Great Ways To Enjoy Winter Outdoors

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Snowtubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing are all at one low price at Great Glen on their “Family Snow Days” this winter. (Great Glen photo)

Exploring Some Great Ways To Enjoy Winter

On  January 2, February 6, and March 6, 2010 Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (603-466-2333) in Pinkham Notch, NH  is holding a Family Snow Day.” For $45 per adult and $30 per child you get a full day of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (with rentals), snowtubing , group ski lessons (beginner or advanced) and an animal tracking program with a naturalist. The children’s package includes lunch.

The Lake Morey Skate-a-thon and Winter Skills Day are both scheduled forSaturday January 9, 2010while the WinterFest is on Sunday, January 10 at the Hulbert Outdoor Center (802-333-3405).  Both day’s programs are from 10 to 4.

If you want to try Nordoic Skating, the LKake Morey Skate-A-Thon is a wonderful winter event. (EasternSlopes.com)
If you want to try Nordoic Skating, the LKake Morey Skate-A-Thon is a wonderful winter event. (EasternSlopes.com)

The Skate-a-thon  introduces you to Nordic Skating on Lake Morey, which has the longest maintained ice skating trail in the country. The admission fee ($25 for adults, $15 for kids) benefits the Upper Valley Trails Alliance and includes free skate rentals (while supplies last), lunch, skating instruction, and warm drinks. Winter Skills Day offers morning and afternoon workshops  ($25 each session) on the tools and skills for living and playing outdoors in winter.

The 7th annual WinterFest includesNordic skating, snowshoe hikes, cross country skiing, winter travel skills, sledding, old fashioned ice cutting, igloo building, music, storytelling, winter skills, dog sledding demos and more.. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring your own snowshoes, skis and skates or borrow them at the Hulbert Center. Donation is $5 per person or $15 per family. Lunch and hot drinks are available.

February 13 and 14, the 44th annual Canadian Ski Marathon takes place on a  specially-set ski trail between Lachute and Gatineau, Quebec, along the Ottawa River in the hills of western Quebec’s Outaouais Region. Marilyn and I visited this region of Quebec on our honeymoon this past October. It’s beautiful country, the people we’ve met there are fun and friendly,  the accommodations are first rate and the restaurants marvelous.

Great Ways To Enjoy Winter: The Canadian Ski Marathon

Winterfest offers you the chance to try snowshoeing and a host of other winter activities.
Winterfest offers you the chance to try snowshoeing and a host of other winter activities.

The Canadian Ski Marathon  is North America’s longest and oldest Nordic ski tour.  There is an overnight stop in Montebello, the home of Le Château Montebello, the largest log structure  in the world.

The two-day 160 kilometer event is divided into five 16 kilometer sections each day. There are food stations, first aid and toilets available at the end of each section and shuttle buses that run between accommodations and checkpoints. Unlike most ski marathons, there are no winners or losers. It’s meant to be fun, and you get to decide if fun for you means skiing as little as 16 kilometers  or as much as 160 kilometers for the weekend. I suspect there’s a bit of partying associated with all the outdoor fun.

Maybe we’ll see you there.