WAYS TO STAY WARM Canada’s Secret Skating Rinks, Winterize Your Bike Commute, WINTER CAMPING 101, and a lot more!
NATURE’S WINTER SURVIVAL KIT Should you stock up on natural remedies? Make sure you take our shopping list with you.
JIMMY CHIN
Capturing adventure is now as important as standing on the summit. And this guy is the best at it!
OUR NATIONAL PARKS Our favourite spots for crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing
[GEAR]
> Running: Dressed to the Minus Nines > Nordic Pursuits VOL. 4, NO. 4
THE GREAT B.C. INTERIOR SKI TOUR It’s the vacation that every Canadian skier dreams of: the Powder Highway! | WINTER 2012 | free | adventuramag.ca
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Content WINTER 2012
If this is your first time doing winter camping, you have to know these basic rules. Head over to page 10 to know exactly what to do to get this view.
04 EDITOR’S NOTE 08 08 10 11
FIELD REPORT Discover Canada’s Secret Skating Rinks Winterize Your Bike Commute Winter Camping 101 Cool your body
12 DAYTRIPPER 14 JIMMY CHIN In this era of new technologies and telecommunications from the summit of Everest, capturing adventure and distributing it on social media networks is almost as important as standing at the summit of a mountain. And in this domain, few people can rival Jimmy Chin.
16 WEEKEND GETAWAY 18 NATIONAL PARKS 20 LIVING LARGE 22 GLOBETROTTER The Great B.C. Interior Ski Tour GEAR 24 Running: Dressed to the Minus Nines 26 Nordic Pursuits MIND & BODY 28 NATURE’S WINTER SURVIVAL KIT Should you stock up on natural remedies? While some alternative cures have the studies to back them up, other popular herbal treatments have no scientific basis to prove their claims, and a few are still controversial. So make sure you take our YES, MAYBE, NO shopping list with you. 30 LAST CALL
KEENFOOTWEAR.COM
© Jens Beuttenmueller
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///EDITOR’S NOTE
A FALLEN
Hero
It has come to this: Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his titles. He has also
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resigned from the foundation he created (Livestrong) and been dropped by several of his sponsors (chiefly Nike, Trek and Oakley). Rarely have we witnessed such a downward spiral. He may be erased from the record books, but not everything is forgotten. We still don’t know how far his legal problems will go, how much money he will have to pay and if he will face jail time for perjury. What the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has proved in a report is that the 41-year-old cyclist built a cheating system and used his status and lawyers to intimidate peers. “Armstrong doesn’t belong in cycling,” declared Irishman Pat McQuaid, United Cycling Union (UCI) chairman, when his organization stripped him of his yellow jerseys. While the majority of Armstrong’s former teammates have testified about the doping system he put in place to dominate cycling, some still defend him. Miguel Indurain, the Spanish cyclist who won the Tour de France five times in a row, continues to support the American: “Even now I believe in his innocence. He has always respected all the regulations. He has won all the cases he’s had,” declared the athlete during an interview on Radio Marca. Nonetheless, the superstar of American cycling has fallen flat on his face and he won’t be getting up anytime soon. And what a star he was! Even American Greg LeMond, triple Tour de France champion, was never able to influence his sport or country on the same level that Armstrong has. Back in July 2001, LeMond expressed concern over the now-fallen cyclist. “If Lance is clean, it is the greatest comeback in the history of sports. If he isn’t, it would be
the greatest fraud,” he notoriously remarked to the Sunday Times. Those words led Trek (one of Armstrong’s sponsors) to discontinue a line of bicycles bearing the LeMond name. And let’s face it: The sums of money at play are an important component to this story. Lance Armstrong is one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, with a personal fortune valued at $100 million, plus the $500 million collected by the Livestrong Foundation over the years. Pierre Foglia, columnist for daily newspaper La Presse and a bicycle enthusiast, wrote last October 23 that the repercussions on the economy of bicycling would be minimal: “There will be just as many $4,000 bikes sold next year as were sold this year. The sport cycling market is in full expansion. There will be even more Americans who will pedal between 2,000 and 4,000 kilometres in their season, and they will buy glasses, tires, shorts and jerseys.” What now? It’s the end of an era, and the UCI has the enormous task ahead of restoring the sport to its former glory. Let’s not forget that Lance Armstrong hasn’t been busted for doping: All his tests came out negative. Rather, his teammates have outed him. Without them, Armstrong would have remained on his throne. So is this case really a victory against doping? I’m not so convinced. If it’s so easy to beat the tests over the course of several years, how can we be sure that the next winners will be clean? Until there are ways to expose the cheaters who aren’t worth the sums they’re earning, doping will remain implanted in the sport. And that’s undoubtedly what we’ll remember from the Lance Armstrong debacle. Chris Levesque, Editor @chrislevesque
PLEIN AIR HAUTE-ROUGE
HEALTH THROUGH OUTDOOR ! Municipalité de Rivière-Rouge www.pleinairhauterouge.com Winter 2012 :: Vol. 4 :: No. 4 PUBLISHER: Stéphane Corbeil (stephane.corbeil@adventuramag.ca) EDITOR: Chris Levesque (christian.levesque@adventuramag.ca) SENIOR EDITOR: Stephania Varalli | stephania.varalli@adventuramag.ca CONTRIBUTORS: Matt Collauti, Peter Dobos, Patrice Halley, Ilona Kauremszky, Shelagh McNally, Dan Patitucci, Travis Persaud, Frédérique Sauvée.
PROOFREADER: Christopher Korchin TRANSLATOR: Christine Laroche COVER PHOTO: Cover Photo : Libby Wilson on a snowy winter day in Hanover, New Hampshire (United States). / © Chris Milliman / Aurora Photos
ADVERTISING: Jean-François Vedeboncoeur, Sales Manager
jfvadeboncoeur@adventuramag.ca / 514-277-3477, ext.27 Jon Marcotte, Account Executive jmarcotte@adventuramag.ca / 514-277-3477, ext. 26 Michel Desforges, Account Executive mdesforges@adventuramag.ca / 514-277-3477, ext. 29 Joanne Bond, Sales Assistant jbond@adventuramag.ca / 514-277-3477, ext. 30
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: 514-277-3477 / info@adventuramag.ca MAILING ADDRESS: Groupe Espaces Inc 911 Jean Talon St. E., Suite 205 Montreal (Quebec) H2R 1V5
CIRCULATION: 60,000 copies distributed to outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. ADVENTURA is published four times a year by Groupe Espaces Inc., a division of Gesca Publishing Inc.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: ADVENTURA welcomes editorial and photo submissions,
which must be sent by e-mail only. Contact the Editor to discuss. ADVENTURA is not responsible for articles, photographs or any other material sent to its attention. If you do not keep a copy of ADVENTURA magazine for your personal archives, please give it to a friend or recycle it.The opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by Groupe Espaces Inc. Some of the activities reported on in ADVENTURA could entail injury risks for anyone engaging in them. ADVENTURA and its reporters, contributors, photographers and other staff members do not recommend the practice of these activities by anyone who does not have the required skills and technique. ADVENTURA is not responsible for the information contained in advertisements. Any reproduction of material published in ADVENTURA is prohibited without the expressed consent of Groupe Espaces Inc.
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Discover Canada’s SECRET Skating Rinks BY MATT COLLAUTI
LAKE Big Rideau Lake, Portland, ON Ten years ago, a Portland resident succeeded in bringing speed skating to his small town with an annual event called Skate the Lake. The kilometre-long oval on Big Rideau Lake is maintained for a few months each winter. portlandoutdoors.com Lac Masson, Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, QC Eight kilometres of trails criss-cross Lac Masson, in the heart of the Laurentians. Tracks are lit at night, and there’s music on Saturdays and Sundays. 450-228-2543, ext. 228
@ Maridav
FOREST MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Port Elgin, ON This 400-metre skating track winds through the park, hidden in the trees, offering a quiet escape in the forest. For the full winter experience, spend the night in one of the park’s yurts. explorethebruce.com
There’s no question that skating is one of Canada’s great national pastimes. Look no further than the busy rental counters at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, the crowds circling in Montreal’s Bonsecours Basin or the steady stream of Beavertails being sold to skaters on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal. Despite a warming globe and a changing nation, skating is as popular as ever. But is it possible to lace up the skates and escape to a piece of untouched ice where the only sound is the scraping of sharpened steel on ice and the only smell is the crisp winter air? For those willing to look, the answer is yes.
Domaine de la Forêt Perdue, Notre-Dame-du-MontCarmel, QC Ten kilometres of ice trails, nicknamed The Labyrinthe, snake through this expansive forest. Be sure to take a break to feed the deer and sample the local snacks. domainedelaforetperdue.com GREAT VIEW Rink on the Brink, Niagara Falls, ON Despite the noise and the crowds, this rink does bring you as close as possible to one of Canada’s greatest natural wonders. Be careful near the edge: It’s a long way down. wfol.com Dufferin Terrace, Quebec City, QC With a magnificent view of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and the St. Lawrence River, this downtown skating rink remains one of Canada’s favourites. 418-829-9898
RIVER Trent-Severn Canal, Peterborough, ON Not as famous as its counterpart in Ottawa, the TrentSevern Canal crosses the Kawarthas, linking Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. In the winter, it too becomes a large outdoor skating rink. peterborough.ca
LONG DISTANCE Transplanted from Sweden, Nordic skating or “wild skating” is a long-distance type of skate touring that is slowly gaining popularity in North America. The skates attach to cross-country ski boots and pivot at the toe to allow the heel to lift. The sport is becoming famous on Lake Champlain (Vermont). With cold winters and no shortage of lakes, Canada is becoming a destination in its own right. compuphoria.com
Rivière Yamaska, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC The Yamaska River – which drains a large portion of the Eastern Townships – freezes near the city of Saint-Hyacinthe, creating a popular skating destination. 450-778-8339
Rivière L’Assomption, Joliette, QC The forefront of Canadian marathon skating is the 8.5-kilometre track on the Rivière L’Assomption, in the town of Joliette. Visit in February during the town’s lively winter festival, Festi-Glace.
8 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
Winterize Your Bike Commute BY PETER DOBOS
THINKING ABOUT BIKE COMMUTING THIS WINTER? HERE’S HOW: STEP 1: Make yourself aggressively visible at all times. During winter, it’s usually dark when you go to work and dark when you head home. When you are a cyclist sharing the road with motor vehicles, it’s safety first. • Wear clothing with reflective stripes, or use Velcro reflective strips that you can wrap around ankles and wrists. If you use panniers or a backpack, put some type of lighting or reflective strips on those as well. • Use lots of bright lights: flashing red at the rear, and flashing white at the front. If you also need light to see by, get a second light for the front, either helmet- or handlebarmounted. I prefer helmet mounts, since the light will point wherever you look. Don’t skimp on the lights – buy as many lumens as you can afford. STEP 2: Make sure you don’t freeze to death. Even relatively mild temperatures will feel much colder because you will be generating your own personal wind chill. You will also need to keep dry (be ready to eat slush kicked up by cars and your own tires). • Most bike shoes offer zero insulation. You’ll require some kind of bootie to cover the shoes, either a waterproof shell or a neoprene-type material. A cheap and surprisingly effective option is to use plastic bags inside your bike shoes. You’ll still need a bootie for very cold days, but a plastic bag will do a lot to keep your feet warm and dry. • Full-fingered bike gloves might cut it in September, but you need full-on alpine gloves for midwinter riding. If you are still cold, try “lobster claws,” with just a thumb and two big fingers. Warmer still, but less dextrous, are mittens. For the ultimate in warm and dry, add pogies. • Use spray guards – the bigger the better – to help keep you dry and clean. STEP 3: Make a decision early on about whether to sacrifice your bike’s drivetrain or lubricate and clean it religiously. Either way, you need some hefty oil to keep the chain working through city slush. • I used Stan’s Tenacious Oil, biked all winter in Ottawa and only had to reapply the oil once. Of course, with this approach the chain is toast come spring, and you may have to replace chain rings, cogs or even the entire cassette. •Then there is plan B: Rinse off and apply WD-40 to moving parts at the end of each day. Clean the drivetrain and reapply heavier lubricant on a weekly basis. If you do this, you’ll likely have your bike good to go come springtime. STEP 4: Change your bike handling. When cornering, keep the bike upright and lean your body into the turn (the opposite of what you’d normally do). In general, minimize any speeding up or braking when turning. Avoid getting out of the saddle if possible, as rocking the bike side to side is a good way to go down hard and fast. Beware of ice covered with a light layer of snow, as it is unrideable. Running a slightly lower tire pressure will help a little by increasing the contact patch between your tires and the road.
@ Paul Vasarhelyi
FIELD REPORT
FIELD REPORT
WINTER CAMPING
101
@ Dan Bachman
BY PATRICE HALLEY
The last time I went winter camping, I had decided to take my daughter on a tour of the American Southwest to celebrate her graduation. Being born and raised in France, she was excited. She probably figured on warm temperatures, exotic palm trees, pink flamingos, piña coladas and vast horizons. Well, at least we had the horizons! After a sleep in Zion National Park, which was blanketed overnight by a thick, wet snow, we ended up tenting three nights in Bryce Canyon. With the mercury falling to -23oC at night, I had to throw the rental car carpets under the tent to create extra insulation (we were slightly under-equipped). Eventually, I decided to retreat to Death Valley to seek more merciful temperatures. It was not that I was inexperienced in winter camping, or with the American Southwest climate. I am a seasoned winter mountaineer with a minor in Christmas camping – and I am not talking Hawaiian Christmas. There are some basic rules I (normally always) follow, which can help you ensure your first winter outing doesn’t turn into a disaster – like watching your offspring nearly freeze to death while you are trying to light up the propane stove inside the tent (a very bad idea!) to warm them up. THE BASIC RULES OF WINTER CAMPING: Know your gear. Practise with your tent, stove and other pieces of equipment and understand how they work so that you don’t have to hesitate when using them. Reading a manual out in the cold while your brain and fingers are freezing is not a good option compared to doing it in the warmth of your living room. 10 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
Always check average temperatures and forecasts on websites. Do not be fooled by seasonal norms and other averages, though, because extremes will happen! I remember “winter” camping in Florida in 1998, the year of Quebec’s infamous ice storm. I had to head back home because the nights were just too cold and I was not properly equipped to withstand them! Choose your shelter wisely, especially if you think that you will deal with snow on the ground (what else would you expect for the season?). A four-season tent should be your home away from home. Carefully select your site, shielded from winds if possible. This element is often a factor under-considered by outdoor enthusiasts. Wind can accelerate fatigue (noise and stress while sleeping) and drain energy and calories away from you faster than you think (this is called convection loss in technical language). So if you have the possibility, build a good windbreak by cutting and piling snow blocks around your tent or bivy sac. Carefully pack snow on the ground and set your tent facing south, so you can enjoy the morning rays. Fight off conduction (absorption of cold when the body is in direct contact with cold materials, or the ground, whether you are sitting or sleeping) with a good sleeping mat, and a sleeping bag with a certified rating corresponding to the
expected temperatures. You can always increase insulation (proportional to the volume of air trapped) by using Capilene or polypropylene inserts (popularly known as polar fleece), but they are not as great as a lofty down, a good Hollofil or, even better, a Polarguard mummy bag. If you plan to face harsh temperatures, survival blankets placed under your sleeping bag – and even over – will keep your warmth by reflecting your own heat toward your body, but beware of extra condensation they may cause inside your tent. Understand base-layers. They are key to body warmth. Perspiration cannot be avoided – it indicates that a steady flow of warm blood is keeping your body temperature where it should be – but overheating is dangerous. Physical activity produces evaporation, and controlling it is important. You should always try to reduce radiation (loss of body heat from
QUICK TIPS IF YOU ARE COLD-SENSITIVE
1. Don’t hesitate to stop and start a fire whenever your temperature drops too low. 2. Always cover your head with a tuque, and toes and hands with warm socks and liner gloves. 3. If you are cold at night, drink something hot and spicy such as a chili-powdered hot chocolate. 4. Go to the bathroom before sliding into your bag, or you will spend calories to keep unwanted waste material warm, or worse: You’ll have to get up in the middle of the night in unpleasant conditions.
A Helping Hand? BY STEPHANIA VARALLI
Ever wonder why professional athletes take an ice bath post-workout? The simplified science behind it is this: An enzyme in your muscles needed to generate energy shuts itself off when it gets too hot, and cooling turns the enzyme back on. Researchers at Stanford University have created a device that makes ice baths obsolete. An airtight, thick plastic mitt is fit over the palm, a vacuum causes the numerous veins in the palm to expand, and cold water is pumped through, which rapidly cools the entire body. The result: instant recovery. Athletes tested were experiencing greater improvement in performance than what one would expect using steroids. It sounds like a gadget from a sci-fi book, but the technology isn’t new. A company called Avacore is already selling the CoreControl Glove to athletes willing to spend about US$3,000 for “non-invasive thermal regulation.” The Stanford version is both more compact and more effective, but it’s still being tinkered with before it gets released commercially. GP_Demsis_Aventura_ski.pdf
exposing skin to the elements) by adjusting your layers according to the effort you will be making before you start moving. Removing unnecessary layers can seem uncomfortable at times, but it will prevent you from freezing later, as well as frostbite. Always keep an extra base-layer and socks dry in a ziplock bag. It may seem like a luxury when you carry it, but could save your life should you need it. At night, you should cover your head with a tuque, your toes and hands with socks and liner gloves, and wear a set of undergarments dedicated for sleeping. Always be attentive to hypothermia and act accordingly. At any time, if you shiver uncontrollably, it indicates that you have mild hypothermia. Learn to recognize the symptoms, which should be dealt with immediately: Get into a dry set of clothes, absorb calories or layer up. Your core body temperature is more likely to drop faster than usual when you are wet and cold.
In the outdoors my mantra is: Eat often, drink plenty and be merry. The most common problem people face – without noticing its symptoms – is dehydration, a state which can easily happen in colder climates.
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This is why I love winter! Waking up to the tranquility of nature. Being the first skier on freshly groomed trails. Exploring one of the largest cross-country ski networks in North America. That’s what I love about spending the night in Gatineau Park! Reserve your cabin or yurt today. An unforgettable winter experience awaits you! reservations.gatineaupark.ca
Food will be your saviour. In the outdoors my mantra is: Eat often, drink plenty and be merry. The most common problem people face – without noticing its symptoms – is dehydration, a state which can easily happen in colder climates. My canary-in-the-mine is when I can’t whistle. Lips too dry? Time to drink. Carbs and protein are a sure source of instant heat and will provide excellent fuel if you are cold. Track your caloric needs and carefully plan your meals accordingly. When winter backpacking, you will need 4,500 to 5,000 calories a day (depending on your metabolism, age and level of activity).
adventuramag.ca winter 2012 11
DAYTRIPPER
WITH THE WEIGHT OF WINTER FINALLY MELTING AWAY, IT’S TIME TO BREATHE IN THE FULL EFFECT OF SPRING. HERE ARE FOUR ACTIVITIES YOU CAN START WHEN THE SUN RISES AND FINISH BEFORE IT SETS.
CHÂTEAUGUAY Fernand-Seguin Ecology Centre GREAT FUN… FOR FREE! BY FRÉDÉRIQUE SAUVÉE At the entrance to this lovely area, a wooden trailer that serves as the office will welcome you. And it’s not the only charming feature about this property located west of the Châteauguay River: Its beauty reveals itself in fauna and flora year-round. In winter, over 20 kilometres of groomed and patrolled trails are available to cross-country skiers, snowshoers and hikers – free of charge! The terrain of extremely well-maintained trails ranges from wooded enclaves to vast snowy plains (that serve as a golf course in the summer). Trails 2, 3, 6 and 7 lead through the forest to the city of Léry and are the most comfortable, given their protection from the wind. Most of the trails are easily accessible to beginners as they are relatively flat and well marked, even in wooded areas. Birdwatchers can also rejoice: Owls, woodpeckers and chickadees can be spotted or, if you’re lucky, will eat seeds from your hand.
TORONTO
A five-kilometre loop is reserved for skate skiing, and a sliding hill is just the thing to keep little ones entertained. For those who don’t have their own gear, snowshoes, cross-country skis and walking sticks can be rented on weekends and during the winter break. Also note that the Ecology Centre organizes special events like moonwalk treks during the months of January and February. Activity: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and skate skiing Level: Beginner to intermediate Distance: • Snowshoeing: 4 km. Two trails allow for scenic loops. • Cross-country skiing: 20.5 km. Seven easy trails ranging from 1.8 km to 4.8 km.
FAMILY FUN AT DAGMAR
When it comes to outdoor winter activities, it can be tough to please the whole family. Dagmar Ski Resort offers enough variety to keep everyone happy. At approximately 50 kilometres from Toronto, it’s also close enough to the city for a quick getaway. First opened in the 1940s, the resort is located in the sandy hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine, an environmentally sensitive area that has a diverse combination of flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the province. Twenty-five kilometres of groomed cross-country trails wind through open fields into woodland forests with new and old-growth pine, white spruce, birch,
oak and poplar trees. Gentle hills, wide trails and smooth terrain make this a perfect location for every level of skier. There are also 17 alpine trails with a combination of straightaways and slopes. About 90 percent of the terrain is suitable for beginners and intermediates. Snowboarders will be happy with the recently upgraded Impound and Compound terrain parks, offering close to 50 jumps, pyramid hips, bonks and a bowl/ style pool. It’s one of the largest in the area. At 30 acres, Dagmar is one of the smaller resorts, but the upside is that everything is close by so the family can spread out and
• Skate skiing: 4.8 km. Season: Winter, dependent on snow conditions Getting there: Mercier Bridge (Châteauguay direction) to the entrance of the city of Châteauguay by Highway 138. Cross the city on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Blvd. and turn right on René-Lévesque Blvd. (132). On the other side of the bridge, turn left on Brisebois Blvd. (at the Anna-Laberge Hospital) and continue to the end. Cost: Access to trails is free Gear: Rentals available weekends and during winter break For more: 450-698-3133 | ilesaintbernard.com
BY SHELAGH MCNALLY
not lose one another. What really makes this resort stand out is the skiing school. Dagmar offers a wide range of reasonably priced lessons for children starting at age three. Tots can attend with parents or go solo. Kids will get a kick out the magic-carpet lift that operates like a moving sidewalk, while parents will appreciate the fully licensed chalet. Since Toronto has a spotty record when it comes to snow, Dagmar is equipped with a high-tech snow-making system. The slopes are always ready. One important tip: Due to its close proximity to the city, the resort can be busy on weekends.
OTTAWA
Activity: Cross-country skiing Level: Majority of terrain is suitable for families and novices Season: Winter Getting there: Visit skidagmar.com for detailed directions. Cost: An all-day pass is $50.44. Gear: Equipment rentals are available in packages or by individual items. Other activities: Alpine skiing, snowboarding For more: skidagmar.com
SURVIVOR: OTTAWA
Ready for more? The survival day is a great first step before signing up for their Overnight Winter Camping Adventure! Plus, you can add on a half-day dogsledding or horse-logging package. And in case you’re a bit of a worrier, know that you’re in good hands – all Pure Life guides are formally trained in a variety of areas, including swift water rescue, winter travel and wilderness first responder. Activity: Winter survival Level: Beginner to intermediate Season: Winter Getting there: About an hour and a half from Ottawa Cost: $35 for adults, $25 for youths; $115 for adults and $60 for youths with the dogsled or horse-logging package Gear: All the winter gear to keep you warm – boots, jacket, gloves, hat and scarf Other activities: Dogsledding, snowshoeing, overnight winter camping For more: purelifeadventures.ca
Domi
@ Joel Carillet
There are two types of people – those who embrace winter and those who burrow down, waiting for the return of warmer days. Regardless of which camp you belong to, Pure Life Adventures, located in the Pontiac Region of the Ottawa Valley in Quebec, will excite the former and awaken the latter to the joys of the outdoors during the winter months. Their full-day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Winter Survival Adventure, which includes lunch, will teach you everything you need to know about thriving in the outdoors. It consists of three components. The first is an indoor classroom session that will set a hierarchy of needs during survival situations and engage participants in a discussion about the challenges of winter survival. The second takes you on a snowshoe hike that will teach lessons such as tree and shelter identification, and which woods will burn. The third is more hands-on, as you’ll learn how to build a fire in the show and how to create a snow shelter. This type of course isn’t just for the elite – it will prepare anyone for a potentially dicey situation in the future, or, at the very least, give you some impressive skills that you can show off to your friends.
BY TRAVIS PERSAUD
12 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
PARCS QUÉBEC
Dominic Boudreault
an unParalleled, unique aMbiance!
new!
Nature cabins available in December at Mont-Orford, Mont-Tremblant, Monts-Valin and Yamaska national parks.
The silence of nature. Your footsteps in pristine white snow. Your cheeks glowing pink with the invigorating cold air. Warming up in front of a woodstove at a park shelter. Can you imagine yourself there? Get your skis and snowshoes ready for the great outdoors at a national park this winter! And after a full day outdoors in the cold, spend a night at the park in a cabin, hut, rustic shelter or yurt!
Mathieu Dupuis
Parc national d’oka
Parc national des Monts-Valin
Dominic Boudreault
From
162
$
/ night / 2 adults Taxes and entry fee not included
Fabrice Tremblay
Moonlight Package
Winter fun and comforting warmth go hand in hand! This package includes accommodations in a Nordic Huttopia tent and snowshoe rental for the day.
From
160
$
/ pers. / 2 nights in quad. occ.
Ski equipment, taxes and entry fee not included
parksquebec.com | 1 800 665-6527
100% Snow Package
Heavy snow warning at the Mont-Valin Massif! Make the most of the outdoors with this package including 2 nights in a fully-equipped cabin, one day in the Vallée des Fantômes with shuttle service, and one day of downhill skiing at Valinouët.
Jimmy Chin
TAMING
the Unknown
© Revo
BY CHRIS LEVESQUE
In this era of new technologies and instant telecommunications from the summit of Everest, capturing adventure and distributing it on social media networks is almost as important as standing at the summit of a mountain. And in this domain, few people can rival Jimmy Chin, an adventurer, photographer and cameraman who, with a team of fellow mountaineers, founded production company Camp 4 Collective. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? A PHOTOGRAPHER, CAMERAMAN, ADVENTURER? It’s true that I wear several hats, but that’s pretty much it: a professional athlete, photographer and videographer. Each of these occupations implies lots of things, but in general it means that I can put in place ideas for expeditions and project concepts and make them come to life. DO YOU APPROACH COMPANIES TO PRODUCE THESE IDEAS OR DO THEY COME FIND YOU? Actually, it’s a bit of both. Either I put a team and concept in place and pitch it, or a company asks me to follow an expedition to shoot photos, video or even just climb with the athletes. Sometimes they ask me to do it all at once! WHERE DO YOU FIND IDEAS FOR THESE EXPEDITIONS? Different things inspire me. Some projects are epic ones that I’ve always wanted to take on, while others are underexplored and I want to discover them. Often, I’m attracted to an incredible geographic attraction or a buzz-worthy area. Sometimes, the activity dictates the expedition: Skiing, climbing and photography are just excuses to explore the world and feed this natural desire to see what lies just a little bit further.
14 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
IS IT DIFFICULT TO SOURCE THE MONEY REQUIRED TO FUND THESE ADVENTURES? It was when I first started. I financed my first expedition to Pakistan by selling 500 T-shirts. Now, I have sponsors and magazine contacts as well as a reputation of being able to lead projects and deliver incredible photos. Obviously, things don’t always go as planned. We can plan everything, execute to perfection and still be unlucky. Compared to the expedition itself, finance issues are definitely easier to deal with! YOU PLACE THE BAR SO HIGH ON THESE EXPEDITIONS, LIKE THE ONE TO SHARK’S FIN (6,310 METRES) IN INDIA. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THAT MOUNTAIN? Just the intensity of climbing on that mountain – it was so hard for so long. Normally when you climb a mountain, there are hard sections and sections where rest is possible. But on Shark’s Fin, every metre was intense. With three people, logistics were complex: food, fuel, climbing styles, gear and the way it’s all organized and transported on the mountain. Everything was a challenge, not just climbing, which is why about 30 expeditions on that face have failed. We prepared for a plan A, B and even C and D! During the three years that passed between our first and second attempts, we had time to optimize everything down to the last gram.
UPON SEEING THE PHOTOS, IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THAT ADVENTURE WASN’T EASY… That’s for sure, but life isn’t easy either. Might as well suffer on an expedition than elsewhere. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE AND EMBARK ON A SIMILAR EXPEDITION? Well, all you need is the desire and ambition to do it. That’s the hardest part. You have to be committed and understand what to do to succeed. There are so many ways to reach an objective that it’s hard to find the right solution for everything, but if desire is strong, anything is possible. It’s also important to do your research to find information that will be key to the adventure’s success. DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE FOR OUR READERS? Robert Capa said that if the photo isn’t good, you weren’t close enough. I think that it’s important to study the work of many photographers working in different domains to inspire and develop one’s style. Also, shooting what you’re passionate about is no doubt the most important way to grow as a photographer jimmychin.com This interview was made possible by Revo (revo.com).
BAFFIN HEAD TO TOE
Over the last few years I have had the great experience of
skiing to both the North and South Poles as well as skiing and dog sledding across Baffin Island’s Auyuittuq National Park. With this base, as well as input from a number of polar guides, we have developed a complete Baffin clothing system that can outfit any polar adventurer from head to toe.
While you may not be planning a full blown polar journey, you can be assured that Baffin’s Polar Proven gear will get you down through a full on powderday, a weekend winter camping trip or a hike with man’s best friend. We remain focused on being the undisputed leader in outdoor performance footwear and apparel; providing quality, comfort and protection through constant real world testing and technical innovation.
Baffin’s Paul Hubner
www.BAFFIN.com
WEEKEND GATEWAY + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
KEEPING WARM IN THE ADIRONDACKS BY MATT COLLAUTI
cloud of steam accompanies me as I spill back inside. Placed next to our simmering spaghetti sauce on the stove, the snow begins to melt. Oblivious, the rest of my group plays cards at a wooden table in the corner. It’s hard to believe that we are deep within the Adirondack Mountains, far from cell reception and roads, and that earlier today we were freezing atop Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York State. But then again, who said winter camping couldn’t be comfortable?
The Adirondacks are New York’s equivalent to the Laurentian Mountains of western Quebec: a seemingly endless playground of rounded peaks, finger lakes and diverse wildlife. This area, the largest protected wilderness in the continental U.S., is arguably where the concept of “vacationing” was born. The park boasts the source of the Hudson River, the highest skiing vertical east of the Rockies, and has even hosted the Winter Olympics on two occasions. During our drive to the trailhead we see ice climbers along the highway, ice castles on frozen lakes, and enough gear shops to outfit an expedition up Everest. “Do you think we’ll really need snowshoes?” laments Mike when he sees the thin cover of snow. Equipment for the six
@ Sebastien Cote
THE GAS LAMPS PIERCE THROUGH THE FOREST DARKNESS. I DASH OUTSIDE, ROUND THE SIDE OF OUR CABIN AND START SHOVELLING SCOOPS OF SNOW INTO A POT. A
36 other m
of us is strewn across the parking lot, and it’s substantially more than we’ve ever needed for a hike in the summer. “What’s the point of buying them if they don’t get any use?” I counter. We enter the forest, our spirits high even if our bodies are burdened. For the first five kilometres, the trail is a flat cross-country ski route. After the stress of a seven-hour drive to reach the trailhead, we appreciate the tranquility. The trees overhead shield us from the wind and the sun. The silence is broken only by the crunch of snow beneath our snowshoes and the gurgle of small streams. Finally, after crossing Johns Brook, we get our first glimpse of the wooden cabin that will be our oasis for the next few days. Set back from the trail in a small clearing, Grace Camp exudes a rustic charm. We burst inside 16 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
excitedly. Six modest bunk beds fill one wall, opposite a small sitting area and an impressively clean kitchen. Within a few minutes we have turned the propane on; the stove, lights and heater roar to life. The Adirondack Mountain Club maintains four properties tucked away in the mountains, all with varying levels of comfort. There’s the Adirondack Loj, a spacious heritage home that is accessible by road. Not far from our location is Johns Brook Lodge, which is staffed by full-time cooks in the summertime. Grace Camp provides a bit more of a do-it-yourself experience, and we have the small cabin to ourselves. These properties make the outdoors a bit more comfortable and accessible all year, but are especially welcome during the winter, when cold fingers, little daylight and frozen food can make a camping trip miserable.
Our attempt at Marcy begins in earnest early the next morning, after a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and bacon. The trees caked in snow provide a nice backdrop for the first hour, which is yet another section of flat, hard-pack trail. “I wonder why they call this the High Peaks,” jokes Sheel. We are optimistic, spurred on by hearty supplies of Canadian trail mix and a promise of challenge ahead. We certainly don’t suspect that a massive storm that has crippled much of the Midwest is arriving in New York State. Snowflakes fall gently, and the scene on this side of Marcy is serene. Winter may be the most difficult season to spend outdoors, but it is also the most beautiful. There are no bugs. There are even fewer visitors. What’s more, the cold is refreshing when you’re constantly moving.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ By the time we reach Slant Rock, named after a natural rock shelter about five kilometres from our cabin, the hike has become more serious. The grade increases, the snow deepens and my snowshoes sink slightly with each step. We proceed carefully up the incline, doubling back to trail markers, which, usually a few metres above the ground, are now frequently below the snowline. I stop to look out at the rounded peaks that are shrouded by cloud around us. Ahead of me, Jer leans on his ski pole to catch his breath. The pole stabs deep into the snow, and the sudden movement causes him to lose his balance. He tumbles down the slope for a few seconds, landing badly on a root. Conditions worsen, but we are too focused on the climb to notice. It’s not until we break through the treeline that we feel the wind: a vicious, biting, howling wind. “Can’t see much in this,” says Dan as we wrap ourselves in scarves and don ski goggles. There isn’t much of a
discussion about continuing. We’re too close to our goal to turn back now. In 1918, three New York friends began climbing the 46 peaks in the Adirondacks that were thought to be over 4,000 feet (1,219 metres). Three decades later, conquering those same peaks became the criterion for joining the Adirondack FortySixers. A new outdoor challenge was immortalized, and has since been completed by over 7,000 members. Mount Marcy is the jewel in the crown of the Adirondack High Peaks. It’s by no means the most difficult, but at 1,629 metres, it is the highest. Forty-five other peaks are the last thing on my mind as I attempt to keep my balance on an icy patch. The wind screams in a snowy rage and I struggle to make out any shapes in front of me. I look back and see the silhouette of Sheel shaking his head. Maybe it is time to head back. Suddenly, Dan runs up ahead. He disappears behind a rock, and then emerges and gives us a wave. We’ve made it.
We crouch timidly next to a small plaque commemorating the peak. One by one we set up cameras to take a group photo. One by one our camera batteries fail. The wind rips at our faces and we decide we’ve celebrated enough. We begin down the hill. “Wait,” says Dan, moving to the front of our column. He scouts the terrain, and it slowly dawns on us that we don’t know the way back down. It is 1 p.m., and in February that means that nighttime is coming. A tense few moments pass. Finally, Dan motions to a trajectory off to our left: “We came from that way.” We start moving hesitantly. At last we return to tree cover and the shelter of the forest. Relief flushes through me when we recognize our tracks from the morning. We move quickly downhill, and in good time we reach Slant Rock and take a break. Not many words are spoken, just curses at water bottles that by now have frozen shut. I look around at the group, exhausted from a day in the snow. I think about how uncomfortable it would be to spend the night in the cold. Then I remember that we don’t have to.
ther models in store
NEW STORE
OPENING NOVEMBER 28 , 2012 ONTARIO th
IN ETOBICOKE,
BELOEIL - BROSSARD - BURLINGTON - LAVAL - OSHAWA - OTTAWA - QUEBEC - VAUGHAN
Grace Camp’s appearance at the side of the trail is met with jubilation. In a messy explosion of discarded boots, snowshoes, snowy goggles, mitts and tuques, we move through the front door. The challenges of the day fade to memory with the appearance of tea, heat, food and music. We celebrate our first successful forty-sixer as late as we can, but eventually collapse into our bunks, happily immune to the weather outside. The Adirondack Forty-Sixers have a second, much shorter list that celebrates the members who have climbed all the high peaks during the winter. It serves as a reminder that nature isn’t something we experience for only half the year. Our adventures are only just beginning when the snow starts falling, but sometimes it takes the promise of a warm, cozy lodge to get us out into the cold.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION GETTING THERE: The Garden trailhead is just outside the town of Keene, about seven hours from Toronto. EQUIPMENT: You’ll need your normal winter ski wear, including goggles or sunglasses. Snowshoes, crampons and a three-season sleeping bag can be rented or purchased in Lake Placid (Eastern Mountain Sports, ems.com). WHERE TO STAY: Adirondack Mountain Club rates and reservation info can be found online (adk.org). Grace Camp costs $200 per night and sleeps six. Book early!
WINTER CAMPING ADVICE – Snowshoes are sized based on your weight. Consider larger snowshoes if you are going on an extended trip and carrying more weight. – Inquire locally about trail conditions. If there is a lot of ice, consider bringing crampons or changing your route. – Obtain as much weather information as possible before entering the backcountry. – Set a firm time for turning around on the trail. – Remember that water freezes. Carry your water bottle on the inside of your jacket. – A compass and good map are more necessary than ever during the winter.
adventuramag.ca winter 2012 17
ESCAPE TO
A SNOWY TRAIL
BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY
There’s nothing quite like gliding along a snow-covered trail or stepping delicately through a white-capped forest. Here are two of our favourite spots for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Check them out for yourself this season:
BEST FEATURES Exceptional classic cross-country skiing for amateurs, and pristine back-country skiing for advanced skiers coupled with great snowshoeing trails have put this park on the map for city dwellers. Away from the congested alpine skiing bastion of Mont Tremblant, just 90 minutes from Montreal in the snow-swept Laurentians of northern Lanaudière, appears an enormous conifer-fringed regional park spanning over 150 square kilometres. Part of the Matawinie, which is a network of six regional parks in the area, Ouareau Forest Regional Park transforms in winter into a glorious escape frequented by urbanites who crave a few hours in some of the most pristine snowcovered valleys around. It’s no surprise that in March 2004, National Geographic Traveler magazine ranked the Laurentian chain which crosses northern Lanaudière as the seventh best-preserved destination in the world.
An Algonquin word meaning “far away,” Ouareau is named after the 80-kilometre river that cuts through the park. The oldest rock formations on the planet, known as Precambrian-Laurentian, give plenty of unique geological features. Centuries ago, early settlers even considered the Matawinie a gateway to the Promised Land of the North. Later, it was used for logging, and during World War II it is believed the vast remote area harboured men hiding from authorities to avoid the war.
© Parc Regional de la foret Oareau
/// QUEBEC: OUAREAU FOREST REGIONAL PARK
OUAREAU FOREST REGIONAL PARK ///
In Ouareau Forest Regional Park there are three sectors, of which the Secteur du Massif is used for the winter season. Cross-country skiers hit the 45-kilometre groomed trail system, with routes that often overlap and connect to other trails. The 35 kilometres of snowshoe trails are not groomed, but this winter it will connect with the Welcome Centre as the trail follows the Sentier National.
Toussaint and Mont Corbeau, but the majority are classic ski trails. Depending on how long an outing you’re up for, there are options available, from the six-kilometre La Balade, which is the shortest trail, to the 21.3-kilometre Toussaint, the longest.
The 13 groomed cross-country ski trails are suitable for all levels of skiers. Many choose to gather in nearby NotreDame-de-la-Merci for a cup of freshly brewed coffee before facing the frosty outdoor elements. There are four Nordic ski trails to choose from, including the Prudhomme, Corbeau,
There are also some interesting sights to aim for. In the northeastern section of the Secteur du Massif, deep in the woods by Lac Toussaint, there is a refuge overlooking the frozen lake. Narrow and winding track 11 is particularly charming as it curves around Lac Prudhomme and Lac à Pelletier. As the terrain is hilly, this is the kind of place where you are sure to have a very good workout on your skis.
ARROWHEAD PROVINCIAL PARK ///
Meanwhile, snowshoers opt for the multipurpose hiking trails as their route takes them into a vast winter wonderland. The provincial trail, Sentier National, drapes along tiny islets passing spectacular white-capped mountains and frozen streams.
© Don McCormick
In between the adventures, why not take a break and warm up in the heated cabins? Cross-country ski this exceptional trail system and you’ll have the opportunity to visit five warming huts: by big Lac Toussaint, by the smaller Lac du Corbeau, Refuge la Loutre, Refuge Pelletier and the Refuge Prudhomme.
18 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
Snowshoers and cross-country skiers can even stop for overnight accommodations (from $25 per night) at any of the five backcountry cabins, which sleep two to eight persons. These park facilities can be rented in advance through the park. By day, trail users enter the spartan premises for free, often to stoke the wood stove and defrost for a little bit.
Renowned for its rough terrain and precipitous slopes, the landscape is rife with sugar maple groves, balsam fir and white spruce. Tucked away off the southern portion of the Canadian Shield, this pure stretch of wilderness is a haven for wildlife. Don’t be surprised by the fox tracks and deer spotting. Bounded by two freshwater lakes, its southern border is by the north shore of the Big East River.
For more information on weather, links to the trails and directions, check out parcsregionaux.org or call 819-424-1865 / 1-866-484-1865.
The name Arrowhead is derived from the aquatic plant that grows in the park lakes. Regulated in 1971, this chunk of parkland possesses natural features of provincial significance. Millennia ago, the runoff water from the ancient Lake Algonquin carried soil and debris deposits, creating this unique landscape as a result.
/// ONTARIO: ARROWHEAD PROVINCIAL PARK BEST FEATURES A last chance to cross-country ski by ancient rocky outcroppings left over from prehistoric days, and the opportunity to skate the best looped skate path in nature in the Ontario Parks system. This park served as home base for the 2010 Ontario Winter Games, and is now set to host the 2013 Canadian Masters National Nordic Ski Championships. With an event listing that impressive, be sure to expect some incredible terrain. Sprawled in the Muskoka tourist area within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Forest region, the 1,237-hectare Arrowhead Provincial Park offers snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing and skating. And don’t worry if you haven’t got the gear: There’s a good rental shop with cross-country skis, snowshoes, tubes and skates available. Watch for the annual Loppet (long distance cross-country ski race) that’s open to all ages.
Located at the most northern bow of the Big East River is Big Bend Lookout, overlooking huge sand bluffs. This lookout is considered to have the best vantage point to view the glacial delta remains. The bluffs are also considered the most significant feature in the park. In the 1870s homesteaders arrived, only to discover that the poor soil was fraught with swamps and a short growing season. Remnants of old farms and homes like the Lunt Homestead, Oke Homestead and the Garthshore Homestead are still scattered across the park. These ruins help illustrate the important value this land had in shaping early Canadiana. Another historical site is an abandoned old prospector mine north of Mayflower Lake. The park has a diverse network of trails, including 28 kilometres of classic cross-country ski trails. For skate-ski enthusiasts, the 11 kilometres of skate-skiing trails are technically challenging, especially as you swoosh through the Homesteader Ski Trail with its higher grades and steep
ARROWHEAD PROVINCIAL PARK /// hills (it’s considered the most difficult trail in the park). For an easier go, skaters can take to a new one-kilometre looped trail that follows campground roads two and three in the East River Campground. The 8.9-kilometre Beaver Meadow Ski Trail is the longest, sweeping around Arrowhead Lake before hitting some pretty sweet backcountry. If you don’t feel like doing the whole trail, shorter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing routes are available. The three-kilometre Lumby Ski Trail is between the two lakes and is filled with a sumptuous lowland forest of balsam fir and yellow birch. There’s also the threekilometre Hardwood Hill Trail, but the favourite route among beginners is the looped 5.3-kilometre East River Ski Trail, which winds through a stunning forested area. For less ambitious beginners, there’s also the 1.1-kilometre Ski Bunny Ski Trail, which is the shortest in the park. For day use information, phone 705-789-5105. For more information on facilities, fees, ski and snowshoe rentals, maps and activities, check out ontarioparks.com/english/arro.html.
© Ontario Tourism
Winter weekenders also head to Kabania (kabania.ca), an eco-resort in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, adjacent to the park. Bordered by the Rivière Dufresne, cabins are built atop five-metre stilts that make you feel you’re up in the treetops. Ice skating and snowshoeing are options there. To unwind, guests can read, relax in an environmentally friendly space or pick a board game from their selection.
© Ferran Traite Soler
As the mercury sinks, snow starts to fly and lakes freeze over. Rather than going into hibernation, jump into winter feet first with a little outdoor activity to get the blood moving. Beat the chill at these accessible getaways – flex your muscles, commune with nature and then unwind with good food and pampering. Take a loved one, or go on your own and truly celebrate the season
SHAWINIGAN SKI COUNTRY MONTREAL
BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY
City dwellers slam on the brakes when Shawinigan appears. This industrial town, only two hours from Montreal in the Mauricie region, is morphing into a serious ski pad for cross-country types and those who prefer countryside adventures like sleigh rides, snowshoeing and dogsledding. It’s situated halfway between Montreal and Quebec City – the short drive has you following the majestic St. Lawrence River to the wilder Saint-Maurice River in the north.
R&R World traveller turned entrepreneur, Carole Charles has created an intimate setting known as the Auberge le Florès (from $143 per night for two, plus winter packages available • 1-800-538-9340 • leflores.com) inside the home she grew up in. Only locally produced skin products are used at the spa (55-minute Swedish massage, $70). Behind the inn, guests take to the sleigh rides and dogsledding along the white-powder groomed trails. A pretty winter drive southwest from Mauricie National Park in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts lies the Serenita Spa and Auberge (from $110 per room including breakfast • 1-855-245-3288 • serenita.ca). Overlooking the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Lac SaintPierre, this auberge serves rustic elegance and also pampers guests at its on-site spa (cranberry body wrap, $140). Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are nice diversions on the property.
EAT Ideally situated in farm country, Auberge le Florès is one of those special finds (four-course dinner $28, or eight-course dinner $80). The France-trained chef celebrates seasonal bounty in his globally inspired menu. The house specialities are duck filet with blackcurrant sauce, a braised leg of lamb, and baby-beef cheeks cooked slowly with cabbage drizzled in butter. Crème brûlée is a classic favourite dessert. For those polar-cold nights, hit the local Mexican restaurant Piñata (819-537-7806 • pinata.ca) in Shawinigan for hot and spicy fare. Prices are 20 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
reasonable (Wednesdays are $9 enchilada nights) and the views of the Saint-Maurice River are extraordinary. The Mexican-inspired interior is cozy with colourful ceramics, sombreros and a fun ambiance.
PLAY CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Over 80 km of cross-country ski trails make Mauricie National Park (daily entry fee $9.80 • 819-538-3232 • pc.gc.ca/mauricie) a favourite powder hub. A network of groomed trails takes skiers through the splendour of the white-capped Laurentians. Additional trails have especially been set aside for skate-skiing. We like the heated rest area pit stops, too. SNOWSHOEING: Enveloped by a white-carpeted valley, snowshoers at Rocanigan Valley ($5 and rentals available • 819-698-6288 • rocanigan.com) can take it easy on the nicely marked 10 km of snowshoe trails – great for beginners. A three-km kicksled trail offers family fun (or, if you prefer, sit like royalty in the sled as your partner does all the work). Take a breather inside a yurt and have a free cup of steaming hot chocolate while you’re at it. Highlights are the looped Number 14 trail that sandwiches between Lac Long and Lac Giguère, plus the ice skating on one of the smaller lakelets located near the entrance.
STAY CLOSE, FEEL FAR OTTAWA
BY TRAVIS PERSAUD
Head east of the city to Ottawa Valley South for a winter escape that’s close to home. Part of the Ontario Highlands, the southern Valley includes the towns of Arnprior, Calabogie and Renfrew, and is just over an hour’s drive from Ottawa. Find out why more people are fleeing the winter rush to enjoy the array of outdoor activities in the area – from snowshoeing trails to mogul fields – and a level of relaxation that will make you feel much farther from home.
R&R Calabogie Peaks Resort (1-800-669-4861 • calabogie.com) provides two great options during the winter. Choose from their hotel, Dickson Manor, or from three condominiums – The Pines, The Oaks or The Cedars. Dickson Manor lends itself to a romantic getaway for two. It provides all the niceties you’d expect from a resort, including an outdoor hot tub and a gorgeous view of Calabogie Lake. Book a standard room ($155 weekday, $180 weekend) for a lovely stay, or if you wish to up the romance factor, king suites ($225 weekday, $265 weekend) complete with a fireplace are available. If you’re bringing the whole family, then the condos are perfectly suited for you. All three buildings have a variety of units that can sleep anywhere from two to eight people (units start from $160 weekdays and peak at $305 on weekends). Regardless of which you choose, both are in the perfect location – at the base of Dickson Mountain, giving you direct access to the slopes and trails.
EAT Wood-fire-oven pizzas, organic baked goods, specialty coffees, Beau’s LugTread Ale on tap and live music… Neat Café (1715 Calabogie Rd., 613-433-3205 • cneatfood.com) seems to have everything on hand for a cozy afternoon bite or raucous evening after a day on the slopes. Blackbird Café (1684 Burnstown Rd., 613-432-3599 • cblackbirdburnstown) is a charming stop for an evening out. Located in a converted old general store, the establishment serves up chef recommendations such as blue-cheese-crusted rib-eye ($28) and salmon Oscar ($34). And with a reasonable $10 corking fee, you’ll want to bring along your favourite bottle of wine.
PLAY Back at Calabogie Peaks, there’s much to explore. Lift tickets for the slopes start at $16 for beginners during the week and top off at $39 on the weekends. All-day tickets are good from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If grabbing some air or hopping along moguls is more your thing, then consider the new Slopestyle Terrain Park. This park includes the only mogul field in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Various airfields, complete with rails and boxes, allow riders of all skill levels to see just how high they can go. And if this is your first time, Calabogie Peaks has instructors who will train you to master it all.
EPIC BADLANDS OF COLLINGWOOD TORONTO
BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY
Are you ready for a blast through the Badlands? Just 90 minutes north of the Big Smoke, the white powder clinging off Georgian Bay makes for some pretty sweet country for snowboarders, not to mention the snowshoers and cross-country skiers who hit the Scenic Caves Nature Adventures next door.
R&R Willow Trace B&B (rooms from $130 • 705-445-9003 • collingwoodbedandbreakfast.com) is a quaint three-room dwelling, situated on 15 sprawling acres, operated by chef Philip Tarlo, host of Rogers’ Georgian Bay Cooking show, and his partner Leanne Calvert. The trails and mountain views are the highlights. Two blocks from the frosty Georgian Bay shoreline, the Beild House Country Inn and Spa (rooms from $150, minimum two-night stay • 705-444-1522 • beildhouse.com)
is steeped in history. Innkeepers William and Stephanie Barclay make guests feel at home in this cozy setting. We can’t get over the 16 breakfast-egg selections, including a delicious eggs Benedict. Check out the portrait of great-great-granddad Mr. Christie (of the Christie cookie empire!) that hangs in the home. An on-site spa, plus passes to the Nordic Scandinave Spa, and piles of books, movies and board games are just some of the sweet diversions available.
EAT Chef Eric Madden, who once dished out haute cuisine at Toronto’s Scaramouche, is cooking with locally sourced produce at the 22-person dining room in the Beild House Country Inn and Spa. A five-course fixed menu ($65) includes sweet pastry surprises whipped up by resident baker/innkeeper William Barclay, who carries on his family’s legacy. BYOB and no corking fee make this dining spot a favourite. On Main Street in Collingwood, The Hungry Sumo (705-293-1037 • thehungrysumo.com) can serve endless rounds of sushi à la carte. Noodles like yaki udon ($13.95), pan-fried and drizzled in a sweet sauce with beef or chicken and lots of veggies, are a good substitute if you don’t want to pick at flavourful sushi arrangements.
PLAY SNOWBOARDING: Dare to freestyle around the Badlands Terrain Park (park pass $10 • 877-445-0231 • bluemountain.ca/winter_terrain.htm). Former pro snowboarder Jesse Fulton, now an Olympic coach, hits these mind-bending courses, teaching Olympic hopefuls the tricks of the trade. Insiders swear Slopestyle Line is one of the best jump lines in Ontario. Rail Line is really creative, and the Superpipe (which is really the half-pipe) is rated among the best. Snow canons, night riding and earthworks make Blue Mountain’s largest park fun and exciting. It frequently hosts serious competitions like the Canadian Shield Finale, Volcom Stone Peanut Butter Rail Jam and the Final Four Showdown. Advanced boarders dig the jump lines and the new six-metre Zaugg Pipe Cutter. Newbies get a kick out of the Greatest Hits area, where lessons are scheduled. SNOWSHOE/CROSS-COUNTRY: Feeling mellow? Hit the marked wilderness trails next door at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures (705-446-0256 • sceniccaves.com). Imagine 22 km of groomed trails that wind through trees as old as two centuries. Spot critters like whitetailed deer and snowy owls. Snowshoers can head to the longest suspension bridge in the province – 25 metres – for a spectacular adrenaline rush looming 300 metres above Georgian Bay.
Chiens traîneaux Petite-nation here’s your chance to try an unusual activity! Let our dynamic team share with you their passion for our dogs as you enjoy a dog-sledding excursion through the area and discover the local flora and fauna.
Marie-andrée blais - PhotograPher
819-983-1237 Chiens-traineaux.Com
aîn s-tr ien Ch
eaux Petite -Na tio n
Canadian ski marathon Feb 9 & 10, Canadian ski marathon. Let the Adventure Begin! 10 sections, 2 days, 160 kms. Lachute-montebello-Gatineau. Challenge and THE trail is the event! experience winter’s XC endurance adventure.
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///GLOBE-TROTTER
THE GREAT
B.C. Interior Ski Tour BY MATT COLLAUTI
IT IS DAY TWO OF OUR TRIP. THE TRIP. THE VACATION THAT EVERY CANADIAN SKIER DREAMS OF. THIS YEAR WE ARE LEAVING BEHIND THE FAMILIARITY OF BLUE AND TREMBLANT AND TURNING OUR ATTENTION WEST, TO THE HILLS THAT I HAVE DREAMED ABOUT SINCE I STARTED SKIING A DECADE AGO. WE HAVE A FULL CAR, A MAP OF THE POWDER HIGHWAY, AND THE PHONE NUMBERS OF A FEW FRIENDS THAT OWN COUCHES TO CRASH ON. WE’RE FOLLOWING THE SNOW ON A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA’S INTERIOR SKI RESORTS.
The Slush Cup is a fun end to the ski season at Red Mountain, and the resort guests are clearly enjoying the event. But it is the residents of nearby Rossland, who come with costumes, props and cheers, that make the Slush Cup as memorable as it is. Sophie, one of our hosts, explains that everyone in Rossland has a closet full of funny costumes that they keep for special occasions. We see a dinosaur, a giant banana and, of course, a Kokanee Beer Man. Our other host, Todd, emerges at the top of the hill and steps into a sit-ski, an apparatus for skiers with lower-body disabilities. He gathers some speed, but not nearly enough. In a crash of metal and white robes, he rolls straight into the freezing water. The crowd erupts. The merriment continues on the streets of Rossland well into the night. We’ve learned our first lesson of the Interior, where town and hill are inextricably linked during the winter months: Skiing is a way of life out here.
MONDAY, 8 A.M. – It’s not until I see the queue snaking
out from the base of a battered double chairlift that the reality of the morning hits me. It all makes sense: the snowy driving conditions, the packed parking lot, the impatience on the roads. A fresh dump of champagne powder has hit the Selkirks overnight, and anyone in the vicinity has been lining up since before sunrise with hopes of carving first tracks. I rush ahead of my ski partner Amber to join the line. After all, it’s as true here at Whitewater as it is at any ski resort in the Interior: “You’ve got no friends on a powder day.” 22 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
rotors right now.”
Amber’s family friend Doug has been thinking about working on my screechy brakes since I first mentioned them at the start of dinner. We have arrived late at Elkford, a small coal-mining community sandwiched against the Alberta border, where we will be based for the next few days of our trip.
© Fernie-Henry Georgi
the crowd when they spot the skier dressed as a giant toothbrush. With a quick salute he begins skiing toward us, gathered at the bottom of Red Mountain. He hits the jump at a good speed, and it sends him flying through the air over a long pool of water. He lands and skims the surface once, then twice. For one moment it looks like he is going to make it. Then his feet separate and one ski catches, cutting all momentum. He plummets, toothbrush head first, into the water.
Suddenly the ground in front of me disappears. For a few exhilarating seconds I am dropping through the air, waving my arms to keep balance. Thud. I sink into a pillow of snow, and the surprise causes me to fall onto my side. Yet instead of stopping, I hang onto my momentum, turn my skis and continue down the hill. The story of skiing in the Interior is the story of losing your fears and inhibitions. On a day like today, with snow this deep and soft, everyone feels like a superhero.
WEDNESDAY, 8 P.M. – “Let’s go see if we can fix those
We piece together a jack, a few lights and some C-clamps. Fumbling in the darkness, our breath visible in the cold night, we slowly work through the repair. Doug is a long-time industrial mechanic for Teck, the mining giant that runs the five open-pit coal mines just outside of town, and he is the best resource one could ask for during a road-trip vehicle repair. It is close to midnight by the time we replace the last wheel and take a triumphant test drive through the town. Doug and his wife Tracy leave early the next morning, entrusting their house to us for a few days while they help their son and his family move. As we leave for another ski day, we first stop (with silent brakes) for a dozen elk crossing the highway outside of town. Behind us, we hear the sounds of machinery echoing from the mines, the mines that have helped Tracy, Doug and a few thousand residents of Elkford support their families for 40 years. After all, ski bums and dreamers are not the only ones who live along the Powder Highway.
© KHMR, Andrew Mirabato
SATURDAY, 3 P.M. – A hush of anticipation falls over
here to keep me in control. To my astonishment, it works. I swing my skis left and right, bouncing off snowy bumps, soaring down the hill with all the ease of a waterskier.
The slow, cramped chair provides the best view of the hill’s most epic run, a steep, snowy piste named Blast. I watch one skier drop off a ledge, backflip, and land neatly as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Spectators cheer and applaud from the lift. I opt for a quieter route down a steep glade of the Glory Basin, but am quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of snow. I struggle to complete a sharp turn, cross skis and tumble to a stop. It’s time for a new approach. As I dust myself off, I choose a line running nearly straight down. Back home on groomed runs, such a choice would be too fast, but I decide to trust my knees and the deep powder
THURSDAY, 2 P.M. – The trail narrows as we ski
further down the ridge. To my left I spot the long, open runs of ski bliss that make up Lizard Bowl. To my right, hidden behind the trees is Currie Bowl, a dramatic valley with a gentle exit to the mountain base. The drops into both bowls get steeper and steeper until finally we stop before a looming couloir known as The Saddle. To someone from “out East,” there’s always something abstract about watching ski videos. For us, there’s no point of reference to these wild skiers, carving lines in untouched snow in impossible mountain locations. Fernie is the type of place where you’d film a ski video, and indeed, while we are here we see two crews. My heart beats faster. I take a deep breath and drop in, leaning into three opening turns to keep my speed down. Swish swish. I feel a rush of exhilaration as I skim off the surface, carving narrow turns that send clumps of snow tumbling down the slope next to me. For just a brief moment, I could be starring in my own ski video.
WEDNESDAY, 9 A.M. – Spring has come to the dreary town of Revelstoke, and the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a snowless green field. We buy lift tickets at a lonely chalet, navigating the empty corridors of a building meant to welcome hundreds of visitors. Revelstoke is B.C.’s newest resort, one that we are assured has been built responsibly and debt-free. We step into a shiny new gondola, wondering if Revelstoke has become a victim of its own hype. In many ways, Interior British Columbia is much like northern Ontario and Quebec. Small communities, largely supported by natural resources, are sprinkled along crucial road and rail routes. Yet a unique combination of weather factors has bestowed Revelstoke with snow, and lots of it. Four metres of snow fall every year in town alone; up in the mountains, the annual dump is 12 metres. It’s that snow that this massive resort hopes to exploit, and that this town is banking its future on. Two gondolas, 20 minutes and 1,713 metres later, we exit into a much different scene. “This is what we came for,” whispers Amber. Gone are business plans and construction and condo developments. Instead, we are in an endless natural vista, enveloped by more snow than I have ever seen. We hike up to Greely Bowl and spend the rest of the day skiing nearly the exact same route, every time stumbling upon a new patch of untouched, thigh-deep powder, and every time losing control and tumbling into a heap of snow, skis and euphoric laugher. Revelstoke: I am a believer.
SATURDAY, 3 P.M. – The hike up Terminator Ridge offers perhaps the greatest view of
Kicking Horse Resort. Below, three bowls of tough terrain drain down to the town of Golden. Beyond, the Rockies have never looked mightier. The hike, a long climb up a narrow ridge, is not effortless, and the runs down (with names like Glory, Truth, Dare, and Consequence), will surely be no easier. But this is our final run at Kicking Horse, and the end of our tour. The two weeks have been unforgettable, delivering the legendary ski conditions and diverse terrain as promised. There has been big air and bigger spills, but also delicious food, funny costumes and interesting people. For as much as a ski road trip is about the snow, it is also a celebration of the eclectic communities populating the backcountry, and the uniquely Canadian experiences awaiting those who venture away from the easy-access resorts.
We reach the top, and from an elevation of 2,400 metres I survey the surroundings one last time. This will be the run I take with me, the run that gets me through the summer to another ski season, the one I remember until I am able to get back to the Interior. With a scream that echoes into the bowls below, I drop into the soft snow and let gravity work its magic.
STOPS ON THE POWDER HIGHWAY • • • • • • • • •
Big White (Kelowna) – expansive family-friendly resort (bigwhite.com) Sun Peaks (Kamloops) – large, lively resort village (sunpeaksresort.com) Red Mountain (Rossland) – extensive glade skiing (redresort.com) Whitewater (Nelson) – local ski hill with famous cafeteria (skiwhitewater.com) Kimberley – quiet and relaxed hill (skikimberley.com) Panorama (Invermere) – great views of the Rockies (panoramaresort.com) Fernie – known for five large bowls (skifernie.com) Kicking Horse (Golden) – most terrain in Canada after Whistler (kickinghorseresort.com) Revelstoke – North America’s highest vertical (revelstokemountainresort.com)
TRIP ADVICE • • • • •
Resort hopping is costly, so try to snag lift-ticket-and-hotel combo deals. The season starts as early as November, and by April most resorts have turned their attention to mountain biking. Fresh powder dumps can happen at any time during the winter. Be sure to have winter tires on your vehicle, and bring blankets and other safety gear. You will experience slippery roads. Don’t expect to be an expert powder skier immediately, especially if your skis are short and narrow. Avalanches are real and they are deadly. Respect all signage.
adventuramag.ca winter 2012 23
Dressed to the Minus Nines BY STEPHANIA VARALLI
If you think runners who are willing to battle the elements are crazy, we’d like to let you in on a secret that they’ve already figured out: If you have the right gear, there’s no reason you can’t stay comfortable – even cozy – during a winter run. Just pick up the must-have items from our headto-toe list, and you’ll soon see that a dropping temperature doesn’t have to lead to a dropped running routine.
THE HEAD
Even if you haven’t yet run outside on a cold day, you probably already know that you can lose a lot of heat from your head. A good hat is a must-have accessory. Mizuno’s Head Pip, featuring their Breath Thermo technology, magically (okay, scientifically) turns the body moisture you generate into heat. So not only do you reduce temperature loss, that sweaty brow of yours also becomes a source of warmth. The antibacterial and deodorizing features are a nice bonus. MIZUNO, Breath Thermo Head Pip | $30 | mizunocda.com
THE BASE-LAYER
It’s hard to beat the comfort of Merino wool on a brisk winter run, but Icebreaker has done it with their 260 Midweight Pursuit Zip, adding Lycra to create a trimmer, more athletic fit. Still soft, breathable and fast-drying, this base-layer will keep you warm throughout the cold season. Quick tip: Use the long front zipper to help regulate your temperature on the trail. ICEBREAKER, Pursuit Zip | $140 | icebreaker.com
THE SHOES
Minimalist trail runners, rejoice: New Balance has taken the light and low-platform 110 trail shoe and made it winter-ready for 2012. The waterproof upper is topped by an ankle gaiter to keep out chills and moisture, the aggressive lugs keep you from slipping and sliding, and there’s a bit of cushioning (but not much – it is a barefoot-inspired design, after all) for shock absorption with your every midfoot strike. NEW BALANCE, T110 Winter | $160 | newbalance.ca
THE STABILITY
THE TIGHTS
Performance comes at an affordable price with the MEC Mercury technical tights. The microfleece interior is soft and warm, the coated exterior is durable, and the strategically placed venting fabric ensures breathability and a comfortable body temperature. If you’re not sure you can pull off the tights look, trust us: The freedom of movement and the lack of frozen legs will make you a convert! MEC, Mercury Tights | $52 | mec.ca
If your winter runs are taking you down snow- and ice-packed paths, you’ll appreciate the added traction of Yaktrax Run, a running-specific version of the popular Yaktrax product that was just released this season. Strap this combination of removable spikes and steel coils onto your shoes and you’ll be bounding down trails like they’re dry as ever. They’re anatomically designed to slip on easy and hold on tight, and the rubber construction can handle temps down to -40oC (even if you can’t). YAKTRAX, Run | $45 | yaktrax.ca
24 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
Baffin Adventura one third pg ad 082812_Ad 28/08/12 2:52 PM Pa
BAFFIN
THE HANDS
Gloves give you mobility, mittens offer more warmth, and Nike Running Tech Index Mitts have the best of both worlds. Your index finger and thumb are free to work your music, fiddle with a watch or tear open a gel, while the rest of your fingers get cozy together. Made of wind- and water-resistant material, the gloves sport other thoughtful features including a key pocket in the palm, a microfleece patch for nose-wiping, and a long wrist cuff that tucks into your jacket with ease. NIKE, Running Tech Index Mitts | $31 | nike.com
THE MUSIC
We all love having a soundtrack for our run, but nothing says “winter sucks” like dropping your iPod into a snowbank. With the Dew iStick, you can listen to music and keep your electronics safe. Just plug the wireless transmitter into your iPod or iPhone, stick it in a zipped pocket or pack, and start flipping through tunes with one finger using the silicone controller that’s located on the washable, breathable, water-resistant armband. DEW, iStick | $55 | dewmotion.com
THE JACKET
You’ll barely feel the weather with this wind-blocking, water-resistant Racing Light Jacket by Helly Hansen. A strategic combination of polyester shell fabric and stretch polyester makes for a comfortable fit and high performance. On slightly warmer days (or slightly harder runs) you’ll appreciate the front zipper-vents – they’re more effective than traditional armpit venting – as well as the unique neck zip that allows for a loose fit to let in a little breeze, or a tight fit to lock out the cold HELLY HANSEN, Racing Light Jacket | $300 | hellyhansen.com
OUTDOOR REBEL SERIES RUGGED PROVEN PERFORMANCE
Baffin developed the Outdoor Rebel series not as a climbing boot but as a series of classically rugged boots that perform on all sorts of rough terrain; from rugged mountain scrambles to extended Himalayan treks. These boots are made of tough full grain Timberwolf leathers and are insulated to -30 °C. However don't be fooled, these versatile boots, with their breathable waterproof uppers remain comfortable during all your fall and spring adventures as well!
www.BAFFIN.com
Paul Hubner, Owner and CTO
NORDIC PURSUITS
EQUIPE 10 CLASSIC WARM AND COLD
BY TRAVIS PERSAUD
THE LEGEND OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING DATES BACK TO 13TH-CENTURY NORWAY. THE INFANT SON OF A FALLEN KING WAS BEING RUSHED TO SAFETY WHEN HIS RESCUERS HIT BAD WEATHER, AND SO TWO OF THE GUARDS STRAPPED PRIMITIVE SKIS TO THEIR FEET AND CARRIED THE BOY 55 KILOMETRES THROUGH A BLIZZARD. TODAY, ANNUAL RACES REMEMBER THIS NORWEGIAN TALE THAT INADVERTENTLY SET THE FOUNDATION FOR MODERN CROSS-COUNTRY SKI COMPETITIONS. THANKFULLY, THE GEAR TO SUPPORT THE SPORT HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.
These two skis are Salomon’s latest for elite racers looking to enhance their game. They both utilize a low-profile camber that allows for full contact at the grip zone, which equals better acceleration. However, instead of trying to create a one-condition-fits-all racing ski, Salomon made two dedicated ones – Warm and Cold – to meet the specific needs of the skier. The Warm uses a carbon laminate insert, which reduces the gliding surface for less friction and therefore better acceleration. The Cold uses a wood laminate insert that creates more contact with the snow, making grip engagement that much easier. $629 | salomon.com
WHETHER YOU WANT TO STAY ACTIVE DURING THE WINTER, TRAIN FOR COMPETITIONS OR GET AWAY FROM EVIL PURSUERS, WE’VE GOT THE LATEST CROSS-COUNTRY SKI GEAR FOR YOU THIS SEASON:
MEC SPORTHILL PRISM II VEST
This women’s vest is made with the cross-country skier in mind. Its material – SwiftPro and Creatix fabrics – as well as its close fit are intended to keep the wind out. But it still allows for a full range of motion, so it never feels as if you’re in a straitjacket. The front pockets are there to keep your hands warm during cool-down, and the chest pocket and Velcro-closed back pocket let you bring your necessities along. $90 | mec.ca
EFFUSION POWER TIGHT
A weather-fighting second skin, this tight is made to keep you warm while out on the trails during an inclement day. Durable water-repellent (DWR) fabric wards off water, ensuring your legs stay dry. And it’s also windproof, battling the elements to keep you warm. Or for a longer day outside, try this tight as the perfect base-layer to extend your journey. $140 | mountainhardwear.com
TRINO JERSEY
This performance jacket is a perfect addition for your cross-country skiing. The combination of Windstopper fabric (which helps shed precipitation) across the front, shoulders and top of the arms, alongside Altasaris material (a stretchy fabric) helps keep the jacket dry and breathable at the same time. And the collar and chin flap are made from a chafe-free polyester, so you can zip up in comfort. $200 | arcteryx.com
XT 600 POLES
NIS TOURING COMBI BINDINGS
These bindings offer a level of flexibility that make them great for just about any cross-country skier. They fit tight to the ski, helping you produce balanced strides every time. They’re an ease to get on and off: They feature an automatic step-in with manual release, and a single-tool mount of binding to ski. And if the weather turns on you, they have five different positions depending on the snow conditions. $54 | rottefella.no 26 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
These poles are great for those needing something simple. They’re a one-piece construction; the shafts are aluminum alloy, with soft rubber and plastic grips for your hands. These are ideal if you’re starting out and need quality poles at a great price. $32 | rossignol.com
NEW!
FEBRUARY
15-16-17
LINEAR COURSES LAC PHILIPPE – GATINEAU
2013
LILLEHAMMER XC GLOVES
Named after the Nordic town which hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics, this pair of gloves was bred for the ski trails. The Thinsulate insulation gives the warmth you need, without unnecessary bulk. The nylon mesh keeps it breathing so your hands never get too moist, and the goatskin palms offer exceptional grip. $44 | auclairgloves.com
38KM/55KM CLASSIC
THE BIGGEST CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING EVENT IN CANADA
5K, 20K, 38K & 55K CLASSIC
2K, 10K, 27K & 51K FREESTYLE
INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION ONLINE
www.gatineauloppet.com MOVER 30 (MEN’S); ASHERA 30 (WOMEN’S)
Both the Mover and Ashera are all-terrain boots that will support you for a full-day excursion. Typical points of weakness are covered to keep water out, including an oval lacing system with water-repellent zippered lace covers. They also feature a comfortable classic midsole flex, and an outsole that makes walking an easy step. $127 | atomic.com
cations ognised certifi • Industry-rec , kayaking, avalanche, etc. - canoeing in Canada of internships • Six months and abroad le ersion possib • English imm
COMP POLES
For serious cross-country skiing, these poles will fit the bill. Made with carbon fibre, they have high stiffness as well as tremendous strength, while remaining quite light. They feature an all-new neoprene and nylon strap for great support and energy transfer. And the ski pole basket has an aerodynamic shape for low resistance. $96 | swixsport.com
MIND & BODY
It’s that snowy time of year again. Are you ready for the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing and snowboarding? The tranquility of cross-country and snowshoeing? The unique adventure of winter camping, dogsledding or ice fishing? HOW ABOUT A NASTY COLD OR FLU?
The key is knowing what to buy. While some alternative cures have the studies to back them up, other popular herbal treatments have no scientific basis to prove their claims, and a few are still controversial. So make sure you take our YES, MAYBE, NO shopping list with you on your winter stock-up:
© iStockphoto
Unfortunately, at the same time that a whole new world of outdoor fun is open to you, ’tis also the season for an increase in respiratory illnesses, like colds and influenza (the flu). Your doctor will tell you to get the flu shot (and we’re not saying you shouldn’t). Plus, if you do get sick, there are over-the-counter medications to help deal with symptoms. But if you prefer a more natural route, or if you believe in the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, maybe this year you should stock up on natural remedies that can help keep these viral fun-wreckers at bay.
NATURE’S WINTER
BY STEPHANIA VARALLI
YES VITAMIN D
The sunshine vitamin. It doesn’t qualify as an essential dietary vitamin, because like all mammals, we can synthesize it when we’re exposed to sunlight. The only unfortunate thing about this superpower: Sunlight isn’t exactly something our Canadian winter is known for. During the months of short days and often cloudy skies, we often can’t get adequate exposure to reach ideal levels of vitamin D in our system. And what are the effects of this deficiency? It has been linked to everything from increased mortality rates with pneumonia patients, to increased risks of heart disease and cancer, and even to weight gain and depression. And what about the cold and flu? Some members of the medical community are skeptical, citing a study of 322 adults that showed no significant impact on the incidence or severity of colds when patients were administered a monthly dose of vitamin D. More recent studies, conducted this year using randomized controlled trials of schoolchildren, found that a daily dose of vitamin D supplement decreased the likelihood of a respiratory infection by 50 percent (a similar study from Japan reached the same conclusion). Considering the growing evidence of the benefits of this vitamin, as well as the negative effects that a deficiency has been linked to, we think it’s worth adding to the daily routine. Plus, it’s pretty easy to do – many milk products, for example, can be purchased fortified with vitamin D. Or you could always fly south for the winter!
28 winter 2012 adventuramag.ca
SURVIVAL KIT YES GINSENG
If you have ever bought a package of COLD-FX, then surprise, you’ve already used ginseng as a treatment for your cold. In fact, it was COLD-FX that was used in a 2005 study that proved the efficacy of ginseng in fighting the common cold. Participants were either given a daily placebo or a COLD-FX dose for a period of four months. During that time, about 64 percent of the placebo group caught a cold, compared to about 55 percent of the ginseng-powered group. About 23 percent of placebo-takers reported a second cold, compared to only 10 percent of the COLD-FX group. And the benefits didn’t stop with avoiding the cold. Of the unfortunate participants who ended up getting sick during the study, the placebo group remained under the weather for an average of 11.1 days, while COLD-FX reduced the time to just 8.7 on average. What can’t it do well? (Or at least, what can’t it prove that it does well through scientific study?) It can’t get rid of a respiratory illness that you already have through a regimen of high dosing. So don’t bother tearing through an entire package while you sneeze, cough and curse – this cure is better taken as a daily preventative immune booster.
TURMERIC
This spice has been in the illness-fighting arsenal of India for centuries, and recent studies have finally shown why it works. Turmeric contains curcumin, a “broad-spectrum inhibitor” that can fend off a variety of viruses by increasing our own cells’ ability to resist infections. In a study published in August of this year, researchers at the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases at George Mason University were able to use curcumin to stop the Rift Valley Fever virus – a mosquito-borne, fever-causing, potentially deadly virus – from multiplying in infected cells. And it comes with a culinary bonus: Adding a bit of turmeric can make your food taste delicious, so why not put it in your regular routine?
BANFF
MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
YES SOAP
Yup, soap. We’re not talking magic soap, or even antibacterial soap. Just plain old soap and a dedication to regular hand washing can help keep you healthy. Its efficacy beats just about every other preventative measure. The key is to do it properly, lathering for about twenty seconds. Remember being told as a kid to wash for one round of Happy Birthday? That works, and you don’t even need to sing it out loud. Make sure you clean all parts of your hand and fingers, dry with a paper towel (studies have shown they are more hygienic than air dryers), and use that to turn off the tap. If you can’t get to a sink with soap to clean your hands properly throughout the day – especially if you come into contact with a lot of people – then try carrying around an antibacterial gel. Available in pocket size, they work great for a quick fix, like when you are coming off the subway (think how many hands have touched that pole) or for a post-sneeze cleanup (no sense spreading your own cold around). One final tip: In between your thorough cleanings, try to keep your germy hands away from your face.
WORLD TOUR
2013 QUÉBEC TOUR JANUARY 23 TO MARCH 15 MONTRÉAL WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23 TO SATURDAY JANUARY 26 2013 7 P.M. Salle Marie-Gérin-Lajoie QUÉBEC CITY SUNDAY JANUARY 27 2013 2 AND 7 P.M. Salle Albert-Rousseau
MAYBE
RIMOUSKI TUESDAY JANUARY 29 2013 7 P.M. Salle Desjardins-Telus
VITAMIN C
There’s quite a bit of controversy surrounding this vitamin. For a while it was touted as the insta-cure for colds, and many of us still begin pounding back orange juice as soon as our throat starts to tickle. Unfortunately, there isn’t proof that vitamin C can do much for respiratory infections – unless you happen to be an endurance athlete, like a marathon runner or distance Nordic skier. According to an updated review based on 30 separate studies, individuals who were exposed to these periods of high body stress saw their chances of catching cold decrease by 50 percent when they began taking a daily vitamin C supplement. If you fit into this category, including the recommended dose of 90–100 mg during the winter season might be effective for you.
CHICOUTIMI WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30 2013 7 P.M. Polyvalente Charles Gravel, Auditorium Daniel-Vaillancourt BAIE-COMEAU THURSDAY JANUARY 31 2013 7 P.M. Jardins des glaciers de Baie-Comeau DRUMMMONDVILLE MONDAY FEBRUARY 4 2013 7 P.M. Maison des arts Desjardins de Drummondville, Salle Léo-Paul-Therrien TROIS-RIVIÈRES TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5 2013 7 P.M. Salle J.-Antonio-Thompson SHERBROOKE WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6 2013 7:30 P.M. Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Salle Maurice O’Bready
OIL OF OREGANO
While it might not yet have the reputation of super-spice turmeric, oregano is gaining more interest in the scientific community as a disease fighter. It has proven antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been in use in homeopathic medicine since Hippocrates. However, there is currently no specific scientific study linking it directly to the cure or prevention of colds or influenza. In fact, a Canadian company was forced to print a retraction when it claimed in an ad that oil of oregano could be used to stop whooping cough, and a similar lawsuit has occurred in the United States. Many homeopathic experts stick by the herb, however, and recent scientific studies have shown it can help fight cancer, so let’s not dismiss this culinary cure just yet.
LONGUEUIL MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2013 7 P.M. Théâtre de la ville, Salle Pratt & Whitney GRANBY TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12 2013 7 P.M. Le Palace ST-JÉRÔME WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13 2013 7 P.M. Polyvalente de Saint-Jérôme, Salle André-Prévost GATINEAU THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14 2013 7 P.M. Maison de la culture de Gatineau, salle Odyssée BAIE SAINT-PAUL FRIDAY MARCH 15 2013 7 P.M. SalleMulti, Hôtel La Ferme
NO ECHINACEA
Before you go stocking your cupboard, keep in mind that even the effective natural remedies have only been proven to help reduce the likelihood of an illness, or decrease the severity or duration of it. They are not going to give you superpowers. Make sure you get plenty of rest, eat well and try to avoid stress – all effective ways to naturally boost your immune system. And if you do happen to get sick with a cold, and especially with the flu, do your friends, family, co-workers, fellow commuters and random strangers a favour and stay at home. Just because you’re “tough enough” to suffer through it doesn’t mean everyone you come in contact with will be tough enough to fight it off.
THE WORLD’S BEST MOUNTAIN FILMS Matjaz Wiegele descending Planjava in Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Slovenia. © Marko Prezelj
It was once the wonder drug of cold and flu season, but the scientific community has worked very hard to debunk the claims surrounding this herbal remedy. Studies over the last 10 years have been inconclusive or contradictory, with the majority leaning toward the “not worth your money” conclusion. Unfortunately, this popular cure just doesn’t do much to limit the occurrence or severity of colds, unless you count the placebo effect.
2013 QUÉBEC TOUR
www.banffquebec.ca
Banff Tour in Québec A
Event
LAST CALL
Dolomites Feaver
This is Alberto De Giuli, waking up and getting going early for a long day of backcountry skiing around the Italian Dolomites’ Pale di San Martino group. We were there for a photo shoot – for SmartWool – and needed to be on the summit of the Mulaz at first light. The Mulaz is a well-known ski peak with a steep ramp off its east side, a classic ski descent with the stunning towers of the Pala group right alongside. The day ended up being perfect, all blue sky and dry snow. The crew didn’t like waking up so early – they never do. Leaving warm sleeping bags for cold ski boots isn’t fun, but once going and then seeing the sunrise, it’s always worth it and makes for great memories. – Dan Patitucci, photographer
© Photo by PatitucciPhoto
The Tools: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4 lens, ISO 1250, f/4, 1/6 second.