Winter Activities

Do you enjoy paddling during the winter, hot tenting, snow shoeing across frozen lakes and other winter activities that might benefit from an ice safety course? I certainly do and sometimes wonder if I am properly trained to handle an emergency or even have proper practice to avoid an unwanted incident.

This winter I am looking forward to participating in an ice safety course with Boreal River Rescue in the Peterborough area.  This is a two day course with 4-6 hours online to be completed beforehand.

https://rescue.borealriver.com/courses/ice/ice-rescue-safety-certification/#foogallery-8457/i:8459

WCA members are welcome to use the promo code WCA10 to receive 10% off.

Please contact me and I can forward you a PDF with instructions if needed.

Join me for an overnight winter camping (Hot Tenting) trip exploring the back country of Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park near Minden. We start at the Devil’s Lake access point and snowshoe in about 5 km (pending snowfall accumulations). Once we make basecamp, we will explore the area further. This trip is open to anyone wanting to learn more about winter camping (hot tenting).You will need to be able to walk in deep snow while pulling a sled in adverse weather conditions. You will also need to be comfortable crossing frozen ponds and lakes.

Outing: January 11-12th, 2020
1 night

WCA ‘ers are welcome to join a cross country ski group planning a longer (+ 4 ish hour) cross-country ski outing on the Kolapore Uplands Wilderness bush trails on Friday January 14th. Depart Grey Road 2 at 10.30 am. Route and details to be decided by Wed January 12th depending on weather and snow conditions. For info on Kolapore go to www.kolaporeuplands.org The area is suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers- no snowshoes or family pets, please. Kolapore is about 20 minutes drive SW of Collingwood. For info call or E mail Bob Fisher info@upthebay.com or 416 487 2950 as soon as possible.

In the Owen Sound area there are good to great cross country skiing areas offering opportunities for all level of skiing skills. There are lots of trails for novice and intermediate levels. All trails are groomed regularly. One area is classic only and the other is groomed for classic and skating. Here are websites for the local areas:
http://www.bruceskiclub.ca/
http://www.brucegreytrails.com/trail.php?Trail=48

From Toronto to Owen Sound usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours driving time. It's pretty straightforward to get here. Local accomodations and restaurants are abundant. If you would like a guide(me) to show you around, please send me an email jim_diane2004@yahoo.ca or call 519-371-4096. I'm retired, so I'm available pretty well any day, if I know in advance.

WCA ‘ers are welcome to join a cross-country ski group planning a longer + 4 ish hour tour, probably Northwest Passage, on the Kolapore Uplands Wilderness bush trails on Monday February 21st – Family Day. Depart Grey Road 2 at 10.00 am. Route and details to be decided by Thursday February 17th depending on weather and snow conditions. For info on Kolapore go to www.kolaporeuplands.org. The area is suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers- no snowshoes or family pets, please. Kolapore is about 20 minutes drive SW of Collingwood. For info call or email Bob Fisher at info@upthebay.com or 416-487-2950.

It's hard to think of skiing with all the warm weather we've been enjoying. Please join us; Barb and Dave, Bruce and Beth and Rick and Diane for a day of cross country skiing at Mansfield Outdoor Centre and potluck dinner and sauna afterwards at Rick's. Please email lucasde@yahoo.com

Join me for a weekend of winter camping.

We will be snowshoeing hiking across classic Canadian Shield territory which will include bushwhacking, frozen lakes, ponds and marshes.

We will be going places that are not accessible in the summer months.

Join us for warm winter camping on one of the February weekends and see a bug free Algonquin Park covered in a snow blanket! We have a 9' x 12' wall tent with a wood burning stove which we use for heat as well as cooking. The tent actually gets hot enough to dry clothes and allows us to sit around and enjoy nice meals while discussing the events of the day, future plans, etc. etc. You'll still need a good warm sleeping bag for the overnight hours after we let the fire burn down. We use rigged up toboggans to slide things in and out to the campsite. For further info call 905-840-4566 or email brian.corcoran@rogers.com

Sign up on line for Cross country ski day Saturday January 15 at Mansfield. Meet at 10:30 at Mansfield Outdoor Centre on Airport Road http://www.mansfieldoutdoorcentre.ca/skiing.html)
The trails are track set for traditional and skate skiing. (Rentals available.) There are trails suitable for all levels of skiers. (Trail fee of $17.50.)
Lunch available at the snack bar or you can bring your own.
Pot luck dinner and sauna at Rick Sabourin's in Erin afterward.
Diane Lucas will be in touch with those who sign up about the menu.

A snowshoe day in the Durham Forest.