gusty winter walks, you’ll be happy the coat is equipped with a double front flap, multiple adjustments and fleece lined outside pockets. Add a fur trim, natural or synthetic and you’ll give a great look to this new classic. Look for it at www.quartznature.com or in Ottawa at the SAIL store.

MEC – UPLINK 2 JACKET ($125) A technical jacket that’s both light and useful while on the move? Yes, MEC’s Uplink 2 keeps you warm with Primaloft insulation – which traps heat even when wet – but the fit allows any movements you need to make. Plus, it’s super light and can fold into its external chest pocket.

So if you’re working up a major sweat while cross-country skiing or hiking, it never sticks to your back. And you won’t even notice the weight if you stash it in a day pack. Look for it at www.mec.ca

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The addictive thrills and spills of speedskating THE LONG BLADES BECKON

BY DAVE BROWN Ah, the need for speed. If you’re a speedskater living around Ottawa, you know the rush of the sound of the ice as you plant one blade in front of the other and race around Brewer’s outdoor oval rink. For many, it’s truly addictive.

Once you’ve experienced the thrill of strapping on long, razorsharp blades and flying around an oval track at speeds close to 30 kilometres an hour, the rush is too much to ignore.

And who doesn’t recall the excitement of watching shortand long-track races during past Olympics? And special kudos to Ottawa’s own Kristina Groves, who won four Olympic medals — three silver and a bronze — as well as 18

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world championship medals.

But aside from Olympians, past and future, there are hundreds of children and adults learning to speedskate this winter – just for the fun of it.

The outdoor Brewer Park Oval — a 400-metre Olympic-sized speedskating track across from Carleton University — beckons both children and adults. For a winter country, Canada has surprisingly few speedskating ovals, and the Brewer facility is one of only two in Ontario.

Ottawa’s two speedskating clubs have long been involved in the building and maintenance of the oval and rinks. Volunteers from the Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club and the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club spend many cold nights pouring water on the fields of Brewer Park.

This year they anticipate more than 4,000 skaters. Accessible by car, bus or the O-train, visitors can skate on either the standard indoor or the outdoor oval skating rinks.

When you speedskate you skate in a counter clockwise direction as fast as you can, trying not to lose control only to slide into the cushioned walls or snowbanks.

Skaters practise to obtain a smooth transition from short steps at the start of the race to long, smooth and efficient strides to maximize their speed. The speed comes

from crouching low to reduce air resistance while, at the same time, allowing the leg to extend to the side during each push.

Let’s take a closer look at the sport.

RACE TYPES Whether you’re seven or 70, either type of speedskating mentioned here will develop your strength, agility and co-ordination.

Short-track speedskating is racing on ice on an 111-metre track in an indoor arena. It is tactical and requires good technique, strength and endurance. Short track is packstyle racing among groups of four to six skaters. A standard meet will have four sets of races at different distances, which vary depending on the age of the skaters.

Long-track speedskating is raced on a 400-metre track. It is tactical (dependant on the distance and pace) and also requires good technique, strength and endurance.

Long track can be pack style (mass start with multiple skaters) or Olympic style (two skaters on the track). A standard meet will consist of sets of races at different distances.

HISTORY The roots of speedskating date back over a millennium to Scandinavia, northern europe and www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT • Speed skates (sometimes for rent from clubs) • Helmet (hockey, bicycle or in-line helmet allowed for practices). It is mandatory to have a speedskating ISU certified helmet (LAS or LG) for short track meets • Safety glasses • Neck guard with bib • Cut-proof gloves • Knee pads • Shin guards

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Organizers and local clubs want Ottawans to come enjoy this experience.

Children specifically embrace speedskating because this allows them the fun to both skate and race. It is also strongly recommended as a family and lifetime activity.

Surprisingly, the rink is a neutral ground. In speedskating races, boys skate against girls, tall skate against small, and so on. It’s the skater with technique and strategy that wins the day.

Speedskating is an individual sport where you choose which level to pursue, and where and how often to skate. By joining a local club you also get the social and support benefits of a larger group – the camaraderie, coaching, and access to ice time and equipment. What a great new sport to try this winter.

Here’s how to contact the clubs: Ottawa Pacers ottawapacers.ca) and Gloucester Concordes (gloucesterconcordes.ca)

ALL PHOTOS BY MICHAEL & PAULA WEBSTER

the Netherlands. Local natives added bones to their shoes and used them to travel on frozen rivers, canals and lakes.

Later, in the 16th century, people started seeing skating as fun and even a sporting activity. The sport spread, and in 1592 a Scotsman designed a skate with an iron blade, leading to the growth of speedskating.

By 1850, North America had discovered a love of the sport, and went on to develop the all-steel blade, which was both lighter and sharper.

Then, in 1889, the Netherlands organized the very first world championships, and the sport has been growing ever since.

~ Originally published in Dave’s weekly Outdoor Life column each Saturday in the Ottawa Citizen.

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The Algonquin Log Cabin offers an intimate and cozy base to ski, snowshoe and dogsled.

Located at Algonquin Park access point #1, the hilly terrain that surrounds the Log Cabin provides fantastic lookouts and is ideal for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing.

Afterwards you’ll want to return for lakeside saunas and their famous regional appetizers served up fireside. With just six bedrooms, the Log Cabin comfortably accommodates a small group of up to 12. Come alone, as a couple, or with friends and family and book the cabin for a private customized winter adventure. Three-day multi-adventures available from December to March.

To book your adventure visit voyageurquest.com and for other great Ontario winter adventures visit ontariooutdoor.com.

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

IMAGES PROVIDED BY ONTARIO TOURISM, PHOTOGRAPHER, GOH IROMOTO.

Discover the magic of the Algonquin Log Cabin

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St. Moritz Sweater Made in Norway

DALE OF NORWAY Available at specialist retailers including Tommy & Febvre and Trailhead or online at www.daleofnorway.com

Shivering? Eat, sleep, slow down – and stay fit

BY JENNIFER HARTLEY SHIVER CALORIES AWAY With an average temperature of minus 10, not including wind chill, January is frosty. The good news, according to Wayne Askew, a nutrition professor at the University of Utah, is that winter shivering can help you burn extra calories.

Chattering teeth is a sign that your body is working harder to stay warm. The added weight of those extra clothes you pile on can burn off more. Turn down the thermostat and your body will work a bit harder indoors too.

GET YOUR ZZZZS Craving high-calorie foods?

You may need more sleep. The Mayo Clinic says adults should get between seven and nine hours a night, and when you don’t, your body looks for a caloric hit to get

it through. This can make you eat more (and more bad stuff) than if you were well-rested. And if you’re up longer, you’re more apt to eat, adding more calories than you probably need. Athletes know you can’t perform without regular good sleep. Get to bed.

TO CARB OR NOT TO CARB Eat them. You need them. The Dietitians of Canada – a bunch of professionals; they know these things – say cutting carbs might help drop some weight in the short term, but you’ll miss out on the nutritional benefits of whole grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, and legumes. Stick to Canada’s Food Guide and frankly, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re working out a lot, you need the fuel that carbs give. How much is enough depends on intensity of exercise.

For the average person, two to

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819.827.1111 / 1 866.575.3700

three grams of carbs per body pound ought to do the trick. So a 130-pound person should take in between 260 and 300 grams per day. If that same person is an endurance athlete, increase consumption to three to four grams per pound, or 390-520 grams of carbs per day. Don’t be afraid. Go on. Eat them.

PACKING ON A FEW POUNDS? Getting a little thicker because you’re not training as hard as usual?

Don’t fret. Athleticism (like life) happens in cycles. The need for bodily fuel and the output of bodily energy change. Healthy weight ranges and optimal racing weight are two entirely different things for athletes. Taking it easy and letting your body rest from intense training is a good thing. Crank it back up, and once again you will be a lean, mean, fast machine.

www.lenordik.com

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TIMMINS

the great outdoors and more!

this year... eliminate the cabin fever blues SNOW, it’s our favorite four letter word. Every Year we get piles of it. How many inches you ask? Actually we measure our snow in feet, and most winter’s it’s so high we prefer to share it rather than shovel it.

We also like to make things with it, like trails and tracks and moguls. We’ve discovered that it’s even good for holding up your ice- fishing rod just right. You might even spot the odd igloo, although we recommend one of our more comfortable hotel rooms, or cozy resorts.

Don’t look to the Farmer’s Almanac for ideal snow destinations this winter, just head north to Timmins because here we know snow and the conditions are usually perfect for all your winter outdoor recreational pursuits.

Here you can actually feel the warmth of our Northern Ontario winter. At the end of a beautiful, crisp, winter day we’ll warm your heart and soul as you warm your toes.

For a true taste of wilderness hospitality, there are well appointed rustic resorts and lodges, full service hotels and motels and well appointed B&B’s at your service. Making your stay even more pleasant is a wide variety of dining options, from casual, to fine dining. This year, Tourism Timmins is happy to welcome Microtel Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express to its growing family of hospitality service providers.

Winter Experiences:

The residents of the City of Timmins enjoy the best of all worlds.

Our great outdoors combined with a lifestyle and quality of life often the envy of many other jurisdictions, makes this city a perfect place to be all year round. Timmins is home to hundreds of lakes and rivers that are just waiting to be discovered, even in winter. We are passionate about the great outdoors and the many adventures and activities that are never more than a stones throw away. With the clean, crisp air and the glistening snow of winter, it’s no wonder that so many families living here have discovered the joys of ice fishing on the many frozen lakes and waterways usually teeming with perch, whitefish, trout, northern pike and of course, the tasty, succulent pickerel. The sight of many multi colored fishing huts popping up on many of our area lakes is testament to our love of the great outdoors.

Located only 3 km from downtown Timmins, the Porcupine Ski Runners is one of the largest cross country ski clubs in

Canada. Boasting a new $1.7 million dollar Xstrata Copper Chalet and approximately 30 kilometers of scenic and groomed trails, some fully illuminated for night skiing, you can enjoy an incredible experience while sharing the great outdoors with lynx, moose, weasels, snow hares, partridge, and a snowy owl. For the avid hiker the Porcupine Ski Runners is truly a paradise with a fully signed snowshoe trail system designed to challenge anyone from experienced to novice while providing all ages with the ultimate workout.

For your convenience, locker rentals and snowshoe rentals are available The Porcupine Ski Runners is truly a world class facility!

For more information, on rates or upcoming activities visit www.porcupineskirunners.com The Kamiskotia Ski Resort has been a part of this community for over 40 years and has become an important winter attraction for the City of Timmins. Its northerly location gives it a nearly six-month season with an average snowfall of 340 cm (134 in.). Located on Mt. Jameson, an extinct volcano, Kamiskotia provides a 122-metre vertical, proving to be the 3rd highest vertical out of 8 resorts in Northern Ontario. With 12 runs over 68 acres of land ranging from easy to extremely difficult, this resort can be challenging for any level of skiing and snowboarding. Kamiskotia has a piece of winter for everyone and anyone with any level of capability. The Venture Center Tube Park, equipped with night lights and a rope lift is a great way to hit the hill with the whole family. With 2 cross country skiing loops, a state of the art chalet and bar, changing area with lockers and much more this makes our resort one of the top resorts in Ontario. To learn more about their facilities and activities please visit www.kamiskotia.com Timmins is the ultimate destination for a snowmobile vacation. Here you will enjoy spectacular scenery, where you will log hundreds of kilometers on our network of uncongested, perfectly groomed trails. With an average annual snowfall of close to 10 feet, this snowmobile destination is “best in class”. Access our many shops, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and local attractions such as the Cedar Meadows Wilderness Park, (where you will be up close and personal with the Majestic Canadian Moose), from the comfort of your sled via our snowmobile friendly network of routes.

For more information, contact us at 1-800-387-8466 or visit www.tourismtimmins.com

warm up to winter We will be at the following outdoor adventure shows: Toronto | February 22-24 Ottawa | March 16-17

For your free colour travel guide call 1-800-387-8466 or download a copy at

www.tourismtimmins.com

Your memories await...

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Our enchanted surroundings bring Christmas memories to life. Join us for fresh-air fun, sip a glass of wine by our cozy fireplace, sample our new holiday menu, relax with a massage and finish the day in the outdoor hot tub. From December 14-16 and 21-23 the “Choir in the Caves” package will inspire you with Medieval and traditional Christmas songs set in the candle-lit theatre of Laflèche Caves. Enjoy one of our luxury spa packages and indulge in hours of pure relaxation…give the gift of memories.

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Understanding snow types SAND SNOW Produced during extremely cold temperatures, and has such a sharp, granular texture it becomes very difficult to ski or walk across.

WILD SNOW A very dry, fluffy snow that usually begins to fall during calm periods in the weather and extreme cold snaps. If the wind picks up, dangerous whiteouts can occur.

CORN SNOW Most common in early spring when changing temperatures continually thaw and freeze the accumulated snow. The texture is grainy and is more of a layer of ice crystals, separated by air space than actual snow. It’s sticky to ski across and very difficult to walk on without falling through.

ROTTEN SNOW A dangerous circumstance caused by snow repeatedly melting and WIND-PACKED SNOW freezing on the upper layer (common The fallen (and accumulated) on the south side of a hill), which in snow has been heavily compacted turn causes water to seep through by strong winds. The pressure of to the lower layer. With the top layer the blowing wind causes a “coldacting as an insulator, the water heat” hardening effect, which on the bottom never freezes. The creates an excellent surface to walk problem is, the snow may look safe to on without breaking through. It’s walk across, but it will collapse when also one of the best materials to you least expect it. make igloo blocks.

GP_Demsis_OttawaOutdoors.pdf 1 22/11/12 3:15 PM

SLUSH SNOW This is snow that has absorbed water from below. It can be spotted where the snow surface has a slight depression with areas dark blue in colour. Avoid such areas when crossing lakes and especially rivers — it’s a good indicator there’s a hole in the ice below.

DID YOU KNOW?

Greenbelt goes white The National Capital Greenbelt has more than 150 kilometres of crosscountry ski trails through green space, farms, forests and wetlands.

Begun in the 1950s, its purpose was to protect the rural land bordering the Capital from haphazard urban sprawl. Today it’s the largest publicly owned greenbelt in the world.

Most of it (14,950 hectares) is owned and managed by the National Capital Commission.

Let it snow!

Over 250 km of the best cross-country ski trails are just minutes away! And there’s a discount on season ski passes until December 15. I’ve got my pass. Have you got yours? reservations.gatineaupark.ca 819-827-2020 | 613-239-5090 (TTY)

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawa outdoors 35

Snowshoeing on a bike ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN MCKIE

FAT BIKES A FREAKIN’ FUN RIDE!

BY SHEILA ASCROFT

If you’re toying with the idea of cycling off-road in winter, you’re soon up against the question of just how fat your mountain bike tires should be to float on snow.

A monster-sized Big Fat Larry at 4.7 inches? Or an Endomorph at a merely tubby 3.7?

We’re not talking snowy roads, but fields of snow! Wherever you can snowshoe, you can ride a fat bike with fat tires. If you are environmentally careful, you can take this same “omniterra” tire onto sandy beaches or mud, slippery rocks and roots, and anywhere else a depraved imagination can conjure. But for an Ottawa winter, fat bikes are best on packed-down snow trails or not-too-deep fluffy white stuff.

(If you’re an urban commuter, stick with regular-width knobby or studded tires.)

In mountain biking terms, the response to “go big or go home” means going with a fat bike, a mountain bike on steroids. It has an odd-looking frame with outsized forks and stays, fat rims with double-wide tires, front and rear disc brakes and small chain rings, and weighs in at about 16 kilograms. The trick with these high-volume tires is they run at very low air pressure (five to 10 psi) so they float over snow with just enough traction to keep you upright.

“They are just fun to ride,” says Kent Dougall co-owner of Phat Moose Cycles, one of only two local shops selling fat bikes.

Phat Moose carries the Surly and brands, ranging from the ultra36 ottawa

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light Salsa Beargrease, the same brand’s moderate Mukluk, up to the superfat Surly Moonlander.

“I was never a very good cross-country skier, was never fit enough, but I’m master of the snow on this,” he says pointing to his own Moonlander. “It’s an expedition bike so you could really go afar, but even on the mountain bike trails at Kanata Lakes, it is sheer pleasure. With the low pressure, the bike feels super-cushiony and has lots of stability.

“And it’s more thrilling than snowshoeing, but I’m bikebiased.”

Dougall says three years ago he sold one fat bike. Last year the count was about 15 and he expects more this winter. “It’s really taking off. Last year, there

were maybe 50 or 60 cyclists out playing in the snow or racing on informal courses around Ottawa.

They are great to use wherever you normally mountain bike.”

However, he cautions that these models work poorly on plowed roads or in slush – the tires just slow you down.

Tall Tree Cycles at its new 255 Richmond Road location is the only other fat game in town, carrying Surly and 9 Zero 7 brands. (The area code for Alaska, 907, is where one of the fat bike inventors tested it in 160-kilometre snow races). Alaska is still the (ahem) hotbed of snow biking.

Grant Burke, head mechanic, says that Tall Tree owners Will Ficner or Thom Johnson believe fat bikes are here to stay – “they www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

are for more than snow; they are great on sand, very rocky conditions and very marshy areas. This is why we call them fat bikes rather than snow bikes, to underline their versatility.”

Burke agrees with Dougall that fat bikes are used increasingly for back-country touring, where riders need comfort over rough terrain but worry that a normal mountain bike’s suspension might fail. Fat tires reduce that concern.

Another attraction of fat bikes is they widen the weather window.

“Some of the best times to ride are when conditions are minimal for XC skiers,” Burke says. “We are convinced that those skiers, once they spend a few hours on a fat bike, will be hooked. We’ve seen the conversion happen already: several clients, who used to ski several times a week, bought fat bikes, and now only ski occasionally – out of guilt!”

And a fat bike ride can be a great workout. The resistance between soft terrain and big tires requires a solid cardio effort, and “a surprisingly complete core workout as well, due to the

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

effort to steer in deep snow. That core workout is something most cycling activities lack,” Burke says.

Last winter Tall Tree sold almost 20 fat bikes and had sold six this year before November. Burke calls this weird-looking model “a valid second-season bike that you will ride almost as often as your warm-weather bike.”

Tall Tree will be hosting at least two “fat” events: There’s a season kick-off Dec. 9 at Limerick Forest (fat and regular-tire bikes are welcome since there is no guarantee of snow), with group rides followed by food and drink in one of the sandpits. In late January, the shop is planning a demo day in a downtown park for those wanting to try out fat bikes on a short course.

Both shops offer rentals, so you can try a fat bike before you buy.

Dave Macki, co-owner of Phat Moose, charges $30 per day or $60 for a weekend (Friday pickup and Monday drop off). Tall Tree Cycles offers Surly’s Pugsley for $40 per day, or $65 from 3 p.m.

Saturday to noon on Tuesday.

Tall Tree has a Pugsley available

in a XS frame and an even smaller frame by 9 zero 7 that will allow folks around five feet tall to ride comfortably.

Dougall says you need to dress for the cold and carry a hot drink in a thermos. “Moose mitts” or pogies could keep your hands really warm. These are insulated covers that fit over handlebars to protect hands from the elements.

They make a huge difference in warmth and would be good for commuters too. For more info: http://fatbikes.com/pogies.html or Moose Mitts or Bar Mitts.

There’s a whole fat bike world out there to investigate. Starting with …

• www.fatbikes.com • http://ridefatbikes.com/ • http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/ • http://lowpressureproductions. blogspot.com/ • http://gearjunkie.com/fat-biketrend • http://surlybikes.com/bikes/ moonlander • http://salsacycles.com/bikes/ mukluk • http://salsacycles.com/bikes/ beargrease

ottawa outdoors 37

Going green Ottawa Outdoors sat down with Maria McRae, city councillor for River Ward and the inaugural chair of the municipal environment committee for a scan of what’s getting greener in the city these days.

OOM: Could you outline some accomplishments on the environment front?

MM: This year, the environment committee launched projects to improve our waste diversion and reduction, to promote green building and protect the health of the Ottawa River. Some of the most important initiatives include: • A new system to increase the volume of combined wastewater re-directed to the wastewater treatment plant has helped reduce overflows by more than 60 per cent since 2009. The environmental assessment for the combined sewage storage tunnel is close to completion and we installed a new dechlorination system at our wastewater treatment plant to ensure the safe and clean output of wastewater.

• Garbage collection now includes weekly green bin pick-up, weekly pick-up of blue or black box materials, such as paper, cans, plastic, bottles, etc., and bi-weekly pick-up of non-recyclables such as packaging, etc. This will divert waste from our landfills, reduce the number of trucks on our roads, save taxpayers $10 million annually over each of the next six years and extend the life of the Trail Road landfill.

• We committed an additional $1 million to battle the emerald ash borer. The money allowed us to increase the number of tree injections and the number of trees planted in 2012. We are one of the first municipalities in Canada to test a new treatment, Confidor, 38 ottawa

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to find out whether it will combat this invasive beetle.

• The new city council electronic agenda eliminates the need for paper at committee and council meetings. We used to produce upwards of 2.8 million paper pages of meeting materials annually.

• Improved waste diversion in City facilities means day cares, community centres, fire stations and other buildings are recycling more.

• The “Green Express Lane” initiative will speed up the approval service for projects that incorporate green building techniques.

• Energy retrofits, building automation and new lighting technology in city facilities will mean annual savings of $800,000.

• The City approved the Orleans water main link to ensure a steady and safe supply of drinking water for thousands of east-end residents.

• The new Characterization of Ottawa’s Watersheds Report tracks water environment conditions across the city.

• City Hall now has an electric vehicle charging station, a pilot project with Hydro Ottawa.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

• Protecting the health of the Ottawa River, improving waste diversion, participating in regional partnerships and promoting green building and development. Here are some examples:

• The Ministry of the Environment continues to recognize the Ottawa’s commitment to high quality drinking water with perfect scores for each of its municipal drinking water systems. The City’s drinking water is consistently rated as one of the best in the world.

• Our award-winning Green Bins in Schools program continues to grow, with more than 60,000 students participating at schools representing every ward and every school board in our city. While this program diverts waste from our landfills, it is also a fantastic educational tool about the importance of waste diversion.

• The City’s green fleet program, including four electric Zambonis in community rinks, won the National Association of Fleet Administrators 2012 Sustainable Fleet Award.

• The City’s emerald ash borer strategy and the tree program were nominated for Environmental Excellence Awards.

What are the priorities for the environment committee?

• Finish the preliminary design for the combined sewage storage tunnel and the retrofit of several storm water management facilities.

• Seek funding from our federal and provincial partners to control sewage overflows into the Ottawa River through the construction of the combined sewage storage tunnel.

• Work on cycling infrastructure to benefit local businesses and improve safety for cyclists.

• Finalize the City’s first municipal waste plan.

• Lead by example to keep unnecessary items out of the landfill. City Hall is working towards becoming a zero-waste facility and expanding the effort in other City facilities.

• Continue the battle against emerald ash borer across the city. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

860 Bank St. (613) 231-6331 www.glebetrotters.com FORTHEPLACESYOU’LLGO

Dashing through the snow SLEIGH RIDES OFFER BUNDLED-UP FUN

BY SHEILA ASCROFT

Snowflakes caress faces, sweet hay and cedar aromas mingle with steam off hard-working horses. Yes, and sleigh bells jingled, on a sleigh ride with my big family, complete children tumbling off into the snow and racing to jump back on, laughing all the way.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides have been a part of Canadian culture since early settlers used sleighs to travel over snow. It probably wasn’t quite as idyllic as a Krieghoff painting, but it can be a glorious ride these days for city folk.

Think about being out on a snowy night on a big sleigh cushioned with hay bales and pulled by massive horses. Or prancing over the snow in a one-horse cutter with your sweetie wrapped in a blanket. A sleigh ride can plant a warm memory in cold winter, and there are many rides to choose, from local operators on both sides of the Ottawa River.

But ahead of time …

Book your ride early, especially if you have a group (and then pray for snow!)

PINTO VALLEY RANCH Fitzroy Harbour, Ont. 613-623-3439 pintovalley@xplornet.com www.pintovalley.com Operating until March 30 Snow permitting, Pinto Valley Ranch offers sleigh rides throughout the winter. After a ride, children can try out the toboggan hill or go skating on the pond, while

adults enjoy a bonfire or the indoor fireplace along with country music and hot chocolate. The ranch offers hour-long rides day or night on its trails for $175 (plus tax). Visitors are welcome into the barn to see the animals. Advanced booking required.

CAPTIVA FARMS Wakefield, Que. 877-459-2769 or 819-459-2769 info@captivafarms.com www.captivafarms.com Just north of the capital, Captiva Farms offers two ways to have fun in the snow. A large sleigh seats 17 adults and costs $230 for 90 minutes (the price goes up to $275 Dec. 15– Jan. 15) and the velvet-lined cutter sleigh seats two couples for $230 (price up, as above, to $250). You can also ride alongside the sleighs on one of the farm’s horses. Rides are included as part of Captiva’s bed and breakfast packages.

710 EXCURSIONS Ladysmith, Que. 819-647-2724 or 613-293-7470 shawnpulley@hotmail.com www.710excursions.com Open all winter, seven days a week Let draft horses Victor and May in full harness with bells tour your group on a sleigh through the Ottawa Valley countryside. This

PHOTO BY PINTO VALLEY RANCH

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Check whether you bring blankets, hot drinks, snacks and the like or whether these are supplied.

Find out if anyone can sit up front with the driver.

Ask whether children (or adults) can visit the horses in the stable before or after.

Here’s a selection of rides.

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company offers hour-long rides day and night on wind-sheltered forest trails for close encounters with nature (cameras are a must), which people with disabilities can enjoy as well. The 710 company also has a four-seat sleigh with lanterns for romantics. In partnership with Hotel Ladysmith, its drivers will pick up and drop you off at the hotel door, with hot chocolate or spirits, finger foods or a complete meal before or after your ride. Reserve in advance (prices start at $150 plus tax and vary with options). New for 2013, the company offers a hot meal and drink at its new warm-up silo Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $15. If your group wants a full outdoor experience, 710 can arrange snowshoeing treks, winter survival and winter camping provided

by Purelife Adventures.

STANLEY’S OLDE MAPLE LANE FARM Edwards, Ont.– 613-821-2751 earl@stanleysfarm.com www.stanleysfarm.com/oursugarbush.php Open December through to February Stanley’s horse-drawn sleigh rides last about an hour and accommodate up to 20 guests, or seat just two in its old-fashioned cutter. A driver and a coachman give a brief history of the farm, farm events and the www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

MERRYLYND FARM RR 4, Lakefield, Ont. 705-755-1081 or 705-755-0519 merrylynd@peterboro.net During winter, Merrylynd Farm just outside Peterborough will hook up its beautiful Belgian horses and take folks for long horse-drawn sleigh rides through the rolling hills on the farm’s 40-hectare property. Afterwards, there are chocolate drinks from an iron kettle over an open fire. Skating and tobogganing are also available.

HOLLYBROOKE FARMS 5280 Ramsayville Rd., Ottawa 613-822-0172 Open seven days a week Hollybrooke offers sleigh rides, weather permitting. It will also bring a sleigh to events at your location (call for details and prices.)

Some Christmas tree farms offer free sleigh rides as part of the cutyour-own Christmas tree outing in December only. Here’s a few.

FALLOWFIELD TREE FARM 6100 Fallowfield Rd., Ottawa 613-720-3451 www.ottawatreefarm.com Open daily through Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This 40-hectare farm is full of winding trails through interesting countryside. Afterwards, you can roast marshmallows and warm up with hot chocolate around the bonfire. And cut your own Christmas tree.

HILLCREST TREE FARM 7357 Fourth Line Rd., North Gower, Ont. 613-489-2994 hillcresttreefarm@sympatico.ca Open weekends until Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekdays call ahead. If weather permits, horsedrawn sleigh rides are available on weekends along with hot drinks and a bonfire.

THOMAS TREE FARM 6421 McCordick Rd., North Gower, Ont. 613-489-2314 thomas@thomastreefarm.ca www.thomastreefarm.ca Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. (Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15).

After you cut your own Christmas tree, there’s a free ride with hot chocolate and homemade cookies.

CUNDELL’S STABLES Byward Market – (613) 241-8054 Open Saturdays and Sundays in December before Christmas from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. These are free rides, pulled by a pair of Belgian draught horses. Register early in front of the Moulin de Provence at York Street.

John Cundell is the third generation to operate the family stables, which began operating in the late 1890s.

PHOTO BY 710 EXCURSIONS

PHOTO BY STANLEY’S

surrounding community as they travel through forests tapped in spring for maple syrup. Afterwards, guests may visit the animals in the barn, go to the Stone House gift shop and enjoy a hot chocolate and a freshbaked cookie. Cost for everything is $245 (plus tax).

ottawa outdoors 41

BITS ‘N BITES – BY JENNIFER HARTLEY HOCKEY HISTORY The Vikings played a similar game to Canada’s national sport.

It was called Knattleikr but used a ball. Later, diaries from the ill-fated Franklin expedition record explorers skating and playing hockey in 1825 near what is now the settlement of Deline, N.W.T. On March 3, 1875, the first organized indoor game was played at Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink between two nineplayer teams, several of whom were McGill students. Two years later, the first league was formed at McGill and the basic rules of the game were written.

NORWEGIAN WOOD The word “ski” is from the Old Norse “skio” meaning a split piece of wood. Along with “skate,” “skin,” “skirt,” “slalom” and “slam” – there’s a pattern here – it is one of many Norwegian words borrowed into

English. There are prehistoric carvings, more than 7,000 years old, showing Sami and early Nordic people skiing. The oldest known ski, found in Sweden, dates between 4500 and 2500 BCE. JUST BEET IT Looking to improve your athletic performance? Down some beet juice. Beets are high in nitrates, which helps lower the oxygen burn during physical activity.

This means you have more time to work out, race, climb, play hockey, whatever, before you’re exhausted. Tests showed that running endurance increased by up to 15 per cent and cyclists who drank the juice shaved off up to 45 seconds on a 16-kilometre time trial. It even cleans out toxins in your blood, lowers your cholesterol and keeps high blood pressure at bay. Drink up.

The Algonquin Log Cabin beckons! Book your adventure at www.voyageurquest.com.

Register By January 3rd 2013!

The Ottawa Sport & Social Club - Recess For Adults!

Join our Co-Ed Winter 2013 Leagues Today!

Play Turf Soccer, Court Volleyball, Floor Hockey, and many more!

OSSC.ca 42 ottawa

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Info@OSSC.ca

613.565.TEAM www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 17, 2013 OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Come be a part of Canada’s celebration of winter running — The Winterman Marathon and Winterman Relays Something for everyone. . . From start to finish

Winterman Marathon Winterman Half Marathon Winterman 3, 5 & 10 km Enter now at www.wintermanmarathon.ca

FEATURING WINTERMAN MARATHON RELAYS 8 X 5.275 km 4 x 10.55 km

outdoors o tt ttawa awa

MAGAZINE

CLUBPROFILE 100 weekly yoga classes including yoga tailored to fitness enthusiasts • 4 yoga studios • weekly workshops • yoga teacher training

Offering YOga fOr everYOne from beginner to advanced

An interview with Lael Morgan, executive director of the Ottawa Sport and Social Club Yoga improves stamina, strength, flexibility, focus, endurance and reduces injury. climb higher breathe fuller run farther stretch deeper Ride faster do more yoga 342 Gladstone Ave, between Bank & O’Connor 613.234.7974 • www.ottawayoga.com

Tell us about your club The Ottawa Sport and Social Club offers co-ed recreational sport leagues, tournaments and social gatherings throughout the year for anyone 19 or older. We provide an opportunity for adults, regardless of ability, to try a new sport or get involved in an old favourite with

GET OUT IN STYLE

Rent a limo for your next adventure!

Pamper yourself by renting any of our luxury fleet of vehicles. Whether for two or 26, you can travel to your destination in style and comfort. Perfect for a dinner night out, concerts, Senators games or any other social activity. Contact us to book your limousine today!

• Grads & Weddings • Bachelor & Stagettes • Girls Weekend Away • Corporate Events • Concerts & Sens Games ContactRobinsonLimousine Tel: (613) 833-1386 Cell: (613) 286-0047

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the emphasis on the social side of sport. You can sign up by as an individual, as part of a group of friends or as a full team.

When we launched in 2003, we had 250 people playing each week.

Ten years later, we have 21 different offerings to choose from, and more than 8,500 Ottawans playing five nights a week year round at sports fields and indoor facilities throughout the city. We want members to have fun, meet new people, hang out with friends and get into an active, healthy lifestyle.

If you are not into team sports, we also offer options such as boot camp, core kick-boxing and yoga. The instructors have a way of keeping classes fun and engaging while getting a great workout in!

To expand on the “social” side, OSSC has partnered with the Royal Oak so members can meet for free food and chat. It gives players a chance to socialize, meet new people and continue the fun from games.

We also have partnerships with local businesses so members can take advantage of other fantastic benefits and deals.

What are your most popular upcoming winter sports?

Our winter season runs for 12 weeks, kicking off in January. For indoor gym sports, dodge ball has always been very popular for us. We also have a big volleyball and floor hockey following, too. Other sports like turf soccer, basketball, bench ball (soccer), inner tube water polo and badminton are gaining in popularity each season.

What do you enjoy most about the leagues and sports that you’ve played within OSSC? I love sport and socializing so it’s a great combination! I’ve played almost everything from turf soccer, to floor hockey, to curling. I like that it provides me the opportunity to play with friends and family that I couldn’t otherwise do in a single-sex league. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

The people you meet are great and because every league is co-ed and self-officiated the games stay fun and very social.

Is your dodge ball league similar to the movie?

Dodge ball is a unique sport and the movie definitely sparked a lot of interest in it. The rules are the same as in the movie, with two major differences. At the start of the game, instead of two teams running to the centre to pick up the dodge balls in a sprint, teams of six begin each game with two balls and start by yelling “one, two, three DODGE BALL!” And, there is no double elimination rule like in the movie. Believe it or not, dodge ball is a very physical sport and depending on how much you run and move it can be very tiring.

It’s a sport at the core of our tagline – “Recess for adults.” It’s a pretty funny to both watch and play.

What’s the funniest team name you’ve had in a league? It’s tough to name just one; some good ones are “Honey Nut Ichiros,” “Crosby Stalls & Nash,” “Moves Laich Jagr,” and “Here for the Beer.”

With the co-ed element, do relationships blossom?

There have been some for sure –

couples who say that met through OSSC and now they’re married.

There is that element of meeting new people, getting out and being active with people who have similar interests.

Do you have tournaments besides the leagues?

We do! We offer one-day tournaments, social events throughout the year and a free sports clinic each season. Our events are open to anyone in the community so you don’t have to be a part of the league to participate. On Feb. 9 we have our midnight Curling Bonspiel, and on Feb. 23 a court volleyball tournament. There’s a euchre tournament coming too! Check out our website www.ossc.ca as there is always something just around the corner.

When and where do people sign-up If you are interested in any of the OSSC winter sport leagues, tournaments or classes, now is the time to register. The deadline is Thursday, Jan. 3. To learn more about the Ottawa Sport & Social Club visit the website or call the office at 613-565-8326.

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Who needs a compass anyway?

FIELDCRAFT FROM THE PAST CAN HELP GUIDE YOU IN THE BUSH

BY CRAIG MACARTNEY An 1887 issue of the Shawville Equity came into our family recently and had a story with tips it said made compasses redundant.

Quoting an old frontiersman guide, the publication recycled pioneer wisdom about finding your way in the woods. Don’t junk your map and compass just yet, but the

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Equity’s story was more than just “old woodsman’s tales,” and more than a century later nudged me into reviewing my own directional observations.

The paper said, “There is no need of a compass while travelling through the woods … for there are ways of getting your bearing without one. Firstly, three-fourths

of the moss of the trees grow on the north side; and secondly, the heaviest boughs on spruce trees are always on the south side.

Remember these things and you will never get lost.”

Note that the writer wasn’t talking about sun navigation. In sunny conditions anyone can get a rudimentary bearing from the sun,

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but clouds and fog make it close to impossible. What that long-ago writer had in mind was signals from plants, trees and other observations from the natural world.

While not as accurate as a compass, these signs can help point you in the right direction.

The paper made the point that plants provide clues about which

way is south, where the sun gives the most light and energy. Moss and lichen both grow on the bark of mature trees and both provide a guide. Moss thrives in damp, shaded areas; lichen needs drier, sunlit areas. Throughout the day, the sun dries the southern side of trees, creating a welcome environment for lichen, while the northern side remains shaded and damp, nurturing moss. A sample of several trees can determine which direction consistently reveals soft green moss and which opposite direction has rough, greyish-yellow lichen.

In winter, debris on the snow provides clues pointing south. As dark-coloured debris soaks up solar energy, the south-facing part of, say, a leaf or chunk of bark, receives more energy, melting the snow faster. So the debris sinks into the snow at a slight angle pointing south. This method is best after

hours of consistent sunlight in heavy, wet snow, and on days with light wind or none at all.

Speaking of wind, knowing your area’s prevailing wind direction is useful too. Spruce boughs grow heaviest on the lee side of the wind.

In Ottawa-Gatineau, prevailing winds come from the southwest, and our area has bazillions of spruce. Those southwest winds mean the thickest boughs usually hang from the northeastern side of the trunk, but be careful: Terrain can create local micro weather patterns. For example, narrow valleys and lakes can create natural wind tunnels, redirecting the wind: spruce take their growth cues from the wind, whether it’s “normal” or off-course.

Subtle natural signals like this can be useful in a pinch, and enrich outdoor time whether needed or not.

Why are these clients smiling?

New Client? Get started with 50% off a kickstart package!

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawa outdoors 47

Teaching from the heart, and from the outdoors From time to time Ottawa Outdoors runs autobiographical accounts by outstanding local contributors to the outdoor scene.

Here’s Dominique Larocque, the leader of Creative Wheel Consulting.

By Dominique Larocque

M

y passion for nature and physical activity grew stronger after my mother died from breast cancer. Escaping solo into the wilderness of northern Ontario to find comfort occupied most of my leisure time as a child. I couldn’t imagine then that my career would be that of a recreation therapist and mental training coach with a naturebased consultancy.

My first summer job was being my father’s medical secretary, and I started by abolishing smoking in the waiting room.

In my work I was appalled at the number of drug prescriptions he called in to the pharmacy at the end of each day and I didn’t understand why so many anxiety and sleeping pills were needed. Some patients had to have them, but my father and I

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both knew that a healthy diet, daily exercise and decent self-regard were the building blocks of a disease- and drug-free life.

Watching these patients reinforced my idea that health starts with the imagination. Having a clear picture of what you want is the first step, and what I call creative visualization is a huge part of my work. It was important for me to greet each patient with compassion and positive attitude, reminding each that the power to heal was in their mind, body and heart and that the doctor was simply an accessory to that healing.

Outdoor leisure remained important during my university years.

I began to notice that the duration and intensity of each workout seemed to produce different mental states. Studies in neuroscience at the

time clearly indicated a link between exercise and endorphin production and I started to understand the connection between mind, body and emotions.

I wanted to educate people about prevention because I believed that illness was a by-product of illmanaged emotions, and that the way people spent their free time often determined their health.

After graduation from the recreation program at the University of Ottawa, I returned to Sturgeon Falls to work for five years as a recreation therapist for seniors and adults with mental disabilities. As head coach for Ontario’s Special Olympics and working in palliative care, I’ve seen small miracles.

I managed my own stress by exercising outdoors. The workouts

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

got longer and more intense and when I moved to Ottawa in the late ’80s a friend said I should start competing. So at age 28, I rode in my first mountain bike race. For seven years after that I competed in many sports – I was hooked, but equally important, I took the time to deepen my meditation practice. I concluded that nature, movement and the creative arts were mandatory for good health.

By the late ’90s, I was convinced that outdoor exercise combined with counselling was an alternative or complement to drugs used to combat obesity, addiction, depression, ADHD, anxiety or spiritual crises. I founded Creative Wheel Consulting and returned to school. After 15 years, with a master’s degree in human kinetics, a certificate in gestalt psychotherapy and training in eco-psychology, shamanism and intuitive healing, I work with everyone from children to seniors, mostly one-on-one as a stress management consultant.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

In 2003 I bought 43 hectares of land to build a new centre in Val-des-Monts, 35 minutes north of Ottawa. This little hub in the forest with its 15 kilometres of trails is where I and other health practitioners, artists and coaches share a philosophy of preventative health care.

I find joy in facilitating two-day retreats or one-day workshops on this land and in our studio. It’s amazing how one or two days in the woods spent reflecting on life can re-focus people on goals, dreams and aspirations.

People are not overweight because they eat or drink too much. They’re in trouble because they don’t manage stress and patterns of unhappy living. Self-discipline, self-love and self-motivation are about breaking patterns and finding courage and compassion within to de-construct these patterns and build healthier ones. We all know what we must do, the question is why aren’t we doing it?

LAROCQUE’S OTHER ACTIVITIES She operates the mountain bike school LaRoccaXC, saying she loves taking care of kids and teens the moment they are out of school. She offers them: “the school of nature and the school of life, keeping them plugged to the natural world and to their imagination.” During the school year, she brings her teachings to elementary and high school students as a Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethic Educator – www.leavenotrace.ca.

This winter in partnership with Fresh Air Experience, Creative Wheel is teaching skate-skiing and long blade skating on the canal. For more information or to register, call 819-457-2058 or email creativewheel@ bell.net or visit her website at www. creativewheel.ca.

As well, let Dominque help with Natureobics™ MARATHON LONG BLADE SKATING / TRANSITION BLADES (Clip-on Nordic skate iceblades) She also skates with others on the canal every Saturday morning from 8:45-10:30am (technique) and Sunday morning from 8:45–10:30am (practice).

Cost: $150 + GST for 4 weeks (2x per wk).

Social trip: International Big Rideau Lake Speed Skating in Portland on January, 26, 2013 To know more: www.portlandoutdoors.com PRIVATE/GROUP INSTRUCTION ALSO AVAILABLE. ottawa outdoors 49

BITS ‘N BITES – BY JENNIFER HARTLEY PROTECT YOUR NOGGIN AND … THUMB Thumb guards. Someone should invent them as the most common ski injury is a sprained thumb. But you can protect your head.

Just over three years ago, 45-year-old actress Natasha Richardson died on the bunny hill at Tremblant. She wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Brain injury from trauma is the greatest killer under the age of 45; the greatest cause of disability under 44; and kills more children and teens under 20 than all other

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causes combined. So when skiing, boarding, skating or tobogganing, wear a helmet.

CAPITAL SKATING Everyone knows you can skate on the Rideau Canal, but you can also lace up on one of the City of Ottawa’s 246 outdoor rinks. Most are operated by community volunteers and the mother of them all is the Rink of Dreams.

It’s 1,125 square metres of oval ice surface with funky lighting on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall. For its part, Ville de Gatineau has 60 rinks.

The Algonquin Log Cabin beckons! Book your adventure at www.voyageurquest.com.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

OTTAWA AREA EVENTS AND FESTIVALS – WINTER 2012-2013 DATE

EVENT NAME

WEBSITE

Dec. 6, 2012-Jan. 7, 2013

Christmas Lights across Canada

www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/christmas-lights

Dec. 6-16, 2012

Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Show

www.cecentre.ca/en/events-calendar

Dec. 7-9, 2012

Snocross Series

www.snowcross.com

Dec. 8, 2012

The Atlas Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series (Presented by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine) - The “Flatter” Course

www.themadtrapper.ca

Jan. 5, 2013

The Atlas Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series (Presented by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine)- The Hilly Course

www.themadtrapper.ca

Jan. 26, 2013

The Atlas Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series (Presented

by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine) - BUSHTUKAH NIGHT RACE: 6:30PM START

www.themadtrapper.ca

Feb. 3, 2013

The Atlas Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series (Presented by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine)- The Champs

www.themadtrapper.ca

Dec. 16, 2012

Ottawa Christmas on the Farm

www.strathmere.com/about/christmas-on-the-farm

Dec. 31, 2012

New Years Eve Celebration

www.pintovalley.com

Jan. 1, 2013

3rd Annual Sears Great Canadian Chill, Polar Bear dip

www.ottawa.thesearsgreatcanadianchill.ca

Jan. 12. 2013

13th Annual Old Snowmobile Show

www.oldsledheads.com

Jan. 29-31, 2013

Canadian Sport for Life National Summit

www.canadiansportforlife.ca

Feb. 1-18, 2013

Winterlude

www.winterlude.qc.ca

Feb. 9-10, 2013

Canadian Ski Marathon

www.csm-mcs.com

Feb. 15-16, 2013

Gatineau Loppet

www.gatineauloppet.com

Feb. 17-18, 2013

Funatorium Explorium

www.funatoriumexplorium.com

Feb. 17, 2013

Winterman Marathon

www.somersault.ca

March 27-31, 2013

Maple Sugar Festival

www.ottawafestivals.ca/events/maple-sugar-festival

March Break, 2013

March Break Horse Camp

www.pintovalley.com

March, 2013 (date tbd)

Bust-A-Move Breast Cancer Fundraiser

www.ottawacancer.akaraisin.com/bustamove2013

RENTALS (SKATES)

RENTALS (SNOWSHOES)

Capital Skates

www.capitalskates.com

Cyco’s Sports

www.cycosport.ca

Lightning Blade Sports

www.lightningblade.com

Dows Lake Pavillion

www.dowslake.com

ACTIVITY TYPE DOG SLEDDING CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING

Sail Outdoors

www.sail.ca

Trailhead

www.trailheadpaddleshack.ca

Mountain Equipment Co-op

www.mec.ca

WEBSITE

MORE ACTIVITIES

WEBSITE

www.escapade-eskimo.com

Ottawa Skating Map

www.ottawaskating.khyte.com

www.purelifeadventures.ca

Rideau Canal Skateway

www.canadascapital.gc.ca

www.nakkertok.ca

City of Ottawa

www.ottawa.ca

www.xcskiing.ca

Coyote Rock Gym

www.coyoterockgym.ca

www.ottawa.ca

Vertical Reality

www.verticalreal.com

www.ontariotrails.on.ca

Altitude Gym

www.altitudegym.ca

Fulton's Pancake House

www.fultons.ca

Bean Town Ranch

www.beantownranch.com

www.alpineclubottawa.ca

Cheslock Sugar Bush

www.cabaneasucrecheslock.ca

www.calabogie.com

Stanley's Olde Maple Farm

www.stanleysfarm.com

www.synergyark.com/off-grideducation.html

Wheelers Pancake House & Sugar Camp

www.wheelersmaple.com

The Old Log Farm

No website ; (613) 727-1766

Sucrerie Du Terroir

www.sucrerieduterroir.com

Proulx Farm

www.proulxberryfarm.com

Smithvale Stables

www.smithvalestables.ca

Bean Town Ranch

www.beantownranch.com

Fulton's Pancake House

www.fultons.ca

Stanley's Olde Maple Farm

www.stanleysfarm.com

710 Excursions

www.710excursions.com

www.ottawaoutdoorclub.ca www.orc.ncf.ca

ORIENTEERING DOWNHILL SKIING

www.campfortune.com www.skivorlage.com www.skiedelweiss.com www.montstemarie.com www.calabogie.com

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawa outdoors 51

Outdoor Clubs OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUBS Ottawa Orienteering Club

www.ottawaoc.ca

We organize and take part in orienteering events in the Ottawa area.

Ottawa Outdoor Club

www.ottawaoutdoorclub.ca

A rec club with hiking, cycling, canoeing, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Rideau Trail Association

www.rideautrail.org

A hiking club dedicated to maintaining the trail from Kingston to Ottawa.

Ottawa Rambling Club

http://orc.ncf.ca/

A club for the adventurous with activities every season.

Oxygène

www.cluboxygene.qc.ca

A Gatineau-based outdoors club.

Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Assoc.

www.ocua.ca

The largest Ultimate (Frisbee) league in the world.

Natural Fitness Lab

www.naturalfitnesslab.com

The largest trail running, and adult nordic skiing club in Canada.

Ottawa Sport and Social Club

www.ossc.ca

A co-ed, rec sport league, with tourneys and social events for adults.

Ottawa Alpine Club

www.alpineclubottawa.ca

The local section of Canada’s national mountaineering organization.

WINTER ALPINE & NORDIC SKI CLUBS Camp Fortune Ski Club

www.campfortuneskiclub.ca

New ski club for family ski enthusiasts.

Chelsea Nordiq Club

www.chelseanordiq.ca

A community cross-country and biathlon club in Gatineau Park.

Kanata XC-ski Club

www.kanataxcski.ca

Introducing the sport to families since 1979. Competitive programs too.

Nakkertok XC-Ski Club

www.nakkertok.ca

The largest cross-country ski club in the national capital region.

West Carleton Nordic Ski Club

www.wcnordic.com

An outdoor ski club in the Fitzroy Provincial Park area.

RA Ski and Snowboard Club

www.raski.ca

Active club offering DH and XC skiing, as well as hiking, biking, pub nights and socials.

Snowhawks Ski School

www.snowhawks.com

Ontario’s premier ski and snowboard school for children and adults.

XC Ottawa

www.xcottawa.ca

Great club and resource for xc ski information.

Cross Country Canada

www.cccski.com

Develops and delivers programs to achieve international excellence.

Low Energy Cookware - Pays for itself in no time.

Uses 75% less energy than conventional cookware.

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

PANEL OF EXPERTS – BY KIM LOCKHEAD

We’ve taken the time to query local experts about health and fitness tips to get you through the winter months ahead. Read and follow your way to your best winter yet!

FAMILY TIP Dr. Beverley Armitage Family physician Winter is a great time to be a kid! A few tips for parents to keep your child safe and healthy this season: • Don’t go out to play if the temperature is lower than -25°C, when exposed skin begins to freeze.

• Take frequent indoor breaks for warm drinks and regular application of sun screen.

• Prevent frost-bitten hands with mittens, not gloves.

• Remove drawstrings from clothing and always wear helmets when skating, skiing, or sledding.

XC SKI TIP David McMahon XCZone The most important technical tips for Nordic skiing are centred around good forward hip positioning and flexing/ bending your weight-bearing leg.

HEALTH TIP Dr. Martin Zollinger Chiropractor Maintaining your level of physical activity in winter may be a challenge. An inexpensive tool that can help you stay motivated is a pedometer. It tallies the cumulative number of steps you

copperstone renovations

take in a day. Active people typically take at least 10,000 steps per day.

Record the number of steps that you take each day for a week and set realistic goals based on your own results.

FITNESS TIP Colin Peden Personal trainer Be conscious that you are not as active during the winter months as in summer. You may still be going to the gym but your level of daily activity decreases.

Keep fit by taking up a winter sport such as skiing, joining a class or doing an extra workout.

Turning Dreams Into Reality!

tions and remodelling. a v o n e r e e r f y r r o w P r o v i di n g Affiliated with:

Ontario

Home Builders’ Association

OT TAWA windoWs & doors

www.CopperstoneRenos.ca www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawa outdoors 53

rené VandenBeRG

couNsELLiNg sERvicEs

I offer counselling services for both individuals and couples in either English or French.

Services are provided in a professional and welcoming atmosphere that is fully confidential.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Anxiety Chronic illness Depression Loss and bereavement Men and Intimacy Relationship distress Spiritual concerns Self-esteem Suicidal ideation Trauma Work-related anxiety

613.850.1012 rvcounselling.ca

featuring Colin + Julie Angus REAL ESTATE BROKER Canada’s Most Couple Jim Adventurous Norris RealBecky Estate Broker Mason Keller Williams Solid Rock The Rockstar 1 Antaries Drive, Suite 110 of the Canoe o) 613.733.3434 c) 613.769.7147 Kevin Callan The Happy Camper

MARCH 16–17, 2013

ERNst & young centre, ottawa

And many more!

rené VandenBeRG (™)Trademarks owned by iGm Financial inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

couNsELLiNg sERvicEs

e mBa sultant

3-7200

rane@ up.com

a road uite 500 2e 1a2

e

Valley

e inFo e CaLL

-3311 m

Come indoors for a night of golf!

Indoor Golf Club

• play some of the best courses in the world • great Tuesday night indoor golf league • come for stags, office functions or just a night with your friends • real golf clubs with real photographic images. Many customers who’ve played Pebble Beach etc, say it’s unbelievable!

• totally different from cartoon courses • take golf lessons with CPGA pro Joe Dubinski • 7 state of the art simulators • fully licensed, pool table, big screen tv • Book your tee times with us!

Bent Grass Indoor Golf Club 150 Robertson Road www.bentgrassgolf.com

(613) 820-2582

outdoors

54 ottawa Your dream vacation.

Your next ski trip.

I offer counselling services for both individuals and couples in either English or French.

Services are provided in a professional and welcoming atmosphere that is fully confidential.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Anxiety Chronic illness Depression Loss and bereavement Men and Intimacy Relationship distress Spiritual concerns Self-esteem Suicidal ideation Trauma Work-related anxiety

Chateau Montebello FOR après-ski atmosphere, the outdoor enthusiast can choose from 70 kms of cross-country ski trails; dogsledding; snowshoeing or skating with the family. Afterwards, cozy-up by the famous towering six-side stone fireplace where you can relax with a nice book or conversation.

Only 1hr away, you can visit their website at:

www.ChateauMontebello.com

• Winter fun skiing and snowboarding for all levels.

• We offer great discounts on trips, ski passes, and lessons at local hills and stores.

• Visit our website or come and meet us at one of our pubnights.

613.850.1012 rvcounselling.ca www.skiextreme.ca

National Capital Ski Club Family Skiing Made Affordable

• Discounted lift tickets at local hills and Tremblant REAL ESTATE BROKER • Full season equipment Jim Norris Real Estate Broker rentals Keller Williams Solid Rock group 1• Discounted Antaries Drive, Suite 110 lessons o) 613.733.3434 • Week day trips to Tremblant c) 613.769.7147 • Discounted Tremblant Weekends • Discounts for Goods & Services • Annual Membership only $30

www.ncskiclub.ca www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Revive the heart of your home!

60A Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7J6 Phone: (613) 288-1449 Fax: (613) 288-1451

www.copperstonekitchens.ca

146 other models in store

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